APS- Nottingham

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

Definitely agree as a longtime NES parent. And it’s not that they aren’t nice – but they are super duper cliquey.

You mean the same people who are doing everything for at least their second year because no one else was willing to step up and volunteer? It’s not surprising that after working closely together for all this time, they have become close friends. I am not part of the board but know about half of them from other contexts, and none of them have been unfriendly, but I also don’t expect to be invited on their girls weekends and there’s nothing wrong with that.

I don’t care about girls weekends. What I was referring to was the first day of school lunch at dominion. I’ve been at nes for a few years, but don’t know the pta moms because my kids don’t overlap with theirs. Not one pta member introduced herself to me. I thought it was strange. We are neighbors after all. I’m sure they are nice once you get to know them, but I was definitely intimidated by the fact that they were so cliquey at that lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

They are nice individually, but as a group very very cliquey. Maybe if I lived on Potomac/Pokomoke it would be better.

Shade!

Not sure what this means, but that’s where most of the pta moms live. In that part of the Nottingham district. They are neighborhood friends.

The PP was “shading” aka calling out the moms on those streets as cliquey in a very passive aggressive way.

Nope not the moms on those streets. The pta moms on those streets. TBH, Nottingham has not been great for my kid, and while I do volunteer more than most others, I do not want to be on the pta. Now can we talk about the Halloween party that they are just now soliciting donations for? Just give it up. It cannot be thrown together in 3 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

They are nice individually, but as a group very very cliquey. Maybe if I lived on Potomac/Pokomoke it would be better.

Shade!

Not sure what this means, but that’s where most of the pta moms live. In that part of the Nottingham district. They are neighborhood friends.

The PP was “shading” aka calling out the moms on those streets as cliquey in a very passive aggressive way.

Nope not the moms on those streets. The pta moms on those streets. TBH, Nottingham has not been great for my kid, and while I do volunteer more than most others, I do not want to be on the pta. Now can we talk about the Halloween party that they are just now soliciting donations for? Just give it up. It cannot be thrown together in 3 weeks.

Are you talking about the fall social? That’s an annual tradition this time of year, not some new party they are trying to throw together at the last moment. The pandemic disrupted it the past few years so if you are relative new to the school it can see why you wouldn’t be aware of that, but your unfamiliarity with things is not a reason to trash the organizers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

Definitely agree as a longtime NES parent. And it’s not that they aren’t nice – but they are super duper cliquey.

You mean the same people who are doing everything for at least their second year because no one else was willing to step up and volunteer? It’s not surprising that after working closely together for all this time, they have become close friends. I am not part of the board but know about half of them from other contexts, and none of them have been unfriendly, but I also don’t expect to be invited on their girls weekends and there’s nothing wrong with that.

I don’t care about girls weekends. What I was referring to was the first day of school lunch at dominion. I’ve been at nes for a few years, but don’t know the pta moms because my kids don’t overlap with theirs. Not one pta member introduced herself to me. I thought it was strange. We are neighbors after all. I’m sure they are nice once you get to know them, but I was definitely intimidated by the fact that they were so cliquey at that lunch.

Okay? The PTA board is a very small portion of the community, and there are plenty of other people with whom you can make friends. I don’t know why people are so fixated on this one particular group of women, simply because they were the only ones willing to step up and keep the PTA going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

They are nice individually, but as a group very very cliquey. Maybe if I lived on Potomac/Pokomoke it would be better.

Shade!

Not sure what this means, but that’s where most of the pta moms live. In that part of the Nottingham district. They are neighborhood friends.

The PP was “shading” aka calling out the moms on those streets as cliquey in a very passive aggressive way.

Nope not the moms on those streets. The pta moms on those streets. TBH, Nottingham has not been great for my kid, and while I do volunteer more than most others, I do not want to be on the pta. Now can we talk about the Halloween party that they are just now soliciting donations for? Just give it up. It cannot be thrown together in 3 weeks.

