What is the Shining Stars experience like

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP. Thanks everyone for your input, I really appreciate it. So is Shining Stars going to be closed? Because I would put it on my list as a better-than-daycare option, but if it closes and then we can't get our daycare spot back that would be a major problem.

Why would it close? Enrollment went down in a lot of schools around the city, including the “popular” ones.
Two kids at SSMA and they are doing wonderful. I wouldn’t change to any of the other schools in the neighborhood unless I was going to Friendship.

NP here-- curious about the Friendship comment. Isn't the Friendship approach the opposite of Montessori? Would love to hear more about your thinking.

And concur. SSMA may not have the best admin communication, but how did you get the vibe that they were going to close?

OP here, someone told me SSMA might close because the enrollment has gone down a lot and that means they don't have as big a budget. Apparently there used to be more kids before the pandemic. People on this thread say it's on a "downward spiral".

I have not had anyone suggest Friendship, but I might have room for one more school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP. Thanks everyone for your input, I really appreciate it. So is Shining Stars going to be closed? Because I would put it on my list as a better-than-daycare option, but if it closes and then we can't get our daycare spot back that would be a major problem.

I don’t think SSMA will close next year, but their enrollment is dwindling and that’s a sure sign that the school is on a rapid decline. The quality is poor now and will only get worse with the loss of funds.

Do you think they will close in the next few years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP. Thanks everyone for your input, I really appreciate it. So is Shining Stars going to be closed? Because I would put it on my list as a better-than-daycare option, but if it closes and then we can't get our daycare spot back that would be a major problem.

I don’t think SSMA will close next year, but their enrollment is dwindling and that’s a sure sign that the school is on a rapid decline. The quality is poor now and will only get worse with the loss of funds.

Do you think they will close in the next few years?

If enrollment continues to decline, the Board of Trustees will likely make the decision to shut down. I think most schools are in a wait-and-see mode since the pandemic impacted enrollment across the board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP. Thanks everyone for your input, I really appreciate it. So is Shining Stars going to be closed? Because I would put it on my list as a better-than-daycare option, but if it closes and then we can't get our daycare spot back that would be a major problem.

I don’t think SSMA will close next year, but their enrollment is dwindling and that’s a sure sign that the school is on a rapid decline. The quality is poor now and will only get worse with the loss of funds.

Do you think they will close in the next few years?

If enrollment continues to decline, the Board of Trustees will likely make the decision to shut down. I think most schools are in a wait-and-see mode since the pandemic impacted enrollment across the board.

I think if they are negotiating to buy the building like a PP said, I can't IMAGINE the Board would shut it down

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP. Thanks everyone for your input, I really appreciate it. So is Shining Stars going to be closed? Because I would put it on my list as a better-than-daycare option, but if it closes and then we can't get our daycare spot back that would be a major problem.

I don’t think SSMA will close next year, but their enrollment is dwindling and that’s a sure sign that the school is on a rapid decline. The quality is poor now and will only get worse with the loss of funds.

Do you think they will close in the next few years?

If enrollment continues to decline, the Board of Trustees will likely make the decision to shut down. I think most schools are in a wait-and-see mode since the pandemic impacted enrollment across the board.

I think if they are negotiating to buy the building like a PP said, I can't IMAGINE the Board would shut it down

How can they buy the building if their enrollment and budget are decreasing?

The PCSB is supposed to shut down schools that are not financially viable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP. Thanks everyone for your input, I really appreciate it. So is Shining Stars going to be closed? Because I would put it on my list as a better-than-daycare option, but if it closes and then we can't get our daycare spot back that would be a major problem.

I don’t think SSMA will close next year, but their enrollment is dwindling and that’s a sure sign that the school is on a rapid decline. The quality is poor now and will only get worse with the loss of funds.

Do you think they will close in the next few years?

If enrollment continues to decline, the Board of Trustees will likely make the decision to shut down. I think most schools are in a wait-and-see mode since the pandemic impacted enrollment across the board.

I think if they are negotiating to buy the building like a PP said, I can't IMAGINE the Board would shut it down

How can they buy the building if their enrollment and budget are decreasing?

The PCSB is supposed to shut down schools that are not financially viable.

How do you know they are not financially viable? You are making too many assumptions based on decreased enrollment.

[Anonymous]

Well, it's hard to see how a school can or should purchase a building that's too large for its declining enrollment.

