Tell me about Bel Pre Elementary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, in the late 80's/ early 90's I went to Bel-Pre, Strathmore, Col. E Brooke Lee MS for 6th and then Argyle MS for 7th (because Lee split when MCPS opened Argyle in an existing building). We lived in a townhouse in Longmeade. I'm African American and enjoyed the diversity those schools provided back then. I was never, ever on FARMS and was at the top of my class academically. It was nice to see other minority faces in the classroom. I even had black teachers (yes, actually teaching IN the classroom...not cleaning it). Some people are threatened by this. Just being honest. My family built a single family home in Olney so I moved over to Farquire for 8th grade. Many, many more white people and still very country at the time (108 was a single lane road and Roy Rogers was where the Fletcher's BP gas station is today). I became the black polka dot on a white canvas in most of my classes at Farquire and eventually Sherwood. Thankfully, I found a group of smart black girls who could relate to my struggle/isolation feelings and we are till very close today. I joined the Pom squad at Sherwood, sang solos and danced in Rock n Roll Revival and made lasting friendships with ALL kinds of people along the way. It was the time of my life!

My point is that you have to decide what you value in your child's education. I excelled in elementary and middle school and didn't realize that they weren't top notch places to be (compared to Betheda schools) until I grew up. I was supposed to go to Kennedy but my parents wanted to build a house. One of my fiends from Argyle who went onto Kennedy was accepted to Harvard. Not due to affirmative action but due to her academic excellence. After school play dates are important but that wouldn't make or break my decision. With your support, I believe your child can and will be successfully wherever they are.

I'm not the OP, but this is very helpful perspective. A Harvard acceptance out of Kennedy High School? *gasp*. If you're a smart student, you will succeed in any environment. Plain and simple.

OP, did you not think that you'd eventually have kids when you purchased your house in 2007? Did you not investigate the school boundaries when you were buying into Longmeade Crossing? I know people who live there and are happy with the level of diversity in the schools. It's irritating that so many people like to single out the number of FARMS are at a school. Why does that matter? Do the FARMS kids have coodies? Move to the Churchill cluster if you're scared of FARMS families. Better yet, leave MCPS altogether and move to McLean! Sheesh!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, in the late 80's/ early 90's I went to Bel-Pre, Strathmore, Col. E Brooke Lee MS for 6th and then Argyle MS for 7th (because Lee split when MCPS opened Argyle in an existing building). We lived in a townhouse in Longmeade. I'm African American and enjoyed the diversity those schools provided back then. I was never, ever on FARMS and was at the top of my class academically. It was nice to see other minority faces in the classroom. I even had black teachers (yes, actually teaching IN the classroom...not cleaning it). Some people are threatened by this. Just being honest. My family built a single family home in Olney so I moved over to Farquire for 8th grade. Many, many more white people and still very country at the time (108 was a single lane road and Roy Rogers was where the Fletcher's BP gas station is today). I became the black polka dot on a white canvas in most of my classes at Farquire and eventually Sherwood. Thankfully, I found a group of smart black girls who could relate to my struggle/isolation feelings and we are till very close today. I joined the Pom squad at Sherwood, sang solos and danced in Rock n Roll Revival and made lasting friendships with ALL kinds of people along the way. It was the time of my life!

My point is that you have to decide what you value in your child's education. I excelled in elementary and middle school and didn't realize that they weren't top notch places to be (compared to Betheda schools) until I grew up. I was supposed to go to Kennedy but my parents wanted to build a house. One of my fiends from Argyle who went onto Kennedy was accepted to Harvard. Not due to affirmative action but due to her academic excellence. After school play dates are important but that wouldn't make or break my decision. With your support, I believe your child can and will be successfully wherever they are.

I'm not the OP, but this is very helpful perspective. A Harvard acceptance out of Kennedy High School? *gasp*. If you're a smart student, you will succeed in any environment. Plain and simple.

