Anyone know anything about Keene Mill Al Fresco?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. I was hoping this thread was restarted to state that this program was finally disbanded or opened up to all. Please don't restart this thread unless there is good news to share that Keen Mill Al Fresco is now open to both gen ed and AAP students.

Would you please explain why it should be open to both?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. I was hoping this thread was restarted to state that this program was finally disbanded or opened up to all. Please don't restart this thread unless there is good news to share that Keen Mill Al Fresco is now open to both gen ed and AAP students.

Would you please explain why it should be open to both?

Can You please explain why it shouldn't be open to both?

And capacity is not a reason. That can be solved easily by making it just 6th grade and including all the kids, not just AAP.

Signed, AAP parent.

[Anonymous]

There are no solid strong reasons why Al Fresco shoukd be limited to just AAP and there are countless good reasons why it should be open to all.

This event gives all AAP parents a bad name and makes the school look terrible.

[Anonymous]

"Would you please explain why it should be open to both?"

"Can You please explain why it shouldn't be open to both?

And capacity is not a reason. That can be solved easily by making it just 6th grade and including all the kids, not just AAP.

Signed, AAP parent."

+1
- AAP parent at different school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. I was hoping this thread was restarted to state that this program was finally disbanded or opened up to all. Please don't restart this thread unless there is good news to share that Keen Mill Al Fresco is now open to both gen ed and AAP students.

Would you please explain why it should be open to both?

Can You please explain why it shouldn't be open to both?

And capacity is not a reason. That can be solved easily by making it just 6th grade and including all the kids, not just AAP.


The replies I received were questions instead of a solid answer. Why should it be open to both?

Signed, AAP parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. I was hoping this thread was restarted to state that this program was finally disbanded or opened up to all. Please don't restart this thread unless there is good news to share that Keen Mill Al Fresco is now open to both gen ed and AAP students.

Would you please explain why it should be open to both?

Inclusive and not exclusive. If you want exclusive, go private.

[Anonymous]

"Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Sigh. I was hoping this thread was restarted to state that this program was finally disbanded or opened up to all. Please don't restart this thread unless there is good news to share that Keen Mill Al Fresco is now open to both gen ed and AAP students.


Would you please explain why it should be open to both?




Can You please explain why it shouldn't be open to both?

And capacity is not a reason. That can be solved easily by making it just 6th grade and including all the kids, not just AAP.


The replies I received were questions instead of a solid answer. Why should it be open to both?

Signed, AAP parent."

That is because most people don't think it makes sense to be divisive for no good reason. This is a social event and not an academic one. As such there is simply no basis for segregating the kids.

- AAP parent

[Anonymous]

I have to chime in here. My answer to why it shouldn't be open to both assumes there is some big organization running camp Al Fresco--an outside source deciding who can or can't come. The truth is, Camp AL Fresco started as an AAP retreat, sponsored by Fairfax Country and run through the school. Funding was cut and the parents of the AAP kids picked it up and continue to run the camp--and actually pay their own way (and their kid's) to make it happen. It's all parent volunteers who run Al Fresco, many of whom are also running additional programs for the entire school.
A 6th grade, all-inclusive camp sounds like a fun idea and I encourage those who are suggesting it to pull it together. Pitch the idea to the principle, get approval, work under her direction and organize the camp. No need to ask for permission from Camp Al Fresco organizers or to ask them to organize it for you. Chances are, if you get it up and running through the school, Camp Al Fresco as a private camp would go away.

[Anonymous]

Why are you responding to a 5 year old thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to chime in here. My answer to why it shouldn't be open to both assumes there is some big organization running camp Al Fresco--an outside source deciding who can or can't come. The truth is, Camp AL Fresco started as an AAP retreat, sponsored by Fairfax Country and run through the school. Funding was cut and the parents of the AAP kids picked it up and continue to run the camp--and actually pay their own way (and their kid's) to make it happen. It's all parent volunteers who run Al Fresco, many of whom are also running additional programs for the entire school.
A 6th grade, all-inclusive camp sounds like a fun idea and I encourage those who are suggesting it to pull it together. Pitch the idea to the principle, get approval, work under her direction and organize the camp. No need to ask for permission from Camp Al Fresco organizers or to ask them to organize it for you. Chances are, if you get it up and running through the school, Camp Al Fresco as a private camp would go away.

