S/O: Holton Parents - "I wish I had known x" type advice

[Anonymous]

We applied to Holton-Arms for 3rd grade after 3 years in Norwood. Our decision to change at this point was based upon many things. Norwood has a lot of discontent within the teacher population and has changed some of the founding principles among other things. We are still gratefull for the Norwood experience compared to what I have heard from some other parents at other schools. I believe Norwood was the right choice K-2 for my family. My daughter made some lifetime friends.
I was hesitant to apply to Holton for 3rd grade as I had heard mixed reviews on the lower school. However, we have had the most rewarding experience. Holton was welcoming and warm from the application process forward. Patrick Bane the lower school head is sharp, kind and overall excellent at handling the girls. The 3rd grade had an event with Landon so do not worry your girls will have some time with boys and other schools.
The homework is about 40 minutes per night not too stressful at this point, teaching the girls structure. My daughter is up every morning, goes to the breakfast club, and begins her day. She is involved in sports, music, and has an overall well rounded week.
Prior to applying for the school, she had attended for 3 years piano, jazz, tap, and camp at Holton-Arms. The experience was so wonderful we decided to investigate the school further. I hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like even a small flaw, something like "the cafeteria food is mediocre," would make these panegyrics seem more real. I wish the school well, but many of us old cynics are skeptical of perfection!

+1. Are these testimonials all written by the same Holton booster? Are the subsequent ones spoofs of the earlier ones? They are unreal.

Geesh! You asked and people are giving you their honest opinions of the school and some of you are still not satisfied! Why is it so hard to believe that people LOVE their kid's school. As a parent, I understand why they love Holton. The school goes above and beyond to create a wonderful diverse community and in my DD's grade, they have been very thoughtful in the selection of students. The girls in her class are super smart and so far, very nice with no real issues. The parents get along wonderfully and they volunteer for everything. If I can't make an event I know a fellow parent has looked out for my child, rooted for them, and even snapped a bunch of pictures for me. Like another poster said, Holton parents are passionate about the school and a couple on here may be a bit over the top, but the overall feeling I get is school pride from students, parents, faculty and staff. Come see for yourself. The school is everything you hear on these boards and then some. The girls leave and and still love Holton. They hold alum events all over the country. The school has no problem getting lots of alum to give back time or money so that says a lot about the experience the girls get at the school too. I am not the parent that is always posting on here, but honestly now that my child attends this school I get it. I understand the RAH RAH! It is an amazing school.

[Anonymous]

^^ PP here, the food is OK. They have good days and bad days. The girls never go hungry! I would like to see a better selection for breakfast since it starts off their day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We applied to Holton-Arms for 3rd grade after 3 years in Norwood. Our decision to change at this point was based upon many things. Norwood has a lot of discontent within the teacher population and has changed some of the founding principles among other things. We are still gratefull for the Norwood experience compared to what I have heard from some other parents at other schools. I believe Norwood was the right choice K-2 for my family. My daughter made some lifetime friends.
I was hesitant to apply to Holton for 3rd grade as I had heard mixed reviews on the lower school. However, we have had the most rewarding experience. Holton was welcoming and warm from the application process forward. Patrick Bane the lower school head is sharp, kind and overall excellent at handling the girls. The 3rd grade had an event with Landon so do not worry your girls will have some time with boys and other schools.
The homework is about 40 minutes per night not too stressful at this point, teaching the girls structure. My daughter is up every morning, goes to the breakfast club, and begins her day. She is involved in sports, music, and has an overall well rounded week.
Prior to applying for the school, she had attended for 3 years piano, jazz, tap, and camp at Holton-Arms. The experience was so wonderful we decided to investigate the school further. I hope this helps.

I have serious reservations about Patrick Bane but you are allowed to gush as your experience differs from some. However, with that being said, overall Holton is a good school especially once you leave lower school. The middle school head is exceptional and the upper school us truly challenging for college prepatory.

