Immersion program may leave gunston

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit blindsided by this. There is already a recommendation before any community engagement? This should be part of any MS boundary process. The Montessori program is also at Gunston. I share the concerns already voiced about how well Gunston has integrated the immersion program into the school. Montessori is a stand alone program so if they need more space it would make more sense to me for that one to move.

If there weren't a recommendation, there would be nothing for the community to discuss.
Gunston is overcrowded and is expected to become increasingly overcrowded. Moving Montessori will eventually happen (Montessori WANTS it to happen); but immersion is a much larger program and opens a lot more seats than Montessori. Relocating the program to a location more accessible by the north part of the County will also (1) encourage more families to continue from Key to middle school immersion and (2) test how popular the immersion program beyond elementary truly is.

Do you happen to know know kenmore numbers? Won't they become overcrowded with the program.

Seems like an easy way to determine of folks will stay in Immersion and why is to poll folks about why they leave Immersion for a few years. Then make a decision on data vs assuming. If more key families leave Immersion than Claremont my guess is because they feel more comfortable with their MS then they do Gunston for reasons that have zero to do with distance and doubt Kenmore will change that. A lot of Claremont kids are at gunston regardless so the decision is easier for them.

Hence the planned comprehensive boundary changes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see neighborhoods move to Swanson from Kenmore, like the Patrick Henry apartments near Upton Hill, Boulevard Manor, etc. Then some Swanson neighborhoods may move to Hamm. Other neighborhoods may move to TJ from Kenmore, like some Barcroft neighborhoods. Some TJ neighborhoods may move to Hamm. Etc. All to reduce overcrowding in South Arlington middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit blindsided by this. There is already a recommendation before any community engagement? This should be part of any MS boundary process. The Montessori program is also at Gunston. I share the concerns already voiced about how well Gunston has integrated the immersion program into the school. Montessori is a stand alone program so if they need more space it would make more sense to me for that one to move.

If there weren't a recommendation, there would be nothing for the community to discuss.
Gunston is overcrowded and is expected to become increasingly overcrowded. Moving Montessori will eventually happen (Montessori WANTS it to happen); but immersion is a much larger program and opens a lot more seats than Montessori. Relocating the program to a location more accessible by the north part of the County will also (1) encourage more families to continue from Key to middle school immersion and (2) test how popular the immersion program beyond elementary truly is.

Do you happen to know know kenmore numbers? Won't they become overcrowded with the program.

Seems like an easy way to determine of folks will stay in Immersion and why is to poll folks about why they leave Immersion for a few years. Then make a decision on data vs assuming. If more key families leave Immersion than Claremont my guess is because they feel more comfortable with their MS then they do Gunston for reasons that have zero to do with distance and doubt Kenmore will change that. A lot of Claremont kids are at gunston regardless so the decision is easier for them.

Oh come on, you don't need years of polling data. That's ridiculous and just stalling. They did a poll of rising 6th grade Key parents this spring--that should give a pretty good picture.

We have one at Key and will need to decide between Gunston and Hamm. Our biggest reservation about Gunston is that it is very far away from our house, and an even longer trek from Yorktown (where our eldest will be). Our kid in immersion loves it, but the logistical hurdles need to be managed. I'd love a closer MS. I'd also love WL being the immersion HS, but I think that will depend on population growth in S Arl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit blindsided by this. There is already a recommendation before any community engagement? This should be part of any MS boundary process. The Montessori program is also at Gunston. I share the concerns already voiced about how well Gunston has integrated the immersion program into the school. Montessori is a stand alone program so if they need more space it would make more sense to me for that one to move.

If there weren't a recommendation, there would be nothing for the community to discuss.
Gunston is overcrowded and is expected to become increasingly overcrowded. Moving Montessori will eventually happen (Montessori WANTS it to happen); but immersion is a much larger program and opens a lot more seats than Montessori. Relocating the program to a location more accessible by the north part of the County will also (1) encourage more families to continue from Key to middle school immersion and (2) test how popular the immersion program beyond elementary truly is.

