Creative Minds Int'l PCS Lottery?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a little disappointed that KaBoom! is going to build a new playgound across the street from an existing one.

With some focused commitment from families and the communty, the playground across the street could be cleaned up. The mission of KaBOOM! is to create great playspaces through the participation and leadership of communities. Ultimately, we envision a place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

So why would they create a new one when there exists one across the street?

Now, we can have a discussion around the one across the street needing to be upgraded - I absolutely agree.

I've used that playground across the street a few times. I'm not terribly familiar with it, but recall that it's quiet serviceable and even nice. What's "wrong" with it? Besides that it's across the street. (Which I agree isn't optimal). Any issues with it that deserve the label "dreadful?"

[Anonymous]

We got our postcard today. This whole process sucks. We're over 150 at a SCHOOL THAT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST YET.

Sucks. That said, when I called to ask about the timing of notification the guy I spoke to was rude, so perhaps we're better off elsewhere anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a little disappointed that KaBoom! is going to build a new playgound across the street from an existing one.

With some focused commitment from families and the communty, the playground across the street could be cleaned up. The mission of KaBOOM! is to create great playspaces through the participation and leadership of communities. Ultimately, we envision a place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

So why would they create a new one when there exists one across the street?

Now, we can have a discussion around the one across the street needing to be upgraded - I absolutely agree.

There will be hundreds of kids going to school in that building. You don think they need a playground?

I absolutely agree that they need a playground - I am just asking why they can not use the one across the street?

[Anonymous]

As a playground, the one across the street is perfectly fine. The equipment is nice enough, and it's pretty clean for a high traffic public place. But there's the rub - it's a high traffic public place. When I was last there with my two year old, a man was passed out on the ground. I didn't feel comfortable approaching him with my young child in tow, so asked another mom I had just met to keep an eye on my child while I checked if the guy was ok. He was bleeding from the head, I couldn't rouse him, and ended up calling 911. Turned out he was dead drunk and had hurt himself falling off the bench. Multiple men came up to me later and thanked me for calling the cops (because they clearly didn't feel comfortable doing so themselves). I think the schools will need a security guard or something to make sure that the children are safe there when there is a high young child to adult ratio. At least on the weekend, a lot of men hang out around there. Not sure how it is during the week.

This wouldn't sway me from sending my child to school at CM or MV, but they will have to address the issue - I do think having their own playground, especially for the preschoolers/K, would be a better idea...and it sounds like that's what they're doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a playground, the one across the street is perfectly fine. The equipment is nice enough, and it's pretty clean for a high traffic public place. But there's the rub - it's a high traffic public place. When I was last there with my two year old, a man was passed out on the ground. I didn't feel comfortable approaching him with my young child in tow, so asked another mom I had just met to keep an eye on my child while I checked if the guy was ok. He was bleeding from the head, I couldn't rouse him, and ended up calling 911. Turned out he was dead drunk and had hurt himself falling off the bench. Multiple men came up to me later and thanked me for calling the cops (because they clearly didn't feel comfortable doing so themselves). I think the schools will need a security guard or something to make sure that the children are safe there when there is a high young child to adult ratio. At least on the weekend, a lot of men hang out around there. Not sure how it is during the week.

This wouldn't sway me from sending my child to school at CM or MV, but they will have to address the issue - I do think having their own playground, especially for the preschoolers/K, would be a better idea...and it sounds like that's what they're doing.

I thought one thing KaBOOM! was working on was joint use - opening up playgrounds so that they were not single use - for example only for a school. Wouldn't creating a playground soley for CM / MV be in conflict w this principle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a playground, the one across the street is perfectly fine. The equipment is nice enough, and it's pretty clean for a high traffic public place. But there's the rub - it's a high traffic public place. When I was last there with my two year old, a man was passed out on the ground. I didn't feel comfortable approaching him with my young child in tow, so asked another mom I had just met to keep an eye on my child while I checked if the guy was ok. He was bleeding from the head, I couldn't rouse him, and ended up calling 911. Turned out he was dead drunk and had hurt himself falling off the bench. Multiple men came up to me later and thanked me for calling the cops (because they clearly didn't feel comfortable doing so themselves). I think the schools will need a security guard or something to make sure that the children are safe there when there is a high young child to adult ratio. At least on the weekend, a lot of men hang out around there. Not sure how it is during the week.

This wouldn't sway me from sending my child to school at CM or MV, but they will have to address the issue - I do think having their own playground, especially for the preschoolers/K, would be a better idea...and it sounds like that's what they're doing.

I thought one thing KaBOOM! was working on was joint use - opening up playgrounds so that they were not single use - for example only for a school. Wouldn't creating a playground soley for CM / MV be in conflict w this principle?

If they're creating a playground to be shared between two schools I think that's a pretty resourceful, unconventional plan, so perhaps this fits their model.

[Anonymous]

We got our postcard today too. WL# 51. Anybody know how many spaces they have for PS3? I wonder how far they will move through the WL by September...

[Anonymous]

The playground across the street is often used by homeless/drunk people. I've frequently seen drunk men in there. And I don't think the playground is fenced in, or am I wrong about this? I've no idea how they're going to keep an eye on so many kids if there is no fence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The playground across the street is often used by homeless/drunk people. I've frequently seen drunk men in there. And I don't think the playground is fenced in, or am I wrong about this? I've no idea how they're going to keep an eye on so many kids if there is no fence.

