Anyone going to the Inspired Teaching lottery tomorrow night?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the PS parents were contacted; anyone in the PK class hear that they got in?

Hi, I applied for my two daughters, one for PS-3, and one for K. I heard that my younger one was admitted to PS-3, but I haven't heard anything about the older one. I emailed the principal, and she emailed back to say that there is sibling preference, so if my older daughter was admitted that means my younger one is too. (I'm not 100% sure if that also means that since my younger one was admitted, my older one is too -- I think so). Anyway it's wierd that I heard about one of them but not the other one, so maybe they've just sent out emails / letters for the PS-3 class like you said.

I attended the lottery, and there was only one child on the K waitlist, and it was a boy. So if your PS-3 daughter was admitted, I'm almost 100% sure that your K daughter was as well.

[Anonymous]

Can someone please give me the principal email address? I have contacted the office twice and still haven't gotten a call or email.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please give me the principal email address? I have contacted the office twice and still haven't gotten a call or email.

Just as soon as I posted this, I got the call that my DD was accepted for PS3.

[Anonymous]

Congrats, 11:37! Being accepted for PS is no small feat this year. Are you thinking of going? We are seriously considering it.

It sounds pretty interesting (and they sound like they have it together. They have the principal and most of the teachers hired, it sounds like -- a lot further along than Mundo Verde, as far as I can tell.

Principal's email is [e-mail] She wrote me today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congrats, 11:37! Being accepted for PS is no small feat this year. Are you thinking of going? We are seriously considering it.

It sounds pretty interesting (and they sound like they have it together. They have the principal and most of the teachers hired, it sounds like -- a lot further along than Mundo Verde, as far as I can tell.

Principal's email is [e-mail] She wrote me today.

Thank you for the info. I am strongly considering it. My daughter has only been accepted to one other school that's just ok. But I'm apprehensive of her going to a new school. I plan on attending the open house this Sunday before I make a decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congrats, 11:37! Thank you for the info. I am strongly considering it. My daughter has only been accepted to one other school that's just ok. But I'm apprehensive of her going to a new school. I plan on attending the open house this Sunday before I make a decision.

My child is in a relatively new charter in the highest grade. I think it would be a tough road to enter any new school as a 1st grader, and be set up to be the first 2nd grade, the first 3rd grade, etc. But entering in PreS, your child will be in PreK the second time the school teaches it, K the third time they teach it, etc. So, that is a much better grade to enter a new school. A major apprehension parents will probably have is the facility/ location uncertainty. Don't know how many years the lease is in the Potomac Lighthouse building, but before too long, they need a bigger space. Will it be convenient to your work/home?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I'm not sure if the long daily commute to brookland is the right thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Hi there -

Parent with an accepted Preschooler here. I count 4-5 acceptances among DCUMers (hard to tell since it's all anonymous). We're quite interested but not at all committed yet. I am wondering about:

- Long long will they be on 8th St NE? i.e., how long is their lease?
- What kind of specials will they have? Arts, foreign language, PE - and how often?
- What will aftercare be like? Will it also cover those random days off during the year (for extra cost of course)? What will the cost be?
- How are they going to fill out grades 1,2,3? (School will not be financially solid if they don't have kids.)
- Can we meet teachers and other parents and tour the space before enrollment forms are due on May 1?
- More clarity on ratios and philosophies for early childhood? (School looks great for K and up, but what about emphasis on play at PS/PK level?)

Does anybody have anything to add to this list? Particularly other folks who have been accepted. OR parents who started with a new charter in the past (LAMB, Yu Ying, Cap City, 2 Rivers -- or another that didn't turn out as well as these!). Thank you, 21:38, for your insights! Helpful.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

8:58, I'm one of the four you've counted. I think that is a good list. I doubt we would be able to meet the teachers before enrollment forms are due, though. Perhaps they've hired some, though? And I am definitely interested in the early childhood philosophy. The website doesn't get into too many specifics for that age. I also feel like the way they described discipline on their website is unclear so I'd like to know about that.

