Feedback about the newly split Roberto Clemente and Martin Luther King middle school magnet programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Eastern humanities program just started their fall fundraiser for the NYC trip, which costs >$900 (so, it’s less than the upcounty one). Sixth and seventh graders earn money that goes into their own accounts to fund their eighth grade trip, and if eighth graders participate in the fundraiser it goes towards scholarships (since they’ve already paid for and gone on their trip).

They also have an educational foundation at Eastern that the parents run. Money is not really an issue at Eastern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Eastern humanities program just started their fall fundraiser for the NYC trip, which costs >$900 (so, it’s less than the upcounty one). Sixth and seventh graders earn money that goes into their own accounts to fund their eighth grade trip, and if eighth graders participate in the fundraiser it goes towards scholarships (since they’ve already paid for and gone on their trip).

They also have an educational foundation at Eastern that the parents run. Money is not really an issue at Eastern.

I wish the upcounty humanities magnet did that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Affluent people can go to private schools or create amazing opportunities for their bright or exceptional children (or even if their children are not bright and exceptional). Magnet programs caters to brilliant students who are unable to afford these kinds of opportunities on their own. Dilution of magnet programs hurt only the bright children of poor or middle class parents from all races.

It was made pretty clear that the MS Magnet no longer cater to ‘brilliant’ kids. And there were quite a few ‘brilliant’ kids at our regional CES that were not admitted or even Wait Listed for the MS Magnets.

The MS Magnets have been changed into a different type of program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Affluent people can go to private schools or create amazing opportunities for their bright or exceptional children (or even if their children are not bright and exceptional). Magnet programs caters to brilliant students who are unable to afford these kinds of opportunities on their own. Dilution of magnet programs hurt only the bright children of poor or middle class parents from all races.

It was made pretty clear that the MS Magnet no longer cater to ‘brilliant’ kids. And there were quite a few ‘brilliant’ kids at our regional CES that were not admitted or even Wait Listed for the MS Magnets.

The MS Magnets have been changed into a different type of program.

A Fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine trained along the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice, and the Fox's mouth watered as he gazed longingly at them.

The bunch hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for it. The first time he jumped he missed it by a long way. So he walked off a short distance and took a running leap at it, only to fall short once more. Again and again he tried, but in vain.

Now he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust.

"What a fool I am," he said. "Here I am wearing myself out to get a bunch of sour grapes that are not worth gaping for."

And off he walked very, very scornfully.

There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their reach.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if anyone is a baseball fan, but DC is in the program at Clemente and today they had a surprise visitor. Luis Clemente, son of their namesake Roberto Clemente stopped by to say hello. He is in town to present the MLB Roberto Clemente Humanitarian Award at the World Series game tomorrow and took time out to visit classrooms and chat with students. Very cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Affluent people can go to private schools or create amazing opportunities for their bright or exceptional children (or even if their children are not bright and exceptional). Magnet programs caters to brilliant students who are unable to afford these kinds of opportunities on their own. Dilution of magnet programs hurt only the bright children of poor or middle class parents from all races.

It was made pretty clear that the MS Magnet no longer cater to ‘brilliant’ kids. And there were quite a few ‘brilliant’ kids at our regional CES that were not admitted or even Wait Listed for the MS Magnets.

The MS Magnets have been changed into a different type of program.

A Fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine trained along the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice, and the Fox's mouth watered as he gazed longingly at them.

The bunch hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for it. The first time he jumped he missed it by a long way. So he walked off a short distance and took a running leap at it, only to fall short once more. Again and again he tried, but in vain.

Now he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust.

"What a fool I am," he said. "Here I am wearing myself out to get a bunch of sour grapes that are not worth gaping for."

And off he walked very, very scornfully.

There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their reach.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if anyone is a baseball fan, but DC is in the program at Clemente and today they had a surprise visitor. Luis Clemente, son of their namesake Roberto Clemente stopped by to say hello. He is in town to present the MLB Roberto Clemente Humanitarian Award at the World Series game tomorrow and took time out to visit classrooms and chat with students. Very cool.

That’s wonderful. My son who is a big fan of Roberto Clemente would’ve loved to be there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if anyone is a baseball fan, but DC is in the program at Clemente and today they had a surprise visitor. Luis Clemente, son of their namesake Roberto Clemente stopped by to say hello. He is in town to present the MLB Roberto Clemente Humanitarian Award at the World Series game tomorrow and took time out to visit classrooms and chat with students. Very cool.

