Recent experiences with Silver Spring International

[Anonymous]

The principal seems ok to me (admittedly maybe a naive parent) and my DD’s teachers have mostly been good. What the heck is going on in terms of student behavior then? The oppressive and unwelcoming and positively grim physical surroundings have to have something to do with things. Since I’m not a school administrator, I’m sure there are other reasons/failures- like, shouldn’t security be keeping kids out of the hallways and in classes?? What is it? I’m a super disappointed SSIMS parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a current SSIMS parent and I don’t think it’s just trolls here. I’m here. I am really unhappy with the state of the building, the lack of control, the chaotic nature of the place. There is nothing lifting the place up. It has these two immersion programs but … still no feeling of specialness. It is super disappointing. I think if you’ve got an other choice, look elsewhere. It’s the first time I have ever seen firsthand, for real, the negative impact of physical surroundings on people. Like- the feng shui of the place is so bad, it affects behaviors.

What does that mean? Are any middle schools “special”? I have a kid there now, and one who has graduated from the school. I agree the physical layout sucks, but I disagree that there are no special aspects of the school. My kids have both enjoyed the instrumental music program and I was impressed by last year’s 8th grade projects, which are directly related to the IB program.

[Anonymous]

The school also has beer cans and caps all over the track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The building predates World War II. Gross that SSIMS students have to endure that.

So does BCC HS. The difference is that the old BCC was gutted and throughly remodeled. MCPS could do the same for SSIMS: Keep the classic, timeless facade and rebuild the interior like at BCC.

But there has been little desire to thoroughly renovate the old school building, maintain the auditorium, etc, since Montgomery Blair moved to its new home all those years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school also has beer cans and caps all over the track.

The track isn't on school property. It's a county park.

[Anonymous]

Yes, that school has gone downhill.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if it's the building or the size of the student body or what, but we've also been disappointed. The classes, with some exceptions, have been chaotic and not at all challenging, and they don't seem to be able to get a handle on bullying, despite several meetings with the school administration. I've been an MCPS booster and very pro public schools generally, but we've made the very difficult decision to switch to private next year (which is going to be a HUGE financial hit, but I can't leave my DD there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, that school has gone downhill.

MCPS has been going to hell in a hand basket for a century. Or so everyone says.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, that school has gone downhill.

That facility never got up the hill. MCPS left it with huge deficits when they did the late-90s bare minimum renovation for SCES/SSIMS to occupy the old Blair facility, and they are again doing a bare minimum to deal with the Purple line impacts.

This is a facilities problem they just wish would go away -- they're willing to ignore equity when addressing it properly is hard. See also: HVES or pretty much anything in denser areas of older development that do not have significant political clout (i.e., outside of Takoma Park proper, Chevy Chase, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, that school has gone downhill.

That facility never got up the hill. MCPS left it with huge deficits when they did the late-90s bare minimum renovation for SCES/SSIMS to occupy the old Blair facility, and they are again doing a bare minimum to deal with the Purple line impacts.

This is a facilities problem they just wish would go away -- they're willing to ignore equity when addressing it properly is hard. See also: HVES or pretty much anything in denser areas of older development that do not have significant political clout (i.e., outside of Takoma Park proper, Chevy Chase, etc.).

+1

SSIMS has black mold and asbestos tiling, and the layout of the school itself is a horror show. But the W feeder middle schools have two-story yoga studios, so I guess that's ok.

[Anonymous]

Eastern MS also has a substandard facility but because of more competent admin seems better run…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eastern MS also has a substandard facility but because of more competent admin seems better run…

Apparently they are having some construction done over the summer though? I don't know exactly what, but the summer school programs were moved to Northwood for that reason.

[Anonymous]

After what I read about the teacher there on TikTok, I'd never send my child there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if it's the building or the size of the student body or what, but we've also been disappointed. The classes, with some exceptions, have been chaotic and not at all challenging, and they don't seem to be able to get a handle on bullying, despite several meetings with the school administration. I've been an MCPS booster and very pro public schools generally, but we've made the very difficult decision to switch to private next year (which is going to be a HUGE financial hit, but I can't leave my DD there).

I have friends with kids at TPMS and Sligo and Other area middle schools but none of them actually decide to pull their kids for private middle schools. I know of four (4!) families who were strong supporters of public education and who felt like they had to leave MCPS due to SSIMS. It’s really awful. The wafting weed smoke outside the boys’ bball game, the ineffective (though personally very nice) administration, the really really awful building. It’s so so bad there. -kid in 7th really discouraged

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After what I read about the teacher there on TikTok, I'd never send my child there.

Please enlighten the rest of us.