Shake Up at SSMA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Whoa -- I'm the PP above you, and that sounds like a 180 from what we've experienced. That sounds really off and frankly unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

NP: They still have a large number of important positions posted on their employment page? Are these stops not filled permanently, or are they just not updating the website?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP: They still have a large number of important positions posted on their employment page? Are these stops not filled permanently, or are they just not updating the website?

Does anyone know?

[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.

We were alerted through My school DC that we were being offered a slot, but heard absolutely nothing from the school itself, even up until the date of commitment. We had already decided to stay where we are, but no email? No call? To me that’s indicative of other larger issues I’ve heard about at the school.

[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.

We were alerted through My school DC that we were being offered a slot, but heard absolutely nothing from the school itself, even up until the date of commitment. We had already decided to stay where we are, but no email? No call? To me that’s indicative of other larger issues I’ve heard about at the school.

What number did you start with?

[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.

We were alerted through My school DC that we were being offered a slot, but heard absolutely nothing from the school itself, even up until the date of commitment. We had already decided to stay where we are, but no email? No call? To me that’s indicative of other larger issues I’ve heard about at the school.

This was also our experience. I can't remember exactly where we started. Maybe in the 50s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

We were alerted through My school DC that we were being offered a slot, but heard absolutely nothing from the school itself, even up until the date of commitment. We had already decided to stay where we are, but no email? No call? To me that’s indicative of other larger issues I’ve heard about at the school.

What number did you start with?

I don’t remember, but it was low. 20s? 30s?

[Anonymous]

Shining Stars is a Tier 1 school now!

https://www.dcpcsb.org/more-students-ever-attend-top-ranked-public-charter-school

"Ten schools made the jump from Tier 2 to Tier 1 this year, with Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS improving by 31 points"

This is great news for the future of SSMA.

The only sour note for me -- and the reason I am posting it on this thread - is that the "Shake Up at SSMA" last year was clearly totally unjustified. I don't know why the last director of education left the school. But hats off to her. She did a remarkable job for SSMA. If you're reading this - Ms. W - Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I do not care about what Tier it is - SSMA is a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not care about what Tier it is - SSMA is a mess.

This year too? I know they had a bad year last year, and another about four years ago. What's bad this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not care about what Tier it is - SSMA is a mess.

This year too? I know they had a bad year last year, and another about four years ago. What's bad this year?

It's all the same stuff from last year really. Literally nothing has changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not care about what Tier it is - SSMA is a mess.

This year too? I know they had a bad year last year, and another about four years ago. What's bad this year?

It's all the same stuff from last year really. Literally nothing has changed.

Correct. It’s just as bad, if not worse.

The new Spanish immersion program is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Tier 1 is a big deal from the outside looking in. Congratulations to SSMA! Hopefully whatever these other issues are can be sorted out soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shining Stars is a Tier 1 school now!

https://www.dcpcsb.org/more-students-ever-attend-top-ranked-public-charter-school

"Ten schools made the jump from Tier 2 to Tier 1 this year, with Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS improving by 31 points"

This is great news for the future of SSMA.

The only sour note for me -- and the reason I am posting it on this thread - is that the "Shake Up at SSMA" last year was clearly totally unjustified. I don't know why the last director of education left the school. But hats off to her. She did a remarkable job for SSMA. If you're reading this - Ms. W - Thank you!

I remember the low score being a lot because of attendance. What's the jump attributable to? Better attendance is less impressive than perhaps other markers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shining Stars is a Tier 1 school now!

https://www.dcpcsb.org/more-students-ever-attend-top-ranked-public-charter-school

"Ten schools made the jump from Tier 2 to Tier 1 this year, with Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS improving by 31 points"

This is great news for the future of SSMA.

The only sour note for me -- and the reason I am posting it on this thread - is that the "Shake Up at SSMA" last year was clearly totally unjustified. I don't know why the last director of education left the school. But hats off to her. She did a remarkable job for SSMA. If you're reading this - Ms. W - Thank you!

I remember the low score being a lot because of attendance. What's the jump attributable to? Better attendance is less impressive than perhaps other markers.

Compare the last two year's reports for yourself. You can see what improved - not just attendance (although that was up).

http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/2017-11-8%20PMF%20Score%20Card%20SY16-17_Shining%20Stars%20Montessori%20Academy%20PCS_2017.pdf
https://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/2018-10-29%20Shining%20Stars%20Montessori%20Academy%20PCS%20PK3-8%20PMF.pdf