That’s wonderful. My son who is a big fan of Roberto Clemente would’ve loved to be there!

It wasn’t his first visit. The school is fortunate to have an ongoing relationship with the Clemente family.

[Anonymous]

No personal experience (had a kid at Clemente) but many of the original magnet teachers did not move over to MLK. Might not be all that it used to be as result...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No personal experience (had a kid at Clemente) but many of the original magnet teachers did not move over to MLK. Might not be all that it used to be as result...

MLK will be the better for not having one of the original magnet teachers, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

My child is in the Roberto Clemente Humanities magnet, and the NYC trip was a huge educational experience for her. Yes, the Broadway shows were a treat, but those were more treats at the end of the days and the main focus of the trip was the project they were working on. They were very stressed about doing a good job on it, and had to be self-motivated and organized to complete it. I thought it was a valuable experience. I am not affluent as a single mom, but her dad and I have been saving for the trip since 6th grade. I don't know if the school communicated the full cost of the trip until 7th grade, but the very helpful email lit may have given us a clue earlier on than that - so we were able to put money away each month for it. I do wish they had more fundraisers for it - I don't recall anything but someone here referenced that they could do something towards it - that didn't ring a bell for me. I was pretty surprised there weren't more fundraisers, but the trip itself was a huge endeavor.

I felt the communication was very poor - I didn't have the schedule or the name of the hotel they were staying at prior to them leaving, which was rather worrisome to me considering I was sending my child to NYC for the week with the school.

But overall it was a valuable experience.

As for the general inquiry about the program at the new school and being split, I can't speak to that since we only know RCMS and haven't attended the MLK iteration of the Humanities program, but the 8th graders at RCMS do feel like they're a bit of the "orphan" group at the school since they remained at RCMS when the program moved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Eastern humanities program just started their fall fundraiser for the NYC trip, which costs >$900 (so, it’s less than the upcounty one). Sixth and seventh graders earn money that goes into their own accounts to fund their eighth grade trip, and if eighth graders participate in the fundraiser it goes towards scholarships (since they’ve already paid for and gone on their trip).

They also have an educational foundation at Eastern that the parents run. Money is not really an issue at Eastern.

This is utter nonsense. There is no educational foundation at Eastern, and the PTSA is constantly struggling to raise a minimal budget. However, the magnet program is very well run, the parents are kept well informed about the cost of the 8th grade trip, and the fundraising starts in 6th Grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No personal experience (had a kid at Clemente) but many of the original magnet teachers did not move over to MLK. Might not be all that it used to be as result...

The much bigger issue is that the teachers are not being allowed to become specialists in teaching the magnet courses. The classes were spread among many teachers in the name of being equitable. This means lesson planning for highly gifted learners is just an extra prep rather than the teacher’s focus.

[Anonymous]

Not to derail this thread but reading about the NYC trip here's an idea that our local school does. They have many field trips at our school- we are in a low farms school. Whenever a field trip is offered, parents are able to send back extra money to help pay for other students in need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fundraising would need a parent or teacher to spearhead the operation. When we were at Clemente, I think I remember the administration asserting the fact we didn't have fundraising had to do with accounting - no fund MCPS would let us put the money in? probably explaining this very wrong...

The trip is very worthwhile. Could they do it in the DC area? probably. They'd give up the extreme bonding they gain on the trip, and the independence - the kids really are the leaders and their chaperone of their group of 7 or 8 just makes sure they are safe and helps them out as they navigate the city.

Parents have fought so hard over the years to have the trip, it'd be a shame to lose it. But whatever, I'm used to by now MCPS changing everything that was good. At least they've done it just after we leave that grade, school, etc. The fight's gone out in us, and if future families are ok with it, be complacent and it will go away.

Whether the trip is worthwhile surely depends on whether you or not have the one thousand three hundred dollars to pay for it, and/or what else you were going to do with that money?

And can't kids be independent navigating the city in DC?

Clemente/MLK have a center program coordinator, who would be the logical person to be in charge of fundraising. Plus if Eastern can do fundraising, then so can Clemente.

The current coordinator is a complete moron with no experience. Interestingly has a kid in the magnet program too.

+1
I though I was the only one who thought this. Would much rather have better communication and not the useless “blog” posts.

+a million