The playground is fenced in-- the admins at CM and MV are aware of the issues around the homeless men (and it is not everyday but corresponds to the scheduled events at the church next door). I believe that the goals is to make the park viable for both schools and develop additional space behind the CM/MV new buildings. There will be a lot of kids between the two schools and the younger children need adequate space that is close by. The older children would be able to walk further to utilize Meridian or Rock Creek Park a few times per week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got our postcard today too. WL# 51. Anybody know how many spaces they have for PS3? I wonder how far they will move through the WL by September...

We're in the 50s as well. I think there were a total of 30 spaces (2 classes each) for PS3, PK, & K.

And I agree that the competition for slots appears ridiculous. Even with crossover between charter lotteries -- we entered three -- there must be 400+ families seeking placement for the PS & PK kids. I can only hope that it means that this will drive more motivated parents to re-examine their local Title I DCPS, which is where we'll be sending DC next year.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP that mentioned the Kaboom project. There is absolutely no info about the project except that it has CM's name on it. So go ahead and get all fired up about the fact that Kaboom is doing something outside of their mission when you have no idea what that something is. Yay DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got our postcard today too. WL# 51. Anybody know how many spaces they have for PS3? I wonder how far they will move through the WL by September...

We're in the 50s as well. I think there were a total of 30 spaces (2 classes each) for PS3, PK, & K.

And I agree that the competition for slots appears ridiculous. Even with crossover between charter lotteries -- we entered three -- there must be 400+ families seeking placement for the PS & PK kids. I can only hope that it means that this will drive more motivated parents to re-examine their local Title I DCPS, which is where we'll be sending DC next year.

I wouldn't be so sure that you have no chance of getting in. You entered the lotteries for 3 schools, we entered for 9 chartered and 6 DCPS and so far have only gotten into our DCPS (ps3). We have waiting list numbers from the teen's, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 100+.
I think our situation is much more common, that most people enter into way more than three charter lotteries and a lot movement will go on in the next few weeks as families decide what will really work for them and the waitlists get smaller--in the 50's for a brand new charter is pretty good. It is only April and mist schools haven't even had their enrollment due dates yet so it really is almost impossible to know what will happen until late August, even into the school year.

I hope you get into Creative Minds or other charter that you are interested in, but if not I hope you can make your DCPS work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got our postcard today too. WL# 51. Anybody know how many spaces they have for PS3? I wonder how far they will move through the WL by September...

We're in the 50s as well. I think there were a total of 30 spaces (2 classes each) for PS3, PK, & K.

And I agree that the competition for slots appears ridiculous. Even with crossover between charter lotteries -- we entered three -- there must be 400+ families seeking placement for the PS & PK kids. I can only hope that it means that this will drive more motivated parents to re-examine their local Title I DCPS, which is where we'll be sending DC next year.

I wouldn't be so sure that you have no chance of getting in. You entered the lotteries for 3 schools, we entered for 9 chartered and 6 DCPS and so far have only gotten into our DCPS (ps3). We have waiting list numbers from the teen's, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 100+.
I think our situation is much more common, that most people enter into way more than three charter lotteries and a lot movement will go on in the next few weeks as families decide what will really work for them and the waitlists get smaller--in the 50's for a brand new charter is pretty good. It is only April and mist schools haven't even had their enrollment due dates yet so it really is almost impossible to know what will happen until late August, even into the school year.

I hope you get into Creative Minds or other charter that you are interested in, but if not I hope you can make your DCPS work.

I really hope there's significant waitlist movement over the next month. But I also think that there are lots of families that will hold onto multiple spaces through the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got our postcard today too. WL# 51. Anybody know how many spaces they have for PS3? I wonder how far they will move through the WL by September...

We're in the 50s as well. I think there were a total of 30 spaces (2 classes each) for PS3, PK, & K.

And I agree that the competition for slots appears ridiculous. Even with crossover between charter lotteries -- we entered three -- there must be 400+ families seeking placement for the PS & PK kids. I can only hope that it means that this will drive more motivated parents to re-examine their local Title I DCPS, which is where we'll be sending DC next year.

I wouldn't be so sure that you have no chance of getting in. You entered the lotteries for 3 schools, we entered for 9 chartered and 6 DCPS and so far have only gotten into our DCPS (ps3). We have waiting list numbers from the teen's, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 100+.
I think our situation is much more common, that most people enter into way more than three charter lotteries and a lot movement will go on in the next few weeks as families decide what will really work for them and the waitlists get smaller--in the 50's for a brand new charter is pretty good. It is only April and mist schools haven't even had their enrollment due dates yet so it really is almost impossible to know what will happen until late August, even into the school year.

I hope you get into Creative Minds or other charter that you are interested in, but if not I hope you can make your DCPS work.

I really hope there's significant waitlist movement over the next month. But I also think that there are lots of families that will hold onto multiple spaces through the summer.

Sorry to break it to you, but you need to settle in for a long summer. If there's significant waitlist movement in May, then it would be the first time, ever. Significant waitlist movement just doesn't happen until August/September. On the plus side, 50s is very good for a brand new school. And at the end of the day, if you'll take any available PS3 spot, then guaranteed DCPS will have some in the fall. They may not claim to have them now, and they probably won't be your first or second choices, but there will definitely be SOME.

[Anonymous]

I'm one of the PP who mentioned concerns about the playground across the street. We're in the 70s on waitlist for CM and in the 300s for MV, so unlikely we'll get into either, but as someone who lives in the neighborhood, what I've seen is homeless people hanging out/sleeping, lots of trash littered around, and parents yelling and swearing at their kids ("get your a** the h*** over here" and the like). For those reasons, we usually walk farther to Kalorama or Pierce parks. If we got in to CM, we'd take the slot and deal and try to improve the playground situation, but its not great.