Norwood or GDS for K

[Anonymous]

Two kids who graduated from Norwood. Loved the school and our experience.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t gds the only play based K around? They don’t even have reading groups in K or PK. They must backload the basics into other years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here .... it seems parents are both places love both schools!
We are leaning to Norwood as our son will be applying for K next year (he’s 18 months younger) and, although he’s young to predict personality and learning style, he’s so different to our daughter I cannot imagine the same high school being the best fit for both. I think, for us, the fit is more important than the school name at high school level.
Would you recommend attending both welcome events or is that frowned upon?
Thanks!

Norwood parent here.... OP this is a good point to consider. Our children are very different (in academic needs and in personality) and both have been served well by Norwood. One has graduated and went on to a Big 3 (and was accepted to GDS but didn't choose to go there). Our youngest will most likely not end up at the same high school (but could end up at GDS?). We never applied to Big 3 for LS/MS.

To answer your question: The welcome events are there for you learn more about the school and help you to make a decision. It is NOT frowned upon to attend both.


More Norwood thoughts...
Another plus about Norwood is the music and arts program. Despite being very different, both of my children considered these as highlights.

The community is warm and welcoming and the teachers are great.

As we have moved on to a Big 3 for HS, it is clear that younger kids get far more focus of the administration and school mission in a K-8 model and 9-12 get a large portion of the focus in a k-12 model.

Our HS student was more than prepared for the Big 3. The work stepped up in HS but still doing very very well. Norwood works hard to prepare MS students for HS, as they know they want to have good placement. Norwood graduates are often more prepared than their Big 3 HS classmates - some of the Big 3 MS kids have never taken anything similar to a midterm exams before, or written a large history paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here .... it seems parents are both places love both schools!
We are leaning to Norwood as our son will be applying for K next year (he’s 18 months younger) and, although he’s young to predict personality and learning style, he’s so different to our daughter I cannot imagine the same high school being the best fit for both. I think, for us, the fit is more important than the school name at high school level.
Would you recommend attending both welcome events or is that frowned upon?
Thanks!

Norwood parent here.... OP this is a good point to consider. Our children are very different (in academic needs and in personality) and both have been served well by Norwood. One has graduated and went on to a Big 3 (and was accepted to GDS but didn't choose to go there). Our youngest will most likely not end up at the same high school (but could end up at GDS?). We never applied to Big 3 for LS/MS.

To answer your question: The welcome events are there for you learn more about the school and help you to make a decision. It is NOT frowned upon to attend both.


More Norwood thoughts...
Another plus about Norwood is the music and arts program. Despite being very different, both of my children considered these as highlights.

The community is warm and welcoming and the teachers are great.

As we have moved on to a Big 3 for HS, it is clear that younger kids get far more focus of the administration and school mission in a K-8 model and 9-12 get a large portion of the focus in a k-12 model.

Our HS student was more than prepared for the Big 3. The work stepped up in HS but still doing very very well. Norwood works hard to prepare MS students for HS, as they know they want to have good placement. Norwood graduates are often more prepared than their Big 3 HS classmates - some of the Big 3 MS kids have never taken anything similar to a midterm exams before, or written a large history paper.

I am not sure what you mean, but as is logical, GDS Ms prepares its students very well for the HS. There is no need to make ridiculous statements to show Norwood's strengths.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t gds the only play based K around? They don’t even have reading groups in K or PK. They must backload the basics into other years.

Don't know if it is the only one, but yes, reading is not "enforced" until 1st grade. My son started reading in October of first grade.

[Anonymous]

Norwood parent here of 8th grader. My child applied to public school magnet for 9th and was accepted. She loves Norwood but is definitely ready for a bigger experience in high school. I agree to attend the parent coffee this week. The students have tables out with items to spark conversations. I am familiar with the Pre-K program, but personally prefer the Montessori approach. The Norwood program is generally play-based, but there is an academic component. I think it's a good balance for folks who prefer play-based but don't want their kids behind the curve in K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t gds the only play based K around? They don’t even have reading groups in K or PK. They must backload the basics into other years.

