New to FCPS, school not responding

[Anonymous]

You have to physically go there.

[Anonymous]

It’s no longer a responsive school system. Don’t ever think they work for you. They do what they want when they want, and their unstated motto is “take it or leave it.”

[Anonymous]

OP is a millennial or gen z mama who is scared of voice mail and talking to people, everything must be done via email or text. She just needs to buck up and go to the school during the office hours. She needs to learn how to talk to people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does one get in touch with a new school, we don’t know anyone. They are supposed to have limited staff few hours a day per automated message.

GO TO THE SCHOOL. BE BRAVE, SWEETIE, GO IN PERSON. YOU CAN DO IT. I BELIEVE IN YOU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s no longer a responsive school system. Don’t ever think they work for you. They do what they want when they want, and their unstated motto is “take it or leave it.”

Well, that is an accurate statement,nobody at the school works for parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one get in touch with a new school, we don’t know anyone. They are supposed to have limited staff few hours a day per automated message.

GO TO THE SCHOOL. BE BRAVE, SWEETIE, GO IN PERSON. YOU CAN DO IT. I BELIEVE IN YOU.

Rude

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s no longer a responsive school system. Don’t ever think they work for you. They do what they want when they want, and their unstated motto is “take it or leave it.”

So much this. It should be in big letters on their website. I'm so glad the superintendent makes so much money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one get in touch with a new school, we don’t know anyone. They are supposed to have limited staff few hours a day per automated message.

GO TO THE SCHOOL. BE BRAVE, SWEETIE, GO IN PERSON. YOU CAN DO IT. I BELIEVE IN YOU.

You do realize they don’t respond to most emails because they don’t want anything in writing, right? That way there’s no paper trail of any conversations and nothing that can potentially come up in an investigation someday if it should come to that. One of my kids did 2 years in the special education preschool program and his teacher was super communicative by email/app about routine stuff. A weekly email home, pictures and updates sent through Talking Points, routine emails about “Larlo dropped his cup at school and it cracked and broke, can you send in a new one for him tomorrow?” Totally normal. The second there was a problem or concern - phone call. I’d write an email to the teachers and the lead teacher would respond quickly with a phone call, or even in one case, a meeting in person, because that limits their legal liability if there’s no paper trail.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to FCPS.

I would stop by the school. Be warned- I have never met a nice registrar in FCPS. If you are enrolling and elementary school kid the registrar will be convinced that your child is behind. Don't believe them. Stand your ground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one get in touch with a new school, we don’t know anyone. They are supposed to have limited staff few hours a day per automated message.

GO TO THE SCHOOL. BE BRAVE, SWEETIE, GO IN PERSON. YOU CAN DO IT. I BELIEVE IN YOU.

You do realize they don’t respond to most emails because they don’t want anything in writing, right? That way there’s no paper trail of any conversations and nothing that can potentially come up in an investigation someday if it should come to that. One of my kids did 2 years in the special education preschool program and his teacher was super communicative by email/app about routine stuff. A weekly email home, pictures and updates sent through Talking Points, routine emails about “Larlo dropped his cup at school and it cracked and broke, can you send in a new one for him tomorrow?” Totally normal. The second there was a problem or concern - phone call. I’d write an email to the teachers and the lead teacher would respond quickly with a phone call, or even in one case, a meeting in person, because that limits their legal liability if there’s no paper trail.

THIS...they hate emails. Get everything in writing with FCPS!! Trust no one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the school has hours posted, like 9-12, I'd just go to the school.

But what if that makes OP feel uncomfortable

I can’t believe this is how things are nowadays

The school didn’t respond to me!

Did you go to the school?

No I call on Sunday at 9am and didn’t leave a message

Did you send an email?

I don’t know who to send it to!

Maybe go to the school then

But that’s scary and they might be rude to me

Or alternatively you visited the fcps website found the personal documents you should bring downloaded and completed any forms and walked in and said I’d like to register my child

And they said oh hey sure we can help you or oh hey sorry glad you have everything but you need to schedule an appointment but we can help you

People be like “this people suck” which is more like code for someone didn’t meet my needs right now and that’s unacceptable to me!

[Anonymous]

I think you’ll have to wait until open house, OP.

Or, play the game; call or email the Parent Liaison and ask your questions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the school has hours posted, like 9-12, I'd just go to the school.

But what if that makes OP feel uncomfortable

I can’t believe this is how things are nowadays

The school didn’t respond to me!

Did you go to the school?

No I call on Sunday at 9am and didn’t leave a message

Did you send an email?

I don’t know who to send it to!

Maybe go to the school then

But that’s scary and they might be rude to me

Or alternatively you visited the fcps website found the personal documents you should bring downloaded and completed any forms and walked in and said I’d like to register my child

And they said oh hey sure we can help you or oh hey sorry glad you have everything but you need to schedule an appointment but we can help you

People be like “this people suck” which is more like code for someone didn’t meet my needs right now and that’s unacceptable to me!

Hi Gatehouse or some pissed off admin

[Anonymous]

OP. Wow some real vituperative posters above.
What did I write that made you so angry and sarcastic?!

I had left two voicemails and sent an email copying multiple people. I have had a very busy couple of weeks (single mom) so couldn't go in person but wow. Tax dollars at work here. How rude not to respond. Yes, new to FCPS from a big private. Yes will shift expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one get in touch with a new school, we don’t know anyone. They are supposed to have limited staff few hours a day per automated message.

GO TO THE SCHOOL. BE BRAVE, SWEETIE, GO IN PERSON. YOU CAN DO IT. I BELIEVE IN YOU.

Rude

You think it's rude because it's you.