Louis archer administration

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember taking time off work on morning to try to get my son his musical instrument that he left at home - and she refused to let me give it to him, even though he was in band class that morning. She told me that I had to leave it in the cafeteria, which was pointless since he was already in class. But my husband has had good conversations with her and has said that if you make an effort to talk to her, she is nice. So just make the extra effort with her - think about all the parents she has to deal with at this large center school.

That's the school's rule. Otherwise the admin or parents are constantly running around and interrupting class for one kid or another. Makes sense.

This, but why the hell do they get parents involved in first place? My parents came to school 3 times in 9 years, and they were hardly eve sent home paperwork to go through. Going to school and everything about school is for students. Why is school like a 2nd job for parents here? My parents wouldn't have even knows I left my instrument home and they definitely wouldn't have given any effort to give it to me.
OP, you did that, great, but got stuck at the door. I'd be pissed too. You made it to the door, pressed the button, told them why you are there, but since you didn't do it "well", she didn' let you in. did she come to the door at least if she didn't understand you through the intercom?
At our NWDC public school, they act like you can't possibly afford to live here even though it's our 7th year here...lol. They open the door though.

I have to be at school because I have a child with special needs that affects their executive function skills, and the school has refused to address that in their IEP. So we have to compensate a lot at home, we meet repeatedly with the school team to try and get the services that might help the kid actually learn something at school, and we also have a lot of doctor's appointments that results in late drop-off/early-pickup. That involves a lot of exposure to the folks who man the front office.

[Anonymous]

The Louise Archer Administration have been great. I don't get why there is such harsh judgement on the front line at the school. First of all, from our old school , the admin is terrific period. The other is, do you really want a person cheerily admitting anyone into the school? There has to be a frontline in determining whether you or some psycho gets in. I talk to the employee who I believe you are referring to- she is great. She is dedicated- she watches out for our kids- she is the frontline to the school. I would much rather a judging person than someone who just opens a locked front door.

[Anonymous]

It is not whether the person opens a locked door to a stranger. It is whether a person greets you pleasantly 8 times out of 10 and/or assists you in a generally helpful and congenial way OR if a person is grumpy, rude, and makes you feel unwelcome and a bother 9-10 times out of 10 AND many of your friends feel the same way.

[Anonymous]

I have been a LAES parent for the last 4 years. I'd guess that I have had an average to more-than-average number of interactions with the front office personnel. I have always had a positive experience.

[Anonymous]

One of the office personnel will quiz you on why you are their, and will not let you past unless things are clear. For example, I was not on the list while visiting as an academic coach. I was waiting the the lobby until the teacher I work with showed up.

Somewhat frustrating, but I understand. She can be a little gruff, but she is protecting the school/kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not whether the person opens a locked door to a stranger. It is whether a person greets you pleasantly 8 times out of 10 and/or assists you in a generally helpful and congenial way OR if a person is grumpy, rude, and makes you feel unwelcome and a bother 9-10 times out of 10 AND many of your friends feel the same way.

+1

I'm not annoyed I have to ring the bell and check in at the office. I want them to vet visitors, and I have no problem stating my purpose. I'm annoyed that one of the front office staff acts like it's a huge endeavor to get my child a hall pass or makes passive-aggressive comments about how doctor's appointments shouldn't interfere with school (and, please, front office lady, talk some of our kid's specialists into offering non-school hours, having to take off work constantly isn't amazing for us either) or talks to us like we're dumb ("you can leave now, mom/dad" -- no shit? I don't have to stand in the office all day? Thanks. I was just taking 30 seconds to saying goodbye/have a good day to my kid.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not whether the person opens a locked door to a stranger. It is whether a person greets you pleasantly 8 times out of 10 and/or assists you in a generally helpful and congenial way OR if a person is grumpy, rude, and makes you feel unwelcome and a bother 9-10 times out of 10 AND many of your friends feel the same way.

+1

I'm not annoyed I have to ring the bell and check in at the office. I want them to vet visitors, and I have no problem stating my purpose. I'm annoyed that one of the front office staff acts like it's a huge endeavor to get my child a hall pass or makes passive-aggressive comments about how doctor's appointments shouldn't interfere with school (and, please, front office lady, talk some of our kid's specialists into offering non-school hours, having to take off work constantly isn't amazing for us either) or talks to us like we're dumb ("you can leave now, mom/dad" -- no shit? I don't have to stand in the office all day? Thanks. I was just taking 30 seconds to saying goodbye/have a good day to my kid.).

