Charter expo- which schools impressed you (not)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does LAMB even bother showing up? There are no places there! No wonder they have an attitude!

The woman was so rude to my friend. Ugh.

What was the person's name or role? I couldn't make it, but have questions about Montessori and how it's done at the school. I plan to call the school, but wouldn't want to run into the same person who was at expo.

in my experience dealing w LAMB, I would go to the open house and ask the question. They are very short with the general population calling. I would guess that b/c so few applicants will actually get in. They (like many of the in demand charters) do not have the resources to answer all the random questions 1 on 1 and this is one reason why they have the open houses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't really considering Apple Tree until I went to the Expo. I spoke with the principals from two campuses and they both spent a lot of time explaining their program and they seemed really great.

I highly recommend you go for a tour. And talk to current parents. And read recent threads on DCUM on AppleTree. They offer a great program - for a child who thrives in extreme structure. Your 3YO needs to nap a little bit longer than the designated window - not happening.

I agree about the structure, but my child was able to nap 30 mins more on many occasions (the teacher told me and I dropped by a few times). I think the program is great if you want a traditional program that emphasizes literacy and math. My child needed a more play-based program so we switched for preK. Although, to be fair, my child learned a lot that year and just had trouble behaving until we switched to a play-based program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't really considering Apple Tree until I went to the Expo. I spoke with the principals from two campuses and they both spent a lot of time explaining their program and they seemed really great.

I highly recommend you go for a tour. And talk to current parents. And read recent threads on DCUM on AppleTree. They offer a great program - for a child who thrives in extreme structure. Your 3YO needs to nap a little bit longer than the designated window - not happening.

I agree about the structure, but my child was able to nap 30 mins more on many occasions (the teacher told me and I dropped by a few times). I think the program is great if you want a traditional program that emphasizes literacy and math. My child needed a more play-based program so we switched for preK. Although, to be fair, my child learned a lot that year and just had trouble behaving until we switched to a play-based program.

Your child had trouble "behaving" likely because a 3yo program that emphasizes literacy and math is developmentally inappropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does LAMB even bother showing up? There are no places there! No wonder they have an attitude!

The woman was so rude to my friend. Ugh.

What was the person's name or role? I couldn't make it, but have questions about Montessori and how it's done at the school. I plan to call the school, but wouldn't want to run into the same person who was at expo.

Not sure, she didn't introduce herself but she was not a parent and seemed somewhat high up in the structure. She said about 20 times it was highly competitive and how many people wanted to get in. Then said "you can have an application if you want". She was much more friendly to the obvious Spanish speaking family behind us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does LAMB even bother showing up? There are no places there! No wonder they have an attitude!

The woman was so rude to my friend. Ugh.

What was the person's name or role? I couldn't make it, but have questions about Montessori and how it's done at the school. I plan to call the school, but wouldn't want to run into the same person who was at expo.

in my experience dealing w LAMB, I would go to the open house and ask the question. They are very short with the general population calling. I would guess that b/c so few applicants will actually get in. They (like many of the in demand charters) do not have the resources to answer all the random questions 1 on 1 and this is one reason why they have the open houses.

Then don't go to the Expo.

[Anonymous]

So parents recruit parents at an education Expo. Hint, hint DCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone fight through the mob at Sela?

I did and I have to say, they seemed liked an organized, friendly group of people. I had a lot of questions for them, and they answered every one fully and invited me to call them personally with any follow-ups. I wasn't sure what to make of the school initially since I hadn't heard very much about them (other than on DCUM), but all in and all, they convinced me to apply.

Wait, these 2 posts are a JOKE, right? Maybe not in terms of someone getting a good impression from Sela, but the idea that there was a MOB? That is hysterical!

Exactly because of the posts here, I kept an eye on Sela re: traffic (it was easy, they were right to the front of the hall with a giant sign, on the left), and literally in the 3 hours of the 4 total I was there (including the first hour), I saw MAYBE 4 people total actually standing there discussing anything. That is it, all day that I noticed.

Yes, I was actually busy for most of it so no, my sole purpose was not to observe the lack of traffic, but every time I went in and out and whenever I passed them, I noticed, the LACK of people there.

I still do truly wish Sela the best from the perspective that hey, if passionate folks can make it happen, go for it, and yes there are benefits to bilingual education regardless of which language. But the misleading posts re: the interest in Sela are getting old old old.

Of course, just ignore this whole post if the person mentioning the mob at Sela was joking - cuz yes, then it IS funny and sorry I wasn't sure you were being humorous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone fight through the mob at Sela?

I did and I have to say, they seemed liked an organized, friendly group of people. I had a lot of questions for them, and they answered every one fully and invited me to call them personally with any follow-ups. I wasn't sure what to make of the school initially since I hadn't heard very much about them (other than on DCUM), but all in and all, they convinced me to apply.

Wait, these 2 posts are a JOKE, right? Maybe not in terms of someone getting a good impression from Sela, but the idea that there was a MOB? That is hysterical!

Exactly because of the posts here, I kept an eye on Sela re: traffic (it was easy, they were right to the front of the hall with a giant sign, on the left), and literally in the 3 hours of the 4 total I was there (including the first hour), I saw MAYBE 4 people total actually standing there discussing anything. That is it, all day that I noticed.

Yes, I was actually busy for most of it so no, my sole purpose was not to observe the lack of traffic, but every time I went in and out and whenever I passed them, I noticed, the LACK of people there.

I still do truly wish Sela the best from the perspective that hey, if passionate folks can make it happen, go for it, and yes there are benefits to bilingual education regardless of which language. But the misleading posts re: the interest in Sela are getting old old old.

