anyone have experience with Ambleside school in Herndon?

[Anonymous]

Just moved to area. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

My DC did not go there but she shadowed twice there at 4 and 5. So did I - shadowing with her twice and interviewed with the school twice. Here is everything in a nutshell:

1. I am seminary graduate, born again Christian and strongly believe in teaching my DC Christian beliefs and values and the Bible.
2. I am an Asian, strongly believe in academic rigors is necessary when looking for a school.
3. Ambleside is strong academically. but: it's extremely legalistic, rigid, restrictive, not conducive to promoting children's creativity, and critical thinking skills. I have much evidence to illustrate this point. It is against children's natural emotional, mental and physical development process.
4. My pastors' children and some of my church friends' children have been there for years. As they rave about the school, especially its art program and classical education curriculum, I see the kids show serious emotional and behavioral issues. This is the parents' blind spot. One 7-year-old boy of the pastor's family hit a two-year-old toddler in front of two day-care workers in our church nursery. The little boy cried hard, the daycare workers asked the 7-year-old to apologize. The older kid who had been educated in Ambleside since 4 refused. They called his mother - the pastor's wife. The mother seriously asked him about what happened. He was defiant. Then the mother took him to the adjacent bathroom, used her shoes to spank him. I witnessed all of this - to my shock. All of the kids (about 10 or so) in my church who had been with Ambleside for years behaved remarkably poorly. I saw them behaved perfectly in the extremely restrictive environment in school during my shadow day visit. One child sang off tune during the music class, he was publicly shamed, called out, reprimanded, brought to a corner in the church room to sit there watching the whole class for the rest of the class time while he cried shamefully non-stop. Another child skipped the last stair when going downstairs. He was immediately reprimanded, asked to go back from the very top and step by step to come downstairs while the whole class watched and waited.
5. I would recommend not to send your kids there.

[Anonymous]

I have had a very positive and different experience at Ambleside. I don't mind leaving my name and you can call me or meet me for coffee at your convenience.

My sons are almost 25, 23, 19, and 12 years of age. We found Ambleside for our youngest son. We've been there for the past year and a half. Our seventh grade son is more relaxed, more kind to us at home and more kind toward his friends. Thanks to House games on Friday, he is more focused on caring for younger students on his team. His ability to focus and concentrate is amazing, as compared to the rest of the family. Two weeks ago, our pastor quoted something in his sermon. When we got home, I was trying to remember it exactly so I could write it down. My husband and older sons and I were all struggling to remember the right words. My Ambleside-educated son said, "He said,...." and quoted it perfectly.

I don't know who wrote this review, but I would encourage anyone to delve into the philosophy. The Charlotte Mason approach is to treat children as whole persons, not empty cans that need to be filled with knowledge but interesting young minds capable of insights, creative play, and ready for academic exploration. The idea is to keep putting a feast of ideas before them through a rich program of study -- including geography, composer study, literature, math, science, nature study, and more -- so that they are not overwhelmed by what the teacher wants or what the teacher thinks is important. Instead, the student is wondering what is important, what is the idea expressed, what is worth knowing. If you don't have older children, you may not be aware of the epidemic of depression and suicide. The Ambleside approach is one of the most life-giving and child-loving approaches to learning I've seen. I wish we'd found the school earlier! I have spent time talking with Ambleside graduates, too, and they look you in the eye, are calm and poised, and have an enjoyable sense of humor.

In specific regard to the items mentioned in the other post, I would say that this observer should have asked more questions of the school's personnel. In every altercation, there is history between child and teacher that is unknown to the guest. I would also say that students and teachers have imperfect interactions at times. As far as spanking, that happened at church between a parent and her child. That has nothing to do with the school, and would never be part of the school's discipline policy.

If you would like to reach me, my phone number is 703 447-0653. Debra Christenson

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have had a very positive and different experience at Ambleside. I don't mind leaving my name and you can call me or meet me for coffee at your convenience.

My sons are almost 25, 23, 19, and 12 years of age. We found Ambleside for our youngest son. We've been there for the past year and a half. Our seventh grade son is more relaxed, more kind to us at home and more kind toward his friends. Thanks to House games on Wednesday, he is more focused on caring for younger students on his team. His ability to focus and concentrate is amazing, as compared to the rest of the family. Two weeks ago, our pastor quoted something in his sermon. When we got home, I was trying to remember it exactly so I could write it down. My husband and older sons and I were all struggling to remember the right words. My Ambleside-educated son said, "He said,...." and quoted it perfectly.

I don't know who wrote this review, but I would encourage anyone to delve into the philosophy. The Charlotte Mason approach is to treat children as whole persons, not empty cans that need to be filled with knowledge but interesting young minds capable of insights, creative play, and ready for academic exploration. The idea is to keep putting a feast of ideas before them through a rich program of study -- including geography, composer study, literature, math, science, nature study, and more -- so that they are not overwhelmed by what the teacher wants or what the teacher thinks is important. Instead, the student is wondering what is important, what is the idea expressed, what is worth knowing. If you don't have older children, you may not be aware of the epidemic of depression and suicide. The Ambleside approach is one of the most life-giving and child-loving approaches to learning I've seen. I wish we'd found the school earlier! I have spent time talking with Ambleside graduates, too, and they look you in the eye, are calm and poised, and have an enjoyable sense of humor.

