Spanish Immersion Community Table Session

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They paused the process for a year and it seems like they are rejecting the idea of WM, noting it is not central and doesn't have a large number of students in the program.

Do you mean rejecting the idea of WMS? Where did you see that, none of the document state anything about the final location.

Again, why the does it need to be central, because the vision board wants it? It hasn't been central for a generation, and it has no geographic requirement to be near the students. Almost zero kids in HBW live near HB for example.

It is not official, but they certainly suggest that WMS is not what the plan is IMO.

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/CVTRSN6F3A6D/$file/Work%20Session%20MS%20Boundaries.pdf

Look at pages 6 and 7

IN response to this question: Why not locate the program at Williamsburg where there is excess
capacity?

APS noted: Williamsburg is not a central location, more similar to Gunston in a corner of the
county, and Williamsburg has the smallest cohort of students that participate in the
Middle School Immersion Program.

Based upon their own argument, perhaps it has the lowest cohort BECAUSE it is so far from Gunston. That’s circular logic. If the program was valued by participants, location wouldn’t matter, and half the time it’s simply a way to get away from an underperforming school.

Then there's really no reason at all to put it at WMS. There are no under-performing schools nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, Thai is all stupid.

Kenmore has to be where the MS Arts focus is going, since they are the only school that already has the facilities, staff, and are already doing STEAM and kids transfer for it, but Kenmore doesn’t track to Yorktown. Why would Yorktown be the Arts High School if the Immersion program has to be at a school that then tracks to Wakefield? IB is at Jefferson. So which MS gets Immersion, which gets STEM? And that leaves one school without a focus? Sounds like they need to rethink this whole thing if they can’t even count how many MS we have.

Alignment doesn't matter for programs or options, Immersion doesn't have to track to Wakefield, etc.

If they are binding their choices by programs rather than focusing on limiting costs, busing, and avoiding overcrowding, i don't know what to tell you.

Stop rearranging deck chairs, focus on real problems not stupid options and programs that impact a small percentage of students. Immersion represents 5% of middle school students, for example.

I agree they don’t have to track, but one of Immersion’s main arguments was they need to be in school that tracks to Wakefield. This all seems not well thought-out. Are they really going to move Immersion into a school that already has an arts focus and that kids are transferring for? And then move the arts focus elsewhere, to a school that doesn’t have a dance teacher on staff, doesn’t have a dance studio, or a state-of-the-art theater for dance and musical performances? And if one school has both Arts and Immersion, will other MS not have any focus programs? What is the point of this?

I mean one school has both immersion and Montessori now. I don't really think this matters. Aren't gunston, Kenmore, and TJ the only schools with a special focus/ program In MS?

Yes, right now. But the report seems to indicate they want a focus at every MS. So why would you put two into one?

So no Immersion at Kenmore or TJ since already have focus. That leaves WMS or DHMS?

Or Swanson, as someone earlier suggested. That's not a horrible location for immersion and is much better located than either WMS or Hamm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain what the arts focus of Kenmore means in practical terms, and why other MS don't have the same opportunitites?

Arts was a cheap way to make Kenmore seem more palatable to the neighborhood without having any measurable outcomes. There aren’t Arts SOLs or standard tests like for STEAM or IB. Its just “look you have a theater and a dance teacher: ART”

Kenmore actually has a STEAM focus now. They have a pathway for kids to earn a special certificate if they take classes in art, science, engineering, communications, and participate in clubs within that focus. They have a TV studio, a dance studio, at least one tech lab with a bunch of equipment like 3D printers. I think most, if not all, MS have those tech labs and offer the same science and tech classes. But Kenmore is definitely the only MS with a dance studio and teacher and it has the nicest and largest theater, so I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be the Arts focus MS.

Thank you.

Isn't there also some partnership with the Kennedy Center or some theater group?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, Thai is all stupid.

Kenmore has to be where the MS Arts focus is going, since they are the only school that already has the facilities, staff, and are already doing STEAM and kids transfer for it, but Kenmore doesn’t track to Yorktown. Why would Yorktown be the Arts High School if the Immersion program has to be at a school that then tracks to Wakefield? IB is at Jefferson. So which MS gets Immersion, which gets STEM? And that leaves one school without a focus? Sounds like they need to rethink this whole thing if they can’t even count how many MS we have.

