Oyster parents -- What do you love/hate about the school?

[Anonymous]

I love the idea of having my son (starting K, would move in boundary) in a bilingual program. I'd love to get impressions of the school from parents whose kids are attending.

Thanks so much.

[Anonymous]

Do you speak Spanish? Are you and/or your child Latino? Do you love the idea of a bilingual program enough to stick it out for 4 or 5 years? How's your tolerance for ambiguity and miscommunication?

It is not a tightly run ship. If you're easily frustrated with things like website not being updated and lunchroom chaos, constant requests for parent time and money, be prepared to be disappointed.

There are many intangible benefits. The best parts of the school IMO are diversity, friendly families, and some amazing Spanish teachers and truly unique learning opportunities. You can experience some of the environment at the annual Fiesta this Saturday May 12.

The complaints about the leadership are well documented on DCUM. I agree with most criticisms. But on a daily basis my kids are very happy and the location is convenient for us.

In general, it is probably not a great idea to move only for a school.

Hth

[Anonymous]

Please do a search, and let this not resemble Groundhog Day yet again.

[Anonymous]

I wish we could ban these broad postings. Either read the tons of threads on Oyster that already exist or come to this board with some specific questions. This is going to turn into another of those sock shoe wearing dads postings like the Janney one did....that was fun.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, I have read some of the previous threads. Opinions change, new families come to a school. People who have missed previous threads might see this one and be able to comment.

I kept the question broad to invite a variety of responses, but here are some specific questions:

How did your child take to the dual-language instruction?

Does your child use Spanish outside of the school?

If you do not speak Spanish at home, how do you reinforce what your child is learning about the language at school? (Does Oyster offer any strategies?)

Do the Spanish-speaking kids and the English-speaking kids enjoy interacting/learning/playing together?

Is there good communication between teachers and parents? (I have read very mixed reviews of the principal.)

And any other insight would be great.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

What I'd really like to know is what come *after* Oyster if your kid moves on to Deal or another middle school that isn't bilingual. Do the kids retain their Spanish into high school, college, and the rest of their life? How, and how do they use it? If it's mainly to communicate with their maid, I question whether it's worth it. (Even though we are sending our kids to a dual immersion school.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
How did your child take to the dual-language instruction? Most kids are fine with it if they start pre-K with no Spanish or K with some Spanish.

Does your child use Spanish outside of the school? Within our family. But not with other Spanish-speaking kids. All kids seem to speak English.

If you do not speak Spanish at home, how do you reinforce what your child is learning about the language at school? (Does Oyster offer any strategies?) The school has not had any formal programs to help non-Spanish speaking parents. The PTO (not the school) is trying to do more on this with help from Spanish-literate parents and outside experts. About a month ago, one Spanish teacher volunteered to help teach Spanish to parents one night a week. Some teachers will offer small group tutoring for students once or twice a week after school for about an hour. There are a few clubs and afterschool activities taught only inSpanish like reading, drama. If you don't have any Spanish at all, consider sending child to private enrichment classes and summer camps.

Do the Spanish-speaking kids and the English-speaking kids enjoy interacting/learning/playing together? Yes, but language is a false distinction. There are very few children with no English at all. English is the language of the playground and any time outside of Spanish classes. The school is very diverse in terms of nationality and ethnicity. (Unlike Arizona, you can't tell who is Hispanic or legal by looking at them. ) Many families are already bilingual or mutli-cultural and don't need much language support. Most parents are very friendly and patient with each other when it comes to language. Children are often good translators for arranging playdates.

Is there good communication between teachers and parents? (I have read very mixed reviews of the principal.) Depends on the teachers. Some of the Spanish teachers cannot speak or write well in English. Afterall, they are not teaching English. In my children's experience, the limited English teachers have been some of the most organized and consistent communicators.

And any other insight would be great. Art class is great. Teacher isn't warm and fuzzy, but my children actually use thinking they learn in art in other areas like math and reading. Artists covered are interesting and projects are sometimes very sophisticated. It is all in Spanish. She doesn't dumb art down for children. My 2 cents. http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=10138

[Anonymous]

Do the Spanish-speaking kids and the English-speaking kids enjoy interacting/learning/playing together? Yes, but language is a false distinction. There are very few children with no English at all. English is the language of the playground and any time outside of Spanish classes. The school is very diverse in terms of nationality and ethnicity. (Unlike Arizona, you can't tell who is Hispanic or legal by looking at them. ) Many families are already bilingual or mutli-cultural and don't need much language support. Most parents are very friendly and patient with each other when it comes to language. Children are often good translators for arranging playdates.