In specific regard to the items mentioned in the other post, I would say that this observer should have asked more questions of the school's personnel. In every altercation, there is history between child and teacher that is unknown to the guest. I would also say that students and teachers have imperfect interactions at times. As far as spanking, that happened at church between a parent and her child. That has nothing to do with the school, and would never be part of the school's discipline policy.

If you would like to reach me, my phone number is 703 447-0653. Debra Christenson

[Anonymous]

Can you imagine how decisions you make now and things you are experiencing today can affect your life ten years from now? Who knew that the nine years I attended Ambleside School of Herndon would so profoundly impact my life and world view? I’m currently a senior nursing major and honors student at Messiah College. As I reflect on my sixteen years of classroom education, I’m convinced that my academic success is inseparable from my love of learning formed through critical thinking concepts, narration, nature studies, habits….all gained at Ambleside.

These skills served me well in my public high school years where so much effort was spent working for a grade and getting into college. Now at a Christian liberal arts college, I feel as if I am in a positive learning environment similar to where my education first began. As a smaller Christian college, classes are not as big and provide the opportunity for close relationships with professors, something I am thankful to have experienced during my years at Ambleside. I am grateful for the variety of subjects we explored during my elementary and middle school days and find myself appreciating my general education courses as offering different glimpses into the world. Also similar to my time at Ambleside, Christ is at the center of class, team practices, and daily life at Messiah. Our faith is incorporated into learning as we discover God and His beautiful creation.

Recently, I spent three weeks in Zambia working in a rural hospital with several of my nursing peers. We attended Nurses Christian Fellowship with Zambian nursing students, hiked Victoria Falls, and camped out on a safari in Chobe National Park. I found myself in awe of everything I was experiencing and loved expanding my learning outside the classroom and into a new culture. Ambleside prepared me beyond the years I was there, and shaped who I am today. Ambleside will always remain a cherished experience.

an Alumna
Ambleside School of Herndon, Virginia
(excerpt from the "Flourish" Newsletter www.amblesideschools.com)

[Anonymous]

The ones who like what Ambleside is about like it no matter what. The ones who do not espouse the way it treats/educates the young kids will not send their kids there. The best way to decide if it's for you and your kids is to interview and shadow - the whole day, not just a few min. From the first class to the last class, even during the transitioning moment and going to the worship service.

[Anonymous]

We are so very grateful that we found Ambleside for our oldest before she went into kindergarten, she is now in the 8th grade. We are appreciative of Ambleside and find it to be a place where the teachers, staff and school community surround our three children daily with love, wisdom, grace and discipline. Our children are being educated in a school that is not perfect, but is a place where they learn to explore and enjoy the natural world around them... Ambleside is a school that is Christ-centered and has undeniably cultivated a love for learning in our children...

I love how over the years, our younger children have returned home to me, with flowers, (sometimes weeds!) that they have picked during recess, and have delighted to give these natural gifts to their mom, like a bouquet! I love the fact that our children will repeatedly ask us to take them to the library to check out some quality books. And I love that, when we are in a place that is displaying art, our children stop to see if they recognize the artwork, and exclaim the artist’s name, when they do! I love how my DS, as a 2nd grader, at the dinner table, excitedly talked about George Washington crossing the Delaware River, defeating the Hessians, and he had to explain to his mom what a Hessian soldier was... I could go on... but I am wholeheartedly grateful for the education that our children receive at Ambleside.

[Anonymous]

Would the school be open to a child with same-sex parents? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Never! it is a fundamentalist church affiliated school. How can that be!?

[Anonymous]

Weird, I'm from Herndon and have never heard of this place. Sounds awful.

[Anonymous]

14:05, you didn't know what a Hessian soldier was in a convo about the revolutionary war? That's....pretty basic.

[Anonymous]

If the school allows for kids to go to school who would otherwise be homeschooled, I am all for it. Re: homeschooling, how it is legal for children to be taught in isolation, or with minimal socialization, by people with no training, oftentimes without a college degree?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14:05, you didn't know what a Hessian soldier was in a convo about the revolutionary war? That's....pretty basic.

I don't know what a Hessian soldier is, and I have several very respectable degrees. I'm going to look it up, now, though!

We all have gaps in our knowledge. There's no need to make others feel bad about theirs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the school allows for kids to go to school who would otherwise be homeschooled, I am all for it. Re: homeschooling, how it is legal for children to be taught in isolation, or with minimal socialization, by people with no training, oftentimes without a college degree?

You should do a bit of reading on modern homeschooling. Your views aren't a realistic description of the experience at all, with one exception. Most of us don't think that the "training" involved in an education degree is useful or necessary to teaching small groups of children, so aren't worried about lacking that credential. Since we're on the private school forum, apparently there are quite a few parents who believe content knowledge and experience gained on the job are more important than education degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the school allows for kids to go to school who would otherwise be homeschooled, I am all for it. Re: homeschooling, how it is legal for children to be taught in isolation, or with minimal socialization, by people with no training, oftentimes without a college degree?

You should do a bit of reading on modern homeschooling. Your views aren't a realistic description of the experience at all, with one exception. Most of us don't think that the "training" involved in an education degree is useful or necessary to teaching small groups of children, so aren't worried about lacking that credential. Since we're on the private school forum, apparently there are quite a few parents who believe content knowledge and experience gained on the job are more important than education degrees.

I don't understand your last sentence, can you explain? An education degree is not required at all, but ANY degree. College is hugely important for learning about the diversity of the world, for learning how to be independent, and for learning to have empathy for those who are different than you.