How is the new Principal at Janney?

[Anonymous]

Agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live IB and thinking of switching from where we are to our IB school. Now that she has been there a few months are there any changes that you see?

+1. We are, too. I'd also like to hear about any future plans for managing class sizes. The giant 3rd grade class doesn't sound like a good solution to me.

The rumor is that 3, 4, 5 will be large (30+) going forward, except with one teacher in grades 4 and 5 (and 2 in grade 3). There really isn't any other solution. There are too many kids, the city won't redistrict them, the school is out of rooms and they aren't allowed to put trailers outside.

What is the source for this rumor? There have long been more than one teacher per class in 4th and 5th grade. This year 5th grade math has two full time fully accredited teachers, ELA classes have a teacher and share a co-teacher and the science and social studies teacher has a co-teacher for each subject.

I fully expect Janney to adjust teacher numbers with class sizes as it has long done. People can agree or disagree about how this works but I would not use DCUM as my source for how this is working, there are many Janney bashers on here and everyone thinks they know better than the staff on the ground that are actually making the decisions after considering all options.

As to OP's question, I agree with others that I like principal Lutz and I understand the teachers like her, which is great. I am a big fan of the prior principal and she made tremendous changes for the better while she was there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've posted this on prior threads on this but what is the true reason for banning trailers? There was no clear explanation beyond that the prior principal didn't like them.

Is cutting back on PK4 an option?

The field space has a parking lot underneath and cannot be used for trailers.

[Anonymous]

Should they move the boundaries?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Should they move the boundaries?

This was a huge topic of debate just 18-24 months ago during the boundary review process and there was rabid opposition. Didn't happen then and another review is expected to begin in 7-8 years.

Janney parents have plenty of options: they can make the best of it, lottery for a different public or charter school or go to a private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Should they move the boundaries?

This was a huge topic of debate just 18-24 months ago during the boundary review process and there was rabid opposition. Didn't happen then and another review is expected to begin in 7-8 years.

Janney parents have plenty of options: they can make the best of it, lottery for a different public or charter school or go to a private school.

they can also report cheaters who are claiming to live IB but do not.

[Anonymous]

It will hopefully become less desirable and families will stop moving inbound.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will hopefully become less desirable and families will stop moving inbound.

If you own a house in the Janney area, you'd better hope that isn't so. The desire of families to be in Janney is the wind in the sails of the AU Park real estate market. How else to explain huge prices for what are mostly tiny side hall colonials?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will hopefully become less desirable and families will stop moving inbound.

If you own a house in the Janney area, you'd better hope that isn't so. The desire of families to be in Janney is the wind in the sails of the AU Park real estate market. How else to explain huge prices for what are mostly tiny side hall colonials?

There are lots of things to like about AU Park. Right near a number of major roads (Wisc, River, Western, MacArthur), lots of amenities nearby, good Metro and bus access, and lots of families. Easy access to downtown DC and Bethesda. It's a great place to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will hopefully become less desirable and families will stop moving inbound.

If you own a house in the Janney area, you'd better hope that isn't so. The desire of families to be in Janney is the wind in the sails of the AU Park real estate market. How else to explain huge prices for what are mostly tiny side hall colonials?

There are lots of things to like about AU Park. Right near a number of major roads (Wisc, River, Western, MacArthur), lots of amenities nearby, good Metro and bus access, and lots of families. Easy access to downtown DC and Bethesda. It's a great place to live.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live IB and thinking of switching from where we are to our IB school. Now that she has been there a few months are there any changes that you see?

+1. We are, too. I'd also like to hear about any future plans for managing class sizes. The giant 3rd grade class doesn't sound like a good solution to me.

The rumor is that 3, 4, 5 will be large (30+) going forward, except with one teacher in grades 4 and 5 (and 2 in grade 3). There really isn't any other solution. There are too many kids, the city won't redistrict them, the school is out of rooms and they aren't allowed to put trailers outside.

There will be

I'm a teacher and I think that's just too many children for one. Is there an aide? A second teacher who floats grades? 30+ is way too many for positive behavior management, many activities, and meaningful feedback.

So there are two dedicated full time teachers per 30 kids? That makes it a space issue..are they allowed to 'break out' into the hall or break put rooms? As a teacher, 2:30 is a great ratio if both are full time teachers (not teacher plus part time teacher or aide)

There are floating aides.
The 30 kids classes have two full time teachers, in addition to the special subjects teachers. It is working very well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live IB and thinking of switching from where we are to our IB school. Now that she has been there a few months are there any changes that you see?

+1. We are, too. I'd also like to hear about any future plans for managing class sizes. The giant 3rd grade class doesn't sound like a good solution to me.

The rumor is that 3, 4, 5 will be large (30+) going forward, except with one teacher in grades 4 and 5 (and 2 in grade 3). There really isn't any other solution. There are too many kids, the city won't redistrict them, the school is out of rooms and they aren't allowed to put trailers outside.

There will be

I'm a teacher and I think that's just too many children for one. Is there an aide? A second teacher who floats grades? 30+ is way too many for positive behavior management, many activities, and meaningful feedback.

So there are two dedicated full time teachers per 30 kids? That makes it a space issue..are they allowed to 'break out' into the hall or break put rooms? As a teacher, 2:30 is a great ratio if both are full time teachers (not teacher plus part time teacher or aide)

There are floating aides.
The 30 kids classes have two full time teachers, in addition to the special subjects teachers. It is working very well.

There are 30 to 33 kids per class in third grade.
2 full time teachers.
No floating aides.
However, when the kids go to specials there is one teacher.

[Anonymous]

We love AU Park. Great neighbors, kids have made lots of great friends. It is also very convenient and commute is a breeze. I get to work in 20mn door to door.
Janney and Deal are great. We will reconsider things once the kids get to HS age