Thoughts on Grace Episcopal Day School in Kensington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bomb Thrower and Skitterer here:

You are right, Anonymous, I should have prefaced my lob with: Grace is a sweet school. They have good and loving teachers and staff who are happy to be there and clearly enjoy their work. We like their educational philosophy very much. The size, especially at the lower elementary level, is ideal, IMHO. The campus is big and open. The school is "normal" not pretentious, very down-to-earth. They emphasize inclusion and diversity and acceptance and they most definitely practice what they preach, though the staff and administration is overwhelmingly white.

Grace's current leadership inherited some unfortunate debt. There is no endowment. Fundraising is hampered by the fact that many of the families, past and present, don't have the financial resources to make additional contributions. Then, a plan to generate additional income and establish the much-needed endowment fell through. There was no Plan B or C. The Episcopal church has been generous and I know some parents that I talk to insist that the church will make sure the school continues. I hope that is the case. The lack of back up plan really alarmed us. Some paid positions have been eliminated or left open. Most upsetting to my family is that the PE teacher left and won't be replaced; instead Yoga and mindfulness will be taught by an existing staff member. Without an endowment or significant scholarship fund, the school's tuition scheme places a big burden on families paying full tuition to pay for their own children and subsidize others.

The school got PPP funds, but it has had to add staff to help with making classes smaller, spend money on measures to reduce the chance of infection spread, etc. All this, coupled with the fact that the school has so many families paying less than the full tuition rate, does not bode well. Barring financial miracles, which certainly can happen, getting the school back on more solid financial footing is going to require sharp marketing and financial skills and some ruthlessness. I have not seen those qualities in evidence in the current leadership. Empathy and compassion are essential, but no less so than a keen sense of self-preservation.

Then, despite a commitment from the HoS that Grace would do everything it could to reopen in the fall -- thanks to research and planning by staff and by parent volunteers in the medical community-- she threw in the towel. One of her justifications for this was that Sidwell Friends was going all virtual and she wanted to follow what the "big" privates were doing. A quick email to current Sidwell parents proved that was not true. This was all before the fight between MoCo's health guy and the MD governor. Our family and others were devastated when she did this. As the HoS had stated many times, the school's small size and large campus made being able to come back in person much more feasible than at other privates and at publics. Then, out of the blue, she bails. It was the final straw for our family. Virtual learning last spring was okay-- better than what MoCo seemed to offer, but for the money we were paying, we expected a lot more. HoS really got our hopes ups about being in person for the fall. Being forced to go virtual by the county, I can accept, but the HoS caved well before that, without even polling parents first. HoS is always offering empathy and compassion and I am actually fed up with it. Families need the services they have paid for.

Some of this is true and some of it is frankly unfair. We learned about the virtual decision about 2-3 weeks before the county debacle. Frankly she’s done what every other school has done from the look of it. Everyone is virtual for now. One of the only schools that’s open is Beauvoir. Most schools are virtual at least for the first month.

I agree that the announcement re the pe teacher was disappointing. But it frankly makes sense for Grace not to hire a new teacher this late in the game when it’s unlikely we’ll use a PE teacher in a meaningful way this year.

The other points about the lack of money is fair however.

Are fair*

[Anonymous]

And the “virtual decision” was 1 day on campus—“forest school” and 4 days virtual. Not a throw in the towel for virtual.

The financial distress will affect the schools ability to stay on that large campus, not the ability to survive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current Grace Parent here. We will be leaving at the end of this academic year. School has significant challenges that I don’t think it will be able to overcome, especially with their current head of school. Cannot in good conscience really recommend it.

How brave you are, little Miss Anonymous, to throw a bomb and skitter away! You have no credibility if you don’t back up your allegations with facts.

Okay, whatever, Mrs. Anonymous yourself

I’m not the one throwing bombs.

