Thinking of moving IB for Oyster-Adams

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But how do they determine dominant? Or is it enough to be fluent?

We applied to the English dominant lottery so don't know. But they do test. Given that if you get in you are dropped for lower choices, I would not risk it if I was just fluent (but then it was our too choice so risked getting in nowhere otherwise).

The way it works for Oyster is that for PK4, K, and 1 you apply and say what your dominant language is. They test this and if you say you are Spanish dominant and then you are not, you lose your spot.

For 2nd and above, there is only one OOB lottery (rather than an English- and Spanish-dominant), but you can only apply if you have "near grade-level proficiency" (not fluency, which is more nebulous). Again, they test, and again, if you get in and don't have that, you lose your spot.

If you are IB then they must take you for K and above, and it does not matter whether you have any experience in Spanish. They are required to meet you where you are. If yoiu decide you don't want dual language, you have the right to enroll in SWW@F-S instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But how do they determine dominant? Or is it enough to be fluent?

We applied to the English dominant lottery so don't know. But they do test. Given that if you get in you are dropped for lower choices, I would not risk it if I was just fluent (but then it was our too choice so risked getting in nowhere otherwise).

The way it works for Oyster is that for PK4, K, and 1 you apply and say what your dominant language is. They test this and if you say you are Spanish dominant and then you are not, you lose your spot.

For 2nd and above, there is only one OOB lottery (rather than an English- and Spanish-dominant), but you can only apply if you have "near grade-level proficiency" (not fluency, which is more nebulous). Again, they test, and again, if you get in and don't have that, you lose your spot.

If you are IB then they must take you for K and above, and it does not matter whether you have any experience in Spanish. They are required to meet you where you are. If yoiu decide you don't want dual language, you have the right to enroll in SWW@F-S instead.

This is an accurate description of the IB and OOB enrollment process. I would like to add that, in the past, Oyster has strongly counseled IB parents against enrolling their children (grade 2 and above) who don't have any Spanish immersion experience. Some parents that I know personally have taken this advice and enrolled their children in other schools. A few parents decided to enroll their children in Oyster anyway---with mixed results. I only know of two instances (an admittedly unscientific sample) where this has worked out for those children. Even then, the parents provided a great deal of outside support (i.e., Saturday Spanish school, private Spanish tutors and caregivers, and regular trips abroad to Spanish-speaking countries). An additional key ingredient: The children were themselves highly motivated to learn Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But how do they determine dominant? Or is it enough to be fluent?

We applied to the English dominant lottery so don't know. But they do test. Given that if you get in you are dropped for lower choices, I would not risk it if I was just fluent (but then it was our too choice so risked getting in nowhere otherwise).

The way it works for Oyster is that for PK4, K, and 1 you apply and say what your dominant language is. They test this and if you say you are Spanish dominant and then you are not, you lose your spot.

For 2nd and above, there is only one OOB lottery (rather than an English- and Spanish-dominant), but you can only apply if you have "near grade-level proficiency" (not fluency, which is more nebulous). Again, they test, and again, if you get in and don't have that, you lose your spot.

If you are IB then they must take you for K and above, and it does not matter whether you have any experience in Spanish. They are required to meet you where you are. If yoiu decide you don't want dual language, you have the right to enroll in SWW@F-S instead.

This is an accurate description of the IB and OOB enrollment process. I would like to add that, in the past, Oyster has strongly counseled IB parents against enrolling their children (grade 2 and above) who don't have any Spanish immersion experience. Some parents that I know personally have taken this advice and enrolled their children in other schools. A few parents decided to enroll their children in Oyster anyway---with mixed results. I only know of two instances (an admittedly unscientific sample) where this has worked out for those children. Even then, the parents provided a great deal of outside support (i.e., Saturday Spanish school, private Spanish tutors and caregivers, and regular trips abroad to Spanish-speaking countries). An additional key ingredient: The children were themselves highly motivated to learn Spanish.

I am curious whether now that the alternative school is SWW@F-S rather than Eaton, whether more IB families will choose to go to Oyster in the upper grades with little or no Spanish experience, and if so what the school will do to meet their needs.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I moved to Woodley park from new York. We were planning on buying our home inbounds for oyster since we speak Spanish at home. I hated the neighborhood and moved out to Capitol Hill after 6 months and we ended up loving it and buying there. I would not recommend buying until you're familiar with the neighborhood. Of course it's beautiful and lots of people love it. I'm just saying its not for everyone. It has got to be one of the unfriendliest places I've ever lived.

I also did not like oyster. I was there during the book fair and a teacher just RIPPED into a student (maybe 2nd grade?) like no other. She screamed at the top of her lungs and called him a bunch of names. I was absolutely shocked, but the kids acted like they saw it every day. She was mortified that I had witnessed what she did, and tried to explain that the boy was misbehaving all the time. All he did was stand up after she told him to sit down. He plopped back down again after her scream fest. No thanks.

Just saying- look before you leap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I moved to Woodley park from new York. We were planning on buying our home inbounds for oyster since we speak Spanish at home. I hated the neighborhood and moved out to Capitol Hill after 6 months and we ended up loving it and buying there. I would not recommend buying until you're familiar with the neighborhood. Of course it's beautiful and lots of people love it. I'm just saying its not for everyone. It has got to be one of the unfriendliest places I've ever lived.

