Specifically on-topic contributors to the Drew boundary issue only please -

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just want to point out that I don't think that this nastiness is coming from Drew parents. There was a post on AEM from the Drew PTA president that specifically said they didn't want to get into that side of things they just wanted folks to realize Drew could be amazing too.

On another note, I am frustrated that NBC4 did the rezoning and only focused on the inclusion of Columbia Heights. They did not talk to anyone from Drew or Henry/Fleet.

I just saw her post and appreciated it a lot. Seems like things could be really promising over there with a new principal and strong PTA.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Henry parent who lives north of the Pike, for the record. It's not just the south ones who care. And I want Drew to get a fair shake. And I think Henry was lied to by APS in the whole SAWG process, but I get that none of you care about that. Also, I'm not the one who brought it up, but it does suck that we lost our principal last year. And it does suck that some portion of the Henry community is going to a shiny new building and some kids are going to be left behind. And it sucks that Henry is one of the best, nicest school communities you can imagine and that people are saying the worst and most awful things about us.

APS has created this whole process where S Arlington is just eating each other and it's appalling.

There is one Abingdon parent who is actively sabotaging Henry on AEM and in a FB Fairlington group, and I wonder if she is not the one spewing most of the poison here. I hate this forum, because you don't know who is saying what. So I don't know if it's just one really terrible person or not.

Most of my experience with S Arlington though is that the whole place is great and values diversity. So it would be nice if we could start from that place.

But I also don't think it's fair to assume that the only way to help Drew is to get any one neighborhood in. That's dumb, guys. And every school paying attention has been asking to stay together.

The real issue is that APS doesn't give a crap about any of this stuff, or they would never have drawn the map they did and created this mess. Did you listen to the board meeting? None of them really care about this. They care a tiny bit about optics and that's it. And they are content to sit there and let everyone bitch it out among themselves.

They all suck, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to suggest that I think that regardless of what neighborhood we're in or from what angle we enter this debate, we should all collectively push for a more generous grandfather clause -- 4th grade at least, if not younger, to lessen the immediate impact.

No, we don't have the space for that. It's a boundary change, not a jail term. Perspective, please. It will be okay. Kids are very resilient. We should let them flex those adaptability muscles more when they are young, lest they fall apart at the smallest challenge later in life, and there will be plenty.

Yeah, like when they are parents fighting against boundary changes for their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just want to point out that I don't think that this nastiness is coming from Drew parents. There was a post on AEM from the Drew PTA president that specifically said they didn't want to get into that side of things they just wanted folks to realize Drew could be amazing too.

On another note, I am frustrated that NBC4 did the rezoning and only focused on the inclusion of Columbia Heights. They did not talk to anyone from Drew or Henry/Fleet.

The news segment was about Columbia Forest, not Columbia Heights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to point out that I don't think that this nastiness is coming from Drew parents. There was a post on AEM from the Drew PTA president that specifically said they didn't want to get into that side of things they just wanted folks to realize Drew could be amazing too.

On another note, I am frustrated that NBC4 did the rezoning and only focused on the inclusion of Columbia Heights. They did not talk to anyone from Drew or Henry/Fleet.

The news segment was about Columbia Forest, not Columbia Heights.

OH whoops. Sorry I meant to say Forest. You are correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Henry parent who lives north of the Pike, for the record. It's not just the south ones who care. And I want Drew to get a fair shake. And I think Henry was lied to by APS in the whole SAWG process, but I get that none of you care about that. Also, I'm not the one who brought it up, but it does suck that we lost our principal last year. And it does suck that some portion of the Henry community is going to a shiny new building and some kids are going to be left behind. And it sucks that Henry is one of the best, nicest school communities you can imagine and that people are saying the worst and most awful things about us.

APS has created this whole process where S Arlington is just eating each other and it's appalling.

There is one Abingdon parent who is actively sabotaging Henry on AEM and in a FB Fairlington group, and I wonder if she is not the one spewing most of the poison here. I hate this forum, because you don't know who is saying what. So I don't know if it's just one really terrible person or not.

Most of my experience with S Arlington though is that the whole place is great and values diversity. So it would be nice if we could start from that place.

