DCPS School Planning Team here -- ask us anything about Brookland Middle School!

[Anonymous]

DCPSschoolplanning wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will the School Planning Team open a thread for other schools or just for Brookland Middle, Van Ness and Roosevelt? I'm interested in getting answers on some other schools. Thanks!

What schools are you interested in hearing more about? Our office is generally limited to opening new schools and major high school renovations, but we can try to put you in touch with the right people. In the meantime, if you want to email us with your questions, you can reach out to [e-mail].

Sorry to ask an Off Topic question, but Banneker - a school with very high achieving students - is shockingly behind the times with regards to other high schools and renovations. It's quite depressing, the state of the technology there and the building itself. What are the plans for renovating that school?

[Anonymous]

OP where are you? you started this thread and fail to answer the questions. If you don't know the answer, please state that you don't have the answer right now, but will get back as soon as you can with the answer. Is this non responsiveness indicative of how you will operate the school?

[DCPSschoolplanning]

Anonymous wrote:OP where are you? you started this thread and fail to answer the questions. If you don't know the answer, please state that you don't have the answer right now, but will get back as soon as you can with the answer. Is this non responsiveness indicative of how you will operate the school?

Sorry for the delay. We've read every response and are working to reply to all of the questions. We've also been preparing for tonight's community meeting, which we're heading off to now!

We'll be back tomorrow with more responses, so keep the questions coming!

[Anonymous]

DCPSschoolplanning wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP where are you? you started this thread and fail to answer the questions. If you don't know the answer, please state that you don't have the answer right now, but will get back as soon as you can with the answer. Is this non responsiveness indicative of how you will operate the school?

Sorry for the delay. We've read every response and are working to reply to all of the questions. We've also been preparing for tonight's community meeting, which we're heading off to now!

We'll be back tomorrow with more responses, so keep the questions coming!

OP, you are so gracious.

[Anonymous]

Another DCI parent who is considering other options. How hard will it be to get into Brookland OOB?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another DCI parent who is considering other options. How hard will it be to get into Brookland OOB?

It won't be. The 3 feeder schools barely have 200 kids in those middle school grades. Last I heard they want 500 at BMS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another DCI parent who is considering other options. How hard will it be to get into Brookland OOB?

Probably not that difficult in the earlier years. I suppose kids currently in Ward 4 Pk-8 schools will apply for OOB status. I cannot imagine a parent would want to keep their kid in those ridiculous PK-8 elementary designed schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

DCPSschoolplanning wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP where are you? you started this thread and fail to answer the questions. If you don't know the answer, please state that you don't have the answer right now, but will get back as soon as you can with the answer. Is this non responsiveness indicative of how you will operate the school?

Sorry for the delay. We've read every response and are working to reply to all of the questions. We've also been preparing for tonight's community meeting, which we're heading off to now!

We'll be back tomorrow with more responses, so keep the questions coming!

OP, you are so gracious.

PP you highlighted my post. You are correct, I was rude and OP was gracious in his response. OP, I apologize, and I look forward to your responses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

DCPSschoolplanning wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will the School Planning Team open a thread for other schools or just for Brookland Middle, Van Ness and Roosevelt? I'm interested in getting answers on some other schools. Thanks!

What schools are you interested in hearing more about? Our office is generally limited to opening new schools and major high school renovations, but we can try to put you in touch with the right people. In the meantime, if you want to email us with your questions, you can reach out to [e-mail].

Sorry to ask an Off Topic question, but Banneker - a school with very high achieving students - is shockingly behind the times with regards to other high schools and renovations. It's quite depressing, the state of the technology there and the building itself. What are the plans for renovating that school?

Banneker had an opportunity to be renovated, but the principal was against it because she didn't want her students being housed temporary in McKinley. This was two years ago when my youngest graduated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another DCI parent who is considering other options. How hard will it be to get into Brookland OOB?

It won't be. The 3 feeder schools barely have 200 kids in those middle school grades. Last I heard they want 500 at BMS.

How many spots will there be in the first few years at BMS? All 500?

[Anonymous]

Why would a principal get to decide whether or not a building gets renovated? That makes no sense! The principal does not privately own the building.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for opening this dialogue. I'm Ward 5, just blocks from Brookland Middle, and our kids, as well as literally every other elementary-aged kid on my block, goes to a charter or another DCPS that they got into OOB. It doesn't mater how pretty the building is, or how convenient, if you don't do some things correctly, you'll open up a sinking ship.

My thoughts:

1. There are going to be children attending this school who will need wrap-around services: mental health, social working services, etc. and I will want reassurance that they are receiving the support they need beyond the classroom so that teachers can teach them when they're in a class with my kids. Teachers should be allowed to work around IMPACT for this set of kids, and class-size should be smaller for those in need of extra attention.

2. Per pp: a test-in, or honors track, would provide those students who were fortunate enough to be in demanding early-years programs with the challenge they need.

3. Creative programming. Languages are great, I agree focusing on those will pull some of the neighborhood charter kids in. However, a strong science program is also very desirable for us, particularly one that is hands-on and project-based would be very attractive and pull people in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for opening this dialogue. I'm Ward 5, just blocks from Brookland Middle, and our kids, as well as literally every other elementary-aged kid on my block, goes to a charter or another DCPS that they got into OOB. It doesn't mater how pretty the building is, or how convenient, if you don't do some things correctly, you'll open up a sinking ship.

My thoughts:

1. There are going to be children attending this school who will need wrap-around services: mental health, social working services, etc. and I will want reassurance that they are receiving the support they need beyond the classroom so that teachers can teach them when they're in a class with my kids. Teachers should be allowed to work around IMPACT for this set of kids, and class-size should be smaller for those in need of extra attention.

2. Per pp: a test-in, or honors track, would provide those students who were fortunate enough to be in demanding early-years programs with the challenge they need.

3. Creative programming. Languages are great, I agree focusing on those will pull some of the neighborhood charter kids in. However, a strong science program is also very desirable for us, particularly one that is hands-on and project-based would be very attractive and pull people in.

Another poster here who agrees with these points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another DCI parent who is considering other options. How hard will it be to get into Brookland OOB?

Probably not that difficult in the earlier years. I suppose kids currently in Ward 4 Pk-8 schools will apply for OOB status. I cannot imagine a parent would want to keep their kid in those ridiculous PK-8 elementary designed schools.

My kids are in a Ward 4 PK-8, and its not ridiculous. Sure, it's different than a separate middle school, but they can work too.

[Anonymous]

Agree with 7:32. What will you do provide tons of support to those who need lots of services plus lots of challenge to those who need that?

- another Brooklander who knows no one in local DCPS schools.