Feedback on ritchie park elementary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school will still be overcrowded next year. The parents who were the most vocal in the zoning fight were clear they only cared about getting poor/minority kids OUT of their school. So while FARMS will be reduced, classrooms will still be overcrowded and classes will still be held in trailers (oops, I mean "portables").

The principal is neither good nor bad. She simply repeats what MCPS tells her to say, and nothing more. She knows most of the kids by name, but is not an overly caring or sympathetic person. She does make personal phone calls to parents when kids are in trouble. She has not made much effort to address the issues of bullying at recess -- simply says more parents need to volunteer during recess time, which is not encouraging or helpful to a household where both parents (or the single parent) are working professionals.

Not sure why PP said there is no time for specials. Kids go to specials 4 days a week: music, media/library, art, gym.

This was all of the Fallsgrove's families which was ironic since they have never wanted to be at Ritchie Park in the first place, forever complaining they should be in Wootton school district and going to Lakewood or the other 2-3 schools on the way. They purchased their overpriced homes knowing they were going to RP and RM so they had no merit It was their choice their school was so far away. So the years of complaints to somehow all of a sudden wanting to be a RP as long as Hungerford left spoke volumes to everyone at that school.

And no one said they aren't involved, they aren't like the other neighborhoods, which to me felt like saying they were stuck up, or felt they were more the school, and not the other neighborhoods.

That said, they have to beg and plead for volunteers and PTA members and still don't do a good job.

Years ago, there were sign-ups for recess, lunch, after-school, and during school volunteers. They had volunteer coordinators. Restaurant nights were packed. Teachers went to restaurant nights and all of the events. They were just as involved as parents.

But over the years the student body has increased by 50% and now they can't get anyone to help. I will be curious what it will be like once it gets back below 100%

As far as the teachers, there is a lot of turnover except for the ones that need to go in the upper grades. They seem to forever stick around and do close to nothing.

The school does not prepare the kids for middle school at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11:25 is simply misinformed, or is just a disgruntled witch.

I know plenty of Fallsgrove families who love RP, and are very devoted to the school, the PTA and the community. So you are wrong there, and should apologize for disparaging them ("they are not like the families in [other neighborhoods.]" You are despicable for even writing that.

Also false that there was not enough time for specials, lunch/recess. That is simply not true.

PTA issues don't have to do with the principal.

You sound like Sarah Huckabee Sanders, spewing lies.

Can you post what they are then please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11:25 is simply misinformed, or is just a disgruntled witch.

I know plenty of Fallsgrove families who love RP, and are very devoted to the school, the PTA and the community. So you are wrong there, and should apologize for disparaging them ("they are not like the families in [other neighborhoods.]" You are despicable for even writing that.

Also false that there was not enough time for specials, lunch/recess. That is simply not true.

PTA issues don't have to do with the principal.

You sound like Sarah Huckabee Sanders, spewing lies.

This is what 11:25 said-

Why do you always call people RP bashers? People just disagree with or have different experiences than you. That doesn't make them wrong. Your comment doesn't make any sense. (not 11:25)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:25 is simply misinformed, or is just a disgruntled witch.

I know plenty of Fallsgrove families who love RP, and are very devoted to the school, the PTA and the community. So you are wrong there, and should apologize for disparaging them ("they are not like the families in [other neighborhoods.]" You are despicable for even writing that.

Also false that there was not enough time for specials, lunch/recess. That is simply not true.

PTA issues don't have to do with the principal.

You sound like Sarah Huckabee Sanders, spewing lies.

This is what 11:25 said-

Why do you always call people RP bashers? People just disagree with or have different experiences than you. That doesn't make them wrong. Your comment doesn't make any sense. (not 11:25)

Ritchie Park is not really mentioned often here (aside from during the boundary discussions). I don't think it has a basher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:thinking about houses that are zoned for ritchie park. I noticed that the upcoming rezoning is going to dramatically reduce the FARMS rate to about 7.5 percent and make it more of a "wealthy" school. DO you all think that this is going to have a noticeable impact on the school ? positive and negative.

RP parents lobbied very hard to have FARM rate of 7.5% to keep it very close to nearby Potomac elementary schools. They must have seen benefit to lobby so hard for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school will still be overcrowded next year. The parents who were the most vocal in the zoning fight were clear they only cared about getting poor/minority kids OUT of their school. So while FARMS will be reduced, classrooms will still be overcrowded and classes will still be held in trailers (oops, I mean "portables").

The principal is neither good nor bad. She simply repeats what MCPS tells her to say, and nothing more. She knows most of the kids by name, but is not an overly caring or sympathetic person. She does make personal phone calls to parents when kids are in trouble. She has not made much effort to address the issues of bullying at recess -- simply says more parents need to volunteer during recess time, which is not encouraging or helpful to a household where both parents (or the single parent) are working professionals.

Not sure why PP said there is no time for specials. Kids go to specials 4 days a week: music, media/library, art, gym.

With large reduction of kids, why it will be still over crowded? If you are talking about the next year, then that's just for one year. Also, there is nothing wrong in asking to keep FARMS rate down. It's simply a reflection of neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school will still be overcrowded next year. The parents who were the most vocal in the zoning fight were clear they only cared about getting poor/minority kids OUT of their school. So while FARMS will be reduced, classrooms will still be overcrowded and classes will still be held in trailers (oops, I mean "portables").

