The Heights School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shuttle bus questioner here -- thanks so much! We are looking forward to applying this year, and it's nice to know that there are such helpful families willing to take the time to answer questions here. Maybe we'll see some of you on the Alexandria bus some time.

The buss was too rough for our third-grader. We carpooled until sixth grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Always amazed at how many in this supposedly well educated area get their news from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert and their theology from Dan Brown ( or Wiki).

I admittedly don't know much about Opus Dei, but the "read the bumper stickers" argument is just absurd to me.

It's not absurd at all. There are non-Catholics and Catholic-lite parents asking if they will be comfortable there. YOu know as well as I do that most families are conservative, large, very Catholic and pro-life and pro-military. Go one mile east and read the bumper stickers in the McLean School parking lot. The exact opposite. You will not be comfortable at a school if you don't understand what drives it. The Heights has a special mission and those applying need understand exactly what they are gettting into - for the good or the bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Always amazed at how many in this supposedly well educated area get their news from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert and their theology from Dan Brown ( or Wiki).

Incorrect. We were a Heights family for five years. And if you can't start someone who is utterly ignorant on Opus Dei with wiki, where are you going to start them?

They interviewed John Coverdale a few years ago on EWTN. I eagerly taped those and watched them as we considered The Heights for my son. I too (I'm Catholic) had only heard of Opus Dei from The Davinci Code, and I was greatly relieved to hear that there was nothing to worry about!

I would start with this article perhaps: http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/US.php?id=3376

I would also have them go straight to the source and read any part of The Way by St. Josemaria Escriva. It's a lot of short quotes, so it's not a long or difficult read. It's even on-line: http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-subject.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here with a question for the Heights mom. We are politically moderate and Catholic and really like what we know about and have seen at the school. The lower school cabins, teachers, amazing nature and art room, and space to be active and explore seem ideal for active boys. I researched the school here on DCUM though and was a little bit concerned about some comments that a former Heights parent made on another thread. Are there any issues with the lower school boys using profane language unchecked by the teachers? Also, the poster alluded to a tragic incident of a boy dying of alcohol related issues. I would guess that this was an unfortunate and isolated incident, but would like to hear your perceptions. These are hardly questions that you can ask the admissions office, but since this site is anonymous, I am curious.

I don't think anyone responded to these questions yet, so I will try, PP. Yes a senior died in a single person car crash some years ago after leaving a private party where I heard there was alcohol. I also heard he was driving too fast. I don't see how that tragedy is attibutable to the school. I have had boys in the upper school, and they have not experienced a big alcohol or drug scene at all --far from it. As for "profane" language, not sure what you or the earlier poster are referring to. I think in an all male environment some boys and men are going to use "cuss words" that they would not use around women or girls. It is a more rough and tumble atmosphere than we experienced at a coed private, so you would need to be prepared for and comfortable with that. Profane in the true meaning of the word (disrespect to religion) I am confident would not be tolerated. When I have been at the school or at school functions I have heard only yes sirs and no sirs and polite interactions.

Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Always amazed at how many in this supposedly well educated area get their news from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert and their theology from Dan Brown ( or Wiki).

I admittedly don't know much about Opus Dei, but the "read the bumper stickers" argument is just absurd to me.

It's not absurd at all. There are non-Catholics and Catholic-lite parents asking if they will be comfortable there. YOu know as well as I do that most families are conservative, large, very Catholic and pro-life and pro-military. Go one mile east and read the bumper stickers in the McLean School parking lot. The exact opposite. You will not be comfortable at a school if you don't understand what drives it. The Heights has a special mission and those applying need understand exactly what they are gettting into - for the good or the bad.

Not absurd for those (admittedly a large majority these days) who do not want to be troubled by the effort of becoming truly informed. Sailing through life on low information seems to be the way these days, so what more do you need other than "bumper stickers" to understand people?

[Anonymous]

We love the Heights. At back to school night, our 8th grader's religion teacher asked, for confirmation prep purposes, how many families were catholic. 2/3 of the parents' hands went up. A full third of the families were not catholic, but chose to send their boys to this dynamic school that is 110% focused on building strong, character-filled boys. We could not be more pleased with the faculty and mission.

