Open house impressions thread

[Anonymous]

Knowing that the we are all looking for different things, I'm admittedly looking forward to the first open house we are heading to tonight for Lee Montessori. Is there another open thread to share our impressions of open houses over the next few months?

[Anonymous]

I have been to three so far and enjoyed Capital City and Creative Minds. I was a little disappointed with Yu Ying.

[Anonymous]

Why didn't you like Yu Ying?

[Anonymous]

The presenters gave a cold feeling and didn't seem to have answers to most of the questions being asked. The tour was awful just allowing us to take a quick look in the classroom. I didn't get a sense that it was different from any non-immersion school due to the materials displayed. The parents in my session didn't seem to excited either. I really wanted to like the school but left feeling like it wouldn't be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

We went to Shining Stars yesterday. Extremely impressive. We are from Ward 3, so we have some good options. Handouts well done, presentation was interactive and involved SS parents as well . Peeked at the students (since it was one of those held while school was in session) . Good vibe. Students waved at us and staff was friendly. Diversity all around. They have really moved up on our list.

[Anonymous]

We went to the Lee open house tonight. There were a lot of people there, and the admin spent most of the time answering questions and showing parents the classrooms. Everyone I met was friendly and knowledgeable. It was nice parents were there to answer questions. I need to learn more about Montessori to decide if it is the best fit for my daughter, but I liked what I saw (frankly, more than I expected).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The presenters gave a cold feeling and didn't seem to have answers to most of the questions being asked. The tour was awful just allowing us to take a quick look in the classroom. I didn't get a sense that it was different from any non-immersion school due to the materials displayed. The parents in my session didn't seem to excited either. I really wanted to like the school but left feeling like it wouldn't be a good fit.

I felt the same about YYs tour but as a YY parent, the school is amazing. I felt the same of Lamb's open house. The most amazing tour was Powell ES.

[Anonymous]

the DCPS WoTP of the park was awesome, prepared, calm and super informative. The EoTP open house at my IB Bruce Monroe-not so much. Started late, principal didn't speak. The person leading the tour was earnest and helpfu but seemed to honestly have no idea why so many parents bailed after preschool at Bruce Monroe which is a bit of a red flag for admin to have such a disconnect with the families IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The presenters gave a cold feeling and didn't seem to have answers to most of the questions being asked. The tour was awful just allowing us to take a quick look in the classroom. I didn't get a sense that it was different from any non-immersion school due to the materials displayed. The parents in my session didn't seem to excited either. I really wanted to like the school but left feeling like it wouldn't be a good fit.

To be fair, as a current parent at another charter, I'm very pleased that the school does not let strangers traipse through the classrooms.

[Anonymous]

To be fair to that administrator, from what I've seen of DC schools, people bail after preschool from all of them a lot. Sometimes this really doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the education--more like a lemming effect. I'm not sure what any administrator could say if asked about that.

[Anonymous]

I agree - and people bail all the time from the charters, including those dubbed by DCUM as HRCS. That is life in DC. We have adjusted to the fact that our kids will need to get to know new group every year and that their closest friends each year are likely to be gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The presenters gave a cold feeling and didn't seem to have answers to most of the questions being asked. The tour was awful just allowing us to take a quick look in the classroom. I didn't get a sense that it was different from any non-immersion school due to the materials displayed. The parents in my session didn't seem to excited either. I really wanted to like the school but left feeling like it wouldn't be a good fit.

To be fair, as a current parent at another charter, I'm very pleased that the school does not let strangers traipse through the classrooms.

I agree with this. The charter I'm thinking of is Bridges, and they don't like tours interrupting the students, etc.

I can see why schools such as some of the very popular HRCs don't feel the need to put on a dog and pony show. If you don't know you're serious about an immersion education, why are you there? There are so many families with language and cultural ties, and they are just agonizing to get in to places like LAMB and Yu Ying, why try to persuade you if you don't even know that it's what you really want?

Maybe it's a pre-sorting mechanism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The presenters gave a cold feeling and didn't seem to have answers to most of the questions being asked. The tour was awful just allowing us to take a quick look in the classroom. I didn't get a sense that it was different from any non-immersion school due to the materials displayed. The parents in my session didn't seem to excited either. I really wanted to like the school but left feeling like it wouldn't be a good fit.

To be fair, as a current parent at another charter, I'm very pleased that the school does not let strangers traipse through the classrooms.

I agree with this. The charter I'm thinking of is Bridges, and they don't like tours interrupting the students, etc.

I can see why schools such as some of the very popular HRCs don't feel the need to put on a dog and pony show. If you don't know you're serious about an immersion education, why are you there? There are so many families with language and cultural ties, and they are just agonizing to get in to places like LAMB and Yu Ying, why try to persuade you if you don't even know that it's what you really want?

Maybe it's a pre-sorting mechanism.

I like you PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The presenters gave a cold feeling and didn't seem to have answers to most of the questions being asked. The tour was awful just allowing us to take a quick look in the classroom. I didn't get a sense that it was different from any non-immersion school due to the materials displayed. The parents in my session didn't seem to excited either. I really wanted to like the school but left feeling like it wouldn't be a good fit.

To be fair, as a current parent at another charter, I'm very pleased that the school does not let strangers traipse through the classrooms.

I agree with this. The charter I'm thinking of is Bridges, and they don't like tours interrupting the students, etc.

I can see why schools such as some of the very popular HRCs don't feel the need to put on a dog and pony show. If you don't know you're serious about an immersion education, why are you there? There are so many families with language and cultural ties, and they are just agonizing to get in to places like LAMB and Yu Ying, why try to persuade you if you don't even know that it's what you really want?

Maybe it's a pre-sorting mechanism.

Some of these schools had over 1,000 kids on the wait list last year. They don't need to spend an hour walking you though the pencil set up in each classroom. That being said, if you have a new question, trust me 99% of the questions you ask have been asked an answered before. Probably even here on DCUM! Email the schools - I'm sure they would be happy to answer.

[Anonymous]

this show just how profoundly unfair this whole process is. thousands of kids on waiting list of schools they have a 1% chance of getting into. The schools don't even have to pretend to give a shit about wooing you anymore. You kids educations is only as good as their luck at age 3.