Are you talking about the fall social? That’s an annual tradition this time of year, not some new party they are trying to throw together at the last moment. The pandemic disrupted it the past few years so if you are relative new to the school it can see why you wouldn’t be aware of that, but your unfamiliarity with things is not a reason to trash the organizers.

m
Yes, I’m talking about the fall social that raises a pathetic amount of money for a school where many of the parents live in $2m homes. I just got an email yesterday asking for donations. In the past, they have not been able to have anything great to bid on. It’s very sad compared to what other schools raise. I first saw that it was even happening a week ago. Usually it’s on the calendar way in advance. For some reason people do not want to donate to nottingham. So, they throw this big party and barely cover costs then complain about how much work it was and no one helps. I’d much rather just be solicited for $200 and give them a check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

Definitely agree as a longtime NES parent. And it’s not that they aren’t nice – but they are super duper cliquey.

You mean the same people who are doing everything for at least their second year because no one else was willing to step up and volunteer? It’s not surprising that after working closely together for all this time, they have become close friends. I am not part of the board but know about half of them from other contexts, and none of them have been unfriendly, but I also don’t expect to be invited on their girls weekends and there’s nothing wrong with that.

I don’t care about girls weekends. What I was referring to was the first day of school lunch at dominion. I’ve been at nes for a few years, but don’t know the pta moms because my kids don’t overlap with theirs. Not one pta member introduced herself to me. I thought it was strange. We are neighbors after all. I’m sure they are nice once you get to know them, but I was definitely intimidated by the fact that they were so cliquey at that lunch.

Okay? The PTA board is a very small portion of the community, and there are plenty of other people with whom you can make friends. I don’t know why people are so fixated on this one particular group of women, simply because they were the only ones willing to step up and keep the PTA going.

Yes, I have other friends and other friends within the school community. It was very off putting to go to a pta event and not have one pta person introduce herself.

[Anonymous]

NOPE. They are not doing it for a second year because nobody would take over. While doing a bylaw review, Virginia PTA, as an organization, suggested that PTAs switch to 2 year terms a few years ago and this was changed in the bylaws 3+ years ago. I am 100% certain of this.

These are very nice people, donating their time and efforts – which is more than many folks can say. Does it feel a bit cliquey? Yes. Do I do stuff anyway because it’s not about me, it’s about the school and the kids? Also yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

They are nice individually, but as a group very very cliquey. Maybe if I lived on Potomac/Pokomoke it would be better.

Shade!

Not sure what this means, but that’s where most of the pta moms live. In that part of the Nottingham district. They are neighborhood friends.

The PP was “shading” aka calling out the moms on those streets as cliquey in a very passive aggressive way.

Nope not the moms on those streets. The pta moms on those streets. TBH, Nottingham has not been great for my kid, and while I do volunteer more than most others, I do not want to be on the pta. Now can we talk about the Halloween party that they are just now soliciting donations for? Just give it up. It cannot be thrown together in 3 weeks.

Are you talking about the fall social? That’s an annual tradition this time of year, not some new party they are trying to throw together at the last moment. The pandemic disrupted it the past few years so if you are relative new to the school it can see why you wouldn’t be aware of that, but your unfamiliarity with things is not a reason to trash the organizers.

m
Yes, I’m talking about the fall social that raises a pathetic amount of money for a school where many of the parents live in $2m homes. I just got an email yesterday asking for donations. In the past, they have not been able to have anything great to bid on. It’s very sad compared to what other schools raise. I first saw that it was even happening a week ago. Usually it’s on the calendar way in advance. For some reason people do not want to donate to nottingham. So, they throw this big party and barely cover costs then complain about how much work it was and no one helps. I’d much rather just be solicited for $200 and give them a check.

I am not overly plugged into the inner workings of the PTA, but the fall social has been on the school calendar (and therefore my own) since at least the first week of school. I will say I haven’t heard many details about it, but I assume those will come closer to the event. I do think the auction concept is a little silly (broadly speaking, not just at NES). Just ask for donations, suggest how much you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NOPE. They are not doing it for a second year because nobody would take over. While doing a bylaw review, Virginia PTA, as an organization, suggested that PTAs switch to 2 year terms a few years ago and this was changed in the bylaws 3+ years ago. I am 100% certain of this.

These are very nice people, donating their time and efforts – which is more than many folks can say. Does it feel a bit cliquey? Yes. Do I do stuff anyway because it’s not about me, it’s about the school and the kids? Also yes.

