Westland - Please share your experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you have your kid take French? There is almost no real world need to have a grasp of that language.

Ah well...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/pascalemmanuelgobry/2014/03/21/want-to-know-the-language-of-the-future-the-data-suggests-it-could-be-french/

[Anonymous]

While curriculum is basically the same (not each assignment), the schools are run quite differently and our experience, like some of the PP, have been that there is little uniformity among teachers and little intervention by the administration. Some teachers post on edline regularly most do not -- in general assignments are rarely posted on edline, though it does not take long to do so, many teachers are weeks behind in posting grades. The Administration could clearly step up and require the teachers to post, or to follow the basic rules on their own website for grading. Some teachers routinely lose things and say they were not turned in; many teachers are teaching from very old material. As others have noted, there are many good teachers but one of the reasons students find the school boring is because there is little effort across the board to provide any stimulation to students. For the most part, students and teachers coast and then many of the students have a hard time transitioning to the workload of HS. It is not terrible but it could be so much better without a lot of work, just some effort by the Administration and teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, the view from the student trenches is that Westland is uber boring and very clique-y. Lots of mindless worksheets and very shallow classwork. Good in the sense that it's not much work, but bad in the sense that being bored all day is no fun.

Good to know. I think that will fit my student reasonably well, she will like that less work gives her more time available in her schedule for a multitude of outside activities, and we supplement academics anyway. Thanks for the info, it's nice to know what to expect.

This is such an odd stance to take. THe middle school curriculum in MCPS is county wide. Westland's teachers are generally very good and the student body is, for the most part, highly capable, so there's no "teaching down" to struggling kids.

If people have a problem with middle school being boring, criticise MCPS! But to single out Westland as being more boring than its sister schools is just weird. People on this board seem to think that each school has its own curriculum.

I'm the second PP you quoted. I didn't mean to single out Westland for criticism; I don't have any experience with it yet to criticize anyway. I have one kid through HS and in college, one in HS, and one in MS but we are from out of the area and are moving into the zone for Westland next year. I was simply commenting on the first poster's observations about the school and that IF they happened to be accurate that was good to know and I'm actually mostly OK with that.

I know it's a bit of an odd stance.

As long as my kids are making A grades in the highest level courses possible I think they are probably going to be fine in high school, where in turn if they make A grades in a rigorous courseload of honors and AP I think they will probably be fine for college. Therefore, in terms of opportunity cost, I would like for them to be able to make A's with a reasonable but not crushing level of effort. If their schoolwork is easy, good for them. That just gives more time and mental energy to focus on supplemental academics from home, charity work, extra-curriculars, a social life, and family time.

Again, sorry for appearing to criticize the school with no basis for doing so, I was actually just grateful for the info and the idea of what to expect going in. However if it turns out that poster's thoughts aren't the case for what everyone or most people will experience at Westland, that's OK too -- my kids are adaptable enough to make most things work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you have your kid take French? There is almost no real world need to have a grasp of that language.

I work in international development French language skills = employment opportunities. I wish there were more French speakers around!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a big school but that is how the middle schools work around here, and it makes the transition to HS quite easy. The facility is fine so I don't think the kids feel it is overcrowded. The problem we have had is that the teachers vary widely, some (especially in math) are terrific but there are many who are unbelievably poor and the Administration has no interest in getting involved. The prior Administration was far more responsive so if you get one of the bad teachers, and your child will just based on numbers, it will be a trying experience. Current Principal is quite weak and a school like Westland needs a strong Principal. It is not terrible by any means but it could be much better, and there really is no excuse for the poor teachers (losing assignments, never posting on edline, having 8th grade children color maps because that is what they did 20 years ago, teaching from old mimeographed assignments, again because the teacher does not want to change what he or she has been doing). The early/late lunches are a problem but the kids are supposed to be able to eat snacks in their classrooms, though that is not always observed.

The previous principal, referenced above, will be starting as head of school at Washington Episcopal School next year. They have an excellent middle school which draws many kids who would have attended Westland if they had gone to MCPS. You might want to check it out, and then consider BCC for HS ratger than going private for HS, as you mentioned.

Anyone know why he left public for private?

[Anonymous]

Also, what is his name?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, what is his name?

http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2014/Vogelman-Named-Next-Head-of-School-of-Washington-Episcopal-School/

[Anonymous]

I wonder why he got out of public education after working in that arena for so long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder why he got out of public education after working in that arena for so long.

He was a principal, then a ass't superintendant. it's seems likely from the article that his wife wanted to move back to Bethesda where she grew up sknce they have kids. his options would have been try tk move into mcps upper level bureaucracy (probs not that many slots) or go back to being a PS principal which he already did successfully and would be a step backwards from asst superintendant. Running a strong, fairly large local private school would be a step up in terms of being in charge (limited bureaucracy) and being well resources, etc. leaves him in a good position to either move up to more prestigious private schools anywhere in US or bide his time for sr level school systems management jobs, which are probably not open that often. also principal of a private school when you have kids who would get free tuition is probs a good deal

why dk you keep asking questions about his career path? are you trying to insinuate something? his career choices seem pretty run of the mill to me.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. Not curious about him specifically, just curious about the career trajectory generally. I don't know him or anything about him. I am sure he is very good at what he does!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you have your kid take French? There is almost no real world need to have a grasp of that language.

Moron.

[Anonymous]

The worst think about Westland is its current PTA president. She thinks she runs the school but the principal is very happy to have somebody who screens every post for the list serve and communicates everything to the families. That way she does not have to address any controversial topics.

I would say the situation is horrible because of that. You have one parent who is a control freak and the school admin is taking advantage of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you have your kid take French? There is almost no real world need to have a grasp of that language.

Moron.

The kids who take French are typically European. The Americans prefer to take Spanish.

[Anonymous]

My son (a 7th grader) likes it there. His teachers seem very knowledgeable and experienced (at least compared to those of my DD who's in high school at a private school where teachers tend to be very young).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The worst think about Westland is its current PTA president. She thinks she runs the school but the principal is very happy to have somebody who screens every post for the list serve and communicates everything to the families. That way she does not have to address any controversial topics.

I would say the situation is horrible because of that. You have one parent who is a control freak and the school admin is taking advantage of it.

I am very disappointed to read this comment. The current PTA president is a truly wonderful and committed person. If you have a concern, I would raise it with the principal, rather than criticizing a devoted volunteer on this forum.