Congressional School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A previous poster in March wrote about the previous head of middle school, now head of academics, not being the best individual to be in that position and how his leadership affects the whole school. They wrote about favoritism and other instances where he/they have made decisions against people whom they are not fond off. If you read this article you'll see similar behavior repeated once again in this lawsuit that has been filed. I completely believe that student and her mother and the administrations' behavior doesn't surprise me. I feel very sorry for what has occurred to her:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/teen-and-mother-sue-northern-virginia-private-academy-over-handling-of-alleged-attack/2019/04/22/a335dd1a-6061-11e9-bfad-36a7eb36cb60_story.html?utm_term=.3efa97b3779b

You believe the student and mother based on what? Apparently Arlington County didn't. "Arlington police investigated the sexual battery allegations and presented the case to prosecutors who declined to prosecute the case,"

[Anonymous]

To the previous poster who said "You believe the student and mother based on what? Apparently, Arlington County didn't. "Arlington police investigated the sexual battery allegations and presented the case to prosecutors who declined to prosecute the case,"

Have you not learned anything about believing the victim? Why would ANYONE want to put their daughter through something like this, then PULL their daughter and other child out of school in the middle of the school year (I believe this is when they left according to the article) to go somewhere else, and there is hard evidence that this kid is a history of sending inappropriate pictures to different girls? Do you honestly believe that any middle schooler, especially a girl, would want to deal with this drama and angst?

That Director needs to be fired for not thinking about the well being of ALL children at that school and doing what was necessary to protect them from this boy when the incidents were brought to his attention. Having dealt with this man directly, I know of what I speak. I am not surprised at how he behaving. I hope the first thing the new head does is get rid of this man immediately.

[Anonymous]

Do they give parents the option to opt-out from the sexuality lessons?

Yes but it is discouraged.

[Anonymous]

I hate not being able to edit... sorry for the double post.

Do they give parents the option to opt-out from the sexuality lessons?

Yes but it is discouraged.

I should say, I get the impression it is discouraged based on a feedback I have received. Nobody has actually said "we discourage this" rather they have said "we hope you will not do that". The difference is subtle.

[Anonymous]

You believe the student and mother based on what? Apparently Arlington County didn't. "Arlington police investigated the sexual battery allegations and presented the case to prosecutors who declined to prosecute the case,"

There could be so many reasons why they declined to prosecute. Testifying is harder on the victim than anyone else. If she, at that time, did not want to testify then the county would have declined to prosecute. I would not find the victim guilty just yet, there seems to be a history with this boy and quite a bit more to the story.

[Anonymous]

I think the fact that it wasn't prosecuted is beside the point. Kids should be safe and protected from violence or bullying. If what I read here and in the article is true, the administration bungled this. Even if they were skeptical or not ready to expel the boy, there is absolutely not question that the girls locker should have been moved and every step taken to make her feel safe while they looked into it. It sounds like they listened to her and then did nothing. As a parent, when my child was being bullied, I want the other child dealt with and my child to feel safe. I didn't want the other kid charged with battery. While our former school did address my child's safety, I later learned the bully just turned his focus on another child and the school acted like it was a new event. Schools do sometimes completely blow it.
My suspicion is that the parents went to the police in part to generate a real reaction from the school to deal with the boy. Plus, I absolutely believe that if something happened, the girl was traumatized by the event and then emotionally impacted by the failure of trusted leaders in her school to deal with it.

If the boy had been sexually violent to another student, the parents of the boy need to be told and they need to deal with him (counseling, etc.) and that might include pulling him out of a private school.

[Anonymous]

YIKES! What an S show. Why would someone who lives in fairfax county pay to go there? Great summer camp but the school. Come on. Talk about highway robbery.

[Anonymous]

Is this why the former head of school was fired? Because of her handling of this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As at any school, you can opt your child out of sex ed discussions.

But not out of sports? That makes me angry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this why the former head of school was fired? Because of her handling of this?

Probably. The Heinrichs guy has got to go too. They need to toss the incestuous admin and start again...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the previous poster who said "You believe the student and mother based on what? Apparently, Arlington County didn't. "Arlington police investigated the sexual battery allegations and presented the case to prosecutors who declined to prosecute the case,"

Have you not learned anything about believing the victim? Why would ANYONE want to put their daughter through something like this, then PULL their daughter and other child out of school in the middle of the school year (I believe this is when they left according to the article) to go somewhere else, and there is hard evidence that this kid is a history of sending inappropriate pictures to different girls? Do you honestly believe that any middle schooler, especially a girl, would want to deal with this drama and angst?

That Director needs to be fired for not thinking about the well being of ALL children at that school and doing what was necessary to protect them from this boy when the incidents were brought to his attention. Having dealt with this man directly, I know of what I speak. I am not surprised at how he behaving. I hope the first thing the new head does is get rid of this man immediately.

I have to say reading through the last part of this thread definitely makes me cross Congressional off my list. I truly feel badly for that girl and her family. I would never sent my girls to a school like this. We are just starting to make our list of schools to apply to for middle school. Congressional will not be on it.

[Anonymous]

I seem to remember that there was also something floating around on Facebook last summer about an inappropriate song at the summer camp. Something seems very off.

[Anonymous]

He is a mandatory reporter. If nothing else he should be fired for discouraging the girl from going to the police and not filing a report himself. Horrific!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I seem to remember that there was also something floating around on Facebook last summer about an inappropriate song at the summer camp. Something seems very off.

Can you shed some more light on this? My son is signed up this summer and I would like to keep my eye out for this behavior.

[Anonymous]

That Director needs to be fired for not thinking about the well being of ALL children at that school and doing what was necessary to protect them from this boy when the incidents were brought to his attention. Having dealt with this man directly, I know of what I speak. I am not surprised at how he behaving. I hope the first thing the new head does is get rid of this man immediately.

Agreed! If these allegations are true, the man needs to go.

It sounds like there are some real issues at Congressional... I dont see how they could be voted best of Arlington with these problems.