Does Beauvoir Adequately Prepare Students Academically for St. Albans / NCS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell doesn't think it prepares kids well since it did not accept any Beauvoir kids for the upcoming year

Sidwell accepted 2. 1 decided to go the STA and the other decided to go to NCS. Stop spreading lies. Just because no one is going does NOT mean no one was accepted. Moreover, many of the kids who would have been accepted, applied to STA and NCS early admissions and did not even apply to Sidwell. So again, your assumption that because no one is going that no one was accepted or would have been accepted is simply untrue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is an adjustment period between Bueavoir's creative, fun approach to learning and STA/NCS' more traditional and academic approaches.

Beauvoir kids go in with the critical thinking skills and substantive knowledge they need, but some kids need some time to adjust to the different style of teaching -- more didactic, less learner-driven. In the long-term, Beauvoir kids are very well-equipped to handle academic challenges.

Many parents choose Beauvoir because of the playful approach to learning. I wish there were some way of preserving it for a longer period of time, but I'm grateful that it does allow kids to be children, not mini-adults.

If the above is true, my question would be whether St. Albans and NCS are adequate for BVR kids?
I have crossed paths with BVR students who did not continue on. They were lovely, but did not especially scream creativity or a strong skills foundation. However, I would not necessarily consider them reflective of the whole as I'm guessing a lot goes into staying or leaving.If the BVR program encourages inquiry, I'd say that's the ideal foundation for young learners. I suppose you can still compare them to other schools with the same approach (most independents in the area) in how well they do that. Children should emerge curious, resilient and literate and able to compute and problem solve on par with area peers. They do have that playground!

Not all children (as aren't adults) creates equally. That's not slight on anyone, but it's true. Beauvoir admits roughly 63 kids in PK and another 20-21 in K, rounding out each class to roughly 84 children. Out of 84 children there will always be some outliers in academic ability and readiness for the 4th grade. Often times learning disabilities or other issues might not present themselves until the 1st or 2nd grade. IMO a majority of the Beauvoir kids are more than adequately prepared for STA, NCS or any other competive independent school.

At the end of the day, Beauvoir is not a good fit for all children and learning styles. Children who benefit from a lot of structure and direction typically won't do well at Beauvoir. The admission teams does an excellent job in admitting classes, but there will be times when a child wasn't the best selection. That happens with any school. When you factor in IQ testing on kids who are barley FOUR, legacy acceptances, sibling acceptances, teacher/staff acceptances, other connection acceptances you will get a mixed bag of kids.

All of this raving about Sidwell is hilarious. My DD was not accepted into their PK class. One of her Beauvoir classmates was and (not to be bragdocious) but hands down my DD is light years ahead of this other child. The other child isn't dumb or anything, but current skills wise there is no way she made a better academic selection. My DD could legibly and accurately write all upper and lowercase letters, was reading three letter words, drawing her shapes, extremely articulate, well spoken, outgoing and articulate. The other child was not doing any of that and still has challenges with writing and has not begun to read yet. I don't think my DD is a genius or anything, she just came from a very strong nursery school program that emphasized writing, phonics an social independence. Perhaps Sidwell decided that child's family was a better fit than ours, which I can totally see and would not disagree with in hindsight as I have gotten to know the other family and I am honest about who we are and what our values are. It probably also did not help out cause tha we needed substantial FA and more tha likely would the entire PK-12 grade years and the other family is full pay (yes the other demographics of our family is fairly identical). However, if we are speaking about which child could handle a more rigorous academic environment, hands down that would be my kid. My point is just because a child is not admitted to Sidwell does NOT mean they aren't academically prepared or capable.

[Anonymous]

This is true--from a non Beauvoir parent of rising B former.

[Anonymous]

Sorry. Meant to reply to 7-8-17 1:02.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is an adjustment period between Bueavoir's creative, fun approach to learning and STA/NCS' more traditional and academic approaches.

Beauvoir kids go in with the critical thinking skills and substantive knowledge they need, but some kids need some time to adjust to the different style of teaching -- more didactic, less learner-driven. In the long-term, Beauvoir kids are very well-equipped to handle academic challenges.

Many parents choose Beauvoir because of the playful approach to learning. I wish there were some way of preserving it for a longer period of time, but I'm grateful that it does allow kids to be children, not mini-adults.

