Haricots Verts (French Green Immersion Charter)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't use the name Haricots Verts or they will probably ignore you as a joke.

+1

[Anonymous]

Parts of Abidjan

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parts of Abidjan

Parts of Abidjan what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm afraid their may be a few. I read a post from someone who seemed to be less than sympathetic to middle class children looking to find a quality education. Her post, to me, seemed to imply that there should be a focus toward "FARMS" children, which I've come to know is code for poor African Americans. If this will be the focus and my middle class french family will be stigmatized I think I'll consider myself lucky to have my IBs school. The hatred and race-based grandstanding of people on this website is disgusting and poor for ALL kids. Inclusion of poor children and exclusion of the middle class as if these children cannot get along and coexist respectfully and lovingly is an example and precedent I don't want to introduce in
my home. But, c'est la vie!

and
hool's
I'm that poster who posted on the Yahoo group and I was very clear tbat this is a perso.al priority for me. Most of us on yahoo are introducing ourselves and saying basically what we're being drawn in by. I did not in my post claim to be the voice of the official voice of the future school's priority, and I am very troubled that you would take what I said there as a personal priority and take it out of context and post it here.

Agreed (another member of the yahoo group).

If you disagree with something - leave it there, or mention it there. Don't come over here and complain about it - very childish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oyster doesn't have French.

Are you thinking of a curriculum focused primarily on France, or on the whole Francophone world? Are you thinking of a French curriculum, such as offered in a Lycee or of an American or IB curriculum taught in French?

These are poignant considerations. I'm sure it will take us a while to figure it out. What are your thoughts? Let's get a real conversation going. I'm thinking about this now. What I know is I have the passionate interest, but I don't know anything about what you've described. Anyone with real world knowledge out there? Please chime in. This has the makings of a start-up!!!

I'm sorry, but reading over the post above ("I don't know anything about what you've described"), as well as the post about Canada (ok, consider it included), this whole thing sounds like you are all kidding around? Or are you all truly naive about what it takes for a group of non-educators, with little apparent connection to the francophone world, to start up an entire educational system from scratch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oyster doesn't have French.

Are you thinking of a curriculum focused primarily on France, or on the whole Francophone world? Are you thinking of a French curriculum, such as offered in a Lycee or of an American or IB curriculum taught in French?

These are poignant considerations. I'm sure it will take us a while to figure it out. What are your thoughts? Let's get a real conversation going. I'm thinking about this now. What I know is I have the passionate interest, but I don't know anything about what you've described. Anyone with real world knowledge out there? Please chime in. This has the makings of a start-up!!!

I'm sorry, but reading over the post above ("I don't know anything about what you've described"), as well as the post about Canada (ok, consider it included), this whole thing sounds like you are all kidding around? Or are you all truly naive about what it takes for a group of non-educators, with little apparent connection to the francophone world, to start up an entire educational system from scratch?

And the result for you either way is...? Make whatever assumption you want. We're joking, we're naive. At the end of the day, since you're obviously not interested in joining us, what is it you get out of judging it and questioning it?

[Anonymous]

Will HV strive to include francophone families (from all socio-economic levels) as key participants, and strive to enroll French speaking kids? Or will it be an effort mainly conducted by American moms who like the idea of their kids speaking French and consider that the presence of a critical mass of French speaking kids as nice but not essencial?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This school exists in PG County.

http://www1.pgcps.org/robertgoddardfrenchimmersion/

K-8 charter, 500+ students
MD "Green School" certified
Proficiency in the 90s
75% black, 25% FARMs

http://www.greatschools.org/maryland/seabrook/2065-Robert-Goddard-French-Immersion/

Why not ask them to expand to DC? Just don't use the name Haricots Verts or they will probably ignore you as a joke. (Les toubabous sont dingues. Vraiment. Ils disent rien de quoi.)

Is it any worse than "Green World"?

Yes. Generally it's not a good idea to refer to children as food products. "Green Beans" in Whole Foods is very different from commercial agriculture green beans produced with migrant labor in Burkina Faso. "Beans" is not a term of endearment for children, let alone middle schoolers.

One wouldn't call a Spanish immersion school Arroz con frijoles or a Japanese school Edamame. Francophone education in general is somewhat formal. Skip the cutesy name unless it's for preschool.

I didn't read the original post suggesting this name, but it seems the person is not part of the francophone diaspora. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Consider a simpler starting name like l'école mondiale and not something "green" unless you know for a fact you can pull that off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will HV strive to include francophone families (from all socio-economic levels) as key participants, and strive to enroll French speaking kids? Or will it be an effort mainly conducted by American moms who like the idea of their kids speaking French and consider that the presence of a critical mass of French speaking kids as nice but not essencial?

