Recent experiences with Silver Spring International

[Anonymous]

I am a current SSIMS parent and I don’t think it’s just trolls here. I’m here. I am really unhappy with the state of the building, the lack of control, the chaotic nature of the place. There is nothing lifting the place up. It has these two immersion programs but … still no feeling of specialness. It is super disappointing. I think if you’ve got an other choice, look elsewhere. It’s the first time I have ever seen firsthand, for real, the negative impact of physical surroundings on people. Like- the feng shui of the place is so bad, it affects behaviors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a current SSIMS parent and I don’t think it’s just trolls here. I’m here. I am really unhappy with the state of the building, the lack of control, the chaotic nature of the place. There is nothing lifting the place up. It has these two immersion programs but … still no feeling of specialness. It is super disappointing. I think if you’ve got an other choice, look elsewhere. It’s the first time I have ever seen firsthand, for real, the negative impact of physical surroundings on people. Like- the feng shui of the place is so bad, it affects behaviors.

I think it’s getting even worse now due to the work on the purple line. The building is surrounded by construction equipment, torn up roads, concrete barriers, detours, and debris. Walking to and from school must be a nightmare for some of the students. The Bethesda Beat article mentioned the difficulty students had exiting the building during a fire drill last year. That was before the construction began. I can’t imagine the difficulty they would have now. The SSIMS community deserves a safe building that is designed for middle schoolers, not the chopped up chaotic mess they have now.

[Anonymous]

I've had two kids go through SSIMS over most of the past seven years, and I really don't understand what the building's layout or condition has to do with student behavior. SSIMS has occupied these same old buildings for more than 20 years, and Blair HS did for decades before that.
The increased behavior problems are new, the past year or two. But I can appreciate the school requesting additional security personnel because of the idiosyncrasies of the building and the construction crews outside, and they are citing examples of misbehaviors as a way to bolster their case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a current SSIMS parent and I don’t think it’s just trolls here. I’m here. I am really unhappy with the state of the building, the lack of control, the chaotic nature of the place. There is nothing lifting the place up. It has these two immersion programs but … still no feeling of specialness. It is super disappointing. I think if you’ve got an other choice, look elsewhere. It’s the first time I have ever seen firsthand, for real, the negative impact of physical surroundings on people. Like- the feng shui of the place is so bad, it affects behaviors.

I think it’s getting even worse now due to the work on the purple line. The building is surrounded by construction equipment, torn up roads, concrete barriers, detours, and debris. Walking to and from school must be a nightmare for some of the students. The Bethesda Beat article mentioned the difficulty students had exiting the building during a fire drill last year. That was before the construction began. I can’t imagine the difficulty they would have now. The SSIMS community deserves a safe building that is designed for middle schoolers, not the chopped up chaotic mess they have now.

No, the construction has been going on far longer than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had two kids go through SSIMS over most of the past seven years, and I really don't understand what the building's layout or condition has to do with student behavior. SSIMS has occupied these same old buildings for more than 20 years, and Blair HS did for decades before that.
The increased behavior problems are new, the past year or two. But I can appreciate the school requesting additional security personnel because of the idiosyncrasies of the building and the construction crews outside, and they are citing examples of misbehaviors as a way to bolster their case.

Respectfully, the OP asked for recent experience. It’s weird I feel like a lot of posts in this thread are dismissive of current SSIMS parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a current SSIMS parent and I don’t think it’s just trolls here. I’m here. I am really unhappy with the state of the building, the lack of control, the chaotic nature of the place. There is nothing lifting the place up. It has these two immersion programs but … still no feeling of specialness. It is super disappointing. I think if you’ve got an other choice, look elsewhere. It’s the first time I have ever seen firsthand, for real, the negative impact of physical surroundings on people. Like- the feng shui of the place is so bad, it affects behaviors.

