Sidwell K: class size & schedule

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but I beg to disagree. I'm not paying all that money just so my kid can park his butt in an award-winning, environmentally-friendly building. Or on the grounds of the National Cathedral, for that matter. Plus the only "feel" we got was expressed by my husband afterwards when he wondered if the lovely facilities would show up as a separate line item on the tuition bill.

Why not apply and get admitted first and then see if any of this is an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why not apply and get admitted first and then see if any of this is an issue.

I hope you mean about the line itemization of the facilities, not about the dearth of knowledge presented about the curriculum. Call me weird, but I'd still rather know about the curriculum than the building. Frankly, the message they send, perhaps unintentionally, is that their reputation is so good that they can just coast.

And the grudging answer is yes, of course we will still apply.

[Anonymous]

There is a consistent voice on this thread that is insisting that its not the job of the parent volunteers to know the curriculum. I agree that its not. Its the job of the school to provide this information through open houses. Other schools have also provided detailed brochures outlining the curriculum.

Look, we all know Sidwell is a great school. I am not knocking the school. But its just odd that it does not provide the SAME information that other top schools take pains to provide. The Sidwell AD would go a bit crazy if every parent called and wanted this detailed information. Shelly and Erbie would be on the phone all day. Perhaps it is shame on us, as parents, that we don't want to make the call. But it is a lot of information and there is no earthly way they can present the whole curriculum to us in a quick phone call. Just to give an example, GDS's open house was about 1.5 hours of detailed explanations of the curriculum. This consistent voice that is asking us to "just call the AD" does not seriously believe that any AD has the time to do this for parents individually.

I am more than a little disturbed that Sidwell does not feel it worth its time to provide this type of information in a clear and upfront manner. I went into this very predisposed to Sidwell. If my kid gets in, I am sure she would be educated very well. But I am stil lleft scratching my head. The obliqueness on this matter is not appreciated.

[Anonymous]

If you go to the Sidwell website, to Lower School, to Academics, then to Homeroom subjects, there is a lot of detailed grade-by-grade information. Similar information is on the website for Middle School.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you go to the Sidwell website, to Lower School, to Academics, then to Homeroom subjects, there is a lot of detailed grade-by-grade information. Similar information is on the website for Middle School.

Exactly. Read the website. If you still have questions, which will probably be more intelligent questions after reading the website, call the AD.

[Anonymous]

I am going to try to explain something to the folks who are telling us to just read the websites or call the ADs, and suggesting somehow that we are less intelligent for wanting better advertising. I think the decision not to present the curriculum powerfully as does GDS and Beauvoir does Sidwell a disservice. Let me explain why. Lets say there are 2 products on the market that really help with cholesterol. They are very similar products with similar ingredients. One product is promoted and advertised by its manufacturer via a clear and powerful set of TV ads, print ads, specialized ads in medical journals etc. Another product is barely advertised and its strengths are not discussed in any forum. These strengths are obvious to anyone who takes the time to read the fine print in the product inserts.

This is not a perfect analogy, but its the best I can do at a moment's notice. It will serve Sidwell better if it did its own advertising in a more productive way. We take the time out of busy days to come to these tours after all. And it is fundamentally a customer/business relationship. Yes, I will take the time to read the websites. But I will never be given the opportunity to see Sidwell teachers talk about their programs, explicate upon them, etc etc. And as a customer, its annoying that for the same basic price tag, at equivalent schools, one doesn't need to spend an hour reading the websites. One is provided this information during a well conducted open house.

Of course, Sidwell will get plenty of applicants regardless and the kids who get admission will get a fine education. Undoubtedly there are people reading this who will not get my point or will refuse to get the point. Its probably time to simply end the thread, and agree to disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Might I suggest that inquiring minds ask the Director of Admissions?

It really isn't up to parent volunteers to know the nuance of curriculum.

Are you 13:41 and the poster of same info on another Sidwell thread, and if so, are you getting a call referral fee or something?

[Anonymous]

Almost forgot 18:20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Almost forgot 18:20.

18:20 here -- and not the same as 13:41. My kid goes to one of the other schools that previous posters have stated presented the curriculum well during the tours and open houses. I'm just saying that tours are about 1 to 2 hours in length. They don't provide enough time to cover much ground. In this techo age, schools have spent a considerable amount of time, energy and money to create websites to dissiminate information. Many of them are comprehensive enough to answer most of one's questions. I visited Sidwell's website, and it seems to be comprehensive. To get more information out about the curriculum, I would suggest that they have an open house (in addition to tours) for the lower school the way that they do for the middle and upper school. Maybe that's the answer.

[Anonymous]

We'd love to go to an open house for Sidwell' upper school; unfortunately, every slot has been filled for weeks. I wish they'd hold a few more.

[Anonymous]

An open house for parents who don't have the time to read a website sounds like a great idea. What better way for Sidwell to do a service and show how well they can advertise their school because really that's the best measure of whether a school is right for your child or not.

Good luck to previous posters. It's good that you are not too impressed with Sidwell. It will make opening that rejection letter in March easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We'd love to go to an open house for Sidwell' upper school; unfortunately, every slot has been filled for weeks. I wish they'd hold a few more.

Have you called to ask? Slots do open up as people cancel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good luck to previous posters. It's good that you are not too impressed with Sidwell. It will make opening that rejection letter in March easier.

Why the gratuitous hostility?

Thanks to 18:11 for pointing to the relevant section of the Web site (and not grandstanding!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An open house for parents who don't have the time to read a website sounds like a great idea. What better way for Sidwell to do a service and show how well they can advertise their school because really that's the best measure of whether a school is right for your child or not.

Good luck to previous posters. It's good that you are not too impressed with Sidwell. It will make opening that rejection letter in March easier.

Geez. When you run out of arguments, just start insulting people. Or twist the argument into something unrelated, for example about the value of advertising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am going to try to explain something to the folks who are telling us to just read the websites or call the ADs, and suggesting somehow that we are less intelligent for wanting better advertising. I think the decision not to present the curriculum powerfully as does GDS and Beauvoir does Sidwell a disservice.