Inspired teaching question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, this is not about IT. It's all about KaBoom! and Corp. for National Service. They are the masterminds behind the event and the press coverage. But let's remember that more than 200 people are out there volunteering in a DC community. Definitely something we should be hope our kids can learn from and emulate in their lives.

Totally! They're going to learn so much about service while they're exiled at home early.

I agree it sound as if Kaboom might be strong arming the schools to change their schedules (I don't know the details) but isn't it up to a school at some point to say "No, you can't use our property this way because it interferes with our school day." Or would Kaboom have something in the contract that allows them to disrupt the school day? It's one thing if all kids affected get to witness or participate, but that doesn't sound like the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's pretty despicable that students are being forced to stay home so a school can showcase its property, or highlight one school at a detriment to the other.

I am not a parent at either school so I don't know - was the closure on the formal calendar, or announced spur of the moment? If the later, that is TRULY despicable. I would be furious at the inconvenience to (Lee) parents and disregard for the kids. Not a way to treat an incubator school!

It was announced that early dismissal might be a possibility via email Sunday and Monday upon arrival. It was confirmed Lee would dismiss early on Tuesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, this is not about IT. It's all about KaBoom! and Corp. for National Service. They are the masterminds behind the event and the press coverage. But let's remember that more than 200 people are out there volunteering in a DC community. Definitely something we should be hope our kids can learn from and emulate in their lives.

Totally! They're going to learn so much about service while they're exiled at home early.

I agree it sound as if Kaboom might be strong arming the schools to change their schedules (I don't know the details) but isn't it up to a school at some point to say "No, you can't use our property this way because it interferes with our school day." Or would Kaboom have something in the contract that allows them to disrupt the school day? It's one thing if all kids affected get to witness or participate, but that doesn't sound like the case.

You are right. IT should have turned down the opportunity to have a playground built at its new home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's pretty despicable that students are being forced to stay home so a school can showcase its property, or highlight one school at a detriment to the other.

I am not a parent at either school so I don't know - was the closure on the formal calendar, or announced spur of the moment? If the later, that is TRULY despicable. I would be furious at the inconvenience to (Lee) parents and disregard for the kids. Not a way to treat an incubator school!

It was announced that early dismissal might be a possibility via email Sunday and Monday upon arrival. It was confirmed Lee would dismiss early on Tuesday.

The email sent Sunday evening explicitly stated that all students need to be picked up by 11:45 AM today. It also stated that students have the option of staying home without being issued an unexcused absence. There have been signs all over school all week about early dismissal today. Let's not try to make it look like we were totally blindsided by this 2 days ago.

[Anonymous]

Look like it is both the Obamas, at about 5:20pm tonight.

[Anonymous]

Also, can I just say that I called it!

[Anonymous]

Meant to post this:

http://m.whitehouse.gov/schedule

[Anonymous]

Important to know for those of us who use Rhode Island Avenue to travel. I will plan to be home earlier than usual to avoid the motorcade closure!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, this is not about IT. It's all about KaBoom! and Corp. for National Service. They are the masterminds behind the event and the press coverage. But let's remember that more than 200 people are out there volunteering in a DC community. Definitely something we should be hope our kids can learn from and emulate in their lives.

Totally! They're going to learn so much about service while they're exiled at home early.

I agree it sound as if Kaboom might be strong arming the schools to change their schedules (I don't know the details) but isn't it up to a school at some point to say "No, you can't use our property this way because it interferes with our school day." Or would Kaboom have something in the contract that allows them to disrupt the school day? It's one thing if all kids affected get to witness or participate, but that doesn't sound like the case.

You are right. IT should have turned down the opportunity to have a playground built at its new home.

Um, they (Kaboom) had NO problem putting the playground in ALL week while our kids where in school. So, no one had to turn down a new playground. What they clearly could have turned down was the pressing need for attention. It's this overwhelming desire to get a VIP there that they are willing to screw over 90+ kids because of security needs of these high level VIPs.

