Two Rivers PK4 - Outdoor Space Concerns

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How bad is the outdoor space? (I've never seen it.) You describe Whittier's as bad but that's our IB school and we've gone to events there ... they have a playground for young kids, basketball court, etc. Really, compared to many charters, it's pretty good.

I understand wanting to secure the daycare space but Brightwood has lots of decent in-home daycare options and center based too. So, I think you'd be okay.

And, depending where you're waitlisted and what your numbers are, you are likely to get other offers (though, maybe no better in terms of outdoor space).

I do get it. I struggled choosing our top choice charter (for preK4) over our current one (preK3) only because the latter's facility isn't as nice. But in the end, realized that was a bit nuts.

The outdoor space is TINY. It's got a climbing structure, and that's about it. No basketball court, no grass, TEENY. And the indoor gym is also really small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(OP again) and thanks to the other commenters - I know we are very lucky to be choosing between (at least) two good options.

But you're not choosing between two good options. You're choosing between a nice option for one more year, and then no option at all, vs an option all the way up to 8th grade.

Sometimes I really do not understand the myopia of parents of very young children. They grow up, you know.

Well, OP is choosing between a good option and an unknown. chances are she will get a good enough lottery numbet between K and 8th.

HAHA very funny. No, chances are NOT that she'll get another number as good as this one.

Perhaps you haven't played the lottery recently?

[Anonymous]

Let me put it to you another way.

If you read these threads, you'll see that there are really only 3 charters that have no drama (well, publicly). They are TR, Stokes, and Inspired Teaching. They're all in very high demand and don't admit many non-sibs. But now I'm thinking my advice has shifted: leave the spot for someone who will appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me put it to you another way.

If you read these threads, you'll see that there are really only 3 charters that have no drama (well, publicly). They are TR, Stokes, and Inspired Teaching. They're all in very high demand and don't admit many non-sibs. But now I'm thinking my advice has shifted: leave the spot for someone who will appreciate it.

Amended: HRCS

[Anonymous]

My kid went to Appletree in Columbia Heights. The smallest plastic playground you have ever seen. On nice days, they walked to the community playground down the street.

I was worried about it (and the fact that the school was in a basement). But HE WAS FINE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me put it to you another way.

If you read these threads, you'll see that there are really only 3 charters that have no drama (well, publicly). They are TR, Stokes, and Inspired Teaching. They're all in very high demand and don't admit many non-sibs. But now I'm thinking my advice has shifted: leave the spot for someone who will appreciate it.

Amended: HRCS

Don't want to take the thread in a new direction but this seems silly. Unless you have a definition of High Resources, I don't understand. What about Cap. City? I've heard no drama? DCB? Or is the latter not high resources because they actually have a high percentage of low-income kids?

And what is drama? There are often long threads about Inspired being not so inclusive?

Anyway, she should take the spot if she really desires the school. Not because of message board chatter.

[Anonymous]

Take the 2R's space. You would be CRAZY to give it up. You may very well never get a good lottery pick again.

When my DS was your age, outdoor space was a priority for me also and I turned my nose up at 2R4 because of their lack of outdoor space. Fast forward to now--and I roll my eyes at my former self.

After completely striking out for PK3, we got in to 2RY for PK4. My son is now a rising 1st grader at Young and has struggled with reading and focus and I'm amazed at the focus and dedication of his teachers and the special Ed teachers in supporting him. Trust me, this kid gets PLENTY of outdoor time. He doesn't need ANY support in playing or socialization, he needs the support in reading, etc, which he is getting at 2R.

[Anonymous]

OP here – Thank you all for weighing in. I especially appreciate hearing from parents a few years down the road who can provide some perspective that I don’t have quite yet. We are definitely leaning toward 2R for the long-term academic benefits, and we continue to thank our lucky stars that we have the option. Plus, this may give me the motivation I need to ramp up our outdoor time on weekends – time to dig out the camping gear!

[Anonymous]

We didn't apply to TR4 because of the facility. We did apply to TRY and hope we get in. I think the lack of outdoor space and gym is big issue for elementary school.

[Anonymous]

My very active 3-year-olds have been in a daycare with no outdoor space for a year. They’re fine. They walk with their teachers to a nearby public playground on nice days. I take them to the playground after pick-up when the weather is nice, and we do tons of outdoor time on the weekends.

I wouldn’t give up a spot at Two Rivers. Friends and colleagues who have kids there absolutely love it. You can always switch to Whittier next year for K.