OP, did you not think that you'd eventually have kids when you purchased your house in 2007? Did you not investigate the school boundaries when you were buying into Longmeade Crossing? I know people who live there and are happy with the level of diversity in the schools. It's irritating that so many people like to single out the number of FARMS are at a school. Why does that matter? Do the FARMS kids have coodies? Move to the Churchill cluster if you're scared of FARMS families. Better yet, leave MCPS altogether and move to McLean! Sheesh!!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, in the late 80's/ early 90's I went to Bel-Pre, Strathmore, Col. E Brooke Lee MS for 6th and then Argyle MS for 7th (because Lee split when MCPS opened Argyle in an existing building). We lived in a townhouse in Longmeade. I'm African American and enjoyed the diversity those schools provided back then. I was never, ever on FARMS and was at the top of my class academically. It was nice to see other minority faces in the classroom. I even had black teachers (yes, actually teaching IN the classroom...not cleaning it). Some people are threatened by this. Just being honest. My family built a single family home in Olney so I moved over to Farquire for 8th grade. Many, many more white people and still very country at the time (108 was a single lane road and Roy Rogers was where the Fletcher's BP gas station is today). I became the black polka dot on a white canvas in most of my classes at Farquire and eventually Sherwood. Thankfully, I found a group of smart black girls who could relate to my struggle/isolation feelings and we are till very close today. I joined the Pom squad at Sherwood, sang solos and danced in Rock n Roll Revival and made lasting friendships with ALL kinds of people along the way. It was the time of my life!

My point is that you have to decide what you value in your child's education. I excelled in elementary and middle school and didn't realize that they weren't top notch places to be (compared to Betheda schools) until I grew up. I was supposed to go to Kennedy but my parents wanted to build a house. One of my fiends from Argyle who went onto Kennedy was accepted to Harvard. Not due to affirmative action but due to her academic excellence. After school play dates are important but that wouldn't make or break my decision. With your support, I believe your child can and will be successfully wherever they are.

I'm not the OP, but this is very helpful perspective. A Harvard acceptance out of Kennedy High School? *gasp*. If you're a smart student, you will succeed in any environment. Plain and simple.

OP, did you not think that you'd eventually have kids when you purchased your house in 2007? Did you not investigate the school boundaries when you were buying into Longmeade Crossing? I know people who live there and are happy with the level of diversity in the schools. It's irritating that so many people like to single out the number of FARMS are at a school. Why does that matter? Do the FARMS kids have coodies? Move to the Churchill cluster if you're scared of FARMS families. Better yet, leave MCPS altogether and move to McLean! Sheesh!!

Haaaaa! It's a shame but people on DCUM act like they do!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, in the late 80's/ early 90's I went to Bel-Pre, Strathmore, Col. E Brooke Lee MS for 6th and then Argyle MS for 7th (because Lee split when MCPS opened Argyle in an existing building). We lived in a townhouse in Longmeade. I'm African American and enjoyed the diversity those schools provided back then. I was never, ever on FARMS and was at the top of my class academically. It was nice to see other minority faces in the classroom. I even had black teachers (yes, actually teaching IN the classroom...not cleaning it). Some people are threatened by this. Just being honest. My family built a single family home in Olney so I moved over to Farquire for 8th grade. Many, many more white people and still very country at the time (108 was a single lane road and Roy Rogers was where the Fletcher's BP gas station is today). I became the black polka dot on a white canvas in most of my classes at Farquire and eventually Sherwood. Thankfully, I found a group of smart black girls who could relate to my struggle/isolation feelings and we are till very close today. I joined the Pom squad at Sherwood, sang solos and danced in Rock n Roll Revival and made lasting friendships with ALL kinds of people along the way. It was the time of my life!

My point is that you have to decide what you value in your child's education. I excelled in elementary and middle school and didn't realize that they weren't top notch places to be (compared to Betheda schools) until I grew up. I was supposed to go to Kennedy but my parents wanted to build a house. One of my fiends from Argyle who went onto Kennedy was accepted to Harvard. Not due to affirmative action but due to her academic excellence. After school play dates are important but that wouldn't make or break my decision. With your support, I believe your child can and will be successfully wherever they are.

I'm not the OP, but this is very helpful perspective. A Harvard acceptance out of Kennedy High School? *gasp*. If you're a smart student, you will succeed in any environment. Plain and simple.

OP, did you not think that you'd eventually have kids when you purchased your house in 2007? Did you not investigate the school boundaries when you were buying into Longmeade Crossing? I know people who live there and are happy with the level of diversity in the schools. It's irritating that so many people like to single out the number of FARMS are at a school. Why does that matter? Do the FARMS kids have coodies? Move to the Churchill cluster if you're scared of FARMS families. Better yet, leave MCPS altogether and move to McLean! Sheesh!!

