Move to West or stay at Powell?

[Anonymous]

We've just won a bid on a house in bounds for West, though our kid is already enrolled for his second year at Powell. He's still pretty young (rising K) and I don't think a transition will be that big of a deal; but my husband thinks we should get permission to stay since we're really just a couple of streets outside the boundary and he's excited about the new construction.

DC is pretty STEM oriented and we've felt that foreign language is nice, but not a priority so I'm ready to go ahead and enroll at West. Are there any West families out there willing to speak honestly about strengths and challenges? Anyone who felt it wasn't up to their standards?

[Anonymous]

Wow, he's not even in K and you've already decided he's stem oriented and not language oriented? Because he's good with an iPad? Newsflash: all the little kids are!

[Anonymous]

Congrats on the new house!
Do families in the neighborhood go to West? If so, I'd move my kid there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, he's not even in K and you've already decided he's stem oriented and not language oriented? Because he's good with an iPad? Newsflash: all the little kids are!

I haven't "decided" anything. He's constantly expressing interest in science and math but says pretty emphatically he doesn't like Spanish. I notice many parents feel strongly about foreign language acquisition; we don't. We want to build on his natural interest/talent and it's undeniably STEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congrats on the new house!
Do families in the neighborhood go to West? If so, I'd move my kid there.

Thank you very much! We know one past family and one current family - both very pleased. But I also know there have been some changes, and two anecdotes are not enough to form a viewpoint. I've seen lots of boosterism on neighborhood listservs, and I've searched on DCUM with mixed results. I'm feeling confident that it's good move but my husband needs more convincing. We do believe in Powell and want to be a part of its rise, but I have a feeling that West has a lot going for it as well.

[Anonymous]

Asking for special permission is the good ole days, don't think that's a possibility anymore.

I'm sure the new principal doesn't want to start off on the wrong foot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, he's not even in K and you've already decided he's stem oriented and not language oriented? Because he's good with an iPad? Newsflash: all the little kids are!

NP. Does it make you feel good at night when you post intentionally bitchy comments for no reason?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, he's not even in K and you've already decided he's stem oriented and not language oriented? Because he's good with an iPad? Newsflash: all the little kids are!

NP. Does it make you feel good at night when you post intentionally bitchy comments for no reason?

HA HA no. I just find this generation of parents amusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Asking for special permission is the good ole days, don't think that's a possibility anymore.

I'm sure the new principal doesn't want to start off on the wrong foot.

+1. You actually CAN'T stay at Powell. The rules no longer allow it. West it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've just won a bid on a house in bounds for West, though our kid is already enrolled for his second year at Powell. He's still pretty young (rising K) and I don't think a transition will be that big of a deal; but my husband thinks we should get permission to stay since we're really just a couple of streets outside the boundary and he's excited about the new construction.

DC is pretty STEM oriented and we've felt that foreign language is nice, but not a priority so I'm ready to go ahead and enroll at West. Are there any West families out there willing to speak honestly about strengths and challenges? Anyone who felt it wasn't up to their standards?

If you have the option I think you should stay at your current school if you happy there. West offers a once a week Spanish class that starts in K but the Spanish teacher just left so not sure how the replacement teacher will be. Also a new principal (at both schools actually) and mostly new staff in general at West. At Powell you are probably familiar with the staff so that would be a pro for Powell. Also Powell is already under renovation while West is still waiting to begin much needed renovations (open classroom design). I would suggest taking a tour of West and participating in the play dates to get a better sense of the school. Also consider the fact that if you leave Powell you likely won't be able to just pick up and reenroll. Best of luck whatever you decide to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've just won a bid on a house in bounds for West, though our kid is already enrolled for his second year at Powell. He's still pretty young (rising K) and I don't think a transition will be that big of a deal; but my husband thinks we should get permission to stay since we're really just a couple of streets outside the boundary and he's excited about the new construction.

DC is pretty STEM oriented and we've felt that foreign language is nice, but not a priority so I'm ready to go ahead and enroll at West. Are there any West families out there willing to speak honestly about strengths and challenges? Anyone who felt it wasn't up to their standards?

If you have the option I think you should stay at your current school if you happy there. West offers a once a week Spanish class that starts in K but the Spanish teacher just left so not sure how the replacement teacher will be. Also a new principal (at both schools actually) and mostly new staff in general at West. At Powell you are probably familiar with the staff so that would be a pro for Powell. Also Powell is already under renovation while West is still waiting to begin much needed renovations (open classroom design). I would suggest taking a tour of West and participating in the play dates to get a better sense of the school. Also consider the fact that if you leave Powell you likely won't be able to just pick up and reenroll. Best of luck whatever you decide to do.

Also not sure how much STEM DC is getting at Powell but he will not be getting it at West. No dedicated science teacher and science is not a push in the primary grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Asking for special permission is the good ole days, don't think that's a possibility anymore.

I'm sure the new principal doesn't want to start off on the wrong foot.

+1. You actually CAN'T stay at Powell. The rules no longer allow it. West it is.

Can you link to the rule? I thought the moving out of boundary while staying in DC was suspended, at least for this upcoming year. I don't see why OP can't just keep enrolling her kid in Powell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've just won a bid on a house in bounds for West, though our kid is already enrolled for his second year at Powell. He's still pretty young (rising K) and I don't think a transition will be that big of a deal; but my husband thinks we should get permission to stay since we're really just a couple of streets outside the boundary and he's excited about the new construction.

DC is pretty STEM oriented and we've felt that foreign language is nice, but not a priority so I'm ready to go ahead and enroll at West. Are there any West families out there willing to speak honestly about strengths and challenges? Anyone who felt it wasn't up to their standards?

There's a meet and greet with the new West principal this evening - you can get more info from the parent organization [e-mail] if you're interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've just won a bid on a house in bounds for West, though our kid is already enrolled for his second year at Powell. He's still pretty young (rising K) and I don't think a transition will be that big of a deal; but my husband thinks we should get permission to stay since we're really just a couple of streets outside the boundary and he's excited about the new construction.

DC is pretty STEM oriented and we've felt that foreign language is nice, but not a priority so I'm ready to go ahead and enroll at West. Are there any West families out there willing to speak honestly about strengths and challenges? Anyone who felt it wasn't up to their standards?

If you have the option I think you should stay at your current school if you happy there. West offers a once a week Spanish class that starts in K but the Spanish teacher just left so not sure how the replacement teacher will be. Also a new principal (at both schools actually) and mostly new staff in general at West. At Powell you are probably familiar with the staff so that would be a pro for Powell. Also Powell is already under renovation while West is still waiting to begin much needed renovations (open classroom design). I would suggest taking a tour of West and participating in the play dates to get a better sense of the school. Also consider the fact that if you leave Powell you likely won't be able to just pick up and reenroll. Best of luck whatever you decide to do.

Also not sure how much STEM DC is getting at Powell but he will not be getting it at West. No dedicated science teacher and science is not a push in the primary grades.

Huh? There is (was?) a science teacher. Is he leaving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Asking for special permission is the good ole days, don't think that's a possibility anymore.

I'm sure the new principal doesn't want to start off on the wrong foot.

+1. You actually CAN'T stay at Powell. The rules no longer allow it. West it is.

Can you link to the rule? I thought the moving out of boundary while staying in DC was suspended, at least for this upcoming year. I don't see why OP can't just keep enrolling her kid in Powell.

What link do you need? Powell is no longer their IB, therefore they would need to switch schools at least next school year when registration begins. They may be ok this year.