Breakthrough

[Anonymous]

After the first few months, how is Breakthrough doing?

[Anonymous]

Bump.

[Anonymous]

It's fine. My kid loves it and her guide is rock solid. There are growing pains as we quite expected there to be. There are also a lot more days off than expected. However we are enjoying it. Most of the parents have joined the SHA. There's a lot of parent involvement. We really want to make the school successful. They did have to have one of the guides step down into another capacity as she was a new teacher and overwhelmed. So they brought in a teacher with more experience. They are all wonderful. I think one of the concerns that I've heard is that not all guides communicate in the same fashion or at the same rate, but I see this other schools as well. There's a big push for diversity which is to be expected, as their charter application did stress diversity.

[Anonymous]

a guide? sorry, what is this? sounds creepy to me!

[Anonymous]

That's what teachers are called in the Montessori pedagogy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's what teachers are called in the Montessori pedagogy.

Correct.

[Anonymous]

Why creepy? Montessori 'teachers' in some schools have Directress as a title.

[Anonymous]

No other feedback?

[Anonymous]

We've been very happy so far. Our DD loves it, and her guide is strong.

Our experience is similar as above: some growing pains, lots of parental involvement, and a strong push for inclusion.

So far, so good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've been very happy so far. Our DD loves it, and her guide is strong.

Our experience is similar as above: some growing pains, lots of parental involvement, and a strong push for inclusion.

So far, so good.

Cultural (race/economic) inclusion or special needs inclusion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've been very happy so far. Our DD loves it, and her guide is strong.

Our experience is similar as above: some growing pains, lots of parental involvement, and a strong push for inclusion.

So far, so good.

Cultural (race/economic) inclusion or special needs inclusion?

Both

[Anonymous]

Another generally happy Breakthrough parent here. We plan to stay at the school next year, which indicates our optimism that it will work kinks out.

To the Q re diversity -- yes, seemingly racially/ethnically diverse. In addition any countries of origin are represented and military families as well.

I don't have a kid with special needs (at least no needs that we know of yet) but the special ed coordinator is a deeply engaged professional and regular presence around the school's five regular day and two extended day classrooms. The child in my kid's classroom who seems to need the most support seems to be getting it, and that child (and overall classroom) seems to be flourishing as a result.

However, economic demographics appear to be relatively homogenous, above a certain baseline of livable income. (Obviously, this still allows for tremendous variation). This might be a selling point for some families; it's a discomfort for mine.

FWIW I think Breakthrough's four biggest miscalculations have been (1) underestimating subscription to the promised free extended day (I expect there to be a charge next year); (2) predominantly white leadership (admin and parent leadership) and guides, which poses a real image issue and may disincentive diverse participation; (3) offering a half-day option; (4) underestimating the burden of an offsite recess space on instructional staff, children, and opinionated parents ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another generally happy Breakthrough parent here. We plan to stay at the school next year, which indicates our optimism that it will work kinks out.

To the Q re diversity -- yes, seemingly racially/ethnically diverse. In addition any countries of origin are represented and military families as well.

I don't have a kid with special needs (at least no needs that we know of yet) but the special ed coordinator is a deeply engaged professional and regular presence around the school's five regular day and two extended day classrooms. The child in my kid's classroom who seems to need the most support seems to be getting it, and that child (and overall classroom) seems to be flourishing as a result.

However, economic demographics appear to be relatively homogenous, above a certain baseline of livable income. (Obviously, this still allows for tremendous variation). This might be a selling point for some families; it's a discomfort for mine.

FWIW I think Breakthrough's four biggest miscalculations have been (1) underestimating subscription to the promised free extended day (I expect there to be a charge next year); (2) predominantly white leadership (admin and parent leadership) and guides, which poses a real image issue and may disincentive diverse participation; (3) offering a half-day option; (4) underestimating the burden of an offsite recess space on instructional staff, children, and opinionated parents ?

You're naive if you think this was a miscalculation.

[Anonymous]

Have they found a permanent (local) director/HOS yet?

[Anonymous]

No they haven't.