Burgundy Farms Middle—please share your experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had kids at both SSSAS and Burgundy for MS. SSSAS was the far better experience both socially and academically. There is absolutely no comparison.

SSSAS has a block schedule, PE or athletics (7/8) 4x a week, an hour for lunch and recess and a daily STAT period to meet with teachers. I actually found it to be more progressive in how they teach and the projects they have the kids do. The faculty and administrators at SSSAS are much stronger than those at BFCDS and they actually teach the kids executive function skills. There are also close to 100 kids in a grade versus 25-30 at BFCDS which makes it a much better environment socially. You will find your people.

If your kid is even slightly outside whatever current middle schoolers consider “normal” or “popular”, Burgundy Farm is absolutely the better choice. SSSAS is filled with cliques and desire for popularity is a real thing. This just isn’t a thing at Burgundy and the kids remain younger in their interests (not much into name brand clothes, “dating”, etc.) as a result.

I will echo that. My child was there for a middle school. Overall the experience was ok. Some really great teachers and some not so good ones. Went on to public high school. The writing instruction was way superior than anything in public middle schools from what I could tell. The class sizes are small so if your child doesn't find a couple of friends and stick with them it can be an issue. Not to the degree where they are bullied or made fun of outright but just not included much in non classroom and non school activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had kids at both SSSAS and Burgundy for MS. SSSAS was the far better experience both socially and academically. There is absolutely no comparison.

SSSAS has a block schedule, PE or athletics (7/8) 4x a week, an hour for lunch and recess and a daily STAT period to meet with teachers. I actually found it to be more progressive in how they teach and the projects they have the kids do. The faculty and administrators at SSSAS are much stronger than those at BFCDS and they actually teach the kids executive function skills. There are also close to 100 kids in a grade versus 25-30 at BFCDS which makes it a much better environment socially. You will find your people.

If your kid is even slightly outside whatever current middle schoolers consider “normal” or “popular”, Burgundy Farm is absolutely the better choice. SSSAS is filled with cliques and desire for popularity is a real thing. This just isn’t a thing at Burgundy and the kids remain younger in their interests (not much into name brand clothes, “dating”, etc.) as a result.

I will echo that. My child was there for a middle school. Overall the experience was ok. Some really great teachers and some not so good ones. Went on to public high school. The writing instruction was way superior than anything in public middle schools from what I could tell. The class sizes are small so if your child doesn't find a couple of friends and stick with them it can be an issue. Not to the degree where they are bullied or made fun of outright but just not included much in non classroom and non school activities.

Sorry, just to clarify - you are saying you found that the writing instruction at Burgundy was better than public middle school? Or it was better at public HS than public MS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had kids at both SSSAS and Burgundy for MS. SSSAS was the far better experience both socially and academically. There is absolutely no comparison.

SSSAS has a block schedule, PE or athletics (7/8) 4x a week, an hour for lunch and recess and a daily STAT period to meet with teachers. I actually found it to be more progressive in how they teach and the projects they have the kids do. The faculty and administrators at SSSAS are much stronger than those at BFCDS and they actually teach the kids executive function skills. There are also close to 100 kids in a grade versus 25-30 at BFCDS which makes it a much better environment socially. You will find your people.

If your kid is even slightly outside whatever current middle schoolers consider “normal” or “popular”, Burgundy Farm is absolutely the better choice. SSSAS is filled with cliques and desire for popularity is a real thing. This just isn’t a thing at Burgundy and the kids remain younger in their interests (not much into name brand clothes, “dating”, etc.) as a result.

I will echo that. My child was there for a middle school. Overall the experience was ok. Some really great teachers and some not so good ones. Went on to public high school. The writing instruction was way superior than anything in public middle schools from what I could tell. The class sizes are small so if your child doesn't find a couple of friends and stick with them it can be an issue. Not to the degree where they are bullied or made fun of outright but just not included much in non classroom and non school activities.

Sorry, just to clarify - you are saying you found that the writing instruction at Burgundy was better than public middle school? Or it was better at public HS than public MS?

Yeah I am confused as well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had kids at both SSSAS and Burgundy for MS. SSSAS was the far better experience both socially and academically. There is absolutely no comparison.

SSSAS has a block schedule, PE or athletics (7/8) 4x a week, an hour for lunch and recess and a daily STAT period to meet with teachers. I actually found it to be more progressive in how they teach and the projects they have the kids do. The faculty and administrators at SSSAS are much stronger than those at BFCDS and they actually teach the kids executive function skills. There are also close to 100 kids in a grade versus 25-30 at BFCDS which makes it a much better environment socially. You will find your people.

This is a super helpful perspective.

Also, any insight on if a shy-ish and academical-oriented child with little interest in sports would do at SSASS?

Can you talk at all about the acadmic rigor a little more? Are they close?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had kids at both SSSAS and Burgundy for MS. SSSAS was the far better experience both socially and academically. There is absolutely no comparison.

SSSAS has a block schedule, PE or athletics (7/8) 4x a week, an hour for lunch and recess and a daily STAT period to meet with teachers. I actually found it to be more progressive in how they teach and the projects they have the kids do. The faculty and administrators at SSSAS are much stronger than those at BFCDS and they actually teach the kids executive function skills. There are also close to 100 kids in a grade versus 25-30 at BFCDS which makes it a much better environment socially. You will find your people.