Alignment doesn't matter for programs or options, Immersion doesn't have to track to Wakefield, etc.

If they are binding their choices by programs rather than focusing on limiting costs, busing, and avoiding overcrowding, i don't know what to tell you.

Stop rearranging deck chairs, focus on real problems not stupid options and programs that impact a small percentage of students. Immersion represents 5% of middle school students, for example.

I agree they don’t have to track, but one of Immersion’s main arguments was they need to be in school that tracks to Wakefield. This all seems not well thought-out. Are they really going to move Immersion into a school that already has an arts focus and that kids are transferring for? And then move the arts focus elsewhere, to a school that doesn’t have a dance teacher on staff, doesn’t have a dance studio, or a state-of-the-art theater for dance and musical performances? And if one school has both Arts and Immersion, will other MS not have any focus programs? What is the point of this?

I mean one school has both immersion and Montessori now. I don't really think this matters. Aren't gunston, Kenmore, and TJ the only schools with a special focus/ program In MS?

Yes, right now. But the report seems to indicate they want a focus at every MS. So why would you put two into one?

So no Immersion at Kenmore or TJ since already have focus. That leaves WMS or DHMS?

Swanson.

I thought Swanson was overcrowded?

Boundary changes, remember? All to be undertaken at once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, Thai is all stupid.

Kenmore has to be where the MS Arts focus is going, since they are the only school that already has the facilities, staff, and are already doing STEAM and kids transfer for it, but Kenmore doesn’t track to Yorktown. Why would Yorktown be the Arts High School if the Immersion program has to be at a school that then tracks to Wakefield? IB is at Jefferson. So which MS gets Immersion, which gets STEM? And that leaves one school without a focus? Sounds like they need to rethink this whole thing if they can’t even count how many MS we have.

Alignment doesn't matter for programs or options, Immersion doesn't have to track to Wakefield, etc.

If they are binding their choices by programs rather than focusing on limiting costs, busing, and avoiding overcrowding, i don't know what to tell you.

Stop rearranging deck chairs, focus on real problems not stupid options and programs that impact a small percentage of students. Immersion represents 5% of middle school students, for example.

I agree they don’t have to track, but one of Immersion’s main arguments was they need to be in school that tracks to Wakefield. This all seems not well thought-out. Are they really going to move Immersion into a school that already has an arts focus and that kids are transferring for? And then move the arts focus elsewhere, to a school that doesn’t have a dance teacher on staff, doesn’t have a dance studio, or a state-of-the-art theater for dance and musical performances? And if one school has both Arts and Immersion, will other MS not have any focus programs? What is the point of this?

I mean one school has both immersion and Montessori now. I don't really think this matters. Aren't gunston, Kenmore, and TJ the only schools with a special focus/ program In MS?

Yes, right now. But the report seems to indicate they want a focus at every MS. So why would you put two into one?

So no Immersion at Kenmore or TJ since already have focus. That leaves WMS or DHMS?

Swanson.

I thought Swanson was overcrowded?

Boundary changes, remember? All to be undertaken at once.

But moving Immersion to an overcrowded school will trigger even bigger boundary changes and more busing. I thought the county wanted to save money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, Thai is all stupid.

Kenmore has to be where the MS Arts focus is going, since they are the only school that already has the facilities, staff, and are already doing STEAM and kids transfer for it, but Kenmore doesn’t track to Yorktown. Why would Yorktown be the Arts High School if the Immersion program has to be at a school that then tracks to Wakefield? IB is at Jefferson. So which MS gets Immersion, which gets STEM? And that leaves one school without a focus? Sounds like they need to rethink this whole thing if they can’t even count how many MS we have.

Alignment doesn't matter for programs or options, Immersion doesn't have to track to Wakefield, etc.

If they are binding their choices by programs rather than focusing on limiting costs, busing, and avoiding overcrowding, i don't know what to tell you.