Per the bylaws, it’s two years or until their successors are elected. This was done to try to lessen recruiting and vacancy issues, because it used to be a huge distraction every year in the spring trying to recruit new people for the following year (and then convincing people to stay on for another year if they couldn’t find someone to replace them). With the new bylaws, everyone comes into their positions knowing they are committing to a two-year term so they don’t have to deal with recruiting every year. But if someone wants to step down after one year and they find a replacement candidate, they can elect someone new after one year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

They are nice individually, but as a group very very cliquey. Maybe if I lived on Potomac/Pokomoke it would be better.

Shade!

Not sure what this means, but that’s where most of the pta moms live. In that part of the Nottingham district. They are neighborhood friends.

The PP was “shading” aka calling out the moms on those streets as cliquey in a very passive aggressive way.

Nope not the moms on those streets. The pta moms on those streets. TBH, Nottingham has not been great for my kid, and while I do volunteer more than most others, I do not want to be on the pta. Now can we talk about the Halloween party that they are just now soliciting donations for? Just give it up. It cannot be thrown together in 3 weeks.

Are you talking about the fall social? That’s an annual tradition this time of year, not some new party they are trying to throw together at the last moment. The pandemic disrupted it the past few years so if you are relative new to the school it can see why you wouldn’t be aware of that, but your unfamiliarity with things is not a reason to trash the organizers.

m
Yes, I’m talking about the fall social that raises a pathetic amount of money for a school where many of the parents live in $2m homes. I just got an email yesterday asking for donations. In the past, they have not been able to have anything great to bid on. It’s very sad compared to what other schools raise. I first saw that it was even happening a week ago. Usually it’s on the calendar way in advance. For some reason people do not want to donate to nottingham. So, they throw this big party and barely cover costs then complain about how much work it was and no one helps. I’d much rather just be solicited for $200 and give them a check.

I am not overly plugged into the inner workings of the PTA, but the fall social has been on the school calendar (and therefore my own) since at least the first week of school. I will say I haven’t heard many details about it, but I assume those will come closer to the event. I do think the auction concept is a little silly (broadly speaking, not just at NES). Just ask for donations, suggest how much you need.

They ask for donation when you join in the fall, and again toward spring when they do the no-fuss fundraiser. Neither is nearly as successful as people like to claim it would be because lots of people won’t contribute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

They are nice individually, but as a group very very cliquey. Maybe if I lived on Potomac/Pokomoke it would be better.

Shade!

Not sure what this means, but that’s where most of the pta moms live. In that part of the Nottingham district. They are neighborhood friends.

The PP was “shading” aka calling out the moms on those streets as cliquey in a very passive aggressive way.

Nope not the moms on those streets. The pta moms on those streets. TBH, Nottingham has not been great for my kid, and while I do volunteer more than most others, I do not want to be on the pta. Now can we talk about the Halloween party that they are just now soliciting donations for? Just give it up. It cannot be thrown together in 3 weeks.

Are you talking about the fall social? That’s an annual tradition this time of year, not some new party they are trying to throw together at the last moment. The pandemic disrupted it the past few years so if you are relative new to the school it can see why you wouldn’t be aware of that, but your unfamiliarity with things is not a reason to trash the organizers.

m
Yes, I’m talking about the fall social that raises a pathetic amount of money for a school where many of the parents live in $2m homes. I just got an email yesterday asking for donations. In the past, they have not been able to have anything great to bid on. It’s very sad compared to what other schools raise. I first saw that it was even happening a week ago. Usually it’s on the calendar way in advance. For some reason people do not want to donate to nottingham. So, they throw this big party and barely cover costs then complain about how much work it was and no one helps. I’d much rather just be solicited for $200 and give them a check.

OMG. You need a reality check badly. I have no idea what this little fall fundraiser brings in for NES; but do you realize that Nottingham PTA's budget has been over $200K in the past while our poorest Title I schools are lucky to have $15 - $40K for the year? This whole exchange only creates an even more negative impression of NES - and not just its PTA. Nottingham and Jamestown's wealth are similar; but I can tell you that Jamestown is looked more favorably upon by others in this County than Nottingham.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

They are nice individually, but as a group very very cliquey. Maybe if I lived on Potomac/Pokomoke it would be better.

Shade!

Not sure what this means, but that’s where most of the pta moms live. In that part of the Nottingham district. They are neighborhood friends.

