What do people like/not like about Lee Montessori?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love being at Lee and the community is nice but not as warm and tight-knit as I would have liked. But that seems to be a design feature and not a flaw. Its the reason why sometimes its referred to as 'Type A' on these pages.

The one thing I really really like and that is keeping us in the school is the staff. The class teacher knows our kid so well and understands them in a manner that makes me really trust them and be confident that they take excellent care of my child. The other teachers and staff are also very nurturing.

Can you speak more to this? If you find the school not being as tight-knit or warm as you wanted but also that the staff is nurturing?

I mean Montessori in itself and then the way Lee implements it is meant to make the school a space just for the kids, they have the ownership, which keeps the parents out. And when that happens, parents don't have many opportunities to bond and form a strong community. The school seems a bit 'sanitized' that way. But then I think this comes from the higher-ups - the principal, founding members, board members, etc. The teachers and the staff members are more welcoming and seem like excellent people. This is not to say that they aren't aligned with each other, they are, which is very evident in the way the school functions smoothly (at least from a parent's POV).

Also, all this is very in the realm of 'first world problems', we love Lee and even though there are things that we'd like there to be different, we aren't under the illusion that there is another school that has everything perfect.

Does that make it a bit clear?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love being at Lee and the community is nice but not as warm and tight-knit as I would have liked. But that seems to be a design feature and not a flaw. Its the reason why sometimes its referred to as 'Type A' on these pages.

The one thing I really really like and that is keeping us in the school is the staff. The class teacher knows our kid so well and understands them in a manner that makes me really trust them and be confident that they take excellent care of my child. The other teachers and staff are also very nurturing.

Can you speak more to this? If you find the school not being as tight-knit or warm as you wanted but also that the staff is nurturing?

I mean Montessori in itself and then the way Lee implements it is meant to make the school a space just for the kids, they have the ownership, which keeps the parents out. And when that happens, parents don't have many opportunities to bond and form a strong community. The school seems a bit 'sanitized' that way. But then I think this comes from the higher-ups - the principal, founding members, board members, etc. The teachers and the staff members are more welcoming and seem like excellent people. This is not to say that they aren't aligned with each other, they are, which is very evident in the way the school functions smoothly (at least from a parent's POV).

Also, all this is very in the realm of 'first world problems', we love Lee and even though there are things that we'd like there to be different, we aren't under the illusion that there is another school that has everything perfect.

Does that make it a bit clear?

Not the PP you’re responding to but the parent of a prospective student. Just wondering if you or others can elaborate on the PTO and how active it is, what kinds of activities it does, etc.? Just to get a sense of family engagement. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love being at Lee and the community is nice but not as warm and tight-knit as I would have liked. But that seems to be a design feature and not a flaw. Its the reason why sometimes its referred to as 'Type A' on these pages.

The one thing I really really like and that is keeping us in the school is the staff. The class teacher knows our kid so well and understands them in a manner that makes me really trust them and be confident that they take excellent care of my child. The other teachers and staff are also very nurturing.

Can you speak more to this? If you find the school not being as tight-knit or warm as you wanted but also that the staff is nurturing?

I mean Montessori in itself and then the way Lee implements it is meant to make the school a space just for the kids, they have the ownership, which keeps the parents out. And when that happens, parents don't have many opportunities to bond and form a strong community. The school seems a bit 'sanitized' that way. But then I think this comes from the higher-ups - the principal, founding members, board members, etc. The teachers and the staff members are more welcoming and seem like excellent people. This is not to say that they aren't aligned with each other, they are, which is very evident in the way the school functions smoothly (at least from a parent's POV).

Also, all this is very in the realm of 'first world problems', we love Lee and even though there are things that we'd like there to be different, we aren't under the illusion that there is another school that has everything perfect.

Does that make it a bit clear?

Not the PP you’re responding to but the parent of a prospective student. Just wondering if you or others can elaborate on the PTO and how active it is, what kinds of activities it does, etc.? Just to get a sense of family engagement. Thank you!

PTO is quite active and there are events every few months. There are class/ school picnics, annual fundraising gala, fall fest, morning coffee with class teachers and a couple with the principal, PTO fundraising dinners at local restaurants etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love being at Lee and the community is nice but not as warm and tight-knit as I would have liked. But that seems to be a design feature and not a flaw. Its the reason why sometimes its referred to as 'Type A' on these pages.

The one thing I really really like and that is keeping us in the school is the staff. The class teacher knows our kid so well and understands them in a manner that makes me really trust them and be confident that they take excellent care of my child. The other teachers and staff are also very nurturing.

Can you speak more to this? If you find the school not being as tight-knit or warm as you wanted but also that the staff is nurturing?