I also did not like oyster. I was there during the book fair and a teacher just RIPPED into a student (maybe 2nd grade?) like no other. She screamed at the top of her lungs and called him a bunch of names. I was absolutely shocked, but the kids acted like they saw it every day. She was mortified that I had witnessed what she did, and tried to explain that the boy was misbehaving all the time. All he did was stand up after she told him to sit down. He plopped back down again after her scream fest. No thanks.

Just saying- look before you leap.

Wow. With that chip on your shoulders, let's see how long you last in Capitol Hill. My guess: you'll start bitching about everyone there in less than six months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I moved to Woodley park from new York. We were planning on buying our home inbounds for oyster since we speak Spanish at home. I hated the neighborhood and moved out to Capitol Hill after 6 months and we ended up loving it and buying there. I would not recommend buying until you're familiar with the neighborhood. Of course it's beautiful and lots of people love it. I'm just saying its not for everyone. It has got to be one of the unfriendliest places I've ever lived.

I also did not like oyster. I was there during the book fair and a teacher just RIPPED into a student (maybe 2nd grade?) like no other. She screamed at the top of her lungs and called him a bunch of names. I was absolutely shocked, but the kids acted like they saw it every day. She was mortified that I had witnessed what she did, and tried to explain that the boy was misbehaving all the time. All he did was stand up after she told him to sit down. He plopped back down again after her scream fest. No thanks.

Just saying- look before you leap.

Well, good luck on Capitol Hill sunshine! Our (Woodley Park) loss is their loss too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I also did not like oyster. I was there during the book fair and a teacher just RIPPED into a student (maybe 2nd grade?) like no other. She screamed at the top of her lungs and called him a bunch of names. I was absolutely shocked, but the kids acted like they saw it every day. She was mortified that I had witnessed what she did, and tried to explain that the boy was misbehaving all the time. All he did was stand up after she told him to sit down. He plopped back down again after her scream fest. No thanks.

Sounds like the librarian. I'm a parent and have seen this type of thing with her. She's been there forever and generally kids seem to like her. But like a lot of things at Oyster, the previous administration had low expectations of adult behavior. Lots of yelling by lots of adults. Slack attendance and tardiness. The new administration seems to have cracked down on some of the unprofessional behavior. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a lot of teacher and admin turnover this year. That doesn't mean the school is bad, just that it is changing.

[Anonymous]

^^^I don't know if it was the librarian or not. However, I agree that this principal is already far better than the last. One small change that has been a huge improvement: The kiss and ride (my words) morning drop-off. Why wasn't this implemented years ago?!? I am at Oyster fairly regularly, and while I have never witnessed any yelling, I wouldn't be shocked if a handful of teachers engage(d) in such behavior. Yes, I'm sure that some teachers will not be asked to return next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Sounds like the librarian.

LOL, that was my first thought, too. She is really awful to the kids during book fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Sounds like the librarian.

LOL, that was my first thought, too. She is really awful to the kids during book fair.

How so? (Our kids seem to like her a lot; she comes across quite entitled/ arrogant to me)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I moved to Woodley park from new York. We were planning on buying our home inbounds for oyster since we speak Spanish at home. I hated the neighborhood and moved out to Capitol Hill after 6 months and we ended up loving it and buying there. I would not recommend buying until you're familiar with the neighborhood. Of course it's beautiful and lots of people love it. I'm just saying its not for everyone. It has got to be one of the unfriendliest places I've ever lived.

I also did not like oyster. I was there during the book fair and a teacher just RIPPED into a student (maybe 2nd grade?) like no other. She screamed at the top of her lungs and called him a bunch of names. I was absolutely shocked, but the kids acted like they saw it every day. She was mortified that I had witnessed what she did, and tried to explain that the boy was misbehaving all the time. All he did was stand up after she told him to sit down. He plopped back down again after her scream fest. No thanks.

Just saying- look before you leap.

Wow. With that chip on your shoulders, let's see how long you last in Capitol Hill. My guess: you'll start bitching about everyone there in less than six months.

That was 2.5 years ago. Still love it. Thanks for proving my point on unfriendly types in Woodley Park!

[Anonymous]

Doing the Pre-K lottery this year, and also applying to WIS in case we draw the short straw. If we get into Oyster and WIS, I'm considering putting the additional $3K a month that WIS would cost towards a higher mortgage, and moving somewhat close to Oyster (not necessarily in-boundary) to be able to manage the commute. Where should we look at for something with 3 bedrooms for less than $1.5M? Woodley Park is out of the question, there doesn't seem to be anything for less than 4 or 5 million there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doing the Pre-K lottery this year, and also applying to WIS in case we draw the short straw. If we get into Oyster and WIS, I'm considering putting the additional $3K a month that WIS would cost towards a higher mortgage, and moving somewhat close to Oyster (not necessarily in-boundary) to be able to manage the commute. Where should we look at for something with 3 bedrooms for less than $1.5M? Woodley Park is out of the question, there doesn't seem to be anything for less than 4 or 5 million there.

Is your child Spanish-dominant? Otherwise, no shot at Oyster OOB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doing the Pre-K lottery this year, and also applying to WIS in case we draw the short straw. If we get into Oyster and WIS, I'm considering putting the additional $3K a month that WIS would cost towards a higher mortgage, and moving somewhat close to Oyster (not necessarily in-boundary) to be able to manage the commute. Where should we look at for something with 3 bedrooms for less than $1.5M? Woodley Park is out of the question, there doesn't seem to be anything for less than 4 or 5 million there.

Is your child Spanish-dominant? Otherwise, no shot at Oyster OOB.

WIS also has many more applicants than spots, especially for preK. What's your plan C?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Is your child Spanish-dominant?

Yes