Norwood Middle School: What do you love? Not love?

[Anonymous]

I can't speak for past years - but given the comments here RE 2nd grade teachers I feel the need to chime in - our child is in 2nd at Norwood this year and DC's teachers are wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would agree with PP.

Our experience has been that social issues, bullying and lots of "mean girl stuff, is routinely diminished or over-looked by the administration. My DD has also mentioned a couple or teachers who either pay particular attention to the popular girls to the exclusion of the rest or some homeroom teachers who befriend the popular boys.

Re LS: We hung on through the lower school just counting the days until our children entered the MS. We had a very mixed bag experience in LS. Second grade was a nightmare and very difficult for our DD. After speaking to other parents, we discovered that one reading teacher told each family in her entire class that their children needed tutoring and psychological intervention. Third grade was a wash. We loved the Fourth Grade team of teachers for both our kids.

For the most part, Norwood teachers are very dedicated and are willing to help their students. We have found the administration to be off-putting. Routinely emails are sent out to the community at largewith mistakes, and we now come to expect that the emails we send to certain members of the administration will unanswered.

We have two years left for our youngest to finish. Was it worth $30K a year? I am not sure, but my kids have been mostly happy

Have to agree that third grade was a wash. Second was a disaster for us, we were one of the families spending extra on tutors (instead of the teachers working with the kids). I think that the second grade teachers get slammed with the failures of the K and 1 teachers, who were not the best. Loved fourth grade. Seemed like it took that long to see what the school is all about. Sadly, one of dc's bffs left after third and the parents are not wanting to hear anything about "that place".
Did not notice teachers paying more attention to particular kids.

[Anonymous]

We have been at Norwood for 9 years. It has been a positive experience 85% of the time. The teachers are mostly wonderful, the facility is great, the entire community is warm and welcoming. We loved Armistead and were sad when he left. We don't know a thing about the new LS principle but we love the new MS principal. We don't see Dick as being "forced out", that's ridiculous. People have tried and failed, he is leaving on his own.

On the very few occasions we have had a complaint we have been taken seriously and the situation has been rectified. Our child likes the school and is thriving academically and socially. The kids are really lovely.

What I don't love is the current music program, I think there have been some hires that are not good. I do love the advisory program which has been a wonderful experience.

I would do it again in a heartbeat, Norwood is the perfect blend of academics and nurturing. It's not the school for everyone but we are happy with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to hijack, but I have seen many posts about weak teachers in the lower school. Is it really that bad in the lower school?
We are currently an applying family.
Would love more details from OP as to why the teachers are perceived to be weak. Many thanks.

Long story, starts with leadership in the LS. The old head of the MS (US) was great, she left and the new one seems OK. The LS suffers from much change and no one willing to stand up to teachers, some of whom are there to sail into retirement. They really don't want to be asked to do much. They LOVE tutors.

Not a Norwood parent, but at another local private, and this hits a chord. "Lazy" teachers, at any school that is charging the bucks these schools are, should not be tolerated.

The day someone at our school suggests we hire a tutor is the day that I insist that the fee for that be deducted from our tuition bill.

I like you.

[Anonymous]

If you want a sense of Norwood's MS science program, here is a link to the science text that Norwood uses in 7th grade.

http://sepuplhs.org/middle/iey/overview.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to hijack, but I have seen many posts about weak teachers in the lower school. Is it really that bad in the lower school?
We are currently an applying family.
Would love more details from OP as to why the teachers are perceived to be weak. Many thanks.

Long story, starts with leadership in the LS. The old head of the MS (US) was great, she left and the new one seems OK. The LS suffers from much change and no one willing to stand up to teachers, some of whom are there to sail into retirement. They really don't want to be asked to do much. They LOVE tutors.

Not a Norwood parent, but at another local private, and this hits a chord. "Lazy" teachers, at any school that is charging the bucks these schools are, should not be tolerated.

The day someone at our school suggests we hire a tutor is the day that I insist that the fee for that be deducted from our tuition bill.

I like you.

I like neither of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re Norwood MS science. It is OK. The kids tend to love the teachers, which makes a big difference - doesn't turn the kids off of science. Is it a rigorous science curriculum? No. (I have science kids and also can compare Norwood w/ a big-3; big 3 was better in science curriculum for a very good science student.) What I think is fabulous about Norwood MS is that the English, and social studies is not bad (certainly not a joke). Math? You will never find a consensus at any school about math teaching, but that is because of screwy expectations and great native differences between students.

