Beauvoir

[Anonymous]

Yes, I really believe that is true and not just at Beauvoir. Most traditional schools will stomp any energy out of the boys mostly at the cost of their self-esteem. Do you remember when you toured Beauvoir how quiet all the children were? Do you see your son one of them? I didn't see my child thriving there. Beauvoir strikes me as a place that is more about themselves than the children.

[Anonymous]

I get very nervous when I read posts like the post above - we have an energetic boy starting at Beauvoir next year - any current parents care to give advice to a new parent of an energetic boy? is the above post true? Do boys really have a hard time there?

Lots of kids are high-energy at Beauvoir. It depends on whether your child is "high-energy" and very self-directed/independent and does not like following direction.

Some people feel that "high-energy" kids automatically will do better in a school that offers a less traditional approach. However, we have a "high-energy" child who also likes (and thrives in) an environment that has a certain amount of structure. The predictability of the routine each day is something he seems to need. He seems to have plenty of opportunities to burn off his energy throughout the day and has yet to complain about school. I would discuss your concerns with your current school and find out what they think. We were surprised when our preschool suggested Beauvoir for our son because, as you can see from this board, there is a lot of misinformation about what the school is like and we assumed our child wouldn't fit in there. Now I can't imagine him anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want your child to learn strong academics: reading, writing and math, Beauvoir is not the school for you. High teacher turnover, lots of young and inexperienced teachers. Some of them do not believe in homework, so when your kids have to apply to new schools in third grade, the parents need to either sit down and teach their kids, or alternatively seek professional help.

Highly energetic kids are not welcome, so the poor souls (mostly boys) who manage to "beat" the admissions process and get accepted, suffer through their entire stay at Beauvoir because they are expected to behave like girls.

As for diversity, you will only see it in the brochures. "Diverse" people are accepted, but once you are in, they are totally ignored and left to their own devices and end up finding solace and support from other diverse families. If one of the parents is not "diverse", it might be easier on the family.

I have to disagree with you completely on the academics (not sure on the diversity since that was not an issue for us). Our DC had a wonderful education at Beauvoir. The amount of homework was age appropriate. Most of the teachers were wonderful. We had no problems when it came to appying to new schools in third grade, nor did most of the families we knew. I should say, however, that approach to learning at Beauvoir is quite conceptual, and if your DC needs a lot of traditional drilling in order to grasp concepts, a more structured approach featuring more repetition may be a better fit.

I also didn't think that energetic boys are not welcome at Beauvoir. The school is a feeder for STA, and they are hardly known for preferring meek boys. There was no shortage of high energy boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get very nervous when I read posts like the post above - we have an energetic boy starting at Beauvoir next year - any current parents care to give advice to a new parent of an energetic boy? is the above post true? Do boys really have a hard time there?

I have a "diverse" boy at Beauvoir. The 15.13 pp is full of it. That has not been my experience at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get very nervous when I read posts like the post above - we have an energetic boy starting at Beauvoir next year - any current parents care to give advice to a new parent of an energetic boy? is the above post true? Do boys really have a hard time there?

I have a "diverse" boy at Beauvoir. The 15.13 pp is full of it. That has not been my experience at all.

When you say you have a diverse boy at Beauvoir what do you mean (ie. race, religion, socioeconomics, etc)? If you could please share your boys experiences at Beauvoir I would really appreciate it. How does he interact with other boys? How is he treated by teachers and staff? Does he fit in ok?

Parent of a diverse boy who will be attending Beauvoir

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I get very nervous when I read posts like the post above - we have an energetic boy starting at Beauvoir next year - any current parents care to give advice to a new parent of an energetic boy? is the above post true? Do boys really have a hard time there?

Lots of kids are high-energy at Beauvoir. It depends on whether your child is "high-energy" and very self-directed/independent and does not like following direction.

Some people feel that "high-energy" kids automatically will do better in a school that offers a less traditional approach. However, we have a "high-energy" child who also likes (and thrives in) an environment that has a certain amount of structure. The predictability of the routine each day is something he seems to need. He seems to have plenty of opportunities to burn off his energy throughout the day and has yet to complain about school. I would discuss your concerns with your current school and find out what they think. We were surprised when our preschool suggested Beauvoir for our son because, as you can see from this board, there is a lot of misinformation about what the school is like and we assumed our child wouldn't fit in there. Now I can't imagine him anywhere else.

Wow. My son just turned three and I don't even know how to describe him, even after two years in a play group. I am amazed that parents are so attuned to their children's learning style. Is it just that my son is too young? He's energetic (usually at the wrong time unfortunately!) yet sometimes shy and usually sweet and sometimes very bad about sharing. That's about the best I can do to describe him. I feel so overwhelmed by choosing schools in a year.

[Anonymous]

You are reading this post and you don't really know what your child is like???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are reading this post and you don't really know what your child is like???

Oh please. I'm saying that I can't easily identify some of these particular characteristics in my child. He's barely three. And now that you mention it, it's probably because he's bright and curious and sweet and has gotten along beautifully in his play group for two years and therefore he doesn't stand out in any of these ways. And yes, I am reading this post because I know several children who go to Beauvoir and love it; I just read it to see if I could see my child there in a year. I have been impressed by the thread and some of the thoughtful responses.

