Haycock class changes

[Anonymous]

What would be nice is if the Principal addressed the issue head-on, before the PTA meeting, with a communication or email to all parents at the school. I'm sure the concerned emails have gotten to him by now. He could write something to at least provide some background as to the changes, so it isn't such a angry mob scene/witch hunt at the PTA meeting, whenever it is. But I don't think he's that proactive or self-aware, and he sure as heck hasn't impressed me with his writing in the past.

Would someone post that popcorn eating GIF? That's pretty much why I'm going to the meeting, along with hearing the details first-hand.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Haycock is a center school that feeds into Longfellow. Longfellow is one of the top feeders to TJ. Many families purposely buy/rent in Haycock for this reason.

Indeed, I think FCPS finds this undesirable and is working to discourage it.

It seems like if FCPS is concerned about the feeder patterns into TJ and wants to change them, breaking up the huge AAP center at Carson would provide more bang for the buck than changing how teachers at Haycock teach math and science to younger kids..

I'm not sure we're getting the full picture on this thread as to why the principal wants to change the instructional model, and what the pros and cons may be. There is a certain logic to "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," but perhaps there was something about the existing model that the principal and/or others think it less than optimal.

On the other hand, changing the model just because it's different than the model at other schools seems silly, since FCPS is big and there are plenty of other ways in which different schools allowed to offer different programs to different students (PYP/MYP, IB, AP, AAP, ESOL, language immersion, AVID/Young Scholars, etc.).

[Anonymous]

What will be interesting is if teachers attend the PTA meeting. Many are very opposed and may plan to leave, though would need some sort of rec from admin - a tight spot. And if they attend, how far can they push it? As a parent, I wholeheartedly disagree with the changes, but even more so in the delivery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What will be interesting is if teachers attend the PTA meeting. Many are very opposed and may plan to leave, though would need some sort of rec from admin - a tight spot. And if they attend, how far can they push it? As a parent, I wholeheartedly disagree with the changes, but even more so in the delivery.

I have no dog in this debate, but it seems to me that if there are a lot of parents who oppose this change they need to be reaching out now to the Region 2 administrators (Pearson and Zuluaga) and the local school board member (Strauss), rather than (1) getting into an open fight with the principal and then possibly (2) putting the regional administrators in a position where they feel obligated to back up the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What will be interesting is if teachers attend the PTA meeting. Many are very opposed and may plan to leave, though would need some sort of rec from admin - a tight spot. And if they attend, how far can they push it? As a parent, I wholeheartedly disagree with the changes, but even more so in the delivery.

Principals have a huge amount of autonomy to run their schools how they please. I'm not sure how you think the delivery should have been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What will be interesting is if teachers attend the PTA meeting. Many are very opposed and may plan to leave, though would need some sort of rec from admin - a tight spot. And if they attend, how far can they push it? As a parent, I wholeheartedly disagree with the changes, but even more so in the delivery.

Principals have a huge amount of autonomy to run their schools how they please. I'm not sure how you think the delivery should have been.

How about a note to the parents and not have the message seep out through the PTA or wherever. It fundamentally chnages the learning experience. I’m guessing you’re good with whatever?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread, it's apparent that there are a few Haycock parents posting here who are agitated about this policy change. I'm not saying there aren't other parents who oppose the change, but I don't think they are posting. It's just a few posters repeating themselves, and not in especially clear or cogent language.

Haycock is known for this type of behavior by some parents. The good news is that this behavior diminishes over time; as kids get older, the parents start to realize that their kids' futures don't rise or fall depending on their 4th grade teacher assignments. And, in any event the administrators at Longfellow and McLean don't put up with it.

Are you in the Haycock Administration?

No.

You don’t sound convincing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread, it's apparent that there are a few Haycock parents posting here who are agitated about this policy change. I'm not saying there aren't other parents who oppose the change, but I don't think they are posting. It's just a few posters repeating themselves, and not in especially clear or cogent language.

Haycock is known for this type of behavior by some parents. The good news is that this behavior diminishes over time; as kids get older, the parents start to realize that their kids' futures don't rise or fall depending on their 4th grade teacher assignments. And, in any event the administrators at Longfellow and McLean don't put up with it.

Are you in the Haycock Administration?

No.

You don’t sound convincing.

Sorry. I’ll try to speak Haycock.

NO! NO! NO! NO! NEVER! ABSOLUTELY NOT!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread, it's apparent that there are a few Haycock parents posting here who are agitated about this policy change. I'm not saying there aren't other parents who oppose the change, but I don't think they are posting. It's just a few posters repeating themselves, and not in especially clear or cogent language.

Haycock is known for this type of behavior by some parents. The good news is that this behavior diminishes over time; as kids get older, the parents start to realize that their kids' futures don't rise or fall depending on their 4th grade teacher assignments. And, in any event the administrators at Longfellow and McLean don't put up with it.

Are you in the Haycock Administration?

No.

You don’t sound convincing.

Sorry. I’ll try to speak Haycock.

NO! NO! NO! NO! NEVER! ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Why so interested in the subject that you can’t stop checking?

[Anonymous]

Definitely from the principal

[Anonymous]

Will the principal attend the PTA meeting?

[Anonymous]

Ha ha! Typical entitled Haycock parent drama! So glad to be out of that school.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. Did you (your kids) end up somewhere better? If so, why better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know they do not cost more? Are you one of those teachers?

In order for a teacher to specialize in a subject, he/she needs additional training and education, specialization. These usually come in the form of Master's Degrees, and they do cost money. After a teacher achieves this specialization, s/he demands a higher salary, and rightfully so, because now s/he is more specialized, and can demand higher pay.

Nothing is for free, and don't try to pretend that Haycock is some utopia, where teachers do things only out of their good heart. If so, they'd work for free.

Because I looked at the budget and pay scale, all public information. Bailey's and Bailey's Upper ES get the most money.

Then move and send your children to Bailey’s.

Here comes the Harvard Debate winner!