Questions about Crossway Community Montessori - public charter school?

[Anonymous]

Parent at the Charter here - did not know about the school prior to the lottery (this year's lottery applications due March 1). Concur with all prior comments that administrative staff is not on top of concerns, and sometimes those concerns are to do with the safety, well-being, and development of the children. They were supposed to have 3 charter classroom "guides" (head teachers) but instead opened the charter with only 2, so there are about 28 kids new to Montessori in each classroom. One classroom is almost entirely new to Montessori, the other (those who pay for aftercare) are half/half maybe of kids who previously attended Montessori - impossible to tell conclusively due to their lack of information to the parents of children attending there. My child has learned many bad behaviors since coming to the school and been treated rather roughshod - physically, emotionally, developmentally. We are considering pulling her out for the second time this year because it has gotten so bad I fear she's experiencing more developmental harm than the good that Montessori should have provided. The "guides" are unsurprisingly overwhelmed but not allowed to say so due to - as previously mentioned - the administrative leadership with personality issues. My child has asked to go to regular public school and not be sent back next year. My child is rather independent and was sent very well adept to the classroom environment and very social - pretty much all of that has been set back in their time at Crossway. I must say the lure of "free Montessori" was there, and I thought it a miraculous option, however it has been a terrible experience and I highly recommend avoiding the charter school. It is very difficult to find a parent that isn't chock-full of complaints about their experience at the charter. The classrooms of children who pay to attend the school do not have as many students and have been brought up in the Montessori system - so I imagine their guides/teachers are much less overwhelmed and may be able to do a better job. I know you "get what you pay for" but I did not think a private Montessori with a charter approved by MCPS could have done this badly when they ensured that it would be this extraordinary Montessori experience. Due to such poor treatment, about a third of the lottery-accepted charter students declined their spots by the end of August, so many from the waitlist got a spot, only to find out why there were so many spots made available during the school year ...

[Anonymous]

Sadly, I completely concur with the PP.

[Anonymous]

The schools website has very little information. Does anybody have a link to info on the Montgomery County School District website? I did a search but nothing came up. I was hoping they'd have staff/faculty info.

I'd also love to have someone elaborate on the "personality" issues that folks are talking about in previous posts.

[Anonymous]

I am also considering applying for the 2013 lottery, though concerned about these recent posts. Also my child misses the cut-off by 4 days. I was told by the director at an open house this wouldn't be a problem at all, but from what I'm reading it sounds like we would be disqualified...and never even know it? Any insights appreciated. Does anyone have insights on Crossway vs. Christian Family Montessori? Another option is the new Montessori Primary starting at St. Jerome's in Hyattsville.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what the costs are for the before and after care for the charter program? We need the full day coverage since we both work full-time.

Since this is a MCPS charter, will there be bus service available when the kids turn to school aged? I understand that they will be expanding into a lower school.

I did go to the orientation but these questions were not answered.

[Anonymous]

bump. We just got in via the lottery, and I felt great enthusiasm until reading a couple of these posts. Can anyone give further or additional information about their experiences with the charter school? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

My child has been at Crossway since she was two and she loves it. It's surprising to me to see these negative posts. There was seemingly a bit of a communications hump to get over this past school year, with some of the charter parents wanting to get more involved in day to day school functioning but I thought the school handled it well creating a Home School Association. The school did grow drastically in the past year and there were some bumps. For me there are more positives than negatives. I really like how much outdoor time the all day children get, they are alway working in the gardens. I've actually seen my daughter grow more independent and definitely want to help out in the kitchen more, they're always baking things and have been having a lot of bake sales lately. The carpool line instated this year took a bit of getting used to but it works well and cuts down on the drawn out goodbyes. Montessori isn't for everyone and you either love or hate Crossway's philosophy of community. I don't think I was as fully informed on the montessori method as I should have been when she started, but I've had good results so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent at the Charter here - did not know about the school prior to the lottery (this year's lottery applications due March 1). Concur with all prior comments that administrative staff is not on top of concerns, and sometimes those concerns are to do with the safety, well-being, and development of the children. They were supposed to have 3 charter classroom "guides" (head teachers) but instead opened the charter with only 2, so there are about 28 kids new to Montessori in each classroom. One classroom is almost entirely new to Montessori, the other (those who pay for aftercare) are half/half maybe of kids who previously attended Montessori - impossible to tell conclusively due to their lack of information to the parents of children attending there. My child has learned many bad behaviors since coming to the school and been treated rather roughshod - physically, emotionally, developmentally. We are considering pulling her out for the second time this year because it has gotten so bad I fear she's experiencing more developmental harm than the good that Montessori should have provided. The "guides" are unsurprisingly overwhelmed but not allowed to say so due to - as previously mentioned - the administrative leadership with personality issues. My child has asked to go to regular public school and not be sent back next year. My child is rather independent and was sent very well adept to the classroom environment and very social - pretty much all of that has been set back in their time at Crossway. I must say the lure of "free Montessori" was there, and I thought it a miraculous option, however it has been a terrible experience and I highly recommend avoiding the charter school. It is very difficult to find a parent that isn't chock-full of complaints about their experience at the charter. The classrooms of children who pay to attend the school do not have as many students and have been brought up in the Montessori system - so I imagine their guides/teachers are much less overwhelmed and may be able to do a better job. I know you "get what you pay for" but I did not think a private Montessori with a charter approved by MCPS could have done this badly when they ensured that it would be this extraordinary Montessori experience. Due to such poor treatment, about a third of the lottery-accepted charter students declined their spots by the end of August, so many from the waitlist got a spot, only to find out why there were so many spots made available during the school year ...