Don't know if it is the only one, but yes, reading is not "enforced" until 1st grade. My son started reading in October of first grade.

They didn’t have readers or daily reading time until a month into first grade?? What program or traders are they using or what phonics sequencing?
Would my kid coming from Montessori for K, who is sounding out basic words, get any real reading instruction?

[Anonymous]

Readers. Like scholastic or Pearson’s or FTPinnell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t gds the only play based K around? They don’t even have reading groups in K or PK. They must backload the basics into other years.

Don't know if it is the only one, but yes, reading is not "enforced" until 1st grade. My son started reading in October of first grade.

They didn’t have readers or daily reading time until a month into first grade?? What program or traders are they using or what phonics sequencing?
Would my kid coming from Montessori for K, who is sounding out basic words, get any real reading instruction?

Of course they had pre-reading instruction starting in PK, but students are not pushed into reading before 1st grade if they are not naturally there. Some kids were reading in PK. More in K. Some kids in the 1st grade read at a 6th grade level (no kidding). There is differentiation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here .... it seems parents are both places love both schools!
We are leaning to Norwood as our son will be applying for K next year (he’s 18 months younger) and, although he’s young to predict personality and learning style, he’s so different to our daughter I cannot imagine the same high school being the best fit for both. I think, for us, the fit is more important than the school name at high school level.
Would you recommend attending both welcome events or is that frowned upon?
Thanks!

Norwood parent here.... OP this is a good point to consider. Our children are very different (in academic needs and in personality) and both have been served well by Norwood. One has graduated and went on to a Big 3 (and was accepted to GDS but didn't choose to go there). Our youngest will most likely not end up at the same high school (but could end up at GDS?). We never applied to Big 3 for LS/MS.

To answer your question: The welcome events are there for you learn more about the school and help you to make a decision. It is NOT frowned upon to attend both.


More Norwood thoughts...
Another plus about Norwood is the music and arts program. Despite being very different, both of my children considered these as highlights.

The community is warm and welcoming and the teachers are great.

As we have moved on to a Big 3 for HS, it is clear that younger kids get far more focus of the administration and school mission in a K-8 model and 9-12 get a large portion of the focus in a k-12 model.

Our HS student was more than prepared for the Big 3. The work stepped up in HS but still doing very very well. Norwood works hard to prepare MS students for HS, as they know they want to have good placement. Norwood graduates are often more prepared than their Big 3 HS classmates - some of the Big 3 MS kids have never taken anything similar to a midterm exams before, or written a large history paper.

I am not sure what you mean, but as is logical, GDS Ms prepares its students very well for the HS. There is no need to make ridiculous statements to show Norwood's strengths.

It's not ridiculous - if you feel so threatened or have such doubts, feel free to talk to admissions directors at your school about the strengths of the Norwood kids that are accepted into GDS in 9th grade and how prepared they are.

I didn't say GDS doesn't prepare MS for GDS HS and I'm not saying Big 3 schools don't prepare their MS for HS. I said Norwood MS is quite rigorous and that there are often academic experiences/exercises that Norwood has exposed 8th graders to that they find their classmates at Big 3 and other strong schools (like GDS) don't get a taste of until 9th grade. They say it feels great to "have done this before" when many of their classmates have not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here .... it seems parents are both places love both schools!
We are leaning to Norwood as our son will be applying for K next year (he’s 18 months younger) and, although he’s young to predict personality and learning style, he’s so different to our daughter I cannot imagine the same high school being the best fit for both. I think, for us, the fit is more important than the school name at high school level.
Would you recommend attending both welcome events or is that frowned upon?
Thanks!

Norwood parent here.... OP this is a good point to consider. Our children are very different (in academic needs and in personality) and both have been served well by Norwood. One has graduated and went on to a Big 3 (and was accepted to GDS but didn't choose to go there). Our youngest will most likely not end up at the same high school (but could end up at GDS?). We never applied to Big 3 for LS/MS.

