Skinny on Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't remember the thread exactly, but it sounded like the OP gave enough details to identify the school as Logan. I am looking for the thread but can't identify enough keywords to find it--will post if I can find it.

It's already posted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strange neighborhood and sketchy streets? You don't get out of your NW bubble often, do you? Was this your first time on Capitol Hill?

That comment made me laugh too! Our daycare is a block away and I have never felt uncomfortable.

I would steer clean of the NW bubble too. I heard they are shootings by that "sketchy" zoo.

Um, did you read what the poster wrote? Said it wasn't in a strange neighborhood with sketchy streets. Try actually reading before getting all worked up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strange neighborhood and sketchy streets? You don't get out of your NW bubble often, do you? Was this your first time on Capitol Hill?

That comment made me laugh too! Our daycare is a block away and I have never felt uncomfortable.

I would steer clean of the NW bubble too. I heard they are shootings by that "sketchy" zoo.

Um, did you read what the poster wrote? Said it wasn't in a strange neighborhood with sketchy streets. Try actually reading before getting all worked up.

The PPs are commenting on the naïveté of the Poster in imagining Capitol Hill to be a strange neighborhood with sketchy streets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually didn't go to the open house and took a chance in the ranking… We are lucky to have been matched as they indicated that there were 1,000 people on the wait list. When the principal asked the parents in the crowd who had siblings already attending the school to stand, it felt like more than half. Honestly, I think you will be lucky to get in.

In terms of quality, the principal had a very warm demeanor. The teachers were engaging and were open to any questions after the orientation. It is structured using the montessori method (one-on-one teaching), but still with exams. I really respected how they strategically bring in the PK3 kids. On August 25th, all former students attend and then in September, they slowly bring in each PK3 student at different times so they don't feel overwhelmed.

In addition, the location right next to Union Station is great, it doesn't feel like it's on a major road or placed in a strange neighborhood surrounded by sketchy streets. It also looks like they built a brand new playground.

Looking forward to sending my son there!

According to the results, there are 348 PK3 on the waitlist. Of the 60 kids accepted - 40 had no preference, 18 had a sibling enrolled and 2 a sibling accepted.
all DCPS bring in the PK3 and PK4 kids slowly, which frankly while it seems nice is a pain in the ass for parents who have to work outside of the home.
We've had a mixed experience with this school.

Just to clarify a minor point, with a few exceptions, as part of the DCPS ECE week, PS and PS students with last names beginning with A-K attend for one day on Thursday of the first school week and students with last names beginning with L-Z attend for one day on Friday, to be followed by the Labor Day weekend. Either epway, it is a PIA, particularly if your rising PKer attended PS at the same DCPS the prior year and doesn't really need a one-day orientation or, as with many higher SES schools, you DC was at a daycare and is used to a strutted environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: ...as with many higher SES schools, you DC was at a daycare and is used to a strutted environment.

Exactly, and excellent point. When my DC moved from an undesirable IB school to a Highly Sought-After Charter, I told the kid, "Look, shit just got real for you. No more schlumpfing around. At the HSAC, you got to learn to STRUT! This is a highly strutted environment you are entering!"

[Anonymous]

Lol

[Anonymous]

OP, my son is in his 2nd year at Logan. (PK). We love it. Our teacher is great and my son is excited about learning and seeing his friends every day.

[Anonymous]

On the lunchroom thread, (which I did not read) but if it has been in the past 2 years I can't imagine it was Logan. That isn't their style anyway...no shaming, just redirecting if a student misbehaves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On the lunchroom thread, (which I did not read) but if it has been in the past 2 years I can't imagine it was Logan. That isn't their style anyway...no shaming, just redirecting if a student misbehaves.

it's clearly Logan. That there isn't an update makes me think it worked out there, but it is clearly Logan.

[Anonymous]

There were enough details in that thread (for those who knew the school) to know it was Logan. Wonder if the family stuck it out and/or if they are lotterying for a new school. If that OP is reading this, an update would be so helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There were enough details in that thread (for those who knew the school) to know it was Logan. Wonder if the family stuck it out and/or if they are lotterying for a new school. If that OP is reading this, an update would be so helpful.

I agree. I know someone else who left Logan last year because the classroom didn't have supplies for months. OP said that was the case, and said that she thought her son would do well because e was coming from "another Montessori school." Also said that it was seen as desirable, which to me ruled anything else out but LAMB. I am sure it was Logan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were enough details in that thread (for those who knew the school) to know it was Logan. Wonder if the family stuck it out and/or if they are lotterying for a new school. If that OP is reading this, an update would be so helpful.

I agree. I know someone else who left Logan last year because the classroom didn't have supplies for months. OP said that was the case, and said that she thought her son would do well because e was coming from "another Montessori school." Also said that it was seen as desirable, which to me ruled anything else out but LAMB. I am sure it was Logan.

DCPS does not provide the Montessori materials, so the PTA and the parents have to supply them. Our first year we donated $500 the first week.

Not a problem for an existing classroom, but a new teacher requires thousands of dollars in material and that takes time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There were enough details in that thread (for those who knew the school) to know it was Logan. Wonder if the family stuck it out and/or if they are lotterying for a new school. If that OP is reading this, an update would be so helpful.

Anything is possible, but our experience was that the school is pretty lax when it comes to discipline (think hippy commune). To punish a three year old like that would have waaaaaay out of character for anyone I knew there (except one custodian, and she would not have been in control of children at any time).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

DCPS does not provide the Montessori materials, so the PTA and the parents have to supply them. Our first year we donated $500 the first week.

Not a problem for an existing classroom, but a new teacher requires thousands of dollars in material and that takes time.

Is this true? I can't understand that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were enough details in that thread (for those who knew the school) to know it was Logan. Wonder if the family stuck it out and/or if they are lotterying for a new school. If that OP is reading this, an update would be so helpful.

I agree. I know someone else who left Logan last year because the classroom didn't have supplies for months. OP said that was the case, and said that she thought her son would do well because e was coming from "another Montessori school." Also said that it was seen as desirable, which to me ruled anything else out but LAMB. I am sure it was Logan.

DCPS does not provide the Montessori materials, so the PTA and the parents have to supply them. Our first year we donated $500 the first week.

Not a problem for an existing classroom, but a new teacher requires thousands of dollars in material and that takes time.

Why would DCPS not supply materials? It would be the same as supplying textbooks or computers for the classroom in other schools. I cannot believe the city would establish a Montessori program and then refuse to purchase materials for new classrooms.