Do you happen to know know kenmore numbers? Won't they become overcrowded with the program.

Seems like an easy way to determine of folks will stay in Immersion and why is to poll folks about why they leave Immersion for a few years. Then make a decision on data vs assuming. If more key families leave Immersion than Claremont my guess is because they feel more comfortable with their MS then they do Gunston for reasons that have zero to do with distance and doubt Kenmore will change that. A lot of Claremont kids are at gunston regardless so the decision is easier for them.

Hence the planned comprehensive boundary changes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see neighborhoods move to Swanson from Kenmore, like the Patrick Henry apartments near Upton Hill, Boulevard Manor, etc. Then some Swanson neighborhoods may move to Hamm. Other neighborhoods may move to TJ from Kenmore, like some Barcroft neighborhoods. Some TJ neighborhoods may move to Hamm. Etc. All to reduce overcrowding in South Arlington middle schools.

I am still skeptical that families will chose a school that that is a mere 5-10 minutes closer merely based on that shortened distance. I mean I know certain N. Arlington schools had long distances to travel to immersion but isn't it more likely they leave immersion because they want their high performing MS and HS when grades really start to matter. I mean how many of those families would jump at the change for their kid to go to Thomas Jefferson HS despite the distance. I don't know maybe I am jaded but I just assume the attrition rate has more to do with performance than any other factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit blindsided by this. There is already a recommendation before any community engagement? This should be part of any MS boundary process. The Montessori program is also at Gunston. I share the concerns already voiced about how well Gunston has integrated the immersion program into the school. Montessori is a stand alone program so if they need more space it would make more sense to me for that one to move.

If there weren't a recommendation, there would be nothing for the community to discuss.
Gunston is overcrowded and is expected to become increasingly overcrowded. Moving Montessori will eventually happen (Montessori WANTS it to happen); but immersion is a much larger program and opens a lot more seats than Montessori. Relocating the program to a location more accessible by the north part of the County will also (1) encourage more families to continue from Key to middle school immersion and (2) test how popular the immersion program beyond elementary truly is.

Do you happen to know know kenmore numbers? Won't they become overcrowded with the program.

Seems like an easy way to determine of folks will stay in Immersion and why is to poll folks about why they leave Immersion for a few years. Then make a decision on data vs assuming. If more key families leave Immersion than Claremont my guess is because they feel more comfortable with their MS then they do Gunston for reasons that have zero to do with distance and doubt Kenmore will change that. A lot of Claremont kids are at gunston regardless so the decision is easier for them.

Hence the planned comprehensive boundary changes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see neighborhoods move to Swanson from Kenmore, like the Patrick Henry apartments near Upton Hill, Boulevard Manor, etc. Then some Swanson neighborhoods may move to Hamm. Other neighborhoods may move to TJ from Kenmore, like some Barcroft neighborhoods. Some TJ neighborhoods may move to Hamm. Etc. All to reduce overcrowding in South Arlington middle schools.

They can move the Glebe-->Swanson contingent to Hamm so that Glebe isn't chopped in half at 6th. That would make room at Swanson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit blindsided by this. There is already a recommendation before any community engagement? This should be part of any MS boundary process. The Montessori program is also at Gunston. I share the concerns already voiced about how well Gunston has integrated the immersion program into the school. Montessori is a stand alone program so if they need more space it would make more sense to me for that one to move.

If there weren't a recommendation, there would be nothing for the community to discuss.
Gunston is overcrowded and is expected to become increasingly overcrowded. Moving Montessori will eventually happen (Montessori WANTS it to happen); but immersion is a much larger program and opens a lot more seats than Montessori. Relocating the program to a location more accessible by the north part of the County will also (1) encourage more families to continue from Key to middle school immersion and (2) test how popular the immersion program beyond elementary truly is.

Do you happen to know know kenmore numbers? Won't they become overcrowded with the program.