If the above is true, my question would be whether St. Albans and NCS are adequate for BVR kids?
I have crossed paths with BVR students who did not continue on. They were lovely, but did not especially scream creativity or a strong skills foundation. However, I would not necessarily consider them reflective of the whole as I'm guessing a lot goes into staying or leaving.If the BVR program encourages inquiry, I'd say that's the ideal foundation for young learners. I suppose you can still compare them to other schools with the same approach (most independents in the area) in how well they do that. Children should emerge curious, resilient and literate and able to compute and problem solve on par with area peers. They do have that playground!

Not all children (as aren't adults) creates equally. That's not slight on anyone, but it's true. Beauvoir admits roughly 63 kids in PK and another 20-21 in K, rounding out each class to roughly 84 children. Out of 84 children there will always be some outliers in academic ability and readiness for the 4th grade. Often times learning disabilities or other issues might not present themselves until the 1st or 2nd grade. IMO a majority of the Beauvoir kids are more than adequately prepared for STA, NCS or any other competive independent school.

At the end of the day, Beauvoir is not a good fit for all children and learning styles. Children who benefit from a lot of structure and direction typically won't do well at Beauvoir. The admission teams does an excellent job in admitting classes, but there will be times when a child wasn't the best selection. That happens with any school. When you factor in IQ testing on kids who are barley FOUR, legacy acceptances, sibling acceptances, teacher/staff acceptances, other connection acceptances you will get a mixed bag of kids.

All of this raving about Sidwell is hilarious. My DD was not accepted into their PK class. One of her Beauvoir classmates was and (not to be bragdocious) but hands down my DD is light years ahead of this other child. The other child isn't dumb or anything, but current skills wise there is no way she made a better academic selection. My DD could legibly and accurately write all upper and lowercase letters, was reading three letter words, drawing her shapes, extremely articulate, well spoken, outgoing and articulate. The other child was not doing any of that and still has challenges with writing and has not begun to read yet. I don't think my DD is a genius or anything, she just came from a very strong nursery school program that emphasized writing, phonics an social independence. Perhaps Sidwell decided that child's family was a better fit than ours, which I can totally see and would not disagree with in hindsight as I have gotten to know the other family and I am honest about who we are and what our values are. It probably also did not help out cause tha we needed substantial FA and more tha likely would the entire PK-12 grade years and the other family is full pay (yes the other demographics of our family is fairly identical). However, if we are speaking about which child could handle a more rigorous academic environment, hands down that would be my kid. My point is just because a child is not admitted to Sidwell does NOT mean they aren't academically prepared or capable.

Try humility next time you apply: might work!

[Anonymous]

This thread is insufferable. BVR is a fantastic opportunity and education for children. If those that attend happen not to thrive in the Catedral schools afterwards, so it goes. They can go to one of the many other wonderful privates in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is insufferable. BVR is a fantastic opportunity and education for children. If those that attend happen not to thrive in the Catedral schools afterwards, so it goes. They can go to one of the many other wonderful privates in the area.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell doesn't think it prepares kids well since it did not accept any Beauvoir kids for the upcoming year

Sidwell accepted 2. 1 decided to go the STA and the other decided to go to NCS. Stop spreading lies. Just because no one is going does NOT mean no one was accepted. Moreover, many of the kids who would have been accepted, applied to STA and NCS early admissions and did not even apply to Sidwell. So again, your assumption that because no one is going that no one was accepted or would have been accepted is simply untrue.

Just 2? Huge comedown for Beauvoir

[Anonymous]

So many assumptions. Not as many applied to Sidwell. Gasp, they weren't interested. Different classes, different kids, different outplacement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is insufferable. BVR is a fantastic opportunity and education for children. If those that attend happen not to thrive in the Catedral schools afterwards, so it goes. They can go to one of the many other wonderful privates in the area.

+1000

Either

Then sever the tie with the Cathedral schools. My kids have had Cathedral teachers blame BVR for things that wasted their time along the way. My kids have also had their teachers make many negative comments about BVR. Heck, I have heard them from multiple different sources as well. And when the classes are split around 75/25 yet the academic awards go about 30/70 it further highlights the spread.

That does not make BVR or their kids bad, it just makes them incongruous with the other two schools.

Perhaps BVR should just be BVR and STA/NCS should go their own way as well.