And I second the comment above about finding another day care closer to home for your second. I think it’s kind of crappy that your current day care can’t accommdate you when you have a kid there right now and have likely given them tons of notice re: Kid #2. Seems they are punishing you for “bad” timing re: Kid #1’s departure and Kid #2 needing care. That seems unreasonable. I wouldn’t want to reward that type of policy by paying 1.5 months of care you don’t need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me put it to you another way.

If you read these threads, you'll see that there are really only 3 charters that have no drama (well, publicly). They are TR, Stokes, and Inspired Teaching. They're all in very high demand and don't admit many non-sibs. But now I'm thinking my advice has shifted: leave the spot for someone who will appreciate it.

I would consider stokes, inspired teaching, and 2 rivers mediocre charters at best.

If you’ve been around as long as I have, you would have seen the threads at inspired teaching about teacher turnover and curriculum concerns. Or the threads about parents worried about the major gaps in their education.

These charters aren’t very much in demand compared to the better ones, so they don’t stir up so much emotion on here. Just look up that kook who always slams Yu Ying or the zillions of strange mundo verde hate posts- I think half of them are posts by people who want to dissuade others from taking spots. I don’t send my kid to either school btw- those are just examples.

Stop patting yourself on the back when most people are secretly looking at you with pity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(OP again) and thanks to the other commenters - I know we are very lucky to be choosing between (at least) two good options.

But you're not choosing between two good options. You're choosing between a nice option for one more year, and then no option at all, vs an option all the way up to 8th grade.

Sometimes I really do not understand the myopia of parents of very young children. They grow up, you know.

Well, OP is choosing between a good option and an unknown. chances are she will get a good enough lottery numbet between K and 8th.

Two Rivers is just an OK option academically for an advanced learner. This is one reason many UMC parents leave along the way at both campuses. Differentiation has never been Two Rivers' strong suit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(OP again) and thanks to the other commenters - I know we are very lucky to be choosing between (at least) two good options.

But you're not choosing between two good options. You're choosing between a nice option for one more year, and then no option at all, vs an option all the way up to 8th grade.

Sometimes I really do not understand the myopia of parents of very young children. They grow up, you know.

Well, OP is choosing between a good option and an unknown. chances are she will get a good enough lottery numbet between K and 8th.

Two Rivers is just an OK option academically for an advanced learner. This is one reason many UMC parents leave along the way at both campuses. Differentiation has never been Two Rivers' strong suit.

Oh stop. Your “gifted” snowflake did fine at TR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(OP again) and thanks to the other commenters - I know we are very lucky to be choosing between (at least) two good options.

But you're not choosing between two good options. You're choosing between a nice option for one more year, and then no option at all, vs an option all the way up to 8th grade.

Sometimes I really do not understand the myopia of parents of very young children. They grow up, you know.

Well, OP is choosing between a good option and an unknown. chances are she will get a good enough lottery numbet between K and 8th.

Two Rivers is just an OK option academically for an advanced learner. This is one reason many UMC parents leave along the way at both campuses. Differentiation has never been Two Rivers' strong suit.

Oh stop. Your “gifted” snowflake did fine at TR.

np - Why are you so jealous of smart kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me put it to you another way.

If you read these threads, you'll see that there are really only 3 charters that have no drama (well, publicly). They are TR, Stokes, and Inspired Teaching. They're all in very high demand and don't admit many non-sibs. But now I'm thinking my advice has shifted: leave the spot for someone who will appreciate it.

I would consider stokes, inspired teaching, and 2 rivers mediocre charters at best.

If you’ve been around as long as I have, you would have seen the threads at inspired teaching about teacher turnover and curriculum concerns. Or the threads about parents worried about the major gaps in their education.

These charters aren’t very much in demand compared to the better ones, so they don’t stir up so much emotion on here. Just look up that kook who always slams Yu Ying or the zillions of strange mundo verde hate posts- I think half of them are posts by people who want to dissuade others from taking spots. I don’t send my kid to either school btw- those are just examples.

Stop patting yourself on the back when most people are secretly looking at you with pity.

Ok this is weird. What are the "better" ones? And how are you determining that? Have you looked at the wait list length? That's what I mean by saying the odds are against her getting this opportunity again.

I'm simply speaking from experience of myself or friends.

Also, HRCS = Highly Regarded (and is kind of a joke, but also means something at this point, essentially, in high demand).