Congressional School

[Anonymous]

We looked at Congressional and liked what we saw but hear there are some pretty big changes going on over there. Does anyone have any insight? Specifically, we hear the head of school left with no notice; they brought the sex ed teacher in from St. Stephens and St. Agnes but I cannot find mention of it on their website or in the curriculum; there is a trending push towards expecting all children to participate in athletics.


Thanks for your thoughts.

[Anonymous]

They have required athletics participation from 7th and 8th graders for awhile now. This is not an unusual requirement in private schools.

The school counselor is part-time and is also the part-time human sexuality teacher at SSSA.

[Anonymous]

Regarding athletics, do you know what happens to the kids that are just not athletically inclined?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regarding athletics, do you know what happens to the kids that are just not athletically inclined?

They usually like playing too.

You don’t have to be Lebron James to get some exercise and have fun playing a sport you like.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps... but for children that are just not athletic, being forced to be on a sports team is not only traumatizing but stigmatizing for a kid. There is nothing worse than being the worst player on the team at bat with 2 outs and the bases loaded.

Do you know anything about the head of school? I saw reference to a thread about it but cannot find it anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We looked at Congressional and liked what we saw but hear there are some pretty big changes going on over there. Does anyone have any insight? Specifically, we hear the head of school left with no notice; they brought the sex ed teacher in from St. Stephens and St. Agnes but I cannot find mention of it on their website or in the curriculum; there is a trending push towards expecting all children to participate in athletics.


Thanks for your thoughts.

At many schools they have an A Team, B Team, etc.. That way everyone playng together is at a similar skill level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We looked at Congressional and liked what we saw but hear there are some pretty big changes going on over there. Does anyone have any insight? Specifically, we hear the head of school left with no notice; they brought the sex ed teacher in from St. Stephens and St. Agnes but I cannot find mention of it on their website or in the curriculum; there is a trending push towards expecting all children to participate in athletics.


Thanks for your thoughts.

The "Head of School" (Executive Director) leaving is something that should have happened years ago. That lovely school can go back to being the lovely place it always was before she showed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding athletics, do you know what happens to the kids that are just not athletically inclined?

They usually like playing too.

You don’t have to be Lebron James to get some exercise and have fun playing a sport you like.

This has been our experience. My girls are good at some sports, not great at others; but they have universally enjoyed the athletic experience at Congressional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We looked at Congressional and liked what we saw but hear there are some pretty big changes going on over there. Does anyone have any insight? Specifically, we hear the head of school left with no notice; they brought the sex ed teacher in from St. Stephens and St. Agnes but I cannot find mention of it on their website or in the curriculum; there is a trending push towards expecting all children to participate in athletics.


Thanks for your thoughts.

The "Head of School" (Executive Director) leaving is something that should have happened years ago. That lovely school can go back to being the lovely place it always was before she showed up.

The thread was deleted. Not sure I agree with the prior poster's view on the prior ED. In my view (with my kids having started before and continuing after the departed head), she improved the school in many ways and, obviously, some changes happened that were not universally positive. We are viewing the change as an opportunity for the school to bring in a new head who will add energy and improve on what can be improved on while maintaining what has worked.

[Anonymous]

We're really happy at Congressional. It's a place that encourages all kids to feel welcome and included - even in sports. That's pretty awesome, if you ask me.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP and wanted to say thank you. I have a few follow-up questions...

The thread was deleted. Not sure I agree with the prior poster's view on the prior ED. In my view (with my kids having started before and continuing after the departed head), she improved the school in many ways and, obviously, some changes happened that were not universally positive. We are viewing the change as an opportunity for the school to bring in a new head who will add energy and improve on what can be improved on while maintaining what has worked.

This is good to hear. Any idea when the new head will be announced?

At many schools they have an A Team, B Team, etc.. That way everyone playng together is at a similar skill level.

That is reassuring. Do you know if they are required to be on a team every season or will just one suffice? I see the only winter sport is basketball - will everyone have to be on the basketball team or can you sit that season out?

Finally... the human sexuality teacher. Do you know anything about the curriculum? I am not sure why it would not be on the site. Mostly I just want to know what they are teaching and at what age. Birth control and abortion are things I thought we would be teaching her at home in junior high school. And then there is the current hot topic of gender - I have heard some horror stories about how this is handled at other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP and wanted to say thank you. I have a few follow-up questions...

The thread was deleted. Not sure I agree with the prior poster's view on the prior ED. In my view (with my kids having started before and continuing after the departed head), she improved the school in many ways and, obviously, some changes happened that were not universally positive. We are viewing the change as an opportunity for the school to bring in a new head who will add energy and improve on what can be improved on while maintaining what has worked.

This is good to hear. Any idea when the new head will be announced?

At many schools they have an A Team, B Team, etc.. That way everyone playng together is at a similar skill level.

That is reassuring. Do you know if they are required to be on a team every season or will just one suffice? I see the only winter sport is basketball - will everyone have to be on the basketball team or can you sit that season out?

Finally... the human sexuality teacher. Do you know anything about the curriculum? I am not sure why it would not be on the site. Mostly I just want to know what they are teaching and at what age. Birth control and abortion are things I thought we would be teaching her at home in junior high school. And then there is the current hot topic of gender - I have heard some horror stories about how this is handled at other schools.

Unclear on new head -- interim head is doing great, but not sure whether she is a candidate to remain as head or not. There is a search committee, I've been mostly staying out of it. However, the school has a page on the website which indicates that the target is early March. Here's a link: https://www.congressionalschool.org/head-of-school-search/

As to sports, participation each season is not required and there is a decent variety of options in fall and spring (keeping in mind that it is a small school). As a current parent, I should know this off the top, but I don't. I think that 5th and 6th are encouraged but not required to do sports (so no requirement for number of seasons) and that 7th and 8th are required to do one sport per year (so can choose to sit out two of three). Students have PE each year. As a practical matter, my observation has been that most of the kids do sports at least 2 and often 3 seasons. I've encouraged mine to use it as an opportunity to try new sports as well as to compete on an interscholastic basis in the sports that they also compete in at the club or rec level. I'm sure more detailed/accurate information is on the website.

As to the human sexuality curriculum, I recall receiving an email with grade specific information about the program (there may have been an opt out). There may also have been a parent information session. I'm fairly liberal about these things and don't recall any issues but also don't recall the precise curriculum. The instructor's bio is on the website, but she's listed as "School Counselor" which is her primary role.

I have definitely been a happy parent in almost all respects through the entire progression (from infant/toddler through graduation) at Congressional and I'd encourage you to check it out for yourself rather than relying on these boards (which, frankly, have a bias towards and against certain schools for no good or often discernable reason).

[Anonymous]

As at any school, you can opt your child out of sex ed discussions.

[Anonymous]

Any idea when the new head will be announced?

They are keeping it under tight raps but there are information sessions next week to meet the final candidates. The timing is pretty tight for parents that want to know who the new head will be before committing to next year.

[Anonymous]

I wish I could edit my posts! The above should have read:

"They are keeping the candidate list under tight raps but there are information sessions next week to meet the final candidates. The timing is pretty tight for parents that want to know who the new head will be before committing to next year. "