Tell me about Julius West

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JW has had a lot of issues, starting with administration. The principal starts off way too strong every single year (taking away cell phones in a bin, screaming that kids can not move seats in lunch to talk to others, and cracking down on things in the hall.) Then it gets super laxed. Then he leaves to another school and the school is just a mess. There is always a new principal every year that has no idea what they are doing.

Cell phones are everywhere, all bathrooms smell like vape or weed and the lunchroom is so chaotic that many kids try to eat in teacher's classrooms. There is a ton of relentless bullying and the 8th graders last year and this year are by far the worst. Boys and girls equally. Multiple fist fights a week too.

The PE department is strong, but they are way too laxed on changing and the kids are all in crocs. Most other middle schoolers, the kids need to be out of denim and have sneakers on every PE class.

There is zero dress code policy at JW besides hats and hoods being up. A lot of girls wearing sports bras as shirts to school which seems really weird.

Phone policy is too laxed. Kids use them all day and also all lunch period and in PE as well.

Teachers are hit or miss. Band/Chorus not that good. Theater I is super weak. Clubs are only attended so the kids can hang out in the halls, make-up, or goof off. They don't have strong clubs like best buddies or community service that other middle schools do.

Counseling is beyond over stressed. They need at least 3 more counselors for the demand. They did finally get a social worker, but she is only in for 1-2 days a week as she is shared by multiple schools. There is just not enough resources for these kids.

The worst part about JW is it is the only school that goes to RM. Most other high schools have 2 middle schools that feed in and you can make new friends. RM only has the IB kids who tend to keep to themselves as the high school has so many issues too.

We ended up pulling our sophomore out to private school this year and our current 7th grader(who we were hoping would have a bette year and is not) is going to private next year. We are just not happy with the RM cluster except for elementary.

As JW parent I agree with some of this. However, I am wondering how do you know all this stuff? Ie, I have no clue what other kids are wearing to school or what they do in clubs? Also as far as I know phone use is allowed during lunch.
May be I am a bit more "hands off" than "DCUM approved"? I do care about grades, but beyond that kids should figure out how to live in the complex society and "fight their own battles" so to speak.
FWIW, I only had to deal with counselor once for a class change and they responded in timely manner and resolved the issue. I dont think DS even knows (or cares) who his counselor is.

I have kids at another MCMS and phones are not allowed at lunch at all. They are strict.

The one thing I noticed about JW is they have no one running traffic or carpool in the afternoons. Maybe it was only the few times I have driven by but it is so chaotic and we were stuck waiting 20+ minutes to pass the school on the road that leads to 270. When we pass, we see no one at the turn in or near the circle. Not sure who employees them but we have 2 people each day running our carpool line so it goes smooth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JW has had a lot of issues, starting with administration. The principal starts off way too strong every single year (taking away cell phones in a bin, screaming that kids can not move seats in lunch to talk to others, and cracking down on things in the hall.) Then it gets super laxed. Then he leaves to another school and the school is just a mess. There is always a new principal every year that has no idea what they are doing.

Cell phones are everywhere, all bathrooms smell like vape or weed and the lunchroom is so chaotic that many kids try to eat in teacher's classrooms. There is a ton of relentless bullying and the 8th graders last year and this year are by far the worst. Boys and girls equally. Multiple fist fights a week too.

The PE department is strong, but they are way too laxed on changing and the kids are all in crocs. Most other middle schoolers, the kids need to be out of denim and have sneakers on every PE class.

There is zero dress code policy at JW besides hats and hoods being up. A lot of girls wearing sports bras as shirts to school which seems really weird.

Phone policy is too laxed. Kids use them all day and also all lunch period and in PE as well.

Teachers are hit or miss. Band/Chorus not that good. Theater I is super weak. Clubs are only attended so the kids can hang out in the halls, make-up, or goof off. They don't have strong clubs like best buddies or community service that other middle schools do.

Counseling is beyond over stressed. They need at least 3 more counselors for the demand. They did finally get a social worker, but she is only in for 1-2 days a week as she is shared by multiple schools. There is just not enough resources for these kids.

The worst part about JW is it is the only school that goes to RM. Most other high schools have 2 middle schools that feed in and you can make new friends. RM only has the IB kids who tend to keep to themselves as the high school has so many issues too.

