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Norwood: What do you love? Not Love?
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Anonymous
| Look, there was more than one email; there was more than one meeting. Honestly I think it was hard to be unaware that there was a significant strategic planning process under way last year, especially given the related discussions of potential zoning changes. |
Anonymous
New parents were also excluded. In a school that does so many things well, I was very surprised by the lack of communication and parental input. |
Anonymous
| I want to go back to the bullying issue because I think one of the most important things mentioned in yesterday's meeting was the fact that probably 85% of kids are bystanders when it comes to bullying. They are neither the aggressors nor the victims. But activating that 85% percent may be the most powerful thing we can do to combat bullying. The same applies to parents. Many people have not had to deal with bullying personally. But that should not lead them to conclude that bullying does not exist at their school or that people who express concern about the issue are trying to tear the school down. Hopefully we can act together to help the 15%, remembering that any of our kids may fall into that group at some point during their school years. |
Anonymous
21:37 here. I'm not scolding anyone for coming online, nor am I complaining about people complaining. I'm simply pointing out that several complaints have been made in this thread (ostensibly by different people) about the way the school handles bullying. It's not a value judgment for me to refer to them as "complaints." It's an objective fact. As a new parent, I am certainly interested in the issue of how the school handles bullying. As I would be with any school. And since there had been complaints raised in this thread about the issue, I thought it quite odd that none of those posters would have commented on the discussion that was held yesterday morning. Past problem or not, the mere fact that one of the first discussions Ms. Nichols held with parents addressed bullying is, to me, indicative of her seriousness about how she will handle it as Lower School Head. So, in my view, it would be unfortunate if you and others were not engaging the school on the issue, given the clear invitation to do so. Did you attend the meeting yesterday morning? What did you think of it? |
Anonymous
| I posted earlier about bullying but did not go to the meeting because we left the school. I'd only point out that the Ms. Nicols' predecessor did try to address it, perhaps not enough, but tried in individual cases. As did teachers (in our experience). But it failed. My own view is that it is in some grades at Norwood it has become a part of the culture of the class, and once set, it is is hard to break, especially when bullys' parents get very defensive. Not an easy problem to solve, and not right to blame it on one administrator, or expect her adressing it vigorously to solve it. It is necessary for her to do so, but don't expect it to be the whole answer. |
Anonymous
There is usually a discussion about such things at Norwood, well advertised. But the quality of discussion is not good - nobody wants to be seen as a troublemaker, and head really doesn't seem to want input. |
Anonymous
Given all the parent chats, memos etc. you would think an issue as divisive as this would warrant an open discussion with parents. This doesn't pass the smell test. |
Anonymous
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Also, I HATE the half day Fridays (which comes to 12 hours a month) AND the fact that the teachers still need conference or meeting days!!!!
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Anonymous
The 2010 Strategic Plan approved April 19, 2010 explicitly states according to the letter from the Head and the Chair on our website: "Dear Members of the Norwood Community: "The administration will begin immediately to develop an implementation plan, and we look forward to reviewing the details of implementation as well as the Strategic Plan with you at meetings to be scheduled for early in the fall. Periodic reports will be distributed to the community as work progresses on our action items. The strategic planning process has been invigorating and renewing, and we believe that the future holds great promise for our school. There is certainly much work to be done in order to realize our ambitious plans. For now, we wish to express our deep gratitude to the many parents, teachers, staff, trustees, and members of our extended school community who have contributed so much to the planning process. With your support and involvement, we look forward to addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities presented in the years to come." I am still waiting for my survey of what my family thinks and THE periodic report detailing no more Christmas Pageant and no more Lord's Prayer from Norwood. I can't find it. Is it here and I am unaware? Newish family here. I can see the zoning exemption sign so, I was aware of the potential zoning changes. Make sure you speak loudly so I can hear you from your Ivory Tower... |
Anonymous
| Note how this official missive basically says "we're changing things and will tell you periodically about it." Somehow "many ... have contributed to the plannnign process," but perhaps they were hand-picked? You can't have a completely democratic process and get anywhere, but people do feel too much happens behind closed doors. Maybe this is the only workable strategy when you're trying to bring about major change. But don't pretend it is "open." |
Anonymous
| If anyone thinks that parents, and my daughter is at Norwood, should have final say or even input into everything, then they're delusional. Not only that, but I've had significant experience with several of the best privates in DC, and Norwood FAR outcommunicates them all and is the most inclusive in "process." The changes at Norwood came about after much opportunity for input from all--well advertised and open, and yes, dear reader, the Board does have the final vote. I chose to not participate in the year-long process that began with the strategic plan last year, but the opportunities were there all along. Good, bad, or indifferent as you may think of the outcome, Norwood handled this one as best a difficult issue may be explored and acted on. Time to move on or get off the train. |
Anonymous
I'm amazed at the number of people who are so defensive when people say there was a lack of communication. New parents weren't informed, many current parents aren't happy, and it won't go away just because you say so. Perhaps if some eager beaver hadn't posted on DCUM before the official announcement, I would have more faith in the transparency of this decision. |
Anonymous
| Well, sometimes people just need a little drama in their lives to work out their own issues.... |
Anonymous
Sounds as though you, dear poster, would know. 
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