The PP was “shading” aka calling out the moms on those streets as cliquey in a very passive aggressive way.

Nope not the moms on those streets. The pta moms on those streets. TBH, Nottingham has not been great for my kid, and while I do volunteer more than most others, I do not want to be on the pta. Now can we talk about the Halloween party that they are just now soliciting donations for? Just give it up. It cannot be thrown together in 3 weeks.

Are you talking about the fall social? That’s an annual tradition this time of year, not some new party they are trying to throw together at the last moment. The pandemic disrupted it the past few years so if you are relative new to the school it can see why you wouldn’t be aware of that, but your unfamiliarity with things is not a reason to trash the organizers.

m
Yes, I’m talking about the fall social that raises a pathetic amount of money for a school where many of the parents live in $2m homes. I just got an email yesterday asking for donations. In the past, they have not been able to have anything great to bid on. It’s very sad compared to what other schools raise. I first saw that it was even happening a week ago. Usually it’s on the calendar way in advance. For some reason people do not want to donate to nottingham. So, they throw this big party and barely cover costs then complain about how much work it was and no one helps. I’d much rather just be solicited for $200 and give them a check.

I am not overly plugged into the inner workings of the PTA, but the fall social has been on the school calendar (and therefore my own) since at least the first week of school. I will say I haven’t heard many details about it, but I assume those will come closer to the event. I do think the auction concept is a little silly (broadly speaking, not just at NES). Just ask for donations, suggest how much you need.

They ask for donation when you join in the fall, and again toward spring when they do the no-fuss fundraiser. Neither is nearly as successful as people like to claim it would be because lots of people won’t contribute.

Let’s ask ourselves why the no fuss fundraiser only raised a few thousand dollars? The school can’t keep teachers and there isn’t much community. People don’t want to donate. It’s clear because they can afford to, but choose not to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

They are nice individually, but as a group very very cliquey. Maybe if I lived on Potomac/Pokomoke it would be better.

Shade!

Not sure what this means, but that’s where most of the pta moms live. In that part of the Nottingham district. They are neighborhood friends.

The PP was “shading” aka calling out the moms on those streets as cliquey in a very passive aggressive way.

Nope not the moms on those streets. The pta moms on those streets. TBH, Nottingham has not been great for my kid, and while I do volunteer more than most others, I do not want to be on the pta. Now can we talk about the Halloween party that they are just now soliciting donations for? Just give it up. It cannot be thrown together in 3 weeks.

Are you talking about the fall social? That’s an annual tradition this time of year, not some new party they are trying to throw together at the last moment. The pandemic disrupted it the past few years so if you are relative new to the school it can see why you wouldn’t be aware of that, but your unfamiliarity with things is not a reason to trash the organizers.

m
Yes, I’m talking about the fall social that raises a pathetic amount of money for a school where many of the parents live in $2m homes. I just got an email yesterday asking for donations. In the past, they have not been able to have anything great to bid on. It’s very sad compared to what other schools raise. I first saw that it was even happening a week ago. Usually it’s on the calendar way in advance. For some reason people do not want to donate to nottingham. So, they throw this big party and barely cover costs then complain about how much work it was and no one helps. I’d much rather just be solicited for $200 and give them a check.

There are some events that are purely fundraisers. Other events, like the fall social, are for community building. While you may think it's pathetic, its a great way for the kids to build community and adults to meet others/socialize. Coming into it with that attitude is surely a hint at why you aren't clicking with other families at NES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

They are nice individually, but as a group very very cliquey. Maybe if I lived on Potomac/Pokomoke it would be better.

Shade!

Not sure what this means, but that’s where most of the pta moms live. In that part of the Nottingham district. They are neighborhood friends.

The PP was “shading” aka calling out the moms on those streets as cliquey in a very passive aggressive way.

Nope not the moms on those streets. The pta moms on those streets. TBH, Nottingham has not been great for my kid, and while I do volunteer more than most others, I do not want to be on the pta. Now can we talk about the Halloween party that they are just now soliciting donations for? Just give it up. It cannot be thrown together in 3 weeks.

