Rejected by Oyster for Pre-K4 Spanish dominant - what are our options?

[Anonymous]

We moved IB for Oyster last year, applied as Spanish dominant (our son is actually Russian dominant, then Spanish, then English - in that order). After having been congratulated for winning a spot, got confronted with the Spanish test for our 3.5 year old (admittedly did not see that coming). During the testing did not hide the fact that Spanish is his second native (yes, when he wakes up from a nightmare, he screams in Russian) and were rejected. Oyster could care less, gave us "get the hell out of here, fraudsters" treatment. Still in shock.
The Google search for alternatives is very frustrating. Apparently, we have already missed all deadlines. Ideally, would like a bilingual school, ok with private, in NW DC but will consider all options. Many thanks for any leads.

[Anonymous]

Go on MySchoolDC right away and add every school you would be willing to commute to. You will see your waitlist numbers right away and know where you stand a chance.

Look into Rosemount preschool as well.

[Anonymous]

Check out the JCC Preschool on 16th St. It runs to Kindergarten, I believe.

[Anonymous]

Look at Communikids in Tenleytown.

[Anonymous]

Get on the list for CentroNia also. You can apply on their website now for first come first served Free Amazing Bilingual PK.

[Anonymous]

As a post-lottery applicant, you'll have a rough time, but you might get into a DCPS school after the year starts. I would try Garrison and Cleveland. Last year I also got post-lottery offers from Langley, JO Wilson, and Noyes for PK4, but that seems like it would be quite the drive for you.

[Anonymous]

Private bilingual options --

Little Flowers in Adams Morgan on 16th Street (spanish) http://littlefloweron16th.wixsite.com/littlefloweron16th

De Colores daycare (in Ward 4/would be a hike) http://www.decoloresdc.com/

[Anonymous]

Both campuses of Bethune will blaze through their waitlists

[Anonymous]

So since you are in bounds, are you guaranteed admission for kindergarten? You just need to find a place for a year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved IB for Oyster last year, applied as Spanish dominant (our son is actually Russian dominant, then Spanish, then English - in that order). After having been congratulated for winning a spot, got confronted with the Spanish test for our 3.5 year old (admittedly did not see that coming). During the testing did not hide the fact that Spanish is his second native (yes, when he wakes up from a nightmare, he screams in Russian) and were rejected. Oyster could care less, gave us "get the hell out of here, fraudsters" treatment. Still in shock.
The Google search for alternatives is very frustrating. Apparently, we have already missed all deadlines. Ideally, would like a bilingual school, ok with private, in NW DC but will consider all options. Many thanks for any leads.

Just an FYI - it is a thing that people try and work the system and get into schools Spanish dominant when the child is not fluent in the language. Parent's say - the baby sitter has been speaking to them since they were an infant. It is common knowledge that there is a test - and it is also common that there are families like yours that do not meet the bar for fluency. The school set guidelines - communicated those guidelines and you decided to ignore them.

The school has put the test out there so that they can have a bi-lingual classroom and every family that tries to work the system chips away at the program.

[Anonymous]

Why does your son know Spanish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved IB for Oyster last year, applied as Spanish dominant (our son is actually Russian dominant, then Spanish, then English - in that order). After having been congratulated for winning a spot, got confronted with the Spanish test for our 3.5 year old (admittedly did not see that coming). During the testing did not hide the fact that Spanish is his second native (yes, when he wakes up from a nightmare, he screams in Russian) and were rejected. Oyster could care less, gave us "get the hell out of here, fraudsters" treatment. Still in shock.
The Google search for alternatives is very frustrating. Apparently, we have already missed all deadlines. Ideally, would like a bilingual school, ok with private, in NW DC but will consider all options. Many thanks for any leads.

Just an FYI - it is a thing that people try and work the system and get into schools Spanish dominant when the child is not fluent in the language. Parent's say - the baby sitter has been speaking to them since they were an infant. It is common knowledge that there is a test - and it is also common that there are families like yours that do not meet the bar for fluency. The school set guidelines - communicated those guidelines and you decided to ignore them.

The school has put the test out there so that they can have a bi-lingual classroom and every family that tries to work the system chips away at the program.

We did not work the system. The child's father is a native Spanish speaker and speaks only Spanish to our child since his birth.

[Anonymous]

I agree that people do try to fudge it. But if your kid is borderline, how can you tell whether they will pass or not? Little kids are squirrely and it is hard to predict how they will respond to a testing environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So since you are in bounds, are you guaranteed admission for kindergarten? You just need to find a place for a year?

Yes, we can enter next year. Not sure though if we want to after our experience with Oyster so far. But right now, we need to urgently decide on a place at least for this year. Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved IB for Oyster last year, applied as Spanish dominant (our son is actually Russian dominant, then Spanish, then English - in that order). After having been congratulated for winning a spot, got confronted with the Spanish test for our 3.5 year old (admittedly did not see that coming). During the testing did not hide the fact that Spanish is his second native (yes, when he wakes up from a nightmare, he screams in Russian) and were rejected. Oyster could care less, gave us "get the hell out of here, fraudsters" treatment. Still in shock.
The Google search for alternatives is very frustrating. Apparently, we have already missed all deadlines. Ideally, would like a bilingual school, ok with private, in NW DC but will consider all options. Many thanks for any leads.

Just an FYI - it is a thing that people try and work the system and get into schools Spanish dominant when the child is not fluent in the language. Parent's say - the baby sitter has been speaking to them since they were an infant. It is common knowledge that there is a test - and it is also common that there are families like yours that do not meet the bar for fluency. The school set guidelines - communicated those guidelines and you decided to ignore them.

The school has put the test out there so that they can have a bi-lingual classroom and every family that tries to work the system chips away at the program.

We did not work the system. The child's father is a native Spanish speaker and speaks only Spanish to our child since his birth.

No one is doubting that. But your child is not as fluent as a child with two parents who only speak Spanish with them, which is the bar.