We ended up pulling our sophomore out to private school this year and our current 7th grader(who we were hoping would have a bette year and is not) is going to private next year. We are just not happy with the RM cluster except for elementary.

As JW parent I agree with some of this. However, I am wondering how do you know all this stuff? Ie, I have no clue what other kids are wearing to school or what they do in clubs? Also as far as I know phone use is allowed during lunch.
May be I am a bit more "hands off" than "DCUM approved"? I do care about grades, but beyond that kids should figure out how to live in the complex society and "fight their own battles" so to speak.
FWIW, I only had to deal with counselor once for a class change and they responded in timely manner and resolved the issue. I dont think DS even knows (or cares) who his counselor is.

I have kids at another MCMS and phones are not allowed at lunch at all. They are strict.

The one thing I noticed about JW is they have no one running traffic or carpool in the afternoons. Maybe it was only the few times I have driven by but it is so chaotic and we were stuck waiting 20+ minutes to pass the school on the road that leads to 270. When we pass, we see no one at the turn in or near the circle. Not sure who employees them but we have 2 people each day running our carpool line so it goes smooth.

They have enough staffing to control phones in the lunch room... impressive. And they confiscate any that come out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JW has had a lot of issues, starting with administration. The principal starts off way too strong every single year (taking away cell phones in a bin, screaming that kids can not move seats in lunch to talk to others, and cracking down on things in the hall.) Then it gets super laxed. Then he leaves to another school and the school is just a mess. There is always a new principal every year that has no idea what they are doing.

Cell phones are everywhere, all bathrooms smell like vape or weed and the lunchroom is so chaotic that many kids try to eat in teacher's classrooms. There is a ton of relentless bullying and the 8th graders last year and this year are by far the worst. Boys and girls equally. Multiple fist fights a week too.

The PE department is strong, but they are way too laxed on changing and the kids are all in crocs. Most other middle schoolers, the kids need to be out of denim and have sneakers on every PE class.

There is zero dress code policy at JW besides hats and hoods being up. A lot of girls wearing sports bras as shirts to school which seems really weird.

Phone policy is too laxed. Kids use them all day and also all lunch period and in PE as well.

Teachers are hit or miss. Band/Chorus not that good. Theater I is super weak. Clubs are only attended so the kids can hang out in the halls, make-up, or goof off. They don't have strong clubs like best buddies or community service that other middle schools do.

Counseling is beyond over stressed. They need at least 3 more counselors for the demand. They did finally get a social worker, but she is only in for 1-2 days a week as she is shared by multiple schools. There is just not enough resources for these kids.

The worst part about JW is it is the only school that goes to RM. Most other high schools have 2 middle schools that feed in and you can make new friends. RM only has the IB kids who tend to keep to themselves as the high school has so many issues too.

We ended up pulling our sophomore out to private school this year and our current 7th grader(who we were hoping would have a bette year and is not) is going to private next year. We are just not happy with the RM cluster except for elementary.

As JW parent I agree with some of this. However, I am wondering how do you know all this stuff? Ie, I have no clue what other kids are wearing to school or what they do in clubs? Also as far as I know phone use is allowed during lunch.
May be I am a bit more "hands off" than "DCUM approved"? I do care about grades, but beyond that kids should figure out how to live in the complex society and "fight their own battles" so to speak.
FWIW, I only had to deal with counselor once for a class change and they responded in timely manner and resolved the issue. I dont think DS even knows (or cares) who his counselor is.

I have kids at another MCMS and phones are not allowed at lunch at all. They are strict.

The one thing I noticed about JW is they have no one running traffic or carpool in the afternoons. Maybe it was only the few times I have driven by but it is so chaotic and we were stuck waiting 20+ minutes to pass the school on the road that leads to 270. When we pass, we see no one at the turn in or near the circle. Not sure who employees them but we have 2 people each day running our carpool line so it goes smooth.

They have enough staffing to control phones in the lunch room... impressive. And they confiscate any that come out?

Not sure how many staff members in lunch and yes they confiscate. If it more than twice a week, they call home to retrieve phone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JW has had a lot of issues, starting with administration. The principal starts off way too strong every single year (taking away cell phones in a bin, screaming that kids can not move seats in lunch to talk to others, and cracking down on things in the hall.) Then it gets super laxed. Then he leaves to another school and the school is just a mess. There is always a new principal every year that has no idea what they are doing.