[Anonymous]

I've heard wonderful things about their teacher training, philosophy, approach to teaching etc.--but I'm a bit concerned about how well their discipline policy will translate to little ones, who can't really reason through a situation the way older kids can. Also, 21 3-year-olds with 2 adults? That doesn't sound like a good (or safe) ratio to me. I guess my overall question is: What kind of experience do they have with early childhood?

[Anonymous]

at the open house they hosted before the lottery they answered a lot of the questions that you asked re arts / foreign language etc.

i am sure they will tell you again what the plan is tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

09:54 - They've hired at least some of the teachers. 10:17, yup, my concern is how well the whole thing translates to early childhood. Tht's why I have ratios up there as a big question--even though they've answered it. Perhaps if many people raise it as a big issue, they might reconsider? As things stand now, the older grades will have better ratios than the Ps -K grades (b/c 1, 2, and 3 are not full). That's crazy. It's awesome to have two teachers (mentor and intern in elementary grades) but in early childhood, a bit more hands-on help is needed as far as I can tell. I will raise it again and hope you will too. Perhaps they'll be flexible. I hope so, because I think it looks like an excellent elementary option (esp. a few years ago when my child is that age).

[Anonymous]

My child was accepted too. I'm on the fence also. My child was also accepted to Logan. I like what Inspired Teaching is all about but I don't know if I feel like going through the ups and downs of a new charter. At the end of the day, their school day will be the usual circletime, specials, lunch and naptime. Maybe some numbers or science if there's time. We all need to realize that the school day of a preschooler is very limited. I read an older post that actually breaks down the school day of a preschool class and all you're looking at is about 60 to 90 minutes of instruction, if that!!! You can and will definitely have to supplement at home.

My comfort in DCUrbanmom is that my child's classmates will have parents of like minds who work with their children. Pre School and PreK is for socialization. However, during that 60- to 90 minutes of instruction, I want a teacher who is smart enough to know that "our children" know their letters, sounds, colors and can count already. I am looking for rigorous instruction with the time given.

I'm most likely going with Logan because I can't do Montessori at home and Logan has history and a strong parent movement behind it. However, if I didnt get into Logan - I would be at Inspired Teaching trying to make it into the next big thing!

And I just received my LAMB postcard, 341 on the WL. Oh well........

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:09:54 - They've hired at least some of the teachers. 10:17, yup, my concern is how well the whole thing translates to early childhood. Tht's why I have ratios up there as a big question--even though they've answered it. Perhaps if many people raise it as a big issue, they might reconsider? As things stand now, the older grades will have better ratios than the Ps -K grades (b/c 1, 2, and 3 are not full). That's crazy. It's awesome to have two teachers (mentor and intern in elementary grades) but in early childhood, a bit more hands-on help is needed as far as I can tell. I will raise it again and hope you will too. Perhaps they'll be flexible. I hope so, because I think it looks like an excellent elementary option (esp. a few years ago when my child is that age).

but the issue is how can they pay for it? it is a public school and they are going to be struggling if they are not at capacity as funds are allocated based on enrollment. I highly encourage you to spread the word to friends / neighbors who might reconsider their current school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:09:54 - They've hired at least some of the teachers. 10:17, yup, my concern is how well the whole thing translates to early childhood. Tht's why I have ratios up there as a big question--even though they've answered it. Perhaps if many people raise it as a big issue, they might reconsider? As things stand now, the older grades will have better ratios than the Ps -K grades (b/c 1, 2, and 3 are not full). That's crazy. It's awesome to have two teachers (mentor and intern in elementary grades) but in early childhood, a bit more hands-on help is needed as far as I can tell. I will raise it again and hope you will too. Perhaps they'll be flexible. I hope so, because I think it looks like an excellent elementary option (esp. a few years ago when my child is that age).

but the issue is how can they pay for it? it is a public school and they are going to be struggling if they are not at capacity as funds are allocated based on enrollment. I highly encourage you to spread the word to friends / neighbors who might reconsider their current school.

how do other charters pay for lower ratios in PS/PK? Their PS/PK is full w/ waitlists.