Parent life at DC private schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I still have no idea which schools are considered “big 3” for K. 😂

Yes you do.

[Anonymous]

Every family is different, some are more flexible and can spend more time at school events or field trips, others simply can't. Either is fine - there will be plenty of ways for you to be involved in a way that fits your schedule. No worries!

[Anonymous]

Are families receiving financial aid expected to volunteer/work more at the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I still have no idea which schools are considered “big 3” for K. 😂

Yes you do.

No, I really don’t. Some of the schools bounced around as big 3 (NCS, STA, Sidwell, GDS, I’m sure there are a couple in the mix that I’m forgetting) don’t even have K. If NCS/STA are big 3, does that mean Beauvoir is? Given that it’s a combination of things like prestige, academic rigor, and college placements that seem to be factors in why a school is big 3, how does that translate to K? Discussing anything below middle school as a “big 3/5/whatever” just seems ridiculous to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are families receiving financial aid expected to volunteer/work more at the school?

No. This is not a thing anywhere. FA places no further expectations on you than anyone else has. Your available time/money dictate how you participate and support the school, not anything else.

[Anonymous]

While many family have two working parents, there is a large number of SAHPs, and for a lot of families one parents job has a ton of flexibility.

At afternoon pickup, it’s mostly parents picking up, with maybe 30% nannies— that’s actually what I would recommend - go this spring to see how many parents are at pickup vs other caregivers and tour the aftercare.

At our school, the challenge if both parents work and you don’t have a nanny is that the kids are left out of after school activities that are organized by the parents in the grade (so not school activities) which are scheduled after school but during typical work hours.

Also lots of breaks/days off. Fine if you have a nanny, tough when your kids are young and you can’t take all of the days off work.

[Anonymous]

I don’t see why it would be any different than the time commitment public school parents make. People do what they can and/or want to do.

[Anonymous]

The parents with the ginormous houses host the parties. Sometimes they are fun. Sometimes they aren’t. But always you can be guaranteed a good flamboyant display of tastelessness … which is always entertaining. Oh, eat before you go! These houses seem to have everything except good, plentiful food. Weirdest thing ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is starting at one of the so called “Big 3s” in the fall, and I’m wondering what parent life is like. I assume most children have 2 working parents with busy/time consuming jobs (as is the case with us). Are parents expected to take off frequently for school responsibilities, such as chaperoning field trips, doing school tours, etc.? Are there social parent activities? I’m just trying to figure out what to expect and how much additional time I should be expected to spend doing activities at the school. Thanks!!

Truly as much or as little as you want. I mean, it's noticeable when a parent is very highly involved or does absolutely nothing (like, doesn't attend any functions or never contributes in any way to class parties) but no one will notice if you do the minimum or medium.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I still have no idea which schools are considered “big 3” for K. 😂

Yes you do.

No, I really don’t. Some of the schools bounced around as big 3 (NCS, STA, Sidwell, GDS, I’m sure there are a couple in the mix that I’m forgetting) don’t even have K. If NCS/STA are big 3, does that mean Beauvoir is? Given that it’s a combination of things like prestige, academic rigor, and college placements that seem to be factors in why a school is big 3, how does that translate to K? Discussing anything below middle school as a “big 3/5/whatever” just seems ridiculous to me.

Your "donation" amount is around "associate level/ friend level" whatever it's called at your school.... about $100.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is starting at one of the so called “Big 3s” in the fall, and I’m wondering what parent life is like. I assume most children have 2 working parents with busy/time consuming jobs (as is the case with us). Are parents expected to take off frequently for school responsibilities, such as chaperoning field trips, doing school tours, etc.? Are there social parent activities? I’m just trying to figure out what to expect and how much additional time I should be expected to spend doing activities at the school. Thanks!!

Truly as much or as little as you want. I mean, it's noticeable when a parent is very highly involved or does absolutely nothing (like, doesn't attend any functions or never contributes in any way to class parties) but no one will notice if you do the minimum or medium.

No one does 'nothing' at private. They donate time or money or both... always!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is starting at one of the so called “Big 3s” in the fall, and I’m wondering what parent life is like. I assume most children have 2 working parents with busy/time consuming jobs (as is the case with us). Are parents expected to take off frequently for school responsibilities, such as chaperoning field trips, doing school tours, etc.? Are there social parent activities? I’m just trying to figure out what to expect and how much additional time I should be expected to spend doing activities at the school. Thanks!!

Truly as much or as little as you want. I mean, it's noticeable when a parent is very highly involved or does absolutely nothing (like, doesn't attend any functions or never contributes in any way to class parties) but no one will notice if you do the minimum or medium.

No one does 'nothing' at private. They donate time or money or both... always!

Always is a pretty strong statement. I've seen plenty of parents do nothing. It's not the majority, most do get involved in one way or another, but there are definitely some who stay away and don't feel the need to donate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is starting at one of the so called “Big 3s” in the fall, and I’m wondering what parent life is like. I assume most children have 2 working parents with busy/time consuming jobs (as is the case with us). Are parents expected to take off frequently for school responsibilities, such as chaperoning field trips, doing school tours, etc.? Are there social parent activities? I’m just trying to figure out what to expect and how much additional time I should be expected to spend doing activities at the school. Thanks!!

First thing, go online and custom design a " #BigThree " sweatshirt for you to wear around town, as you could't resist mentioning big three in your post. Couple it with a neverfull.

[Anonymous]

Not sure how helpful this is but i think it illustrates general dynamic: at our big 3 prek (yes, absurd sounding sentence) nearly every single kid had one or more parents (maybe one had a nanny?) out to help with glasses for eclipse viewing - perhaps a special case event but more or less indicative of the engagement level. Positive thing in my view, but does require lots of one-off time commitments

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FFS - make your friends on your own and not through your children. Get a life, loser mommies.

I feel like you didn't read the post, but you do you with your misplaced anger.