does anyone else find the social scene at Janney hard to take?

[Anonymous]

"The problem isn't that these cliques exist, it's that in the younger grades I've found it really difficult to make real friendships because people are so caught up in trying to friend the "cool" families (and this takes time) that they don't invest in other families as a result."

Get a job. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem isn't that these cliques exist, it's that in the younger grades I've found it really difficult to make real friendships because people are so caught up in trying to friend the "cool" families (and this takes time) that they don't invest in other families as a result. I know this sounds ludicrous for an adult woman to write but it really does happen time and time again at Janney. My kid will spend countless hours with another kid but then that family won't invite my kid to x, y, or z event but instead will invite the same 10 or so kids/families that are the popular ones. I don't think people go into the school with this mentality but after a few months/years they find themselves consciously or unconsciously joining in. Because if you're not scrambling to know the "right' people then you don't get invited to anything, your kid gets on the undesirable soccer/baseball teams, etc. There are a few families that buck this trend and there are others who don't socialize with the school at all but this is overwhelming way things work socially at Janney (at least in some grades).

Again, I know it sounds ludicrous and makes me sound pathetic but I'm not imagining this and I haven't experienced this before, even in DC. I certainly didn't find this to be the case at either of our previous NW DC preschools. I had ZERO difficulty making very good friends in either of those environments. Janney has been it's own weird world and I'm not sure why because on the surface it's an ideal community. I have another kid entering in a few years and I hope it's different in a few years. Hopefully as the school grows bigger the playing ground will be more neutral.

We go to a smaller neighboring school and this is fascinating to me. What makes a family become the "cool family?" Money? Status? Attractiveness?

I think it's natural for sub-groups of parents to form based around kid friendships, pick-up/drop-off schedules, etc. but I don't perceive any hierarchy among the groups at our school.

Nothing. This issue is all in the pp's head. I can't imagine a group of Janney families actually thinking their "cooler" than others and actively excluding people because they're not "cool" enough. I've been at Janney for years and there are some families with whom you click and it just goes from there. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on what grade or class you're talking about. I have two kids in the school and the culture of one grade has been muh more friendly and open. The other is dominated by cliquishness. So given this I can see why the posts above are so black and white. The school is large enough that anyone's individual experience can vary immensely. It depends on who is in your kid(s) classes and grade.

Also, I get what was said about the sports teams. The teams are formed by parents. Our grade definitely has a soccer team that other kids jostle to get on but if you're not in the right crowd it won't happen. Other sports teams (basketball, baseball, girl's soccer) form entirely by email. If you know the right people, you get a spot because you hear about it via email. If not you get left out. There was quite a scene about this when certain teams formed this past year in one grade.

[Anonymous]

How do parents get one of the coveted Janney garage parking passes? A few parents have them. Are they the "queen bee" volunteers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do parents get one of the coveted Janney garage parking passes? A few parents have them. Are they the "queen bee" volunteers?

They buy them at the auction. $3-4k for a spot.

[Anonymous]

Also, I get what was said about the sports teams. The teams are formed by parents. Our grade definitely has a soccer team that other kids jostle to get on but if you're not in the right crowd it won't happen. Other sports teams (basketball, baseball, girl's soccer) form entirely by email. If you know the right people, you get a spot because you hear about it via email. If not you get left out. There was quite a scene about this when certain teams formed this past year in one grade.

Wait--not only does my elementary-school child have to join a sport, it has to be on the "right" team?

I hate to break it to you, Janney parents, but there's nothing cool about that. Have you never seen a high school movie?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do parents get one of the coveted Janney garage parking passes? A few parents have them. Are they the "queen bee" volunteers?

They buy them at the auction. $3-4k for a spot.

This being a Janney thread, I actually cannot tell if you are serious or this is a joke, people paying ("donating") for these privileges at a public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do parents get one of the coveted Janney garage parking passes? A few parents have them. Are they the "queen bee" volunteers?

They buy them at the auction. $3-4k for a spot.

This being a Janney thread, I actually cannot tell if you are serious or this is a joke, people paying ("donating") for these privileges at a public school.

This is not a joke!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do parents get one of the coveted Janney garage parking passes? A few parents have them. Are they the "queen bee" volunteers?

They buy them at the auction. $3-4k for a spot.

This being a Janney thread, I actually cannot tell if you are serious or this is a joke, people paying ("donating") for these privileges at a public school.

This is not a joke!

Back in the days before the construction, it was possible to buy a reserved parking spot in the teacher parking lot at the annual Mann auction. I don't remember what it would usually fetch. I do remember that one year it was won by a family whose kids were always late to school. It allowed them to pull in at 8:44 and drop their kids off before the second bell without having to waste time circling the block looking for parking.

It is still possible to buy prime reserved seating for the school play, principal for the day, sleepover birthday parties at school hosted by the principal, etc. at the Mann auction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do parents get one of the coveted Janney garage parking passes? A few parents have them. Are they the "queen bee" volunteers?

They buy them at the auction. $3-4k for a spot.

This being a Janney thread, I actually cannot tell if you are serious or this is a joke, people paying ("donating") for these privileges at a public school.

This is not a joke!

Back in the days before the construction, it was possible to buy a reserved parking spot in the teacher parking lot at the annual Mann auction. I don't remember what it would usually fetch. I do remember that one year it was won by a family whose kids were always late to school. It allowed them to pull in at 8:44 and drop their kids off before the second bell without having to waste time circling the block looking for parking.

It is still possible to buy prime reserved seating for the school play, principal for the day, sleepover birthday parties at school hosted by the principal, etc. at the Mann auction.

This seems wildly inappropriate, and possibly illegal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do parents get one of the coveted Janney garage parking passes? A few parents have them. Are they the "queen bee" volunteers?

They buy them at the auction. $3-4k for a spot.

This being a Janney thread, I actually cannot tell if you are serious or this is a joke, people paying ("donating") for these privileges at a public school.

This is not a joke!

Back in the days before the construction, it was possible to buy a reserved parking spot in the teacher parking lot at the annual Mann auction. I don't remember what it would usually fetch. I do remember that one year it was won by a family whose kids were always late to school. It allowed them to pull in at 8:44 and drop their kids off before the second bell without having to waste time circling the block looking for parking.

It is still possible to buy prime reserved seating for the school play, principal for the day, sleepover birthday parties at school hosted by the principal, etc. at the Mann auction.

This seems wildly inappropriate, and possibly illegal.

Janney has sleepovers sold at the school auction too. About 4 to 5 grand a night. Buying these definitely helps you with popularity.

[Anonymous]

Ladies, Janney shm here who needs a gigolo please advise. Hubbie just isn't putting out anymore. Please give me some suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ladies, Janney shm here who needs a gigolo please advise. Hubbie just isn't putting out anymore. Please give me some suggestions!

They have an auction for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ladies, Janney shm here who needs a gigolo please advise. Hubbie just isn't putting out anymore. Please give me some suggestions!

They have an auction for that.

Winning post of the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ladies, Janney shm here who needs a gigolo please advise. Hubbie just isn't putting out anymore. Please give me some suggestions!

They have an auction for that.

Winning post of the thread.

ha ha ha ha ha

Joke aside. I cannot believe some of the stuff said in this thread. Crazy and disgusting that at a public school, things like these are happening.