But I also don't think it's fair to assume that the only way to help Drew is to get any one neighborhood in. That's dumb, guys. And every school paying attention has been asking to stay together.

The real issue is that APS doesn't give a crap about any of this stuff, or they would never have drawn the map they did and created this mess. Did you listen to the board meeting? None of them really care about this. They care a tiny bit about optics and that's it. And they are content to sit there and let everyone bitch it out among themselves.

They all suck, too.

actively sabotaging? A bit much isn't it?

[Anonymous]

Here is what Fairlington is saying right now on its FB page:

"This group of neighbors gathered at Abingdon tonight to stand #FairlingtonUnited! Join us in telling the school board that we are one Fairlington community and we all have a right to continue attending our neighborhood school, Abingdon!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is what Fairlington is saying right now on its FB page:

"This group of neighbors gathered at Abingdon tonight to stand #FairlingtonUnited! Join us in telling the school board that we are one Fairlington community and we all have a right to continue attending our neighborhood school, Abingdon!"

How exactly is that sabtoging Henry? I know the person who started the commenting on Fairlington's FB pages, and she's definitely not out to hurt Henry. She pays attention to this stuff, and knew that most of Fairlington thought they were "safe" from having to worry about being re-districted.

I wish APS would just go the Fairfax route and just tell people instead of engaging in this crazy process that does nothing but pit neighbors and neighborhoods against each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is what Fairlington is saying right now on its FB page:

"This group of neighbors gathered at Abingdon tonight to stand #FairlingtonUnited! Join us in telling the school board that we are one Fairlington community and we all have a right to continue attending our neighborhood school, Abingdon!"

Yup. They got a clue and closed their “Fairlington United” page. But they do have a picture online outside Abington. Amazing what a group of well educated white people can do over the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is what Fairlington is saying right now on its FB page:

"This group of neighbors gathered at Abingdon tonight to stand #FairlingtonUnited! Join us in telling the school board that we are one Fairlington community and we all have a right to continue attending our neighborhood school, Abingdon!"

How exactly is that sabtoging Henry? I know the person who started the commenting on Fairlington's FB pages, and she's definitely not out to hurt Henry. She pays attention to this stuff, and knew that most of Fairlington thought they were "safe" from having to worry about being re-districted.

I wish APS would just go the Fairfax route and just tell people instead of engaging in this crazy process that does nothing but pit neighbors and neighborhoods against each other.

That isn’t. The group is now closed. They can talk all they want about their property values going down in peace now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Henry parent who lives north of the Pike, for the record. It's not just the south ones who care. And I want Drew to get a fair shake. And I think Henry was lied to by APS in the whole SAWG process, but I get that none of you care about that. Also, I'm not the one who brought it up, but it does suck that we lost our principal last year. And it does suck that some portion of the Henry community is going to a shiny new building and some kids are going to be left behind. And it sucks that Henry is one of the best, nicest school communities you can imagine and that people are saying the worst and most awful things about us.

APS has created this whole process where S Arlington is just eating each other and it's appalling.

There is one Abingdon parent who is actively sabotaging Henry on AEM and in a FB Fairlington group, and I wonder if she is not the one spewing most of the poison here. I hate this forum, because you don't know who is saying what. So I don't know if it's just one really terrible person or not.

Most of my experience with S Arlington though is that the whole place is great and values diversity. So it would be nice if we could start from that place.

But I also don't think it's fair to assume that the only way to help Drew is to get any one neighborhood in. That's dumb, guys. And every school paying attention has been asking to stay together.

The real issue is that APS doesn't give a crap about any of this stuff, or they would never have drawn the map they did and created this mess. Did you listen to the board meeting? None of them really care about this. They care a tiny bit about optics and that's it. And they are content to sit there and let everyone bitch it out among themselves.

They all suck, too.

actively sabotaging? A bit much isn't it?

Not PP, but nope. Good ole Beck is telling everyone on AEM that everyone should give Drew a chance because it could be great, but then turns around on the fairlington Facebook page and says how her southern neighbors need to fight going to Drew and how she (as an Abington parent) can meet with them and strategize against their “rivals” Columbia Heights. She wins hypocrite of the year award.