I think it would be best to pull "your child" if you're having so many issues and give your spot to someone who really wants it.

[Anonymous]

We were also notified yesterday that we have a 3 year old slot from the lottery. I would love to talk to parents who currently attend the school. My email address is bookclubaddict at gmail.com. 17:43 - our kids may be classmates and I would love to connect with you as well.

[Anonymous]

My kids both attended Crossway from ages 2 through 6. I think it was a great experience for them -- lots of hands on learning, the garden, etc. The teachers were wonderful and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I think some of the issues under the surface here have to do with Montessori. It's a very specific approach and philosophy and it takes some getting used to. The people who run the school are committed "purists" and will stand up to parents who don't want to play by the Montessori rules. That was sometimes hard for me but I grew to appreciate the approach.

Then it is true that the school has NEVER been good at communicating to parents. They come off as incompentent in the area of communication. Some of this has to do with Montessori (i.e. we are following the approach and making the best decision and you will just have to live with it) and some of it is that the head of school has a tin ear and is ham-handed in this regard.

Prospective parents will have to decide whether they can accept this one (possibly major) flaw. In my opinion, as long as Crossway can keep the Montessori focus as it expands, it would be worth it.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone else have positive feedback or negative about this charter.

[Anonymous]

My niece attended the charter this past year and withdrew before the end of the year. She came home on several occasions injured, having been hit, kicked or bullied by other kids. She started out as an warm, outgoing kid and became more withdrawn over the course of the year, eventually becoming afraid of going to school. Her parents tried many times to talk to the school (admin and teachers) about it. The behavior continued and they did not feel safe leaving her there, so they withdrew her. She attended a different montessori prior to being accepted to Crossway, so her parents had experience with the Montessori method prior to Crossway.

It sounds like there may be a significant difference between the Charter portion and the paid classrooms. The poster at 3/18 7:08 mentioned sending kids from ages 2-6 -- this sounds like they had gone to the paid part of Crossway, because the charter just started in September 2012, taking 3 and 4 year olds. So the pp could not have sent their kid to the charter, which is where it seems like all the problems are.

[Anonymous]

My daughter was part of the charter last year and I, too, pulled her out mid-year. Hearing the PP knows someone else who did makes me wonder if there were others. I recently read that the director left during the school year, too. While I really admire the mission and what they are trying to do, I think they are very poorly organized and lack good communication with parents. One example is that they would not answer questions that parents were raising at the first parent meeting. They outright said something to the effect of 'we'll address your questions at a later date." It's like they didn't have answers yet and needed time to come up with them. I also experienced the same thing with direct one-to-one contact with an administrator. Pulling my daughter was the best decision I made. She was SO SO SO much happier once we switched. I only wish I hadn't lost those first months.

I would advise anyone who is entering the charter to just be aware of the feedback given on this thread. I know I was so happy and excited last year when we got in via the lottery so anyone reading this who is in that position now does not want to hear this but I would have wanted this info going in. I really do hope they improve and can get things together. It is a great idea, the execution is just not there yet, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Which director left?

[Anonymous]

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-06-17/local/40021398_1_charter-school-school-year-guinan