MacFarland MS?

[Anonymous]

calexander wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

calexander wrote:It is pretty exciting news. I will be serving on the MacFarland Community Cabinet beginning next week (due to our efforts setting up the NW Saturday Academy). If anyone has any questions they would like to see asked of the DCPS administration about this dual language program or any aspect of the new middle school, please post them here or send them to ideas "at" nwsadc.com. I will be sure to relay them in our meetings.

This is exciting news! Thanks for taking questions for the meeting. I will share my scenario and question related to it. My kids are in one of the Spanish DCI feeder schools, but West is our neighborhood school. While we plan to continue to DCI, you never know how our plans may change in 5 years (1st year for middle school for my family) and this program is exciting as another option. We would be guaranteed a spot to McFarland as our neighborhood school, but my question is would we be guaranteed a spot in the dual language program, residing within the boundaries of non-dual language feeder school? Thanks.

y
I might interpret your question just as the followup poster did, but I will be sure to ask anyway.

I am the questioner about this and your interpretation is logical, but I also hope that since they are in the design phase, they could be open to accommodating these nuances. So I appreciate you asking the question on my behalf (and more than one other family at my school with the same scenario). I am thrilled with this news for our neighborhood!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

calexander wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

calexander wrote:It is pretty exciting news. I will be serving on the MacFarland Community Cabinet beginning next week (due to our efforts setting up the NW Saturday Academy). If anyone has any questions they would like to see asked of the DCPS administration about this dual language program or any aspect of the new middle school, please post them here or send them to ideas "at" nwsadc.com. I will be sure to relay them in our meetings.

This is exciting news! Thanks for taking questions for the meeting. I will share my scenario and question related to it. My kids are in one of the Spanish DCI feeder schools, but West is our neighborhood school. While we plan to continue to DCI, you never know how our plans may change in 5 years (1st year for middle school for my family) and this program is exciting as another option. We would be guaranteed a spot to McFarland as our neighborhood school, but my question is would we be guaranteed a spot in the dual language program, residing within the boundaries of non-dual language feeder school? Thanks.

y
I might interpret your question just as the followup poster did, but I will be sure to ask anyway.

I am the questioner about this and your interpretation is logical, but I also hope that since they are in the design phase, they could be open to accommodating these nuances. So I appreciate you asking the question on my behalf (and more than one other family at my school with the same scenario). I am thrilled with this news for our neighborhood!

I think the answer is (1) apply in the lottery; (2) have your child on grade level in written and spoken Spanish. Are you looking for more/something different?

[Anonymous]

I think it is an interesting question. Our daughter is at West (immersion wasn't a priority for us), but if she turns out to have an interest in, and can learn Spanish well enough, then I think we should have a right to that part of our middle school (assuming she can pass the test).

[Anonymous]

Do you think the immersion/non-immersion tracks will create a two-tiered school where the non-language kids are looked down on? How will it work logistically in terms of the classes the kids take (i.e., will there be an "English only" math and a "dual language" math? Will they be equally rigorous other than the language aspect?). Seriously wondering this because my child is at West right now and I don't want him to feel less accomplished just because he's not on the dual-language track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the immersion/non-immersion tracks will create a two-tiered school where the non-language kids are looked down on? How will it work logistically in terms of the classes the kids take (i.e., will there be an "English only" math and a "dual language" math? Will they be equally rigorous other than the language aspect?). Seriously wondering this because my child is at West right now and I don't want him to feel less accomplished just because he's not on the dual-language track.

I have a hard time seeing that. West kids are going to be the strongest at the school

[calexander]

Don't forget to post your questions regarding MacFarland. The first community cabinet meeting is tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

calexander wrote:Don't forget to post your questions regarding MacFarland. The first community cabinet meeting is tomorrow.

