How is Ritchie Park Elementary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surprised nobody has posted about the new principal for the 2019-20 school year. All the threads about RPES seem to eventually include how terrible (or wonderful) the former principal was.

She is leaving I heard. Where is she going and who is the new principal?

[Anonymous]

Jennifer Redden is the new principal. Was at Luxmanor last year as an intern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The RPES PTA just announced that the MCPS’s Outdoor Environmental Education Program has approved Ritchie Park to create a garden to be used as an outdoor classroom. You can read more information about the new garden program here: www.ritchieparktpa.org

The outdoor classroom/garden project was spearheaded by 2 parents who worked cooperatively with the principal to get this program in place. So there ARE parents who are involved, and the principal does work with parents on issues. There is also a parent at the school who does really good work advocating for gifted & talented programs and enrichments in the school.

No schools or administrators are perfect. RPES is a good school by MCPS standards.

But not great. And for the area, it should be better. Parent involvement has diminished severely and there are a ton of non involved families or over the top helicopter/tiger parents. There doesn't seem to be much in-between. Just lacking any fun. Stale programs and activities. Same things each year. Get's old quick.

[Anonymous]

Surprised nobody has posted about the new principal for the 2019-20 school year. All the threads about RPES seem to eventually include how terrible (or wonderful) the former principal was.


She is leaving I heard. Where is she going and who is the new principal?

Old principal is retiring. Praise be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jennifer Redden is the new principal. Was at Luxmanor last year as an intern.

She is just acting principal for this school year. There will be a principal search and hiring process in the winter for a permanent new principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The RPES PTA just announced that the MCPS’s Outdoor Environmental Education Program has approved Ritchie Park to create a garden to be used as an outdoor classroom. You can read more information about the new garden program here: www.ritchieparktpa.org

The outdoor classroom/garden project was spearheaded by 2 parents who worked cooperatively with the principal to get this program in place. So there ARE parents who are involved, and the principal does work with parents on issues. There is also a parent at the school who does really good work advocating for gifted & talented programs and enrichments in the school.

No schools or administrators are perfect. RPES is a good school by MCPS standards.

But not great. And for the area, it should be better. Parent involvement has diminished severely and there are a ton of non involved families or over the top helicopter/tiger parents. There doesn't seem to be much in-between. Just lacking any fun. Stale programs and activities. Same things each year. Get's old quick.

Fun for whom? For you or the kids? My DC *loves* RP. I didn't love it, but it wasn't horrible. DC looked forward to certain events every year.

If you find the programs *stale* have you tried to get involved? I know the PTA is *always* looking for new programs and volunteers. I have helped out at these events. Have you? This really gets to me.. some parents complain a lot but don't lift a finger to change things. Of course you want someone else to do all the work for you. I'm not part of the PTA board, but I appreciate all those who volunteer to take on the positions, especially because they have to deal with all kinds of criticism and little thanks from people like PP.

DC loved most of the teachers. IMO, some were good, others were lackluster. But honestly, what school is perfect with all great teachers? I hear about how some W schools also have some checked out, lackluster teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jennifer Redden is the new principal. Was at Luxmanor last year as an intern.

She is just acting principal for this school year. There will be a principal search and hiring process in the winter for a permanent new principal.

Really? Wow, I worked with her at one of her previous schools when she was AP and assumed she would be getting a full principal ship after her intern year. She's good. She's young and inexperienced (taught for only 5 years, I think, before moving up), but definitely has a strong work ethic and wants to succeed, from what I observed. That trickles down to students. Seems like a win for Ritchie Park. Hopefully she stays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jennifer Redden is the new principal. Was at Luxmanor last year as an intern.

She is just acting principal for this school year. There will be a principal search and hiring process in the winter for a permanent new principal.

Really? Wow, I worked with her at one of her previous schools when she was AP and assumed she would be getting a full principal ship after her intern year. She's good. She's young and inexperienced (taught for only 5 years, I think, before moving up), but definitely has a strong work ethic and wants to succeed, from what I observed. That trickles down to students. Seems like a win for Ritchie Park. Hopefully she stays.

There wasn't time to do a principal search before this school year because the former principal didn't announce she was leaving until June. Anyone put into the job would be an acting principal so that the community would not be prematurely rushed.

[Anonymous]

Ritchie Park has truly outstanding teachers and families. That does not mean every teacher is the best teacher or the right teacher for your child nor does it mean that every family will be your type of person. The climate at school will change because there is a new principal (acting or not), a new assistant principal and a new staff development teacher. I am happy my children go to RPES and I think the change of leadership will only make a strong school stronger. The change will eliminate the complacency that exists.

[Anonymous]

"But not great. And for the area, it should be better. Parent involvement has diminished severely and there are a ton of non involved families or over the top helicopter/tiger parents. There doesn't seem to be much in-between. Just lacking any fun. Stale programs and activities. Same things each year. Get's old quick."

Well, we went through one of those schools DCUM usually calls, great.

We only have 2 kids and the second one went to the gifted center school their last two years so we were involved for just 6 years.

The programs got stale there as well. That is not a RP problem, it is everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"But not great. And for the area, it should be better. Parent involvement has diminished severely and there are a ton of non involved families or over the top helicopter/tiger parents. There doesn't seem to be much in-between. Just lacking any fun. Stale programs and activities. Same things each year. Get's old quick."

