anyone's child who has sibling at sidwell rejected for K?

[Anonymous]

This is 13:43 again. You would think after ALL of those years, that Sidwell would have gotten the "memo" about how to treat others with respect and institute a policy where they call current families if they are unable to offer a spot to a sibling and hopefully some guidance as to why they made that decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes - the sense of entitlement at Sidwell is shameful, especially since its a Quaker school. We withdrew our app since we did not think we fit in with the privledge few attitude.

Could you please provide specifics? What specifically did anyone say/do that suggested a sense of entitlement?

[Anonymous]

We withdrew our app too after witnessing the librarian explain to a group of LS students that the books had each child's name on the inside to represent a donation to the school and inferring that the children should go home and solicit donations from their parents so that their names could appear on the inside jacket. She went on to admit that not all donations are kept at Sidwell, but some go the DC public schools, who are not as fortunate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is 13:43 again. You would think after ALL of those years, that Sidwell would have gotten the "memo" about how to treat others with respect and institute a policy where they call current families if they are unable to offer a spot to a sibling and hopefully some guidance as to why they made that decision.

14:06 again. Thanks for providing the extra info. So if I understand correctly, your complaint is really two-part: (1) you wish the school had a stronger sibling policy, and (2) you think the school should do a little more "hand holding" when it rejects siblings, perhaps in the form of a personalized note or a phone call. Did I understand correctly?

I can understand your point (and it's not just you, but also others making similar points). It seems like there are counter-arguments too though. Many on these boards complain lots about schools that reserve too many spots for siblings, so that non-siblings get very little chance. From what I've read here, people report that Sidwell goes out of its way to limit the number of siblings in each class, so that non-siblings have a shot. On the hand-holding point, I agree it's always nice to get that, and every school ideally would send a personalized note to every family that applies. I'm sure though it gets a little overwhelming since they're dealing with 500+ applications each year.

Thanks again for responding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We withdrew our app too after witnessing the librarian explain to a group of LS students that the books had each child's name on the inside to represent a donation to the school and inferring that the children should go home and solicit donations from their parents so that their names could appear on the inside jacket. She went on to admit that not all donations are kept at Sidwell, but some go the DC public schools, who are not as fortunate.

I apologize, but I don't understand what's problematic about that. You're offended that the school writes the name of the child that brings a book inside the book? Or are you offended that the school gives books to DC public schools? I don't understand.

I just looked on the Sidwell website, and it seems like maybe the librarian was referring to the school's partnership with Brightwood Elementary: "Early in the year, a Brightwood Book Buddy Drive is held, and children are encouraged to choose and bring in a special book for a child at Brightwood." (http://www.sidwell.edu/lower_school/community-service/index.aspx)

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one who is pleased that Sidwell does not have an iron-clad sibling policy? Our son still probably won't be admitted, and I will accept that if it happens.

My DS is friends with a whole bunch of younger sibling boys who paraded into GDS and Beauvoir over the past couple of years on the coat-tails of their 3rd grade sisters and brothers. No doubt their parents are happy about the excellent education those boys will receive. I am sad they got picked over my son, who on paper and in playdates presents nearly the same.

[Anonymous]

spoken like the mother of an only child!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We withdrew our app too after witnessing the librarian explain to a group of LS students that the books had each child's name on the inside to represent a donation to the school and inferring that the children should go home and solicit donations from their parents so that their names could appear on the inside jacket. She went on to admit that not all donations are kept at Sidwell, but some go the DC public schools, who are not as fortunate.

I apologize, but I don't understand what's problematic about that. You're offended that the school writes the name of the child that brings a book inside the book? Or are you offended that the school gives books to DC public schools? I don't understand.

I just looked on the Sidwell website, and it seems like maybe the librarian was referring to the school's partnership with Brightwood Elementary: "Early in the year, a Brightwood Book Buddy Drive is held, and children are encouraged to choose and bring in a special book for a child at Brightwood." (http://www.sidwell.edu/lower_school/community-service/index.aspx)

Not to be rude but oyu totally missed my point -- I think it is lovely that they write the name of the child and that they donate books to local schools. What I did not like was the subtle messaging that the kids should ask their parents for books or they will be left out of having their name in a book and the implication that the public school does not have books. In other words, that they are too underfunded to purchase books. It is the privilege issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, but Quaker denied for K..with wppsi in 90's (no up or downs in subsets, etc). Also AA but we don't have a lot of money although did not ask for financial aid. Hope this doesn't give me away!

We are in the same boat. Extensive Quaker background that extends multiple generations. Similar scores. Great recommendations from a top preschool. Outright rejected with our DC's name merged into the same form letter sent to everyone else. It only confirms our feelings that Sidwell is not true to its Quaker roots and is a Friends school in name only. It is very sad that the few Quakers that live in DC cannot educate their children in the city's only Quaker school.

[Anonymous]

A few comments:

- I did not see a space on my application for my educational background. Perhaps this was true in years past, but not this year;

- I am sorry that the OP has a child who was not accepted this year, but I am not sure what is worse, receiving a letter from the Admissions Office with the news or a call out of the blue with the news? I would rather let the news sink in and deal with the fallout after rather than be caught off guard by the AD or whomever would make that phone call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is very sad that the few Quakers that live in DC cannot educate their children in the city's only Quaker school.