I mean Montessori in itself and then the way Lee implements it is meant to make the school a space just for the kids, they have the ownership, which keeps the parents out. And when that happens, parents don't have many opportunities to bond and form a strong community. The school seems a bit 'sanitized' that way. But then I think this comes from the higher-ups - the principal, founding members, board members, etc. The teachers and the staff members are more welcoming and seem like excellent people. This is not to say that they aren't aligned with each other, they are, which is very evident in the way the school functions smoothly (at least from a parent's POV).

Also, all this is very in the realm of 'first world problems', we love Lee and even though there are things that we'd like there to be different, we aren't under the illusion that there is another school that has everything perfect.

Does that make it a bit clear?

Not the PP you’re responding to but the parent of a prospective student. Just wondering if you or others can elaborate on the PTO and how active it is, what kinds of activities it does, etc.? Just to get a sense of family engagement. Thank you!

PTO is quite active and there are events every few months. There are class/ school picnics, annual fundraising gala, fall fest, morning coffee with class teachers and a couple with the principal, PTO fundraising dinners at local restaurants etc.

These sound great! Looking forward to getting involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love being at Lee and the community is nice but not as warm and tight-knit as I would have liked. But that seems to be a design feature and not a flaw. Its the reason why sometimes its referred to as 'Type A' on these pages.

The one thing I really really like and that is keeping us in the school is the staff. The class teacher knows our kid so well and understands them in a manner that makes me really trust them and be confident that they take excellent care of my child. The other teachers and staff are also very nurturing.

Can you speak more to this? If you find the school not being as tight-knit or warm as you wanted but also that the staff is nurturing?

I mean Montessori in itself and then the way Lee implements it is meant to make the school a space just for the kids, they have the ownership, which keeps the parents out. And when that happens, parents don't have many opportunities to bond and form a strong community. The school seems a bit 'sanitized' that way. But then I think this comes from the higher-ups - the principal, founding members, board members, etc. The teachers and the staff members are more welcoming and seem like excellent people. This is not to say that they aren't aligned with each other, they are, which is very evident in the way the school functions smoothly (at least from a parent's POV).

Also, all this is very in the realm of 'first world problems', we love Lee and even though there are things that we'd like there to be different, we aren't under the illusion that there is another school that has everything perfect.

Does that make it a bit clear?

Not the PP you’re responding to but the parent of a prospective student. Just wondering if you or others can elaborate on the PTO and how active it is, what kinds of activities it does, etc.? Just to get a sense of family engagement. Thank you!

PTO is quite active and there are events every few months. There are class/ school picnics, annual fundraising gala, fall fest, morning coffee with class teachers and a couple with the principal, PTO fundraising dinners at local restaurants etc.

I’m the PP who asked about the PTO. Thank you for this information! This is great to hear. I wonder why another commenter said previously that they didn’t get a strong sense of community from other parents. :/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love being at Lee and the community is nice but not as warm and tight-knit as I would have liked. But that seems to be a design feature and not a flaw. Its the reason why sometimes its referred to as 'Type A' on these pages.

The one thing I really really like and that is keeping us in the school is the staff. The class teacher knows our kid so well and understands them in a manner that makes me really trust them and be confident that they take excellent care of my child. The other teachers and staff are also very nurturing.

Can you speak more to this? If you find the school not being as tight-knit or warm as you wanted but also that the staff is nurturing?

I mean Montessori in itself and then the way Lee implements it is meant to make the school a space just for the kids, they have the ownership, which keeps the parents out. And when that happens, parents don't have many opportunities to bond and form a strong community. The school seems a bit 'sanitized' that way. But then I think this comes from the higher-ups - the principal, founding members, board members, etc. The teachers and the staff members are more welcoming and seem like excellent people. This is not to say that they aren't aligned with each other, they are, which is very evident in the way the school functions smoothly (at least from a parent's POV).

Also, all this is very in the realm of 'first world problems', we love Lee and even though there are things that we'd like there to be different, we aren't under the illusion that there is another school that has everything perfect.

Does that make it a bit clear?

Not the PP you’re responding to but the parent of a prospective student. Just wondering if you or others can elaborate on the PTO and how active it is, what kinds of activities it does, etc.? Just to get a sense of family engagement. Thank you!

PTO is quite active and there are events every few months. There are class/ school picnics, annual fundraising gala, fall fest, morning coffee with class teachers and a couple with the principal, PTO fundraising dinners at local restaurants etc.

I’m the PP who asked about the PTO. Thank you for this information! This is great to hear. I wonder why another commenter said previously that they didn’t get a strong sense of community from other parents. :/

Not the pp or a Lee parent, but PTAs can be active at schools where the parent community is not warm or close-knit. Maybe it's cliquish for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love being at Lee and the community is nice but not as warm and tight-knit as I would have liked. But that seems to be a design feature and not a flaw. Its the reason why sometimes its referred to as 'Type A' on these pages.

The one thing I really really like and that is keeping us in the school is the staff. The class teacher knows our kid so well and understands them in a manner that makes me really trust them and be confident that they take excellent care of my child. The other teachers and staff are also very nurturing.

