Breakthrough Montessori: And so it begins...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure this seemingly negative publicity of Breakthrough is really so negative since it seems that they already filled their classes, going to only a handful of WL in PK3. Any lottery guru's here that can give me hope for higher 20s WL number? I might get a call in September, maybe?

I'm reserving judgement on Breakthrough (and others) movement until after the DCPCSB meeting next week on the LAMB expansion. If approved, that'll start a domino-effect of openings.

Plus, it's hard to know where folks ranked Breakthrough on their lists. If a bunch of people got in, but ranked it very low, they could start opening up spots as they move to other schools. For instance, a friend got into Breakthrough and is already considering an offer from SSMA. There will be more folks like that, I'd think.

[Anonymous]

I hope LAMB's expansion is approved so the domino effect will land my DC in SSMA. I have more faith in a locally based charter like LAMB and SSMA than a new national charter network that is scrambling to appropriate local funds. Bah hum bug. GO ahead and call me a troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure this seemingly negative publicity of Breakthrough is really so negative since it seems that they already filled their classes, going to only a handful of WL in PK3. Any lottery guru's here that can give me hope for higher 20s WL number? I might get a call in September, maybe?

We're still hoping for a spot too. We're in the teens for PK4.

I am almost sure they will go through their list for PK4. I sure hope for no or very few siblings so that I also get a call off of PK3 WL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure this seemingly negative publicity of Breakthrough is really so negative since it seems that they already filled their classes, going to only a handful of WL in PK3. Any lottery guru's here that can give me hope for higher 20s WL number? I might get a call in September, maybe?

I'm reserving judgement on Breakthrough (and others) movement until after the DCPCSB meeting next week on the LAMB expansion. If approved, that'll start a domino-effect of openings.

Plus, it's hard to know where folks ranked Breakthrough on their lists. If a bunch of people got in, but ranked it very low, they could start opening up spots as they move to other schools. For instance, a friend got into Breakthrough and is already considering an offer from SSMA. There will be more folks like that, I'd think.

Thanks for your thoughts!

I hear LAMB is adding only a handful of spots? How many is being considered?

As for your friend now considering SSMA, for PK3 or PK4?

Considering how deep some really popular schools went into WL by June last year, almost complete lack of movement in Breakthrough seems really strange, perhaps something special happened last year? Or is success of Lee making people really want Breakthrough?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope LAMB's expansion is approved so the domino effect will land my DC in SSMA. I have more faith in a locally based charter like LAMB and SSMA than a new national charter network that is scrambling to appropriate local funds. Bah hum bug. GO ahead and call me a troll.

Uh. Whatever. I'd pick Breakthrough in a heartbeat if SSMA was my other option. I've been very impressed by them so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure this seemingly negative publicity of Breakthrough is really so negative since it seems that they already filled their classes, going to only a handful of WL in PK3. Any lottery guru's here that can give me hope for higher 20s WL number? I might get a call in September, maybe?

I'm reserving judgement on Breakthrough (and others) movement until after the DCPCSB meeting next week on the LAMB expansion. If approved, that'll start a domino-effect of openings.

Plus, it's hard to know where folks ranked Breakthrough on their lists. If a bunch of people got in, but ranked it very low, they could start opening up spots as they move to other schools. For instance, a friend got into Breakthrough and is already considering an offer from SSMA. There will be more folks like that, I'd think.

Thanks for your thoughts!

I hear LAMB is adding only a handful of spots? How many is being considered?

As for your friend now considering SSMA, for PK3 or PK4?

Considering how deep some really popular schools went into WL by June last year, almost complete lack of movement in Breakthrough seems really strange, perhaps something special happened last year? Or is success of Lee making people really want Breakthrough?

Friend is PK3.

LAMB wants to add 17 spots to PK3.

[Anonymous]

My child just moved up the PK3 wait list by 1, which means that a PK4 had a PK3 sibling. Ugh! I was hoping that wouldn't happen with the new school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child just moved up the PK3 wait list by 1, which means that a PK4 had a PK3 sibling. Ugh! I was hoping that wouldn't happen with the new school.

or a pk3 had a twin.

