LAMB closing its existing campuses and consolidating to one campus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to the school location. Does anyone have any real info?

I asked the admin. They said no plans to move. Reiterated long term goal or hope to be unified someday. Somewhere.

So basically no. No one knows anything solid.

You mean no one is telling YOU anything solid. Like poorly run management organizations everywhere, there seem to be a lot of leaks.

Yesterday an email came out from the principal reiterating that they will be in 3 locations for 17-18, and which grades would be where -- and stating that it would be discussed at this months coffees with the principal.

The message noted that most of their families live in Ward 1, 4 and 5 also acknowledged the difficulty for families of the school being in 3 places, that wherever they are some will be more inconvenienced than others and that some degree of facilities uncertainty is a part of life as a charter school in DC.

It also noted, almost as an aside, that they do wish, someday, to find one location that would house everyone but there were no hints that this is any closer to being a reality than it was before.

I wish new families also received communication like this from the school.

+1 when will newly enrolled families be looped into future conversations? All I've heard about so far is "international day" on May 13. I'm definitely interested in attending and getting to know the LAMB community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the "is anyone giving up a LAMB spot" thread.


We gave up a PK3 spot after being told point blank by an Assistant Principal on a tour that they were in the middle of closing a deal to relocate the whole school to a new, non-Walter Reed location starting in the 2018 school year. We were told they would be ready to announce it publicly "in weeks to months".

Trying to follow up with the administration to learn more about the issue was very difficult, and totally reinforced their reputation as being a good school with a"laid-back"/unresponsive administration incapable of running basic management tasks. There were several occasions where the school didn't even pick up the phone in the middle of the day, for example. If I was a parent who couldn't reach my child's school during a school day I would be very upset.

At first I was a bit skeptical of the critics of LAMB's response to the sex abuse at the school earlier this year, but based on my limited experience with them, I can totally believe that they handled it incompetently.

I think you made the right choice. Lamb has never been good at customer service, preferring to focus totally on the child. I frequently get frustrated with the administration, but I genuinely believe they always put children first.

I forgot to mention, it seems like customer service is incredibly important to you. The focus on Latin American culture and Spanish was key for me, so I am willing to have some frustrations. No school is perfect, so good for you that you know what you need out of a school.

I think you're confusing "Customer Service" with basic organizational competence. OPs example of not answering their main phone line during the school day (if true) is just not being able to do the most basic tasks properly.

I've never had them not answer the phone in the middle of the day.

Honestly the pp who gave up a spot at lamb sounds unhinged. Glad you moved on. We will not miss you.

I'm glad you haven't had them not answer the phone in the middle of the day but you should allow for the possibility that your experience is not typical. I (OP) could not reach the SD campus on two separate days just last week; that is a fact. This other PP who is obviously a parent there seems to have had the same issue:

"In defense of LAMB (specifically regarding getting in touch with individuals who physically have your children), my child's teachers have NO problem giving me their personal phone numbers. If there is an emergent concern they've called me and I've called them. We keep it brief because they're teaching, but they've handled it professionally and quickly. I've never not been able to get a hold of my child's whereabouts."

In my opinion, having classroom teachers have to field phone calls from parents during class hours is not an adequate substitution for the bare minimum operational competence of having someone to answer phones.

The defense that LAMB "prefers to focus totally on the child" is a very odd excuse, in my opinion. This school can't walk and chew gum at the same time?

[Anonymous]

There is one person at the front desk. I can think of 100 reasons off the top of my head why that single person wouldn't answer the phone on occasion--most of which involve helping students.

If they are helping students and miss an opportunity to update someone on the waitlist or explain something that is already listed on the web site--great!

I've had my kids at three different schools over the years and can't think of a single time I needed to call the main number. I certainly never would in an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the "is anyone giving up a LAMB spot" thread.


We gave up a PK3 spot after being told point blank by an Assistant Principal on a tour that they were in the middle of closing a deal to relocate the whole school to a new, non-Walter Reed location starting in the 2018 school year. We were told they would be ready to announce it publicly "in weeks to months".

Trying to follow up with the administration to learn more about the issue was very difficult, and totally reinforced their reputation as being a good school with a"laid-back"/unresponsive administration incapable of running basic management tasks. There were several occasions where the school didn't even pick up the phone in the middle of the day, for example. If I was a parent who couldn't reach my child's school during a school day I would be very upset.

At first I was a bit skeptical of the critics of LAMB's response to the sex abuse at the school earlier this year, but based on my limited experience with them, I can totally believe that they handled it incompetently.

I think you made the right choice. Lamb has never been good at customer service, preferring to focus totally on the child. I frequently get frustrated with the administration, but I genuinely believe they always put children first.

I forgot to mention, it seems like customer service is incredibly important to you. The focus on Latin American culture and Spanish was key for me, so I am willing to have some frustrations. No school is perfect, so good for you that you know what you need out of a school.

I think you're confusing "Customer Service" with basic organizational competence. OPs example of not answering their main phone line during the school day (if true) is just not being able to do the most basic tasks properly.

I've never had them not answer the phone in the middle of the day.

Honestly the pp who gave up a spot at lamb sounds unhinged. Glad you moved on. We will not miss you.

