Decision re: WIS and others

[Anonymous]

Don't squander the opportunity to give your child the gift of bilingualism. The younger they start, the better: their brains are still wired for easy language acquisition. If they don't learn young it's really never the same.

[Anonymous]

3-year-olds are encouraged to do only a half-day of preK-3 at WIS, ending at noon.

Based on the sentiment of the PP---we have many years of full-day school ahead of us---our 4-year-old went half-days for most of preK-4 at WIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I can't speak about WIS and Lowell, though I have heard many great things about WIS. I am a River School parent, and while I think River School has a great program through Pre-K, many people try to get their kids into other schools starting in Pre-K and K. The quality of the teachers can be very uneven, and the administration does not respond well to parents' concerns and criticisms about the quality of education their child is receiving. And quite frankly, the facilities are not the best. But if you only plan to stay a few years, River is great.

i am also a river school parent and think that the above is an accurate description of the school. the administration is very unresponsive and overdefensive if challenged which is unacceptable for the tuition that they charge and the promises they make during your initial orientation. i think that it's a great program for the younger ones but beware: parents who plan to move their child to another school to begin a k-12 program will have to face the hostility of rachel goldsten who may or may not get your child's recommendations out in the mail.

Rachel Goldstein is a gem! (Former River parent)

[Anonymous]

Can anyone compare WIS-french immersion with Lycee Rochambeau? We will be coming from Paris, where my son will have been in preschool for two years. We speak English at home, but my son speaks french with his peers and is very comfortable. He is very active and I have some concerns about the strictness of the french system, although so far he has been quite happy with it. Did anyone consider both the Lycee and WIS, or do those schools serve very different populations?

We will be living near the National Gallery, where I will be working, so that is also a consideration.

Thanks!

Jennifer

[Anonymous]

French friend looked at WIS and talked to colleagues (all interpreters) who had sent kids there, then chose Rochambeau. Her issue, in part, was whether her kids could go back to France and pick up where they left off. Don't know if that would be a consideration for your DC. That said, she advise us (non-French speakers) against Rochambeau on can't-help-your-kid-with-homework grounds.

[Anonymous]

Oh and re going back to France and picking up where they left off -- they did and they were able to. Although they thought the teachers in France were more strict than at Rochambeau (wrt discipline more than academics).

[Anonymous]

Jennifer,
WIS is better for your geographically, for sure. Have you studied both websites?

[Anonymous]

Thanks posters! I just saw these replies. All very helpful.


We will apply to both and see what happens (although from the website it looks as though Rochambeau has an entirely different admissions schedule). We will also apply to French Maternal.

Thanks again. And if anyone has any insight into these programs, please keep sharing.

All best,

Jennifer

[Anonymous]

Parent of older child at WIS ( upper campus). Just want to comment that I agree with all positive points already written, but add that the always evolving student body is one of the QUALITIES of WIS. By Middle School it's very freeing for the students to have regular opportunities to mix up the status quo, and new kids are always a welcome and exciting aspect every year (and in a large percentage of cases bring with them experiences from various other countries). The inevitable coming and going of students from around the world is part of the beauty of WIS, and the "lifers" are a welcoming and open minded bunch.