Norwood Middle School: What do you love? Not love?

[Anonymous]

The kinks WERE worked out before high school by staying at Norwood. My two children learned to write and think creatively at Norwood. They were 100% prepared for high school. They also learned what they loved and what they wanted to pursue in high school and what they had tried and didn't want to pursue.

Norwood kids do incredibly well in getting into their top choice high schools and mine were no exception. They were welcomed in their new schools because the K-12 kids were happy to have new blood.

Having gone through the applying out process in 8th grade is making looking for college easier now that we are at that stage.

Norwood is a kind and lovely place where the teachers are dedicated, talented, engaging and caring.

I hope that the disgrunted 2 posters will stop the bashing and look closely to find the right school for their children. I can't think of any family in my two children's recent graduating classes who would have anything less than positive things to say about Norwood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kinks WERE worked out before high school by staying at Norwood. My two children learned to write and think creatively at Norwood. They were 100% prepared for high school. They also learned what they loved and what they wanted to pursue in high school and what they had tried and didn't want to pursue.

Norwood kids do incredibly well in getting into their top choice high schools and mine were no exception. They were welcomed in their new schools because the K-12 kids were happy to have new blood.

Having gone through the applying out process in 8th grade is making looking for college easier now that we are at that stage.

Norwood is a kind and lovely place where the teachers are dedicated, talented, engaging and caring.

I hope that the disgrunted 2 posters will stop the bashing and look closely to find the right school for their children. I can't think of any family in my two children's recent graduating classes who would have anything less than positive things to say about Norwood.

Taking your comments seriously, I assume that you are not the type to say only positive things about any school that you have your kids enrolled. Anyway, getting back to the earlier issue, when are the kinks worked out? Is 5th and 6th grade set and ready, or do we have to wait until 7th and 8th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kinks WERE worked out before high school by staying at Norwood. My two children learned to write and think creatively at Norwood. They were 100% prepared for high school. They also learned what they loved and what they wanted to pursue in high school and what they had tried and didn't want to pursue.

Norwood kids do incredibly well in getting into their top choice high schools and mine were no exception. They were welcomed in their new schools because the K-12 kids were happy to have new blood.

Having gone through the applying out process in 8th grade is making looking for college easier now that we are at that stage.

Norwood is a kind and lovely place where the teachers are dedicated, talented, engaging and caring.

I hope that the disgrunted 2 posters will stop the bashing and look closely to find the right school for their children. I can't think of any family in my two children's recent graduating classes who would have anything less than positive things to say about Norwood.

If you do not have children currently at the school, how can you know what it is like this year? We were very happy at Norwood, too, until this year. The changes (inlcuding the new LS head, who is a disaster) and the forcing out of Dick Ewing are not little changes. Norwood is no longer the school from which your kids graduated. I have a friend who has taken both of her kids out of Norwood early. I used to assume she was crazy and a little too picky. Now I realize she knew what she was talking about. I just didn't see it until this year. I've gone from talking the school up every chance I get to saying nothing when asked if there are other schools someone should consider when Norwood is not on the person's list. I'm a new poster by the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, I never said the teachers were sub par. Someone else may have. I posted 11:13. You seem to think there is only one poster. That is incorrect. I am responding to the yawn poster. This was a thread intentionally asking for comments on teacher quality. If that does not interest you do not read it.

I believe your experience to be true. You believe that the people who complain about teacher quality are delusional. That is not my experience. The people I know who complain about teacher quality variability (sometimes teachers themselves) are not delusional about their children.

They are often familiar with many teachers and have witnessed the difference an exceptional teacher can make.

We can all agree that not every professional in any field, including teaching, is "exceptional." We can all agree that exceptional teachers make a huge difference. We can also all agree that no private school or public school or university in this country has all "exceptional" teachers (Harvard/Yale/Princeton) may have great scholars but some are clunkers as "teachers."

This thread, however, and other recent Norwood threads, appear to be pushing a narrative that Norwood teachers are below average, at a minimum. I don't know if this is one poster, a few disgruntled families, or an attempt by an applicant's parent to manipulate the yield by trying to run down Norwood (like those on internet chat rooms trying to drive down a company's stock price so it can be acquired cheaply). (I'd hate to think the parent body is widely populated by carping, entitled second-guessers.) But there's a very unpleasant tone to all of this. The teachers work hard, they are good people, and they deserve more respect than being trashed, even if on a collective basis, by people hiding behind the anonymity of an internet forum.

