Bilingual Kids in Language Immersion ES Programs, Which Programs Have Many & Strive to Attract Them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So dude, you got in? So all the dialect speakers can arrange a meeting with the VP so they can jump the line...

Yes, in. Don't know if the dialect speakers get the same treatment, doubt it, since no one in admin speaks a dialect. The "meeting" was in Mandarin (I also speak a dialect, but not my child). Planning to go private for 2nd or 3rd, so our spot will stay empty for several years unless something changes. Ridiculous when we know Mandarin-speaking kids whose parents would take it.

If thinking that YY could be friendlier to native speakers to boost enrollment of bilingual kids makes me a crazy, I'll go with that.

This does not surprise me and I'm generally pro YY. Which class? Prior to the current preK, YY has gone through their entire waitlist for preK so any favoritism like what happened to you really made no difference. At least this will make "let's recruit more native speakers" people happy.

Not true. I can't speak to other classes, but this year's 1st grade class (students who entered PreK in Fall of 2010) definitely did not go through the waitlist. We have some friends who were in the 20s and they never got a call, even once the September shuffle started.

Then your friends missed the email and phone calls, we were on the waitlist, 20ties, and currently in 1st and we got off the waitlist in May that yr. I don't know how far into the waitlist they went into that yr but know people in the 80ties who got in.



I know a family who really, really wanted Yu Ying and didn't get in that year. Fortunately, they learned about the 1st-in-line lottery system and were able to get in from the top of the waitlist the following year (last year's Kindergarten). They are at the school now and love it, but would have loved even more to have been there in PreK. They definitely didn't miss a call or email, they had been hoping for it all summer long.

I know the family who was at the top of the K list that year. I also knew them during the PreK application process, and they were so so about the school after attending an open house although they did apply. I know where they got in for preK and that they were satisfied but ultimately decided they wanted YY and to arrive on the first day to apply for K. Now maybe we're talking about a different family, and the family you're talking about was second or third, but the family I'm talking about reported that there were only a handful of people showing up on the first day to apply, and the rest were all there for Pre-K, not K. Maybe they were lying to me and were in fact waiting all summer, but as I recall they had a number around 60-80 on the WL, not in the 20s.

So I say with authority that the family you describe - 1st grade, in the 20s on the WL for preK, got in K by being first in line - does not exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We can afford a more serious school where our input is more likely to be valued, and can find the Mandarin elsewhere.

Curious where you can find Mandarin elsewhere. I have looked and can't seem to find it. Most schools teach language as a subject among many (i.e. Brent, Thompson, Sidwell), but if your kid is coming from Immersion or speaks Mandarin at home there is not much available.

There have been several mentions of MoCo Chinese programs, I don't know a thing about them but apparently they exist and are much much more welcoming of Cantonese speakers than YY. But I don't know if the MoCo programs address what you're asking, which is the immersion/bilingual track all the way through (as opposed to just classes).

From what I've heard, the MoCo Chinese programs lets kids test-in for any open spots, any grade, unlike Yu Ying which will accept anyone via lottery, no testing for proficiency, for any open spots up to 2nd grade. Even in MoCo, people apply via lottery but there is no preferences given to native speakers for K - the starting grade for immersion. Since the other options are so much better in MoCo, the Chinese immersion program only attracts people who are interested in Chinese - not people who are escaping crappy schools, thus more native speakers and people who have a strong connection to China.

MoCo also has much much better school options so many of the kids who start in immersion will transfer out to G&T in 3rd grade or later leaving spots which are filled by test-in kids.

Also, comparing how MoCo runs it's immersion schools to a DC charter is like comparing apples to oranges. MoCo is one of the best school systems in the whole country while DCPS is always at the bottom and comparing a single DC charter to MoCo? Different demographics, serving different populations, about as different as you can get other than they are both immersion Mandarin.

If MoCo immersion appeals, the only way you're going to get it is to move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We can afford a more serious school where our input is more likely to be valued, and can find the Mandarin elsewhere.

Curious where you can find Mandarin elsewhere. I have looked and can't seem to find it. Most schools teach language as a subject among many (i.e. Brent, Thompson, Sidwell), but if your kid is coming from Immersion or speaks Mandarin at home there is not much available.

There have been several mentions of MoCo Chinese programs, I don't know a thing about them but apparently they exist and are much much more welcoming of Cantonese speakers than YY. But I don't know if the MoCo programs address what you're asking, which is the immersion/bilingual track all the way through (as opposed to just classes).