[Anonymous]

Grace gave up two weeks before the county. The fact that the county went nuts does not absolve Grace for bailing on us when everyone else was pushing forward. One day of playtime when people have been expecting much more was devastating. Yet, you recall that Grace was still going to be open daily for the preschool and pre-K, albeit an abbreviated schedule. One day of forest school for the rest of us felt like a slap in the face. I can take my child to the park or to the mountains. She even mentioned something about gardening?!? How about one day of actual in-person instruction in academic subjects?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bomb Thrower and Skitterer here:

You are right, Anonymous, I should have prefaced my lob with: Grace is a sweet school. They have good and loving teachers and staff who are happy to be there and clearly enjoy their work. We like their educational philosophy very much. The size, especially at the lower elementary level, is ideal, IMHO. The campus is big and open. The school is "normal" not pretentious, very down-to-earth. They emphasize inclusion and diversity and acceptance and they most definitely practice what they preach, though the staff and administration is overwhelmingly white.

Grace's current leadership inherited some unfortunate debt. There is no endowment. Fundraising is hampered by the fact that many of the families, past and present, don't have the financial resources to make additional contributions. Then, a plan to generate additional income and establish the much-needed endowment fell through. There was no Plan B or C. The Episcopal church has been generous and I know some parents that I talk to insist that the church will make sure the school continues. I hope that is the case. The lack of back up plan really alarmed us. Some paid positions have been eliminated or left open. Most upsetting to my family is that the PE teacher left and won't be replaced; instead Yoga and mindfulness will be taught by an existing staff member. Without an endowment or significant scholarship fund, the school's tuition scheme places a big burden on families paying full tuition to pay for their own children and subsidize others.

The school got PPP funds, but it has had to add staff to help with making classes smaller, spend money on measures to reduce the chance of infection spread, etc. All this, coupled with the fact that the school has so many families paying less than the full tuition rate, does not bode well. Barring financial miracles, which certainly can happen, getting the school back on more solid financial footing is going to require sharp marketing and financial skills and some ruthlessness. I have not seen those qualities in evidence in the current leadership. Empathy and compassion are essential, but no less so than a keen sense of self-preservation.

Then, despite a commitment from the HoS that Grace would do everything it could to reopen in the fall -- thanks to research and planning by staff and by parent volunteers in the medical community-- she threw in the towel. One of her justifications for this was that Sidwell Friends was going all virtual and she wanted to follow what the "big" privates were doing. A quick email to current Sidwell parents proved that was not true. This was all before the fight between MoCo's health guy and the MD governor. Our family and others were devastated when she did this. As the HoS had stated many times, the school's small size and large campus made being able to come back in person much more feasible than at other privates and at publics. Then, out of the blue, she bails. It was the final straw for our family. Virtual learning last spring was okay-- better than what MoCo seemed to offer, but for the money we were paying, we expected a lot more. HoS really got our hopes ups about being in person for the fall. Being forced to go virtual by the county, I can accept, but the HoS caved well before that, without even polling parents first. HoS is always offering empathy and compassion and I am actually fed up with it. Families need the services they have paid for.

Nice points but when I called they were not very nice or welcoming and when I asked basic questions who ever answered the phone was really rude so sadly given they were more than other local schools it made no sense to choose them.

[Anonymous]

Grace was in the minority when it made the decision to go virtual. Bullis, Norwood, St Andrews, Washington Episcopal, Sidwell and many more we’re moving forward with opening. DC-based schools still are. British International School opens Wednesday for full time, in person instruction. St Alban’s is going to be open.

I don’t understand what you mean about being unfair re: the financial situation. I believe my details are correct. My opinion, based on how I have seen the leadership behave and react is that the school is not positioning itself to weather this storm. It is the responsibility of the leadership, paid and volunteer, to ensure that the school is financially stable. This means dialing back on the discounts, figuring out how to keep families in the Pre-K program from leaving when their children are ready for kindergarten, doing some actual marketing, especially to families with more money. If the school’s financial situation has been truthfully portrayed by leadership, then it has been known for a long time that the school needed to make some changes if it was going to be able to establish an endowment, pay off its debt, pay its teacher’s competitively, etc. For goodness sake, the school is positioned right at the Beltway, where Chevy Chase, Rockville, Kensington and SS all meet, adjacent to neighborhoods that feed into huge, overcrowded elementary schools, it is tuition puts it in reach of middle class families, but it is still struggling to increase enrollment?!? Something is out of whack when a school with as much going for it as Grace is struggling. I feel like the answer is known, but no one wants to accept it.