My questions are similar to what some others seem interested in. We live in Petworth and would like to at least consider MacFarland as an option. My children attend a well-regarded WOTP school that is not dual language or immersion. Our kids get one Spanish class a week. Right now, our plan is to attend Hardy. The only way we'd consider the new and improved MacFarland is to feel confident that the non-dual language track is equally rigorous and the teachers are equally talented and effective. I completely understand DCPS devoting lots of energy to create buzz around the MacFarland dual language track--it's their newest thing and it will open before the non-dual language track will, so they have to get all those ducks in a row now). But I soon want to hear what is planned for those children who don't speak Spanish...the kids coming from Barnard, Raymond, West, Truesdall.

I realize that the "regular" middle school won't open until 18/19, but that's not far off and DCPS should not wait to start planning for it and for communicating with prospective parents. Most of us won't leave something like middle school to chance. We'll be watching closely, soaking up every bit of intel they are willing to give us.

[Anonymous]

I think its inevitable that a school within a school model will be created. How can a kid test at tgrade level in another language if they have never had immersion before 6th grade? If that kid is accepted into immersion middle school then it just means that the school isn't truly immersion. Isn't Tyler elem running two tracks and its a known "secret" that the spanish track is dominated by some students versus the non spanish track. I actually don't have a problem with this two tier system if it keeps more high achieving kids in DCPS. its a win for eveyrone becuase more EoTP parents might committ to the immersion feeder schools like Bruce Monroe which are just now starting to get a few high SES parents in PS3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think its inevitable that a school within a school model will be created. How can a kid test at tgrade level in another language if they have never had immersion before 6th grade? If that kid is accepted into immersion middle school then it just means that the school isn't truly immersion. Isn't Tyler elem running two tracks and its a known "secret" that the spanish track is dominated by some students versus the non spanish track. I actually don't have a problem with this two tier system if it keeps more high achieving kids in DCPS. its a win for eveyrone becuase more EoTP parents might committ to the immersion feeder schools like Bruce Monroe which are just now starting to get a few high SES parents in PS3.

If they have immersion at home rather than school. There are plenty of kids from Spanish speaking families attending non-immersion schools.

[Anonymous]

Kudos to DCPS for getting ahead of the curve on a dual language program for MS kids, and in particular for recognizing the importance of a test-in requirement for children who want dual language but don't feed from an immersion ES. Hopefully this helps create some of the same excitement for MS in our area that we're already seeing at several ES campuses. It also would be great if DCPS can come up with a similarly forward thinking program for non-immersion kids who are entering MacFarland, akin to what DCI appears to have done. We included both immersion and traditional schools in our lottery application, and landed at a non-immersion HRCS. We also are currently in the part of Crestwood-16th Street Heights that is grandfathered for Deal through 2020. While we're thankful for the continued right to feed to Deal, we'd love the option to be able to send our kids to a MS right in our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

calexander wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

calexander wrote:It is pretty exciting news. I will be serving on the MacFarland Community Cabinet beginning next week (due to our efforts setting up the NW Saturday Academy). If anyone has any questions they would like to see asked of the DCPS administration about this dual language program or any aspect of the new middle school, please post them here or send them to ideas "at" nwsadc.com. I will be sure to relay them in our meetings.

This is exciting news! Thanks for taking questions for the meeting. I will share my scenario and question related to it. My kids are in one of the Spanish DCI feeder schools, but West is our neighborhood school. While we plan to continue to DCI, you never know how our plans may change in 5 years (1st year for middle school for my family) and this program is exciting as another option. We would be guaranteed a spot to McFarland as our neighborhood school, but my question is would we be guaranteed a spot in the dual language program, residing within the boundaries of non-dual language feeder school? Thanks.

y
I might interpret your question just as the followup poster did, but I will be sure to ask anyway.

I am the questioner about this and your interpretation is logical, but I also hope that since they are in the design phase, they could be open to accommodating these nuances. So I appreciate you asking the question on my behalf (and more than one other family at my school with the same scenario). I am thrilled with this news for our neighborhood!

I think the answer is (1) apply in the lottery; (2) have your child on grade level in written and spoken Spanish. Are you looking for more/something different?