Are you talking about the fall social? That’s an annual tradition this time of year, not some new party they are trying to throw together at the last moment. The pandemic disrupted it the past few years so if you are relative new to the school it can see why you wouldn’t be aware of that, but your unfamiliarity with things is not a reason to trash the organizers.

m
Yes, I’m talking about the fall social that raises a pathetic amount of money for a school where many of the parents live in $2m homes. I just got an email yesterday asking for donations. In the past, they have not been able to have anything great to bid on. It’s very sad compared to what other schools raise. I first saw that it was even happening a week ago. Usually it’s on the calendar way in advance. For some reason people do not want to donate to nottingham. So, they throw this big party and barely cover costs then complain about how much work it was and no one helps. I’d much rather just be solicited for $200 and give them a check.

I am not overly plugged into the inner workings of the PTA, but the fall social has been on the school calendar (and therefore my own) since at least the first week of school. I will say I haven’t heard many details about it, but I assume those will come closer to the event. I do think the auction concept is a little silly (broadly speaking, not just at NES). Just ask for donations, suggest how much you need.

They ask for donation when you join in the fall, and again toward spring when they do the no-fuss fundraiser. Neither is nearly as successful as people like to claim it would be because lots of people won’t contribute.

Let’s ask ourselves why the no fuss fundraiser only raised a few thousand dollars? The school can’t keep teachers and there isn’t much community. People don’t want to donate. It’s clear because they can afford to, but choose not to.

Because people like to say they would rather just write a check, but when push comes to shove they want to get something in exchange for their money, not in a broadly conceptual way but something immediate/tangible.

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Anonymous wrote:We love Nottingham, but did not have any special needs to consider. Last year was a rough school year, no thanks to APS policies during the pandemic. The N. Arlington elementaries are all very similar, so not sure I’d agree with the “Nottingham or bust” poster, but it is a nice school with caring teachers and an involved community. Some of the parents can be a little much, but there are all sorts and you can find your people.

Nottingham and Tuckahoe have a better parent community than Discovery. Partly due to Discovery being a newer school (less time to build traditions, community) and partly to COVID putting a halt to most events.

I think Discovery parents would disagree. Discovery has been around a while now and the parents I know there have been lovely, involved, and concerned about schools beyond their own.

I am one, and that's my opinion.

Nottingham parent scene is cliquey.

I haven’t found this to be true at all except for the current year’s pta.

They are nice individually, but as a group very very cliquey. Maybe if I lived on Potomac/Pokomoke it would be better.

Shade!

Not sure what this means, but that’s where most of the pta moms live. In that part of the Nottingham district. They are neighborhood friends.

The PP was “shading” aka calling out the moms on those streets as cliquey in a very passive aggressive way.

Nope not the moms on those streets. The pta moms on those streets. TBH, Nottingham has not been great for my kid, and while I do volunteer more than most others, I do not want to be on the pta. Now can we talk about the Halloween party that they are just now soliciting donations for? Just give it up. It cannot be thrown together in 3 weeks.

Are you talking about the fall social? That’s an annual tradition this time of year, not some new party they are trying to throw together at the last moment. The pandemic disrupted it the past few years so if you are relative new to the school it can see why you wouldn’t be aware of that, but your unfamiliarity with things is not a reason to trash the organizers.

m
Yes, I’m talking about the fall social that raises a pathetic amount of money for a school where many of the parents live in $2m homes. I just got an email yesterday asking for donations. In the past, they have not been able to have anything great to bid on. It’s very sad compared to what other schools raise. I first saw that it was even happening a week ago. Usually it’s on the calendar way in advance. For some reason people do not want to donate to nottingham. So, they throw this big party and barely cover costs then complain about how much work it was and no one helps. I’d much rather just be solicited for $200 and give them a check.

OMG. You need a reality check badly. I have no idea what this little fall fundraiser brings in for NES; but do you realize that Nottingham PTA's budget has been over $200K in the past while our poorest Title I schools are lucky to have $15 - $40K for the year? This whole exchange only creates an even more negative impression of NES - and not just its PTA. Nottingham and Jamestown's wealth are similar; but I can tell you that Jamestown is looked more favorably upon by others in this County than Nottingham.

You’d be surprised at the PTA’s budget. I can’t remember exactly, but I want to say it was $50k? They said it was not enough to cover everything they wanted to cover.