NW Saturday Academy – Help us build a strong middle school cohort in Ward 4

[calexander]

Hello neighbors,

My name is Christopher Alexander and I am the parent of two children who attend a Ward 4 elementary school. With all of the possibility and uncertainty surrounding the school boundaries and new middle schools in the ward, I have been discussing a proposal for opening a non-profit Saturday Academy for children in the community. It would be modeled on long-standing programs in Montgomery and Howard counties, but it will also have a focus on rigorous and exciting STEM learning opportunities in math and computer science.

EDIT: Upon further review, I think it would be better to have a more simple eligibility pool. Therefore, the program would be open to all students with a Ward 4 address.

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The program would be open to students in grades 3 through 5 from the following [b]Ward 4[/b] schools: Barnard Elementary School Powell Elementary School Bruce-Monroe Elementary School West Education Campus Truesdell Education Campus Raymond Education Campus Brightwood Education Campus Takoma Education Campus Whittier Education Campus LaSalle-Backus Education Campus


The underlying goal of this program would be to create a cohort of students who are ready for algebra in middle school. If Jeff’s “Unicorn Middle School” ever comes to fruition, we would like to have a network of students, families and support structures in place to help that school and our children reach their full potential.

I think of this as a way to help us parents overcome the "Prisoner's Dilemma" we face when considering middle school options. No one wants to "go it alone" when a school is unproven. But if there were a group of families with 40, 60, 80+ kids with whom we have built relationships, formed teams and accomplished X, Y, Z, I believe that takes some of the risk out of the middle school decision for all of us. In the worst case scenario, the kids learn something, have some fun and then go their separate ways in sixth grade. However, in the best case, we would actually come together and form the foundation of a viable middle school right in our own neighborhood.

Right now we have a framework, but we need input from the community. We will beholding a Parent Information Meeting at the Petworth Library on Monday, October 6th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Also, please visit our website at www.nwsadc.com for more information and feel free to comment below with ideas, suggestions and potential pitfalls.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

Seems like this is a great concept but would be much stronger if you included kids from NW DC as a whole--those in charters, those in Ward 3 and 1 and 2.

Seems odd to ward 4 it alone and not have Shepard on the list. From my perspective I think the economics play a huge role in the success of the middle/hs. I think we need to find ways to have the economics zig zagging across ward 4 and nw.

i used to run a saturday academy in baltimore in the early 90's--it is a great enrichment opp but cant say it will change the course of crappy middle schools

[Anonymous]

Are days other than Saturday being considered?

[Anonymous]

Schools normally have Saturday Academy which it's approaching testing time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like this is a great concept but would be much stronger if you included kids from NW DC as a whole--those in charters, those in Ward 3 and 1 and 2.

Seems odd to ward 4 it alone and not have Shepard on the list. From my perspective I think the economics play a huge role in the success of the middle/hs. I think we need to find ways to have the economics zig zagging across ward 4 and nw.

i used to run a saturday academy in baltimore in the early 90's--it is a great enrichment opp but cant say it will change the course of crappy middle schools

Perhaps Shepherd is excluded because it is currently a Deal feeder? So these kids wouldn't be attending the new middle school.

[Anonymous]

If you need Saturday school to prepare your kids for Algebra in middle school, there are some serious problems!

[Anonymous]

I'm glad you are starting this. I live in ward 4, and my kid is only 2, but I think this could be a step in the right direction. Ignore those who come over and seagull all over new ideas. The schools WOTP weren't always great, and required effort at one point too.

[Anonymous]

This is a great idea! My kids are in one of those elementary schools a few years away from that age range, but I'd be glad to help out some - especially on STEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like this is a great concept but would be much stronger if you included kids from NW DC as a whole--those in charters, those in Ward 3 and 1 and 2.

Seems odd to ward 4 it alone and not have Shepard on the list. From my perspective I think the economics play a huge role in the success of the middle/hs. I think we need to find ways to have the economics zig zagging across ward 4 and nw.

i used to run a saturday academy in baltimore in the early 90's--it is a great enrichment opp but cant say it will change the course of crappy middle schools

Perhaps Shepherd is excluded because it is currently a Deal feeder? So these kids wouldn't be attending the new middle school.

Unless they like the new middle school better than they like Deal. More managable size, foreign language options, STEM, closer to home...It's possible.

[calexander]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like this is a great concept but would be much stronger if you included kids from NW DC as a whole--those in charters, those in Ward 3 and 1 and 2.

Seems odd to ward 4 it alone and not have Shepard on the list. From my perspective I think the economics play a huge role in the success of the middle/hs. I think we need to find ways to have the economics zig zagging across ward 4 and nw.

i used to run a saturday academy in baltimore in the early 90's--it is a great enrichment opp but cant say it will change the course of crappy middle schools

Perhaps Shepherd is excluded because it is currently a Deal feeder? So these kids wouldn't be attending the new middle school.

Yes, Shepherd and the WOTP schools are excluded (for now) because we are trying to offer the opportunities to the kids who would be attending the new middle school. If a family is in bounds for Deal, they are generally pretty happy with that option.

[Anonymous]

Great initiative OP!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great initiative OP!!!

+1

[Anonymous]

I'm not in Ward 4, but why not open it to all Ward 4 elementary students Even if they are not attending a DCPS elementary? Anyone whose address would have them feed to a Ward 4 middle?

[Anonymous]

I agree that this should be opened up. I think this is an interesting idea that I would like to learn more about and consider supporting, but as currently set up, my child can not participate. We live In Ward 4 and our address is being zoned out of Deal but my child is at a charter school (and not a charter school that feeds into DCI). Our middle school will be the new middle school, so why exclude families like mine from this if you want broad support from the community? I would love to have a high-quality public middle school in my community.

[Anonymous]

+1