Yup I did.

What isn't mentioned in there is that I don't even live in Fairlington but instead an affordable housing apartment complex inside the Abingdon school zone. While we are no longer on Free and Reduced Lunch we were on it for years so we are one of "those people" everyone seems so actively trying to avoid.

I am also aware that if Fairlington doesn't move to Drew it means that my neighborhood might move instead but I am siding with Fairlington anyways. Why? because South Fairlington is over one third of the non-Farms population at Abingdon and by moving them to Drew it would hurt Abingdon. Their FARMS rates would jump to 60% or higher which I disagree with especially when there are better options out there.

I also didn't think it was fair that Fairlington could potentially be an option and get moved before anyone from the community had a chance to speak up so I let them know that the possibility existed. Since everyone seemed completely unaware of the entire process I had to start from the beginning which included the introduction of Fleet and that outrage and matching tee shirts from the Henry community. Like it or not it seems to be a "fight" between those two neighborhoods.

I am also outraged at the Henry population that keeps saying "but we want to stay together" as if that is some unique feeling. That is the only argument they have so yeah! I am specifically calling out Columbia Heights.

Call me what you want but maybe don't jump to assumptions so quickly.

-Becki

[Anonymous]

Oh and for clarity I am also poster 22:28 from last night

and from today

07:26, 09:17 and 12:52.

Nothing hateful just truthful.

-Becki

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Henry parent who lives north of the Pike, for the record. It's not just the south ones who care. And I want Drew to get a fair shake. And I think Henry was lied to by APS in the whole SAWG process, but I get that none of you care about that. Also, I'm not the one who brought it up, but it does suck that we lost our principal last year. And it does suck that some portion of the Henry community is going to a shiny new building and some kids are going to be left behind. And it sucks that Henry is one of the best, nicest school communities you can imagine and that people are saying the worst and most awful things about us.

APS has created this whole process where S Arlington is just eating each other and it's appalling.

There is one Abingdon parent who is actively sabotaging Henry on AEM and in a FB Fairlington group, and I wonder if she is not the one spewing most of the poison here. I hate this forum, because you don't know who is saying what. So I don't know if it's just one really terrible person or not.

Most of my experience with S Arlington though is that the whole place is great and values diversity. So it would be nice if we could start from that place.

But I also don't think it's fair to assume that the only way to help Drew is to get any one neighborhood in. That's dumb, guys. And every school paying attention has been asking to stay together.

The real issue is that APS doesn't give a crap about any of this stuff, or they would never have drawn the map they did and created this mess. Did you listen to the board meeting? None of them really care about this. They care a tiny bit about optics and that's it. And they are content to sit there and let everyone bitch it out among themselves.

They all suck, too.

actively sabotaging? A bit much isn't it?

Not PP, but nope. Good ole Beck is telling everyone on AEM that everyone should give Drew a chance because it could be great, but then turns around on the fairlington Facebook page and says how her southern neighbors need to fight going to Drew and how she (as an Abington parent) can meet with them and strategize against their “rivals” Columbia Heights. She wins hypocrite of the year award.

Yup I did.

What isn't mentioned in there is that I don't even live in Fairlington but instead an affordable housing apartment complex inside the Abingdon school zone. While we are no longer on Free and Reduced Lunch we were on it for years so we are one of "those people" everyone seems so actively trying to avoid.

I am also aware that if Fairlington doesn't move to Drew it means that my neighborhood might move instead but I am siding with Fairlington anyways. Why? because South Fairlington is over one third of the non-Farms population at Abingdon and by moving them to Drew it would hurt Abingdon. Their FARMS rates would jump to 60% or higher which I disagree with especially when there are better options out there.

I also didn't think it was fair that Fairlington could potentially be an option and get moved before anyone from the community had a chance to speak up so I let them know that the possibility existed. Since everyone seemed completely unaware of the entire process I had to start from the beginning which included the introduction of Fleet and that outrage and matching tee shirts from the Henry community. Like it or not it seems to be a "fight" between those two neighborhoods.

