Fairfax County: McLean Citizens Association demands smaller class sizes

[Anonymous]

Bucknell Elementary has a partnership with Bucknell University and West Potomac High School. The school has a computer for every child. It has a vibrant afterschool program and dedicated teachers. It has a parent center for outreach. I want to understand why schools like this are still failing SOL's in FCPS with 15 kids in a classroom plus ample aides and specialists. There has to be something more than needing smaller class sizes.

WHEREAS, a dedicated group of teachers and staff at Bucknell Elementary School recognize the
13 importance of developing the whole student; the group focuses on preparing students for the future and
14 emphasizes the importance of lifelong reading, strong math skills, and effective problem solving; and
15 WHEREAS, students at Bucknell Elementary School benefit from the latest technological advances,
16 using iPads and laptop computers and Smart Boards, which are in every classroom; also, mobile labs are
17 available to all grades; and
18 WHEREAS, many extracurricular activities are available to pupils at Bucknell Elementary School,
19 including a vibrant after-school program that provides athletics, art classes, and science instruction as
20 well as crafts, chess, and cooking classes; and
21 WHEREAS, other opportunities for students at Bucknell Elementary School are partnerships with
22 local organizations––demonstrating the importance of community involvement––and a mentoring effort
23 that pairs West Potomac High School students with the elementary pupils; and
24 WHEREAS, because Bucknell Elementary School is on land that was once owned by Bucknell
25 University, it was named for the university in Pennsylvania; today, the two schools have a
26 video-conferencing program where college students discuss and promote college readiness skills

The Bucknell Elementary Parent Center is in its third year of operation and is staffed by two Parent-Liaisons and a Parent Center Coordinator. It is designed to encourage parent engagement, participation and education for the diverse families in the community. If you stop by the Bucknell Parent Center you will likely see:

Parents taking Spanish literacy classes, English classes or computer classes.
•Parents getting assistance filling out school paperwork. Parent-Teacher conferences accompanied by a Parent-Liaison.
•Parents using computers to explore web-sites or create documents.
•Parents receiving assistance for online job applications, applications for sports programs and recreational camps.
•Parents organizing to participate in civic action to benefit their children.
•Friday Coffee workshops on a variety of topics.
•Pot-luck lunches and/or cultural celebrations.
•Assistance with PTA revitalization and creation of a PTA officer position for parent outreach which is held by a Parent-Liaison.
•A welcoming space where parents can ask questions, find answers, meet and interact with other parents as well as with staff members and be active participants in their child’s academic success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not exactly. But whenever anyone asks how to help Hispanic immigrants differently, the people that seem to support them the most and want all the money directed to them say it's basically hopeless. I just don't get why they have no faith in these parents and kids. America has had years of immigrants coming into the country and succeeding. If they really do think it's that hopeless, why are they are such ardent supporters of encouraging Hispanic immigrants to live here?

There are limousine liberals encouraging immigration all over the County, just as there are Louise Epsteins complaining about FARMS and ESOL children sucking up all the resources. Neither the limousine liberals or the Louise Epsteins live near immigrant tenements, and don't get to see anything first hand.

[Anonymous]

http://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108:13::::0_CURRENT_SCHOOL_ID:207

Possible major problem: mobility rate.

[Anonymous]

http://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108:13::::0_CURRENT_SCHOOL_ID:207

Possible major problem: mobility rate

Link didn't work right. Mobility rate is around 25%--double that of the division.

[Anonymous]

Another possible problem at Bucknell: new immigrant kids who have not been to school at all--older kids.

[Anonymous]

Another reason: Most of you do not realize just how little language some kids can have. I'm talking about English speaking kids. That's the main problem with the achievement gap. Early Childhood development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another reason: Most of you do not realize just how little language some kids can have. I'm talking about English speaking kids. That's the main problem with the achievement gap. Early Childhood development.

Some of us grew up as poor immigrants and got over these humps after several years. I can understand why a school like Hybla Valley is failing. How can it possible not be with so many transient families living in tight quarters and a school site basically filled up with trailers. But a small school with ample resources like Bucknell should have been able to achieve success. There is a catholic school right down the street that gets very good reviews with tuition for each child between $5000-$10,000. Why is one achieving success and the other failing with over triple the resources?

[Anonymous]

Another reason: Most of you do not realize just how little language some kids can have. I'm talking about English speaking kids. That's the main problem with the achievement gap. Early Childhood development.


Some of us grew up as poor immigrants and got over these humps after several years. I can understand why a school like Hybla Valley is failing. How can it possible not be with so many transient families living in tight quarters and a school site basically filled up with trailers. But a small school with ample resources like Bucknell should have been able to achieve success. There is a catholic school right down the street that gets very good reviews with tuition for each child between $5000-$10,000. Why is one achieving success and the other failing with over triple the resources?

