Shake Up at SSMA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a meeting today for new families. Most of the guides were present, so it seemed that all positions are filled.

Apparently the new Guide in Hughes (Upper El) isn’t Montessori trained.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a meeting today for new families. Most of the guides were present, so it seemed that all positions are filled.

Apparently the new Guide in Hughes (Upper El) isn’t Montessori trained.

Isn't that required by the AMS certification?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regarding the AC—nearby neighbor here. Your AC unit is indeed broken, and trust me, has not been shut off overnight recently or ever. It is a significant noise violation that multiple city agencies have engaged the ED and Howard on since 2016, with no action on her part (surprise). Thankfully Howard finally has contractors replacing the entire system, which should solve both the climate control problems at the school and the ongoing nuisance to the surrounding homes. Both schools dragged their feet for a long time.

As a side note, you should also know that there are multiple open cases with the Department of Public Works and Department of Health regarding SSMA’s broken dumpsters and rodents on site, and open inquiries with the charter school board regarding safety standards—or lack thereof—in the parking lot where they have the students play. It’s a bad scene over there and its part of why we don’t send our own kids there.

Out of curiosity, did you make this same complaint to the tenant prior to Shining Stars? The same loud HVAC unit has been there for years. Or did you only move next to the school recently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a meeting today for new families. Most of the guides were present, so it seemed that all positions are filled.

Apparently the new Guide in Hughes (Upper El) isn’t Montessori trained.

Isn't that required by the AMS certification?

It isn't like AMS comes and conducts oversight visits every year. And they are probably going to try and get her certified next summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding the AC—nearby neighbor here. Your AC unit is indeed broken, and trust me, has not been shut off overnight recently or ever. It is a significant noise violation that multiple city agencies have engaged the ED and Howard on since 2016, with no action on her part (surprise). Thankfully Howard finally has contractors replacing the entire system, which should solve both the climate control problems at the school and the ongoing nuisance to the surrounding homes. Both schools dragged their feet for a long time.

As a side note, you should also know that there are multiple open cases with the Department of Public Works and Department of Health regarding SSMA’s broken dumpsters and rodents on site, and open inquiries with the charter school board regarding safety standards—or lack thereof—in the parking lot where they have the students play. It’s a bad scene over there and its part of why we don’t send our own kids there.

Out of curiosity, did you make this same complaint to the tenant prior to Shining Stars? The same loud HVAC unit has been there for years. Or did you only move next to the school recently?

18:44 here. We’re not quite next door, but we’ve in the neighborhood since Metropolitan Day was the tenant. Theu actually had a different smaller HVAC that didn’t seem to bother anybody. The current one was put in when Shining Stars moved in. They brought in the big crane and swapped the new one in that summer. Sure didn’t last long. Hopefully the new one ends up being what they should have gotten in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a meeting today for new families. Most of the guides were present, so it seemed that all positions are filled.

Apparently the new Guide in Hughes (Upper El) isn’t Montessori trained.

Isn't that required by the AMS certification?

It isn't like AMS comes and conducts oversight visits every year. And they are probably going to try and get her certified next summer.

If she lasts. I wish her the best, but they don't have a great track record with Upper Elementary teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding the AC—nearby neighbor here. Your AC unit is indeed broken, and trust me, has not been shut off overnight recently or ever. It is a significant noise violation that multiple city agencies have engaged the ED and Howard on since 2016, with no action on her part (surprise). Thankfully Howard finally has contractors replacing the entire system, which should solve both the climate control problems at the school and the ongoing nuisance to the surrounding homes. Both schools dragged their feet for a long time.

As a side note, you should also know that there are multiple open cases with the Department of Public Works and Department of Health regarding SSMA’s broken dumpsters and rodents on site, and open inquiries with the charter school board regarding safety standards—or lack thereof—in the parking lot where they have the students play. It’s a bad scene over there and its part of why we don’t send our own kids there.

Out of curiosity, did you make this same complaint to the tenant prior to Shining Stars? The same loud HVAC unit has been there for years. Or did you only move next to the school recently?

The 311 app shows the sanitation issue as closed and the rodent issue as next door (and still pending)

[Anonymous]

I was considering this school for pre-K 3 next year, but it's hard to take them seriously when your staff page is under construction, there are misspellings on your site, and one of your resource links directs you to a spa in Ontario.

Hot ass mess...

[Anonymous]

Woah, we were over 20 on the WL on the first day of school, roughly 15 yesterday and just got a spot for PK3. The list is moving quickly/they are not updating the list very efficiently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Woah, we were over 20 on the WL on the first day of school, roughly 15 yesterday and just got a spot for PK3. The list is moving quickly/they are not updating the list very efficiently.

same thing happened at ITS for K when they had two spots to fill after school started. People dropped from 40 to offer pending within days. It's hard to fill spots after kids are settled in school, so I wouldn't read too much into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woah, we were over 20 on the WL on the first day of school, roughly 15 yesterday and just got a spot for PK3. The list is moving quickly/they are not updating the list very efficiently.

same thing happened at ITS for K when they had two spots to fill after school started. People dropped from 40 to offer pending within days. It's hard to fill spots after kids are settled in school, so I wouldn't read too much into it.

Yeah, it was astounding. We are grateful to have the spot, but it really gave me whiplash and I would have not volunteered for things at our old school if I had seen it coming.

[Anonymous]

I too would like current parent's perspectives on how THIS YEAR is going. We just moved from in the 20s to the top 3 on the waitlist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I too would like current parent's perspectives on how THIS YEAR is going. We just moved from in the 20s to the top 3 on the waitlist

I am a current parent with multiple kids in different grades. This year has had a rocky start, and it's cemented for us that the school is not a long-term fit. We've been here a few years, and we're just tired. This will be our last year at the school. (We're moving.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I too would like current parent's perspectives on how THIS YEAR is going. We just moved from in the 20s to the top 3 on the waitlist

I'm a new PK3 parent and finding it's been a really great fit. Some things are super annoying (seems like there's always a different pick-up procedure for aftercare and lunch payment info was super belated), but the staff have been so incredibly warm and responsive.

[Anonymous]

We are new to the school and have mixed feelings about it. There is a warmth and loveliness about the school and the staff. It also feels very disorganized and we’ve had some concerning experiences. Our DC’s guide/teacher has already missed a lot of days and one of those days they appeared not to have a sub in the class, just the assistant with all these kids. I also dropped my DC off one day, arriving 5 minutes after drop off began, and no adult was in the classroom, with a few kids waiting outside alone in the hallway. It was one of the children (a primary class so ages 3-5) who eventually went and told the front office and the principle ended up coming and filling in till the teachers arrived. Maybe this happens at other places too but it was alarming to me.