I'm seriously considering filing a complaint with the Charter board against IT. If they weren't in the wrong it will be no harm. no foul. If they did actively bully Lee out just for press, than they should be formally reprimanded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, this is not about IT. It's all about KaBoom! and Corp. for National Service. They are the masterminds behind the event and the press coverage. But let's remember that more than 200 people are out there volunteering in a DC community. Definitely something we should be hope our kids can learn from and emulate in their lives.

Totally! They're going to learn so much about service while they're exiled at home early.

I agree it sound as if Kaboom might be strong arming the schools to change their schedules (I don't know the details) but isn't it up to a school at some point to say "No, you can't use our property this way because it interferes with our school day." Or would Kaboom have something in the contract that allows them to disrupt the school day? It's one thing if all kids affected get to witness or participate, but that doesn't sound like the case.

You are right. IT should have turned down the opportunity to have a playground built at its new home.

Um, they (Kaboom) had NO problem putting the playground in ALL week while our kids where in school. So, no one had to turn down a new playground. What they clearly could have turned down was the pressing need for attention. It's this overwhelming desire to get a VIP there that they are willing to screw over 90+ kids because of security needs of these high level VIPs.

I'm seriously considering filing a complaint with the Charter board against IT. If they weren't in the wrong it will be no harm. no foul. If they did actively bully Lee out just for press, than they should be formally reprimanded.

I'm pretty annoyed that Lee is completely excluded, but I wouldn't blame IT. I'm sure it was secret service that made these requirements. IT may not have solicited the visit - it could have originated at the WH, or it could have been initiated by Kaboom or one of the other organizations. IT is closing early too, and they are hardly in a position to turn down a visit from POTUS. As inconvenient as it is, it's less inconvenient than having to get through the traffic disruption caused by a presidential motorcade.

[Anonymous]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-school-gets-new-playground-as-part-of-day-of-service-commemorating-911/2014/09/11/49072cc0-39c1-11e4-8601-97ba88884ffd_story.html

[Anonymous]

ITS parent here --

Lee parents, you are obviously new to the charter school experience, and with all due respect, you have a lot to learn. There are all KINDS of inconveniences you will have to deal with as a result of not yet having your own building, and as a result of being a charter school.

In ITS's location for the last 2 years we were next to high school and had to ask them to give up their parking lot to provide us with playspace for our kids. The high school power-washed the space, ITS parent volunteers painted playspaces, ITS/IFA pooled resources to provide big soft playground blocks and other playground equipment, and we shared that space with the high schoolers, whose language and sometimes actions were often not the kind of thing you would want young kids to hear. Our admin and staff also worked over the summer to prepare our previous location/building for our kids, which was not at all configured in any way as a school. Some spaces could not be optimally adapted at all, so we worked with them as best we could.

Yes, you are paying to lease a space, but quite frankly you are LUCKY to be leasing a space that is being adapted so quickly to our kids' needs. You are LUCKY to be leasing a space that has been outfitted as a proper school on another school's dime. You are LUCKY to be starting off in an environment where so many of your needs are already met that you have the time and energy to spend entire threads discussing whether or not your kids should be eating pizza or lentils and quinoa for lunch. You are LUCKY to be inconvenienced by an event that will benefit your kids for the rest of the school year.

If you're not happy as a leasing tenant about the inconvenience of what it takes for another school to build a playground on its home property that your kids will actually get to use, discuss it with your admin. See if you can raise the funds amongst yourselves to move early and/or find a better temporary location for your kids. Good luck with both of those efforts.

In the meantime, despite all your complaining here, welcome to our building. We're happy to have your kids as our neighbors. Not sure how we feel about the parents yet ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ITS parent here --

Lee parents, you are obviously new to the charter school experience, and with all due respect, you have a lot to learn. There are all KINDS of inconveniences you will have to deal with as a result of not yet having your own building, and as a result of being a charter school.