[Anonymous]

^^ Interesting, when we were there, there were only two non-catholic families in the entire grade.

[Anonymous]

I am the parent of a boy at the Heights. We are not Catholic and have never felt any pressure what-so-ever from anyone at the school to become Catholic. My son has the option to opt out of the Religion classes, audit them, or participate fully in them. There are many children in my son's grade that are not Catholic (at least 20%, I would guess). Most families are conservative, that is definitely true -- but not all. As for cussing in the lower school, my son found it no different than his prior public school. The teachers do not condone the use of foul language or other disrespectful behavior. My son is very happy and loves going to school each day -- and that makes me very happy.

[Anonymous]

I have heard that the curriculum is very challenging, especially the literature. My DS is dyslexic, would this be a terrible fit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that the curriculum is very challenging, especially the literature. My DS is dyslexic, would this be a terrible fit?

I spoke to one of the teachers at the open house, and for the 9th they require quite a bit of reading. I was impress, but I would be concern if I were you. Give them a call or stop by and speak to the admin. Also, they not technology, they're old school. No ipads etc, kids still use text book - I LOVE that. DD entire school is techno/ipad driven, and I hate it with a passion.

[Anonymous]

^^ But please note that because it is a book-and-pencil school with no technology, it is not the right school for kids who need lapstops for certains SNs such as notetaking for ADHD, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia (because of long reading assignments); and executive function issues. Our diagnostitican told us to get our DC taught a standard QWERTY speech typing course ASAP and also start using Dragon software because his executive functioning problems were so severe. For a kid like that, you need a computerized school.

[Anonymous]

I know a kid who was at the school had executive functioning issues. His parents took him out and put him in the McLean School. He is thriving there.

[Anonymous]

NP - ditto experience but now at Commonwealth/Academy. Straight A kid now. No lost papers. No confusion. No missed assignments. All homework assignments are posted on the internet, just not on the blackboard. Teachers respond immediately when you have a question (which we don't anymore because DC is doing so well). Grades/assignments/work due is constantly being updated on our child's page so we know EXACTLY where child is doing at any one time and where he might be behind or need tutoring. And all kids carry laptops and type. While I would be the first to advocate a great books tradition, for some kids, the new computerized way to learn really helps them organize themselves. Plus they are already doing power point presentations and know how to build computers so are way ahead of their peers when they hit college. Just a different way to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP - ditto experience but now at Commonwealth/Academy. Straight A kid now. No lost papers. No confusion. No missed assignments. All homework assignments are posted on the internet, just not on the blackboard. Teachers respond immediately when you have a question (which we don't anymore because DC is doing so well). Grades/assignments/work due is constantly being updated on our child's page so we know EXACTLY where child is doing at any one time and where he might be behind or need tutoring. And all kids carry laptops and type. While I would be the first to advocate a great books tradition, for some kids, the new computerized way to learn really helps them organize themselves. Plus they are already doing power point presentations and know how to build computers so are way ahead of their peers when they hit college. Just a different way to learn.

Until the teachers start demand assignments by 8.01 the next morning, or on the weekend by Saturday midnight....hate it! Highlighting, work sheets, downloading pics in worksheets, notability, etc....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - ditto experience but now at Commonwealth/Academy. Straight A kid now. No lost papers. No confusion. No missed assignments. All homework assignments are posted on the internet, just not on the blackboard. Teachers respond immediately when you have a question (which we don't anymore because DC is doing so well). Grades/assignments/work due is constantly being updated on our child's page so we know EXACTLY where child is doing at any one time and where he might be behind or need tutoring. And all kids carry laptops and type. While I would be the first to advocate a great books tradition, for some kids, the new computerized way to learn really helps them organize themselves. Plus they are already doing power point presentations and know how to build computers so are way ahead of their peers when they hit college. Just a different way to learn.

Until the teachers start demand assignments by 8.01 the next morning, or on the weekend by Saturday midnight....hate it! Highlighting, work sheets, downloading pics in worksheets, notability, etc....

Where does your kid go to school? I've never (C/A) ever had anything due in that fashion, nor any excessive demands for work due in by a time certain on a weekend.