SSFS Closing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do contact the Washington Waldorf School—not enough people know about it, and especially that it has a high school (and is still enrolling)! Our kids are thriving there—I’m very active in the parent community, and it’s a wonderful, welcoming place with so much to offer.

I agree with this. I used to teach there a looong time ago and it’s a lovely little school.

[Anonymous]

Any 11th grade parents thinking of having their kids do dual enrollment at MC next year? Or I guess it would be early college since they wouldn’t be enrolled elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any 11th grade parents thinking of having their kids do dual enrollment at MC next year? Or I guess it would be early college since they wouldn’t be enrolled elsewhere.

You would want to register them with MCPS or as a homeschooler so that it is dual enrollment and doesn’t make them a transfer from a college perspective, but this is a great idea. Lots of homeschooled kids spend their last year or two of HS that way.

[Anonymous]

Wow! We got a spot for K last year and were seriously considering taking it and buying a house in the neighborhood. Looks like we dodged a bullet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Believable yet unbelievable. Just hired new HoS and MS HoS. How could they do that in good conscience with this outcome. Just disgusting to do this to people. The amount of staff/faculty out of a job is just sad.

There are SO many openings in MCPS. Teachers will be welcomed to public school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Believable yet unbelievable. Just hired new HoS and MS HoS. How could they do that in good conscience with this outcome. Just disgusting to do this to people. The amount of staff/faculty out of a job is just sad.

There are SO many openings in MCPS. Teachers will be welcomed to public school!

But many independent school teachers don’t have state certification. They would need to be certified to teach at a public school

[Anonymous]

Washington Waldorf is a VERY different school. We looked at it but decided against it. The school has a specific curriculum and pedagogy that can be a little off-putting. No AP classes, not much choice in what classes you take. Besides, it is much smaller - the HS is about 50 kids total, which makes the social options limiting. SSFS has been great for my children, and we are gutted that our younger child will not graduate from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Believable yet unbelievable. Just hired new HoS and MS HoS. How could they do that in good conscience with this outcome. Just disgusting to do this to people. The amount of staff/faculty out of a job is just sad.

There are SO many openings in MCPS. Teachers will be welcomed to public school!

But many independent school teachers don’t have state certification. They would need to be certified to teach at a public school

MCPS has plenty of provisionally certified teachers.

[Anonymous]

We applied as a high school transfer as our public highschool was too crowded and rowdy for our kid. I did ask directly about the health of the school and was told by admissions all was good -- new hires, strong teachers who were staying, etc. Also knew staff and parents their, all of whom were unaware this was coming.

The higher tuition was a shock to us, having looked at the school a few years ago, and in the end we chose a different school that seemed a better fit.

I feel so badly for the folks we know with students there. So many wonderful families. And I would be livid if we had accepted and lost our spot elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

I hope someone coordinates a way for parents who are able/inclined to give money to be divided between the teachers and staff in their child’s division can do so, like they do for the holidays.

If any teachers are reading this, our family has been so grateful for you and this community.

[Anonymous]

Former SSFS parent. Very sorry for the many families affected, especially the students. This is just heartbreaking. But as a former parent, once our daughter attended we knew something wasn't right and we left after 2 years. Other parents reached out for recommendations and they also left. Since then I know a number of very good families that left from the dissonance of the SSFS tradition and history and a pivot to new thinking. Despite that, it's still a great place with a good curriculum, campus, and teachers. I can't imagine what SSFS families are working through.

[Anonymous]

The timing on this is especially cruel for both students and staff - I’m so sorry for everyone who is impacted.

[Anonymous]

The school posted new job postings in all three divisions on a job board on April 7th!

[Anonymous]

We came last year as a new high school family and had been so happy with the tight little community and the most amazing teachers. We are beyond devastated. My DC has really thrived his 2 years there and it saddens me that now his high school experience will be cut in half and his friends will scatter throughout the region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school posted new job postings in all three divisions on a job board on April 7th!

The people posting the jobs obviously had no idea the school was closing. It's not like Trustees post jobs.