To answer your question: The welcome events are there for you learn more about the school and help you to make a decision. It is NOT frowned upon to attend both.


More Norwood thoughts...
Another plus about Norwood is the music and arts program. Despite being very different, both of my children considered these as highlights.

The community is warm and welcoming and the teachers are great.

As we have moved on to a Big 3 for HS, it is clear that younger kids get far more focus of the administration and school mission in a K-8 model and 9-12 get a large portion of the focus in a k-12 model.

Our HS student was more than prepared for the Big 3. The work stepped up in HS but still doing very very well. Norwood works hard to prepare MS students for HS, as they know they want to have good placement. Norwood graduates are often more prepared than their Big 3 HS classmates - some of the Big 3 MS kids have never taken anything similar to a midterm exams before, or written a large history paper.

I am not sure what you mean, but as is logical, GDS Ms prepares its students very well for the HS. There is no need to make ridiculous statements to show Norwood's strengths.

It's not ridiculous - if you feel so threatened or have such doubts, feel free to talk to admissions directors at your school about the strengths of the Norwood kids that are accepted into GDS in 9th grade and how prepared they are.

I didn't say GDS doesn't prepare MS for GDS HS and I'm not saying Big 3 schools don't prepare their MS for HS. I said Norwood MS is quite rigorous and that there are often academic experiences/exercises that Norwood has exposed 8th graders to that they find their classmates at Big 3 and other strong schools (like GDS) don't get a taste of until 9th grade. They say it feels great to "have done this before" when many of their classmates have not.

Doubts? I think the post conveys quite a bit of certainty. In any case, good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all your comments and for sharing your experiences. Really helpful, especially with welcome events being cancelled or scaled back.
We are going for Norwood because we/I have a gut feeling it’s the correct thing for our family. Hopefully with two great options either will work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t gds the only play based K around? They don’t even have reading groups in K or PK. They must backload the basics into other years.

Don't know if it is the only one, but yes, reading is not "enforced" until 1st grade. My son started reading in October of first grade.

They didn’t have readers or daily reading time until a month into first grade?? What program or traders are they using or what phonics sequencing?
Would my kid coming from Montessori for K, who is sounding out basic words, get any real reading instruction?

what's a reader?

no, no reading groups in PK or K.

kids that come in reading or progress in reading must be supplemented at home until 1st grade. K is has storytime and reading the morning message together or individually after hearing it a few times already.

it's a feature, not a bug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such an interesting topic, and I’m glad OP raised it. However, what seems to be completely missing here is a discussion of relative diversity between the schools. We have close friends who left Norwood because of deeply problematic racial issues. Having direct experience I can’t even imagine similar issues coming up at GDS and if they did, there being handled in a wholly different manner. I know folks love Norwood, but my sense is the homogeneity of its community far outweighs many of the other positive elements.

When was that? Our middle school DC has a diverse group of friends with a significant international contingent.

Last year. It’s telling that there isn’t a single post in this thread that references the homogeneity of the Norwood community. Apparently those who choose the school do not put diversity on their assessment list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such an interesting topic, and I’m glad OP raised it. However, what seems to be completely missing here is a discussion of relative diversity between the schools. We have close friends who left Norwood because of deeply problematic racial issues. Having direct experience I can’t even imagine similar issues coming up at GDS and if they did, there being handled in a wholly different manner. I know folks love Norwood, but my sense is the homogeneity of its community far outweighs many of the other positive elements.

When was that? Our middle school DC has a diverse group of friends with a significant international contingent.

Last year. It’s telling that there isn’t a single post in this thread that references the homogeneity of the Norwood community. Apparently those who choose the school do not put diversity on their assessment list.

Norwood does value diversity and they make concerted efforts in admissions, in hiring, and via curriculum. Some cohorts are more diverse than others, and they vary in nature.