So, I'm glad that you're so beyond me - or maybe you just wrote such a nasty reply because you're overly defensive about your child. I'm sure you know your child very well. Since my child surprises me each and every day, I'm sure you are way smarter than me.

[Anonymous]

Or maybe the poster was just poking a bit of facetious fun at all the type A, overly obsessive parents common to the DC environs! That's actually how I read it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get very nervous when I read posts like the post above - we have an energetic boy starting at Beauvoir next year - any current parents care to give advice to a new parent of an energetic boy? is the above post true? Do boys really have a hard time there?

I have a "diverse" boy at Beauvoir. The 15.13 pp is full of it. That has not been my experience at all.

When you say you have a diverse boy at Beauvoir what do you mean (ie. race, religion, socioeconomics, etc)? If you could please share your boys experiences at Beauvoir I would really appreciate it. How does he interact with other boys? How is he treated by teachers and staff? Does he fit in ok?

Parent of a diverse boy who will be attending Beauvoir

My son is racially diverse. We have had a great experience with everyone at Beauvoir - teachers, parents and students. The teachers really take their time to get to know each child - my son included - and provide specific feedback. Different teachers, on seeing me with my son, have stopped to say something nice about him. Teachers will schedule meetings to discuss any area of concern a parent might have. Of course as parents we have to be advocates for our kids and I always make it a point to talk to the teachers outside of scheduled parents conferences about my son's progress and I think this helps. I don't feel as if my son is in any way disadvantaged by being of a different race. He has friends from all races and the parents have been particularly kind in going out of their way both to schedule play dates (we are new in K where all the other kids bar 2 were there at PreK and had already formed friendships) and parent outings - meals out etc to develop the relationships.

With respect to academics, as I said, this is our first year and so far I have been impressed with their emphasis on the 3 Rs (Reading, writing and arithmetic) and my son has moved in leaps and bounds in those areas.
As for high energy kids - there are several. The teachers are very good at bringing all the kids to order. Your kids will do fine at Beauvoir.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get very nervous when I read posts like the post above - we have an energetic boy starting at Beauvoir next year - any current parents care to give advice to a new parent of an energetic boy? is the above post true? Do boys really have a hard time there?

I have a "diverse" boy at Beauvoir. The 15.13 pp is full of it. That has not been my experience at all.

When you say you have a diverse boy at Beauvoir what do you mean (ie. race, religion, socioeconomics, etc)? If you could please share your boys experiences at Beauvoir I would really appreciate it. How does he interact with other boys? How is he treated by teachers and staff? Does he fit in ok?

Parent of a diverse boy who will be attending Beauvoir

My son is racially diverse. We have had a great experience with everyone at Beauvoir - teachers, parents and students. The teachers really take their time to get to know each child - my son included - and provide specific feedback. Different teachers, on seeing me with my son, have stopped to say something nice about him. Teachers will schedule meetings to discuss any area of concern a parent might have. Of course as parents we have to be advocates for our kids and I always make it a point to talk to the teachers outside of scheduled parents conferences about my son's progress and I think this helps. I don't feel as if my son is in any way disadvantaged by being of a different race. He has friends from all races and the parents have been particularly kind in going out of their way both to schedule play dates (we are new in K where all the other kids bar 2 were there at PreK and had already formed friendships) and parent outings - meals out etc to develop the relationships.

With respect to academics, as I said, this is our first year and so far I have been impressed with their emphasis on the 3 Rs (Reading, writing and arithmetic) and my son has moved in leaps and bounds in those areas.
As for high energy kids - there are several. The teachers are very good at bringing all the kids to order. Your kids will do fine at Beauvoir.

I am the parent of a diverse child who will be attending Beauvoir this Fall. Thank - you for the information One of the major things I was worried about was how the new Kindergarteners are transitioned in; I am glad to know that everyone makes an effort to make them/us feel welcomed.

[Anonymous]

It is amazing to me that a good chunk of the "hot topics" on DCUM directly or indirectly relate to Beauvoir. This fact is even more amazing as the admissions season has not truly begun.

There is clearly an obsession about the school on both sides of the aisle.

What I can't quite figure out is, why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is amazing to me that a good chunk of the "hot topics" on DCUM directly or indirectly relate to Beauvoir. This fact is even more amazing as the admissions season has not truly begun.

There is clearly an obsession about the school on both sides of the aisle.

What I can't quite figure out is, why?

Me, Either...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is amazing to me that a good chunk of the "hot topics" on DCUM directly or indirectly relate to Beauvoir. This fact is even more amazing as the admissions season has not truly begun.

There is clearly an obsession about the school on both sides of the aisle.

What I can't quite figure out is, why?

Me, Either...

Probably because some parents believe this is a great school and chose it for their children. Stop Hating

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is amazing to me that a good chunk of the "hot topics" on DCUM directly or indirectly relate to Beauvoir. This fact is even more amazing as the admissions season has not truly begun.

There is clearly an obsession about the school on both sides of the aisle.

What I can't quite figure out is, why?

Me, Either...

Probably because some parents believe this is a great school and chose it for their children. Stop Hating

I think it's a great school. Our DC will be there this fall, and when we learned we made it off the wait list, I felt like we just won the lottery. But I'm not sure the PPs comments were hateful. It was more of an interesting observation, which does seem to be borne out by the facts.