Well, we went through one of those schools DCUM usually calls, great.

We only have 2 kids and the second one went to the gifted center school their last two years so we were involved for just 6 years.

The programs got stale there as well. That is not a RP problem, it is everywhere.

+1

If someone thinks that PTA programs at their school are stale there is an extremely simple solution. Come up with new program ideas and be the event coordinator for that/those new programs. Viola, fresh new programs at your school!

As for Ritchie Park in particular, this past year alone, the PTA added an outdoor garden initiative, geography bee, math Olympiad program, color run, Golf fundraiser, and spring picnic. I would hardly call 6 brand new programs "stale" but I guess some stuck up Potomac mom's just love to complain and not lift a finger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But not great. And for the area, it should be better. Parent involvement has diminished severely and there are a ton of non involved families or over the top helicopter/tiger parents. There doesn't seem to be much in-between. Just lacking any fun. Stale programs and activities. Same things each year. Get's old quick."

Well, we went through one of those schools DCUM usually calls, great.

We only have 2 kids and the second one went to the gifted center school their last two years so we were involved for just 6 years.

The programs got stale there as well. That is not a RP problem, it is everywhere.

+1

If someone thinks that PTA programs at their school are stale there is an extremely simple solution. Come up with new program ideas and be the event coordinator for that/those new programs. Viola, fresh new programs at your school!

As for Ritchie Park in particular, this past year alone, the PTA added an outdoor garden initiative, geography bee, math Olympiad program, color run, Golf fundraiser, and spring picnic. I would hardly call 6 brand new programs "stale" but I guess some stuck up Potomac mom's just love to complain and not lift a finger.

Ritchie Park is in Rockville

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But not great. And for the area, it should be better. Parent involvement has diminished severely and there are a ton of non involved families or over the top helicopter/tiger parents. There doesn't seem to be much in-between. Just lacking any fun. Stale programs and activities. Same things each year. Get's old quick."

Well, we went through one of those schools DCUM usually calls, great.

We only have 2 kids and the second one went to the gifted center school their last two years so we were involved for just 6 years.

The programs got stale there as well. That is not a RP problem, it is everywhere.

+1

If someone thinks that PTA programs at their school are stale there is an extremely simple solution. Come up with new program ideas and be the event coordinator for that/those new programs. Viola, fresh new programs at your school!

As for Ritchie Park in particular, this past year alone, the PTA added an outdoor garden initiative, geography bee, math Olympiad program, color run, Golf fundraiser, and spring picnic. I would hardly call 6 brand new programs "stale" but I guess some stuck up Potomac mom's just love to complain and not lift a finger.

Ritchie Park is in Rockville

Some houses in the zone have Potomac addresses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But not great. And for the area, it should be better. Parent involvement has diminished severely and there are a ton of non involved families or over the top helicopter/tiger parents. There doesn't seem to be much in-between. Just lacking any fun. Stale programs and activities. Same things each year. Get's old quick."

Well, we went through one of those schools DCUM usually calls, great.

We only have 2 kids and the second one went to the gifted center school their last two years so we were involved for just 6 years.

The programs got stale there as well. That is not a RP problem, it is everywhere.

+1

If someone thinks that PTA programs at their school are stale there is an extremely simple solution. Come up with new program ideas and be the event coordinator for that/those new programs. Viola, fresh new programs at your school!

As for Ritchie Park in particular, this past year alone, the PTA added an outdoor garden initiative, geography bee, math Olympiad program, color run, Golf fundraiser, and spring picnic. I would hardly call 6 brand new programs "stale" but I guess some stuck up Potomac mom's just love to complain and not lift a finger.

ITA, but what makes you think this was a Potomac parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But not great. And for the area, it should be better. Parent involvement has diminished severely and there are a ton of non involved families or over the top helicopter/tiger parents. There doesn't seem to be much in-between. Just lacking any fun. Stale programs and activities. Same things each year. Get's old quick."

Well, we went through one of those schools DCUM usually calls, great.

We only have 2 kids and the second one went to the gifted center school their last two years so we were involved for just 6 years.

The programs got stale there as well. That is not a RP problem, it is everywhere.

+1

If someone thinks that PTA programs at their school are stale there is an extremely simple solution. Come up with new program ideas and be the event coordinator for that/those new programs. Viola, fresh new programs at your school!

As for Ritchie Park in particular, this past year alone, the PTA added an outdoor garden initiative, geography bee, math Olympiad program, color run, Golf fundraiser, and spring picnic. I would hardly call 6 brand new programs "stale" but I guess some stuck up Potomac mom's just love to complain and not lift a finger.

Ritchie Park is in Rockville

Some houses in the zone have Potomac addresses.

Yes, some houses have a Potomac mailing address, but the houses are priced significantly less than if they went to a Potomac school (i.e., Churchill). Perhaps Potomac moms and Rockville moms are pretty similar. As an aside, my nephew was getting special education services at Ritchie Park and the school moved him to a different school in the cluster to receive "special education services" that Ritchie Park said they could not provide. Well that was a disaster (for lots of reasons) and his needs were not so significant that the school could not have accommodated him.