Cell phones are everywhere, all bathrooms smell like vape or weed and the lunchroom is so chaotic that many kids try to eat in teacher's classrooms. There is a ton of relentless bullying and the 8th graders last year and this year are by far the worst. Boys and girls equally. Multiple fist fights a week too.

The PE department is strong, but they are way too laxed on changing and the kids are all in crocs. Most other middle schoolers, the kids need to be out of denim and have sneakers on every PE class.

There is zero dress code policy at JW besides hats and hoods being up. A lot of girls wearing sports bras as shirts to school which seems really weird.

Phone policy is too laxed. Kids use them all day and also all lunch period and in PE as well.

Teachers are hit or miss. Band/Chorus not that good. Theater I is super weak. Clubs are only attended so the kids can hang out in the halls, make-up, or goof off. They don't have strong clubs like best buddies or community service that other middle schools do.

Counseling is beyond over stressed. They need at least 3 more counselors for the demand. They did finally get a social worker, but she is only in for 1-2 days a week as she is shared by multiple schools. There is just not enough resources for these kids.

The worst part about JW is it is the only school that goes to RM. Most other high schools have 2 middle schools that feed in and you can make new friends. RM only has the IB kids who tend to keep to themselves as the high school has so many issues too.

We ended up pulling our sophomore out to private school this year and our current 7th grader(who we were hoping would have a bette year and is not) is going to private next year. We are just not happy with the RM cluster except for elementary.

As JW parent I agree with some of this. However, I am wondering how do you know all this stuff? Ie, I have no clue what other kids are wearing to school or what they do in clubs? Also as far as I know phone use is allowed during lunch.
May be I am a bit more "hands off" than "DCUM approved"? I do care about grades, but beyond that kids should figure out how to live in the complex society and "fight their own battles" so to speak.
FWIW, I only had to deal with counselor once for a class change and they responded in timely manner and resolved the issue. I dont think DS even knows (or cares) who his counselor is.

I have kids at another MCMS and phones are not allowed at lunch at all. They are strict.

The one thing I noticed about JW is they have no one running traffic or carpool in the afternoons. Maybe it was only the few times I have driven by but it is so chaotic and we were stuck waiting 20+ minutes to pass the school on the road that leads to 270. When we pass, we see no one at the turn in or near the circle. Not sure who employees them but we have 2 people each day running our carpool line so it goes smooth.

They have enough staffing to control phones in the lunch room... impressive. And they confiscate any that come out?

Not sure how many staff members in lunch and yes they confiscate. If it more than twice a week, they call home to retrieve phone

So surprised the school will assume liability for the electriconics. Which school is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JW has had a lot of issues, starting with administration. The principal starts off way too strong every single year (taking away cell phones in a bin, screaming that kids can not move seats in lunch to talk to others, and cracking down on things in the hall.) Then it gets super laxed. Then he leaves to another school and the school is just a mess. There is always a new principal every year that has no idea what they are doing.

Cell phones are everywhere, all bathrooms smell like vape or weed and the lunchroom is so chaotic that many kids try to eat in teacher's classrooms. There is a ton of relentless bullying and the 8th graders last year and this year are by far the worst. Boys and girls equally. Multiple fist fights a week too.

The PE department is strong, but they are way too laxed on changing and the kids are all in crocs. Most other middle schoolers, the kids need to be out of denim and have sneakers on every PE class.

There is zero dress code policy at JW besides hats and hoods being up. A lot of girls wearing sports bras as shirts to school which seems really weird.

Phone policy is too laxed. Kids use them all day and also all lunch period and in PE as well.

Teachers are hit or miss. Band/Chorus not that good. Theater I is super weak. Clubs are only attended so the kids can hang out in the halls, make-up, or goof off. They don't have strong clubs like best buddies or community service that other middle schools do.

Counseling is beyond over stressed. They need at least 3 more counselors for the demand. They did finally get a social worker, but she is only in for 1-2 days a week as she is shared by multiple schools. There is just not enough resources for these kids.