Wasn't it a poorly considered real estate purchase that led to the demise of Washington Math Science and Technology charter school?

https://dcpcsb.org/emergency-meeting-march-2018

[Anonymous]

There is supposed to be a chat and chew session tonight, but no link was provided. That's the Shining Stars experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is supposed to be a chat and chew session tonight, but no link was provided. That's the Shining Stars experience.

Did it happen eventually?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is supposed to be a chat and chew session tonight, but no link was provided. That's the Shining Stars experience.

Did it happen eventually?

No, I never received the link for the session.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is supposed to be a chat and chew session tonight, but no link was provided. That's the Shining Stars experience.

Did it happen eventually?

No, I never received the link for the session.

The meeting that you are referring to was not an open information session. This meeting was for parents of three lower elementary classrooms in the Dual Immersion Program. The invitation to the meeting and link was sent to parents on Feb 22.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is supposed to be a chat and chew session tonight, but no link was provided. That's the Shining Stars experience.

Did it happen eventually?

No, I never received the link for the session.

The meeting that you are referring to was not an open information session. This meeting was for parents of three lower elementary classrooms in the Dual Immersion Program. The invitation to the meeting and link was sent to parents on Feb 22.

What was the meeting about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is supposed to be a chat and chew session tonight, but no link was provided. That's the Shining Stars experience.

Did it happen eventually?

No, I never received the link for the session.

The meeting that you are referring to was not an open information session. This meeting was for parents of three lower elementary classrooms in the Dual Immersion Program. The invitation to the meeting and link was sent to parents on Feb 22.

This was in the latest newsletter; no mention of the session being specifically for the DLI program:

An Evening Chat and Chew with the ED will happen this Thursday (February 24,2022) from 6:30-7:30 pm.The chat/charla was parent-requested and will be task and action-oriented. Please attend if you can. Your voice and input is needed to make the work ahead meaningful and productive. Tasks include planning for the 22-23 school year.

SAVE THE DATE

February 2022 events - These events will be reposted through the end of February 2022 can also be found on the school’s website:

02/21/22 -Presidents Day -School Closed

02/22/22 Continent Day - 'Love Around the World Day" in the Classrooms

2/23/22 Upcoming “Strutting Our Stuff” for Lower Elementary Families in The Dual Immersion Program 6:30pm-7:30pm

2/24/22 Evening Chat n Chew with Parents about SY22-23 6:30-7:30pm - Links will be provided

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is supposed to be a chat and chew session tonight, but no link was provided. That's the Shining Stars experience.

Did it happen eventually?

No, I never received the link for the session.

The meeting that you are referring to was not an open information session. This meeting was for parents of three lower elementary classrooms in the Dual Immersion Program. The invitation to the meeting and link was sent to parents on Feb 22.

This was in the latest newsletter; no mention of the session being specifically for the DLI program:

An Evening Chat and Chew with the ED will happen this Thursday (February 24,2022) from 6:30-7:30 pm.The chat/charla was parent-requested and will be task and action-oriented. Please attend if you can. Your voice and input is needed to make the work ahead meaningful and productive. Tasks include planning for the 22-23 school year.

SAVE THE DATE

February 2022 events - These events will be reposted through the end of February 2022 can also be found on the school’s website:

02/21/22 -Presidents Day -School Closed

02/22/22 Continent Day - 'Love Around the World Day" in the Classrooms

2/23/22 Upcoming “Strutting Our Stuff” for Lower Elementary Families in The Dual Immersion Program 6:30pm-7:30pm

2/24/22 Evening Chat n Chew with Parents about SY22-23 6:30-7:30pm - Links will be provided

From yesterday’s newsletter:

“Apologies for any misunderstanding regarding last week’s Chat/Charla and Chew. The meeting was requested by DLI parents to discuss issues and concerns specific to these families and classes. As such, a meeting link was sent only to those families. Thank you to the DLI families who attended and many excellent recommendations and understandings were made”.

I was aware of the communication issues expressed by many in this forum before enrolling my DC at Shining stars over 3 years ago, but I can say that the administration and guides make great efforts to improve communication, year after year. My DC classroom sends a newsletter every week, teachers are always available to answer any questions, and we receive a newsletter every Sunday from the administration. The ED organizes town halls and Chats for the parent community on a regular basis and is responsive to emails and open to feedback. The Guides are nurturing are caring. My DC has strived and is excelling academically. DC genuinely loves going to school. So, if your family is interested in Montessori education, come to the virtual open house and hear directly from the families.