The kids start WAY behind. Even the English speaking kids. Also, Bucknell has a high mobility rate--transients in and out.

[Anonymous]

Some of us grew up as poor immigrants and got over these humps after several years. I

Big difference between starting school in K and starting school in fifth grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Another reason: Most of you do not realize just how little language some kids can have. I'm talking about English speaking kids. That's the main problem with the achievement gap. Early Childhood development.


Some of us grew up as poor immigrants and got over these humps after several years. I can understand why a school like Hybla Valley is failing. How can it possible not be with so many transient families living in tight quarters and a school site basically filled up with trailers. But a small school with ample resources like Bucknell should have been able to achieve success. There is a catholic school right down the street that gets very good reviews with tuition for each child between $5000-$10,000. Why is one achieving success and the other failing with over triple the resources?

The kids start WAY behind. Even the English speaking kids. Also, Bucknell has a high mobility rate--transients in and out.

Weird. The area also has a pool next door that's in division 6 for NVSL this summer along with Mantua, Mosby Woods, and Greenbriar. Mostly white kids. I guess they swim well but don't know how to talk.

[Anonymous]

The middle and high school has less mobility than the elementary though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Another reason: Most of you do not realize just how little language some kids can have. I'm talking about English speaking kids. That's the main problem with the achievement gap. Early Childhood development.


Some of us grew up as poor immigrants and got over these humps after several years. I can understand why a school like Hybla Valley is failing. How can it possible not be with so many transient families living in tight quarters and a school site basically filled up with trailers. But a small school with ample resources like Bucknell should have been able to achieve success. There is a catholic school right down the street that gets very good reviews with tuition for each child between $5000-$10,000. Why is one achieving success and the other failing with over triple the resources?

The kids start WAY behind. Even the English speaking kids. Also, Bucknell has a high mobility rate--transients in and out.

Weird. The area also has a pool next door that's in division 6 for NVSL this summer along with Mantua, Mosby Woods, and Greenbriar. Mostly white kids. I guess they swim well but don't know how to talk.

It seems you're talking about the Hollin Meadows Swim & Tennis Club, which is further south. Bucknell had 35 white kids this fall; Hollin Meadows had 153. The white kids may also be at private schools or at the local AAP center (Stratford Landing has 575 white kids and about 50 kids from Hollin Meadows go there). It doesn't really have much relationship to the challenges at Bucknell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Another reason: Most of you do not realize just how little language some kids can have. I'm talking about English speaking kids. That's the main problem with the achievement gap. Early Childhood development.


Some of us grew up as poor immigrants and got over these humps after several years. I can understand why a school like Hybla Valley is failing. How can it possible not be with so many transient families living in tight quarters and a school site basically filled up with trailers. But a small school with ample resources like Bucknell should have been able to achieve success. There is a catholic school right down the street that gets very good reviews with tuition for each child between $5000-$10,000. Why is one achieving success and the other failing with over triple the resources?

The kids start WAY behind. Even the English speaking kids. Also, Bucknell has a high mobility rate--transients in and out.

Weird. The area also has a pool next door that's in division 6 for NVSL this summer along with Mantua, Mosby Woods, and Greenbriar. Mostly white kids. I guess they swim well but don't know how to talk.

It seems you're talking about the Hollin Meadows Swim & Tennis Club, which is further south. Bucknell had 35 white kids this fall; Hollin Meadows had 153. The white kids may also be at private schools or at the local AAP center (Stratford Landing has 575 white kids and about 50 kids from Hollin Meadows go there). It doesn't really have much relationship to the challenges at Bucknell.

Bucknell had 6 kids transfer in and out of the school last year. One of them was a preschooler. I think the school can handle the mobility there. It's a very small school which is why the rate is high. You're right. I got the wrong swim club, but there seem to be three to four swim clubs in the area which typically mean it's a wealthy enough neighborhood to support these types of facilities. The swim club next door is Little Hunting Park and it also has swim, dive, and tennis. http://www.littlehuntingpark.com/. Hollin Hills and Hollin Meadows are very close by as well.

[Anonymous]

Bucknell had 6 kids transfer in and out of the school last year. One of them was a preschooler. I think the school can handle the mobility there. It's a very small school which is why the rate is high. You're right.

Pretty sure you are looking at the membership/month. That's not exactly the same as the mobility rate. Two may leave and two others could come in and membership would be the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Bucknell had 6 kids transfer in and out of the school last year. One of them was a preschooler. I think the school can handle the mobility there. It's a very small school which is why the rate is high. You're right.

Pretty sure you are looking at the membership/month. That's not exactly the same as the mobility rate. Two may leave and two others could come in and membership would be the same.

If there are a lot of kids transferring in and out, they strangely know how to keep the numbers the same in each grade from month to month. It's a very small school with very small classes. The percentages are skewed because of this compared to other schools. There's no reason to think the mobility of this school causes a decline in test scores.