Anyone know anything about Keene Mill Al Fresco?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keene Mill AAP parent. I find the alfresco to be a disgusting idea. In no way, shape, or form do I want to teach my child this kind of elitism. Why a parent would buy into this knowing it is so exclusionary is beyond me. What happened to kindness, empathy and just straight up compassion? How would you feel if you were a general education kid and you really wanted to go but too bad, so sad because you aren't smart enough to be in AAP. Gross.

As a Keene Mill AAP parent, can you not do something about it? Bring it up at a PTA meeting? It's exclusionary programs like this (it's actually the only one I know of) that give AAP a bad name in the County.

No, unfortunately. There is no school or PTA involvement. You could talk directly to the organizers but I doubt they would consider discontinuing the practice. I'm sure whoever is organizing has heard these complaints before. The fastest way to shut it down is for the parents to stop sending their kids.

[Anonymous]

Wonder what happens if the organizers end up with younger siblings who don't qualify for AAP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keene Mill AAP parent. I find the alfresco to be a disgusting idea. In no way, shape, or form do I want to teach my child this kind of elitism. Why a parent would buy into this knowing it is so exclusionary is beyond me. What happened to kindness, empathy and just straight up compassion? How would you feel if you were a general education kid and you really wanted to go but too bad, so sad because you aren't smart enough to be in AAP. Gross.

As a Keene Mill AAP parent, can you not do something about it? Bring it up at a PTA meeting? It's exclusionary programs like this (it's actually the only one I know of) that give AAP a bad name in the County.

No, unfortunately. There is no school or PTA involvement. You could talk directly to the organizers but I doubt they would consider discontinuing the practice. I'm sure whoever is organizing has heard these complaints before. The fastest way to shut it down is for the parents to stop sending their kids.

That's ridiculous. You completely can do something about it. Stop posting about the problems of AAP and actually do something about it at your own school. Stop waiting for someone else to deal with the problem or for kids to move out. How would that help you anyway? Bring it up at the PTA meeting and with the principal as a divisive issue you see in the school. Plan a new activity that will include the entire school and will replace this program. I'm sure there are more parents like you who would support a fix. This program has been one of the causes of people rallying against AAP and now asking for the program to be shut down. Take some initiative to fix the problem. We have had some problems like this and have been able to fix them within our own PTA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keene Mill AAP parent. I find the alfresco to be a disgusting idea. In no way, shape, or form do I want to teach my child this kind of elitism. Why a parent would buy into this knowing it is so exclusionary is beyond me. What happened to kindness, empathy and just straight up compassion? How would you feel if you were a general education kid and you really wanted to go but too bad, so sad because you aren't smart enough to be in AAP. Gross.

As a Keene Mill AAP parent, can you not do something about it? Bring it up at a PTA meeting? It's exclusionary programs like this (it's actually the only one I know of) that give AAP a bad name in the County.

No, unfortunately. There is no school or PTA involvement. You could talk directly to the organizers but I doubt they would consider discontinuing the practice. I'm sure whoever is organizing has heard these complaints before. The fastest way to shut it down is for the parents to stop sending their kids.

That's ridiculous. You completely can do something about it. Stop posting about the problems of AAP and actually do something about it at your own school. Stop waiting for someone else to deal with the problem or for kids to move out. How would that help you anyway? Bring it up at the PTA meeting and with the principal as a divisive issue you see in the school. Plan a new activity that will include the entire school and will replace this program. I'm sure there are more parents like you who would support a fix. This program has been one of the causes of people rallying against AAP and now asking for the program to be shut down. Take some initiative to fix the problem. We have had some problems like this and have been able to fix them within our own PTA.

The PTA of Keene should do a sixth grade lock in or event on the same weekend.

[Anonymous]

Thanks pp. Just crossed this school zone off our house hunting list.
Honestly I find it so amazingly tone deaf that the reply here from aap parents at the school defending this awful idea is "well if those non-Aap families want to do their own thing too more power to them!"

Ugh! It is actually really kind of awful that it sounds like the aap parents at that school view themselves as a clique and not to mingle with the other parents. I cannot imagine a more poisonous school dynamic - for kids on both sides of that line.

[Anonymous]

Crappy parents raising crappy kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crappy parents raising crappy kids.

Are you speaking from experience? Does your DC go to Keene Mill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks pp. Just crossed this school zone off our house hunting list.
Honestly I find it so amazingly tone deaf that the reply here from aap parents at the school defending this awful idea is "well if those non-Aap families want to do their own thing too more power to them!"

Ugh! It is actually really kind of awful that it sounds like the aap parents at that school view themselves as a clique and not to mingle with the other parents. I cannot imagine a more poisonous school dynamic - for kids on both sides of that line.

My kids go to a different center and it's very much the same dynamic there too. While there isn't an incredibly inappropriate AAP-only retreat, there is definitely a snootiness to some of the AAP parents. It's clear they are unaware of just how ridiculous they look. We can't wait until graduation from this nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wonder what happens if the organizers end up with younger siblings who don't qualify for AAP?

Sweet, sweet karma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok so you guys all seem extremely upset about something that's very hard to get upset over. Once again, Al Fresco is an entirely parent-run event. The school has nothing to do with it in any way shape or form.