Sounds to me as if the staffer may have a lot of other responsibilities on her plate that parents can't see, and wants hall passes etc. to move fast in order to get back to other work. Some office staff (not just LA but everywhere) are pulled in a hundred directions every day. That is an excuse if this staffer is rude, but maybe it's an explanation.

PP, if your child has frequent medical appointments during the school day, do you turn up at school and say, "I'm here to get Child for an appointment" and you need your child pulled from class then and there? If that's the case, you might try letting the office know at the start of the school day that you'll pick up at X o'clock and could they please pull your child from class. That's what we've done for years and the schools (Elementary, middle school and now HS) have said they appreciate knowing before the day begins so they can call DC out of class even before I get there. DC was often already in the office waiting when I arrived for pickup.

If your child has lots of times when he or she needs to be checked out, talk with a counselor about how to make that a faster process with the office. if you have appointment times well in advance you might be able to give the school (including the teachers) advance notice, though I'd still call the school at the start of any day when you'll be coming in.

This does get easier in MS and HS, if that's any comfort.

[Anonymous]

Above should read "that is NOT an excuse if staffer is rude"
Sorry

[Anonymous]

Let it go! We were at another school that was so incredibly uptight (Fairfax County- Vienna). So many rules on when you could call, or show up etc. Louise Archer doesn't have these rules since they run this place extremely well. I have heard of other schools banning playdates etc. If OP is that upset here, try some other school and I mean that seriously (since we fortunately were able to leave. LAES has been just wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not whether the person opens a locked door to a stranger. It is whether a person greets you pleasantly 8 times out of 10 and/or assists you in a generally helpful and congenial way OR if a person is grumpy, rude, and makes you feel unwelcome and a bother 9-10 times out of 10 AND many of your friends feel the same way.

+1

I'm not annoyed I have to ring the bell and check in at the office. I want them to vet visitors, and I have no problem stating my purpose. I'm annoyed that one of the front office staff acts like it's a huge endeavor to get my child a hall pass or makes passive-aggressive comments about how doctor's appointments shouldn't interfere with school (and, please, front office lady, talk some of our kid's specialists into offering non-school hours, having to take off work constantly isn't amazing for us either) or talks to us like we're dumb ("you can leave now, mom/dad" -- no shit? I don't have to stand in the office all day? Thanks. I was just taking 30 seconds to saying goodbye/have a good day to my kid.).

Sounds to me as if the staffer may have a lot of other responsibilities on her plate that parents can't see, and wants hall passes etc. to move fast in order to get back to other work. Some office staff (not just LA but everywhere) are pulled in a hundred directions every day. That is an excuse if this staffer is rude, but maybe it's an explanation.

So what? I have a job that would make most people cry once a week that I can guarantee you is about 12x worse than any administrative job, and if I was an asshole to people because I couldn't manage my workload and be pleasant, it would be a huge issue. If you are incapable of multitasking and being polite, you do not belong in a public facing position.

Anonymous wrote:PP, if your child has frequent medical appointments during the school day, do you turn up at school and say, "I'm here to get Child for an appointment" and you need your child pulled from class then and there? If that's the case, you might try letting the office know at the start of the school day that you'll pick up at X o'clock and could they please pull your child from class. That's what we've done for years and the schools (Elementary, middle school and now HS) have said they appreciate knowing before the day begins so they can call DC out of class even before I get there. DC was often already in the office waiting when I arrived for pickup.

If your child has lots of times when he or she needs to be checked out, talk with a counselor about how to make that a faster process with the office. if you have appointment times well in advance you might be able to give the school (including the teachers) advance notice, though I'd still call the school at the start of any day when you'll be coming in.

We do this; it doesn't help. I always notify the office via their requested email channel when we have late arrival/early pickup. We also notify the teachers and send same-day reminders. We schedule appointments for either late arrival or early pickup, not back and forth during the school day. Office lady is still an asshole, and they rarely have my kid waiting, even if I notify them before school starts that we're picking up at X time.

You can make all the excuses you want and tell me how I should make her job easier, but (a) she is still unpleasant, which is not a great trait in an front office person and (b) I am already doing all those things with consistently shitty results (and I'm not the only one who's complained).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let it go! We were at another school that was so incredibly uptight (Fairfax County- Vienna). So many rules on when you could call, or show up etc. Louise Archer doesn't have these rules since they run this place extremely well. I have heard of other schools banning playdates etc. If OP is that upset here, try some other school and I mean that seriously (since we fortunately were able to leave. LAES has been just wonderful.

You're suggesting that if it ruffles my feathers that I deal with rude staff when I have to pick my kid up or drop a lunch off or bring a change of clothes or whatever that I should change schools? You're insane.