Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
I applied for a PreS spot, only a last resort, really LAST resort and only if I couldn't afford to keep her in daycare, that is, if I didn't get into a school I really wanted. I applied because I want my child to be bilingual and bi-literate in Spanish. A friend and I visited the school about 2 years ago and we both were not impressed. We were actually turned off. I thank God that my little one got a spot at a bilingual DCPS. To be honest, I really don't think I could send my child to MMB. My husband thought I was crazy to even apply. |
Anonymous
| You only need a lottery if there are more applicants than spaces available. Being offered a space on the spot probably means they've had very few people apply. |
Anonymous
OP Here...Yea, I applied as a last resort as well. But by the sound of things, i'll probably turn it down. My DD is currently with her grandmother, who has a small in-home daycare of 6 kids. She's very bright, and probably knows alot of what will be taught in PS3. But I would like for her to go to preschool to learn social skills, and have a teacher who isn't her grandmother. However, this does not sound like the place for her. Thanks for everyone feedback. |
Anonymous
| My daughter has been at MMB for the since Kindergarten and she is now in the 5th grade. Like most charter schools it has gone through some growing pains, but never at the cost of my daughter's education. She is fluent in Spanish and has scored Advanced on her DCCAS for the past 3 years. I think that you should give the school a chance because you will always be able to find previous parents who have something bad to say about any school. |
Anonymous
|
I am also a Brokland resident but I do not consider my residence to be "in the hood" as it was stated in an earlier thread nor is the school in "the hood". The school is in quiet residental neighborhood with students from the same area.
My daughter currently attends Mary McLeod Bethune; this is her second year there. She and I both love the school. She has definitely picked up Spanish through the Spanish immersion program to the point where we can have conversations in Spanish. I haven't had ANY problems with the school, i.e. bullying, fighting, etc. I understand that we want the best for our children but making up untrue statements about the school is not right; form your own opinion and go to an open house. See for yourself because sometimes whats good for one doesn't necessarily mean its good for the other. |
Anonymous
|
My son graduated from MMB last year. He had a great experience. I am unaware of any other middle school that takes it's entire 8th grade population our of the country as a graduation gift/school trip. Like the last person said, some problems that we had at other schools (gangs, fights or violence in general) was not prevalent there. The school offers 3 teachers in most classrooms, therefore most of the students needs are met. MMB was one of 4 Charter Schools in the entire district that made AYP. Those reasons alone should make you consider the school. Of course the school is not perfect, HOWEVER, the good easily outweighs the bad.
|
Anonymous
Whatever! There is NO buzz about this school. |
Anonymous
| 3 years ago there was NO buzz about Stokes |
Anonymous
That's funny, because in my opinion, there was alot of buzz about Stokes. We were waitlisted. |
Anonymous
|
Visited Mary McLeod Bethune recently. Had a discussion with the registrar, the guy who runs the immersion programs, and one of the teachers. They're changing the way they're running the immersion program for next year. It's going to be half day English, half day Spanish. Think they were doing it "one teacher, one language" or something previously.
They have opened up another preschool class due to demand (could it be due to this thread in part??) so there is still space -- and opportunity to populate preschool class with some DCUMers. Facilities were all right, not fantastic. Certainly plenty of outdoor space and a playground etc. Little kids and big kids are kept separatel Middle school kids are on a separate floor of the school (the former Slowe school in Brookland). Certainly better than what Mundo Verde is going to have. The aftercare is run in the library/computer center. They said it was a "family business" which seems kind of odd. The son of the principal (or was it president?) runs it. We like the idea of immersion. Know we're not getting into Stokes because siblings took up all the spots. Know chances are slim at LAMB and even Mundo Verde. We could keep our kid at his daycare (which he loves). Or we could take a chance on Mary McLeod Bethune. Has anyone else visited? Or planning on it? |
Anonymous
Could be interesting. From the website: Foreign Language - All students take a foreign [b]language. Beginning in prekindergarten, students learn Spanish in a language immersion environment. Language immersion in Spanish continues in kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 2. Beginning in grade 3, students have Spanish instruction class daily.[/b] Is it still immersion for grades 3 and up? |
Anonymous
| PP, hmm, not sure. That seems odd. Didn't realize. Worth a phone call to ask. Perhaps they just mean the percentage in Spanish goes down (as it does at LAMB for ex). |
Anonymous
| Spanish is a subject instead (FLES model) when you get to the 3rd grade +. So you'll get between 45-180 hours a week as opposed to half the day in spanish. |
Anonymous
| I am very proud to say that my DS will be attending MMB in the fall! Can't wait to meet other Pre-K 3 parents, is there a listserve or group for new parents to the school? |
Anonymous
| PP, that's great. Did you ask the school about a listserv? Have you met any other parents? What did you like about the school? Please tell us more. |