Stop rearranging deck chairs, focus on real problems not stupid options and programs that impact a small percentage of students. Immersion represents 5% of middle school students, for example.

I agree they don’t have to track, but one of Immersion’s main arguments was they need to be in school that tracks to Wakefield. This all seems not well thought-out. Are they really going to move Immersion into a school that already has an arts focus and that kids are transferring for? And then move the arts focus elsewhere, to a school that doesn’t have a dance teacher on staff, doesn’t have a dance studio, or a state-of-the-art theater for dance and musical performances? And if one school has both Arts and Immersion, will other MS not have any focus programs? What is the point of this?

I mean one school has both immersion and Montessori now. I don't really think this matters. Aren't gunston, Kenmore, and TJ the only schools with a special focus/ program In MS?

Yes, right now. But the report seems to indicate they want a focus at every MS. So why would you put two into one?

So no Immersion at Kenmore or TJ since already have focus. That leaves WMS or DHMS?

Or Swanson, as someone earlier suggested. That's not a horrible location for immersion and is much better located than either WMS or Hamm.

Swanson is 2 miles from WMS, an 8 minute drive. Hardly that different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, Thai is all stupid.

Kenmore has to be where the MS Arts focus is going, since they are the only school that already has the facilities, staff, and are already doing STEAM and kids transfer for it, but Kenmore doesn’t track to Yorktown. Why would Yorktown be the Arts High School if the Immersion program has to be at a school that then tracks to Wakefield? IB is at Jefferson. So which MS gets Immersion, which gets STEM? And that leaves one school without a focus? Sounds like they need to rethink this whole thing if they can’t even count how many MS we have.

Alignment doesn't matter for programs or options, Immersion doesn't have to track to Wakefield, etc.

If they are binding their choices by programs rather than focusing on limiting costs, busing, and avoiding overcrowding, i don't know what to tell you.

Stop rearranging deck chairs, focus on real problems not stupid options and programs that impact a small percentage of students. Immersion represents 5% of middle school students, for example.

I agree they don’t have to track, but one of Immersion’s main arguments was they need to be in school that tracks to Wakefield. This all seems not well thought-out. Are they really going to move Immersion into a school that already has an arts focus and that kids are transferring for? And then move the arts focus elsewhere, to a school that doesn’t have a dance teacher on staff, doesn’t have a dance studio, or a state-of-the-art theater for dance and musical performances? And if one school has both Arts and Immersion, will other MS not have any focus programs? What is the point of this?

I mean one school has both immersion and Montessori now. I don't really think this matters. Aren't gunston, Kenmore, and TJ the only schools with a special focus/ program In MS?

Yes, right now. But the report seems to indicate they want a focus at every MS. So why would you put two into one?

So no Immersion at Kenmore or TJ since already have focus. That leaves WMS or DHMS?

Or Swanson, as someone earlier suggested. That's not a horrible location for immersion and is much better located than either WMS or Hamm.

Swanson is 2 miles from WMS, an 8 minute drive. Hardly that different.

If Immersion moved to Swanson they could rezone the displaced students to WMS, reducing the domino effect for both Hamm and Kenmore in the current proposal.

I've also heard a lot of unhappiness from Swanson parents, so they may be happy for a bit of a shake up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, Thai is all stupid.

Kenmore has to be where the MS Arts focus is going, since they are the only school that already has the facilities, staff, and are already doing STEAM and kids transfer for it, but Kenmore doesn’t track to Yorktown. Why would Yorktown be the Arts High School if the Immersion program has to be at a school that then tracks to Wakefield? IB is at Jefferson. So which MS gets Immersion, which gets STEM? And that leaves one school without a focus? Sounds like they need to rethink this whole thing if they can’t even count how many MS we have.

Alignment doesn't matter for programs or options, Immersion doesn't have to track to Wakefield, etc.

If they are binding their choices by programs rather than focusing on limiting costs, busing, and avoiding overcrowding, i don't know what to tell you.

Stop rearranging deck chairs, focus on real problems not stupid options and programs that impact a small percentage of students. Immersion represents 5% of middle school students, for example.