Seems like an easy way to determine of folks will stay in Immersion and why is to poll folks about why they leave Immersion for a few years. Then make a decision on data vs assuming. If more key families leave Immersion than Claremont my guess is because they feel more comfortable with their MS then they do Gunston for reasons that have zero to do with distance and doubt Kenmore will change that. A lot of Claremont kids are at gunston regardless so the decision is easier for them.

Oh come on, you don't need years of polling data. That's ridiculous and just stalling. They did a poll of rising 6th grade Key parents this spring--that should give a pretty good picture.

We have one at Key and will need to decide between Gunston and Hamm. Our biggest reservation about Gunston is that it is very far away from our house, and an even longer trek from Yorktown (where our eldest will be). Our kid in immersion loves it, but the logistical hurdles need to be managed. I'd love a closer MS. I'd also love WL being the immersion HS, but I think that will depend on population growth in S Arl.

Its not stalling they could have done it over the past couple years. Taking a poll of 6th grade families in one year (and if APS normal poll response is any indication barely any probably responded) isn't a good data point. But anyway, I don't have access to that planning data as APS' website isn't working so no idea what it says. If the distance is an issue then I agree it needs to be moved to W-L otherwise no point in fixing it in MS and not HS, everyone will just drop out at that point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit blindsided by this. There is already a recommendation before any community engagement? This should be part of any MS boundary process. The Montessori program is also at Gunston. I share the concerns already voiced about how well Gunston has integrated the immersion program into the school. Montessori is a stand alone program so if they need more space it would make more sense to me for that one to move.

If there weren't a recommendation, there would be nothing for the community to discuss.
Gunston is overcrowded and is expected to become increasingly overcrowded. Moving Montessori will eventually happen (Montessori WANTS it to happen); but immersion is a much larger program and opens a lot more seats than Montessori. Relocating the program to a location more accessible by the north part of the County will also (1) encourage more families to continue from Key to middle school immersion and (2) test how popular the immersion program beyond elementary truly is.

Do you happen to know know kenmore numbers? Won't they become overcrowded with the program.

Seems like an easy way to determine of folks will stay in Immersion and why is to poll folks about why they leave Immersion for a few years. Then make a decision on data vs assuming. If more key families leave Immersion than Claremont my guess is because they feel more comfortable with their MS then they do Gunston for reasons that have zero to do with distance and doubt Kenmore will change that. A lot of Claremont kids are at gunston regardless so the decision is easier for them.

Oh come on, you don't need years of polling data. That's ridiculous and just stalling. They did a poll of rising 6th grade Key parents this spring--that should give a pretty good picture.

We have one at Key and will need to decide between Gunston and Hamm. Our biggest reservation about Gunston is that it is very far away from our house, and an even longer trek from Yorktown (where our eldest will be). Our kid in immersion loves it, but the logistical hurdles need to be managed. I'd love a closer MS. I'd also love WL being the immersion HS, but I think that will depend on population growth in S Arl.

Its not stalling they could have done it over the past couple years. Taking a poll of 6th grade families in one year (and if APS normal poll response is any indication barely any probably responded) isn't a good data point. But anyway, I don't have access to that planning data as APS' website isn't working so no idea what it says. If the distance is an issue then I agree it needs to be moved to W-L otherwise no point in fixing it in MS and not HS, everyone will just drop out at that point.

You mean in the middle of COVID? Yeah. That would be accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit blindsided by this. There is already a recommendation before any community engagement? This should be part of any MS boundary process. The Montessori program is also at Gunston. I share the concerns already voiced about how well Gunston has integrated the immersion program into the school. Montessori is a stand alone program so if they need more space it would make more sense to me for that one to move.

If there weren't a recommendation, there would be nothing for the community to discuss.
Gunston is overcrowded and is expected to become increasingly overcrowded. Moving Montessori will eventually happen (Montessori WANTS it to happen); but immersion is a much larger program and opens a lot more seats than Montessori. Relocating the program to a location more accessible by the north part of the County will also (1) encourage more families to continue from Key to middle school immersion and (2) test how popular the immersion program beyond elementary truly is.

