Being ghosted by a MoCo school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you already enrolled, providing proof of residency, etc. So that piece is all complete, yes?

Now you are "in the system" but the truth is that schools aren't communicating with anyone at this point in the summer. You can go on the website and get the supplies list, and find out the Open House date, but you aren't going to get a hand-engraved invitation to attend your local public school.

Indeed, all the paperwork was already submitted and reviewed by the international admissions, my kids have student ID numbers assigned. So, what's the official protocol at MoCo - do you just start attending without any formal letter? I never received a single note from them and the secretary keeps avoiding me.

Correct. There is no formal letter of attendance. You might get a packet in the mail, but you might not. If you are nervous, show up in person next week and just ask the school to check the system for your child's class assignment to be sure they've been assigned.

But, honestly, this sounds like a cultural difference. Even if your child somehow slipped through the cracks and isn't on the list at Open House, you haven't lost any chances. Your child is guaranteed a spot in their home school. If they got missed, they'll get added. But it sounds like everything is fine.

understood, many thanks.

I guess nervousness comes from the fact the given that kids studied overseas previously we are wondering if the paperwork is okay. We called the secretary and she said they are enrolled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP bear in mind it will be busy over the summer with a reduced staff. If they are ignoring you it's probably because you sent too many emails. You will want to be super polite and back off. It's different here to Europe.

+1 Yeah, don't antagonize everyone by writing the principal like a previous poster said. Just go in person one day. (And also, I don't think you know what ghosting really means.)

yes, what does ghosting mean?

[Anonymous]

Our elementary schools have all the students come the friday before school starts, to meet the teacher and pick up anything they need. Nothing before then! I wouldn't worry about it if you already have student id numbers, but I'd be annoyed the school wasn't responding.

[Anonymous]

Next week teachers and administrators will be in the building consistently, so I would recommend showing up on Tuesday morning and going to the office to say you enrolled, want to confirm, and are there to fill out any paperwork or get any info they might have for you. If you show up Monday they are likely to be very busy and it might be harder to get help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you already enrolled, providing proof of residency, etc. So that piece is all complete, yes?

Now you are "in the system" but the truth is that schools aren't communicating with anyone at this point in the summer. You can go on the website and get the supplies list, and find out the Open House date, but you aren't going to get a hand-engraved invitation to attend your local public school.

Indeed, all the paperwork was already submitted and reviewed by the international admissions, my kids have student ID numbers assigned. So, what's the official protocol at MoCo - do you just start attending without any formal letter? I never received a single note from them and the secretary keeps avoiding me.

It isn’t private school. You won’t get a letter of acceptance because anyone can go there.

[Anonymous]

If your kids have student ID numbers, that’s pretty much confirmation they’re officially enrolled. Most elementary schools post class lists with teacher assignments at the school the Friday before school starts. (Some ES also send a postcard with teacher assignments the week before, but not all do.) If for some reason your children aren’t on those posted lists, there will be someone in the office that day for you to talk with. Our elementary school also used to have tables set up with information about the PTA, aftercare, after-school clubs, etc.

It’s not unusual for schools to send out very little information over the summer, though. Usually you’ll start getting emails the week before, when teachers officially report for duty, but sometimes back-to-school info is only listed on the school website, and even then only the week before school starts, when the webmaster reports for duty. Occasionally a school will do a bit more, but it’s usually radio silence until just before school starts.

After the first day, though, you’ll be bombarded with paperwork to fill out and information about Back to School Night, etc. (BTSN is usually a few weeks into the school year, where you’ll meet your child’s teacher, and get all their information about classroom expectations and procedures, etc.)

I’d suggest checking Facebook for a school PTA group you could join. The school website may also have information about the PTA listserv. Both of those will have information about back-to-school events. Many school PTAs do something like a picnic or play date for incoming students and families (grades K, 6, or 9 for the different school levels), and many will also include families new to the school.

One other thing: if you received information about activating your Synergy/ParentVue account, maybe along with the ID numbers?, you should definitely set that up. You may not have—it may come from the school itself later on—but if you did, setting up and logging in to that account the easiest way to confirm which school your child is enrolled in. Having a ParentVue account will also ensure you receive any official communications from the school (set up email notifications in the preferences so you don’t have to keep logging in to check).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Next week teachers and administrators will be in the building consistently, so I would recommend showing up on Tuesday morning and going to the office to say you enrolled, want to confirm, and are there to fill out any paperwork or get any info they might have for you. If you show up Monday they are likely to be very busy and it might be harder to get help.

thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you already enrolled, providing proof of residency, etc. So that piece is all complete, yes?

Now you are "in the system" but the truth is that schools aren't communicating with anyone at this point in the summer. You can go on the website and get the supplies list, and find out the Open House date, but you aren't going to get a hand-engraved invitation to attend your local public school.

Indeed, all the paperwork was already submitted and reviewed by the international admissions, my kids have student ID numbers assigned. So, what's the official protocol at MoCo - do you just start attending without any formal letter? I never received a single note from them and the secretary keeps avoiding me.