Of course, just ignore this whole post if the person mentioning the mob at Sela was joking - cuz yes, then it IS funny and sorry I wasn't sure you were being humorous!

I didn't have an interest in Sela, but I'm intrigued by your post because I thought the same thing. I was there for about three hours and I never saw more than two or three people in front of their table. When I read the post about the mob, I thought that maybe they came in the last hour after I left.

[Anonymous]

I was impressed with Bridges, really impressed. Even though we are really really really hoping DC gets into a PK-4 that at least goes up through middle school, they took so much time to discuss their program and their passion and knowledge was great. I like Appletree too.

I loved Creative Minds, they were the most helpful when we started on this charter school journey last year (even though DC didn't get in) and again they were amazing.

I liked that STokes had a student there who, if you stopped to ask her questions, actually had some great answers. Stokes had great info, but who knows if they'll even have any lottery openings this year for PK-4, so we'll see....

Was also underwhelmed by LAMB, but I still will do the open house. And I didn't expect much from DC Bilingual but again, they mostly underwhelmed me as well.

Definitely liked YuYing, felt like their presentation was simple but they spent as much time as you needed answering questions.

I actually continue to be UNDERwhelmed by Capital City! I don't know why, but I just don't vibe well with them. Don't get me wrong, if DC gets in, and that's the best we get, no way would I turn it down... but there's just something that doesn't feel as warm as I want from them. Kinda similar with EL Haynes unfortunately, although when I've stopped into EL Haynes itself I've gotten a warmer feeling so it's still above Cap City on my fantasy list.

There were some high schools that seemed very cool, but since kids are elementary age I didn't pay that much attention. Also liked a few other smaller schools but I doubt I'd move DC from where she is now for them so not gonna list them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone fight through the mob at Sela?

I did and I have to say, they seemed liked an organized, friendly group of people. I had a lot of questions for them, and they answered every one fully and invited me to call them personally with any follow-ups. I wasn't sure what to make of the school initially since I hadn't heard very much about them (other than on DCUM), but all in and all, they convinced me to apply.

Wait, these 2 posts are a JOKE, right? Maybe not in terms of someone getting a good impression from Sela, but the idea that there was a MOB? That is hysterical!

Exactly because of the posts here, I kept an eye on Sela re: traffic (it was easy, they were right to the front of the hall with a giant sign, on the left), and literally in the 3 hours of the 4 total I was there (including the first hour), I saw MAYBE 4 people total actually standing there discussing anything. That is it, all day that I noticed.

Yes, I was actually busy for most of it so no, my sole purpose was not to observe the lack of traffic, but every time I went in and out and whenever I passed them, I noticed, the LACK of people there.

I still do truly wish Sela the best from the perspective that hey, if passionate folks can make it happen, go for it, and yes there are benefits to bilingual education regardless of which language. But the misleading posts re: the interest in Sela are getting old old old.

Of course, just ignore this whole post if the person mentioning the mob at Sela was joking - cuz yes, then it IS funny and sorry I wasn't sure you were being humorous!

I didn't have an interest in Sela, but I'm intrigued by your post because I thought the same thing. I was there for about three hours and I never saw more than two or three people in front of their table. When I read the post about the mob, I thought that maybe they came in the last hour after I left.

I have no dog in this fight...but somehow get the sense that SELA boosters in DCUM = big BS. Why they would do so, I don't know, other than extreme desperation to recruit parents/ students? This is becoming bad for SELA brand, and for parents who care about Hebrew immersion.

[Anonymous]

There was no one at the SELA table the three times that I walked by--literally, no one. PP, must have been joking?

On the other hand, Creative Minds, Three Rivers and LAMB were "mobbed" when I happened to stop by. Creative Minds handled it the best, coming around the table to talk to parents in the back. I'm not sure how much to read into the crowds, though. Also, hard to know how muct to read into the attitudes of the presenters at the table. Yu Ying and LAMB were definitely not high energy, engaging presenters, but I would still consider the Open Houses.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I didn't see anyone at Sela when I walked by-- this was in the first hour of the Expo.

[Anonymous]

I'm not an Yu Ying hater. But, I came away from it like was being sized up like a private school. I've been to private school open houses and didn't feel that.

[Anonymous]

+1 had the same feeling at other events. Some charters think and act like they are private schools.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not an Yu Ying hater. But, I came away from it like was being sized up like a private school. I've been to private school open houses and didn't feel that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't really considering Apple Tree until I went to the Expo. I spoke with the principals from two campuses and they both spent a lot of time explaining their program and they seemed really great.

I highly recommend you go for a tour. And talk to current parents. And read recent threads on DCUM on AppleTree. They offer a great program - for a child who thrives in extreme structure. Your 3YO needs to nap a little bit longer than the designated window - not happening.

I agree about the structure, but my child was able to nap 30 mins more on many occasions (the teacher told me and I dropped by a few times). I think the program is great if you want a traditional program that emphasizes literacy and math. My child needed a more play-based program so we switched for preK. Although, to be fair, my child learned a lot that year and just had trouble behaving until we switched to a play-based program.

Your child had trouble "behaving" likely because a 3yo program that emphasizes literacy and math is developmentally inappropriate.

Yes! PLEASE don't put your little 3 and 4 and 5 year olds in an academic preschool and then blame them for poor behavior. The proper, developmentally appropriate behavior for small children is to PLAY. Not to sit in a circle and follow along a lesson. Saddest is when I see parents medicate their small children so they can participate in an academic preschool. And beware when a school says their program is play based. Often, they just say that. Do your research.