Living in DC and sending young kids to Lycee Rochambeau in (north) Bethesda: logistical nightmare?

[Anonymous]

Any commute through downtown Bethesda (whether from the North, East, West or DC (south)) is going to be tough -- but the morning commute from South to North is the easiest because it is largely opposite to the flow of traffic. South to North is brutal at night. Because the French school is very near the Old GTown road beltway exit, there may be other options if you are one of the lucky DC residents that can get to the beltway without too much trouble.

[Anonymous]

consider moving to be closer to the school. families do it all the time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:consider moving to be closer to the school. families do it all the time

Of course! In the DC area, there is a huge geographic component to choosing a school. Not every family is prepared to have one of the spouses downgraded from a professional career to glorified bus driver for 10+ years. Choose a school and neighborhood that are reasonably near one another -- the marginal difference between the schools doesn't justify the stress on parent and child of DC traffic. AND, just a guess here, the traffic isn't getting better anytime soon.

[Anonymous]

I live in the neighborhood by the Primary School and traffic is pretty bad. Noticably worse since the move of all the Walter Reed people to Nat'l Naval - we're likely to move b/c of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in the neighborhood by the Primary School and traffic is pretty bad. Noticably worse since the move of all the Walter Reed people to Nat'l Naval - we're likely to move b/c of it.

Because of the reluctance to invest in mass transit and the long time it takes to implement coupled with the economic growth of the area, it is inevitable that traffic will get far worse with near constant grid lock near the job centers. The solution may be virtual offices, but you'll see more concentration of people near whey they work. NW DC will be even more of a village of lawyers and government employees than it already is. Tech company investors and owners will dominate the rich suburbs along with life science professionals. This will surely continue to affect school selection and lead to the creation of tech and science focused schools in the burbs. Tysons Corners will be the dominant urban center in the region in 30 years. DC has no room or capacity to grow.

[Anonymous]

Looking for Fun in FRENCH IMMERSION this Summer for your immersion-based child?

We all know how important it is to keep the kids exposed to the language at regular intervals during the Summer months to ensure an easy transition back into school in the Fall. Hi, I'm Mary (aka Madame Marie): Auntie, 10th year MCPS French Immersion super-substitute teacher, and favorite French immersion Summer kidsitter.

I'm here to fill in those days/weeks between camps - pas de panic! I also do standing, once weekly kid-dates, which are a great way to keep the immersion (specifically being put in a situation where they have no options to speak English) a regular part of their experience throughout the Summer months!

Our activities depend on how many hours/days we're together but I like to keep things interesting, and have found that a mix of laid back, old-school Summer days (sleeping in, bike riding/skateboarding in the neighborhood, Art projects, movies, walks, picnics, public libraries, Downtown Silver Spring fountain fun, exploring in the Creek, etc) with some more adventurous days that take us further from home (Museum visits, activities and events, National Zoo, downtown festivals, swimming pool, etc) works really well. That said, everything is of course, subject to the discretion of each individual family.

References available

Please feel free to contact me with inqueries at [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Looking for Fun in FRENCH IMMERSION this Summer for your immersion-based child?

We all know how important it is to keep the kids exposed to the language at regular intervals during the Summer months to ensure an easy transition back into school in the Fall. Hi, I'm Mary (aka Madame Marie): Auntie, 10th year MCPS French Immersion super-substitute teacher, and favorite French immersion Summer kidsitter.

I'm here to fill in those days/weeks between camps - pas de panic! I also do standing, once weekly kid-dates, which are a great way to keep the immersion (specifically being put in a situation where they have no options to speak English) a regular part of their experience throughout the Summer months!

Our activities depend on how many hours/days we're together but I like to keep things interesting, and have found that a mix of laid back, old-school Summer days (sleeping in, bike riding/skateboarding in the neighborhood, Art projects, movies, walks, picnics, public libraries, Downtown Silver Spring fountain fun, exploring in the Creek, etc) with some more adventurous days that take us further from home (Museum visits, activities and events, National Zoo, downtown festivals, swimming pool, etc) works really well. That said, everything is of course, subject to the discretion of each individual family.

References available

Please feel free to contact me with inqueries at [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When is your child's birthday ? My understanding was both schools required 3 by Jan1.

Per the websites, FMS requires 2.5 by August 1, Rochambeau 3 by Dec. 31 - DC falls in the January-baby gap. Who knows, maybe alumni status will buy me cut-off flexibility... Then again, who knows if DC'll be fully potty trained by 2.5 anyway.
Caterpillar is mornings only.

Rochambeau parent here. There's a 2yo class at well if potty trained and bday is Sept 1 or so. My friend considered enrolling her DC this year.

OP, we live in DC. Friends are scattered between DC/MD/VA. The Rollingwood campus is ideal for DC families, but will move closer to Forest Road in a couple of years. I wouldn't think twice about sending a 5yo on the bus.

Several families start at FMS and move to Rochambeau in CP/1st grade. That would buy you some time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in the neighborhood by the Primary School and traffic is pretty bad. Noticably worse since the move of all the Walter Reed people to Nat'l Naval - we're likely to move b/c of it.

It's not bad for me at all as I use Beach Road/RCP. I work near the White House and it takes about 25 mins from Rollingwood.

[Anonymous]

This thread is seven years old, so OP's kids are presumably sorted out at this point...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in the neighborhood by the Primary School and traffic is pretty bad. Noticably worse since the move of all the Walter Reed people to Nat'l Naval - we're likely to move b/c of it.

It's not bad for me at all as I use Beach Road/RCP. I work near the White House and it takes about 25 mins from Rollingwood.

Hmm. The earliest dropoff at Rollingwood is 8am, and even then it takes me at least 35 min to the Farragut area.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, as a Frenchwoman, I have to say Rochambeau is vastly over-rated. Don't waste your money.

[Anonymous]

This 7 year old thread was bumped by someone promoting a summer camp.

Pretty sure OP figured out what to do with her 3 yo by now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Honestly, as a Frenchwoman, I have to say Rochambeau is vastly over-rated. Don't waste your money.

Curious, what makes you feel it’s overrated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Honestly, as a Frenchwoman, I have to say Rochambeau is vastly over-rated. Don't waste your money.

Curious, what makes you feel it’s overrated?

Because the educational methods in France are a little old-fashioned, and are based on the student adapting to the teacher, and not the teacher adapting to the student, as modern educational thought recommends. Rochambeau mostly has good teachers, trained in France. If your child is bright and compliant, they will thrive. If your child has an atypical learning profile, or any special needs, etc, they will not. The American approach is more child-centric and much more knowledgeable about child development and how to positively manage certain behaviors.

Academically, the upside to the French system is that it produces much better writers. The downside is that there is less emphasis on oral expression and team -work - those are very American things.