Some of what is probably driving this is the recent tuition hikes and the contracts that are due.
Believe it or not, there are many families who question what they are getting for the dollar at ALL private schools. The consumers are looking under the hood to see what needs work, and asking if any competitor offers the same deal. For a K-8 in MD, the competition is GA and CES. Trust me, these schools have their issues and people have walked from them too.
These threads actually have taken a new turn in recent months and I wonder with all the comparing that takes place on DCUM, whether schools will have to reshape to fit consumer demands. Norwood promises to be a happy place of learning, and it is.

Good points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The kinks WERE worked out before high school by staying at Norwood. My two children learned to write and think creatively at Norwood. They were 100% prepared for high school. They also learned what they loved and what they wanted to pursue in high school and what they had tried and didn't want to pursue.

Norwood kids do incredibly well in getting into their top choice high schools and mine were no exception. They were welcomed in their new schools because the K-12 kids were happy to have new blood.

Having gone through the applying out process in 8th grade is making looking for college easier now that we are at that stage.

Norwood is a kind and lovely place where the teachers are dedicated, talented, engaging and caring.

I hope that the disgrunted 2 posters will stop the bashing and look closely to find the right school for their children. I can't think of any family in my two children's recent graduating classes who would have anything less than positive things to say about Norwood.

If you do not have children currently at the school, how can you know what it is like this year? We were very happy at Norwood, too, until this year. The changes (inlcuding the new LS head, who is a disaster) and the forcing out of Dick Ewing are not little changes. Norwood is no longer the school from which your kids graduated. I have a friend who has taken both of her kids out of Norwood early. I used to assume she was crazy and a little too picky. Now I realize she knew what she was talking about. I just didn't see it until this year. I've gone from talking the school up every chance I get to saying nothing when asked if there are other
schools someone should consider when Norwood is not on the person's list. I'm a new poster by the way.

Why do you say Dick was forced out? My understanding is his retirement was a long time coming. Why do you think LS head is a disaster? She's only been there 6 months. I would give it a bit more time.

[Anonymous]

I I have the same understanding as the pp. Dick has been in Norwood for 31 years! And the transition phase is something like 18 months. So, I don't see how this is being forced out.

I happen to like the LS head and I think you should give her more time.

And if I am thinking about the same person who transfered her two kids out of Norwood as you are, be aware that everything is not peachy either where her kids are now.

[Anonymous]

The new LS head does things that scare people like poorly worded email, with some grammar errors. I think that it would be unfair to blame her for all the ills of the LS. The past LS heads have spent too much time trying to make friends with the teachers who resist change and hard work. I am not sure what everyone is afraid of, if the teachers leave because they ate asked to do "too much" then I say good riddance. Annie was not effective at getting any changes implemented. Those teachers have figured out that if they smile and keep parents happy, they keep their jobs. This is problematic in many ways that are so obvious. I had one teacher who changed her evaluation of my child the minute I disagreed with her assessment. All of a sudden Johnny was a good reader when she wanted to say otherwise. I felt sorry for her but I wished that she felt that she could adhere to her opinion. One way to deal with this is to have more objective evaluations and assessments that show where the child is at that moment. I have also noticed a bit of behind the scenes formulation of explanations tailored to each parent, I don't get it.
It all makes me feel like the place needs a dose of leadership and integrity.
For now, we will stick around since we have invested so much, but I can see why people want out.

[Anonymous]

It is also the case that if you try to approach the new LS head with a problem, you will get nothing but dismissiveness and blow back. It has happened to us more than once. I have heard we are not the only ones.

If your only disgruntlement is the crazy e-mails with poor grammar, consider yourself lucky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is also the case that if you try to approach the new LS head with a problem, you will get nothing but dismissiveness and blow back. It has happened to us more than once. I have heard we are not the only ones.

If your only disgruntlement is the crazy e-mails with poor grammar, consider yourself lucky.

