Bruce Monroe PK?

[Anonymous]

Are there any BM parents here who can tell me how PS3 or PK4 is going so far? this school seems to be on the cusp but not sure if parents are actually committing to it. Any diversity in the lower grades?

[Anonymous]

My son is in his second year at Bruce Monroe in PK 4. We really like it there. Do you have specific questions? What type of diversity do you mean? I'd be happy to answer questions.

[Anonymous]

Not OP, but what do you like about the school? Do the early ed teachers do a good job of using play to teach? If you use aftercare, how is that? How is the language piece working out for English-speaking kids (Bruce Monroe is Spanish immersion, right?)? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I have found most of the teachers to be very good. Yes, they use a lot of play. The best thing I can say about the school is that my son absolutely loves it. He is very happy there. It is dual language, Spanish and English. Each kid has two teachers - one day they are with the Spanish teacher, one day they are with the English teacher. My son had gone to a Spanish-speaking day care for a year before entering school. His father also speaks Spanish, though rarely did at home. My son seemed to understand some Spanish before going to school but never spoke it. He now completely understands Spanish speakers and is well on his way to becoming very proficient at speaking (if not fluent). There is also a nice community forming at the school - family nights, holiday parties, etc. Another advantage of this school is that many of the kids are Spanish speakers learning English, so my son speaks Spanish with his peers. I do not use the after care, but from what I've seen, I would say it is mediocre. I do get the feeling that they are trying to improve it.

[Anonymous]

There seems to be growing buzz about it in Petworth. I think it's an up and coming Powell type of school.

[Anonymous]

I've heard good things about Bruce Monroe. I think there is definitely momentum building up at that school. Has anyone heard anything about the momentum at Tubman this year? Both BM and Tubman are my local public schools and both had a big drop in test scores last year. I know that there is more to a school than numbers and it seems that both are trying to make improvements in community outreach, but does anyone get the feeling that one school is making more progress improving itself than the other?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have found most of the teachers to be very good. Yes, they use a lot of play. The best thing I can say about the school is that my son absolutely loves it. He is very happy there. It is dual language, Spanish and English. Each kid has two teachers - one day they are with the Spanish teacher, one day they are with the English teacher. My son had gone to a Spanish-speaking day care for a year before entering school. His father also speaks Spanish, though rarely did at home. My son seemed to understand some Spanish before going to school but never spoke it. He now completely understands Spanish speakers and is well on his way to becoming very proficient at speaking (if not fluent). There is also a nice community forming at the school - family nights, holiday parties, etc. Another advantage of this school is that many of the kids are Spanish speakers learning English, so my son speaks Spanish with his peers. I do not use the after care, but from what I've seen, I would say it is mediocre. I do get the feeling that they are trying to improve it.

Another BMPV parent here, and I agree with all of the above. It's an up-and-coming, solid school with a good bilingual program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not OP, but what do you like about the school? Do the early ed teachers do a good job of using play to teach? If you use aftercare, how is that? How is the language piece working out for English-speaking kids (Bruce Monroe is Spanish immersion, right?)? Thanks!

I think part of the reason BMPV went high on its waitlist was the fact that the aftercare filled up slots quickly (and then no option for people who didn't get spots). Hear mixed reviews of the aftercare. It's not full immersion, but they alternate days in spanish/english. Principal has a degree in bilingual ed so I don't think program was thrown together (it's more bilingual by design than bilingual by default).

[Anonymous]

Are there any white children in PS 3 or PK 4? I think that's what is meant by diversity. I think the school is 1% white now but wondering if the high SES families in the community are actually enrolling their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any white children in PS 3 or PK 4? I think that's what is meant by diversity. I think the school is 1% white now but wondering if the high SES families in the community are actually enrolling their kids.

Put yourself in the shoes of a high SES non-white person. Now reread what you wrote.
Can you see why it's offensive?

[Anonymous]

Every single thread has at least one question about diversity. It's not uncommon. If the high SES families won't commit then we should ask why. Sorry you are offended but many families don't want their child to be the "only" in the classroom or entire grade. We have to have these discussions. There are groups of parents who quietly discuss "sticking together" into upper grades at schools. This is reality.

[Anonymous]

I think it's worth pointing out that the prevailing wisdom among white people having babies east of the park was, until recently, that it was fine to stay in your east of the park neighborhood until your kid needs to go to school, and then it was time to leave the city. This has only started to change recently - with kids who are in the early elementary grades. Asking why there is little ethnic diversity in schools like Bruce Monroe or Powell ignores the reality that until a few years ago, the white people who didn't move to MoCo or Arlington relied on charters or sent their kids OOB across the park.

I have a four year old at another east of the park school. She is the only white girl in her class. There are two white boys. The class has 19 kids. The three year old classes have a few more white kids but it's still predominantly black and Latino. She is doing fine with it at this point. I'm not in the least bit pearl clutchy about her being isolated as a result of her race.

My suggestion to people considering east of the park schools and being concerned about diversity is to remember that you chose these neighborhoods. Your kids will go to school with children who also live in the neighborhood. If the reality of being one of the few white people, or wealthy people, bothers you, consider moving somewhere where the community looks more like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every single thread has at least one question about diversity. It's not uncommon. If the high SES families won't commit then we should ask why. Sorry you are offended but many families don't want their child to be the "only" in the classroom or entire grade. We have to have these discussions. There are groups of parents who quietly discuss "sticking together" into upper grades at schools. This is reality.

You're missing the point. When you only look for white high SES families, that's a problem. I get that DC isn't equal, and sometimes race is used as a proxy for class. But when you get down to individuals in your class, please open your eyes.
See, I had (continue to have) that same conversation about "sticking together", but it is not just a group of white people. In fact, it's really not based on SES. It's more based on parents who care and are supportive of their children. I'd like my kids to be educated with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not OP, but what do you like about the school? Do the early ed teachers do a good job of using play to teach? If you use aftercare, how is that? How is the language piece working out for English-speaking kids (Bruce Monroe is Spanish immersion, right?)? Thanks!

I think part of the reason BMPV went high on its waitlist was the fact that the aftercare filled up slots quickly (and then no option for people who didn't get spots). Hear mixed reviews of the aftercare. It's not full immersion, but they alternate days in spanish/english. Principal has a degree in bilingual ed so I don't think program was thrown together (it's more bilingual by design than bilingual by default).

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. What are we talking about with "mixed reviews" of the aftercare? I think another PP also referred to it as mediocre--any further light on this would be appreciated. Are there safety concerns with aftercare? Are they planning to add more aftercare spots or change the aftercare provider? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any white children in PS 3 or PK 4? I think that's what is meant by diversity. I think the school is 1% white now but wondering if the high SES families in the community are actually enrolling their kids.

From what I've (mixed race) observed, there are a handful of white kids in PK3 and PK4. The school is about 75% Hispanic, which is an advantage for those interested in bilingual ed.