From what I've heard, the MoCo Chinese programs lets kids test-in for any open spots, any grade, unlike Yu Ying which will accept anyone via lottery, no testing for proficiency, for any open spots up to 2nd grade. Even in MoCo, people apply via lottery but there is no preferences given to native speakers for K - the starting grade for immersion. Since the other options are so much better in MoCo, the Chinese immersion program only attracts people who are interested in Chinese - not people who are escaping crappy schools, thus more native speakers and people who have a strong connection to China.

MoCo also has much much better school options so many of the kids who start in immersion will transfer out to G&T in 3rd grade or later leaving spots which are filled by test-in kids.

Also, comparing how MoCo runs it's immersion schools to a DC charter is like comparing apples to oranges. MoCo is one of the best school systems in the whole country while DCPS is always at the bottom and comparing a single DC charter to MoCo? Different demographics, serving different populations, about as different as you can get other than they are both immersion Mandarin.

If MoCo immersion appeals, the only way you're going to get it is to move.


MoCo runs their schools differently and their immersion programs aren't charters like in DC. A different set of rules applies, and it applies to a different larger demographic of students. You can't compare one school to another, without looking at the totality of variables.

Yu Ying is a great place for us. We're in the lower grades, we'll see how it goes when the children are older, but for now we're quite happy. If there's a decision to made about moving, we'll make it when the time comes. We know there's not another opportunity like it in DC, and we are definitely city people. We're hopeful that the expansion into MS/HS is going to work well for our children, that would certainly be the desired outcome. We want Mandarin, we want immersion, and we want to stay in DC. For us, the choice is simple, and it works for us. Everyone has to make their own decisions based on their own priorities.

Cheers!

[Anonymous]

In response to 13:44
First off, not making it public knowledge that your wait list is based on time-stamp. This is a slimy way to manipulate which families make up your school community. I never would have known that if a YY parent hadn't told me. This past year, we got in and we were excited because YY is in walking distance, we really wanted a bi-literate program, and we'd heard good things about YY. I was nervous about the Chinese aspect since I do not speak Chinese so I asked to have a meeting to help us further understand what to expect. I was told that I should have gone to an open house - which I did, 3 of them actually. I called and stopped in asking for more information and was told to read the website. It was a complete turn off.
2 years ago we applied and we never got a call. We had friends, Mother is Chinese, who's number was lower on the wait list and she got a call. I called the school and asked about it and they said there was no way someone lower on the list than me got a spot because there hadn't been any more movement. Yet her daughter did IN FACT get in. Are those the practices you wanted me to share?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We can afford a more serious school where our input is more likely to be valued, and can find the Mandarin elsewhere.

Curious where you can find Mandarin elsewhere. I have looked and can't seem to find it. Most schools teach language as a subject among many (i.e. Brent, Thompson, Sidwell), but if your kid is coming from Immersion or speaks Mandarin at home there is not much available.

There have been several mentions of MoCo Chinese programs, I don't know a thing about them but apparently they exist and are much much more welcoming of Cantonese speakers than YY. But I don't know if the MoCo programs address what you're asking, which is the immersion/bilingual track all the way through (as opposed to just classes).

From what I've heard, the MoCo Chinese programs lets kids test-in for any open spots, any grade, unlike Yu Ying which will accept anyone via lottery, no testing for proficiency, for any open spots up to 2nd grade. Even in MoCo, people apply via lottery but there is no preferences given to native speakers for K - the starting grade for immersion. Since the other options are so much better in MoCo, the Chinese immersion program only attracts people who are interested in Chinese - not people who are escaping crappy schools, thus more native speakers and people who have a strong connection to China.

MoCo also has much much better school options so many of the kids who start in immersion will transfer out to G&T in 3rd grade or later leaving spots which are filled by test-in kids.

Also, comparing how MoCo runs it's immersion schools to a DC charter is like comparing apples to oranges. MoCo is one of the best school systems in the whole country while DCPS is always at the bottom and comparing a single DC charter to MoCo? Different demographics, serving different populations, about as different as you can get other than they are both immersion Mandarin.

If MoCo immersion appeals, the only way you're going to get it is to move.

