Immersion Results

[Anonymous]

I think there is a sibling preference. I have to say I find that pretty unfair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is a sibling preference. I have to say I find that pretty unfair.

Are you kidding? They save a seat for the sibling. There is no lottery for siblings. Unfair doesn't even come close. I read in PG that up to a third of their seats in the French Immersion program they have (1 excellent school- I know an entire family of three kids that attended- all fluent French speakers) are taken up by siblings. I'm scrambling for what to do. I was really counting on this. I know it's ridiculous to count on a lottery. Don't judge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you already there w sibling? Tell me more--I'm so excited!

We are - my daughter is in 3rd grade and we have had a fantastic experience. Loved the teachers, gorgeous new building, the principal is awesome, and she has learned so much. She can fluently speak Spanish at this point. It's pretty amazing.

Is it likely that siblings also get a space for K?

It's not likely, it's guaranteed.

[Anonymous]

Why do they do this given how long the wait lists are?

[Anonymous]

Heard that in some cases they may be filling the entire or most of the K class with siblings. Does anyone know if this is true?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is a sibling preference. I have to say I find that pretty unfair.

+1000

It's not like parents whose older kids go to the home schools won't try to get their youngest into an immersion program, so I don't buy the convenience argument.

To PP re filling a class with siblings-- I feel like I heard that somewhere. Hope to god it is not true.

[Anonymous]

I know at least a few people who get spots at RCF and Sligo Creek each year that don't have siblings, so it hasn't been true there at least for the last three years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Waitlisted for Sligo Creek #11 for 1st grade. What are the chances of getting in?

I just spoke with someone in the immersion office and this is what I found out about the 1st grade French immersion at Sligo.

LY they had the 2 spots offered due to the increase in class size. #1 on the waitlist also got in during the summer because someone left and #2 on the waitlist got in during the school year because someone left. So a total of 4 kids got in 1st grade French immersion at Sligo.

Unfortunately, you are unlikely to get in. There are 72 people on the wait list for 1st grade which means 74 applied. The two offered spots have until May 8th to decide. As of this morning, they have not accepted yet. If they don't accept by a week from today or they decline, then they will start offering to people on the waitlist. As #2 on that list, I can tell you I'll be accepting if I get lucky enough to be offered a spot.

They do keep data from years further back but it is not readily available while on the phone.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's true that classes are filled with all siblings. We are RT, and that has not been my experience. I also know people at Sligo and have never heard that. Also, the immersion program at RT has not changed the Title I status of the school - but there seems to be some sort of exception for the immersion classrooms with respect to class size. So the immersion class sizes are more in line with the rest of the downcounty elementaries (the ones that are not Title I), while the non-immersion keep to the smaller class size. RCF is partial immersion, so all kids have one class that is with the smaller size, and I have to say, it's been pretty great for my DC because the teachers really can give more individualized attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there is a sibling preference. I have to say I find that pretty unfair.

+1000

It's not like parents whose older kids go to the home schools won't try to get their youngest into an immersion program, so I don't buy the convenience argument.

To PP re filling a class with siblings-- I feel like I heard that somewhere. Hope to god it is not true.

Well, my oldest is in an immersion program, but if she hadn't gotten in, then I wouldn't have tried to get her younger sibling in. For me, the inconvenience of dealing with two schools would outweigh the benefits of immersion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's not like parents whose older kids go to the home schools won't try to get their youngest into an immersion program, so I don't buy the convenience argument.

Well, my oldest is in an immersion program, but if she hadn't gotten in, then I wouldn't have tried to get her younger sibling in. For me, the inconvenience of dealing with two schools would outweigh the benefits of immersion.

This. I don't know anyone whose older sibling didn't get in and who sent their younger sibling anyway. I think you're wrapping yourself up about something that doesn't happen. Sure, people apply, because why not, but the people I know decided against it specifically because it would be really difficult to handle (not to mention kind of crappy for the sibling that doesn't do immersion - which is why I think the sibling preference actually IS fair).

But even so, you're comparing apples and oranges. Presumably, a parent that wants the immersion program finds it to be preferable than their home school English program. To them, the inconvenience might be worth it so that the one kid can get immersion. But that doesn't mean it's not an inconvenience - having two kids in different schools IS an inconvenience. Surely we can all agree on that point. It also allows for families to be more involved in the school, rather than sharing their time and money between schools.

[Anonymous]

And my oldest child has the same chance of getting a spot in the program as your only child. It's not like having two children makes it twice as likely that my kids will get invited.

[Anonymous]

For every parent who got in, there was a point when they had no siblings and a nervous wreck. When my daughter got in it was a small victory over months of sweating bullets. So, I know the pain. Now my son will get a space. How is that unfair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For every parent who got in, there was a point when they had no siblings and a nervous wreck. When my daughter got in it was a small victory over months of sweating bullets. So, I know the pain. Now my son will get a space. How is that unfair?

Sweating bullets and pain? Seriously? Could you be more dramatic. It's unfair because a lottery means everyone has a fair shot. Be given something the second time because you won the first time is NOT fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And my oldest child has the same chance of getting a spot in the program as your only child. It's not like having two children makes it twice as likely that my kids will get invited.

No, it just means that your second kid is taking a seat that would decrease the number of slots available. Therefore decreasing my kid's odds of winning. Having two children means that you make it harder for my child to have access to these programs.