I am also outraged at the Henry population that keeps saying "but we want to stay together" as if that is some unique feeling. That is the only argument they have so yeah! I am specifically calling out Columbia Heights.

Call me what you want but maybe don't jump to assumptions so quickly.

-Becki

Wait, why are you so outraged when it’s the exact argument Fairlington is also choosing to use? We all know that it’s really disingenuous to say that you are “One Fairlington” when not all of your named community even goes to Abingdon to begin with. I suppose “One Fairlington with the exception of those darn ACPS units” doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Look, I’m not trying to attack you because I know it feels crappy to have people question your motives. But every argument you are making about Fairlington and Abingdon as a community can also be made by Columbia Heights as well. Take that S. Fairlington can walk to school even though they’re currently bussed. So can CH (Henry and Fleet), and they only cross the Pike as opposed to a major highway. So why the outrage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Henry parent who lives north of the Pike, for the record. It's not just the south ones who care. And I want Drew to get a fair shake. And I think Henry was lied to by APS in the whole SAWG process, but I get that none of you care about that. Also, I'm not the one who brought it up, but it does suck that we lost our principal last year. And it does suck that some portion of the Henry community is going to a shiny new building and some kids are going to be left behind. And it sucks that Henry is one of the best, nicest school communities you can imagine and that people are saying the worst and most awful things about us.

APS has created this whole process where S Arlington is just eating each other and it's appalling.

There is one Abingdon parent who is actively sabotaging Henry on AEM and in a FB Fairlington group, and I wonder if she is not the one spewing most of the poison here. I hate this forum, because you don't know who is saying what. So I don't know if it's just one really terrible person or not.

Most of my experience with S Arlington though is that the whole place is great and values diversity. So it would be nice if we could start from that place.

But I also don't think it's fair to assume that the only way to help Drew is to get any one neighborhood in. That's dumb, guys. And every school paying attention has been asking to stay together.

The real issue is that APS doesn't give a crap about any of this stuff, or they would never have drawn the map they did and created this mess. Did you listen to the board meeting? None of them really care about this. They care a tiny bit about optics and that's it. And they are content to sit there and let everyone bitch it out among themselves.

They all suck, too.

actively sabotaging? A bit much isn't it?

Not PP, but nope. Good ole Beck is telling everyone on AEM that everyone should give Drew a chance because it could be great, but then turns around on the fairlington Facebook page and says how her southern neighbors need to fight going to Drew and how she (as an Abington parent) can meet with them and strategize against their “rivals” Columbia Heights. She wins hypocrite of the year award.

Yup I did.

What isn't mentioned in there is that I don't even live in Fairlington but instead an affordable housing apartment complex inside the Abingdon school zone. While we are no longer on Free and Reduced Lunch we were on it for years so we are one of "those people" everyone seems so actively trying to avoid.

I am also aware that if Fairlington doesn't move to Drew it means that my neighborhood might move instead but I am siding with Fairlington anyways. Why? because South Fairlington is over one third of the non-Farms population at Abingdon and by moving them to Drew it would hurt Abingdon. Their FARMS rates would jump to 60% or higher which I disagree with especially when there are better options out there.

I also didn't think it was fair that Fairlington could potentially be an option and get moved before anyone from the community had a chance to speak up so I let them know that the possibility existed. Since everyone seemed completely unaware of the entire process I had to start from the beginning which included the introduction of Fleet and that outrage and matching tee shirts from the Henry community. Like it or not it seems to be a "fight" between those two neighborhoods.

I am also outraged at the Henry population that keeps saying "but we want to stay together" as if that is some unique feeling. That is the only argument they have so yeah! I am specifically calling out Columbia Heights.

Call me what you want but maybe don't jump to assumptions so quickly.

-Becki

Wait, why are you so outraged when it’s the exact argument Fairlington is also choosing to use? We all know that it’s really disingenuous to say that you are “One Fairlington” when not all of your named community even goes to Abingdon to begin with. I suppose “One Fairlington with the exception of those darn ACPS units” doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Look, I’m not trying to attack you because I know it feels crappy to have people question your motives. But every argument you are making about Fairlington and Abingdon as a community can also be made by Columbia Heights as well. Take that S. Fairlington can walk to school even though they’re currently bussed. So can CH (Henry and Fleet), and they only cross the Pike as opposed to a major highway. So why the outrage?