But to be fair, the MS head inherited a tighter run ship; Suzy left things nice and tidy. Annie and Armistead left a messy situation for Tiffany.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is also the case that if you try to approach the new LS head with a problem, you will get nothing but dismissiveness and blow back. It has happened to us more than once. I have heard we are not the only ones.

If your only disgruntlement is the crazy e-mails with poor grammar, consider yourself lucky.

I did not find this to be the case at all when met with LS head about a problem this year.....

[Anonymous]

My daughter went to Norwood K-2. She had a wonderful experience that I believe was far superior to many other of the privates. Art and music is outstanding, really outstanding. She had excellent K and first grade homeroom teachers. Her second grade teacher was weak, and quite frankly did not care. That was not my reason for leaving. My daughter is now in Holton-Arms. She is doing wonderful which I attribute in part to her excellent start at Norwood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter went to Norwood K-2. She had a wonderful experience that I believe was far superior to many other of the privates. Art and music is outstanding, really outstanding. She had excellent K and first grade homeroom teachers. Her second grade teacher was weak, and quite frankly did not care. That was not my reason for leaving. My daughter is now in Holton-Arms. She is doing wonderful which I attribute in part to her excellent start at Norwood.

I am a current Holton parent. Holton has its issues too and doesn't walk water. It's a good school but was glad to get out of LS because of the head. However, everyone's experiences are different regardless where you attend school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter went to Norwood K-2. She had a wonderful experience that I believe was far superior to many other of the privates. Art and music is outstanding, really outstanding. She had excellent K and first grade homeroom teachers. Her second grade teacher was weak, and quite frankly did not care. That was not my reason for leaving. My daughter is now in Holton-Arms. She is doing wonderful which I attribute in part to her excellent start at Norwood.

I am a current Holton parent. Holton has its issues too and doesn't walk water. It's a good school but was glad to get out of LS because of the head. However, everyone's experiences are different regardless where you attend school.

I have been hearing a lot about poor LSs. Our dd is at a private school and we were so unimpressed with the teaching that we used public for our second child. No regrets, we will look at private school when we are in middle school.
I think that it is unfortunate that the only comparison on this board is this private school vs that private school, instead of Norwood or Holton vs Burning Tree or Carderock.

[Anonymous]

Re Norwood MS science. It is OK. The kids tend to love the teachers, which makes a big difference - doesn't turn the kids off of science. Is it a rigorous science curriculum? No. (I have science kids and also can compare Norwood w/ a big-3; big 3 was better in science curriculum for a very good science student.) What I think is fabulous about Norwood MS is that the English, and social studies is not bad (certainly not a joke). Math? You will never find a consensus at any school about math teaching, but that is because of screwy expectations and great native differences between students.

Re LS teachers, there is a mix. Parents are very involved, and so sometimes annoyance at an over-involved parent can seem to be "bad teaching." Some of the older teachers (now mainly gone) seemed to me to warm to quirky kids, but most seemed to prefer just being able to teach to the middle and found the outliers to be annoying (hence tutor recommendations as well as - according to other parents in my child's group - too-quick diagnoses by teachers of ADD/ADHD when a child was not compliant enough).

One other point: at Norwood, the school has accommodated students "at the top" when there has been a relatively large group of them (5-10). So for them, they may do great, get some of the best teachers in 7/8, go to great colleges, etc. But it is very very class/cohort dependent. As is bullying.

[Anonymous]

I would agree with PP.

Our experience has been that social issues, bullying and lots of "mean girl stuff, is routinely diminished or over-looked by the administration. My DD has also mentioned a couple or teachers who either pay particular attention to the popular girls to the exclusion of the rest or some homeroom teachers who befriend the popular boys.

Re LS: We hung on through the lower school just counting the days until our children entered the MS. We had a very mixed bag experience in LS. Second grade was a nightmare and very difficult for our DD. After speaking to other parents, we discovered that one reading teacher told each family in her entire class that their children needed tutoring and psychological intervention. Third grade was a wash. We loved the Fourth Grade team of teachers for both our kids.

For the most part, Norwood teachers are very dedicated and are willing to help their students. We have found the administration to be off-putting. Routinely emails are sent out to the community at largewith mistakes, and we now come to expect that the emails we send to certain members of the administration will unanswered.

We have two years left for our youngest to finish. Was it worth $30K a year? I am not sure, but my kids have been mostly happy