Re LS teachers, there is a mix. Parents are very involved, and so sometimes annoyance at an over-involved parent can seem to be "bad teaching." Some of the older teachers (now mainly gone) seemed to me to warm to quirky kids, but most seemed to prefer just being able to teach to the middle and found the outliers to be annoying (hence tutor recommendations as well as - according to other parents in my child's group - too-quick diagnoses by teachers of ADD/ADHD when a child was not compliant enough).

One other point: at Norwood, the school has accommodated students "at the top" when there has been a relatively large group of them (5-10). So for them, they may do great, get some of the best teachers in 7/8, go to great colleges, etc. But it is very very class/cohort dependent. As is bullying.

Re Norwood MS science being "OK." Surprised to hear that because I have heard that Norwood 7th and 8th grade science is a unique, rigorous curriculum brought to the school by one of the science teachers. Not so? I understand the kids do a lot of lab work -- is it a good experience or kind of a joke? Also, PP described MS English as "fabulous." Can anyone elaborate?

[Anonymous]

7th and 8th science at Norwood is totally lab based. I feel that people post to sabotage Norwood and it really ticks me off. Please ask any Norwood 7th/8th grade student about their experience instead of listening to people who waste our time trying to damage Norwood. Get a life. If you are current parents, find a school that you would prefer for your child and leave Norwood alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to hijack, but I have seen many posts about weak teachers in the lower school. Is it really that bad in the lower school?
We are currently an applying family.
Would love more details from OP as to why the teachers are perceived to be weak. Many thanks.

Long story, starts with leadership in the LS. The old head of the MS (US) was great, she left and the new one seems OK. The LS suffers from much change and no one willing to stand up to teachers, some of whom are there to sail into retirement. They really don't want to be asked to do much. They LOVE tutors.

Not a Norwood parent, but at another local private, and this hits a chord. "Lazy" teachers, at any school that is charging the bucks these schools are, should not be tolerated.

The day someone at our school suggests we hire a tutor is the day that I insist that the fee for that be deducted from our tuition bill.

I like you.

I like neither of you.

I can accept that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7th and 8th science at Norwood is totally lab based. I feel that people post to sabotage Norwood and it really ticks me off. Please ask any Norwood 7th/8th grade student about their experience instead of listening to people who waste our time trying to damage Norwood. Get a life. If you are current parents, find a school that you would prefer for your child and leave Norwood alone.

Amen. Totally agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:7th and 8th science at Norwood is totally lab based. I feel that people post to sabotage Norwood and it really ticks me off. Please ask any Norwood 7th/8th grade student about their experience instead of listening to people who waste our time trying to damage Norwood. Get a life. If you are current parents, find a school that you would prefer for your child and leave Norwood alone.

Amen. Totally agree.

OK, but we are back to square one. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 7th or 8th GRADE for things to get better?

[Anonymous]

No, you don't. But if you do not believe us, please find another school that suits your needs better.

[Anonymous]

To the posters that are telling parents to vote with their feet, I think it is obvious that people do. Enrollment is down from two years ago. There were several students who left between 6th and 7th grade. I sincerely hope you are not staff. The loss of 20- 30 full pay students is significant.

[Anonymous]

I think you have to decide on a school for yourself. There are so many pros and cons of every school. None are Mecca. We are very happy at Norwood. We have two children there, and they are very happy, well-adjusted, and are learning a lot in an environment that encourages learning. I have kids that would probably be happy most places, however. So why Norwood? We love the differentiation at a young age, we love the arts and music programs, the facility is fantastic, the "feel" of the school is warm, the parents are people we like, they make an effort at diversity, they don't shy away from talking about character and values. It's a great fit for us, but of course it may not be for everybody.

We come from strong education backgrounds, and find the academics very good. Could there be improvements? Sure. But I am pretty certain I might feel that way anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the posters that are telling parents to vote with their feet, I think it is obvious that people do. Enrollment is down from two years ago. There were several students who left between 6th and 7th grade. I sincerely hope you are not staff. The loss of 20- 30 full pay students is significant.

Ah, many kids leave then as those are easier years to get into some schools (Landon, St. Albans, Holton), then to throw your hat in with the masses after 8th grade.