Living in DC and sending young kids to Lycee Rochambeau in (north) Bethesda: logistical nightmare?

[Anonymous]

This is a follow up to a previous thread. At some point in the not-so-distant future, I am considering sending my kids to Lycee Rochambeau in Bethesda. The wrinkle: we (working parents) live in upper Georgetown, and would prefer not to move to MD. The preschool is almost next to the Beltway, and I cannot see any of us doing a"reverse commute" and driving all the way there and then come back downtown DC every day. And we feel weird sending our preschool-age kids in the Lycee's bus.

I wonder how parents facing the same issue have found a solution -- other than moving to Bethesda. Ask the (by then former) nanny to drive the kids and pick them up (although I don't know what the nanny would be doing in between hours)? A driving service? Bite the bullet a do the reverse commuting every day? Not go there for the preschool and wait until the beginning of the elementary?

Or simply trust their bus service and send a 4 or 5 year old by bus?

And what about all the kids' friends living in MD? Not good for the kids?

I am sure there must be a number of families with the same dilemma...

[Anonymous]

If those are your options, then that school is not for you.
Look for somethin else

[Anonymous]

Lycee grad here. I rode the bus from the age of 4 on (and on, and on, and on - spent 15 years there). The bus driver always made the little ones sit up front where he could watch us. When I was in high school, my dad's coworker lived near us and her much younger daughter rode the same bus, so she would always come sit by me. If you get to know the other Lycee families near you, I bet you could find a similar "bus buddy."
There were also many carpooling families. Well, and the occasional ambassador's kids being dropped off by chauffeur

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP; your message makes me hopeful. Did you live in DC, or did many of your classmates live in DC? And for those who lived in DC, did the fact that (presumably) most students live in MD make the DC students feel isolated? More generally, is life simply easier if one lives in MD versus DC? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Aren't there 2 French language preschool options in Georgetown (WIS and the French Maternal School), plus Caterpillar Coop which isn't too far away. I'd probably check those out with the intention of moving my child to the Lycee for Kindergarten.

I think at the preschool age, the bus would be hard. Your kid would probably love it, but school-home communication is a big deal at that age, and I'd want to drive them to school at that age, at least once or twice a week.

By Kindergarten they're much more reliable reporters of what went on during the day and who they played with, and I think I'd be fine with a bus and a long commute.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PP. This is how my current (and evolving) plan is shaping to be: pre-pre-K and pre-K in French immersion in NWDC (caterpillar school is a pleasant surprise), and then K in Lycee. Lycee's elementary (the first four years) is closer to DC than their maternelle, so that would be a relief. Hopefully after K, logistics will be easier. (If not, I will re-assess the option of moving to MD, but that would be several years from now).

I am still curious about the share of Lycee families that live in DC (particularly around Georgetown/Burleith/Glover Park) and send their kids to K and above with the bus -- the bus seems to have a stop close to the French embassy in Reservoir, so I assume it's not extremely unusual.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

22:45 Lycee grad here. We lived around where Mass Ave ends in Bethesda. I don't remember with any accuracy what % lived where, but there were always some DC kids in my class. The current bus routes are viewable if you poke around the school website, although it sounds like you've already seen them.

I am facing a similar, reversed dilemma: my DC's birthday means he could start at the Maternal School at 2.5, but would have to wait until 3.5 to start at Rochambeau (and I would like him in the francophone environment sooner). Plus, the Maternal School has a truly full day (until 5:30) option, while Rochambeau does not until primary. However, getting DC to FMS would be a complete PITA.

[Anonymous]

When is your child's birthday ? My understanding was both schools required 3 by Jan1.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered Caterpillar preschool in Tenley circle? They have French immersion, and is closer to you than Georgetown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When is your child's birthday ? My understanding was both schools required 3 by Jan1.

Per the websites, FMS requires 2.5 by August 1, Rochambeau 3 by Dec. 31 - DC falls in the January-baby gap. Who knows, maybe alumni status will buy me cut-off flexibility... Then again, who knows if DC'll be fully potty trained by 2.5 anyway.
Caterpillar is mornings only.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your comments, PPs, and particularly to 22:45 Lycee grad.

FWIW, keep in mind, Lycee grad, that the potty training may be an issue. Will your DC be trained by 2.5 years? The FMS folks sounded a bit rigid about that. The Caterpillar folks sounded a little bit more flexible about potty training (i.e. apparently more tolerant to "accidents"), although their morning-only restriction may be a problem to you.

We don't have the morning-only restriction, so we are leaning toward Caterpillar for a year or two, and the Lycee for K.

[Anonymous]

there is also communikids preschool in tenley. they have both french and spanish immersion.

[Anonymous]

I thought the Communikids branch in Tenley is Spanish only, but the branch in Virginia (likely impractical for Lycee grad) is Spanish and French.

[Anonymous]

Can you enroll your DC to Lycee maternelle starting Spring semester, Lycee grad? That way, you fulfill their requirement, and your DC would likely be more ready potty-wise... Does it work like that (i.e. mid-year start)?

[Anonymous]

I think Caterpillar now has options for before and after care, but I think only until 4pm... Perhaps you want to ask them?