Do you happen to know know kenmore numbers? Won't they become overcrowded with the program.

Seems like an easy way to determine of folks will stay in Immersion and why is to poll folks about why they leave Immersion for a few years. Then make a decision on data vs assuming. If more key families leave Immersion than Claremont my guess is because they feel more comfortable with their MS then they do Gunston for reasons that have zero to do with distance and doubt Kenmore will change that. A lot of Claremont kids are at gunston regardless so the decision is easier for them.

Oh come on, you don't need years of polling data. That's ridiculous and just stalling. They did a poll of rising 6th grade Key parents this spring--that should give a pretty good picture.

We have one at Key and will need to decide between Gunston and Hamm. Our biggest reservation about Gunston is that it is very far away from our house, and an even longer trek from Yorktown (where our eldest will be). Our kid in immersion loves it, but the logistical hurdles need to be managed. I'd love a closer MS. I'd also love WL being the immersion HS, but I think that will depend on population growth in S Arl.

Its not stalling they could have done it over the past couple years. Taking a poll of 6th grade families in one year (and if APS normal poll response is any indication barely any probably responded) isn't a good data point. But anyway, I don't have access to that planning data as APS' website isn't working so no idea what it says. If the distance is an issue then I agree it needs to be moved to W-L otherwise no point in fixing it in MS and not HS, everyone will just drop out at that point.

You mean in the middle of COVID? Yeah. That would be accurate.

Well the discussions started in 2017 so before covid. The fact that folks are acting like it has nothing to do with wanting to avoid the rep Gunston has is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit blindsided by this. There is already a recommendation before any community engagement? This should be part of any MS boundary process. The Montessori program is also at Gunston. I share the concerns already voiced about how well Gunston has integrated the immersion program into the school. Montessori is a stand alone program so if they need more space it would make more sense to me for that one to move.

If there weren't a recommendation, there would be nothing for the community to discuss.
Gunston is overcrowded and is expected to become increasingly overcrowded. Moving Montessori will eventually happen (Montessori WANTS it to happen); but immersion is a much larger program and opens a lot more seats than Montessori. Relocating the program to a location more accessible by the north part of the County will also (1) encourage more families to continue from Key to middle school immersion and (2) test how popular the immersion program beyond elementary truly is.

Do you happen to know know kenmore numbers? Won't they become overcrowded with the program.

Seems like an easy way to determine of folks will stay in Immersion and why is to poll folks about why they leave Immersion for a few years. Then make a decision on data vs assuming. If more key families leave Immersion than Claremont my guess is because they feel more comfortable with their MS then they do Gunston for reasons that have zero to do with distance and doubt Kenmore will change that. A lot of Claremont kids are at gunston regardless so the decision is easier for them.

Hence the planned comprehensive boundary changes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see neighborhoods move to Swanson from Kenmore, like the Patrick Henry apartments near Upton Hill, Boulevard Manor, etc. Then some Swanson neighborhoods may move to Hamm. Other neighborhoods may move to TJ from Kenmore, like some Barcroft neighborhoods. Some TJ neighborhoods may move to Hamm. Etc. All to reduce overcrowding in South Arlington middle schools.

They can move the Glebe-->Swanson contingent to Hamm so that Glebe isn't chopped in half at 6th. That would make room at Swanson.

Halls Hill Highview Park should’ve been zoned to the new Dorothy Hamm Middle School when it opened. That’s the neighborhood that desegregated the old Stratford Junior High School (now Hamm).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit blindsided by this. There is already a recommendation before any community engagement? This should be part of any MS boundary process. The Montessori program is also at Gunston. I share the concerns already voiced about how well Gunston has integrated the immersion program into the school. Montessori is a stand alone program so if they need more space it would make more sense to me for that one to move.

