River Farm Cooperative, Alexandria
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
My child recently went to River Farm. The best thing about that school is the Kindergarten teacher. She was absolutely amazing with my child and her lessons were so creative! She made learning interesting and every day my child came home excited to talk about what they were learning and couldn’t wait to go back the next day. Kindergarten is meant to be an exploratory age and I loved that she did unique things like Show and Tell Projects where the kids got to dig deeper and inquire about subjects they were learning about. It was also amazing literacy and writing practice and a huge bonus was that I got to be a part of what my child was learning! You could tell that her students grew in confidence through these types of projects and the positive impact they had on their education. It is just SO important to introduce these types of concepts at a young age. I could honestly talk about how great an experience it was to have Ms. Andrea as a teacher, but this would go on for a while and I think it’s important to know some of the other aspects of the school. As a Co Op, it is very poorly run. Parents are not utilized well, but they also don’t seem to want to help either. The poor Co Op Coordinator could never get parents to actually sign up for any Co Op shifts. Let’s be honest, what’s the point of being in a Co Op if you don’t want to participate in it? Stop wasting everyone else’s time if you don’t actually want to be involved. Also, be prepared for last minute changes to events. I felt like we never really knew when anything was happening and communication was not always the greatest. The biggest turn off is that some of the parents there are a bit power hungry and there were definitely some cliques happening.When I was a new parent, it felt really awkward because the cliques were quite noticeable and they were not super inviting. I actually almost pulled my kid because of the parents after a summer meet up event. The head of school is the main reason I didn’t. He did a great job at reassuring us and making us feel welcomed. The school has been fairly consistent with their staff for a few years now, but it looks like there have been some changes according to their website recently. I do have to say, based off of the changes, I’m glad we are not there anymore. The kids also spend a lot of time outside, which was amazing. Overall, I would say to give the school a chance- just beware of some of the parents and the unpredictability that seems to follow the school around. |
Anonymous
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We are current parents of an elementary-aged kid who has been at RFFS since kindergarten. Our kid loves the school, his friends, his teachers, and all the time outdoors for recess. He loves math and our patience with reading seems to be paying off. I have no academic concerns (but also no need for an IEP). In addition, my kid is thriving in terms of emotional regulation and executive function, which are key aspects of child development at this age. The time outside is amazing and even though he sometimes complains I can tell he is less regulated after long vacations and settles down when he is back at school. He also loves aftercare there. I appreciate that my kid has friends of different ages and can both learn from and mentor others. RFFS has been a gift to him.
that all said, it is a coop and you can tell. That brings some joy - I love going on hikes with the kids - and some pain - I am not in love with vacuuming the classroom, though it has to be done, and I agree that some years it is harder to find volunteers or that some activities can feel a little disorganized. I would also agree that there are some cliques among the parents - and also some introverted parents like me who aren't at their best at big events. But my husband and I have always been welcomed and joyfully participated, and to a great extent the community at River Farm Forest School is what you make it. I don't think RFFS a great fit for every family. If you are the kind of person who wants immersion language learning, or a heavy focus on academics from before kindergarten all the way through, it might not be the place for you. But RFFS has been a wonderful place for my kid to grow and learn, and I would encourage folk who think it sounds like a good fit for them to give it a chance. |
Anonymous
My kids have been going to the school for more than two years, I don’t get any vibes of that sort listed above. Overall, the vibe is relaxed. The administrators and parents are very accepting of children and their individual journey. I noticed a lot of the boys have long hair, but that’s the point, it’s chill. As a parent, the parents come from all walks of life, loads of professionals, business savvy, smart, senior army officials, parents that contribute a lot. The coop design brings a feeling of community and the school is a judgement-free zone. We’ve gained parental friends along with our kids because we share this common mindset. |
Anonymous
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They have a new location. And no staff members have been there more than a few years.
Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe it's the same old story. The place was founded a decade ago. It's been a wild ride. |
Anonymous
| Any recent updates? How is the current director? Any drama like the earlier posts? |