I would certainly hope it would be the former, and not the latter. Enrolling French-speaking kids is obviously more a matter of outreach when it comes to DC charters, because all you can do is make sure you get the word out and increase the number of French-speaking kids who apply. DC charters are not allowed to screen for or consider language ability in filling slots - it's strict lottery. But if this gets off the ground I'd certainly hope it would be a huge priority to engage and do outreach to Francophones from all over the world in the DC area. And not just in applications - this outreach would be key right from the beginning of designing the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will HV strive to include francophone families (from all socio-economic levels) as key participants, and strive to enroll French speaking kids? Or will it be an effort mainly conducted by American moms who like the idea of their kids speaking French and consider that the presence of a critical mass of French speaking kids as nice but not essencial?

I, for one, know children learn better when native speakers are included in the mix. I encourage outreach to the francophone community and hope you'll join the group.

[Anonymous]

Can someone post the portion of charter law, which prevents language preference? Maybe as a part of this undertaking it's time to introduce legislation overturning this. Kids learn better with native speakers PERIOD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone post the portion of charter law, which prevents language preference? Maybe as a part of this undertaking it's time to introduce legislation overturning this. Kids learn better with native speakers PERIOD.

YY and the other existing language immersion charters have already tried this-- you have to change the DC law thru legislation and no politicians (at this time) will go there (politically not good for them). I know this from experience working with the board at one of the language immersion charters. But here is the law-- note what I have bolded. Also, only 20 children of founders are permitted each year. Good luck!

§ 38-1802.06. Student admission, enrollment, and withdrawal.

(a) Open enrollment. --Enrollment in a public charter school shall be open to all students who areresidents of the District of Columbia and, if space is available, to nonresident students who meet the tuition requirement in subsection (e) of this section.

(b) Criteria for admission. --A public charter school may not limit enrollment on the basis of astudent’s race, color, religion, national origin, language spoken, intellectual or athletic ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, or status as a student with special needs. A public charter school may limit enrollment to specific grade levels.

(c) Random selection. --If there are more applications to enroll in a public charter school from students who are residents of the District of Columbia than there are spaces available, students shall be admitted using a random selection process, except that a preference in admission may be given to an applicant who is a sibling of a student already attending or selected for admission to the public charter school in which the applicant is seeking enrollment, or an applicant who is a child of a member of the public charter school’s founding board, so long as enrollment of founders’ children is limited to no more than 10% of the school’s total enrollment or to 20 students, whichever is less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This school exists in PG County.

http://www1.pgcps.org/robertgoddardfrenchimmersion/

K-8 charter, 500+ students
MD "Green School" certified
Proficiency in the 90s
75% black, 25% FARMs

http://www.greatschools.org/maryland/seabrook/2065-Robert-Goddard-French-Immersion/

Why not ask them to expand to DC? Just don't use the name Haricots Verts or they will probably ignore you as a joke. (Les toubabous sont dingues. Vraiment. Ils disent rien de quoi.)

Is it any worse than "Green World"?

Yes. Generally it's not a good idea to refer to children as food products. "Green Beans" in Whole Foods is very different from commercial agriculture green beans produced with migrant labor in Burkina Faso. "Beans" is not a term of endearment for children, let alone middle schoolers.

One wouldn't call a Spanish immersion school Arroz con frijoles or a Japanese school Edamame. Francophone education in general is somewhat formal. Skip the cutesy name unless it's for preschool.

I didn't read the original post suggesting this name, but it seems the person is not part of the francophone diaspora. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Consider a simpler starting name like l'école mondiale and not something "green" unless you know for a fact you can pull that off.

It's not? My "little bean" doesn't believe you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone post the portion of charter law, which prevents language preference? Maybe as a part of this undertaking it's time to introduce legislation overturning this. Kids learn better with native speakers PERIOD.

YY and the other existing language immersion charters have already tried this-- you have to change the DC law thru legislation and no politicians (at this time) will go there (politically not good for them). I know this from experience working with the board at one of the language immersion charters. But here is the law-- note what I have bolded. Also, only 20 children of founders are permitted each year. Good luck!

§ 38-1802.06. Student admission, enrollment, and withdrawal.

(a) Open enrollment. --Enrollment in a public charter school shall be open to all students who areresidents of the District of Columbia and, if space is available, to nonresident students who meet the tuition requirement in subsection (e) of this section.