My spouse has been telling me since we enrolled that the school’s leadership wanted to save souls, not run a business. I kept trying to convince him that he was wrong, but the evidence is kind of piling up. Grace is a good school; but it wants to be and rather is a charity school. Its mission and founding are rooted in charity. Nothing wrong with this unless you get so caught up in your mission to do good that you neglect to attend to the business that makes the good works possible.

And if ever there was a year that kids could use physical education, this it. It can be done outdoors so no PE teacher is inexcusable. Even if they just hired Coach Stein to come in two days per week to get the kids outside and moving with purpose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grace was in the minority when it made the decision to go virtual. Bullis, Norwood, St Andrews, Washington Episcopal, Sidwell and many more we’re moving forward with opening. DC-based schools still are. British International School opens Wednesday for full time, in person instruction. St Alban’s is going to be open.

I don’t understand what you mean about being unfair re: the financial situation. I believe my details are correct. My opinion, based on how I have seen the leadership behave and react is that the school is not positioning itself to weather this storm. It is the responsibility of the leadership, paid and volunteer, to ensure that the school is financially stable. This means dialing back on the discounts, figuring out how to keep families in the Pre-K program from leaving when their children are ready for kindergarten, doing some actual marketing, especially to families with more money. If the school’s financial situation has been truthfully portrayed by leadership, then it has been known for a long time that the school needed to make some changes if it was going to be able to establish an endowment, pay off its debt, pay its teacher’s competitively, etc. For goodness sake, the school is positioned right at the Beltway, where Chevy Chase, Rockville, Kensington and SS all meet, adjacent to neighborhoods that feed into huge, overcrowded elementary schools, it is tuition puts it in reach of middle class families, but it is still struggling to increase enrollment?!? Something is out of whack when a school with as much going for it as Grace is struggling. I feel like the answer is known, but no one wants to accept it.

My spouse has been telling me since we enrolled that the school’s leadership wanted to save souls, not run a business. I kept trying to convince him that he was wrong, but the evidence is kind of piling up. Grace is a good school; but it wants to be and rather is a charity school. Its mission and founding are rooted in charity. Nothing wrong with this unless you get so caught up in your mission to do good that you neglect to attend to the business that makes the good works possible.

And if ever there was a year that kids could use physical education, this it. It can be done outdoors so no PE teacher is inexcusable. Even if they just hired Coach Stein to come in two days per week to get the kids outside and moving with purpose.

There are also very few private schools nearby, especially in Kensington so they don't have much competition.

[Anonymous]

This news is unfortunate and I hope the school can get back on track. Is the plan to move to a different location then? Maybe take funds from property sale to pay off debt, create a small endowment, and then lease another space?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Knowof any kids who went to Sidwell or another top schools from Grace?

Yes -- one of the brightest, nicest kids in my son's class at Sidwell went to Grace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good school. Sweet kids.

Their Head of School came from Beauvoir- was Director of Outplacement there- so lots of good contacts

capable, competent and affable leader- if he ( James ) is still there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bomb Thrower and Skitterer here:

You are right, Anonymous, I should have prefaced my lob with: Grace is a sweet school. They have good and loving teachers and staff who are happy to be there and clearly enjoy their work. We like their educational philosophy very much. The size, especially at the lower elementary level, is ideal, IMHO. The campus is big and open. The school is "normal" not pretentious, very down-to-earth. They emphasize inclusion and diversity and acceptance and they most definitely practice what they preach, though the staff and administration is overwhelmingly white.

