Feedback on ritchie park elementary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school will still be overcrowded next year. The parents who were the most vocal in the zoning fight were clear they only cared about getting poor/minority kids OUT of their school. So while FARMS will be reduced, classrooms will still be overcrowded and classes will still be held in trailers (oops, I mean "portables").

The principal is neither good nor bad. She simply repeats what MCPS tells her to say, and nothing more. She knows most of the kids by name, but is not an overly caring or sympathetic person. She does make personal phone calls to parents when kids are in trouble. She has not made much effort to address the issues of bullying at recess -- simply says more parents need to volunteer during recess time, which is not encouraging or helpful to a household where both parents (or the single parent) are working professionals.

Not sure why PP said there is no time for specials. Kids go to specials 4 days a week: music, media/library, art, gym.

This was all of the Fallsgrove's families which was ironic since they have never wanted to be at Ritchie Park in the first place, forever complaining they should be in Wootton school district and going to Lakewood or the other 2-3 schools on the way. They purchased their overpriced homes knowing they were going to RP and RM so they had no merit It was their choice their school was so far away. So the years of complaints to somehow all of a sudden wanting to be a RP as long as Hungerford left spoke volumes to everyone at that school.

And no one said they aren't involved, they aren't like the other neighborhoods, which to me felt like saying they were stuck up, or felt they were more the school, and not the other neighborhoods.

That said, they have to beg and plead for volunteers and PTA members and still don't do a good job.

Years ago, there were sign-ups for recess, lunch, after-school, and during school volunteers. They had volunteer coordinators. Restaurant nights were packed. Teachers went to restaurant nights and all of the events. They were just as involved as parents.

But over the years the student body has increased by 50% and now they can't get anyone to help. I will be curious what it will be like once it gets back below 100%

As far as the teachers, there is a lot of turnover except for the ones that need to go in the upper grades. They seem to forever stick around and do close to nothing.

The school does not prepare the kids for middle school at all.

Could you volunteer to create the signups for volunteers? Be the volunteer coordinator for next year? Advertise for Restaurant Nights? It would be a huge help! - a fellow RP parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:25 is simply misinformed, or is just a disgruntled witch.

I know plenty of Fallsgrove families who love RP, and are very devoted to the school, the PTA and the community. So you are wrong there, and should apologize for disparaging them ("they are not like the families in [other neighborhoods.]" You are despicable for even writing that.

Also false that there was not enough time for specials, lunch/recess. That is simply not true.

PTA issues don't have to do with the principal.

You sound like Sarah Huckabee Sanders, spewing lies.

Can you post what they are then please?

Yes, what are the PTA issues?

[Anonymous]

This was all of the Fallsgrove's families which was ironic since they have never wanted to be at Ritchie Park in the first place, forever complaining they should be in Wootton school district and going to Lakewood or the other 2-3 schools on the way. They purchased their overpriced homes knowing they were going to RP and RM so they had no merit It was their choice their school was so far away. So the years of complaints to somehow all of a sudden wanting to be a RP as long as Hungerford left spoke volumes to everyone at that school.

And no one said they aren't involved, they aren't like the other neighborhoods, which to me felt like saying they were stuck up, or felt they were more the school, and not the other neighborhoods.

That said, they have to beg and plead for volunteers and PTA members and still don't do a good job.

Years ago, there were sign-ups for recess, lunch, after-school, and during school volunteers. They had volunteer coordinators. Restaurant nights were packed. Teachers went to restaurant nights and all of the events. They were just as involved as parents.

But over the years the student body has increased by 50% and now they can't get anyone to help. I will be curious what it will be like once it gets back below 100%

As far as the teachers, there is a lot of turnover except for the ones that need to go in the upper grades. They seem to forever stick around and do close to nothing.

The school does not prepare the kids for middle school at all.
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What grades do you think need the turn over? How long ago did you have a child at RPES?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, RP does NOT have the same FARMS rate as the schools near it. All other schools in its cluster are over 20%. RP is projected to be at 8% next year. The racist families in Horizon Hill and nearby neighborhoods made it absolutely clear that they wanted Hispanic and lower-income families moved out.

So because HH did not want to be bussed past not 1 but 2 schools to attend Twinbrook meant they wanted Hispanic and lower income families out?

[Anonymous]

Where is this school even?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When Crown HS is built, Fallsgrove will likely leave RP and other neighborhoods will be shifted again. It is unlikely the FARMS rate will stay so low longterm.

I hope they do leave but doubtful. What elementary school would they attend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, RP does NOT have the same FARMS rate as the schools near it. All other schools in its cluster are over 20%. RP is projected to be at 8% next year. The racist families in Horizon Hill and nearby neighborhoods made it absolutely clear that they wanted Hispanic and lower-income families moved out.

So because HH did not want to be bussed past not 1 but 2 schools to attend Twinbrook meant they wanted Hispanic and lower income families out?

