Anyone going to take a chance on Sela?

[Anonymous]

Why or why not?
We got in for K but I admit I am nervous to be part of the first batch. However, I'd take a chance if it were Spanish or French though so maybe it's because I don't see a huge benefit of Hebrew (other than the obvious benefits of bilingualism). Plus I have an expensive private school option.
If you got in please share what your plans are.

[Anonymous]

I'm on the fence, and have similar feelings. I'd be more excited about Spanish, and don't see a huge value in Hebrew either other than bilingualism. Also, my child already has a year in a Spanish immersion preschool, so I'd rather continue with the Spanish. Unlike you, I don't have an expensive private school option, so Sela is the default plan I guess. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about Sela and am not worried about it being a new school, I just wish the language choice was different.

[Anonymous]

This question (for Sela and all the other schools as well - both DCPS and PCS) is premature. It's just too early for most people to say. People need time to know all their options, and consider them.

What would be really nice, is if the administration would organize a few playdates for prospective families. The Takoma Park Rec Center is *really* close. Why not plan to bring some graham crackers and juice boxes on a Saturday afternoon, and let people get to know each other? It's a lot easier to commit to the known than the unknown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm on the fence, and have similar feelings. I'd be more excited about Spanish, and don't see a huge value in Hebrew either other than bilingualism. Also, my child already has a year in a Spanish immersion preschool, so I'd rather continue with the Spanish. Unlike you, I don't have an expensive private school option, so Sela is the default plan I guess. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about Sela and am not worried about it being a new school, I just wish the language choice was different.

+1

However, we live in Takoma DC and I would love to have my daughter go to school with a bunch of other kids from our neighborhood, as it seems like a lot of them applied and got in. There is great value to us in having a "neighborhood" school option so friends are nearby for easy play dates and community events. My worry with the start up and the need to find fluent Hebrew speakers is that it will be difficult to find experienced, high quality teachers.

[Anonymous]

I imagine they'll be looking for Israeli teachers. I wonder about that - having lived in Israel, teachers can come across are more harsh and strict that most Americans are used to in the early grades.

On a side note, we're seriously considering Sela. We need to move anyways, and Takoma now seems like a nice option given our acceptance as Sela. Does anyone know good places to find rentals in the area, other than on Craig's List?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I imagine they'll be looking for Israeli teachers. I wonder about that - having lived in Israel, teachers can come across are more harsh and strict that most Americans are used to in the early grades.

On a side note, we're seriously considering Sela. We need to move anyways, and Takoma now seems like a nice option given our acceptance as Sela. Does anyone know good places to find rentals in the area, other than on Craig's List?

Join the yahoo group TakomaDC and post the rental question. House? Apt.? The Gables is a new apt. complex and new housing is being built, too. We're experiencing a little renaissance...Jeff Black is opening a new restaurant, we're soon getting a gelato place, a new coffee shop (La Mano - Politics and Prose coffee shop owner), and Busboys and Poets. We also have a "natural food" pet store, Bread and Chocolate opened a Bistro last year, SouperGirl expanded and is getting a reality show, and the best year round Farmer's Market every Sunday. Get into the neighborhood while you still can!

And now the possibility of a new school, since Cap City is so difficult to get into to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I imagine they'll be looking for Israeli teachers. I wonder about that - having lived in Israel, teachers can come across are more harsh and strict that most Americans are used to in the early grades.

On a side note, we're seriously considering Sela. We need to move anyways, and Takoma now seems like a nice option given our acceptance as Sela. Does anyone know good places to find rentals in the area, other than on Craig's List?

Interesting - and they're using reader's and writer's workshop, which is a not a traditional way to teach. I LOVE the workshop model and have taught using it. However, it is not for anyone who is used to "old school" teaching methods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I imagine they'll be looking for Israeli teachers. I wonder about that - having lived in Israel, teachers can come across are more harsh and strict that most Americans are used to in the early grades.

On a side note, we're seriously considering Sela. We need to move anyways, and Takoma now seems like a nice option given our acceptance as Sela. Does anyone know good places to find rentals in the area, other than on Craig's List?

Interesting - and they're using reader's and writer's workshop, which is a not a traditional way to teach. I LOVE the workshop model and have taught using it. However, it is not for anyone who is used to "old school" teaching methods.

i love reading this!i wasn't able to attend any of the informational sessions as i was out of the country. can anyone tell me anything more about the (K) curriculum?

[Anonymous]

The website outlines their approach well: http://www.selapcs.org/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I imagine they'll be looking for Israeli teachers. I wonder about that - having lived in Israel, teachers can come across are more harsh and strict that most Americans are used to in the early grades.