MoCo runs their schools differently and their immersion programs aren't charters like in DC. A different set of rules applies, and it applies to a different larger demographic of students. You can't compare one school to another, without looking at the totality of variables.

Yu Ying is a great place for us. We're in the lower grades, we'll see how it goes when the children are older, but for now we're quite happy. If there's a decision to made about moving, we'll make it when the time comes. We know there's not another opportunity like it in DC, and we are definitely city people. We're hopeful that the expansion into MS/HS is going to work well for our children, that would certainly be the desired outcome. We want Mandarin, we want immersion, and we want to stay in DC. For us, the choice is simple, and it works for us. Everyone has to make their own decisions based on their own priorities.

Cheers!

You really do sound bitter, though. Your sense of entitlement is showing.

[Anonymous]

Oh yes, few things say "bitter" and "entitled" like being happy with one's own choices while acknowledging other families may make different choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We can afford a more serious school where our input is more likely to be valued, and can find the Mandarin elsewhere.

Curious where you can find Mandarin elsewhere. I have looked and can't seem to find it. Most schools teach language as a subject among many (i.e. Brent, Thompson, Sidwell), but if your kid is coming from Immersion or speaks Mandarin at home there is not much available.

There have been several mentions of MoCo Chinese programs, I don't know a thing about them but apparently they exist and are much much more welcoming of Cantonese speakers than YY. But I don't know if the MoCo programs address what you're asking, which is the immersion/bilingual track all the way through (as opposed to just classes).

From what I've heard, the MoCo Chinese programs lets kids test-in for any open spots, any grade, unlike Yu Ying which will accept anyone via lottery, no testing for proficiency, for any open spots up to 2nd grade. Even in MoCo, people apply via lottery but there is no preferences given to native speakers for K - the starting grade for immersion. Since the other options are so much better in MoCo, the Chinese immersion program only attracts people who are interested in Chinese - not people who are escaping crappy schools, thus more native speakers and people who have a strong connection to China.

MoCo also has much much better school options so many of the kids who start in immersion will transfer out to G&T in 3rd grade or later leaving spots which are filled by test-in kids.

Also, comparing how MoCo runs it's immersion schools to a DC charter is like comparing apples to oranges. MoCo is one of the best school systems in the whole country while DCPS is always at the bottom and comparing a single DC charter to MoCo? Different demographics, serving different populations, about as different as you can get other than they are both immersion Mandarin.

If MoCo immersion appeals, the only way you're going to get it is to move.

MoCo runs their schools differently and their immersion programs aren't charters like in DC. A different set of rules applies, and it applies to a different larger demographic of students. You can't compare one school to another, without looking at the totality of variables.

Yu Ying is a great place for us. We're in the lower grades, we'll see how it goes when the children are older, but for now we're quite happy. If there's a decision to made about moving, we'll make it when the time comes. We know there's not another opportunity like it in DC, and we are definitely city people. We're hopeful that the expansion into MS/HS is going to work well for our children, that would certainly be the desired outcome. We want Mandarin, we want immersion, and we want to stay in DC. For us, the choice is simple, and it works for us. Everyone has to make their own decisions based on their own priorities.

Cheers!

Us too If it wasn't for YY, we would be paying big $$$ for private school b/c there's no way we want to move out of DC and give up our 20 minute walk to work... And we REALLY want Mandarin. Our kid is also in the lower grades and I could not be happier. The kids are great and all the teachers that my kid has are warm and loving. And I even love the administration No complaints. Great school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh yes, few things say "bitter" and "entitled" like being happy with one's own choices while acknowledging other families may make different choices.

Don't forget the part where they were grateful for the opportunity they had!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In response to 13:44
First off, not making it public knowledge that your wait list is based on time-stamp. This is a slimy way to manipulate which families make up your school community. I never would have known that if a YY parent hadn't told me. This past year, we got in and we were excited because YY is in walking distance, we really wanted a bi-literate program, and we'd heard good things about YY. I was nervous about the Chinese aspect since I do not speak Chinese so I asked to have a meeting to help us further understand what to expect. I was told that I should have gone to an open house - which I did, 3 of them actually. I called and stopped in asking for more information and was told to read the website. It was a complete turn off.
2 years ago we applied and we never got a call. We had friends, Mother is Chinese, who's number was lower on the wait list and she got a call. I called the school and asked about it and they said there was no way someone lower on the list than me got a spot because there hadn't been any more movement. Yet her daughter did IN FACT get in. Are those the practices you wanted me to share?

