SELA! Hebrew immersion charter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the idea of language immersion schools in general, but Hebrew doesn't seem like a great choice for a public charter given the low economic value of Hebrew in the global workforce. I am not Jewish, but I would send my kid there if it was my best academic option and the school was strict about no religious content. I would worry about not being Jewish only if more than 50% of the students were Jewish and then only if I felt my kid would feel like an outsider. In DC, I doubt that a high performing charter will get such a religious imbalance because of the strict lottery system. Seats at good schools are just too competitive. If it turns out to be a low performing school, maybe it will become religiously unbalanced, but then I imagine that even Jewish parents will eschew it.

By the way, most Jews in this country go to school where the majority of the school population is Christian-- just some perspective. Do you think Jewish children feel like outsiders?

Pinhead.
That tends to happen with minorities.

Yeah, that's the point. Glad you demonstrated your understanding. Got any more good names in your vast vocabulary?

[Anonymous]

Very excited about Sela and glad they are joining our community. Have found Inspired Teaching less than inspired and am willing to try my luck on a new bilingual option. No connection to Hebrew, and not worried that our multi-racial family will be a "minority" at Sela. I have been really impressed with them thus far (getting such a great space so early, their leadership at the expo were very articulate, etc.) Do think there is a strange preoccupation with trashing Sela at every opportunity - that makes me very uncomfortable and feels more than a little discriminatory (not as crazy as the post about where you can get a school filled with white children, but a close second, for sure).

[Anonymous]

GO SELA!!! As much as we love some aspects of YY, we are going to take a chance on Sela. We like the vibe of what they are trying to do, the organization, the energy, the free before and after care, etc. I have already found a Mandarin tutor for my daughter so she can continue her Chinese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very excited about Sela and glad they are joining our community. Have found Inspired Teaching less than inspired and am willing to try my luck on a new bilingual option. No connection to Hebrew, and not worried that our multi-racial family will be a "minority" at Sela. I have been really impressed with them thus far (getting such a great space so early, their leadership at the expo were very articulate, etc.) Do think there is a strange preoccupation with trashing Sela at every opportunity - that makes me very uncomfortable and feels more than a little discriminatory (not as crazy as the post about where you can get a school filled with white children, but a close second, for sure).

I haven't noticed that "strange preoccupation." I have noticed instead multiple self-defeating exaggerations...so it is nice to see that this thread so far is being quite civilized. Let's keep it that way. I won't be sending my kids to Sela, but the more quality options out there, the better for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Certainly have noticed the "strange preoccupation" and find it troubling. Rise above, Sela! Even those who are happy at our current charters want you to succeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very excited about Sela and glad they are joining our community. Have found Inspired Teaching less than inspired and am willing to try my luck on a new bilingual option. No connection to Hebrew, and not worried that our multi-racial family will be a "minority" at Sela. I have been really impressed with them thus far (getting such a great space so early, their leadership at the expo were very articulate, etc.) Do think there is a strange preoccupation with trashing Sela at every opportunity - that makes me very uncomfortable and feels more than a little discriminatory (not as crazy as the post about where you can get a school filled with white children, but a close second, for sure).

NP here. What have you found uninspiring about Inspired Teaching that would make you consider a new school for your child? Outside of the location, I have heard great things about the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GO SELA!!! As much as we love some aspects of YY, we are going to take a chance on Sela. We like the vibe of what they are trying to do, the organization, the energy, the free before and after care, etc. I have already found a Mandarin tutor for my daughter so she can continue her Chinese.

Soooo... are you already at YY and leaving for Sela? Or you are optimistic about your shot at getting in? If you're already at YY and leaving, what grade?

Just wondering... (YY hopeful who is thrilled every time I hear someone say they're leaving YY, which so far has been... no one!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Certainly have noticed the "strange preoccupation" and find it troubling. Rise above, Sela! Even those who are happy at our current charters want you to succeed.

Many notice the strange preoccupation, but apparently we see which side initiates the "strange preoccupation" differently. That's ok, it's ok to see things differently. I just hope Sela cheerleaders realize that for some of us, the constant thread insertions from Sela cheerleaders begins with them, and that dynamic and the denial that it's happening (or inability to see it) has turned off a LOT of people here.

Maybe the Sela cheerleaders don't care if many on DCUM are turned off, but as someone (me) who is a cheerleader for any new charter school that is doing its best to open and succeed, seems worth pointing out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GO SELA!!! As much as we love some aspects of YY, we are going to take a chance on Sela. We like the vibe of what they are trying to do, the organization, the energy, the free before and after care, etc. I have already found a Mandarin tutor for my daughter so she can continue her Chinese.

Soooo... are you already at YY and leaving for Sela? Or you are optimistic about your shot at getting in? If you're already at YY and leaving, what grade?

Just wondering... (YY hopeful who is thrilled every time I hear someone say they're leaving YY, which so far has been... no one!)

People do leave actually, it's not that infrequent, particularly in the older grades. I have applied to Sela for first grade, if we get in, we will leave. If we don't get in we will stay at YY and give it another year. YY is great, but it's not for everyone. Also, the commute is not great for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very excited about Sela and glad they are joining our community. Have found Inspired Teaching less than inspired and am willing to try my luck on a new bilingual option. No connection to Hebrew, and not worried that our multi-racial family will be a "minority" at Sela. I have been really impressed with them thus far (getting such a great space so early, their leadership at the expo were very articulate, etc.) Do think there is a strange preoccupation with trashing Sela at every opportunity - that makes me very uncomfortable and feels more than a little discriminatory (not as crazy as the post about where you can get a school filled with white children, but a close second, for sure).

