if you had to choose between sidwell, beauvoir, and gds, where would you accept?

[Anonymous]

Some folks have not been around a lot Jews, then they end up at GDS, where a lot of Jewish families apply because (1) Jewish and African-American families founded the school as they were shut out of area privates and (b) GDS does not have a religious affiliation (e.g., the Cathedral schools, Sidwell, etc). It may seem like the school is "Jewish" because some folks are talking about the high holidays and Passover rather than Christmas and Easter. And if you've not grown up aware of the former holidays than maybe having to share "that space" feels like an invasion rather than a more inclusive community.

Our DCs have been at GDS for a few years now: I had heard a few rumblings about this "catered" Passover seder, so I was really expecting a big sha-bang. Oh my, if you blink, you miss it.

Most folks I know at GDS think it is great for their children to be a part of rich and varied community. If you do not want your children to be a part of that tapestry, then don't apply. It is an independent, not a neighborhood, school. You are not forced to attend.

[Anonymous]

Oh right, I'd forgotten what catered would sound like if you didn't know the event, LOL!

Hard-boiled eggs, chicken, matzoh. Served on classroom desks/tables from disposable aluminum foil pans and eaten off of paper plates. Oh yeah, at around 10 or 11 am.

In case you were thinking something more like a wedding reception at the Ritz....

[Anonymous]

Not a GDS parent, but my guess would be that the Passover meal is "catered" because a main focus of Passover is on the special dietary rules of the holiday (specific grains are forbidden). Easier to order out than to make sure everyone's contributions are kosher for Passover.

[Anonymous]

That makes sense.