It's Official: Shaed Awarded to Inspired Teaching and Lee Montessori

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what do folks think the current IT site will be used for?

IT did great job getting it school ready, I wouldn't be surprised if another charter used the building. Shining Stars comes to mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody has any inside word on McFarland, do they?

It's current housing the Roosevelt students while they try and "renovate" the main site.

[Anonymous]

What do people think of shaed neighborhood? We pass through on way to Home Depot and my husband thinks it is rough. I remember there was a shooting a few years ago at the pizza place near Rhode Island.

[Anonymous]

The Shaed site doesn't look very friendly currently, it has few windows and looks a bit like a prison. Will IT plan to address this before Fall 2014?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do people think of shaed neighborhood? We pass through on way to Home Depot and my husband thinks it is rough. I remember there was a shooting a few years ago at the pizza place near Rhode Island.

This is DC. There has been a shooting in every neighborhood, even in my "safe" neighborhood. Even in GT. Also, by the RI metro is half mile from site. The neighborhood doesn't look rough to me at all. It looks like the average NE DC neighborhood. Edgewood is a great neighborhood with many seniors. If the first thing that someone saw was the schools windows, then that's pretty sad. I was thrilled with the before and after IT did with current building in less time. I think this campus is a dream come true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not official until city council approves. Fingers crossed for swift approval.

It is official. Mayors office was last stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Try applying to Lee Montessori if the location will work for you. That's how we got into IT: we took a risk with a brand new charter in its first year. Best decision ever.

Just wondering about a NEW Montessori... Isn't a main goal of a Montessori to have the older kids serve as role models and help teach the younger kids? If all of the kids are starting Montessori at the same time, does that effect the experience for students the first year?

Are there any parents of Shining Stars Montessori or other Montessori parents who were in the first group in a new school?

I get how applying to IT the first year was a good decision, I'm just wondering if it would be the same for a Montessori.

My DD will be in PS3 next year, so I'm trying to figure out the best options for my family. Lee Montessori could be an option.

[Anonymous]

Just wondering about a NEW Montessori... Isn't a main goal of a Montessori to have the older kids serve as role models and help teach the younger kids? If all of the kids are starting Montessori at the same time, does that effect the experience for students the first year?

Are there any parents of Shining Stars Montessori or other Montessori parents who were in the first group in a new school?

I get how applying to IT the first year was a good decision, I'm just wondering if it would be the same for a Montessori.

My DD will be in PS3 next year, so I'm trying to figure out the best options for my family. Lee Montessori could be an option.

[Anonymous]

Long shot question, but how many current IT families do you think will leave IT due to the location change? And as a result, what do you think the likelihood of a spot in K will be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Long shot question, but how many current IT families do you think will leave IT due to the location change? And as a result, what do you think the likelihood of a spot in K will be?

Good question! Some kids will leave, as there's always attrition. Abut 6-8 kids left the current class of K for various reasons. So maybe more if the location doesn't work. But don't count on an entire grade opening up. Most IT families who love the school, LOVE the school and would follow it anywhere, especially to a better, bigger site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Shaed site doesn't look very friendly currently, it has few windows and looks a bit like a prison. Will IT plan to address this before Fall 2014?

YES. Through the partnership with Building Hope and with enough notice this time around (the move from 8th Street building to FL was in much less time) they are using architects and contractors to spiff up the site, build walls (Shaed was an open classroom school with few walls on each floor) to create individual classroom spaces, likely adding windows and other features to bring the building into 2014. All of the buildings built around that time (1970s?) look like prisons. The closest other one, Brookland, was just torn down by the city to make room for a new middle school. IT has no intention to keep Shaed looking so unwelcoming and unfriendly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not official until city council approves. Fingers crossed for swift approval.

It is official. Mayors office was last stop.

That's not true. Council needs to approve final disposition. They very likely will, but it takes a little bit of time. If the neighbors oppose, though unlikely, could take some more time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering about a NEW Montessori... Isn't a main goal of a Montessori to have the older kids serve as role models and help teach the younger kids? If all of the kids are starting Montessori at the same time, does that effect the experience for students the first year?

Are there any parents of Shining Stars Montessori or other Montessori parents who were in the first group in a new school?

I get how applying to IT the first year was a good decision, I'm just wondering if it would be the same for a Montessori.

My DD will be in PS3 next year, so I'm trying to figure out the best options for my family. Lee Montessori could be an option.

I think they are going to be admitting for several grades next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering about a NEW Montessori... Isn't a main goal of a Montessori to have the older kids serve as role models and help teach the younger kids? If all of the kids are starting Montessori at the same time, does that effect the experience for students the first year?

Are there any parents of Shining Stars Montessori or other Montessori parents who were in the first group in a new school?

I get how applying to IT the first year was a good decision, I'm just wondering if it would be the same for a Montessori.

My DD will be in PS3 next year, so I'm trying to figure out the best options for my family. Lee Montessori could be an option.

I think they are going to be admitting for several grades next year.

LeeMontessori.org:
"We will open our doors in 2014 with three primary classrooms (ages 3-6) and one lower elementary classroom (ages 6-9). "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do people think of shaed neighborhood? We pass through on way to Home Depot and my husband thinks it is rough. I remember there was a shooting a few years ago at the pizza place near Rhode Island.

This is DC. There has been a shooting in every neighborhood, even in my "safe" neighborhood. Even in GT. Also, by the RI metro is half mile from site. The neighborhood doesn't look rough to me at all. It looks like the average NE DC neighborhood. Edgewood is a great neighborhood with many seniors. If the first thing that someone saw was the schools windows, then that's pretty sad. I was thrilled with the before and after IT did with current building in less time. I think this campus is a dream come true.

I live in Brookland and I don't think it is that much rougher than any other place in this section of North East. It was a while back but the bad elements don't seem as common. About 6 years ago I had problems getting my car egged by the very large apartment building off 4th about 3 blocks from Shaed.

Brookland metro is within walking distance and may be easier because you are walking downhill instead of up hill. There is still a ton of construction going on so I would say walk it to make sure you feel comfortable before relying on my reporting. Also if you could get a Washington Bikeshare rack near there you could bike to the metro after dropping your kid.