SSSAS, Browne, ACDS, or Flint Hill: Please share your experience with April-May DL for elementary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Browne parent here - my own 2 cents.

The school is tremendous. It's an incredible, diverse community, and the school has a forward-thinking, academic focus.

The teachers and administration at Browne have done a fantastic job throughout quarantine. My son didn't miss a beat through DL - the teachers were supportive, organized, and engaged. They've been nimble in figuring out what works best for each "classroom."

They also made a big deal of making sure the little things didn't get lost in the shuffle.

The Administration has worked to ensure parents are in the loop about options and plans for the fall, developing numerous scenarios, based on health requirements and governmental regulations. I'm hopeful (as I know they are) that students will be back on campus, and they're working through a variety of measures to make that happen. I feel they're doing a great job in setting parents' expectations and being very open about what measures they will take, while soliciting the input of parents along the way.

Each student is different, and schools have different strengths. Browne Academy is great for my son. I feel like he's getting a strong education, learning critical thinking skills, and learning in a diverse, nurturing environment that focuses on his well-being.

+1 - I read all the reviews last year. This past year was my first year at the school. We love it. The parent community is amazing. As an AA family, I love the diversity. No school is perfect. My child just finished this year in the preschool program and Ms. Janet is top notch. I considered leaving not wanting to do distance learning as a possibility but they did an amazing job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of an ACDS LS student here. I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of DL engagement and content over March, April and May. The teachers really did turn around on a dime and rolled out DL in three days. There were several synchronous learning blocks a day, including some optional "join us for something fun if you aren't burned out on screens" activities in the afternoons as well. They used Zoom for meetings, SeeSaw and Google classrooms. I was particularly pleased with the individual meetings my student got - including several where they were able to have deep social-emotional conversations with their teachers.

Overall, it's still second-best to in-person - DL will always be, especially for younger learners - but ACDS did a great job.

+1.

this was our experience too for our upper school students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of an ACDS LS student here. I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of DL engagement and content over March, April and May. The teachers really did turn around on a dime and rolled out DL in three days. There were several synchronous learning blocks a day, including some optional "join us for something fun if you aren't burned out on screens" activities in the afternoons as well. They used Zoom for meetings, SeeSaw and Google classrooms. I was particularly pleased with the individual meetings my student got - including several where they were able to have deep social-emotional conversations with their teachers.

Overall, it's still second-best to in-person - DL will always be, especially for younger learners - but ACDS did a great job.

+1.

this was our experience too for our upper school students.

LS parent here, too, and I generally agree. During the early weeks there were a few times that it felt a bit chaotic, but I seriously doubt that was unique to ACDS. By May, we were hitting on all cylinders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Browne parent here - my own 2 cents.

The school is tremendous. It's an incredible, diverse community, and the school has a forward-thinking, academic focus.

The teachers and administration at Browne have done a fantastic job throughout quarantine. My son didn't miss a beat through DL - the teachers were supportive, organized, and engaged. They've been nimble in figuring out what works best for each "classroom."

They also made a big deal of making sure the little things didn't get lost in the shuffle.

The Administration has worked to ensure parents are in the loop about options and plans for the fall, developing numerous scenarios, based on health requirements and governmental regulations. I'm hopeful (as I know they are) that students will be back on campus, and they're working through a variety of measures to make that happen. I feel they're doing a great job in setting parents' expectations and being very open about what measures they will take, while soliciting the input of parents along the way.

Each student is different, and schools have different strengths. Browne Academy is great for my son. I feel like he's getting a strong education, learning critical thinking skills, and learning in a diverse, nurturing environment that focuses on his well-being.

I am also a Browne parent, and have been for a long time. Both of our children are currently students there, and collectively have spent more than ten school years at Browne. They have truly flourished, and no matter which grade they are in we are always amazed at how well the teachers can differentiate learning tailored to their (and their classmates’) individual abilities and needs. Browne is also an extremely inclusive and welcoming community, you truly feel it from the first time you set foot on campus.

In terms of distance learning last school year, Browne knocked it out of the park. Both of our children were appropriately challenged and engaged, and the teachers were great at personal attention when needed as well. As we have one child in the Middle School and another in the Lower School, it was interesting to see how the varied approaches worked so well for both age groups.

[Anonymous]

SSSAS MS parent. We were very pleased with the DL experience. Our student was online each morning with his advisory, then joined each of his classes - all over Zoom. Projects & tests were graded.

In fact, SSSAS has started free summer programming for the first time ever. Last week, my student took a 4-session math class with a MS teacher.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what grade you are specifically considering or if it’s just for this one year, but the benefits of private school don’t happen overnight—it is the year over year overall experience that is the most impactful. If you are planning on staying long term, go with the school you like the best overall regardless of their distance learning program which should last forever. SSSAS is the best long term option IMHO if you live near Alexandria. Also consider proximity to your house (Flint Hill and SSSAS are really far apart.). It’s easier if you live close to potential friends.

If you are truly just looking for one year, I’d go with ACDS or Browne since they have fewer students and it would be easier for your kid to make friends. And they are a little less $$.

[Anonymous]

Haha—PP here major typo/Freudian slip? Distance learning should NOT last forever...