Original poster of this question, back again. For the meeting tonight, essentially, as an in-boundary family, I would like a guaranteed right for my kids to to enter the language immersion program, but then they have to take the entry test to secure entry. I assume they will be able to do this, since they will have had immersion since their first days of daycare, but I am fine with having them have to test in because the most effective immersion program at the middle school level should have kids who are prepared for the language level (this is a bit of a concern for DCI, since kids can lottery in without the language background). But I don't want to have to do the lottery to get in, if I am in boundary and this is my DCPS middle school and my kids are capable of testing in to the program.

[Anonymous]

I'm less worried about the lottery aspect. Every single family has to lottery for PK3 and 4 so it's not like it's some burden we have never experienced here in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kudos to DCPS for getting ahead of the curve on a dual language program for MS kids, and in particular for recognizing the importance of a test-in requirement for children who want dual language but don't feed from an immersion ES. Hopefully this helps create some of the same excitement for MS in our area that we're already seeing at several ES campuses. It also would be great if DCPS can come up with a similarly forward thinking program for non-immersion kids who are entering MacFarland, akin to what DCI appears to have done. We included both immersion and traditional schools in our lottery application, and landed at a non-immersion HRCS. We also are currently in the part of Crestwood-16th Street Heights that is grandfathered for Deal through 2020. While we're thankful for the continued right to feed to Deal, we'd love the option to be able to send our kids to a MS right in our neighborhood.

What has DCI done for non immersion kids? I'm not familiar. Or am I reading your sentence wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

calexander wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

calexander wrote:It is pretty exciting news. I will be serving on the MacFarland Community Cabinet beginning next week (due to our efforts setting up the NW Saturday Academy). If anyone has any questions they would like to see asked of the DCPS administration about this dual language program or any aspect of the new middle school, please post them here or send them to ideas "at" nwsadc.com. I will be sure to relay them in our meetings.

This is exciting news! Thanks for taking questions for the meeting. I will share my scenario and question related to it. My kids are in one of the Spanish DCI feeder schools, but West is our neighborhood school. While we plan to continue to DCI, you never know how our plans may change in 5 years (1st year for middle school for my family) and this program is exciting as another option. We would be guaranteed a spot to McFarland as our neighborhood school, but my question is would we be guaranteed a spot in the dual language program, residing within the boundaries of non-dual language feeder school? Thanks.

y
I might interpret your question just as the followup poster did, but I will be sure to ask anyway.

I am the questioner about this and your interpretation is logical, but I also hope that since they are in the design phase, they could be open to accommodating these nuances. So I appreciate you asking the question on my behalf (and more than one other family at my school with the same scenario). I am thrilled with this news for our neighborhood!

I think the answer is (1) apply in the lottery; (2) have your child on grade level in written and spoken Spanish. Are you looking for more/something different?

Original poster of this question, back again. For the meeting tonight, essentially, as an in-boundary family, I would like a guaranteed right for my kids to to enter the language immersion program, but then they have to take the entry test to secure entry. I assume they will be able to do this, since they will have had immersion since their first days of daycare, but I am fine with having them have to test in because the most effective immersion program at the middle school level should have kids who are prepared for the language level (this is a bit of a concern for DCI, since kids can lottery in without the language background). But I don't want to have to do the lottery to get in, if I am in boundary and this is my DCPS middle school and my kids are capable of testing in to the program.

The meeting is on Tuesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kudos to DCPS for getting ahead of the curve on a dual language program for MS kids, and in particular for recognizing the importance of a test-in requirement for children who want dual language but don't feed from an immersion ES. Hopefully this helps create some of the same excitement for MS in our area that we're already seeing at several ES campuses. It also would be great if DCPS can come up with a similarly forward thinking program for non-immersion kids who are entering MacFarland, akin to what DCI appears to have done. We included both immersion and traditional schools in our lottery application, and landed at a non-immersion HRCS. We also are currently in the part of Crestwood-16th Street Heights that is grandfathered for Deal through 2020. While we're thankful for the continued right to feed to Deal, we'd love the option to be able to send our kids to a MS right in our neighborhood.

What has DCI done for non immersion kids? I'm not familiar. Or am I reading your sentence wrong?

DCI will admit children who have not studied a foreign language before. They will pick one and start learning it as 6th graders. This was a requirement of their charter.