(b) Criteria for admission. --A public charter school may not limit enrollment on the basis of astudent’s race, color, religion, national origin, language spoken, intellectual or athletic ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, or status as a student with special needs. A public charter school may limit enrollment to specific grade levels.

(c) Random selection. --If there are more applications to enroll in a public charter school from students who are residents of the District of Columbia than there are spaces available, students shall be admitted using a random selection process, except that a preference in admission may be given to an applicant who is a sibling of a student already attending or selected for admission to the public charter school in which the applicant is seeking enrollment, or an applicant who is a child of a member of the public charter school’s founding board, so long as enrollment of founders’ children is limited to no more than 10% of the school’s total enrollment or to 20 students, whichever is less.

Thanks very much for posting this. Do you know, re: 20 founders kids/year, is that per grade, or 20 total for the entire school? Especially for the starting years, I can imagine you don't want to be too limited in having to choose which founders kids - was that ever an issue in the founding of any of the current charters? Anyone know?

Also, is there an official definition of "founder" anywhere? I.e. when it comes to decising whether a key person in the development of the school gets their kids in through this founder exception, how is "founder" defined?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone post the portion of charter law, which prevents language preference? Maybe as a part of this undertaking it's time to introduce legislation overturning this. Kids learn better with native speakers PERIOD.

YY and the other existing language immersion charters have already tried this-- you have to change the DC law thru legislation and no politicians (at this time) will go there (politically not good for them). I know this from experience working with the board at one of the language immersion charters. But here is the law-- note what I have bolded. Also, only 20 children of founders are permitted each year. Good luck!

§ 38-1802.06. Student admission, enrollment, and withdrawal.

(a) Open enrollment. --Enrollment in a public charter school shall be open to all students who areresidents of the District of Columbia and, if space is available, to nonresident students who meet the tuition requirement in subsection (e) of this section.

(b) Criteria for admission. --A public charter school may not limit enrollment on the basis of astudent’s race, color, religion, national origin, language spoken, intellectual or athletic ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, or status as a student with special needs. A public charter school may limit enrollment to specific grade levels.

(c) Random selection. --If there are more applications to enroll in a public charter school from students who are residents of the District of Columbia than there are spaces available, students shall be admitted using a random selection process, except that a preference in admission may be given to an applicant who is a sibling of a student already attending or selected for admission to the public charter school in which the applicant is seeking enrollment, or an applicant who is a child of a member of the public charter school’s founding board, so long as enrollment of founders’ children is limited to no more than 10% of the school’s total enrollment or to 20 students, whichever is less.

Thanks very much for posting this. Do you know, re: 20 founders kids/year, is that per grade, or 20 total for the entire school? Especially for the starting years, I can imagine you don't want to be too limited in having to choose which founders kids - was that ever an issue in the founding of any of the current charters? Anyone know?

Also, is there an official definition of "founder" anywhere? I.e. when it comes to decising whether a key person in the development of the school gets their kids in through this founder exception, how is "founder" defined?

20 total for the entire school. So yes, founders kids can get waitlisted and not be able to enroll the initial year--I know a family in DC that this happened to. The law is set up so families CAN NOT set up a school that primarily serves their children. See the following subsections of the law about the Board of Trustees, the founding families make up the initial or founding board of the proposed school--after the school opens additional board members can be added; however, the kids of those board members do NOT get priority and must lottery in, if necessary. Hope that makes sense.


(6) Board of Trustees. --The term “Board of Trustees” means the governing board of a public charter school, the members of which are selected pursuant to the charter granted to the school and in amanner consistent with this chapter.

§ 38-1802.05. Board of Trustees of a public charter school.

(a) Board of Trustees. -* The members of a Board of Trustees of a public charter school shall beelected or selected pursuant to the charter granted to the school. Such Board of Trustees shall have an odd number of members that does not exceed 15, of which:

(1) A majority shall be residents of the District of Columbia; and
(2) At least 2 shall be parents of a student attending the school.

(b) Eligibility. --An individual is eligible for election or selection to the Board of Trustees of a public charter school if the person:

(1) Is a teacher or staff member who is employed at the school;
(2) Is a parent of a student attending the school; or
(3) Meets the election or selection criteria set forth in the charter granted to the school.

(c) Election or selection of parents. --In the case of the first Board of Trustees of a public charter school to be elected or selected after the date on which the school is granted a charter, the election or selection of the members under subsection (a)(2) of this section shall occur on the earliest practicable date after classes at the school have commenced. Until such date, any other members who have been elected or selected shall serve as an interim Board of Trustees. Such an interim Board of Trustees may exercise all of the powers, and shall be subject to all of the duties, of a Board of Trustees.