If there weren't a recommendation, there would be nothing for the community to discuss.
Gunston is overcrowded and is expected to become increasingly overcrowded. Moving Montessori will eventually happen (Montessori WANTS it to happen); but immersion is a much larger program and opens a lot more seats than Montessori. Relocating the program to a location more accessible by the north part of the County will also (1) encourage more families to continue from Key to middle school immersion and (2) test how popular the immersion program beyond elementary truly is.

Do you happen to know know kenmore numbers? Won't they become overcrowded with the program.

Seems like an easy way to determine of folks will stay in Immersion and why is to poll folks about why they leave Immersion for a few years. Then make a decision on data vs assuming. If more key families leave Immersion than Claremont my guess is because they feel more comfortable with their MS then they do Gunston for reasons that have zero to do with distance and doubt Kenmore will change that. A lot of Claremont kids are at gunston regardless so the decision is easier for them.

Hence the planned comprehensive boundary changes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see neighborhoods move to Swanson from Kenmore, like the Patrick Henry apartments near Upton Hill, Boulevard Manor, etc. Then some Swanson neighborhoods may move to Hamm. Other neighborhoods may move to TJ from Kenmore, like some Barcroft neighborhoods. Some TJ neighborhoods may move to Hamm. Etc. All to reduce overcrowding in South Arlington middle schools.

I am still skeptical that families will chose a school that that is a mere 5-10 minutes closer merely based on that shortened distance. I mean I know certain N. Arlington schools had long distances to travel to immersion but isn't it more likely they leave immersion because they want their high performing MS and HS when grades really start to matter. I mean how many of those families would jump at the change for their kid to go to Thomas Jefferson HS despite the distance. I don't know maybe I am jaded but I just assume the attrition rate has more to do with performance than any other factor.

I'm jaded too. Kenmore and Gunston are 13 minutes apart per Google maps, WITHOUT traffic. The time adds up both in the kids' days and in the time it takes parents to pick up or get to school for after school events. My kids are all in ES so maybe that will change in MS. We're not terribly far from our immersion ES but it is more of a pain than I realized it would be to go the extra distance vs. the neighborhood school. I still think the immersion program is worth it, but I understand families who choose a closer MS, and Wakefield is on the southern edge of Arlington. In full disclosure we decided to buy our home in South Arlington to be closer to the immersion MS and HS, so if one or both move there is little reason for us to live where we are (aside from the significant cost of moving! ha!) I know this isn't what APS will be considering, just venting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit blindsided by this. There is already a recommendation before any community engagement? This should be part of any MS boundary process. The Montessori program is also at Gunston. I share the concerns already voiced about how well Gunston has integrated the immersion program into the school. Montessori is a stand alone program so if they need more space it would make more sense to me for that one to move.

Pandemic killed community engagement.

[Anonymous]

I hope they are looking at the Nottingham closure with this. There is a small section of Nottingham south of Langston that is the only area not going to Cardinal. Obviously, Cardinal feeds to Swanson. They were identified as an odd-Nottingham-Swanson unit. Well, that's about to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit blindsided by this. There is already a recommendation before any community engagement? This should be part of any MS boundary process. The Montessori program is also at Gunston. I share the concerns already voiced about how well Gunston has integrated the immersion program into the school. Montessori is a stand alone program so if they need more space it would make more sense to me for that one to move.

Pandemic killed community engagement.

Growing up a long time ago in New England, there was no community engagement at all - not on school calendars, not on locations of schools or programs, etc. Yet we all managed to survive.

Parents don't get a say in everything. If you don't like the new location, then pull your kid from the immersion program and send them to the neighborhood school. If it's that important to you, then send them to the new location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a rising 6th grader going to Gunston next year. So this would be his 8th grade year. I feel like this school career is so full of disruptions. Now he has to transition to a new school right before he transitions to another new school for HS?

Anyway, it just kind of sucks.

Rising eighth graders are usually grandfathered.