The worst part about JW is it is the only school that goes to RM. Most other high schools have 2 middle schools that feed in and you can make new friends. RM only has the IB kids who tend to keep to themselves as the high school has so many issues too.

We ended up pulling our sophomore out to private school this year and our current 7th grader(who we were hoping would have a bette year and is not) is going to private next year. We are just not happy with the RM cluster except for elementary.

As JW parent I agree with some of this. However, I am wondering how do you know all this stuff? Ie, I have no clue what other kids are wearing to school or what they do in clubs? Also as far as I know phone use is allowed during lunch.
May be I am a bit more "hands off" than "DCUM approved"? I do care about grades, but beyond that kids should figure out how to live in the complex society and "fight their own battles" so to speak.
FWIW, I only had to deal with counselor once for a class change and they responded in timely manner and resolved the issue. I dont think DS even knows (or cares) who his counselor is.

I have kids at another MCMS and phones are not allowed at lunch at all. They are strict.

The one thing I noticed about JW is they have no one running traffic or carpool in the afternoons. Maybe it was only the few times I have driven by but it is so chaotic and we were stuck waiting 20+ minutes to pass the school on the road that leads to 270. When we pass, we see no one at the turn in or near the circle. Not sure who employees them but we have 2 people each day running our carpool line so it goes smooth.

They have enough staffing to control phones in the lunch room... impressive. And they confiscate any that come out?

Not sure how many staff members in lunch and yes they confiscate. If it more than twice a week, they call home to retrieve phone

So surprised the school will assume liability for the electriconics. Which school is this?

JW’s principal has a cell phone bin and walks around and confiscated phones. He just isn’t there anymore. Most well run schools do this. JW just isn’t well run when we always have interim principals.

[Anonymous]

Interim principals runs the school. School is very large.

You can guess ...

[Anonymous]

Why is the principal principaling somewhere else? Is it a rotational program?

[Anonymous]

When there is a principal intern at a school the current principal is temporarily reassigned to another school until the principal intern leaves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When there is a principal intern at a school the current principal is temporarily reassigned to another school until the principal intern leaves.

Why it happens at JW so regularly? Is it main training place among all MS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When there is a principal intern at a school the current principal is temporarily reassigned to another school until the principal intern leaves.

Why it happens at JW so regularly? Is it main training place among all MS?

That’s a great question but it sucks. It is not the school to bring brand new principals into for a trial period and it has happened the past 3 years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interim principals runs the school. School is very large.

You can guess ...

It’s bad

[Anonymous]

7th grader at JW.

The shift from elementary to middle school is massive. Fights, vaping, weed, social media, chaos in the hallways, kids starting food fights...I feel like it is your archetypical middle school experience these days, for better or for worse.

My kid is in honors classes, straight As thus far. Some teachers are better than others, which is true of all schools. Kid had enjoyed PE and art, it's a nice break from the other work and evidently the teachers for these classes have some personality, which makes them highly entertaining classes. Kid has also had the same language teacher both years and enjoys the class/teacher/relationship. Worshipped last year's math teacher, who unfortunately left.

It's earlier than I would have liked to have to talk about making good choices about friend groups, vaping, weed, sex, fights, and the like but it is what it is. My kid is certainly getting lessons in life, equity, equality, randomness, privilege, wealth (e.g., kids whose parents have died, who have to take care of younger siblings, whose lives were washed away in floods, kids living in $1M+ homes,) and how much that can have an impact on your options now and down the line. They need these lessons. Do I wish they could have come at 16 rather than 11? Yup. But that's not the world we live in any more.

I am pleased with the education, academic and life lessons alike. My kid is learning stuff now that I learned in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7th grader at JW.

The shift from elementary to middle school is massive. Fights, vaping, weed, social media, chaos in the hallways, kids starting food fights...I feel like it is your archetypical middle school experience these days, for better or for worse.

My kid is in honors classes, straight As thus far. Some teachers are better than others, which is true of all schools. Kid had enjoyed PE and art, it's a nice break from the other work and evidently the teachers for these classes have some personality, which makes them highly entertaining classes. Kid has also had the same language teacher both years and enjoys the class/teacher/relationship. Worshipped last year's math teacher, who unfortunately left.

