Thoughts on the new Churchill principal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The preferred plural is "buses." Pet peeve.

Life must be getting harder for the gtammar police since MCPS isn’t teaching spelling.

[Anonymous]

Buses should line up behind the designated 'administrator' spots. Surely the administrators don't leave until after 2:40, and I don't think this would 'trap' any other staff/teacher car, but that is a big lot and the teachers who need to leave between 2:20 and 2:40 would quickly learn to take other parking spots in that lot. (These spots could be moved and lines put in to make this permanent bus parking. If the pp is correct, the lot is not fully utilized in any case.)


They should also work on the exit from the lot onto Victory--probably adding a four-way stop sign (preferably one that only is revealed (in force) on the Victory side only around drop off and pick up times)

I would suggest it to the principal but my last email from several weeks ago went unanswered. So I am hoping someone from Churchill checks this board occasionally to see what parents are thinking.

[Anonymous]

+1 A four way stop sign where the Victory lot exit is would be a great saftey improvement. There is a dangerous cross walk there without a crossing guard in the morning and afternoon. A four way stop would pause traffic on Victory so cars don't speed through the crosswalk and create rotating turns for vehicles to exit the Victory parking lot.

[Anonymous]

You could also schedule Larla's tutor at 3:30 instead of 3 and pick her up at 2:50 when the place is deserted.

[Anonymous]

The bus situation should have been considered over the summer. How many were added due to increase population at Churchill? Do we have more buses than last year? Why wasn't this a consideration when a traffic study was done last spring?

It's ridiculous to decide to add buses to the car loop in the Victory student lot. Hundreds of students exit that side of the building either to get to their cars, be picked up by parents, walk to the public bus stop on Victory, or walk home. This is a dangerous proposal to make a congested school exit even more problematic.

[Anonymous]

As a ninth grader, my (self conscious) dd wanted to be picked up immediately after school. As a tenth grader, I've told her I'm not coming til 10 minutes later to avoid traffic and it has worked splendidly--I think she has plenty to keep her occupied. A bit disappointed that now this may push things even 10-15 min later, but I guess she'll live and we'll sign up for appointments even later in the afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am disappointed the PTA meeting in which she was supposed to speak at last night was cancelled and not rescheduled till October. There was no explanation as to why the move but a Jewish holiday that starts at sundown could have necessitated the cancellation. However, couldn't this have been foreseen and planed around ahead of time for a school that has a large percentage of Jewish families?

The change probably was because parents complained. MCPS website has a master calendar that lists the holidays for many different religions, so it easily could have been foreseen and planned around ahead of time. It definitely shows poor planning and insensitivity to a significant percentage of the Churchill families on the part of the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thus far, she is as unresponsive as the previous principal. Perhaps not replying to emails is an ok practice for MCPS principals?

I also sent an email and didn't receive any response at all.

I guess the energy Heckert brings to Churchill is selective.

Given how vocal the board is, she may just be overwhelmed by the number of emails, etc. But if that's the case, she ought to be forwarding to her staff for responses rather than letting things fall in the cracks.

If she's going to be principal of a large HS, she's going to get a lot of emails. Everyone deserves a response. If the principal can't do it in a reasonable time frame, she could communicate that. She could have an autoreply that explains this. She could send out a communication to the school. Her secretary could contact parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thus far, she is as unresponsive as the previous principal. Perhaps not replying to emails is an ok practice for MCPS principals?

I also sent an email and didn't receive any response at all.

I guess the energy Heckert brings to Churchill is selective.

Given how vocal the board is, she may just be overwhelmed by the number of emails, etc. But if that's the case, she ought to be forwarding to her staff for responses rather than letting things fall in the cracks.

If she's going to be principal of a large HS, she's going to get a lot of emails. Everyone deserves a response. If the principal can't do it in a reasonable time frame, she could communicate that. She could have an autoreply that explains this. She could send out a communication to the school. Her secretary could contact parents.

I was one who complained and I should let you know that I finally did receive a response--it took about 20 days from when I sent the email, but perhaps she has been overwhelmed with all of the new issues and active parents (or maybe she is seeing the complaints on this board!) It does look like she's trying to catch up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thus far, she is as unresponsive as the previous principal. Perhaps not replying to emails is an ok practice for MCPS principals?

I also sent an email and didn't receive any response at all.

I guess the energy Heckert brings to Churchill is selective.

Given how vocal the board is, she may just be overwhelmed by the number of emails, etc. But if that's the case, she ought to be forwarding to her staff for responses rather than letting things fall in the cracks.

If she's going to be principal of a large HS, she's going to get a lot of emails. Everyone deserves a response. If the principal can't do it in a reasonable time frame, she could communicate that. She could have an autoreply that explains this. She could send out a communication to the school. Her secretary could contact parents.

I was one who complained and I should let you know that I finally did receive a response--it took about 20 days from when I sent the email, but perhaps she has been overwhelmed with all of the new issues and active parents (or maybe she is seeing the complaints on this board!) It does look like she's trying to catch up.

