Tell me about Holton's lower school.

[Anonymous]

PP You are correct except for that remark about the new fourth grade teacher. The newest teacher in fourth is the opposite of cold and the kids absolutely love her! She is kind and very funny and she has great experience. I have heard the 5th grade teachers are wonderful too. Overall the LS is terrific, they really do an amazing job educating those girls and the girls have a lot of fun! I could not be more pleased with our decision to go with Holton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I heard from a 12th grade mom, whose family was well regarded there that she felt that she wasted her money in the early years. Her attitude was that starting in 6th grade or 7th is reasonable. She mentioned lack of challenge and too much nicey nicey everyone is happy. She also said that math stunk, and they were glad when they got into the older grades.

The LS has changed since your daughter attended. TheJ program is amazing now with fabulous teachers particularly in fifth and sixth grade. There is a lot of new blood, young teachers with energy and experience who connect with the students. My oldest had a terrible LS experience before Susanna Jones but my youngest wonderful. The new fourth grade teacher is cold but fifth is amazing as is (most of) sixth. Two new excellent teachers in sixth.

This is generally a very positive thread, but it amazes me how specific people will get about complaining about an easily identifiable teacher. Sometimes I wish people who post those kind of things would see a post along the lines of "the mother in the green house on Main Street is cold and doesn't seem to love her children."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP You are correct except for that remark about the new fourth grade teacher. The newest teacher in fourth is the opposite of cold and the kids absolutely love her! She is kind and very funny and she has great experience. I have heard the 5th grade teachers are wonderful too. Overall the LS is terrific, they really do an amazing job educating those girls and the girls have a lot of fun! I could not be more pleased with our decision to go with Holton.

You are right maybe I jumped too soon. Only an observation because my daughter is not in her class. Yes we love LS and the last two years the most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP You are correct except for that remark about the new fourth grade teacher. The newest teacher in fourth is the opposite of cold and the kids absolutely love her! She is kind and very funny and she has great experience. I have heard the 5th grade teachers are wonderful too. Overall the LS is terrific, they really do an amazing job educating those girls and the girls have a lot of fun! I could not be more pleased with our decision to go with Holton.

You are right maybe I jumped too soon. Only an observation because my daughter is not in her class. Yes we love LS and the last two years the most.

Not a fan.
Love LS.

[Anonymous]

If the "new" teacher is who I think, my DD loves her. Each LS teacher is different in personality -- (which is great because after decades in a work environment where I am often the only female, I strongly believe our DDs, in particular, need to encounter and to be able to deal with and work with various personality types) ... but all the LS teachers are top notch educators. And the head of LS is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP You are correct except for that remark about the new fourth grade teacher. The newest teacher in fourth is the opposite of cold and the kids absolutely love her! She is kind and very funny and she has great experience. I have heard the 5th grade teachers are wonderful too. Overall the LS is terrific, they really do an amazing job educating those girls and the girls have a lot of fun! I could not be more pleased with our decision to go with Holton.

Disagree completely! She's cold and rude. She makes a big show in front of parents but I hear terrible things about how she speaks to kids.

[Anonymous]

We can't be talking about the same "new" teacher. Or even the same school. My DD is in 4th grade at Holton, and no teacher speaks badly to her. And no teacher is different to me than to her. DD has teachers she does not like - and would rather limit time with -- and some she loves, but none are as you describe to her.

[Anonymous]

We love LS. DD graduated last week and had nothing but wonderful things to say about her teachers.

[Anonymous]

Agree. Lower school exceeded our high expectations.

[Anonymous]

We liked our DD teachers through all of LS with the exception of one or two but found discipline to be way too lax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I heard from a 12th grade mom, whose family was well regarded there that she felt that she wasted her money in the early years. Her attitude was that starting in 6th grade or 7th is reasonable. She mentioned lack of challenge and too much nicey nicey everyone is happy. She also said that math stunk, and they were glad when they got into the older grades.

The LS has changed since your daughter attended. TheJ program is amazing now with fabulous teachers particularly in fifth and sixth grade. There is a lot of new blood, young teachers with energy and experience who connect with the students. My oldest had a terrible LS experience before Susanna Jones but my youngest wonderful. The new fourth grade teacher is cold but fifth is amazing as is (most of) sixth. Two new excellent teachers in sixth.

This is generally a very positive thread, but it amazes me how specific people will get about complaining about an easily identifiable teacher. Sometimes I wish people who post those kind of things would see a post along the lines of "the mother in the green house on Main Street is cold and doesn't seem to love her children."

You dont know this teacher. She is sarcastic with her students. Its rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We liked our DD teachers through all of LS with the exception of one or two but found discipline to be way too lax.

Too lax how?

[Anonymous]

Badly behaved children are not reprimanded. There have been serious issues that the director is brushing to the side.

That said our DD had a good experience in lower school, especially her last two years.

[Anonymous]

The LS is a second home to my daughter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Badly behaved children are not reprimanded. There have been serious issues that the director is brushing to the side.

That said our DD had a good experience in lower school, especially her last two years.

I agree- children who are a major distraction in class or even bullies are not reprimanded. This is because the lower school director- Patrick Bane- is completely ineffective as an administrator. He was at another school before coming to Holton and was a lower school teacher who many parents did not like. At Holton, many parents and lower students can't stand him. He is known to play favorites and can be very rude to students. I hope he leaves soon.