Quaker schools in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia

Friends Community School
Quaker elementary school in College Park, Maryland. K - 6th grade.
Friends Meeting School
Quaker school in Ijamsville, Maryland. PreK - 9th grade, adding a 10th grade in fall 2010, 11th grade in fall 2011, and a 12th grade in 2012.
Sandy Spring Friends School
Quaker school in Sandy Spring, Maryland. Pre-K to 12th grade.
Thornton Friends School
Quaker school with in Silver Spring, Maryland. Grades 6 - 12.
Alexandria Friends School
Quaker high school in Alexandria, Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We withdrew our app too after witnessing the librarian explain to a group of LS students that the books had each child's name on the inside to represent a donation to the school and inferring that the children should go home and solicit donations from their parents so that their names could appear on the inside jacket. She went on to admit that not all donations are kept at Sidwell, but some go the DC public schools, who are not as fortunate.

I apologize, but I don't understand what's problematic about that. You're offended that the school writes the name of the child that brings a book inside the book? Or are you offended that the school gives books to DC public schools? I don't understand.

I just looked on the Sidwell website, and it seems like maybe the librarian was referring to the school's partnership with Brightwood Elementary: "Early in the year, a Brightwood Book Buddy Drive is held, and children are encouraged to choose and bring in a special book for a child at Brightwood." (http://www.sidwell.edu/lower_school/community-service/index.aspx)

Not to be rude but oyu totally missed my point -- I think it is lovely that they write the name of the child and that they donate books to local schools. What I did not like was the subtle messaging that the kids should ask their parents for books or they will be left out of having their name in a book and the implication that the public school does not have books. In other words, that they are too underfunded to purchase books. It is the privilege issue.

I did totally miss your point, and I apologize again, but I'm still not quite sure I understand it. I don't see what's so offensive about subtle messaging that kids should bring books from home for donation. My kids have tons of books that they've outgrown, and we periodically donate them to charity, so what's wrong if a school collects and distributes books? And I also don't understand what's offensive about saying that they're giving books to another school that doesn't have the same resources. (In fact, I think many parents would agree wholeheartedly that DC schools don't get enough funding.)

You were there, and I wasn't, so maybe there's something about how it was said that I'm not understanding. You're entitled to your own opinions. But I'm not really understanding how this one librarian's statements could be so incredibly offensive that they would cause someone to withdraw an application and write off an entire school.

I don't mean to argue with you. Perhaps it's just that you're venting over application season issues. You're totally entitled to do that, and I don't want to prevent that. My children did not go though applications this year, so I'm not in a venting frame of mind. My apologies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is very sad that the few Quakers that live in DC cannot educate their children in the city's only Quaker school.

Quaker schools in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia

Friends Community School
Quaker elementary school in College Park, Maryland. K - 6th grade.
Friends Meeting School
Quaker school in Ijamsville, Maryland. PreK - 9th grade, adding a 10th grade in fall 2010, 11th grade in fall 2011, and a 12th grade in 2012.
Sandy Spring Friends School
Quaker school in Sandy Spring, Maryland. Pre-K to 12th grade.
Thornton Friends School
Quaker school with in Silver Spring, Maryland. Grades 6 - 12.
Alexandria Friends School
Quaker high school in Alexandria, Virginia.

Yes. I am obviously aware of all of the above schools. However, last time I checked, none of them were located in Washington, DC. Again, it is really sad that the few Quakers who live in DC cannot educate their children at the city's only Quaker school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We withdrew our app too after witnessing the librarian explain to a group of LS students that the books had each child's name on the inside to represent a donation to the school and inferring that the children should go home and solicit donations from their parents so that their names could appear on the inside jacket. She went on to admit that not all donations are kept at Sidwell, but some go the DC public schools, who are not as fortunate.

I apologize, but I don't understand what's problematic about that. You're offended that the school writes the name of the child that brings a book inside the book? Or are you offended that the school gives books to DC public schools? I don't understand.

I just looked on the Sidwell website, and it seems like maybe the librarian was referring to the school's partnership with Brightwood Elementary: "Early in the year, a Brightwood Book Buddy Drive is held, and children are encouraged to choose and bring in a special book for a child at Brightwood." (http://www.sidwell.edu/lower_school/community-service/index.aspx)

Not to be rude but oyu totally missed my point -- I think it is lovely that they write the name of the child and that they donate books to local schools. What I did not like was the subtle messaging that the kids should ask their parents for books or they will be left out of having their name in a book and the implication that the public school does not have books. In other words, that they are too underfunded to purchase books. It is the privilege issue.

I did totally miss your point, and I apologize again, but I'm still not quite sure I understand it. I don't see what's so offensive about subtle messaging that kids should bring books from home for donation. My kids have tons of books that they've outgrown, and we periodically donate them to charity, so what's wrong if a school collects and distributes books? And I also don't understand what's offensive about saying that they're giving books to another school that doesn't have the same resources. (In fact, I think many parents would agree wholeheartedly that DC schools don't get enough funding.)

You were there, and I wasn't, so maybe there's something about how it was said that I'm not understanding. You're entitled to your own opinions. But I'm not really understanding how this one librarian's statements could be so incredibly offensive that they would cause someone to withdraw an application and write off an entire school.

I don't mean to argue with you. Perhaps it's just that you're venting over application season issues. You're totally entitled to do that, and I don't want to prevent that. My children did not go though applications this year, so I'm not in a venting frame of mind. My apologies.

On my tour, the librarian also talked about how middle schoolers have helped set up libraries in different places as part of a service trip during minimester. I agree with poster above - I took it more as a great place to put books after you had outgrown them not rushing to buy new books to donate.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps my child's class is not the norm but in that grade 66% of her classmates have siblings in the school - that seems like a pretty strong sibling preference to me!