Beauvoir

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps because they're more into alcohol?

Does anyone attribute it to parenting?

The decisions that individual teens make? Of course!
The way parents handle drug/alcohol use in their kids and in their homes? Absolutely!
Whether a specific school (reputedly) has more issues with drugs or alcohol? Probably not.

When I was looking into schools for my own kids, the question I asked of friends/kids of friends was not whether or not the high schoolers use drugs or alcohol at parties. I assume that some kids at every single school in the area do use illegal substances. What I asked was, if an individual student chooses not to smoke/drink/take drugs, what is their social experience? Are they included? Teased? Pressured?

It can be attributed to school culture, parenting, peers, individual decisions. If doing drugs is a negative among your peers at school rather than considered cool [making one popular] then it is something passed down through grade levels. The issue of students at some schools having more drug use is based on teen input. Smoke/drink/drugs/sex have various standard start times among different social groups. There is not teasing, exclusion, pressure to partake at some schools.

There might be subsets of students who have different values but peopleare deluding themselves if they think there are NOT variations among schools. Ever hear of being a friend NOT a parent? I expect a school and mentor NOT a friend.

[Anonymous]

What does the above have to do with Beauvoir?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does the above have to do with Beauvoir?

Uhh, because the beginning is the most important part of the work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps because they're more into alcohol?

Does anyone attribute it to parenting?

The decisions that individual teens make? Of course!
The way parents handle drug/alcohol use in their kids and in their homes? Absolutely!
Whether a specific school (reputedly) has more issues with drugs or alcohol? Probably not.

When I was looking into schools for my own kids, the question I asked of friends/kids of friends was not whether or not the high schoolers use drugs or alcohol at parties. I assume that some kids at every single school in the area do use illegal substances. What I asked was, if an individual student chooses not to smoke/drink/take drugs, what is their social experience? Are they included? Teased? Pressured?

It can be attributed to school culture, parenting, peers, individual decisions. If doing drugs is a negative among your peers at school rather than considered cool [making one popular] then it is something passed down through grade levels. The issue of students at some schools having more drug use is based on teen input. Smoke/drink/drugs/sex have various standard start times among different social groups. There is not teasing, exclusion, pressure to partake at some schools.

There might be subsets of students who have different values but peopleare deluding themselves if they think there are NOT variations among schools. Ever hear of being a friend NOT a parent? I expect a school and mentor NOT a friend.

My dd and her extremely small social set of girls all attended public school before private. They're not out partying on weekends and am not sure if they've had sex yet. They're gorgeous girls but not getting asked out on dates. Excluded. Since middle school dd has shared stories with me of abortions, stds that she's heard about beginning in 7th grade. The few parties that she has attended, alcohol was definitely available with the parents in the house. Also told me that alcohol consumption does occur at school -- instead of brown bagging it in, they hide it in their Starbuck cups.

[Anonymous]

The PP has what to do with a school that educates kids from PK-3? This thread is WAY off topic...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want your child to learn strong academics: reading, writing and math, Beauvoir is not the school for you. High teacher turnover, lots of young and inexperienced teachers. Some of them do not believe in homework, so when your kids have to apply to new schools in third grade, the parents need to either sit down and teach their kids, or alternatively seek professional help.

Highly energetic kids are not welcome, so the poor souls (mostly boys) who manage to "beat" the admissions process and get accepted, suffer through their entire stay at Beauvoir because they are expected to behave like girls.

As for diversity, you will only see it in the brochures. "Diverse" people are accepted, but once you are in, they are totally ignored and left to their own devices and end up finding solace and support from other diverse families. If one of the parents is not "diverse", it might be easier on the family.

OK, I realize this is an old post I'm quoting above, however...OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN EXACTLY THE SAME!!! This PP said everything I would have said. Academics not strong, MINIMAL homework...issues handling energetic kids...minorities left to their own... Dead on assessment of the school. It's obviously a good place for some, but I would debate anyone on the academics and homework issue...not subjective.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have an idea of how the academics at Beauvoir compare to Norwood or WES?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want your child to learn strong academics: reading, writing and math, Beauvoir is not the school for you. High teacher turnover, lots of young and inexperienced teachers. Some of them do not believe in homework, so when your kids have to apply to new schools in third grade, the parents need to either sit down and teach their kids, or alternatively seek professional help.

Highly energetic kids are not welcome, so the poor souls (mostly boys) who manage to "beat" the admissions process and get accepted, suffer through their entire stay at Beauvoir because they are expected to behave like girls.

As for diversity, you will only see it in the brochures. "Diverse" people are accepted, but once you are in, they are totally ignored and left to their own devices and end up finding solace and support from other diverse families. If one of the parents is not "diverse", it might be easier on the family.

OK, I realize this is an old post I'm quoting above, however...OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN EXACTLY THE SAME!!! This PP said everything I would have said. Academics not strong, MINIMAL homework...issues handling energetic kids...minorities left to their own... Dead on assessment of the school. It's obviously a good place for some, but I would debate anyone on the academics and homework issue...not subjective.

Our experience has been exactly the same, ALSO!!!!

