Strategy questions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Burke parent here - no flames, just a polite disagreement!

We actually chose Burke primarily for the close relationships between students and teachers, because that's how my MS son learns best. I'm not sure what you saw when you visited, but my child is known very well by his teachers (and known at least casually by teachers throughout the school). He eats lunch with them in their classrooms (along with high school students who drop by to see their old teachers), comes home with stories about their home lives, and sees them as sources of support when he has a problem. The school is more structured than one might think, with real expectations for learning and behavior, but they also are very good at meeting a student where s/he is and going on from there.

I'm not trying to say it is necessarily the right school for the OP's son - I do wish there were more opportunities to run around beyond daily PE - but I wanted to give a different perspective for others who might be considering it.

OP here,

On retrospect, I think my comments were unfair. It was pretty clear early in the tour to me that Burke was not the place for my son, who thinks it's not a good day unless he comes home with mud on his pants and a smile on his face. He's also a kid who loves ritual and formality, and I don't think either of those are words that apply to Burke. If I hadn't felt that way I probably would have done a lot more digging and researching before concluding that the handful of adult/child interactions I saw or didn't see were typical of the school.

So, if you want outdoor space, believe me that Burke doesn't have it, but if you want adult-child relationships, go look for yourself.

For those of you considering Burke, listen to the families who have kids there and not to me.

[Anonymous]

OP again,

Burgundy's come up a couple of times. Everything I read or hear makes me think it would be a good fit, but I just don't see how to make it work transportation/location wise. I don't need the school to be in DC, but if it isn't in DC or close, I need a really good bus system, and I don't think the Burgundy bus goes where I need it to go. Also, in an ideal world I don't want to have to do this again for 9th grade.

I'm laughing a little at the St. Alban's suggestion. I hear lots of wonderful things about StA's. I'm sure it's a spectacular school, and the perfect fit for lots of wonderful kids, but not my particular wonderful kid.

I hear things about Landon that make me think "Oh, that would be perfect" and others that make me think it would still be too much pressure/crushing workload like StA's (again, for my particular kid).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again,

Burgundy's come up a couple of times. Everything I read or hear makes me think it would be a good fit, but I just don't see how to make it work transportation/location wise. I don't need the school to be in DC, but if it isn't in DC or close, I need a really good bus system, and I don't think the Burgundy bus goes where I need it to go. Also, in an ideal world I don't want to have to do this again for 9th grade.

I'm laughing a little at the St. Alban's suggestion. I hear lots of wonderful things about StA's. I'm sure it's a spectacular school, and the perfect fit for lots of wonderful kids, but not my particular wonderful kid.

I hear things about Landon that make me think "Oh, that would be perfect" and others that make me think it would still be too much pressure/crushing workload like StA's (again, for my particular kid).

What is StA if not mud on the pants, smile on the face, and ritual and formality?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What is StA if not mud on the pants, smile on the face, and ritual and formality?

OP again, I think it's probably all of those things. I don't think it's "manageable workload that allows for lots of extracurriculars, while still maintaining home/life balance", "low competition", and "academic diversity" (by which I mean a wide range of academic skills in the classroom).

I should add that I went to a similar highly academic school, and it was a great fit for me, so I'm not knocking the high pressure schools, just saying that I think my son would thrive in a different kind of setting.

[Anonymous]

Hi, have you considered St. Anselm's Abbey? http://www.saintanselms.org/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, have you considered St. Anselm's Abbey? http://www.saintanselms.org/

I also thought OP might like St. Anselm's for its structured but gentle culture and its large campus, but the school does expect its students to do college-level academics in high school. Also, the sports teams don't have a no-cut policy, though the school is small enough that a very high percentage of interested athletes can play. There are also individual sports that let any willing boy participate. My middle-school son is young and small for his grade, but he's been able to compete against other schools in cross-country, track and fencing. And everyone plays in intramurals.

[Anonymous]

why laugh at the suggestion for STA if you ahve not investigated it for you "particularly wonderful" kid? The boys do have mud on their pants. daily! And there is a range of academic skills -- not everyone is in honors math getting A+s. There are many boys getting Cs and HAPPY. It is the teachers, the family dining (no other school does this that i know), the little things the school does right like knowing boys need to run around. The focus on being a good person and community service. for the 100th year anniversary, every boy at the school went a few weeks ago to do several community servic projects around the area. Not some big party with a cake (they had that the next week for the parents ha ha), the gift was to give back.