While it is not ideal that Gen-Ed kids don't get to go, it's really just a matter of space. The camp grounds don't have enough cabins for so many kids. Now, you might try to argue "Make it just for the sixth graders then!" This is not how it works. The camp was originally created by AAP parents to give the kids a little break. AAP is harder than Gen-Ed and there is much more work involved. 3rd graders don't get to go because they're too young and, again, there's not enough room for them. If Gen-Ed parents wanted their kids to go, they could organize something themselves. There is a lot of work involved in directing this camp without help from the school-- more than you think. While the camp is in March/April, preparations begin almost non-stop in December/January.

How the camp works: students sign up for camp as well as activities to do. These include, high ropes, dodgeball, ice cream making, you name it. In years past, they have all gathered at the government center parking lot behind the post office in West Springfield at around 7:30 Friday morning. They then travel to Camp Letts in Maryland via charter bus. From what I can remember, they have a "SockHop" dance that night. On Saturday, they do a relay race between each grade/gender and then proceed to whatever 3 activities they signed up for. There is a talent show that night. On Sunday morning, the kids return home.

Throughout the trip, boys & girls of each grade (4th, 5th, 6th) are trying to earn points. They earn these points by, yes, pranking. These pranks are pretty much harmless and usually consist of someone putting fake plastic ants on their food or something silly like that. Also, they can earn points by winning the relay race or the talent show. On sunday morning, the winner is announced. The winning group (usually it's the sixth grade girls) get candy or something small like that. It's healthy competition.

Overall, Al Fresco is a really fun experience for the kids. They make so many new friends, and the parents do as well. It's something your kid will always remember.

If you think "segregation" between the AAP kids and the Gen-Ed kids is a reason to not send your child to keene mill, think again. The separation of each aspect occurs at any AAP school, not just Keene Mill. It's a flaw they all posses, but whining about it on this thread is getting you literally nowhere. But really, AAP anywhere is a really good opportunity for your child. If they got in and they want to go, let them go. The program has opened up so many doors for so many kids, putting them on the path to success. By no means am I saying the Gen-Ed kids are any worse. They are totally different programs, they just take the same standardized test.

Al Fresco is not a problem!!!! Please stop being so annoying all the time!

I am so, so embarrassed for you and all parents like you.

[Anonymous]

"
If you think "segregation" between the AAP kids and the Gen-Ed kids is a reason to not send your child to keene mill, think again. The separation of each aspect occurs at any AAP school, not just Keene Mill. It's a flaw they all possess."

Depressing to think it is not just this school but any with a center that we need to avoid when looking to move to VA. Why is there his separation?? How are those parents comfortable with themselves and the message they are sending their kids??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"
If you think "segregation" between the AAP kids and the Gen-Ed kids is a reason to not send your child to keene mill, think again. The separation of each aspect occurs at any AAP school, not just Keene Mill. It's a flaw they all possess."

Depressing to think it is not just this school but any with a center that we need to avoid when looking to move to VA. Why is there his separation?? How are those parents comfortable with themselves and the message they are sending their kids??

Good question, and one I've long wondered myself. We would move in a heartbeat if it weren't for several other factors affecting our family.

As an aside, there are posters here on DCUM who will defend centers to the death and insist that all is rosy at "their" particular center. What you have to remember is that these are the AAP parents themselves defending the status quo. Parents of Gen Ed kids have a completely different experience to share, but whenever they try to, the AAP parents constantly dismiss them as either lying or exaggerating. Clearly, it wouldn't serve them to acknowledge what Gen Ed kids and parents have to put up with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"
If you think "segregation" between the AAP kids and the Gen-Ed kids is a reason to not send your child to keene mill, think again. The separation of each aspect occurs at any AAP school, not just Keene Mill. It's a flaw they all possess."

Depressing to think it is not just this school but any with a center that we need to avoid when looking to move to VA. Why is there his separation?? How are those parents comfortable with themselves and the message they are sending their kids??

Good question, and one I've long wondered myself. We would move in a heartbeat if it weren't for several other factors affecting our family.

As an aside, there are posters here on DCUM who will defend centers to the death and insist that all is rosy at "their" particular center. What you have to remember is that these are the AAP parents themselves defending the status quo. Parents of Gen Ed kids have a completely different experience to share, but whenever they try to, the AAP parents constantly dismiss them as either lying or exaggerating. Clearly, it wouldn't serve them to acknowledge what Gen Ed kids and parents have to put up with.

Yet another example of what happens in one part of the county not necessarily occurring in another part of the county, for ALL students, be they students receiving general ed services or advanced academic services.

[Anonymous]

Our school Wolftrap is definitely a high income high expectation school but I feel it's managed better than some center schools because of their integrated program for general ed and AAP students. Kids have homeroom with one hour a day of instruction combining AAP and general ed kids and the remaining 3 to 4 hours of instruction differentiated. I do think the center school is a bit harder but by child is challenged enough and I prefer my child get exposure to children with many different talents than be in an environment that encourages segregation. I really wish they would integrate this program in more schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually just came back from camp Al fresco 2 hours ago, it is a great way to make friends and the pranking is apart of the fun . It is ran by the AAP parents and they pay for all of the supplies that's why only the AAP kids get to go.

This is circular logic. Gen Ed kids aren't invited so Gen Ed parents have no reason/opportunity to contribute, and then you say AAP parents pay for all of the supplies so that's why only AAP kids get to go. I'm sure there are Gen Ed parents who would have happily paid for supplies if Gen Ed kids were invited.