I agree they don’t have to track, but one of Immersion’s main arguments was they need to be in school that tracks to Wakefield. This all seems not well thought-out. Are they really going to move Immersion into a school that already has an arts focus and that kids are transferring for? And then move the arts focus elsewhere, to a school that doesn’t have a dance teacher on staff, doesn’t have a dance studio, or a state-of-the-art theater for dance and musical performances? And if one school has both Arts and Immersion, will other MS not have any focus programs? What is the point of this?

I mean one school has both immersion and Montessori now. I don't really think this matters. Aren't gunston, Kenmore, and TJ the only schools with a special focus/ program In MS?

Yes, right now. But the report seems to indicate they want a focus at every MS. So why would you put two into one?

So no Immersion at Kenmore or TJ since already have focus. That leaves WMS or DHMS?

Or Swanson, as someone earlier suggested. That's not a horrible location for immersion and is much better located than either WMS or Hamm.

Swanson is 2 miles from WMS, an 8 minute drive. Hardly that different.

If Immersion moved to Swanson they could rezone the displaced students to WMS, reducing the domino effect for both Hamm and Kenmore in the current proposal.

I've also heard a lot of unhappiness from Swanson parents, so they may be happy for a bit of a shake up.

Not bad, but does it bus away walkzone PU from Swanson — that adds buses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, Thai is all stupid.

Kenmore has to be where the MS Arts focus is going, since they are the only school that already has the facilities, staff, and are already doing STEAM and kids transfer for it, but Kenmore doesn’t track to Yorktown. Why would Yorktown be the Arts High School if the Immersion program has to be at a school that then tracks to Wakefield? IB is at Jefferson. So which MS gets Immersion, which gets STEM? And that leaves one school without a focus? Sounds like they need to rethink this whole thing if they can’t even count how many MS we have.

Alignment doesn't matter for programs or options, Immersion doesn't have to track to Wakefield, etc.

If they are binding their choices by programs rather than focusing on limiting costs, busing, and avoiding overcrowding, i don't know what to tell you.

Stop rearranging deck chairs, focus on real problems not stupid options and programs that impact a small percentage of students. Immersion represents 5% of middle school students, for example.

I agree they don’t have to track, but one of Immersion’s main arguments was they need to be in school that tracks to Wakefield. This all seems not well thought-out. Are they really going to move Immersion into a school that already has an arts focus and that kids are transferring for? And then move the arts focus elsewhere, to a school that doesn’t have a dance teacher on staff, doesn’t have a dance studio, or a state-of-the-art theater for dance and musical performances? And if one school has both Arts and Immersion, will other MS not have any focus programs? What is the point of this?

I mean one school has both immersion and Montessori now. I don't really think this matters. Aren't gunston, Kenmore, and TJ the only schools with a special focus/ program In MS?

Yes, right now. But the report seems to indicate they want a focus at every MS. So why would you put two into one?

So no Immersion at Kenmore or TJ since already have focus. That leaves WMS or DHMS?

Or Swanson, as someone earlier suggested. That's not a horrible location for immersion and is much better located than either WMS or Hamm.

Swanson is 2 miles from WMS, an 8 minute drive. Hardly that different.

If Immersion moved to Swanson they could rezone the displaced students to WMS, reducing the domino effect for both Hamm and Kenmore in the current proposal.

I've also heard a lot of unhappiness from Swanson parents, so they may be happy for a bit of a shake up.

Not bad, but does it bus away walkzone PU from Swanson — that adds buses.

But presumably the Hamm wall zone that was supposed to be bused would stay walkers. It's just rearranging deck chairs.

[Anonymous]

“ APS is pausing the 2023 Middle School Boundary Process and the Proposal to Relocate the Spanish Immersion Program until Fall 2024. ”

[Anonymous]

Just a note that the Swanson walk zone is huge but as a Swanson escapee, I'd be happy for my kid to go to Williamsburg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a note that the Swanson walk zone is huge but as a Swanson escapee, I'd be happy for my kid to go to Williamsburg

Another note, we are on the very far edge of the walk zone.