Thoughts on DCI, Latin or BASIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You would think DCI would care more about this attrition of feeder kids. This impacts their model and mission greatly. Shouldn't they want to keep the kids with the second language, rather than fill the spaces with English speaking only lottery spaces?

There isn't actually that much attrition of feeder kids.

It seems LAMB parents have been the most skeptical/concerned ... not shocking since Montessori to paperless is a big shift in educational practices.

Even there, about half of the eligible kids have gone to DCI from the first two classes of rising 6th graders. This year it looks to be about 2/3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCI has offered a parent tech night each year to help parents understand the use of chromebooks and technology at DCI.
DCI never replaces teachers with computers. That's a flat-out lie.
Students only are allowed to use phones during brunch and lunch. Phones are confiscated if seen otherwise.

Why are they allowed to have phones at all during the day? What's the point?

Don't they have access to the internet/social media throughout the day (including class time)?

DCI students don't have lockers (maybe that will change when they get to Walter Reed). Exactly where would you have them stash their phones during the day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCI has offered a parent tech night each year to help parents understand the use of chromebooks and technology at DCI.
DCI never replaces teachers with computers. That's a flat-out lie.
Students only are allowed to use phones during brunch and lunch. Phones are confiscated if seen otherwise.

Why are they allowed to have phones at all during the day? What's the point?

Don't they have access to the internet/social media throughout the day (including class time)?

DCI students don't have lockers (maybe that will change when they get to Walter Reed). Exactly where would you have them stash their phones during the day?

Why can't they leave them in the front office? Or at home? Do they really need a cell phone in middle school?

How did you and I survive middle and high school without one?!?

[Anonymous]

My 6th grader commutes to Basis solo every day. Has a cell phone in case of emergency. Most of the kids commute to school by bus or train.

When I was a kid I rode my bike to school but my mom made me carry change for a pay phone for emergencies.

That strategy doesn't work so well anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 6th grader commutes to Basis solo every day. Has a cell phone in case of emergency. Most of the kids commute to school by bus or train.

When I was a kid I rode my bike to school but my mom made me carry change for a pay phone for emergencies.

That strategy doesn't work so well anymore.

If there's an emergency, your kid can use the phone in the school's front office. Stop making excuses for middle schoolers having cell phones. The middle class in this country is raising a bunch of entitled, coddled wimps!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 6th grader commutes to Basis solo every day. Has a cell phone in case of emergency. Most of the kids commute to school by bus or train.

When I was a kid I rode my bike to school but my mom made me carry change for a pay phone for emergencies.

That strategy doesn't work so well anymore.

If there's an emergency, your kid can use the phone in the school's front office. Stop making excuses for middle schoolers having cell phones. The middle class in this country is raising a bunch of entitled, coddled wimps!

Of course they can and they do - but during the 5-mile trip from home to school I'd like them to be able to call or text me.

If they were coddled I'd be driving them each way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would think DCI would care more about this attrition of feeder kids. This impacts their model and mission greatly. Shouldn't they want to keep the kids with the second language, rather than fill the spaces with English speaking only lottery spaces?

They don't seem to have much attrition at all from feeders, despite all the posturing on this board!

It's not from lacking of trying. I personally know of six families at YY who wasted lottery picks trying to get into Deal, Latin and Basis. They all said that they ranked DCI second or third of the four schools. Their children will be attending DCI. According to the moms, they don't qualify for much financial aid to go private and they cannot personally afford to foot a private school education. DCI was better than their in-bound schools. I am sure their are other families who also attempted to lottery out, I am just not personally familiar with them. With that said, I think the six families that I am familiar with who will send their kids to DCI as their second choice will help to make the school great. Some of them were very active at YY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would think DCI would care more about this attrition of feeder kids. This impacts their model and mission greatly. Shouldn't they want to keep the kids with the second language, rather than fill the spaces with English speaking only lottery spaces?

They don't seem to have much attrition at all from feeders, despite all the posturing on this board!

It's not from lacking of trying. I personally know of six families at YY who wasted lottery picks trying to get into Deal, Latin and Basis. They all said that they ranked DCI second or third of the four schools. Their children will be attending DCI. According to the moms, they don't qualify for much financial aid to go private and they cannot personally afford to foot a private school education. DCI was better than their in-bound schools. I am sure their are other families who also attempted to lottery out, I am just not personally familiar with them. With that said, I think the six families that I am familiar with who will send their kids to DCI as their second choice will help to make the school great. Some of them were very active at YY.

So they all tried at 5th and failed thgis year? Couldn't be for 6th since to claim your feeder preference at DCI it must be your #1 pick.

[Anonymous]

exactly. the other poster is full of shit. you have to put DCI as your first pick. They didn't take any outsiders this year.

[Anonymous]

While some parents may not have concerns about the cellphone policy or use of chromebook in class, some current DCI and many parents of kids at feeder schools, have asked questions and raised concerns and are feeling frustrated by the lack of answers and the by the perception that these concerns are not taken seriously.

[Anonymous]

My son is at DCI and I know many parents and kids from our feeder.

The PP talking about replacement of instruction, etc. doesn't know what she is talking about. It's difficult for me to even rationalize this assertion other than to say that she obviously doesn't have a child at the school.

The PP talking about the lottery and her friends doesn't know what she is talking about. There are factual issues with what she was claiming, as PPs have pointed out.

The PP talking about unrestricted access to phones during the day doesn't know what she is talking about. Phones are taken if they are out during instructional time- even if they just pull them out to charge them. And before you say, "Too bad! They shouldn't have them anyway!" consider that my son takes 2 trains and bus. It's a safety issue so don't even go there.

If you are at a feeder school talk to a parent of a current child before you let your imaginations get the best of you.

[Anonymous]

17:33 sounds like you don't have any concerns which is great. DCI is working for your DC. However, the concerns other parents have about kids having access to phones during the school day is a legitimate concern. Kids are allowed to use phones during lunch and break time. Not sure what the benefit of letting MS kids have access to phones during the school day.

Maybe the school will change the policy when they move to the new building and kids have a place to put phones. Maybe the school thinks this is a good policy but it would be helpful to the school to explain why, especially since this policy differs from other MS charter schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:exactly. the other poster is full of shit. you have to put DCI as your first pick. They didn't take any outsiders this year.

No,witch I am not full of shit. Just because you don't like the message and can't accept it does not render it untrue. Two of the six tried for Latin in fifth grade. All six either tried and failed with Latin, Basis, and Deal, or a combination thereof. I tried telling them that Deal was useless as they are all out of bound. You do not have to make DCI your first choice. DCI is an automatic feeder from the five feeder schools, so they ranked Deal. Latin. And Basis ahead of DCI. BTW, , I forgot one other family who ranked Hardy ahead of DCI and her son got into DCI from YY feeder, and is on the Hardy wait list, or so she says. That makes seven families.

[Anonymous]

I'm at YY and have been told that you lose your feeder preference if you don't mark it number 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm at YY and have been told that you lose your feeder preference if you don't mark it number 1.

This is true, but only if you are chosen by another school. If you aren't picked then I *think* you are still eligible for DCI. If you are picked then you no longer have the ability to chose DCI.

I'm not 100% sure, but this is my understanding.