BSSM Middle School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked at Saint Mary's too. I did not feel successful either. I did not get help that I needed to have the class succeed.

If the BSSM teachers are not getting the proper support, that is a leadership problem. The principal needs to step up, as does the instructional coach, to make every classroom succeed.

It is in a tough position. It cannot hire a lot of excess staff so it can keep tuition low. I see they are trying to do a lot of fundraising through the annual fund do maybe they are adding more LC support staff. They got rid of some problematic staff this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked at Saint Mary's too. I did not feel successful either. I did not get help that I needed to have the class succeed.

If the BSSM teachers are not getting the proper support, that is a leadership problem. The principal needs to step up, as does the instructional coach, to make every classroom succeed.

It is in a tough position. It cannot hire a lot of excess staff so it can keep tuition low. I see they are trying to do a lot of fundraising through the annual fund do maybe they are adding more LC support staff. They got rid of some problematic staff this year.

School parent here: with all due respect, it isn’t a tough position. The school needs to stop hiring people who don’t interact with students (multiple communications and development positions, for example). It is a school — a parochial school! Focus on student learning. Not fundraising, not art, not grottos. Learning.

Any regular parent volunteer at the school will tell you the front office needs to act professional, the excessive fundraising needs to stop, and the teachers need to be supported by the principal. This is clearly a leadership problem, not a financial problem.

[Anonymous]

Things seem fine this year. Last year was rough, no question - but hopefully it was chalked up to post-pandemic teacher shortages meant quick/poor hires. I gave benefit of doubt last year, and we seem to be in good position this year.

[Anonymous]

BSSM hired experienced teachers in the middle school this year which makes a huge difference. They seem to be passionate, excellent educators, which is a huge relief after last year.

However, the ILA teachers are ALL brand new to teaching, and the lack of classroom management skills due to inexperience can quickly lead to chaos. (Ex. 6th grade ILA) Mentoring would go a long way for these new teachers, which seems to be a common plea from BSSM parents: mentor your new teachers.

[Anonymous]

I hope teachers are getting the support they need.6th grade BSSM parent here, we have been really
Impressed with the turnaround and new teachers coming in this year. My DD is more engaged than ever in science, math and ILA.

[Anonymous]

BSSM is a great alternative to Hogwarts and should be considered by all aspiring wizard ministers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The teachers go out of their way to get the kids in trouble.

Somehow I doubt this.

Keep in mind kids in MS are harder in some respects (behavior).

Agree the math program is not optimal, but there are many ways to overcome this challenge.

Re: the shut up comment, my guess is they asked the students to be quiet in class multiple times before the shut up comment. I am fine with this - I volunteered a lot in MS and there were many students I wanted to say ‘shut up’ to regularly.

Speaking as a teacher at a different school, I don't use the words "Shut up," but I totally reserve the right to use my teacher voice and instruct a student to be quiet, pay attention, and stop disrupting the class. That will happen after I have asked politely a few times.

To do any less is a gross disservice to all the other tuition-paying kids in the classroom. Not to mention a violation of what students and parents agreed to in the student handbook.