Creative Minds - pros and cons?
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Anonymous
| I'm interested and would love some honest opinions! We are playing the lottery so who knows if we'd even get in, but it's so hard to judge new schools. |
Anonymous
| I would try to find out where the school wants to be located when it's current 2 year lease expires. Location and ability to get there from your home/job is a huge quality of life issue. |
Anonymous
| Great academics and teachers. Really not a great building for a school. Poor outdoor space is the main issue, so kids spend too much time inside. And drop off and pick up is a big pain on a big road with no parking. But there is a bus stop. |
Anonymous
|
I echo the PPs assessment of the curriculum, and the teachers. We have had such a great year so far (PS) and are amazed on a regular basis by what our DC comes home learning about. Thus far, that has included a really fun unit on the Great Barrier Reef that he still talks about months later, Spanish and Chinese classes that have found their way into his everyday conversation and lots of great songs in music/drama/instrumental music. We're also glad to feel so included by the school in the learning - via classroom website, private blog for arts/specials learning, weekly newsletter, etc. etc.
I was bracing myself for drop-off/pick-off to be tough, and it just hasn't been. I typically do drop-off and my DH does pick-up. We both drive to work and have not had difficulty finding street parking near the school. And the location has been a huge asset in terms of making this easy on our schedule/quality of life. I am also curious as to where they will go when the 2 year lease is up. While there isn't traditional green space, our DC really likes the playground they've made out back (tricycles, sand box, small climbing and play structures) for the littlest ones (PS & PK). The older kids go across the street to the playground. The main cool thing is the indoor sensory room - they play there in inclement weather and during aftercare and it is TERRIFIC. Lots more to say, I'm sure, but the bottom line we're happy and watching closely on location because we're feeling like this is such a special place and community and we really want to stay a part of it. We were nervous about a 1st year school (and, yes, got shut out of all the more established charters in the lottery last year), but now can't believe our luck to have landed in a place that works so well for our child and our family. |
Anonymous
|
I echo the PPs assessment of the curriculum, and the teachers. We have had such a great year so far (PS) and are amazed on a regular basis by what our DC comes home learning about. Thus far, that has included a really fun unit on the Great Barrier Reef that he still talks about months later, Spanish and Chinese classes that have found their way into his everyday conversation and lots of great songs in music/drama/instrumental music. We're also glad to feel so included by the school in the learning - via classroom website, private blog for arts/specials learning, weekly newsletter, etc. etc.
I was bracing myself for drop-off/pick-off to be tough, and it just hasn't been. I typically do drop-off and my DH does pick-up. We both drive to work and have not had difficulty finding street parking near the school. And the location has been a huge asset in terms of making this easy on our schedule/quality of life. I am also curious as to where they will go when the 2 year lease is up. While there isn't traditional green space, our DC really likes the playground they've made out back (tricycles, sand box, small climbing and play structures) for the littlest ones (PS & PK). The older kids go across the street to the playground. The main cool thing is the indoor sensory room - they play there in inclement weather and during aftercare and it is TERRIFIC. Lots more to say, I'm sure, but the bottom line we're happy and watching closely on location because we're feeling like this is such a special place and community and we really want to stay a part of it. We were nervous about a 1st year school (and, yes, got shut out of all the more established charters in the lottery last year), but now can't believe our luck to have landed in a place that works so well for our child and our family. |
Anonymous
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That is good to hear such positive feedback! But what's a challenge beyond driving? The building situation is a little scary if it's only a short-term lease as well.
How is the language? After going to an info session it didn't seem like much of an emphasis, but the music really intrigued me. DC really loves music and I was glad to see it in the curriculum. I also liked that they seemed to want to keep things small - the parents there (of current students) were great. |
Anonymous
| These comments have been helpful. We're also interested in CM for next year for first grade. Comments about the "older grades" would be welcome. |
Anonymous
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Another PS parent here.
The Principal recently stated that it's their intent to remain in the building as long as possible. Mundo Verde does not plan to remain in the adjoining space and it's my understanding that, ideally, Creative Minds would like to eventually expand into that space. Of course, all of these are somewhat uncertain variables, so there's no way to have absolute certainty about the school's long term home. That's pretty much true, however, for any relatively new charter school. I can also tell you that foreign language is absolutely an emphasis of the school - it's just not the only emphasis. My Preschooler is receiving 1/2 hour of Spanish 3 times a week and about a 1/2 hour of Chinese twice a week. They also offer Chinese immersion, Spanish, and French in afterschool programs. I'm pretty sure that's WAY more language instruction than she would receive at any other non-immersion school. So, no, it's not immersion....but the school is absolutely committed to language instruction....which makes sense b/c it's using an international curriculum. |
Anonymous
|
PP here
Oh, I forgot to rave about the music program. The music teacher is pretty amazing and my child absolutely loves her music class....which she has 3x per week, as well as in after-care. The school started the school year with full sets of xylophones and steel drums. They also offered parents the option of private music instruction (piano and violin, I believe) in aftercare this semester. I believe the music teacher mentioned obtaining additional instruments in upcoming years (can't remember which ones off the top of my head). In terms of the "specials" offered, I am absolutely thrilled and grateful that my child has access to all these wonderful resources at school. It's, honestly, amazing. That said, my child is in PS, and can't speak to the older grades (other than to say that my sense is that parents are happy with what's happening there as well). |
Anonymous
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Parent of another preschooler here who has been very happy with the school. There are many pros including great teachers (who understand that 3 year olds learn best by playing and need to move), incredible music teacher, lots of music and art, lots of play, specials (drama 1x/week, Chinese 2x/week, and Spanish 3x/week), sense of community, good communication with parents (class newsletters, monthly school newsletters, numerous blogs...), great location (for the time being), warm staff...
Cons: location could move and the outdoor space. But, as somebody mentioned, the hope is to stay where they are or close to where they are. The outdoor space could also be helped when MV moves (if CM is able to stay in the space) because they would not have to coordinate outside times with another school. Of course, all of that is tentative, but that's part of being in a charter. Overall, we have been very pleased and plan to stay. |
Anonymous
| For folks looking for responses from kids in the older grades (and seeing only responses from ps and pk parents) -- part of the issue may be that this year there is only one class of 1st graders and 1 class of 2nd graders. Given the class sizes are limited to about 15, the pool of parents to whom you can reach out through forums like this is pretty small. |
Anonymous
| Why wouldn't MV want to stay and expand into the CM side? |
Anonymous
You would probably need to start a MV thread to get an answer to that. |
Anonymous
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Re: above ^^ MV and CM and who will expand into whose side... I said this in another thread, from going to both of their open houses, I strongly got the impression that while MV may want to move and CM may want to expand to MV's side, each school has the other plan as "Plan B", i.e. if MV doesn't move, they'll want to expand to CM's side, and if CM can't expand, they'll want to move.
That may not be very helpful, but it is important to be clear that until MV has a definite plan to move, CM's interest in expanding doesn't happen. And so far MV doesn't have a definite plan to move. |
Anonymous
| MV is moving in 2014. They will not fit the space they have now and getting the other side wouldn't give them much more time. |