[Anonymous]

Think that's not really that true. I've heard the opposite. Selective hearing seems to be a problem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is an adjustment period between Bueavoir's creative, fun approach to learning and STA/NCS' more traditional and academic approaches.

Beauvoir kids go in with the critical thinking skills and substantive knowledge they need, but some kids need some time to adjust to the different style of teaching -- more didactic, less learner-driven. In the long-term, Beauvoir kids are very well-equipped to handle academic challenges.

Many parents choose Beauvoir because of the playful approach to learning. I wish there were some way of preserving it for a longer period of time, but I'm grateful that it does allow kids to be children, not mini-adults.

If the above is true, my question would be whether St. Albans and NCS are adequate for BVR kids?
I have crossed paths with BVR students who did not continue on. They were lovely, but did not especially scream creativity or a strong skills foundation. However, I would not necessarily consider them reflective of the whole as I'm guessing a lot goes into staying or leaving.If the BVR program encourages inquiry, I'd say that's the ideal foundation for young learners. I suppose you can still compare them to other schools with the same approach (most independents in the area) in how well they do that. Children should emerge curious, resilient and literate and able to compute and problem solve on par with area peers. They do have that playground!

Not all children (as aren't adults) creates equally. That's not slight on anyone, but it's true. Beauvoir admits roughly 63 kids in PK and another 20-21 in K, rounding out each class to roughly 84 children. Out of 84 children there will always be some outliers in academic ability and readiness for the 4th grade. Often times learning disabilities or other issues might not present themselves until the 1st or 2nd grade. IMO a majority of the Beauvoir kids are more than adequately prepared for STA, NCS or any other competive independent school.

At the end of the day, Beauvoir is not a good fit for all children and learning styles. Children who benefit from a lot of structure and direction typically won't do well at Beauvoir. The admission teams does an excellent job in admitting classes, but there will be times when a child wasn't the best selection. That happens with any school. When you factor in IQ testing on kids who are barley FOUR, legacy acceptances, sibling acceptances, teacher/staff acceptances, other connection acceptances you will get a mixed bag of kids.

All of this raving about Sidwell is hilarious. My DD was not accepted into their PK class. One of her Beauvoir classmates was and (not to be bragdocious) but hands down my DD is light years ahead of this other child. The other child isn't dumb or anything, but current skills wise there is no way she made a better academic selection. My DD could legibly and accurately write all upper and lowercase letters, was reading three letter words, drawing her shapes, extremely articulate, well spoken, outgoing and articulate. The other child was not doing any of that and still has challenges with writing and has not begun to read yet. I don't think my DD is a genius or anything, she just came from a very strong nursery school program that emphasized writing, phonics an social independence. Perhaps Sidwell decided that child's family was a better fit than ours, which I can totally see and would not disagree with in hindsight as I have gotten to know the other family and I am honest about who we are and what our values are. It probably also did not help out cause tha we needed substantial FA and more tha likely would the entire PK-12 grade years and the other family is full pay (yes the other demographics of our family is fairly identical). However, if we are speaking about which child could handle a more rigorous academic environment, hands down that would be my kid. My point is just because a child is not admitted to Sidwell does NOT mean they aren't academically prepared or capable.

Try humility next time you apply: might work!

You are funny. What does humility have to do with not being honest? BTW: no way we would reapply. I wasn't all that impressed with Sidwell to begin with. My DH insisted because a few of his friend's kids went there. Like I said, Sidwell and its fake humility isn't our cup of tea. LOL

[Anonymous]

Sounds like Sidwell called it right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many assumptions. Not as many applied to Sidwell. Gasp, they weren't interested. Different classes, different kids, different outplacement.

This. Amazing it's so hard for people to believe that not everyone wants the same thing (i.e., Sidwell). Seems to me if people wanted Sidwell they wouldn't wait till 4th grade to apply. The reality is that most at BVR want one of the Cathedrals. The ones who do not, have many other great options including Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like Sidwell called it right.

For us they did! I was more than happy I didn't have to debate DH over whether to pick BVR or Sidwell! We love BVR and it's the perfect school for our DD. Also seems like they didn't make the right choice with the other child -- you know given that her parents declined and chose BVR and have zero regrets because they too didn't like the feel of Sidwell. *shrugs* Imagine, there are people who are NOT impressed with Sidwell. Imagine that.