School Within School (SWS) worth a year in a swing space?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SWS's principal is actually hoping the school will swing to trailers; unclear where those trailers will be located. So if that doesn't bother you, go for it? Unclear how the kids will get PE indoors in that case. And as another posted said, construction will last two years, not one.

Of course he doesn’t want his school destroyed like CHML was. I think people seriously underestimate how terrible 1.5 hours/day on a bus is a for 3 year old if they think that could even remotely be doable for 2 years.

I think the Hyde parents had the same fear and were pleasantly surprised by how well their swing space years were.

[Anonymous]

All I can say is that I hated "Maury Village" so very much.

[Anonymous]

Your kid wouldn't be 3 years old for two whole years. And some people think a 45-minute commute is reasonable--look at the DCPCSB maps of where people travel for YY, CMI, etc. And they aren't taking a special bus just for kids that goes door to door, either.

[Anonymous]

Any updates on where the swing space is going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All I can say is that I hated "Maury Village" so very much.

Why did you hate it, exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are inbounds for Peabody/Watkins and entering the PK4 lottery this year. For PK3 we listed (in this order): (1) SWS, (2) Two Rivers 4th, (3) Two Rivers Young, (4) Peabody. We did not get into any of those options (waitlisted at Peabody in the 30s), but we knew that was a possibility and were okay with it because we were happy with our private daycare and, with a new baby, felt that having the same drop-off location would also be helpful.

This year, I'm planning to list the same 4 options for PK4; however, I wonder if SWS is really worth a year of swing space? I realize this can be hard to measure/quantify, but I suppose I'm just looking for input from current and prior families? I am loathe to commute all over the city with my kid (or have her on a bus for a long time), but perhaps it is worth it for the continued spot? And yes, I know that the chances of getting in are slim to begin with, but, if it is worth it, why not list it?

I am putting us on the pre-k 3 waitlist for SWS with some hesitation. So on balance I do think its worth it. That said, the few times in the past I have put myself in a commuting situation for daycare that I thought wouldn't be "that bad" I've always regretted. I would do the commute once they announce the swing space and really make sure you are ok with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All I can say is that I hated "Maury Village" so very much.

Why did you hate it, exactly?

DP. It was pretty ugly from the outside, but other than that, really NBD. The trailers were fine, did not impact teaching and learning. The biggest issue was being co-located with an active construction site, so in that sense, a swing site might be preferable. But I definitely appreciated not having to change my commute that much, so all in all, an ok solution. And CERTAINLY not worth changing your lottery choice to avoid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All I can say is that I hated "Maury Village" so very much.

Why did you hate it, exactly?

DP. It was pretty ugly from the outside, but other than that, really NBD. The trailers were fine, did not impact teaching and learning. The biggest issue was being co-located with an active construction site, so in that sense, a swing site might be preferable. But I definitely appreciated not having to change my commute that much, so all in all, an ok solution. And CERTAINLY not worth changing your lottery choice to avoid!

Agree. If SWS ends up in a Maury village type scenario, it's a big win and it would be worth it for two years. If they end up in the CHML swing space? Absolutely no way is that worth it for my 3-5 year old for two years. Some parents on our street who pulled out their PK4er a few weeks into the year said the bus took more than an hour several times on the way to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any updates on where the swing space is going?

SWS parent here.

There’s lots of educated speculation, but no announcement yet.

[Anonymous]

What does swing space mean? Sooo many terms on this board trying to follow. TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does swing space mean? Sooo many terms on this board trying to follow. TIA!

Swing space is the location a school's student body relocates to during the modernization process. In other words, a school is being renovated and the building can't be used for 1-2 years. DCPS will temporarily house the school on a swing space. Could be an old school that is no longer in use or trailers.

[Anonymous]

Open Spingarn for the swing space for SWS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does swing space mean? Sooo many terms on this board trying to follow. TIA!

Swing space is the location a school's student body relocates to during the modernization process. In other words, a school is being renovated and the building can't be used for 1-2 years. DCPS will temporarily house the school on a swing space. Could be an old school that is no longer in use or trailers.

Understood. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SWS's principal is actually hoping the school will swing to trailers; unclear where those trailers will be located. So if that doesn't bother you, go for it? Unclear how the kids will get PE indoors in that case. And as another posted said, construction will last two years, not one.

An alrington school had a reno and there was a trailer gym. It was an actual relocate able classroom designed to be a gym...think doublewide trailer. It was crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SWS's principal is actually hoping the school will swing to trailers; unclear where those trailers will be located. So if that doesn't bother you, go for it? Unclear how the kids will get PE indoors in that case. And as another posted said, construction will last two years, not one.

An alrington school had a reno and there was a trailer gym. It was an actual relocate able classroom designed to be a gym...think doublewide trailer. It was crazy.

Maury had a big multipurpose tent. The kids can live for a year without a ton of space for indoor recess. Not ideal, but a trade-off for getting a better facility. We are really fortunate in DC to have a community that can invest in our school facilities, so just focus on that?