I am not making those arguments. I am telling those in Fairlington the same thing, that community is not an argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Henry parent who lives north of the Pike, for the record. It's not just the south ones who care. And I want Drew to get a fair shake. And I think Henry was lied to by APS in the whole SAWG process, but I get that none of you care about that. Also, I'm not the one who brought it up, but it does suck that we lost our principal last year. And it does suck that some portion of the Henry community is going to a shiny new building and some kids are going to be left behind. And it sucks that Henry is one of the best, nicest school communities you can imagine and that people are saying the worst and most awful things about us.

APS has created this whole process where S Arlington is just eating each other and it's appalling.

There is one Abingdon parent who is actively sabotaging Henry on AEM and in a FB Fairlington group, and I wonder if she is not the one spewing most of the poison here. I hate this forum, because you don't know who is saying what. So I don't know if it's just one really terrible person or not.

Most of my experience with S Arlington though is that the whole place is great and values diversity. So it would be nice if we could start from that place.

But I also don't think it's fair to assume that the only way to help Drew is to get any one neighborhood in. That's dumb, guys. And every school paying attention has been asking to stay together.

The real issue is that APS doesn't give a crap about any of this stuff, or they would never have drawn the map they did and created this mess. Did you listen to the board meeting? None of them really care about this. They care a tiny bit about optics and that's it. And they are content to sit there and let everyone bitch it out among themselves.

They all suck, too.

actively sabotaging? A bit much isn't it?

Not PP, but nope. Good ole Beck is telling everyone on AEM that everyone should give Drew a chance because it could be great, but then turns around on the fairlington Facebook page and says how her southern neighbors need to fight going to Drew and how she (as an Abington parent) can meet with them and strategize against their “rivals” Columbia Heights. She wins hypocrite of the year award.

Yup I did.

What isn't mentioned in there is that I don't even live in Fairlington but instead an affordable housing apartment complex inside the Abingdon school zone. While we are no longer on Free and Reduced Lunch we were on it for years so we are one of "those people" everyone seems so actively trying to avoid.

I am also aware that if Fairlington doesn't move to Drew it means that my neighborhood might move instead but I am siding with Fairlington anyways. Why? because South Fairlington is over one third of the non-Farms population at Abingdon and by moving them to Drew it would hurt Abingdon. Their FARMS rates would jump to 60% or higher which I disagree with especially when there are better options out there.

I also didn't think it was fair that Fairlington could potentially be an option and get moved before anyone from the community had a chance to speak up so I let them know that the possibility existed. Since everyone seemed completely unaware of the entire process I had to start from the beginning which included the introduction of Fleet and that outrage and matching tee shirts from the Henry community. Like it or not it seems to be a "fight" between those two neighborhoods.

I am also outraged at the Henry population that keeps saying "but we want to stay together" as if that is some unique feeling. That is the only argument they have so yeah! I am specifically calling out Columbia Heights.

Call me what you want but maybe don't jump to assumptions so quickly.

-Becki

Wait, why are you so outraged when it’s the exact argument Fairlington is also choosing to use? We all know that it’s really disingenuous to say that you are “One Fairlington” when not all of your named community even goes to Abingdon to begin with. I suppose “One Fairlington with the exception of those darn ACPS units” doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Look, I’m not trying to attack you because I know it feels crappy to have people question your motives. But every argument you are making about Fairlington and Abingdon as a community can also be made by Columbia Heights as well. Take that S. Fairlington can walk to school even though they’re currently bussed. So can CH (Henry and Fleet), and they only cross the Pike as opposed to a major highway. So why the outrage?

I am not making those arguments. I am telling those in Fairlington the same thing, that community is not an argument.

You can spin it however you want now that the thread has been removed but I know several people have saved screenshots of it. Your “outrage” makes no sense when you started this whole thing by posting a map on AEM with a big red circle around Columbia Heights. Your objective all along was to target others to save your own school, regardless of the consequences.