I think it’s getting even worse now due to the work on the purple line. The building is surrounded by construction equipment, torn up roads, concrete barriers, detours, and debris. Walking to and from school must be a nightmare for some of the students. The Bethesda Beat article mentioned the difficulty students had exiting the building during a fire drill last year. That was before the construction began. I can’t imagine the difficulty they would have now. The SSIMS community deserves a safe building that is designed for middle schoolers, not the chopped up chaotic mess they have now.

No, the construction has been going on far longer than that.

Construction on the building, itself. Scheduled to start this summer. Not the construction on the Purple Line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had two kids go through SSIMS over most of the past seven years, and I really don't understand what the building's layout or condition has to do with student behavior. SSIMS has occupied these same old buildings for more than 20 years, and Blair HS did for decades before that.
The increased behavior problems are new, the past year or two. But I can appreciate the school requesting additional security personnel because of the idiosyncrasies of the building and the construction crews outside, and they are citing examples of misbehaviors as a way to bolster their case.

Respectfully, the OP asked for recent experience. It’s weird I feel like a lot of posts in this thread are dismissive of current SSIMS parents.

Yeah- I don’t get that either. No parent comes to that school and is happy about the building! And the reports of negative behavior I’m sure are due to more than just the building but when SSIMS parents see the beautiful new schools and grounds elsewhere in the county it is a real bummer.

[Anonymous]

I have an 8th grader at SSIMS and a 5th grader that will be going there next year. There are definitely issues but I am not concerned about my 5th grader starting there. I do think the International Baccalaureate program is pretty special and I am happy that my kids have/will be a part of that program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a current SSIMS parent and I don’t think it’s just trolls here. I’m here. I am really unhappy with the state of the building, the lack of control, the chaotic nature of the place. There is nothing lifting the place up. It has these two immersion programs but … still no feeling of specialness. It is super disappointing. I think if you’ve got an other choice, look elsewhere. It’s the first time I have ever seen firsthand, for real, the negative impact of physical surroundings on people. Like- the feng shui of the place is so bad, it affects behaviors.

I think it’s getting even worse now due to the work on the purple line. The building is surrounded by construction equipment, torn up roads, concrete barriers, detours, and debris. Walking to and from school must be a nightmare for some of the students. The Bethesda Beat article mentioned the difficulty students had exiting the building during a fire drill last year. That was before the construction began. I can’t imagine the difficulty they would have now. The SSIMS community deserves a safe building that is designed for middle schoolers, not the chopped up chaotic mess they have now.

No, the construction has been going on far longer than that.

Construction on the building, itself. Scheduled to start this summer. Not the construction on the Purple Line.

Unfortunately, the construction on the building itself is not going to resolve the issue with the problematic rear stairway that caused the delay in exiting. That part of the project was removed, and now the construction will only be happening in the former Blair auditorium area at the front of the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had two kids go through SSIMS over most of the past seven years, and I really don't understand what the building's layout or condition has to do with student behavior. SSIMS has occupied these same old buildings for more than 20 years, and Blair HS did for decades before that.
The increased behavior problems are new, the past year or two. But I can appreciate the school requesting additional security personnel because of the idiosyncrasies of the building and the construction crews outside, and they are citing examples of misbehaviors as a way to bolster their case.

My child would tell you that the buildings' layouts and conditions are decrepit. They have been to other MS in the county and they are in better condition. It's a version of the broken glass theory -- decay encourages disorder and misbehavior. The buildings' condition does not inspire children to be have pride in their school building, school and themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had two kids go through SSIMS over most of the past seven years, and I really don't understand what the building's layout or condition has to do with student behavior. SSIMS has occupied these same old buildings for more than 20 years, and Blair HS did for decades before that.
The increased behavior problems are new, the past year or two. But I can appreciate the school requesting additional security personnel because of the idiosyncrasies of the building and the construction crews outside, and they are citing examples of misbehaviors as a way to bolster their case.

My child would tell you that the buildings' layouts and conditions are decrepit. They have been to other MS in the county and they are in better condition. It's a version of the broken glass theory -- decay encourages disorder and misbehavior. The buildings' condition does not inspire children to be have pride in their school building, school and themselves.