It's earlier than I would have liked to have to talk about making good choices about friend groups, vaping, weed, sex, fights, and the like but it is what it is. My kid is certainly getting lessons in life, equity, equality, randomness, privilege, wealth (e.g., kids whose parents have died, who have to take care of younger siblings, whose lives were washed away in floods, kids living in $1M+ homes,) and how much that can have an impact on your options now and down the line. They need these lessons. Do I wish they could have come at 16 rather than 11? Yup. But that's not the world we live in any more.

I am pleased with the education, academic and life lessons alike. My kid is learning stuff now that I learned in high school.

Who was the math teacher who left?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:7th grader at JW.

The shift from elementary to middle school is massive. Fights, vaping, weed, social media, chaos in the hallways, kids starting food fights...I feel like it is your archetypical middle school experience these days, for better or for worse.

My kid is in honors classes, straight As thus far. Some teachers are better than others, which is true of all schools. Kid had enjoyed PE and art, it's a nice break from the other work and evidently the teachers for these classes have some personality, which makes them highly entertaining classes. Kid has also had the same language teacher both years and enjoys the class/teacher/relationship. Worshipped last year's math teacher, who unfortunately left.

It's earlier than I would have liked to have to talk about making good choices about friend groups, vaping, weed, sex, fights, and the like but it is what it is. My kid is certainly getting lessons in life, equity, equality, randomness, privilege, wealth (e.g., kids whose parents have died, who have to take care of younger siblings, whose lives were washed away in floods, kids living in $1M+ homes,) and how much that can have an impact on your options now and down the line. They need these lessons. Do I wish they could have come at 16 rather than 11? Yup. But that's not the world we live in any more.

I am pleased with the education, academic and life lessons alike. My kid is learning stuff now that I learned in high school.

Who was the math teacher who left?

Anothe JW parent of 7th grader. DS also mentioned liking his math teacher last year. Quite a surprise since he had always hated math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JW has had a lot of issues, starting with administration. The principal starts off way too strong every single year (taking away cell phones in a bin, screaming that kids can not move seats in lunch to talk to others, and cracking down on things in the hall.) Then it gets super laxed. Then he leaves to another school and the school is just a mess. There is always a new principal every year that has no idea what they are doing.

Cell phones are everywhere, all bathrooms smell like vape or weed and the lunchroom is so chaotic that many kids try to eat in teacher's classrooms. There is a ton of relentless bullying and the 8th graders last year and this year are by far the worst. Boys and girls equally. Multiple fist fights a week too.

The PE department is strong, but they are way too laxed on changing and the kids are all in crocs. Most other middle schoolers, the kids need to be out of denim and have sneakers on every PE class.

There is zero dress code policy at JW besides hats and hoods being up. A lot of girls wearing sports bras as shirts to school which seems really weird.

Phone policy is too laxed. Kids use them all day and also all lunch period and in PE as well.

Teachers are hit or miss. Band/Chorus not that good. Theater I is super weak. Clubs are only attended so the kids can hang out in the halls, make-up, or goof off. They don't have strong clubs like best buddies or community service that other middle schools do.

Counseling is beyond over stressed. They need at least 3 more counselors for the demand. They did finally get a social worker, but she is only in for 1-2 days a week as she is shared by multiple schools. There is just not enough resources for these kids.

The worst part about JW is it is the only school that goes to RM. Most other high schools have 2 middle schools that feed in and you can make new friends. RM only has the IB kids who tend to keep to themselves as the high school has so many issues too.

We ended up pulling our sophomore out to private school this year and our current 7th grader(who we were hoping would have a bette year and is not) is going to private next year. We are just not happy with the RM cluster except for elementary.

As JW parent I agree with some of this. However, I am wondering how do you know all this stuff? Ie, I have no clue what other kids are wearing to school or what they do in clubs? Also as far as I know phone use is allowed during lunch.
May be I am a bit more "hands off" than "DCUM approved"? I do care about grades, but beyond that kids should figure out how to live in the complex society and "fight their own battles" so to speak.
FWIW, I only had to deal with counselor once for a class change and they responded in timely manner and resolved the issue. I dont think DS even knows (or cares) who his counselor is.

Same here, PP. I don’t know a lot of this stuff. I’ve picked my kid and friends up a few times after school at JW and never noticed anything about what the kids were wearing.