1. They said the part about waitlist being ordered by when application is received at the open house I went to. How is that hiding and manipulating that policy?

2. I'm not a current YY parent, just a hopeful, but I have had a totally different experience than you in asking for additional info. I have stopped in as well, and 2 people took time to answer the questions they could, and told me who to call for the questions they couldn't. Those were answered when I saw the YY rep at the Charter Expo, so I didn't have to call. But when I stopped in, they were very accomodating.

3. Only you know if the details on the whole waitlist thing are true, although it sounds too fuzzy and I don't personally believe it. Personally, I feel like they seemed to go out of their way to have the waitlist process be fair, as well as continuing to time/date stamp every application I saw them receive at the Charter Expo, etc. I think there are so many YY haters, if they were really fudging the system, it would have blown wide open by now. So I'm not swayed at all by your story but you have a right to tell it if it's true.

[Anonymous]

The waitlist and names are also visible on the website after the lottery (they hide last names). It is updated regularly and you can track the movement throughout the spring and summer. It is all VERY trasnsparent and easy to follow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In response to 13:44
First off, not making it public knowledge that your wait list is based on time-stamp. This is a slimy way to manipulate which families make up your school community. I never would have known that if a YY parent hadn't told me. This past year, we got in and we were excited because YY is in walking distance, we really wanted a bi-literate program, and we'd heard good things about YY. I was nervous about the Chinese aspect since I do not speak Chinese so I asked to have a meeting to help us further understand what to expect. I was told that I should have gone to an open house - which I did, 3 of them actually. I called and stopped in asking for more information and was told to read the website. It was a complete turn off.
2 years ago we applied and we never got a call. We had friends, Mother is Chinese, who's number was lower on the wait list and she got a call. I called the school and asked about it and they said there was no way someone lower on the list than me got a spot because there hadn't been any more movement. Yet her daughter did IN FACT get in. Are those the practices you wanted me to share?

So, applied, were waitlisted, and suspected waitlist fraud. Then you applied again the next year anyway? And claim that you were "excited "to get in because "we'd heard good things about YY"? Only then got turned off because you didn't feel like your questions were answered about the Chinese aspect? Just trying to get the timeline straight.

Are you also the MV parent that 13:44 was responding to? If so, hats off to you because you have some awesome lottery luck.

[Anonymous]

I heard about the wait list ordering at an open house, as did everyone else who was there. My child is in 1st grade at YY, so I can say for certain there was no slimy practice that year.

[Anonymous]

I'll clarify, sorry if it was confusing:
2011-2012- did not get in suspected (aware of) wait list fraud

2012-2013 school year applied and got in, excited (even though we knew of fraud last year) because we can not afford to go to private school, our IB school is not very good, and we can not afford to move. We were desperate to give our child the best education possible and a that point had not won a spot anywhere else.
And yes, we eventually got in Mundo Verde and decided to go there because the over feel was much warmer and inviting, which has proven to be a great fit for my child and my family.

I can not say if YY is a good school or not, it think that is subjective to your situation and expectations.

MV, in my opinion is a great place for my family. I am happy with my child's progress in reading, writing, math, awareness of the world around us, the importance on community, the "green" focus, the emotional support given to the children, the wonderful art and movement classes, the language aspect, I could go on and on

[Anonymous]

well if you are a single parent, work two jobs, can't go to an open house... It should be on their website with all the other information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disgusting and cheating are a narrow-minded YY take. Lamb administrators and parents have shown a willingness to buck a bad system to draw in the native speakers they need to serve their students and community well. The parents aren't complaining, so why are you? You're sure that few native speakers means the greater good is served?

More power to 'em for their cheatin' ways.

PP, could it be remotely possible that you are truly this obtuse? Of course the parents of LAMB students are not complaining. Duh, their children received slots and attend the school. Their is need for complaint, for Johnny, Suzy, Keisha got in.

It truly was not a fair playing field or lottery for all DC students. My child's application was put into a totally separate slot for lottery consideration and never considered. Why, because neither English nor Spanish was his first language. I was too honest when I filled out the form. If I had followed your motto, "cheat at any costs, as the means justify the means", I should have said Spanish was spoken in the home. DC's chances of enrollment would have been greater than your monolingual family. I am sure your slogan would not then continue to be "power to em for their cheating ways .