On a side note, we're seriously considering Sela. We need to move anyways, and Takoma now seems like a nice option given our acceptance as Sela. Does anyone know good places to find rentals in the area, other than on Craig's List?

Join the yahoo group TakomaDC and post the rental question. House? Apt.? The Gables is a new apt. complex and new housing is being built, too. We're experiencing a little renaissance...Jeff Black is opening a new restaurant, we're soon getting a gelato place, a new coffee shop (La Mano - Politics and Prose coffee shop owner), and Busboys and Poets. We also have a "natural food" pet store, Bread and Chocolate opened a Bistro last year, SouperGirl expanded and is getting a reality show, and the best year round Farmer's Market every Sunday. Get into the neighborhood while you still can!

And now the possibility of a new school, since Cap City is so difficult to get into to.

where are all these shops? GA ave is so run down.. where will the gelato place be and the busboys and poets??? and where is bread and chocolate?? (clearly i need to take a drive aorund)

[Anonymous]

We took a chance on CM, and were mostly satisfied (just value language immersion and a long-term space close to our home more than staying at CM). I wouldn't worry too much about the new school piece - there are always kinks, but with the right leadership/teachers, they work themselves out. My prediction is that Sela will be where CM is next year.

[Anonymous]

where are all these shops? GA ave is so run down.. where will the gelato place be and the busboys and poets??? and where is bread and chocolate?? (clearly i need to take a drive aorund)


Old Town Takoma - starts at Laurel St and Eastern Ave NW. http://www.mainstreettakoma.org/. Has everything - dry cleaners, post office, restaurants, shops.

NOT Ga. Ave......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I imagine they'll be looking for Israeli teachers. I wonder about that - having lived in Israel, teachers can come across are more harsh and strict that most Americans are used to in the early grades.

On a side note, we're seriously considering Sela. We need to move anyways, and Takoma now seems like a nice option given our acceptance as Sela. Does anyone know good places to find rentals in the area, other than on Craig's List?

Join the yahoo group TakomaDC and post the rental question. House? Apt.? The Gables is a new apt. complex and new housing is being built, too. We're experiencing a little renaissance...Jeff Black is opening a new restaurant, we're soon getting a gelato place, a new coffee shop (La Mano - Politics and Prose coffee shop owner), and Busboys and Poets. We also have a "natural food" pet store, Bread and Chocolate opened a Bistro last year, SouperGirl expanded and is getting a reality show, and the best year round Farmer's Market every Sunday. Get into the neighborhood while you still can!

And now the possibility of a new school, since Cap City is so difficult to get into to.

where are all these shops? GA ave is so run down.. where will the gelato place be and the busboys and poets??? and where is bread and chocolate?? (clearly i need to take a drive aorund)

I suggest turning off of Georgia Avenue (right on Cedar), parking near metro and walking around Carroll and Laurel Avenues, crossing back and forth between DC and MD. There is a lot going on. The school is further up the street off of Eastern/North Capitol. Near the new microbrewery and a new single family home townhouse complex under construction. Takoma, DC: Not just for hippies anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

where are all these shops? GA ave is so run down.. where will the gelato place be and the busboys and poets??? and where is bread and chocolate?? (clearly i need to take a drive aorund)

Old Town Takoma - starts at Laurel St and Eastern Ave NW. http://www.mainstreettakoma.org/. Has everything - dry cleaners, post office, restaurants, shops.

NOT Ga. Ave......

i stand corrected. thanks.
now if only GA ave. could her act together!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

where are all these shops? GA ave is so run down.. where will the gelato place be and the busboys and poets??? and where is bread and chocolate?? (clearly i need to take a drive aorund)

Old Town Takoma - starts at Laurel St and Eastern Ave NW. http://www.mainstreettakoma.org/. Has everything - dry cleaners, post office, restaurants, shops.

NOT Ga. Ave......

i stand corrected. thanks.
now if only GA ave. could her act together!!


Realistically, not much until the re-development of Walter Reed, then it's going to BOOM. If you haven't lived in DC very long, you might not know what Chinatown used to look like (a dump, a dangerous dump). In fact, a few years ago, no one in their right mind would even walk around Columbia Heights/14 & Irving. If you've been around long enough, you can even remember back when Logan Circle was called "East Dupont" by rentors and real estate agents because Logan was too seedy and scary. Howard Town Center to the south, and Walter Reed to the north, with Columbia Heights in the middle is going to eventually have its act together.

In contrast, Takoma has always been a quiet, but cute and quirky little area. It's not high-traffic, but it's not dangerous either. It's a nice little neighborhood.