Key Immersion or Cardinal?

[Anonymous]

and you get to avoid CB! Take the key spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:and you get to avoid CB! Take the key spot.

What's CB?

[Anonymous]

I watched the virtual info sessions of both Key and Cardinal. My impression was Cardinal's info session seemed more organized than Key's session. Not sure if this is a reflection of the two schools in general.

Key is not known for it's organization. It falls on the side of "warm and caring" rather than "on time and organized." If that will drive you nuts, look elsewhere. If you're okay dealing with some disorganization but happy kids, it's a good option.

We're parents at Key and are very happy. Our daughter seems to be picking up Spanish and is happy and working above grade level in non-Spanish subjects. We're happier with Key than we were with our in bounds elementary that my older child attends, at least for K. My older child was both under challenged academically and stressed out by how they handled kindergarten behavior at our neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I watched the virtual info sessions of both Key and Cardinal. My impression was Cardinal's info session seemed more organized than Key's session. Not sure if this is a reflection of the two schools in general.

Key is not known for it's organization. It falls on the side of "warm and caring" rather than "on time and organized." If that will drive you nuts, look elsewhere. If you're okay dealing with some disorganization but happy kids, it's a good option.

We're parents at Key and are very happy. Our daughter seems to be picking up Spanish and is happy and working above grade level in non-Spanish subjects. We're happier with Key than we were with our in bounds elementary that my older child attends, at least for K. My older child was both under challenged academically and stressed out by how they handled kindergarten behavior at our neighborhood school.

As incoming Key parents, should we be concerned with the recent move and how it may have impacted the school, or is it functioning OK?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I watched the virtual info sessions of both Key and Cardinal. My impression was Cardinal's info session seemed more organized than Key's session. Not sure if this is a reflection of the two schools in general.

Key is not known for it's organization. It falls on the side of "warm and caring" rather than "on time and organized." If that will drive you nuts, look elsewhere. If you're okay dealing with some disorganization but happy kids, it's a good option.

We're parents at Key and are very happy. Our daughter seems to be picking up Spanish and is happy and working above grade level in non-Spanish subjects. We're happier with Key than we were with our in bounds elementary that my older child attends, at least for K. My older child was both under challenged academically and stressed out by how they handled kindergarten behavior at our neighborhood school.

As incoming Key parents, should we be concerned with the recent move and how it may have impacted the school, or is it functioning OK?

There were some delays and I heard from issues with furniture but frankly, my kids never seemed upset by any of it. I visited the school recently and everything looks fine. It’s a beautiful building, much better than then previous one. IMO all works well and my kids love learning two languages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I watched the virtual info sessions of both Key and Cardinal. My impression was Cardinal's info session seemed more organized than Key's session. Not sure if this is a reflection of the two schools in general.

Key is not known for it's organization. It falls on the side of "warm and caring" rather than "on time and organized." If that will drive you nuts, look elsewhere. If you're okay dealing with some disorganization but happy kids, it's a good option.

We're parents at Key and are very happy. Our daughter seems to be picking up Spanish and is happy and working above grade level in non-Spanish subjects. We're happier with Key than we were with our in bounds elementary that my older child attends, at least for K. My older child was both under challenged academically and stressed out by how they handled kindergarten behavior at our neighborhood school.

As incoming Key parents, should we be concerned with the recent move and how it may have impacted the school, or is it functioning OK?

There were some delays and I heard from issues with furniture but frankly, my kids never seemed upset by any of it. I visited the school recently and everything looks fine. It’s a beautiful building, much better than then previous one. IMO all works well and my kids love learning two languages.

The new key school grounds are great. Lot's of fantastic play spaces. Nice, old school look/feel.

[Anonymous]

Different school system but DS is in Japanese Immersion. His first grade class had 31 kids, his fourth grade class is at 23. A few kids have moved but most of the people who have left have done so because the language part was harder then the parents thought it would be. There was language based home work (learning 5 characters from the hiragana and katikana at home) every week that I know some kids refused to do. And parents have to be prepared to help a bit more with math because math is taught in Japanese.

We do not speak Japanese and have not hired tutors or done any type of summer program. DS is doing well in the program and enjoys it. We love it for him but it is not a good fit for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I watched the virtual info sessions of both Key and Cardinal. My impression was Cardinal's info session seemed more organized than Key's session. Not sure if this is a reflection of the two schools in general.

Key is not known for it's organization. It falls on the side of "warm and caring" rather than "on time and organized." If that will drive you nuts, look elsewhere. If you're okay dealing with some disorganization but happy kids, it's a good option.

We're parents at Key and are very happy. Our daughter seems to be picking up Spanish and is happy and working above grade level in non-Spanish subjects. We're happier with Key than we were with our in bounds elementary that my older child attends, at least for K. My older child was both under challenged academically and stressed out by how they handled kindergarten behavior at our neighborhood school.