I have also experienced them not answering the phone during school hours. But it was right after the lottery, so they may have all been hiding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to the school location. Does anyone have any real info?

I asked the admin. They said no plans to move. Reiterated long term goal or hope to be unified someday. Somewhere.

So basically no. No one knows anything solid.

You mean no one is telling YOU anything solid. Like poorly run management organizations everywhere, there seem to be a lot of leaks.

Yesterday an email came out from the principal reiterating that they will be in 3 locations for 17-18, and which grades would be where -- and stating that it would be discussed at this months coffees with the principal.

The message noted that most of their families live in Ward 1, 4 and 5 also acknowledged the difficulty for families of the school being in 3 places, that wherever they are some will be more inconvenienced than others and that some degree of facilities uncertainty is a part of life as a charter school in DC.

It also noted, almost as an aside, that they do wish, someday, to find one location that would house everyone but there were no hints that this is any closer to being a reality than it was before.

I wish new families also received communication like this from the school.

+1 when will newly enrolled families be looped into future conversations? All I've heard about so far is "international day" on May 13. I'm definitely interested in attending and getting to know the LAMB community.

Where did you get that info? We are a new family and haven't heard anything about events in May.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to the school location. Does anyone have any real info?

I asked the admin. They said no plans to move. Reiterated long term goal or hope to be unified someday. Somewhere.

So basically no. No one knows anything solid.

You mean no one is telling YOU anything solid. Like poorly run management organizations everywhere, there seem to be a lot of leaks.

Yesterday an email came out from the principal reiterating that they will be in 3 locations for 17-18, and which grades would be where -- and stating that it would be discussed at this months coffees with the principal.

The message noted that most of their families live in Ward 1, 4 and 5 also acknowledged the difficulty for families of the school being in 3 places, that wherever they are some will be more inconvenienced than others and that some degree of facilities uncertainty is a part of life as a charter school in DC.

It also noted, almost as an aside, that they do wish, someday, to find one location that would house everyone but there were no hints that this is any closer to being a reality than it was before.

I wish new families also received communication like this from the school.

+1 when will newly enrolled families be looped into future conversations? All I've heard about so far is "international day" on May 13. I'm definitely interested in attending and getting to know the LAMB community.

Typically in the fall when school starts. People still change their minds about coming over the summer. They will add new families to the newsletter lists and such until the new year begins.

[Anonymous]

sorry - 'when' the new school year begins.

[Anonymous]

We were added to the school listserv early summer last year. There wasn't much traffic on it at the time though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were added to the school listserv early summer last year. There wasn't much traffic on it at the time though.

The school listserv is run by parents and is meant for parents to communicate among themselves. School staff don't generally post information there, although someone on staff usually reads the messages eventually.

Msgs from the school are sent via an email and text messaging system.

[Anonymous]

Where did you get that info? We are a new family and haven't heard anything about events in May.

We're a new PK3 family at the MO campus and I was given a flyer about International Day when I went in to drop off the enrollment paperwork. It's Saturday, May 13 from 10-2 and will have "face painting, snow cones, popcorn, and carnival games," in addition to a primary show (10-11) and an elementary show (1-2) according to the flyer. It says that families are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and dress up in cultural wear. This seems like something that totally could/should be sent by email, but I guess, welcome to LAMB!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:YY families didn't find out about the Taylor St. campus until the deal was done.

Rumors flew for years. Parents were angry and wanted more information than the school could give. Some families left. Ultimately, the facility acquisition happened. Most families stayed and many more new families applied.

(All of this was just a precursor to the DCI drama.)

Parents always want to know everything - that's natural. Charter schools in the acquisition stage need to hold back - that's sensible. These are competing desires - that's unavoidable.

My family was in a position to be flexible; hence my sanguine take. We had options and a few years to wait it out. If you're not able to be flexible, then maybe a situation that inherently demands flexibility isn't for you. Nobody but you knows that. Alas, your tight spot doesn't alter the larger picture. Getting irate over a strategic situation that's beyond the school's control is a waste of energy: the school can't do anything differently and now you're just angry.

If you need more certainty and security, then you can find that in the suburbs.

So you are kicking out my kids because I don't think an hour drive in the morning is good for them? Funny, I think your entitled, smug attitude would be best served in suburbs. I am so tired of these entitled monolingual families with one kid in primary giving out life advice.

Can't wait until you corner me and see if I'll translate their letter to the listserv into Spanish (I don't do that btw).

How did this become a conversation to bash monolingual families? Wow. So disappointing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Where did you get that info? We are a new family and haven't heard anything about events in May.

We're a new PK3 family at the MO campus and I was given a flyer about International Day when I went in to drop off the enrollment paperwork. It's Saturday, May 13 from 10-2 and will have "face painting, snow cones, popcorn, and carnival games," in addition to a primary show (10-11) and an elementary show (1-2) according to the flyer. It says that families are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and dress up in cultural wear. This seems like something that totally could/should be sent by email, but I guess, welcome to LAMB!

We've been at the school for six years and I remember being in your shoes years ago, anxious for any and all information leading up to the first day of school.

