Bruce Monroe at Parkview

[Anonymous]

Ironically, at the BMPV open house they said they switched to the alternating days model because the same-day model was too jarring for kids. Then, at the Mundo Verde open house, they said they switched to immersion bc the alternating day model was too jarring for kids. Ha ha, I was cracking up. I think everyone is feeling out what works for them, and honestly, I think these are methodologies that are still developing and changing in general in schools across the US.

[Anonymous]

For prek I'd estimate BM is about 80% el, but the school would know best

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ironically, at the BMPV open house they said they switched to the alternating days model because the same-day model was too jarring for kids. Then, at the Mundo Verde open house, they said they switched to immersion bc the alternating day model was too jarring for kids. Ha ha, I was cracking up. I think everyone is feeling out what works for them, and honestly, I think these are methodologies that are still developing and changing in general in schools across the US.

Ha ha. This is the truth. I am an educator one of the bilingual PC schools and have had the chance to see all of the DCPS bilingual schools. Everybody in the "business" knows that if you adjust the model one way to address one specific concern, you open up the proverbial can of worms with regard to other issues. All of the schools are intentional in developing and adjusting their models and work to the best of their abilities within the limits of space, staffing, student population, and other finite resources. There is no one single "best" model. Every school has to make their way.

[Anonymous]

Regarding the dual language model, I agree with other posters that the BMPV curriculum appears to be much more deliberate and planned, whereas Powell appears more fluid. Powell makes an effort to ensure that all the staff are bilingual, whereas BMPV hires teachers who are specifically dominant in one language or another. One of the results is that it's hard to get a clear handle on how much Spanish is actually taught in Powell classrooms -- I suspect that with the model they use you would get some degree of variation depending on the teacher and the student population in any given year.

I am also not sure which model is best, but I don't think choice of model hinges on the ELL population: BMPV and Powell have the same ELL population BMPV (62%) and Powell (66%), and Mundo Verde has much lower (27%). Yet Powell does 70/30 (Spanish/English), BMPV does 50/50 and Mundo Verde does 100 percent Spanish in the early childhood programs! I think administrations are just experimenting with what works and making adjustments based on what they see and what works for their staff and student populations.

ELL stats are available for Powell and BMPV on the DCPS website, and Mundo Verde in their annual report here: http://issuu.com/mundoverdepcs8/docs/2012-2013_mvannualreport_100313.

Also: The title of this thread spells the school wrong! It's Bruce Monroe at Park View (two words). Don't let our ANC Commissioner catch you making that mistake again

[Anonymous]

What's the Park View vs. Bruce Monroe story anyway? Wasn't there some kind of facility consolidation bait and switch or something?

[Anonymous]

The orginal Bruce Monroe school was located on GA Avenue (cross street might be Kenyon?). It was torn down about 5 years ago. The site was meant to be redeveloped into a mixed use residential/commercial development but never happened. It was very controversial and the BM parents were angry that the school was not being rebuilt even though it was probably at less than half capacity and had major structural issues including the need for asbestos remediation. Plus rodents which I saw myself when I went there ONCE for a meeting. So those kids were moved over to Park View Elem which was also under capacity and now--Bruce Monroe AT Park View exists. Enrollment is about 450 I think. They just did a beautiful renovation. And the orignal BM is not going to be rebuilt and that site on GA avenue is bascially a poorly planned park space...

[Anonymous]

From what I understand, BMPV teaches all subjects in both languages which contributes to their biliteracy as the students move from PS/PK all the way through to 5th grade. Big plus: special ed and intervention teachers at every grade level to provide support for students of all abilities...those advanced and below grade level.

Another huge plus: school culture! Looked and felt very inclusive, positive, and worldly.

[Anonymous]

and I know this is glib, but by worldly, you don't mean Central American?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:and I know this is glib, but by worldly, you don't mean Central American?

Lots of flags in their main hall (not just Latin American), big murals representing their school values, skylines from major cities painted in their stairwells.

Just my impression...any other thoughts on culture/environment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:and I know this is glib, but by worldly, you don't mean Central American?

Lots of flags in their main hall (not just Latin American), big murals representing their school values, skylines from major cities painted in their stairwells.

Just my impression...any other thoughts on culture/environment?

What I notice regarding culture is a sense of seriousness and urgency among the staff. The students are well-behaved, respectful, and seem to be on task and follow the routines. The teachers who greet at the entrances are warm and enthusiastic. Lots of adults in building who exhibit leadership and are clearly focused on ensuring students are learning and engaged.

[Anonymous]

I thought something similar PP. the K class we observed was doing some type of station rotation and the teacher had full attention and order even between transitions...not in a scary way either. Also all the classrooms had smartbaords. Is that. Standard now in all DCPS classrooms? I don't know but the kids were fully engaged. I didn't see a single white student which gave me pause. There have been other threads about difficulties for an only especially when majority of kids speak another language at recess, lunch etc. I was still impressed and will following the changes for the next year and hopefully heading there for at least PS3-K.

[Anonymous]

I think Powell and Bruce-Monroe are quite a bit similar but in terms of attracting all communities Powell is a little bit ahead on that. At least in early years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought something similar PP. the K class we observed was doing some type of station rotation and the teacher had full attention and order even between transitions...not in a scary way either. Also all the classrooms had smartbaords. Is that. Standard now in all DCPS classrooms? I don't know but the kids were fully engaged. I didn't see a single white student which gave me pause. There have been other threads about difficulties for an only especially when majority of kids speak another language at recess, lunch etc. I was still impressed and will following the changes for the next year and hopefully heading there for at least PS3-K.

Those smartboards is somewhat standard but use varies across schools/teachers. BM's K teacher is particularly adept. However, according to some experts such technology has no dicernible impact on student learning. I agree to a certain extent -- content with kids roll up their sleeves and engage in reading/writing/and basic arithmetic at that age. BM has a great music teacher. Not sure if your language concern matters -- I lot of these hispanic kids speak mostly English to each other anyway on the playground, etc. at least my observation. I think young kids are pretty colorblind, until maybe later grades. But the non-native speakers do a great job with the spanish, writing/reciting poetry, responding to the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Does Bruce-Monroe have a PTA? Or PTO?

[Anonymous]

no PTA. I asked when I visited. They have something called. Parents resource center, I think.it seemed geared towards providing services to ESL parents.