NP here. What have you found uninspiring about Inspired Teaching that would make you consider a new school for your child? Outside of the location, I have heard great things about the school.

The location is part of it. I love Zoe, but I don't love my child's teacher that much (I'm not going to call her out by name), and I really believe more and more in bilingual education, so if we have a shot for Sela, we will take it. Of course, since there's a lottery, I have no way of knowing if we'll get into to Sela, so we might be back at IT again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GO SELA!!! As much as we love some aspects of YY, we are going to take a chance on Sela. We like the vibe of what they are trying to do, the organization, the energy, the free before and after care, etc. I have already found a Mandarin tutor for my daughter so she can continue her Chinese.

Soooo... are you already at YY and leaving for Sela? Or you are optimistic about your shot at getting in? If you're already at YY and leaving, what grade?

Just wondering... (YY hopeful who is thrilled every time I hear someone say they're leaving YY, which so far has been... no one!)

The PP may be telling the truth. I have heard that 85 members of Congress just filled SELA applications. Given Sidwell's recent problems, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Sidwell to Sela stampede next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very excited about Sela and glad they are joining our community. Have found Inspired Teaching less than inspired and am willing to try my luck on a new bilingual option. No connection to Hebrew, and not worried that our multi-racial family will be a "minority" at Sela. I have been really impressed with them thus far (getting such a great space so early, their leadership at the expo were very articulate, etc.) Do think there is a strange preoccupation with trashing Sela at every opportunity - that makes me very uncomfortable and feels more than a little discriminatory (not as crazy as the post about where you can get a school filled with white children, but a close second, for sure).

NP here. What have you found uninspiring about Inspired Teaching that would make you consider a new school for your child? Outside of the location, I have heard great things about the school.

The location is part of it. I love Zoe, but I don't love my child's teacher that much (I'm not going to call her out by name), and I really believe more and more in bilingual education, so if we have a shot for Sela, we will take it. Of course, since there's a lottery, I have no way of knowing if we'll get into to Sela, so we might be back at IT again.

What grade would you be leaving at IT? I doubt you'll have a challenge getting into Sela. Even Mundo Verde let in a majority of applicants in its first year, and it was an offshoot of one of the most sought-after schools in DC: EL Haynes. So if most people got into that program its first year, and it's a Spanish bi-lingual school associated with a school with a great track record, why worry about your chances of getting into a brand new, no track record Hebrew language school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GO SELA!!! As much as we love some aspects of YY, we are going to take a chance on Sela. We like the vibe of what they are trying to do, the organization, the energy, the free before and after care, etc. I have already found a Mandarin tutor for my daughter so she can continue her Chinese.

Soooo... are you already at YY and leaving for Sela? Or you are optimistic about your shot at getting in? If you're already at YY and leaving, what grade?

Just wondering... (YY hopeful who is thrilled every time I hear someone say they're leaving YY, which so far has been... no one!)

The PP may be telling the truth. I have heard that 85 members of Congress just filled SELA applications. Given Sidwell's recent problems, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Sidwell to Sela stampede next year.

See, if I was interested in Sela, I'd have a problem with that. Surely if they're sitting Congressional members, there needs to be some question of whether they make the age cut-off for an elementary school? Not doubting that they probably need to go back to elementary school, but if I was sending a young kid there, not sure I'd want them sitting with old guys and gals on those little chairs every day. And sitting Congresspeople probably hog the activity centers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody would send their kid there unless they are jewish or the other school option is bad academically. hebrew is almost useless unless you are jewish. I've never met a non-jewish child who studied hebrew. Maybe some theologians do, but that would be in their college years I am guessing or even later.

Actually, I am not jewish and if my child was in the correct age bracktr (he is much older) I would definitely consider Sela due to the benefits of immersion. Before we relocated, jewish day schools were on my list of considerations as schooling options for ds. Many Jewish students attended the catholic school I attended so why not the other way around? I think if a school offers a good curricula and a good environment, then why not consider it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GO SELA!!! As much as we love some aspects of YY, we are going to take a chance on Sela. We like the vibe of what they are trying to do, the organization, the energy, the free before and after care, etc. I have already found a Mandarin tutor for my daughter so she can continue her Chinese.

Soooo... are you already at YY and leaving for Sela? Or you are optimistic about your shot at getting in? If you're already at YY and leaving, what grade?

Just wondering... (YY hopeful who is thrilled every time I hear someone say they're leaving YY, which so far has been... no one!)

People do leave actually, it's not that infrequent, particularly in the older grades. I have applied to Sela for first grade, if we get in, we will leave. If we don't get in we will stay at YY and give it another year. YY is great, but it's not for everyone. Also, the commute is not great for me.

If you weren't going into that giant rising 1st grade class, I'd say you probably just made 1st grade YY applicants very happy... but I have heard they won't be filling slots of students who leave that mega-class.

Was hoping you were leaving for K... make sure you convince some current pre-K YY families to follow you to Sela!