It specifically says students will be transferred to Kenmore. Although doesn't say anything about 8th grade specifically. But I don't image they have enough teachers that ONLY teach 8th grade in the immersion program. So I don't think its that simple.

I feel like this is being presented as a done deal without community input, which is a bit jarring. Apparently the initial discussions talked about moving it to TJ or Hamm.

Sad to see it leave Gunston, but Hamm makes sense if it had to move. The school has been under-enrolled and it is more centrally located. It’s not on the edge of the county like Kenmore.

Disagree entirely. More "central" to north/east Arlington, maybe; but not to the county as a whole. Hamm is not centrally-accessible like Kenmore is. Also, Kenmore area has a higher concentration of Spanish-speaking families than the Hamm area.

+1 The immersion program is designed to have a mix of native and non-native speakers enrolled. I think the move to Kenmore makes a lot of sense, given the overcrowding at Gunston right now and the fact that Kenmore is more easily accessible to more neighborhoods than Gunston. For those of you who'd like to see the program move to Hamm, why not just advocate for a second Spanish immersion middle school location?

Also, the MS boundaries are a mess in south Arlington. They've kicked this down the road for years, and it's overdue.

[Anonymous]

Do folks really think that the reason Spanish speaking families leave immersion in MS or HS has to do with location and not them seeing a diminishing value to the program? By MS/HS most native Spanish speakers will be completely fluent in English whereas most native English speakers will still be learning Spanish and working on achieving fluency.

I think chalking it up to location seems somewhat simplistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit blindsided by this. There is already a recommendation before any community engagement? This should be part of any MS boundary process. The Montessori program is also at Gunston. I share the concerns already voiced about how well Gunston has integrated the immersion program into the school. Montessori is a stand alone program so if they need more space it would make more sense to me for that one to move.

If there weren't a recommendation, there would be nothing for the community to discuss.
Gunston is overcrowded and is expected to become increasingly overcrowded. Moving Montessori will eventually happen (Montessori WANTS it to happen); but immersion is a much larger program and opens a lot more seats than Montessori. Relocating the program to a location more accessible by the north part of the County will also (1) encourage more families to continue from Key to middle school immersion and (2) test how popular the immersion program beyond elementary truly is.

Do you happen to know know kenmore numbers? Won't they become overcrowded with the program.

Seems like an easy way to determine of folks will stay in Immersion and why is to poll folks about why they leave Immersion for a few years. Then make a decision on data vs assuming. If more key families leave Immersion than Claremont my guess is because they feel more comfortable with their MS then they do Gunston for reasons that have zero to do with distance and doubt Kenmore will change that. A lot of Claremont kids are at gunston regardless so the decision is easier for them.

Oh come on, you don't need years of polling data. That's ridiculous and just stalling. They did a poll of rising 6th grade Key parents this spring--that should give a pretty good picture.

We have one at Key and will need to decide between Gunston and Hamm. Our biggest reservation about Gunston is that it is very far away from our house, and an even longer trek from Yorktown (where our eldest will be). Our kid in immersion loves it, but the logistical hurdles need to be managed. I'd love a closer MS. I'd also love WL being the immersion HS, but I think that will depend on population growth in S Arl.

Its not stalling they could have done it over the past couple years. Taking a poll of 6th grade families in one year (and if APS normal poll response is any indication barely any probably responded) isn't a good data point. But anyway, I don't have access to that planning data as APS' website isn't working so no idea what it says. If the distance is an issue then I agree it needs to be moved to W-L otherwise no point in fixing it in MS and not HS, everyone will just drop out at that point.

You mean in the middle of COVID? Yeah. That would be accurate.

Well the discussions started in 2017 so before covid. The fact that folks are acting like it has nothing to do with wanting to avoid the rep Gunston has is ridiculous.

They moved Key since then. You can't use that old info. The elementary school is in a totally different location than it was a few years ago. Stop being difficult. You're just wrong.