30+ days with follow up incase original email got burried in inbox. No response yet.

[Anonymous]

The Principal seems nice enough. I wish they hired a Principal from a top 10 HS.

In general I dont like the fact no drivers ed, almost no Art, almost no clubs after school, too much immersion junk and double STEM classes, very very limited free SAT/ACT review courses offered by school.

The school in general is STEM focused when HS is intended to teach all not just the select few.

Also extremely ironic name. Winston Churchill personally ordered the deaths of millions of people in WWII yet has a zero percent tollerance of bullying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Principal seems nice enough. I wish they hired a Principal from a top 10 HS.

In general I dont like the fact no drivers ed, almost no Art, almost no clubs after school, too much immersion junk and double STEM classes, very very limited free SAT/ACT review courses offered by school.

The school in general is STEM focused when HS is intended to teach all not just the select few.

Also extremely ironic name. Winston Churchill personally ordered the deaths of millions of people in WWII yet has a zero percent tollerance of bullying.

No HS's in Montgomery County have driver's ed and haven't for years.

There is plenty of art related classes, including photography, pottery, computer design, orchestra, band and performing arts.

There are also lots of clubs, most haven't started yet. There is club fair that you can sign up. It is usually held at night for the kids to go and see all that is offered.

As far as double stem classes, these are usually AP Science classes with labs, such as AP Bio and AP Chem. This is not typical of most of the other science classes.

[Anonymous]

You all are so judgmental so quickly. The new principal, who has seen the school operate for little less than a month is trying to solve a problem that Dr. Benz did nothing about for the 3 years we had to endure her.


Give the new Principal credit for at least looking for solutions. It may not work and then they will have to try something different. Many of the ideas were generated from the PTA with the study. So far, it is better than it has been in the past.

So far, she seems to be reaching out to the students and talking to them unlike the ghost of the principal we had before. She is going to all the junior and senior english classes to ask what is on the mind of the students.

There seems to be more spirit at the school. The last few football games were well attended by students.

As far as communication, she answered my email in 20 days as well. I never had any emails answered by Dr. Benz or Bradley Rohner in 3 years so she gets points in my book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Principal seems nice enough. I wish they hired a Principal from a top 10 HS.

In general I dont like the fact no drivers ed, almost no Art, almost no clubs after school, too much immersion junk and double STEM classes, very very limited free SAT/ACT review courses offered by school.

The school in general is STEM focused when HS is intended to teach all not just the select few.

Also extremely ironic name. Winston Churchill personally ordered the deaths of millions of people in WWII yet has a zero percent tollerance of bullying.

No HS's in Montgomery County have driver's ed and haven't for years.

There is plenty of art related classes, including photography, pottery, computer design, orchestra, band and performing arts.

There are also lots of clubs, most haven't started yet. There is club fair that you can sign up. It is usually held at night for the kids to go and see all that is offered.

As far as double stem classes, these are usually AP Science classes with labs, such as AP Bio and AP Chem. This is not typical of most of the other science classes.

New Poster - Yep, it's been decades since any public high school has had driver's ed. That is a MCPS issue not a Churchill specific issue.

The visual art classes are weak and limited. Perhaps that what the original poster was referring to.

The school could teach AP Science classes in one period. Private schools do this with planning for the labs. I am not aware if all public schools make AP Science classes double period or if that is a Churchill specific issue.

As far as free SAT/ACT prep, I have had children at Churchill for 8 years. I never heard of any SAT/ACT prep being offered at the school let alone free prep help. The counseling office usually provides a list of private companies that are really expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all are so judgmental so quickly. The new principal, who has seen the school operate for little less than a month is trying to solve a problem that Dr. Benz did nothing about for the 3 years we had to endure her.


Give the new Principal credit for at least looking for solutions. It may not work and then they will have to try something different. Many of the ideas were generated from the PTA with the study. So far, it is better than it has been in the past.

So far, she seems to be reaching out to the students and talking to them unlike the ghost of the principal we had before. She is going to all the junior and senior english classes to ask what is on the mind of the students.

There seems to be more spirit at the school. The last few football games were well attended by students.

As far as communication, she answered my email in 20 days as well. I never had any emails answered by Dr. Benz or Bradley Rohner in 3 years so she gets points in my book.

Mrs. Heckert started the job July 1st. She supposedly was trained for it.

The PTA did not generate the dumb idea of putting buses in the main pick-up loop for students which happens to also be the student parking lot. Other options need to be considered on the grounds of safety considerations for the students who exit that side of the building and use that parking lot. If Mrs. Heckert would walk outside and actually observe the traffic issues, perhaps she could come up with a better solution.

Staggering the buses regarding their arrival to Churchill would be one. Having the buses park on the side street that is in front of the bus entrance and wait till there is room to enter the bus loop is another solution if the problem the bus lot is too crowded. Closing the small faculty lot to parents in the afternoon and parking the Special Ed buses there would be a third.

Finally, 20 days to email a response is too long for an administrator. Within 48 hours is what is expected of MCPS employees.