Okay, I've got to comment here. The kids may integrate and establish friendships during the school day, but Oyster-Adams doesn't have a problem separating them Monday through Friday at 3:15 -- there's the special program that costs more that attracts the non-hispanic working population, then there is the free program where you'll find the rest of the population. By Middle School there is confusion as to why DC Scores (soccer for the freezer program) is not popular among the mostly white middle class families who would rather pick up their dear ones and drive the to their special leagues. It's actually quite disgusting and a very significant symbol of why so many believe the principal is either a huge phony or just stupid and incompetent.

[Anonymous]

As a native Spanish-speaker grateful that Oyster will offer a good bilingual ed to DC in the near future, would it be too much to ask the previous poster to adopt a more civilized and constructive discourse?

[Anonymous]

We're an English dominant but Spanish speaking family. My son has had lots of playdates in Spanish, but we seek that out. I've also never spoken English with any of my son's Spanish teachers --- they have seemed very relieved that we were comfortable doing conferences and meetings in Spanish. Could be a challenge if you are English-only.

Our biggest issue is the chaos. A lot is demanded of kids --- they are punished by having recess withheld for forgetting assignments for example, but our experience of teachers has been that they constantly forget, lose, misplace and overlook things. They assign big projects, then don't collect them. They collect work and never grade it. They don't show up for parent teacher conferences at the agreed time. There are no processes, no best practices, little follow through on commitments. Also, we have an issue generally with how discipline is handled. The preferred method --- in direct contravention of DCPS healthy schools policy --- is to withhold recess. We have also heard of kids being denied lunch, or kept in class until lunch is over, so they don't get to eat.

[Anonymous]

20:52: what's civilized about separating the kids after school every day? Those who can pay more from those who never will be able to? Or does that make you feel all icky.

[Anonymous]

I'm not 20:52, but I am an IB, non-Hispanic AA Oyster parent who utilizes the more expensive after care option. And I don't feel icky, guilty, bad, (fill in the blank)...at all. Oyster isn't the only DCPS that offers a more expensive after care program (Tyler comes to mind). But for some reason, a FREE high-quality bilingual education, and FREE after care isn't good enough for you. All children MUST have access to the exact same afterschool activities, even if their parents cannot afford them. That's a noble...and very unrealistic expectation. If the non-DCPS program were not available at Oyster, I would simply enroll my child in after school enrichment programs elsewhere. I guess that would upset you as well. That's too bad b/c you don't pay my bills, so your opinion is worthless.

Btw, If you care so much about this "inequality," you are more than welcome to pay the difference for all of the "poor" children who are being shut out. Otherwise, take that bs somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

I toured Oyster as a prospective parent and the fact that there were two distinct aftercare program, one for the largely Latino families without means and the other for parents with more money raised a red flag. It just troubled me. And it made me wonder why the principal accepted it. There are other DCPS schools where the parent organization runs one aftercare program for all the kids, and is able through fundraising to offer aid to those who need help. That seems a lot healthier to me, if the goal is to create one school community.

[Anonymous]

PP--stop making up your own facts! No one is assigned to an after care program at Oyster based on race or ethnicity. The more expensive option is (gasp!) $280 per month (by comparison, I know a parent who pays $400 per month at Yu Ying). Latinos who can afford it can choose the more expensive option just like EVERYONE else. Oyster is not the only DCPS with two after cares with different costs. If you are so bothered by the two after cares, may I suggest that you find another school for your child to attend...where all aspects of the school environment are very carefully socially engineered (just like in the real world). There are hundreds of kids who will gladly take your spot (assuming you're IB).

[Anonymous]

13:49 you are a very ugly representation of Oyster parents, and in fact are contrary to the "mission statement" of the school. Yes, all kids in the same school should have equal, available access to the same quality aftercare program regardless of socio-economic level. This is not outside enrichment, it's under the roof of the same school buildings and if the kids felt equal all day, they definitely feel either special or slighted after 3:15 when they are in their separate programs. And, sorry, it is largely hispanic in the "free" program. It's really a crime it goes on in a bilingual/"bicultural" school. what a shame.