GDS Pre-K Seemed Completely Horrible: Reactions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the big entrance year for gds is k not prek. I do not what comes first though.

How can this be, when there are two pre-k/k classes, and then one k only class? My understanding was that the k's in the mixed classes were already there as pre-k students. The k-only class is for newcomers, presumably, which would mean there are twice as many pre-k slots, no?

It rather means there is an equal amount of new K and pre-K (since the half of two mixed classes is K-students who entered as pre-K).

We just did the open house, and they said there is one mixed pre-K/K classroom (around 10 kids in each group) and then two classrooms with just K students. So three K classrooms total, with one of them being half-K/half-pre-K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the big entrance year for gds is k not prek. I do not what comes first though.

How can this be, when there are two pre-k/k classes, and then one k only class? My understanding was that the k's in the mixed classes were already there as pre-k students. The k-only class is for newcomers, presumably, which would mean there are twice as many pre-k slots, no?

It rather means there is an equal amount of new K and pre-K (since the half of two mixed classes is K-students who entered as pre-K).

We just did the open house, and they said there is one mixed pre-K/K classroom (around 10 kids in each group) and then two classrooms with just K students. So three K classrooms total, with one of them being half-K/half-pre-K.

Hmm, we attended one the other day and were told there was one K (new students) class and two K (old)/PK(new) ones.

[Anonymous]

As everybody knows, when choosing a PK-12 school, the most important thing to consider is the quality of the pre-K classrooms and how dark the halls are.

[Anonymous]

The whole place is just pathetic. I found the Admissions Office to be unprofessional to. Oot.

[Anonymous]

I didn't have any problem with the GDS facilities (we applied for K), but I was horrified by the "lack of control" you mentioned. I have an active boy, who won't just sit still all day, so I can appreciate chances for movement etc, but the snack time I witnessed was loud and somewhat chaotic compared to the snack at my son's preschool. Also, the children's coats etc were just strewn all over the floor even though they had lockers. There were several examples of this that led my husband to comment "You know they keep talking about respect for others, but respect comes in a lot of different forms." We left our tour with a definite "no" in our heads, before even speaking to each other about it.

[Anonymous]

I saw kids engaged, learning through play and having lots of fun. Yes, a little busier than I expected but wow how things progressed as the tour moved to the older grades. They seem to be doing something right. Hope we get the thick envelope in the mail.

[Anonymous]

22:12 is correct - there are 2 PK/K classrooms (each with 10 PK and 10 K students) and one K classroom (with 20 students).

[Anonymous]

GDS has two full teachers in the PKK (20 kids), K (20 kids), 1st (24 kids), and 2nd grade (24 kids) classrooms. In 3rd grade, the section size is reduced to 18 and it goes to one teacher. The section sizes become smaller each year thereafter. Beauvoir in the early grades has 1 full teacher and 1 junior teacher (I think usually just out of school). Its a different and much cheaper model. The junior teachers move on quickly, so there is constant turnover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I didn't have any problem with the GDS facilities (we applied for K), but I was horrified by the "lack of control" you mentioned. I have an active boy, who won't just sit still all day, so I can appreciate chances for movement etc, but the snack time I witnessed was loud and somewhat chaotic compared to the snack at my son's preschool. Also, the children's coats etc were just strewn all over the floor even though they had lockers. There were several examples of this that led my husband to comment "You know they keep talking about respect for others, but respect comes in a lot of different forms." We left our tour with a definite "no" in our heads, before even speaking to each other about it.

Does not sound like your family is cut out for progressive education.

[Anonymous]

We had a similar experience. The environment seemed Lord of the Flies-quality chaos. Not simply progressive, but anarchic.

[Anonymous]

Based on what we saw in the classrooms, we had the impression that the classes became less racially diverse as the kids got older. What's up with that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a similar experience. The environment seemed Lord of the Flies-quality chaos. Not simply progressive, but anarchic.

Again, probably not cut out for a truly progressive education experience.