So the AAP kids need their own special retreat? They can't even go camping with the gen ed kids? My kids are in AAP, and I'm still not buying what you're trying to sell here. Also, why are you assuming that gen ed parents wouldn't be willing to help run the camp and pay for their own kids to attend?

[Anonymous]

I just hate everything about the AAP parents of this school. The parents and the principal (I've heard as well) are too tone deaf to understand that a segregated parent run program isn't helping the school. Lets just take this person's comment and change AAP parent to white parent. I really do not understand what will make these people see the light.


I have to chime in here. My answer to why it shouldn't be open to both assumes there is some big organization running camp Al Fresco--an outside source deciding who can or can't come. The truth is, Camp AL Fresco started as a white school retreat, sponsored by Fairfax Country and run through the school before segregation ended and the schools were integrated. Funding was cut and the parents of the white kids picked it up and continue to run the camp--and actually pay their own way (and their kid's) to make it happen. It's all white parent volunteers who run Al Fresco, many of whom are also running additional programs for the entire school.
A 6th grade, all-inclusive camp sounds like a fun idea and I encourage those who are suggesting it to pull it together. Pitch the idea to the principle, get approval, work under her direction and organize the camp. No need to ask for permission from white parent Camp Al Fresco organizers or to ask them to organize it for you. Chances are, if you get it up and running through the school, Camp Al Fresco as a private whites only camp would go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just hate everything about the AAP parents of this school. The parents and the principal (I've heard as well) are too tone deaf to understand that a segregated parent run program isn't helping the school. Lets just take this person's comment and change AAP parent to white parent. I really do not understand what will make these people see the light.


I have to chime in here. My answer to why it shouldn't be open to both assumes there is some big organization running camp Al Fresco--an outside source deciding who can or can't come. The truth is, Camp AL Fresco started as a white school retreat, sponsored by Fairfax Country and run through the school before segregation ended and the schools were integrated. Funding was cut and the parents of the white kids picked it up and continue to run the camp--and actually pay their own way (and their kid's) to make it happen. It's all white parent volunteers who run Al Fresco, many of whom are also running additional programs for the entire school.
A 6th grade, all-inclusive camp sounds like a fun idea and I encourage those who are suggesting it to pull it together. Pitch the idea to the principle, get approval, work under her direction and organize the camp. No need to ask for permission from white parent Camp Al Fresco organizers or to ask them to organize it for you. Chances are, if you get it up and running through the school, Camp Al Fresco as a private whites only camp would go away.

That's not what you've heard about the principal. Are you mixing up schools?

[Anonymous]

No. The rumor on the principal was that she wasn't very open minded but I don't know her at all. I really can't exclude her from blame though if she's done nothing to stop this program all these years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. The rumor on the principal was that she wasn't very open minded but I don't know her at all. I really can't exclude her from blame though if she's done nothing to stop this program all these years.

8 had friends who went through that school when the principal first arrived, and their understanding was that the principal hated this camp, for all of the reasons outlined in this old thread.

It is a shame that it is still happening.

[Anonymous]

I just came looking trying to figure out where Al Fresco was (Camp Letts! Thanks!) and saw my childhood slandered. The simple truth is, most of the aap and gen ed students weren't friends. We didn't interact unless we signed up for band/strings/chorus. During recess, I even remember people I thought I was friends with say that aap kids ruined their school, then proceed to turn to me and go "not you though." It stuck with me.

When you were in AAP, you generally got a mix of the same kids for class 3rd-6th. You grew up like a family.

And as a kid, learning that your friends parents were volunteering to run an overnight camp, of course you would be excited. There was a pinata for the cabin with the most points at the end! Which yes, you got by pranking. I remember going back to my cabin and finding googly eyes on the mirrors. Harmless stuff. There's a silly string fight, and at the end, whichever cabin collects the most silly string from the ground wins. You'd also get points for being punctual for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There wee trivia games to choose who would go into the dining hall first. (the brownies were divine)

The best part of Al Fresco was hanging out with your family.

And since it's run and paid for completely by parent volunteers, you really can't complain. Because you can do the same. Complaining isn't going to change anything. What you need to do is recruit other parents, spread the word, reserve the camp, and work for it. These parents work their asses off organizing it. Ask them how they go about doing it, and they'd be happy to share.

Sorry for responding to a dead thread