Grace's current leadership inherited some unfortunate debt. There is no endowment. Fundraising is hampered by the fact that many of the families, past and present, don't have the financial resources to make additional contributions. Then, a plan to generate additional income and establish the much-needed endowment fell through. There was no Plan B or C. The Episcopal church has been generous and I know some parents that I talk to insist that the church will make sure the school continues. I hope that is the case. The lack of back up plan really alarmed us. Some paid positions have been eliminated or left open. Most upsetting to my family is that the PE teacher left and won't be replaced; instead Yoga and mindfulness will be taught by an existing staff member. Without an endowment or significant scholarship fund, the school's tuition scheme places a big burden on families paying full tuition to pay for their own children and subsidize others.

The school got PPP funds, but it has had to add staff to help with making classes smaller, spend money on measures to reduce the chance of infection spread, etc. All this, coupled with the fact that the school has so many families paying less than the full tuition rate, does not bode well. Barring financial miracles, which certainly can happen, getting the school back on more solid financial footing is going to require sharp marketing and financial skills and some ruthlessness. I have not seen those qualities in evidence in the current leadership. Empathy and compassion are essential, but no less so than a keen sense of self-preservation.

Then, despite a commitment from the HoS that Grace would do everything it could to reopen in the fall -- thanks to research and planning by staff and by parent volunteers in the medical community-- she threw in the towel. One of her justifications for this was that Sidwell Friends was going all virtual and she wanted to follow what the "big" privates were doing. A quick email to current Sidwell parents proved that was not true. This was all before the fight between MoCo's health guy and the MD governor. Our family and others were devastated when she did this. As the HoS had stated many times, the school's small size and large campus made being able to come back in person much more feasible than at other privates and at publics. Then, out of the blue, she bails. It was the final straw for our family. Virtual learning last spring was okay-- better than what MoCo seemed to offer, but for the money we were paying, we expected a lot more. HoS really got our hopes ups about being in person for the fall. Being forced to go virtual by the county, I can accept, but the HoS caved well before that, without even polling parents first. HoS is always offering empathy and compassion and I am actually fed up with it. Families need the services they have paid for.

One word is all that is needed to re-direct to the true issue:

Teachers

Were they will to come to work? Did they have child care to enable them to do so ?

[Anonymous]

17:25, you are mistaken. The very highly regarded Grace HOS came from St. Patrick's. The gentleman you mentioned from Beauvoir was never at Grace. He went to Concord Hill and then to NCRC.

I am not sure how the vitriolic PP got all of this "information" and chooses to slam the school on an anonymous board. If you are unhappy, just leave the school. Given the Episcopalian emphasis on kindness, it is probably better for the community if your family is not there. Most people, but especially Episcopalians, teach their children that if you cannot say kind words, you should not speak at all.

Kudos to the Grace administrators and faculty who work so very hard to give Grace students a rich education. This alum parent will try to step up the donations.

[Anonymous]

Forgot to add. Most schools have decided in the past few weeks that they must go virtual. My children's schools have done this. Yes, we are all disappointed. But it makes no sense to slam the HOS for making this difficult decision.

[Anonymous]

If you do a little research, you will learn how Grace has thrived over the years despite being located near top-notch public schools and much larger, fancier NWDC privates. It survived the great recession when many schools its size were forced to close. There's no question that the recession hit the school hard. It might seem like many years ago, but not really, and not when you consider relative stagnant income growth, increase in housing costs, and the school's close proximity to good public schools.

Most private schools are having a hard time, even the more "exclusive" schools in DC, where parents were traditionally more hesitant to send their kids to public.

I'm a former Grace parent and my kids loved it. I've seen three heads of school and Jen Danish is by far the most competent, caring, and savvy HoS to lead the school. These are not easy times and the leadership is having to redefine the school and serve the children and families in a way that is safe, fiscally sound, and follows the Episcopal mission. My three kids went on to excellent privates. Two are now in college. All schools have had to readjust for enrollment issues, increases in FA requests, decreases in endowments, and are pivoting to online learning when experiential learning is part of the value add of a private school education.

Grace is a unique and wonderful community of loving, down to earth parents, teachers, and staff. No matter what changes the school makes, that has remained and will remain a constant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ Good answer. Take notes, Christ Episcopal School.

YES. I hope they are paying attention.