We were members of the "diverse" minority and often felt shoved into a corner as if we were admitted through the kitchen door. Fortunately, we were able to latch onto other "diverse" families there and with humor get each other through.

[Anonymous]

We are a current diverse (African American) family at Beauvoir and our experience has been exactly the OPPPOSITE! I don't feel like I am shoved in the corner. I feel a part of the community. Like any of the families there, we have worked as a part of the community. I reach out to families and respond when other families reach out to us. I volunteer and am at the school often. My children also feel apart of the community. I also add that it is an incredible, welcoming, and friendly community. I have one child who has gone from PK through 3rd grade and one child who has done PK through K. We have nothing but wonderful and positive feelings about the school. And I have personnnally witnessed everyone from the head of the school to the faculty make the school welcoming to all families. I think if you come in feeling as though you are an outsider, it is hard to shake that mentality. Our family never felt like outsiders, so it would be pretty hard for me to feel as though someone "let" me in through a kitchen door.

[Anonymous]

JamaicaMama wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[

In terms of diversity, there is ethnic, religious, and socio economic diversity, but limited. I heard, and I'm not sure this is true but I found it to be true in my daughter's classes, that they "herd" the black children. Before people have an attack over that one, I mean to say that if they put a black girl in one class, they put another one in there with her too, to make sure the black children have other children of the same sex that look like them. I think it's a little silly, but I can tell you with my daughter, it was either no black children or 4 black children every year.

I actually think that grouping the minority children is a great idea. It would be great it there were enough children to make this step unnecessary, but its a novel approach and I like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are a current diverse (African American) family at Beauvoir and our experience has been exactly the OPPPOSITE! I don't feel like I am shoved in the corner. I feel a part of the community. Like any of the families there, we have worked as a part of the community. I reach out to families and respond when other families reach out to us. I volunteer and am at the school often. My children also feel apart of the community. I also add that it is an incredible, welcoming, and friendly community. I have one child who has gone from PK through 3rd grade and one child who has done PK through K. We have nothing but wonderful and positive feelings about the school. And I have personnnally witnessed everyone from the head of the school to the faculty make the school welcoming to all families. I think if you come in feeling as though you are an outsider, it is hard to shake that mentality. Our family never felt like outsiders, so it would be pretty hard for me to feel as though someone "let" me in through a kitchen door.

New African - American mom here and I totally agree with this post. We have been very welcomed not only by diverse families but school faculty and other families. DC is enjoying Beauvoir and we all are having a very positive experience. Regardless of race or class the key is to get involved volunteer meet other families. This really helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are a current diverse (African American) family at Beauvoir and our experience has been exactly the OPPPOSITE! I don't feel like I am shoved in the corner. I feel a part of the community. Like any of the families there, we have worked as a part of the community. I reach out to families and respond when other families reach out to us. I volunteer and am at the school often. My children also feel apart of the community. I also add that it is an incredible, welcoming, and friendly community. I have one child who has gone from PK through 3rd grade and one child who has done PK through K. We have nothing but wonderful and positive feelings about the school. And I have personnnally witnessed everyone from the head of the school to the faculty make the school welcoming to all families. I think if you come in feeling as though you are an outsider, it is hard to shake that mentality. Our family never felt like outsiders, so it would be pretty hard for me to feel as though someone "let" me in through a kitchen door.

I feel like I know you poster ; )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have an idea of how the academics at Beauvoir compare to Norwood or WES?

I have heard that Norwood does a better job of preparing kids for schools like STA and NCS than Beauvoir does. I found that interesting since Beauvoir is supposed to be the feeder. No clue on WES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have an idea of how the academics at Beauvoir compare to Norwood or WES?

I have heard that Norwood does a better job of preparing kids for schools like STA and NCS than Beauvoir does. I found that interesting since Beauvoir is supposed to be the feeder. No clue on WES.

Where did you get that information???? You people are ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have an idea of how the academics at Beauvoir compare to Norwood or WES?

I have heard that Norwood does a better job of preparing kids for schools like STA and NCS than Beauvoir does. I found that interesting since Beauvoir is supposed to be the feeder. No clue on WES.

You people who bitch and moan are amazing! If Beauvoir is such a terrible place, no one feels welcome, there are too many mean families, the lunch is not good enough etc, etc, etc! Then put up or shut up!!! Pull your children OUT send them to other schools that you think do a better job or better yet do not apply so that those who think it is a good place can send their child to the school. If Beauvoir did not prepare their students for STA and NCS then STA and NCS would not admit them (I know some of you think that Beauvoir has some magical power to get children in anywhere they want but lets not start that discussion again) I do not understand why Beauvoir and the cathedral schools get such reactions and venom shot at them on this website. There are a number of very good independent schools in the DC metro area all of which have their pros and cons no place is perfect for all but may be for someone's famliy. Focus on what is best for your family and if you do not find it at product A move on to B. Before anyone asks I am not part of the cathedral community and I have not lived in the DC area for a few years but I was a teacher in DCPS system and had many great interactions with many students and teachers from the DC independent schools. Just my two cents. [b]FIRE WHEN READY!