There are things abotu STA which suggest your son might thrive there. You cannot learn everything from these Boards. Go to some of the schools (Burgundy for example, and ask if there are other families who might live near you) and check them out. You -- and your son -- might be surprised.

For the PP who thought STA does not allow balance, I would ask if they have a son there?! Mine does his homework, and plays several sports, including a high powered travel team with huge practice commitments. He also is in the chorus and other school and church activities. plus he has plenty of time to be him, read -- play video games, hang out with friends, go to dances now, etc.

The pressure comes from parents and I think that exists at an DC area school. Go read the thread about everyone wanting ivies.

[Anonymous]

pp -- STA is very hard to get into -- I wouldn't set the woman's sites too high -- it sounds like her son might do better in a school that isn't so hard. And, Landon isn't so easy either. Bullis is a school for kids who aren't too academic and love sports.

[Anonymous]

Another thought -- SSSA isn't so tough academically either and is great at sports

[Anonymous]

I'm scratching my head as I try and figure out how saying St. Alban's is too academic for a particular child, is an insult to St. Alban's. In my opinion St. Alban's knows what kinds of kids do well there, and does a great job of selecting kids who fit that mold. It also sounds like the OP knows her kid and knows that mold isn't for him, and is looking for a place where he fits. He's got lots of gifts, but maybe stellar academic skills and drive aren't among them -- nothing wrong with that.

[Anonymous]

Former Burgundy parent here. OP, consider the differences between a K-8 school and one that goes to 12th. Schools with higher grades have more resources as well as choice available. Btw, Burgundy no longer has a bus system but they have arranged to use SSSA's extensive transportation system.

If you go to the school, arrange to see the MS specifically as it is very different than the LS. It is very small (85 - 90 kids total for 3 grades) and the progressive program is very informal and the most unstructured of the area's progressive schools. My child did not find the academics rigorous, but there are some children who do.

The drama and sports programs are also limited primarily due to size. One play production per year and sports are co-ed (often fun games, skating or rock climbing rather than a specific sport) and done in street clothes. The real athletes tend to play sports outside the school but the good ones will play 8th grade Varsity soccer, cross country or basketball - they only do 3 sports. JV is essentially open to all but it is very informal with academic teachers as coaches and games arranged on occasion. The MS offers no after-school clubs. It's a great school for the kid who craves small, informal and intimate.

I have to say, with relatives there, GDS sounds like a better fit. Much more to offer including a sports program and extensive drama resources. Another progressive school, they laugh and say "we're progressive but with much more structure." Their arts program is a particular strength with outstanding facilities and you will also get the classroom study skills you are seeking.

[Anonymous]

As far as Landon goes, the sports team cuts begin in MS. Highly competitive. They place great emphasis on athletics and allow their leading athletes
loads of academic/behavioral breaks.
Their reputation as a jock school is earned.

[Anonymous]

Unlike 10:55, my child attends SSSA and I can say that 4-5 hours of homework a night with 2-4 tests per week is the norm. Dedicated sports program with daily practice and 1-2 games per week and lots of choice for classes and clubs.

It is a great fit for the confident, fairly extroverted and social child. It is a formal environment with competition. The teachers are high-energy and demanding of their students who thrive in this environment.

[Anonymous]

Obviously pp didn't see the latest article in Landon's magazine about how 4 of their most recent grads were named to the top 100 young math and science academics in the US. My cousin who graduated from there is one - he currently works for a scientist who just won a Nobel prize.

And he can't play sports to save his life. But his younger brother did. A testament to Landon that they can produce both talents. Have always been known for their science adn math programs.

But will agree that it is a very competitive and demanding environment with lots of work.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with the PP that said Landon is only for jock kids. My kid goes to Landon, and although he's quite athletic, he's also shy and gentle and loves music. Initially, we didn't even consider Landon, because we thought it was too "Masters of the Universe" for us. But the school really won us over, and the OP should take a look at it -- her description of "mud on his pants" is perfect. The boys at Landon work hard (but I think there's a decent spectrum of academic ability) and play hard. They come home filthy every day! The classes are small, the teachers are great, and the boys seem happy. It's not for everyone; the parent body is quite homogenous, but I really like the current school leadership and the direction in which they seem to be headed. As for St. Anselm's, we looked at it too, and although the academics are stellar, it seemed like a place for a more serious, self-motivated student.

OP, if you don't like the whole all-boys, blazer and tie thing, check out Field.