Since you have experienced K at Key - I’m wondering if you still see redshirting at the immersion schools? Our child’s birthday is late summer. I don’t think they would typically be ready for K from a social perspective and I would be holding them back. But my impression is that native Spanish speaking families tend to hold their kids back less (economic factors likely impact this). So I’m wondering if we should try for K at the usual time, or hold back as we would’ve done we’re they going to any other school. I’ve asked the principal already and curious what other key parents think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I watched the virtual info sessions of both Key and Cardinal. My impression was Cardinal's info session seemed more organized than Key's session. Not sure if this is a reflection of the two schools in general.

Key is not known for it's organization. It falls on the side of "warm and caring" rather than "on time and organized." If that will drive you nuts, look elsewhere. If you're okay dealing with some disorganization but happy kids, it's a good option.

We're parents at Key and are very happy. Our daughter seems to be picking up Spanish and is happy and working above grade level in non-Spanish subjects. We're happier with Key than we were with our in bounds elementary that my older child attends, at least for K. My older child was both under challenged academically and stressed out by how they handled kindergarten behavior at our neighborhood school.

As incoming Key parents, should we be concerned with the recent move and how it may have impacted the school, or is it functioning OK?

There were some delays and I heard from issues with furniture but frankly, my kids never seemed upset by any of it. I visited the school recently and everything looks fine. It’s a beautiful building, much better than then previous one. IMO all works well and my kids love learning two languages.

The new key school grounds are great. Lot's of fantastic play spaces. Nice, old school look/feel.

As far as I've heard everyone likes the new space. A few parents who lived walking distance to the old site may still grumble, but that's about their personal logistics. The new site is nice and everyone seems to have settled in well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I watched the virtual info sessions of both Key and Cardinal. My impression was Cardinal's info session seemed more organized than Key's session. Not sure if this is a reflection of the two schools in general.

Key is not known for it's organization. It falls on the side of "warm and caring" rather than "on time and organized." If that will drive you nuts, look elsewhere. If you're okay dealing with some disorganization but happy kids, it's a good option.

We're parents at Key and are very happy. Our daughter seems to be picking up Spanish and is happy and working above grade level in non-Spanish subjects. We're happier with Key than we were with our in bounds elementary that my older child attends, at least for K. My older child was both under challenged academically and stressed out by how they handled kindergarten behavior at our neighborhood school.

Since you have experienced K at Key - I’m wondering if you still see redshirting at the immersion schools? Our child’s birthday is late summer. I don’t think they would typically be ready for K from a social perspective and I would be holding them back. But my impression is that native Spanish speaking families tend to hold their kids back less (economic factors likely impact this). So I’m wondering if we should try for K at the usual time, or hold back as we would’ve done we’re they going to any other school. I’ve asked the principal already and curious what other key parents think.

I would suspect that there is less redshirting at Key because it's hard to do with the lottery. I'm not sure how you even make that happen in the computer system.

My older child has a September birthday and went on time. To the best of my knowledge she's the youngest in her grade with several redshirted kids more than a year older. So far she's at the top of her class academically and getting pulled out for enrichment. Socially, kindergarten was really hard for her. She sobbed daily for months that she just wanted more time to play. But she wasn't at Key and her neighborhood elementary teacher was very very rigid and academic. Things have gotten better socially as she's gotten older. We'll see if that sticks through puberty. She still sometimes acts a bit younger, but generally keeps up with her grade level peers. Academically it would have been awful to redshirt her. Socially it might have been better, but it's hard to tell. We didn't do immersion with her in part because she was young for her grade and didn't need an extra challenge at that time.

[Anonymous]

Cardinal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing to be aware of is that Arlington used to run a great, cheap Spanish summer camp at Key. That no longer happens so part of the commitment to Spanish is about supporting your kid over the summer, especially in the early years. That may mean finding a different Spanish camp or getting a regular tutor.

Yup. Otherwise, you are on your own with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the math, science, social studies is as good in the immersion programs as in the neighborhood schools?

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the math, science, social studies is as good in the immersion programs as in the neighborhood schools?

No.

Math and science are two courses taught EXCLUSIVELY in Spanish.

So that means instruction must be simplified and slowed down to allow Spanish learning to happen at the same time.

We have a DD, and math and science are already discouraging for girls enough we literally didn’t want it to be a foreign language.

Immersion is really for those with a Spanish speaking parent or who had a Spanish speaking nanny/Au pair. Two working parents, and a good neighborhood school, why are you punishing your family? You don’t learn Spanish for “free” there are costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the math, science, social studies is as good in the immersion programs as in the neighborhood schools?

No.

Math and science are two courses taught EXCLUSIVELY in Spanish.

So that means instruction must be simplified and slowed down to allow Spanish learning to happen at the same time.

We have a DD, and math and science are already discouraging for girls enough we literally didn’t want it to be a foreign language.

Immersion is really for those with a Spanish speaking parent or who had a Spanish speaking nanny/Au pair. Two working parents, and a good neighborhood school, why are you punishing your family? You don’t learn Spanish for “free” there are costs.

I'm not a PC person and I don't want to call it sexist. But this type of mentality definitely won't help your DD in learning math and science.

FWIW I'm a mom with STEM background. I have two sons but if I have a daughter I would never say such things to her (or to anybody, really). From what I have seen, in early years girls do just as well in STEM as boys do.