Can you speak more to this? If you find the school not being as tight-knit or warm as you wanted but also that the staff is nurturing?

I mean Montessori in itself and then the way Lee implements it is meant to make the school a space just for the kids, they have the ownership, which keeps the parents out. And when that happens, parents don't have many opportunities to bond and form a strong community. The school seems a bit 'sanitized' that way. But then I think this comes from the higher-ups - the principal, founding members, board members, etc. The teachers and the staff members are more welcoming and seem like excellent people. This is not to say that they aren't aligned with each other, they are, which is very evident in the way the school functions smoothly (at least from a parent's POV).

Also, all this is very in the realm of 'first world problems', we love Lee and even though there are things that we'd like there to be different, we aren't under the illusion that there is another school that has everything perfect.

Does that make it a bit clear?

Not the PP you’re responding to but the parent of a prospective student. Just wondering if you or others can elaborate on the PTO and how active it is, what kinds of activities it does, etc.? Just to get a sense of family engagement. Thank you!

PTO is quite active and there are events every few months. There are class/ school picnics, annual fundraising gala, fall fest, morning coffee with class teachers and a couple with the principal, PTO fundraising dinners at local restaurants etc.

I’m the PP who asked about the PTO. Thank you for this information! This is great to hear. I wonder why another commenter said previously that they didn’t get a strong sense of community from other parents. :/

Not the pp or a Lee parent, but PTAs can be active at schools where the parent community is not warm or close-knit. Maybe it's cliquish for example.

Oh, well that’s a fair point. I hope Lee isn’t like that but I guess if you ask ten people for their views on something, you’re likely to get ten different answers.

[Anonymous]

Lee parent here. I don't find it cliquish. I think many of the families have older kids and have known one another for years. As a PreK3 parent, I get involved when I can but also know it may take time to meet other families.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE the staff. Teachers, supporter staff, and admin all know my kids. It's wonderful.

Lee has also been wonderful with distance learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lee parent here. I don't find it cliquish. I think many of the families have older kids and have known one another for years. As a PreK3 parent, I get involved when I can but also know it may take time to meet other families.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE the staff. Teachers, supporter staff, and admin all know my kids. It's wonderful.

Lee has also been wonderful with distance learning.

I want to hear more from you (and those like you). Tell me more! Currently low-ish on the waitlist and eagerly hopeful. Particularly in a time of distinct negativity worldwide.

I’ll be a new PK parent if we get in. Tell me more about primary staff!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lee parent here. I don't find it cliquish. I think many of the families have older kids and have known one another for years. As a PreK3 parent, I get involved when I can but also know it may take time to meet other families.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE the staff. Teachers, supporter staff, and admin all know my kids. It's wonderful.

Lee has also been wonderful with distance learning.

I want to hear more from you (and those like you). Tell me more! Currently low-ish on the waitlist and eagerly hopeful. Particularly in a time of distinct negativity worldwide.

I’ll be a new PK parent if we get in. Tell me more about primary staff!

15:17 here again. We’ve had a wonderful experience. DD adores Lee and I basically have to drag her out of there every day. She never wants to leave.

They announced on a Friday they would close and by Tuesday the next week distance learning began. There’s a great FB group for parents that has been very supportive and resourceful during this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lee parent here. I don't find it cliquish. I think many of the families have older kids and have known one another for years. As a PreK3 parent, I get involved when I can but also know it may take time to meet other families.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE the staff. Teachers, supporter staff, and admin all know my kids. It's wonderful.

Lee has also been wonderful with distance learning.

I want to hear more from you (and those like you). Tell me more! Currently low-ish on the waitlist and eagerly hopeful. Particularly in a time of distinct negativity worldwide.

I’ll be a new PK parent if we get in. Tell me more about primary staff!

Seconded!

[Anonymous]

Typically Montessori doesn’t welcome parents into the classroom so it’s harder to meet/get to know other families. Don’t know if this is the case at Lee.

[Anonymous]

In the charter review this year, the charter board made note of Lee's poor test scores. I just think even without a lot of test prep, a school with so few at-risk kids should be able to do better on the PARCC than Lee is doing. Would people care if it started to jeopardize their charter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the charter review this year, the charter board made note of Lee's poor test scores. I just think even without a lot of test prep, a school with so few at-risk kids should be able to do better on the PARCC than Lee is doing. Would people care if it started to jeopardize their charter?

Actually it was in December 2018. But yes, and the scores went down since that year. What accounts for the decline? Is Lee doing even less test prep, or is it even more true to Montessori? Because those seem to be the only reasons people are allowed to talk about.


https://dcpcsb.org/board-meeting-december-2018

[Anonymous]

The first year there were fewer than 10 kids tested. The second year, fewer than 20. With such small samples the decline might just be noise.