Seriously. HH lobbies to go to the school closest to the neighborhood instead of the 10th closest. That’s common sense, not bigotry—especially because most in HH were indifferent between any options that kept it at RP, regardless of Hispanic demographics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When Crown HS is built, Fallsgrove will likely leave RP and other neighborhoods will be shifted again. It is unlikely the FARMS rate will stay so low longterm.

I hope they do leave but doubtful. What elementary school would they attend?

Nobody knows what kinds of change Crown HS will bring. Anything is possible:

Split metrication
Rezoning of numerous clusters
All kinds of special curriculum changes (e.g, IB)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When Crown HS is built, Fallsgrove will likely leave RP and other neighborhoods will be shifted again. It is unlikely the FARMS rate will stay so low longterm.

I hope they do leave but doubtful. What elementary school would they attend?

Nobody knows what kinds of change Crown HS will bring. Anything is possible:

Split metrication
Rezoning of numerous clusters
All kinds of special curriculum changes (e.g, IB)

Mcps cancelled RMs addition because kids were going to be moved to Crown. Fallsgrove is the most likely neighborhood.geographically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, RP does NOT have the same FARMS rate as the schools near it. All other schools in its cluster are over 20%. RP is projected to be at 8% next year. The racist families in Horizon Hill and nearby neighborhoods made it absolutely clear that they wanted Hispanic and lower-income families moved out.

So because HH did not want to be bussed past not 1 but 2 schools to attend Twinbrook meant they wanted Hispanic and lower income families out?

Let's be honest here. HH was not going to attend TB. Posters are pointing out about lobbying to get rid of poor kids from other side of 270.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, RP does NOT have the same FARMS rate as the schools near it. All other schools in its cluster are over 20%. RP is projected to be at 8% next year. The racist families in Horizon Hill and nearby neighborhoods made it absolutely clear that they wanted Hispanic and lower-income families moved out.

RP is very close to Cold Spring and BF. RP's FARMS rate is close to other Potomac schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, RP does NOT have the same FARMS rate as the schools near it. All other schools in its cluster are over 20%. RP is projected to be at 8% next year. The racist families in Horizon Hill and nearby neighborhoods made it absolutely clear that they wanted Hispanic and lower-income families moved out.

So because HH did not want to be bussed past not 1 but 2 schools to attend Twinbrook meant they wanted Hispanic and lower income families out?

Let's be honest here. HH was not going to attend TB. Posters are pointing out about lobbying to get rid of poor kids from other side of 270.

Any lobbying (if you can call it up that) was because the alternative meant HH going to Twinbrook. Does that make any sense when there is a brand new school opening across 270?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, RP does NOT have the same FARMS rate as the schools near it. All other schools in its cluster are over 20%. RP is projected to be at 8% next year. The racist families in Horizon Hill and nearby neighborhoods made it absolutely clear that they wanted Hispanic and lower-income families moved out.

So because HH did not want to be bussed past not 1 but 2 schools to attend Twinbrook meant they wanted Hispanic and lower income families out?

Let's be honest here. HH was not going to attend TB. Posters are pointing out about lobbying to get rid of poor kids from other side of 270.

Any lobbying (if you can call it up that) was because the alternative meant HH going to Twinbrook. Does that make any sense when there is a brand new school opening across 270?

In case you forgot what the options were
http://gis.mcpsmd.org/boundarystudypdfs/RMES5_UpdatedBOEAlternativesAE111417.pdf

It was either Fallsgrove or the kids who ended up being rezoned (right next to the new school). In that case you would’ve wanted Fallsgrove to leave RP and bussed past 2 schools to attend the new one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, RP does NOT have the same FARMS rate as the schools near it. All other schools in its cluster are over 20%. RP is projected to be at 8% next year. The racist families in Horizon Hill and nearby neighborhoods made it absolutely clear that they wanted Hispanic and lower-income families moved out.

So because HH did not want to be bussed past not 1 but 2 schools to attend Twinbrook meant they wanted Hispanic and lower income families out?

Let's be honest here. HH was not going to attend TB. Posters are pointing out about lobbying to get rid of poor kids from other side of 270.

Any lobbying (if you can call it up that) was because the alternative meant HH going to Twinbrook. Does that make any sense when there is a brand new school opening across 270?

In case you forgot what the options were
http://gis.mcpsmd.org/boundarystudypdfs/RMES5_UpdatedBOEAlternativesAE111417.pdf

It was either Fallsgrove or the kids who ended up being rezoned (right next to the new school). In that case you would’ve wanted Fallsgrove to leave RP and bussed past 2 schools to attend the new one.

This is off topic. The OP asked about Ritchie Park as a school not a rehashing of the boundary study debate. There are already 150 pages of that on DCUM.

OP - my son has attended RP and has liked it. We've had some great teachers and a few mediocre teachers.

The people who do participate in the PTA work hard to create lots of fun events for families. If more people volunteered, it could be even better.

[Anonymous]

The people who do participate in the PTA work hard to create lots of fun events for families. If more people volunteered, it could be even better.

Yes, and if some of the PTA moms weren't so bitchy about working moms "not pulling their weight" when many volunteer opportunities are scheduled from 8:45-9:15 and 3:15-3:45, more of us would want to help.