Schools with a kind culture

[Anonymous]

God, I wish we had the money for private school, mainly for us to find a nurturing, kind culture for our children. We found that at our preschool and unfortunately didn't find it at our public school. We have met some kind people and we do our best at home, but the overall culture is not kind. But finances prevent us from looking elsewhere. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CHDS

Absolutely!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God, I wish we had the money for private school, mainly for us to find a nurturing, kind culture for our children. We found that at our preschool and unfortunately didn't find it at our public school. We have met some kind people and we do our best at home, but the overall culture is not kind. But finances prevent us from looking elsewhere. Sigh.

Stoddert ES until 5th grade.
Lovely teachers, awesome after school personnel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have three kids, all of them, at Sidwell. For all its warts, it is a kind culture. This is one area where the Quaker stuff helps. However, like any school, a couple of bad apples can ruin the dynamic in a particular grade/class.

+1

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lowell is always the first school that comes to mind for a genuinely nice, pretense-free environment from the top down. I also have found that Norwood has a tradition of turning out some of the most poised, polite and polished students that I have come across. But an earthy, crunchy environment it isn't. It is a beautiful campus and the school is very committed to music and art and community service. But each class there does seem to have its own flavor. Some are more open and warm than others. St. Andrew's also is widely reputed to be a warm and caring school, but I have no personal experience to offer there.

Have to disagree with the Norwood comments. Students may appear "poised," etc., but it is in an "Eddie Haskell" way, if you remember him from Leave it to Beaver. Many of the kids come from very wealthy families and are stuck up snobs who only care about the next thing their parents are going to buy for them. Norwood has very little community service until 7th and 8th grade -- isn't that a little late to start teaching kids about this important topic? Also the school is not "very committed" to music (art, yes). Music faculty is so-so at best (except K music teacher) and music facilities are sub-par after 4th grade. Ask to see where the Middle School band, bells and strings rehearse and you will see for yourself.

You have said this in numerous posts on several threads. Make a difference and contribute to the capital campaign! Then the middle school students will have a spanky new auditorium to practice in.

[Anonymous]

Sad that a thread asking about schools that encourage kindness has led to so many people using the opportunity to bash other schools!

[Anonymous]

I thought the saddest part was that kindness was so rare.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell does not surprise parents with an essay...or at least they forgot to surprise us when we went through the process....let's try to focus comments on feedback that may actually be helpful to the OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sheridan School! Its K-8 and wonderful.

uh, no. we left b/c that was not our experience.

[Anonymous]

New Hope Academy in Maryland. It isn't a fancy school, but in our experience a very kind and down to earth school. Parents are friendly, kids are friendly with each other, older kids ALWAYS hold the door when we walk in (honestly, in 3y+ I've never had an older student not hold the door for me.) The school is about teacher character as well as academics, and so far I think they are doing a great job!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sheridan School! Its K-8 and wonderful.

uh, no. we left b/c that was not our experience.

Can you expand? We'r considering Sheridan bc up to now I've only heard positive things.

[Anonymous]

How come NCS or STA haven't been mentioned?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell does not surprise parents with an essay...or at least they forgot to surprise us when we went through the process....let's try to focus comments on feedback that may actually be helpful to the OP.

After fielding a lot of criticism about it, they finally relented and dropped that disgusting practice.

But I understand why you, as a Sidwell parent, want to sweep it under the rug.

[Anonymous]

Sweeping under the rug? And who monitors admissions practices so closely? Do you apply every year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sheridan School! Its K-8 and wonderful.

uh, no. we left b/c that was not our experience.

Can you expand? We'r considering Sheridan bc up to now I've only heard positive things.

NP here In my experience as a parent, the dominant culture of the school is one of kindness and supportiveness. This is inculcated at many different levels and is part of the social curriculm and mission. So that's all good. Sometimes it even feels over the top, but usually not.

My observation of the families who left without an obvious reason (a move, a late-detected SN accommodated best in public) is that the child had struggles specific to the characteristics of that particular child. Maybe they could have been mangaged more expertly by more counselor intervention, or maybe not. ? But that's different that stating flatly that the "school" isn't a kind place for the other kids.