Norwood Middle School: What do you love? Not love?

[Anonymous]

So happy to see the most recent posts. We are a new to Norwood this year and we (and most importantly our child) love the school. The community (for the most part) has been incredibly warm and welcoming, our kid loves school, is appropriately challenged, is understood by teachers, and never wants to leave school at the end of the day. We can compare this experience to other independent schools and this one, for this child, feels "just right." My only regret is that I wish we found the school earlier. It's a gem.

[Anonymous]

I wish that I still had a Norwood child and could be in your class. I know we'd be friends.

[Anonymous]

We came to Norwood LS from a different school last year and each year our child has about 9 teachers (hr, reading, math, science, spanish, art, music, PE, Library) - with overlap for some of the 'specials' subjects it's been maybe 15 total over 2 yrs. Out of that I would say 1 was bad - and the other 14 were fabulous. That one was frustrating - really frustrating - but honestly, it seems like pretty good odds to me. There are always some bad apples - or - even if not a bad apple - some tacher that is just 'not a good match' for your child. Just hope with new LS the troubling teacher is held accountable....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Norwood posters appear to have a "Princess and the Pea" quality -- hyper-sensitive to everything. Older teachers are tired, newer teachers don't know what they are doing, appears to be the mantra. The only real negative about Norwood coming through on this board is the parent body. Fortunately, this is probably a DCUM phenomenon where the 3% annoying crowd drowns out the perfectly pleasant 97%.

ha ha ha. Good one.

[Anonymous]

Agree with 20:44, if your child is being asked to be tutored, they are obviously not performing to the level of the other students in the grade. It's not the right school for your child, you should find one that is the right fit for them.

[Anonymous]

I disagree. Sometimes a child just needs extra help in one area; sometimes s/he needs extra help for a limited time to get over a particular bump. Tutoring should not be seen as a scarlet letter for the child or the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to hijack, but I have seen many posts about weak teachers in the lower school. Is it really that bad in the lower school?
We are currently an applying family.
Would love more details from OP as to why the teachers are perceived to be weak. Many thanks.

I have two children who have been in LS since kindergarten, and their teachers have been wonderful. My kids have formed close bonds with all of their homeroom teachers; they have been challenged to take greater risks; they feel safe and supported; and they love school. There have been many changes at the school since we've been there, but they've rolled with them. I feel comfortable that my children will be academically prepared for any high school environment, and equally important, I appreciate the benefits they derive from the school's investment in the arts, PE, and character education. No school is perfect, and as anywhere, there are stronger and weaker teachers at Norwood. However, we have been very satisfied with our children's experience.

Agree completely. Three kids at Norwood.

[Anonymous]

If you go back and read it, the OP was asking about the quality of the middle school teachers in particular. Can anyone comment on that?

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately there are several area of weakness in the Middle school. I will not comment on teachers because that seems like it could become very personal very quickly.

Math. One outstanding teacher. The rest average or less so.
Science: ???
English: fairly strong but somewhat dependent on learning style


One of the problems is the lack of study skills and organization skills. Presently not taught in any systematic way.

If you have a kid that can figure out the organizational piece on their own you might be pretty happy.

Which is why some parents are very happy and some are less so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately there are several area of weakness in the Middle school. I will not comment on teachers because that seems like it could become very personal very quickly.

Math. One outstanding teacher. The rest average or less so.
Science: ???
English: fairly strong but somewhat dependent on learning style


One of the problems is the lack of study skills and organization skills. Presently not taught in any systematic way.

If you have a kid that can figure out the organizational piece on their own you might be pretty happy.

Which is why some parents are very happy and some are less so.

Are your kids no longer there? Where did you move them or where are you thinking of moving them?

[Anonymous]

OP, here is my comparison.

Holton, more rigor, more nail biting, more mean girl. Great academics (maybe best in DC area), the school can work with all kids.
Landon, odd blast from the past, pugnacious boys, slightly better academics than Norwood.
Georgetown Prep. Good academics, strong contender, slightly better academics than Norwood, better sports.
Stone Ridge, slightly better academics, up and coming school. Girls seem happy.
Bullis, better sports, up and coming.
St. Andrews, will not push your child to full potential (see Holton).
WES, not so happy kids. Academics on par with Norwood.

[Anonymous]

Many of the above mentioned schools are not K-8, like Norwood...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We came to Norwood LS from a different school last year and each year our child has about 9 teachers (hr, reading, math, science, spanish, art, music, PE, Library) - with overlap for some of the 'specials' subjects it's been maybe 15 total over 2 yrs. Out of that I would say 1 was bad - and the other 14 were fabulous. That one was frustrating - really frustrating - but honestly, it seems like pretty good odds to me. There are always some bad apples - or - even if not a bad apple - some tacher that is just 'not a good match' for your child. Just hope with new LS the troubling teacher is held accountable....

Can you tell me what you are comparing them to?
That is, in which other school did you have your kids enrolled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately there are several area of weakness in the Middle school. I will not comment on teachers because that seems like it could become very personal very quickly.

Math. One outstanding teacher. The rest average or less so.
Science: ???
English: fairly strong but somewhat dependent on learning style


One of the problems is the lack of study skills and organization skills. Presently not taught in any systematic way.

If you have a kid that can figure out the organizational piece on their own you might be pretty happy.

Which is why some parents are very happy and some are less so.

I'm confused. On the website it mentions that they do teach study and organizational skills in a very systematic way.
They start this in the forth grade, they say. Did this not continue through the middle school? When did your children attend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of the above mentioned schools are not K-8, like Norwood...

correct, but if you are interested in 5,6,7,8 which I believe is OPs concern, these are options.