International Day is a celebration for students to present dances and other performances they've been practicing for months. Incoming families like yours are more than welcome, but the school's communication focus has been directed at current families since those are the students who will performing. Once your child begins in the fall and you're enrolled in the the school wide communication system, you'll start receiving regular communication from the school about these type of events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the "is anyone giving up a LAMB spot" thread.


We gave up a PK3 spot after being told point blank by an Assistant Principal on a tour that they were in the middle of closing a deal to relocate the whole school to a new, non-Walter Reed location starting in the 2018 school year. We were told they would be ready to announce it publicly "in weeks to months".

Trying to follow up with the administration to learn more about the issue was very difficult, and totally reinforced their reputation as being a good school with a"laid-back"/unresponsive administration incapable of running basic management tasks. There were several occasions where the school didn't even pick up the phone in the middle of the day, for example. If I was a parent who couldn't reach my child's school during a school day I would be very upset.

At first I was a bit skeptical of the critics of LAMB's response to the sex abuse at the school earlier this year, but based on my limited experience with them, I can totally believe that they handled it incompetently.

I think you made the right choice. Lamb has never been good at customer service, preferring to focus totally on the child. I frequently get frustrated with the administration, but I genuinely believe they always put children first.

I forgot to mention, it seems like customer service is incredibly important to you. The focus on Latin American culture and Spanish was key for me, so I am willing to have some frustrations. No school is perfect, so good for you that you know what you need out of a school.

I think you're confusing "Customer Service" with basic organizational competence. OPs example of not answering their main phone line during the school day (if true) is just not being able to do the most basic tasks properly.

I've never had them not answer the phone in the middle of the day.

Honestly the pp who gave up a spot at lamb sounds unhinged. Glad you moved on. We will not miss you.

I'm glad you haven't had them not answer the phone in the middle of the day but you should allow for the possibility that your experience is not typical. I (OP) could not reach the SD campus on two separate days just last week; that is a fact. This other PP who is obviously a parent there seems to have had the same issue:

"In defense of LAMB (specifically regarding getting in touch with individuals who physically have your children), my child's teachers have NO problem giving me their personal phone numbers. If there is an emergent concern they've called me and I've called them. We keep it brief because they're teaching, but they've handled it professionally and quickly. I've never not been able to get a hold of my child's whereabouts."

In my opinion, having classroom teachers have to field phone calls from parents during class hours is not an adequate substitution for the bare minimum operational competence of having someone to answer phones.

The defense that LAMB "prefers to focus totally on the child" is a very odd excuse, in my opinion. This school can't walk and chew gum at the same time?

Hi op,

Instead of calling lamb for the 8th time today (they have caller ID), why don't you tell us who told you the rumor that lamb is buying another location?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Where did you get that info? We are a new family and haven't heard anything about events in May.

We're a new PK3 family at the MO campus and I was given a flyer about International Day when I went in to drop off the enrollment paperwork. It's Saturday, May 13 from 10-2 and will have "face painting, snow cones, popcorn, and carnival games," in addition to a primary show (10-11) and an elementary show (1-2) according to the flyer. It says that families are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and dress up in cultural wear. This seems like something that totally could/should be sent by email, but I guess, welcome to LAMB!

We've been at the school for six years and I remember being in your shoes years ago, anxious for any and all information leading up to the first day of school.

International Day is a celebration for students to present dances and other performances they've been practicing for months. Incoming families like yours are more than welcome, but the school's communication focus has been directed at current families since those are the students who will performing. Once your child begins in the fall and you're enrolled in the the school wide communication system, you'll start receiving regular communication from the school about these type of events.

We also received the flyer when we enrolled our PK3 student. I asked them if there were any events for new families, and that is what they gave us. I totally get it is aimed more toward current families, so not sure if it will be worth attending. I am looking for events to make new families feel welcome, much like many other neighborhood schools are already starting to have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Where did you get that info? We are a new family and haven't heard anything about events in May.

We're a new PK3 family at the MO campus and I was given a flyer about International Day when I went in to drop off the enrollment paperwork. It's Saturday, May 13 from 10-2 and will have "face painting, snow cones, popcorn, and carnival games," in addition to a primary show (10-11) and an elementary show (1-2) according to the flyer. It says that families are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and dress up in cultural wear. This seems like something that totally could/should be sent by email, but I guess, welcome to LAMB!

We've been at the school for six years and I remember being in your shoes years ago, anxious for any and all information leading up to the first day of school.

International Day is a celebration for students to present dances and other performances they've been practicing for months. Incoming families like yours are more than welcome, but the school's communication focus has been directed at current families since those are the students who will performing. Once your child begins in the fall and you're enrolled in the the school wide communication system, you'll start receiving regular communication from the school about these type of events.

We also received the flyer when we enrolled our PK3 student. I asked them if there were any events for new families, and that is what they gave us. I totally get it is aimed more toward current families, so not sure if it will be worth attending. I am looking for events to make new families feel welcome, much like many other neighborhood schools are already starting to have.

The PTO has organized playground meetups in late summer. I would expect that to happen again.

Are you following LAMB's Facebook page? That's another way to engage and stay informed.