[Anonymous]

Picking up what I think was the subject of this thread initially, does anyone have firsthand experience with or insights about Dr. Whitescarver and/or his organization? Any idea whether he will be based in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Picking up what I think was the subject of this thread initially, does anyone have firsthand experience with or insights about Dr. Whitescarver and/or his organization? Any idea whether he will be based in DC?

And does anyone know why Dr. Strickland was MIA at key sessions and has now resigned?

[Anonymous]

They cancelled their open house for this weekend.

[Anonymous]

[i]seems like he's based out of Connecticut, curious to see how much facetime he'll put in in DC.

Keith Whitescarver

Executive Director
Keith is the Founding Director of the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector. In this capacity he oversees efforts to support and expand new and existing high-quality, public Montessori programs. Like many who are Montessori advocates, Keith became familiar with Montessori through the schooling of his own child. Enthused by the impact of the Montessori approach on learning and human development, he began to undertake research on Montessori and, in doing so, he saw the need for a national organization solely devoted to public Montessori schools. Keith is nationally known historian of literacy and American schooling who has written extensively about the development of the Montessori movement in the United States. Previously, Keith served on the faculties of the College of William and Mary, Ohio University, Wellesley College, and Lesley University, and he worked ten years as a high school history teacher in Atlanta. He received a B.A. in History from the University of Florida and an Ed.D. in History of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[i]seems like he's based out of Connecticut, curious to see how much facetime he'll put in in DC.

Keith Whitescarver

Executive Director
Keith is the Founding Director of the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector. In this capacity he oversees efforts to support and expand new and existing high-quality, public Montessori programs. Like many who are Montessori advocates, Keith became familiar with Montessori through the schooling of his own child. Enthused by the impact of the Montessori approach on learning and human development, he began to undertake research on Montessori and, in doing so, he saw the need for a national organization solely devoted to public Montessori schools. Keith is nationally known historian of literacy and American schooling who has written extensively about the development of the Montessori movement in the United States. Previously, Keith served on the faculties of the College of William and Mary, Ohio University, Wellesley College, and Lesley University, and he worked ten years as a high school history teacher in Atlanta. He received a B.A. in History from the University of Florida and an Ed.D. in History of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

He has a "real" job, being the Director of NCMPS. Will he be a real, hands on ED, or just a PR cover for a oh-crap, our ED resigned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure this seemingly negative publicity of Breakthrough is really so negative since it seems that they already filled their classes, going to only a handful of WL in PK3. Any lottery guru's here that can give me hope for higher 20s WL number? I might get a call in September, maybe?

I'm reserving judgement on Breakthrough (and others) movement until after the DCPCSB meeting next week on the LAMB expansion. If approved, that'll start a domino-effect of openings.

Plus, it's hard to know where folks ranked Breakthrough on their lists. If a bunch of people got in, but ranked it very low, they could start opening up spots as they move to other schools. For instance, a friend got into Breakthrough and is already considering an offer from SSMA. There will be more folks like that, I'd think.

Thanks for your thoughts!

I hear LAMB is adding only a handful of spots? How many is being considered?

As for your friend now considering SSMA, for PK3 or PK4?

Considering how deep some really popular schools went into WL by June last year, almost complete lack of movement in Breakthrough seems really strange, perhaps something special happened last year? Or is success of Lee making people really want Breakthrough?

Last year many more new 'desirable' PK3 spots were available

2R @ Young - 2 classes
Additional class at MV
Van Ness - 2 PK3 classes

This year the only new school is Breakthrough with just 45 PK3 spots. Hence much less movement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It may seem frivolous to you, but as I stated, "it might work for some, but not us". I grew up in a city where every school had a playground. The conditions might be different but they had one. I understand that every city is different in regards to space but it's a personal choice. You don't have to like OUR decision but don't say it's frivolous because you don't agree. It was a legit concern for us when we don't have to move our child into a school without a playground. Now if our child was older than a toddler (pretty much) we more than likely wouldn't have any concerns but at this young age it is a concern for us. I didn't bash the school or anyone for still choosing Breakthrough. Just stated that we didn't and I hope we made someone happy that may not have another option.

+1. We didn't decline a spot, but we ranked Breakthough very low on our list for this reason, so we got in somewhere else. I just don't like the idea of 3yo crossing Georgia Ave on a daily basis.

Who said they cross Georgia Ave?