OP here. PP, I'm not sure why you are flipping out, I never mentioned anything about FARMS and I have no issues with it. I only wanted to know if anyone's child has been to Bel Pre Elem in recent years because there is not much here on DCUM and I haven't met anyone in person to ask. I think it's reasonable to want to know what to expect with our child (the first kid we are sending to school, so I'm so sorry we offended you with our ignorance). We did look into schools, briefly...but we checked out high schools and didn't think to look at elementary schools...rookie mistake. Are you are implying that I am afraid of minorities or people of different socio-economic backgrounds then myself based on something I said? I am a minority myself and would actually prefer a school in which my child is not the only person of color. I'm not sure why you are so upset, but really...calm the f down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, in the late 80's/ early 90's I went to Bel-Pre, Strathmore, Col. E Brooke Lee MS for 6th and then Argyle MS for 7th (because Lee split when MCPS opened Argyle in an existing building). We lived in a townhouse in Longmeade. I'm African American and enjoyed the diversity those schools provided back then. I was never, ever on FARMS and was at the top of my class academically. It was nice to see other minority faces in the classroom. I even had black teachers (yes, actually teaching IN the classroom...not cleaning it). Some people are threatened by this. Just being honest. My family built a single family home in Olney so I moved over to Farquire for 8th grade. Many, many more white people and still very country at the time (108 was a single lane road and Roy Rogers was where the Fletcher's BP gas station is today). I became the black polka dot on a white canvas in most of my classes at Farquire and eventually Sherwood. Thankfully, I found a group of smart black girls who could relate to my struggle/isolation feelings and we are till very close today. I joined the Pom squad at Sherwood, sang solos and danced in Rock n Roll Revival and made lasting friendships with ALL kinds of people along the way. It was the time of my life!

My point is that you have to decide what you value in your child's education. I excelled in elementary and middle school and didn't realize that they weren't top notch places to be (compared to Betheda schools) until I grew up. I was supposed to go to Kennedy but my parents wanted to build a house. One of my fiends from Argyle who went onto Kennedy was accepted to Harvard. Not due to affirmative action but due to her academic excellence. After school play dates are important but that wouldn't make or break my decision. With your support, I believe your child can and will be successfully wherever they are.

OP here. Thank you so much for sharing your perspective! I am actually the same as you (grew up out of state though) but was the only brown girl in a majority white area and I would like my kids to grow up with a bit more diversity It is reassuring to me that you were able to excel and enjoy your time at Bel Pre, I am hoping for the same with my kids and I think it's possible for kids to succeed in any school as long as they have a good support system and lots of parental guidance.

I had thought about moving to Olney actually...it appeals to me in that it seems very neighborly and nice, but then I wonder if the people living there would be neighborly and nice towards myself and my family (we are not Christian and not white and I have often found this combination is off-putting to some people).

And about the playdates/activities, I don't know, I am having a hard time finding activities for my kids in my area because everything seems to be in Bethesda/Potomac/Rockville or in NOVA and I am so sick of driving. It seems like there is a huge void in our area, everything is 20-30 mins away! Sorry for whining, just had to get it out there

[Anonymous]

Bottom line: you can't pick your kids friends/peer group, but you can pick the environment from which they meet their friends...and I would recommend surrounding your kids with children who will ultimately end up in college (doesn't have to be an ivy, but I think you want a school where the majority go onto college and few end up dropping out or in trouble with the law). Go visit the schools you are considering. Do research that matters (not DCUM). And Re: diversity: being in an school where everyone is AA and Hispanic isn't diverse IMHO (bel Pre 2014)...I would want my kids in a school with all races and ethnicities. And re: driving to activities: that's due to your area...people in other parts of the county have activities in their zip code (unfortunately, you don't).

Signed,

Grew up in that area, owned a starter home in that area, but moved (yet still have family in friends in that area)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, in the late 80's/ early 90's I went to Bel-Pre, Strathmore, Col. E Brooke Lee MS for 6th and then Argyle MS for 7th (because Lee split when MCPS opened Argyle in an existing building). We lived in a townhouse in Longmeade. I'm African American and enjoyed the diversity those schools provided back then. I was never, ever on FARMS and was at the top of my class academically. It was nice to see other minority faces in the classroom. I even had black teachers (yes, actually teaching IN the classroom...not cleaning it). Some people are threatened by this. Just being honest. My family built a single family home in Olney so I moved over to Farquire for 8th grade. Many, many more white people and still very country at the time (108 was a single lane road and Roy Rogers was where the Fletcher's BP gas station is today). I became the black polka dot on a white canvas in most of my classes at Farquire and eventually Sherwood. Thankfully, I found a group of smart black girls who could relate to my struggle/isolation feelings and we are till very close today. I joined the Pom squad at Sherwood, sang solos and danced in Rock n Roll Revival and made lasting friendships with ALL kinds of people along the way. It was the time of my life!

