Feedback on Campbell Elementary (Arlington, VA)

[Anonymous]

We know 5 families who left because they were dissatisfied. This in not a one off. No ax to grind here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We know 5 families who left because they were dissatisfied. This in not a one off. No ax to grind here.

Did your family leave? Dissatisfied with the curriculum? Please be more specific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We know 5 families who left because they were dissatisfied. This in not a one off. No ax to grind here.

During Covid? I know a number of families who left to go private. Also, 5 out of 400 +? It’s not a one off, but clearly does not reflect the experience of the majority. The overwhelming majority of Campbell families aren’t posting stuff on DCUM, or fleeing the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We know 5 families who left because they were dissatisfied. This in not a one off. No ax to grind here.

During Covid? I know a number of families who left to go private. Also, 5 out of 400 +? It’s not a one off, but clearly does not reflect the experience of the majority. The overwhelming majority of Campbell families aren’t posting stuff on DCUM, or fleeing the school.

I think like any other school, you are going to have people that aren't happy with it. Every year some kids leave for whatever reason and kids leave other schools to come to Campbell. Kids are admitted in the lottery in every grade every year. The people that I've known that weren't satisfied seemed to have unrealistic expectations coming in- most went private since that's where they would find what they had really wanted.

[Anonymous]

I do not care to be Anonymous, my name is Hawa Barry, my son had the worst experience in campbell elementary, the principal Maureen Nesselrode is the worst principal, one of my son teacher at that time said something that is not true about my son, I went to talk to the principal Maureen Nesselrode she spoke to me like I am from the street, she was even twisting her neck when she was talking me, I couldn’t believe a principal can talk like that, I have proof, Maureen Nesselrode is the worst principal especially to the minorities children and their parents. I never in my life write review about anything in my life. I will not be silenced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not care to be Anonymous, my name is Hawa Barry, my son had the worst experience in campbell elementary, the principal Maureen Nesselrode is the worst principal, one of my son teacher at that time said something that is not true about my son, I went to talk to the principal Maureen Nesselrode she spoke to me like I am from the street, she was even twisting her neck when she was talking me, I couldn’t believe a principal can talk like that, I have proof, Maureen Nesselrode is the worst principal especially to the minorities children and their parents. I never in my life write review about anything in my life. I will not be silenced.

You should contact the superintendent about your experience and document what happened.

[Anonymous]

This school seriously needs a new principal. I don't know why but this current principle is extremely rude to parents. Makes me wonder how she must be with my child in school. I will soon change my child's school.

[Anonymous]

For what its worth I have 2 friends who had kids in K last year. They both had issues with the school and 1 transferred their child out rather than staying at Campbell, while 1 is sticking it out for now. I think one of the issues is you are stuck with the same teacher for several years so if there are issues you are stuck.

[Anonymous]

What were the issues?

[Anonymous]

NP. In 1st or 2nd grade, our neighbor's son was bullied and beat up in restroom (more than once) by a recent immigrant. Bully's parents spoke no English so were not helpful in resolving the situation. Current principal took pity on the poor bully and doled out candy to him instead of punishment. Neighbors go no resolution just acknowledgement. Their son stayed at the school for the rest of year but stopped using the restroom.

BTW, neighbor's son was a URM but family is not "poor" (likely upper middle class) so apparently his needs of safety were secondary to the poor immigrant bully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. In 1st or 2nd grade, our neighbor's son was bullied and beat up in restroom (more than once) by a recent immigrant. Bully's parents spoke no English so were not helpful in resolving the situation. Current principal took pity on the poor bully and doled out candy to him instead of punishment. Neighbors go no resolution just acknowledgement. Their son stayed at the school for the rest of year but stopped using the restroom.

BTW, neighbor's son was a URM but family is not "poor" (likely upper middle class) so apparently his needs of safety were secondary to the poor immigrant bully.

Current Campbell family and this does not sound believable AT ALL. I highly doubt the principal has candy for the children, and I doubt she has ever “taken pity” on anyone ever. She’s…not kind, in my opinion. There are a lot of things one could complain about at Campbell, but the principal being too kind to a bully just doesn’t ring true to me at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will say that based on our experience at Campbell, the principal plays favorites with kids, teachers and families. She makes it very clear who she likes and who she doesn't like, which in my view isn't super professional. I wish that she would remember that she's there to serve all kids and all families. She doesn't get to chose who attends "her" school.

This is very interesting. I had the strong sense that she was playing favorites with the teachers. I didn’t realize she did it with students/families too.

[Anonymous]

I had a positive experience with the school (6 years) and found the principal receptive and responsive to my concerns always. She is a straight-shooter, that’s her style, she communicates to the point. The school was extremely well-run and organized, and the teachers she hires are excellent. The environment/culture of the school which I credit to her was peaceful, loving, and orderly. I really thought she was a great so I had to comment here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a positive experience with the school (6 years) and found the principal receptive and responsive to my concerns always. She is a straight-shooter, that’s her style, she communicates to the point. The school was extremely well-run and organized, and the teachers she hires are excellent. The environment/culture of the school which I credit to her was peaceful, loving, and orderly. I really thought she was a great so I had to comment here.

Did you have a child with no special needs who never really needed much from the school other than the curriculum that’s in place for all of the kids? My sense is that kids who can go along for 6 years without needing any extra attention or anything done differently for them do just fine (and also have very little interaction with Ms. Nesselrode). If a child has a special need of some sort, the child’s and parents’s experience can get more complicated and more negative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering it too. My only concern is that I hear that it tends to have a lot of kids with special needs because its such a supportive environment. I'm wondering how accurate this is??

Why is this a concern for you PP? You don't want your own kids near any special needs kids?