[Anonymous]

I really like Patrick. He is fair and caring. He is not swayed by the wealthy parents at the school and really keeps the focus on the academics. I know there are some parents that do not like him, I think those are the parents who think their money should give them special treatment and Patrick is very clear about Holton being a school and not a country club!

[Anonymous]

We love Patrick Bane. My DH was anti- an all girls' school in MD (we are in VA) -- until he met Patrick Bane. Mr. Bane knows all the girls very well (including their personalities, so I can believe that perhaps parents of more entitled feeling girls might not like him so much). Overall, we have found him to be remarkably smart and classy.

[Anonymous]

Wealth has nothing to do whether Patrick Bane is fair or not. Obviously, he has his boosters (and that's fine) but he does not walk water and there are parents who are NOT wealthy who have problems with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wealth has nothing to do whether Patrick Bane is fair or not. Obviously, he has his boosters (and that's fine) but he does not walk water and there are parents who are NOT wealthy who have problems with him.

Like what kind of problems? Please elaborate for an applying family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wealth has nothing to do whether Patrick Bane is fair or not. Obviously, he has his boosters (and that's fine) but he does not walk water and there are parents who are NOT wealthy who have problems with him.

Like what kind of problems? Please elaborate for an applying family.

He kicks the down the road. Nice guy. Do not bother him if it isn't legally actionable. He won't put up with it and I have never heard a negative work from a scholarship family from him. He is Robin Hood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really like Patrick. He is fair and caring. He is not swayed by the wealthy parents at the school and really keeps the focus on the academics. I know there are some parents that do not like him, I think those are the parents who think their money should give them special treatment and Patrick is very clear about Holton being a school and not a country club!

Does belonging to a country club and being affluent cloud his opinion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wealth has nothing to do whether Patrick Bane is fair or not. Obviously, he has his boosters (and that's fine) but he does not walk water and there are parents who are NOT wealthy who have problems with him.

Like what kind of problems? Please elaborate for an applying family.

He kicks the down the road. Nice guy. Do not bother him if it isn't legally actionable. He won't put up with it and I have never heard a negative work from a scholarship family from him. He is Robin Hood.

Huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really like Patrick. He is fair and caring. He is not swayed by the wealthy parents at the school and really keeps the focus on the academics. I know there are some parents that do not like him, I think those are the parents who think their money should give them special treatment and Patrick is very clear about Holton being a school and not a country club!

Does belonging to a country club and being affluent cloud his opinion?

Not at all. He treats everyone fairly and evenly. Some parents, relatively few, have had too much influence at their previous schools and he prevents them from doing so at Holton and they don't like that. It's a school for girls, not parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really like Patrick. He is fair and caring. He is not swayed by the wealthy parents at the school and really keeps the focus on the academics. I know there are some parents that do not like him, I think those are the parents who think their money should give them special treatment and Patrick is very clear about Holton being a school and not a country club!

Does belonging to a country club and being affluent cloud his opinion?

Not at all. He treats everyone fairly and evenly. Some parents, relatively few, have had too much influence at their previous schools and he prevents them from doing so at Holton and they don't like that. It's a school for girls, not parents.

Holton is a great school but don't delude yourself that money doesn't play an important part at Holton or any other private school. They cannot survive on just good looks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really like Patrick. He is fair and caring. He is not swayed by the wealthy parents at the school and really keeps the focus on the academics. I know there are some parents that do not like him, I think those are the parents who think their money should give them special treatment and Patrick is very clear about Holton being a school and not a country club!

Does belonging to a country club and being affluent cloud his opinion?

Not at all. He treats everyone fairly and evenly. Some parents, relatively few, have had too much influence at their previous schools and he prevents them from doing so at Holton and they don't like that. It's a school for girls, not parents.

I'm curious. How do you personally know how the LS principal interacts with every parent? Your dealings with him may have positive, which is wonderful, but you can't speak for everyone in the LS.

[Anonymous]

How does anyone have a 100% favorability rating? Some people will connect with the head, some won't. As long as parents feel that Patrick Bane is making good decisions for the school, resulting in a positive educational experience for their DD, shouldn't that be enough?