Sign into ParentVue and see if your kids are assigned schools. https://md-mcps-psv.edupoint.com

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you already enrolled, providing proof of residency, etc. So that piece is all complete, yes?

Now you are "in the system" but the truth is that schools aren't communicating with anyone at this point in the summer. You can go on the website and get the supplies list, and find out the Open House date, but you aren't going to get a hand-engraved invitation to attend your local public school.

Indeed, I have already submitted tons of paperwork, everything they required, via international admissions, so that part is done, we are IB for that school and lease and everything is okay. My kids already have student ID numbers assigned. I do have an open house date right before the school year starts, but was getting nervous that we are cutting it so close and I have no official confirmation yet and the secretary is clearly avoiding me.

I don't think there is official confirmation beyond having a student i.d. number and an open house date. Your kids are enrolled. Welcome to MCPS. School are massive and nobody is holding your hand through this process. School secretaries can be intimidating and don't take a lot of BS from parents. Kill her with kindness. You are likely going to have to show up in person if you want more "confirmation".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kids have student ID numbers, that’s pretty much confirmation they’re officially enrolled. Most elementary schools post class lists with teacher assignments at the school the Friday before school starts. (Some ES also send a postcard with teacher assignments the week before, but not all do.) If for some reason your children aren’t on those posted lists, there will be someone in the office that day for you to talk with. Our elementary school also used to have tables set up with information about the PTA, aftercare, after-school clubs, etc.

It’s not unusual for schools to send out very little information over the summer, though. Usually you’ll start getting emails the week before, when teachers officially report for duty, but sometimes back-to-school info is only listed on the school website, and even then only the week before school starts, when the webmaster reports for duty. Occasionally a school will do a bit more, but it’s usually radio silence until just before school starts.

After the first day, though, you’ll be bombarded with paperwork to fill out and information about Back to School Night, etc. (BTSN is usually a few weeks into the school year, where you’ll meet your child’s teacher, and get all their information about classroom expectations and procedures, etc.)

I’d suggest checking Facebook for a school PTA group you could join. The school website may also have information about the PTA listserv. Both of those will have information about back-to-school events. Many school PTAs do something like a picnic or play date for incoming students and families (grades K, 6, or 9 for the different school levels), and many will also include families new to the school.

One other thing: if you received information about activating your Synergy/ParentVue account, maybe along with the ID numbers?, you should definitely set that up. You may not have—it may come from the school itself later on—but if you did, setting up and logging in to that account the easiest way to confirm which school your child is enrolled in. Having a ParentVue account will also ensure you receive any official communications from the school (set up email notifications in the preferences so you don’t have to keep logging in to check).

that's super helpful, many thanks. I do have a Synergy account, where it says "waiting" next to my kids' name, that one also got me wondering. But I understand it's all good now that they have student ID numbers and things will start rolling for real once Open House takes place. I joined the PTA too.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, OP, it sucks. I had a wonderful experience with the admissions counselor down in a Potomac school, and a horrible experience with the admissions counselor at a Rockville area school.

I agree with ParentVue and contacting the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP, it sucks. I had a wonderful experience with the admissions counselor down in a Potomac school, and a horrible experience with the admissions counselor at a Rockville area school.

I agree with ParentVue and contacting the principal.

I don't even know who our admissions counselor is - we went through the international admissions that reviewed all the paperwork. They were much more communicative than the school itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you already enrolled, providing proof of residency, etc. So that piece is all complete, yes?

Now you are "in the system" but the truth is that schools aren't communicating with anyone at this point in the summer. You can go on the website and get the supplies list, and find out the Open House date, but you aren't going to get a hand-engraved invitation to attend your local public school.

Indeed, I have already submitted tons of paperwork, everything they required, via international admissions, so that part is done, we are IB for that school and lease and everything is okay. My kids already have student ID numbers assigned. I do have an open house date right before the school year starts, but was getting nervous that we are cutting it so close and I have no official confirmation yet and the secretary is clearly avoiding me.

I don't think there is official confirmation beyond having a student i.d. number and an open house date. Your kids are enrolled. Welcome to MCPS. School are massive and nobody is holding your hand through this process. School secretaries can be intimidating and don't take a lot of BS from parents. Kill her with kindness. You are likely going to have to show up in person if you want more "confirmation".

thanks, that pretty much sumps it up

[Anonymous]

You're not being ghosted. Everything happens in the few days before school. It's absurd, but that's how they do it here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP, it sucks. I had a wonderful experience with the admissions counselor down in a Potomac school, and a horrible experience with the admissions counselor at a Rockville area school.

I agree with ParentVue and contacting the principal.

I don't even know who our admissions counselor is - we went through the international admissions that reviewed all the paperwork. They were much more communicative than the school itself.

There is no "admissions counselor". That is not a title in MCPS. PP is off her rocker.