If your kid is even slightly outside whatever current middle schoolers consider “normal” or “popular”, Burgundy Farm is absolutely the better choice. SSSAS is filled with cliques and desire for popularity is a real thing. This just isn’t a thing at Burgundy and the kids remain younger in their interests (not much into name brand clothes, “dating”, etc.) as a result.

This is 100% true. The type of kid you have matters a LOT. SSAS and BFCDS are almost polar opposites when it comes to teen culture. I know this directly from personal experience with my kids and very close friends kids. SSSAS is very sporty, lots of cliques. BFCDS is very much a school where quirky doesn't even get blinked at. I have one friend who's kid left SSSAS after 8th grade after being intentionally cyber targeted by a group of girls in 8th grade. When asked why they did it, the answer was literally "no reason, we just all decided we didn't like her anymore". It was like something out of a bad movie or a sensationalistic news story. It was horrific for the poor girl involved.

[Anonymous]

Burgundy really is a unique and special place in terms of inclusiveness, accepting kids for who they are, and fostering self-confidence in each of them. That is definitely a distinct feature that could be really important for certain kids’ social-emotional health. So wish they were k-12!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Burgundy really is a unique and special place in terms of inclusiveness, accepting kids for who they are, and fostering self-confidence in each of them. That is definitely a distinct feature that could be really important for certain kids’ social-emotional health. So wish they were k-12!

I second this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Burgundy really is a unique and special place in terms of inclusiveness, accepting kids for who they are, and fostering self-confidence in each of them. That is definitely a distinct feature that could be really important for certain kids’ social-emotional health. So wish they were k-12!

I second this!

I third this. My DC is a lifer at Burgundy. When they are 4 you have no idea if by MS your kid and the school will still "fit" each other. MS has been great for my DC. If you were to meet DC off campus you would see shy-ish, academic kid. But Burgundy has been allowed them to grow into who they are, supported the whole way. Reflecting on their years at Burgundy for the HS process, they have purposefully pointed out that being at a school this size has made it possible to get to know all their classmates, realize you may not be besties with everyone but you all get along, accepting everyone for who they are, and working together.

So MS for my kid (even through Covid) has been great. DC has learned plenty, done well academically, and social-emotionally. And I'm thankful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Burgundy really is a unique and special place in terms of inclusiveness, accepting kids for who they are, and fostering self-confidence in each of them. That is definitely a distinct feature that could be really important for certain kids’ social-emotional health. So wish they were k-12!

I second this!

I third this. My DC is a lifer at Burgundy. When they are 4 you have no idea if by MS your kid and the school will still "fit" each other. MS has been great for my DC. If you were to meet DC off campus you would see shy-ish, academic kid. But Burgundy has been allowed them to grow into who they are, supported the whole way. Reflecting on their years at Burgundy for the HS process, they have purposefully pointed out that being at a school this size has made it possible to get to know all their classmates, realize you may not be besties with everyone but you all get along, accepting everyone for who they are, and working together.

So MS for my kid (even through Covid) has been great. DC has learned plenty, done well academically, and social-emotionally. And I'm thankful.

+2 My kids all went to Burgundy as “lifers” and it really does create a certain kind of kid. Accepting of all different types of people, comfortable in their own skin, willing to speak up about what they believe in. No school is perfect, but the outcome for my kids has been wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Now if Burgundy Farm just brings back a bus option, everything will be very nearly perfect again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now if Burgundy Farm just brings back a bus option, everything will be very nearly perfect again.

I was curious about that—does it just go to Braddock Road? How much is it? Any hope for next year that it will be back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now if Burgundy Farm just brings back a bus option, everything will be very nearly perfect again.

I was curious about that—does it just go to Braddock Road? How much is it? Any hope for next year that it will be back?

The bus service is through SSSAS, so it is pretty extensive. I think the return of bus service is up to SSSAS. It also includes Browne, so it mixes a lot of kids from several schools which may be an issue until everyone can be vaccinated. There is also a bus from Capitol Hill that is parent organized with their van and driver. This has run throughout Covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now if Burgundy Farm just brings back a bus option, everything will be very nearly perfect again.

I was curious about that—does it just go to Braddock Road? How much is it? Any hope for next year that it will be back?

The bus service is through SSSAS, so it is pretty extensive. I think the return of bus service is up to SSSAS. It also includes Browne, so it mixes a lot of kids from several schools which may be an issue until everyone can be vaccinated. There is also a bus from Capitol Hill that is parent organized with their van and driver. This has run throughout Covid.

New to Burgundy this year and disappointed about the lack of transportation. In the past when they had bus service, was it door-to-door? Wonder what the pick up times were like in the morning?

[Anonymous]

I have a question about grade inflation at Burgundy. Do they give grades lower than Bs?

I ask because my daughter's been making As and Bs all the way through, and she's a good student, but I've never heard a parent say their kid got anything below a B there. Makes me wonder, that's all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now if Burgundy Farm just brings back a bus option, everything will be very nearly perfect again.

I was curious about that—does it just go to Braddock Road? How much is it? Any hope for next year that it will be back?

The bus service is through SSSAS, so it is pretty extensive. I think the return of bus service is up to SSSAS. It also includes Browne, so it mixes a lot of kids from several schools which may be an issue until everyone can be vaccinated. There is also a bus from Capitol Hill that is parent organized with their van and driver. This has run throughout Covid.

New to Burgundy this year and disappointed about the lack of transportation. In the past when they had bus service, was it door-to-door? Wonder what the pick up times were like in the morning?

Thinking back to The Before Times: Service was door-to-door, and our pickup time was around 7:15. I really, really, really miss the bus.