DC Bilingual - Feedback?

[Anonymous]

We were accepted and declined when kid got into a bilingual start up a couple of years ago. It came down to facilities and neighborhood. I found the prek classrooms a bit dark and overcrowded. I love Columbia heights but that particular intersection holds something to be desired. I did like the school and principal but got the impression that parental involvement is low.

[Anonymous]

test scores aren't stellar either.

[Anonymous]

what do yiu guyss expect. the hispanic families that attend prob dont know about this site

[Anonymous]

De veras? No sabemos de este sitio del internet? que pena.

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

I'm interested in knowing more about the environment in the classroom. Do they focus on academics or interests of the children, what curriculum do they use? Do they stress compliance and rules? Is there art, music, movement?

[Anonymous]

Just go to a white school and leave everybody alone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just go to a white school and leave everybody alone

Not necessary, and really sad actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just go to a white school and leave everybody alone

Not necessary, and really sad actually.

My husband always marks white AND hispanic on all the forms. And we are not idiots.

No nos digas a donde ir, por favor, ni que color (raza quizas sea otra cosa) estemos. El bisabuelo de mi esposo era negro. Y importa que?

These folks are asking for information. Why don't you just give it. Since you are either there or at some other bilingual school....

Or a troll...
This is the FIRST time I have said this ever and I have been on this forum for ten years!

[Anonymous]

We accepted our PS3 spot and plan to attend. We toured the school last week and found it to be a pleasant, supportive environment. The principal was wonderful, and the school has a great library. The classrooms were large compared with other schools we toured, but were indeed a bit dark. There is natural light, but it is shadowed. I was pleased that the school incorporates phonics into its lessons, and they seemed to have the right balance between play and learning for the younger children.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. That is helpful information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just go to a white school and leave everybody alone

I understand this frustration, but it was mean-spirited. There's a sense in the Latin community that once white people show interest in something (an area, school, etc...), they quickly move in and take over. They don't complement the environment, they devour it. The more white people show interest in DC Bilingual, there is the fear that "white needs" will be demanded in place of the Latin way of doing things. All of the focus on a white oriented curriculum is one of the concerns. We've been doing things are way for a long time without any input from whites. But, all of a sudden they want our school and want to have a white oriented curriculum as well. These same whites wouldn't blink an eye is the school was crumbling at its foundation, except when they decide they want to attend. PP- I encourage you to attend the school and view how things are done. This is one of the few "authentic" immersion schools in DC. We're okay with families that want to complement our way, but not if it's truly about making the school white with tinges of "acceptable" brown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just go to a white school and leave everybody alone

I understand this frustration, but it was mean-spirited. There's a sense in the Latin community that once white people show interest in something (an area, school, etc...), they quickly move in and take over. They don't complement the environment, they devour it. The more white people show interest in DC Bilingual, there is the fear that "white needs" will be demanded in place of the Latin way of doing things. All of the focus on a white oriented curriculum is one of the concerns. We've been doing things are way for a long time without any input from whites. But, all of a sudden they want our school and want to have a white oriented curriculum as well. These same whites wouldn't blink an eye is the school was crumbling at its foundation, except when they decide they want to attend. PP- I encourage you to attend the school and view how things are done. This is one of the few "authentic" immersion schools in DC. We're okay with families that want to complement our way, but not if it's truly about making the school white with tinges of "acceptable" brown.

Previous poster, can you please explain what a "white oriented curriculum" is? My understanding is that the mission of DC Bilingual is to provide a quality education to children in English AND SPANISH. Period. Did you stop to think that perhaps "white" people taking an interest in DC Bilingual (and other bilingual schools for that matter) isn't an attempt to "devour" or take over anything, but rather because the want their children to learn your language and culture? It is unfair to accuse white people of not caring if a school is "crumbling" unless thier child attends that school. Are whites expected to support every single charter school in the system, regardless of where their kids attend? When was the last time that YOU supported a school in Southeast, or that your family has no relation to? I'm sorry, but it seems to me that YOU may be the one who has a problem with skin color, not the whites that want to send their children to DC Bilingual.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that DC Bilingual is being kicked out of their lease in 2014-2015. Nobody knows where they will be after next year. That's a huge drawback.

[Anonymous]

Justbrememberbfolks, There is purposeful effort to create apparent demand across DCPS by allowing holding of six slots for each kid. Not to mention unlimited slots for charters. It's marketing genius ...forbthe unwary.