In ITS's location for the last 2 years we were next to high school and had to ask them to give up their parking lot to provide us with playspace for our kids. The high school power-washed the space, ITS parent volunteers painted playspaces, ITS/IFA pooled resources to provide big soft playground blocks and other playground equipment, and we shared that space with the high schoolers, whose language and sometimes actions were often not the kind of thing you would want young kids to hear. Our admin and staff also worked over the summer to prepare our previous location/building for our kids, which was not at all configured in any way as a school. Some spaces could not be optimally adapted at all, so we worked with them as best we could.

Yes, you are paying to lease a space, but quite frankly you are LUCKY to be leasing a space that is being adapted so quickly to our kids' needs. You are LUCKY to be leasing a space that has been outfitted as a proper school on another school's dime. You are LUCKY to be starting off in an environment where so many of your needs are already met that you have the time and energy to spend entire threads discussing whether or not your kids should be eating pizza or lentils and quinoa for lunch. You are LUCKY to be inconvenienced by an event that will benefit your kids for the rest of the school year.

If you're not happy as a leasing tenant about the inconvenience of what it takes for another school to build a playground on its home property that your kids will actually get to use, discuss it with your admin. See if you can raise the funds amongst yourselves to move early and/or find a better temporary location for your kids. Good luck with both of those efforts.

In the meantime, despite all your complaining here, welcome to our building. We're happy to have your kids as our neighbors. Not sure how we feel about the parents yet ...

Wow! I hope the rest of the IT parents are more pleasant than you.

School closing for random unspecified reasons outside of the admins control is completely different from putting up with space or other problems. I can't speak for other Lee parents but I'm delighted that the playground is being built now, but it really isn't a hardship at all to walk to the current playground. In fact, I wouldn't think a new playground at the school is that much of a priority at this point. But keeping the school open for its regular hours is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ITS parent here --

Lee parents, you are obviously new to the charter school experience, and with all due respect, you have a lot to learn. There are all KINDS of inconveniences you will have to deal with as a result of not yet having your own building, and as a result of being a charter school.

In ITS's location for the last 2 years we were next to high school and had to ask them to give up their parking lot to provide us with playspace for our kids. The high school power-washed the space, ITS parent volunteers painted playspaces, ITS/IFA pooled resources to provide big soft playground blocks and other playground equipment, and we shared that space with the high schoolers, whose language and sometimes actions were often not the kind of thing you would want young kids to hear. Our admin and staff also worked over the summer to prepare our previous location/building for our kids, which was not at all configured in any way as a school. Some spaces could not be optimally adapted at all, so we worked with them as best we could.

Yes, you are paying to lease a space, but quite frankly you are LUCKY to be leasing a space that is being adapted so quickly to our kids' needs. You are LUCKY to be leasing a space that has been outfitted as a proper school on another school's dime. You are LUCKY to be starting off in an environment where so many of your needs are already met that you have the time and energy to spend entire threads discussing whether or not your kids should be eating pizza or lentils and quinoa for lunch. You are LUCKY to be inconvenienced by an event that will benefit your kids for the rest of the school year.

If you're not happy as a leasing tenant about the inconvenience of what it takes for another school to build a playground on its home property that your kids will actually get to use, discuss it with your admin. See if you can raise the funds amongst yourselves to move early and/or find a better temporary location for your kids. Good luck with both of those efforts.

In the meantime, despite all your complaining here, welcome to our building. We're happy to have your kids as our neighbors. Not sure how we feel about the parents yet ...

Wow! I hope the rest of the IT parents are more pleasant than you.

School closing for random unspecified reasons outside of the admins control is completely different from putting up with space or other problems. I can't speak for other Lee parents but I'm delighted that the playground is being built now, but it really isn't a hardship at all to walk to the current playground. In fact, I wouldn't think a new playground at the school is that much of a priority at this point. But keeping the school open for its regular hours is.

I hope the rest of the Lee parents are less entitled than the folks posting here.

[Anonymous]

Pretend he's eating quinoa.