That’s it! The broken windows theory- I was trying to remember what it was called when the environment contributes to societal problems.

[Anonymous]

The building predates World War II. Gross that SSIMS students have to endure that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had two kids go through SSIMS over most of the past seven years, and I really don't understand what the building's layout or condition has to do with student behavior. SSIMS has occupied these same old buildings for more than 20 years, and Blair HS did for decades before that.
The increased behavior problems are new, the past year or two. But I can appreciate the school requesting additional security personnel because of the idiosyncrasies of the building and the construction crews outside, and they are citing examples of misbehaviors as a way to bolster their case.

My child would tell you that the buildings' layouts and conditions are decrepit. They have been to other MS in the county and they are in better condition. It's a version of the broken glass theory -- decay encourages disorder and misbehavior. The buildings' condition does not inspire children to be have pride in their school building, school and themselves.

But the building was also decrepit 5 years ago, and 10 years ago, and 20 years ago. And the whole time the SSIMS community has been consistently asking for improvements to be made. I don't know what is causing the disorder and misbehaviors being seen this year, but it seems odd to blame it on the building, when previous year's classes were dealing with the same environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had two kids go through SSIMS over most of the past seven years, and I really don't understand what the building's layout or condition has to do with student behavior. SSIMS has occupied these same old buildings for more than 20 years, and Blair HS did for decades before that.
The increased behavior problems are new, the past year or two. But I can appreciate the school requesting additional security personnel because of the idiosyncrasies of the building and the construction crews outside, and they are citing examples of misbehaviors as a way to bolster their case.

My child would tell you that the buildings' layouts and conditions are decrepit. They have been to other MS in the county and they are in better condition. It's a version of the broken glass theory -- decay encourages disorder and misbehavior. The buildings' condition does not inspire children to be have pride in their school building, school and themselves.

But the building was also decrepit 5 years ago, and 10 years ago, and 20 years ago. And the whole time the SSIMS community has been consistently asking for improvements to be made. I don't know what is causing the disorder and misbehaviors being seen this year, but it seems odd to blame it on the building, when previous year's classes were dealing with the same environment.

Behavior and morale has been at all time low coming out of the pandemic. Lots of schools experienced this but SSIMS seems to be having particular trouble reestablishing positive school culture. I think there was a principal change too? My kid doesn’t go there (yet) but it’s our designated middle school and we are very worried. A friend who taught there last year (and is an experienced teacher) said it was traumatic to teach there. They transferred to get out of there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had two kids go through SSIMS over most of the past seven years, and I really don't understand what the building's layout or condition has to do with student behavior. SSIMS has occupied these same old buildings for more than 20 years, and Blair HS did for decades before that.
The increased behavior problems are new, the past year or two. But I can appreciate the school requesting additional security personnel because of the idiosyncrasies of the building and the construction crews outside, and they are citing examples of misbehaviors as a way to bolster their case.

My child would tell you that the buildings' layouts and conditions are decrepit. They have been to other MS in the county and they are in better condition. It's a version of the broken glass theory -- decay encourages disorder and misbehavior. The buildings' condition does not inspire children to be have pride in their school building, school and themselves.

But the building was also decrepit 5 years ago, and 10 years ago, and 20 years ago. And the whole time the SSIMS community has been consistently asking for improvements to be made. I don't know what is causing the disorder and misbehaviors being seen this year, but it seems odd to blame it on the building, when previous year's classes were dealing with the same environment.

Behavior and morale has been at all time low coming out of the pandemic. Lots of schools experienced this but SSIMS seems to be having particular trouble reestablishing positive school culture. I think there was a principal change too? My kid doesn’t go there (yet) but it’s our designated middle school and we are very worried. A friend who taught there last year (and is an experienced teacher) said it was traumatic to teach there. They transferred to get out of there.

No, the current principal started in 2015.