The principal is neither good nor bad. She simply repeats what MCPS tells her to say, and nothing more. She knows most of the kids by name, but is not an overly caring or sympathetic person. She does make personal phone calls to parents when kids are in trouble. She has not made much effort to address the issues of bullying at recess -- simply says more parents need to volunteer during recess time, which is not encouraging or helpful to a household where both parents (or the single parent) are working professionals.

Not sure why PP said there is no time for specials. Kids go to specials 4 days a week: music, media/library, art, gym.

With large reduction of kids, why it will be still over crowded? If you are talking about the next year, then that's just for one year. Also, there is nothing wrong in asking to keep FARMS rate down. It's simply a reflection of neighborhood.

Why don't you just build a wall just to be safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school will still be overcrowded next year. The parents who were the most vocal in the zoning fight were clear they only cared about getting poor/minority kids OUT of their school. So while FARMS will be reduced, classrooms will still be overcrowded and classes will still be held in trailers (oops, I mean "portables").

The principal is neither good nor bad. She simply repeats what MCPS tells her to say, and nothing more. She knows most of the kids by name, but is not an overly caring or sympathetic person. She does make personal phone calls to parents when kids are in trouble. She has not made much effort to address the issues of bullying at recess -- simply says more parents need to volunteer during recess time, which is not encouraging or helpful to a household where both parents (or the single parent) are working professionals.

Not sure why PP said there is no time for specials. Kids go to specials 4 days a week: music, media/library, art, gym.

With large reduction of kids, why it will be still over crowded? If you are talking about the next year, then that's just for one year. Also, there is nothing wrong in asking to keep FARMS rate down. It's simply a reflection of neighborhood.

Why don't you just build a wall just to be safe.

RP school has the same FARMS rate as nearby area. What's wrong with that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:thinking about houses that are zoned for ritchie park. I noticed that the upcoming rezoning is going to dramatically reduce the FARMS rate to about 7.5 percent and make it more of a "wealthy" school. DO you all think that this is going to have a noticeable impact on the school ? positive and negative.

Residents worked very hard for it. You are welcome to join and benefit from it as well. School's ratings will go up and if you buy house now, your house price will go up as well.

[Anonymous]

When Crown HS is built, Fallsgrove will likely leave RP and other neighborhoods will be shifted again. It is unlikely the FARMS rate will stay so low longterm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When Crown HS is built, Fallsgrove will likely leave RP and other neighborhoods will be shifted again. It is unlikely the FARMS rate will stay so low longterm.

That's not happening in the next 3-4 years. Anyone looking to be RM cluster with low FARMS ES, RP is your answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school will still be overcrowded next year. The parents who were the most vocal in the zoning fight were clear they only cared about getting poor/minority kids OUT of their school. So while FARMS will be reduced, classrooms will still be overcrowded and classes will still be held in trailers (oops, I mean "portables").

The principal is neither good nor bad. She simply repeats what MCPS tells her to say, and nothing more. She knows most of the kids by name, but is not an overly caring or sympathetic person. She does make personal phone calls to parents when kids are in trouble. She has not made much effort to address the issues of bullying at recess -- simply says more parents need to volunteer during recess time, which is not encouraging or helpful to a household where both parents (or the single parent) are working professionals.

Not sure why PP said there is no time for specials. Kids go to specials 4 days a week: music, media/library, art, gym.

This was all of the Fallsgrove's families which was ironic since they have never wanted to be at Ritchie Park in the first place, forever complaining they should be in Wootton school district and going to Lakewood or the other 2-3 schools on the way. They purchased their overpriced homes knowing they were going to RP and RM so they had no merit It was their choice their school was so far away. So the years of complaints to somehow all of a sudden wanting to be a RP as long as Hungerford left spoke volumes to everyone at that school.

And no one said they aren't involved, they aren't like the other neighborhoods, which to me felt like saying they were stuck up, or felt they were more the school, and not the other neighborhoods.

That said, they have to beg and plead for volunteers and PTA members and still don't do a good job.

Years ago, there were sign-ups for recess, lunch, after-school, and during school volunteers. They had volunteer coordinators. Restaurant nights were packed. Teachers went to restaurant nights and all of the events. They were just as involved as parents.

But over the years the student body has increased by 50% and now they can't get anyone to help. I will be curious what it will be like once it gets back below 100%

As far as the teachers, there is a lot of turnover except for the ones that need to go in the upper grades. They seem to forever stick around and do close to nothing.

The school does not prepare the kids for middle school at all.

Do you help? Do you volunteer?

[Anonymous]

No, RP does NOT have the same FARMS rate as the schools near it. All other schools in its cluster are over 20%. RP is projected to be at 8% next year. The racist families in Horizon Hill and nearby neighborhoods made it absolutely clear that they wanted Hispanic and lower-income families moved out.

[Anonymous]

thinking about houses that are zoned for ritchie park. I noticed that the upcoming rezoning is going to dramatically reduce the FARMS rate to about 7.5 percent and make it more of a "wealthy" school. DO you all think that this is going to have a noticeable impact on the school ? positive and negative.


Residents worked very hard for it. You are welcome to join and benefit from it as well. School's ratings will go up and if you buy house now, your house price will go up as well.

Wow. That is a breathtaking statement. I guess in your world, acting like a crappy person at a BOE meeting is "hard work".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When Crown HS is built, Fallsgrove will likely leave RP and other neighborhoods will be shifted again. It is unlikely the FARMS rate will stay so low longterm.

That's not happening in the next 3-4 years. Anyone looking to be RM cluster with low FARMS ES, RP is your answer.

3-4 years is less time then most people buy a home for...