Thoughts on West for PreK3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize West has a new principal. I visited West 2 years ago when we were applying for our older son in the lottery and they mentioned their ROAR Matrix - it was something like (I may not have it exactly right):
- Responsibility
- Obedience
- Accountability
- Respect

I was just inwardly shuddering when they talked about it - pretty much brought back every bad memory of school growing up. I never ever got in trouble and was almost a straight A student - yet I felt like I was in a police state.

Then in visiting schools I learned about the Four Is at Inspired Teaching:
- Intellect
- Inquiry
- Imagination
- Integrity

That pretty much sealed the deal for me that ITS was the right school for us. I think in some ways you can pretty much divide schools in DC between ROAR-like models and something else meant to stimulate students, not to merely control them.

You botched the acronym (organized, not obedient), and it's use. There's a lot more focus on rewarding positive behavior than punishing bad behavior. There's an awesome school culture team. Did you meet the school counselor? She's awesome.

You're welcome to make your own choice about schools, but it's kind of a jerk move to crap on someone else's choice just to advertise your own kool-aid.

+1

and the A is actually Attentive, not Accountable

and to the OP, welcome to West...we are excited to have you, your child and all of your I's!

+2

West is definitely not one of the strict / military style discipline schools.

I think you'll get a great feel for it in PK - the teachers really are fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on WL movement. We're "lottery losers" for PK3 with west among our lower WL numbers at low 50s. Not super hopeful, just curious about movement pattern in past.

Not sure of the actual numbers, but I don't think the PK3 waitlist moved much last year. I don't think 50s are likely to make it.

[Anonymous]

I'm the ROAR matrix commenter. I liked the school during the tour but the ROAR matrix was a huge turnoff. It makes it seem like the school has major discipline problems. If this isn't the case then they should rethink how they are communicating about the school with prospective families.

[Anonymous]

My kids were at West for 4 years and we loved the EC program. I hope you will as well. Mrs. Schooler is AMAZING!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ROAR matrix commenter. I liked the school during the tour but the ROAR matrix was a huge turnoff. It makes it seem like the school has major discipline problems. If this isn't the case then they should rethink how they are communicating about the school with prospective families.

NP, and I'm not connected to West. How can you even comment on the matrix if you get two out of the four concepts represented by the acronym wrong?

Also, you need a LOT of lottery luck to get into ITS. It's not like someone IB for West can just "choose" ITS over their IB. So don't be quite so smug about your superior choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ROAR matrix commenter. I liked the school during the tour but the ROAR matrix was a huge turnoff. It makes it seem like the school has major discipline problems. If this isn't the case then they should rethink how they are communicating about the school with prospective families.

You're right, there are major discipline problems. ECE is fine, but anything beyond...huge issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the PK teachers at West are phenomenal. I recommend staying at West at least through PK4 but try to potter for other schools for K and up since West is in flux with the upcoming renovations and staff turnover.

The teachers seem to be much happier with the new principal.

+1 I get this sense as well, such a difference!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ROAR matrix commenter. I liked the school during the tour but the ROAR matrix was a huge turnoff. It makes it seem like the school has major discipline problems. If this isn't the case then they should rethink how they are communicating about the school with prospective families.

I think the school would have a discipline problem if they didn't have a good system in place. Let's face it, is a Title 1 school, so I wouldn't take a positive environment for granted. If it takes ROAR or whatever that isn't crazy military discipline, then great. What's wrong with that?

[Anonymous]

It's amazing that as a current family I don't even know of the "huge" discipline problems. I like to consider myself a fairly involved parent and am at the school often. I have never witnessed anything resembling Lord of the Flies. I've always seen behaviors as you would at any school. Many schools have positive behavioral interventions in place - not just title 1 schools. Im not saying there aren't kids that may have behavioral challenges (I have no specific knowledge of this) but any kid at any school either wOTP, HCRS etc could.

[Anonymous]

Also a current family at West and haven't seen major discipline issues. In fact I've found the older kids to be pretty polite, respectful, and thoughtful to the younger kids. I think the school culture is pretty positive overall. You do get the sense that they're trying to make sure that the Title I kids are on course to be high achievers (I don't think you'd have the same philosophies and interventions at a richer school), but it seems that the school is doing a pretty good job of expecting the best from all its students. I really hope they get renovation money soon though--K and up need some serious remodeling!!

[Anonymous]

"I don't think you'd have the same philosophies and interventions at a richer school."
Exactly.. This is one reason why, as a parent who also attended a Tirle 1 school as a child, we are no longer at West. The focus on discipline and testing over creativity and joy (even playing on the playground before school was verboten) in contrast to WOTP schools was profoundly upsetting. Unfortunately, it also has a racial/class component that I would have hope would have changed in the last 35-40 years. wleft for a charter with the same SES/ethic profile that is not under such a regime.

That said, ECE is amazing at West and insulated for the most part from the ROAR. And we can all hope that the culture of ECE could trickle up.