My point is that you have to decide what you value in your child's education. I excelled in elementary and middle school and didn't realize that they weren't top notch places to be (compared to Betheda schools) until I grew up. I was supposed to go to Kennedy but my parents wanted to build a house. One of my fiends from Argyle who went onto Kennedy was accepted to Harvard. Not due to affirmative action but due to her academic excellence. After school play dates are important but that wouldn't make or break my decision. With your support, I believe your child can and will be successfully wherever they are.

I'm not the OP, but this is very helpful perspective. A Harvard acceptance out of Kennedy High School? *gasp*. If you're a smart student, you will succeed in any environment. Plain and simple.

OP, did you not think that you'd eventually have kids when you purchased your house in 2007? Did you not investigate the school boundaries when you were buying into Longmeade Crossing? I know people who live there and are happy with the level of diversity in the schools. It's irritating that so many people like to single out the number of FARMS are at a school. Why does that matter? Do the FARMS kids have coodies? Move to the Churchill cluster if you're scared of FARMS families. Better yet, leave MCPS altogether and move to McLean! Sheesh!!

Sheesh get a grip, lady! Some people buy starter homes before having kids with the intention of moving after their kids are old enough to go to school. How many people buy their first home with the intention of staying in it forever? Typical DCUMer, snarking without thinking.

[Anonymous]

My DD attended Bel Pre recently. She enjoyed her time there. The administration was caring. I hear they're getting a new assistant principal next year that is very tech savvy...plus the new building is opening. We never had a problem scheduling play dates with other kids in our neighborhood. We are a minority non-FARMS family.

For what it's worth, the new MCCPTA president is a Bel Pre/Strathmore parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, in the late 80's/ early 90's I went to Bel-Pre, Strathmore, Col. E Brooke Lee MS for 6th and then Argyle MS for 7th (because Lee split when MCPS opened Argyle in an existing building). We lived in a townhouse in Longmeade. I'm African American and enjoyed the diversity those schools provided back then. I was never, ever on FARMS and was at the top of my class academically. It was nice to see other minority faces in the classroom. I even had black teachers (yes, actually teaching IN the classroom...not cleaning it). Some people are threatened by this. Just being honest. My family built a single family home in Olney so I moved over to Farquire for 8th grade. Many, many more white people and still very country at the time (108 was a single lane road and Roy Rogers was where the Fletcher's BP gas station is today). I became the black polka dot on a white canvas in most of my classes at Farquire and eventually Sherwood. Thankfully, I found a group of smart black girls who could relate to my struggle/isolation feelings and we are till very close today. I joined the Pom squad at Sherwood, sang solos and danced in Rock n Roll Revival and made lasting friendships with ALL kinds of people along the way. It was the time of my life!

My point is that you have to decide what you value in your child's education. I excelled in elementary and middle school and didn't realize that they weren't top notch places to be (compared to Betheda schools) until I grew up. I was supposed to go to Kennedy but my parents wanted to build a house. One of my fiends from Argyle who went onto Kennedy was accepted to Harvard. Not due to affirmative action but due to her academic excellence. After school play dates are important but that wouldn't make or break my decision. With your support, I believe your child can and will be successfully wherever they are.

But this perspective is decades old. It is not relevant to OP's current concerns. The area and school have changed so much since then. Just take the fact that at times there are police officers riding the Bel Pre school bus due to fights. Really? in a K-2 school? Just not the same school

[Anonymous]

I live in the area and I have never heard of a police officer riding in a Bel Pre bus. Where are you getting that info PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all,

Our daughter is going to Kindergarten this fall and will be going to Bel Pre Elementary school. I know the school will have a brand new building this fall, but I'm more concerned about the teachers, principal, and students. I haven't been able to find much since it is only from K-2 there isn't a lot of current information available and none of my neighbors have young kids. We will of course schedule a meeting to go and visit, but I'm just wondering if anyone on here has sent their kids there and what your experience has been. We are still trying to decide whether to stay in this area or move out to a "better" area. Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks

OP-- I'm in the same boat right now! What did you end up doing?