Experience with Shining Stars?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people think it's going to pass its 5-year review?

They've already had their five year review- should be coming up on a 10 year soon

It will be next fall/winter, so they have this year to sort themselves out. I have a hard time seeing an outright shutdown, but a conditional continuance seems likely.

What does it take for an outright shut down? I feel like retention and recruitment of students should have a higher weight in evaluation of schools.

It depends on the school's goals. Or if there are financial problems or not enough money or other violations of law. But given the low test scores and low retention, they are definitely in trouble, especially because these were issues at their 5-year review as well. Last time they got a conditional continuance. In general being Tier 3 for more than one year is a sign of big trouble. SSMA was a high tier 2 last year, so they have some room to drop before they hit Tier 3.

They could get to Tier 3 if they have another bad testing and retention year. Or run into budget issues if they didn't get enough kids by count day. Time will tell.

This year the possible shutdowns are Howard Middle and Hope Tolson. But neither is quite bad enough so I expect a conditional continuance.

I seriously hate the new charter board website. A ton of older stuff is missing and a lot of links are broken. TransparenSEE my a**.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people think it's going to pass its 5-year review?

They've already had their five year review- should be coming up on a 10 year soon

It will be next fall/winter, so they have this year to sort themselves out. I have a hard time seeing an outright shutdown, but a conditional continuance seems likely.

What does it take for an outright shut down? I feel like retention and recruitment of students should have a higher weight in evaluation of schools.

It depends on the school's goals. Or if there are financial problems or not enough money or other violations of law. But given the low test scores and low retention, they are definitely in trouble, especially because these were issues at their 5-year review as well. Last time they got a conditional continuance. In general being Tier 3 for more than one year is a sign of big trouble. SSMA was a high tier 2 last year, so they have some room to drop before they hit Tier 3.

They could get to Tier 3 if they have another bad testing and retention year. Or run into budget issues if they didn't get enough kids by count day. Time will tell.

This year the possible shutdowns are Howard Middle and Hope Tolson. But neither is quite bad enough so I expect a conditional continuance.

I seriously hate the new charter board website. A ton of older stuff is missing and a lot of links are broken. TransparenSEE my a**.

Hope's QSR was pretty good. Cosign that the new DCPCSB website is awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people think it's going to pass its 5-year review?

They've already had their five year review- should be coming up on a 10 year soon

It will be next fall/winter, so they have this year to sort themselves out. I have a hard time seeing an outright shutdown, but a conditional continuance seems likely.

What does it take for an outright shut down? I feel like retention and recruitment of students should have a higher weight in evaluation of schools.

It depends on the school's goals. Or if there are financial problems or not enough money or other violations of law. But given the low test scores and low retention, they are definitely in trouble, especially because these were issues at their 5-year review as well. Last time they got a conditional continuance. In general being Tier 3 for more than one year is a sign of big trouble. SSMA was a high tier 2 last year, so they have some room to drop before they hit Tier 3.

They could get to Tier 3 if they have another bad testing and retention year. Or run into budget issues if they didn't get enough kids by count day. Time will tell.

This year the possible shutdowns are Howard Middle and Hope Tolson. But neither is quite bad enough so I expect a conditional continuance.

I seriously hate the new charter board website. A ton of older stuff is missing and a lot of links are broken. TransparenSEE my a**.

Hope's QSR was pretty good. Cosign that the new DCPCSB website is awful.

Add Bethune to the category of mediocre schools that will be passed along yet again. Hoping DCPS improvements in that part of town will eventually kill them off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people think it's going to pass its 5-year review?

They've already had their five year review- should be coming up on a 10 year soon

It will be next fall/winter, so they have this year to sort themselves out. I have a hard time seeing an outright shutdown, but a conditional continuance seems likely.

What does it take for an outright shut down? I feel like retention and recruitment of students should have a higher weight in evaluation of schools.

It depends on the school's goals. Or if there are financial problems or not enough money or other violations of law. But given the low test scores and low retention, they are definitely in trouble, especially because these were issues at their 5-year review as well. Last time they got a conditional continuance. In general being Tier 3 for more than one year is a sign of big trouble. SSMA was a high tier 2 last year, so they have some room to drop before they hit Tier 3.

Tier ratings are out. SSMA is a low tier 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is entering K and completed the last two years at SSMA. We’ve had incredible teachers for primary and my child is reading and doing so well in math (addition, subtraction and multiplication) and receives so much emotional support. Another kid in class was doing long division. If you get a good instructor and your kid is a good candidate for Montessori, I recommend it. The other issues mentioned by other posters are true with many families happy with lower grades and community, but there are admin issues and the question of how well the higher grades are performing.

Multiplication and long division before K. They'll be doing calculus before middle school. Sounds odd considering the amount of worksheets and coloring activities some other SSMA parents complain about.

Just wanted to jump into this old thread to mention that we did an open house at SSMA today and saw kids in one of the primary (PK-3 to K) classrooms working on coloring worksheets. I was shocked. They couldn't even pretend to be working on something educational, knowing that the Open House was scheduled and that parents would be coming by? So yes, coloring worksheets are apparently still a thing here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is entering K and completed the last two years at SSMA. We’ve had incredible teachers for primary and my child is reading and doing so well in math (addition, subtraction and multiplication) and receives so much emotional support. Another kid in class was doing long division. If you get a good instructor and your kid is a good candidate for Montessori, I recommend it. The other issues mentioned by other posters are true with many families happy with lower grades and community, but there are admin issues and the question of how well the higher grades are performing.

Multiplication and long division before K. They'll be doing calculus before middle school. Sounds odd considering the amount of worksheets and coloring activities some other SSMA parents complain about.

Just wanted to jump into this old thread to mention that we did an open house at SSMA today and saw kids in one of the primary (PK-3 to K) classrooms working on coloring worksheets. I was shocked. They couldn't even pretend to be working on something educational, knowing that the Open House was scheduled and that parents would be coming by? So yes, coloring worksheets are apparently still a thing here.

Were there a lot of parents there? Did they acknowledge any of the problems?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Just wanted to jump into this old thread to mention that we did an open house at SSMA today and saw kids in one of the primary (PK-3 to K) classrooms working on coloring worksheets. I was shocked. They couldn't even pretend to be working on something educational, knowing that the Open House was scheduled and that parents would be coming by? So yes, coloring worksheets are apparently still a thing here.

Wow. Were all of the students coloring on worksheets? I know my kid's play-based school has kids in PreK coloring on worksheets to strengthen fine motor skills, so I suppose what they were doing at SSMA could be considered educational. Trying to give them the benefit of the doubt here...

[Anonymous]

In recent Facebook posts they have included pictures of children coloring culturally relevant things. I think the question to ask is how faithful they are in the younger ages to Montessori materials. From what I know about Montessori, but from what I understand there would likely be some paper and crayons and the kids could choose to draw what they want, but not coloring papers, even if flags, etc, etc,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In recent Facebook posts they have included pictures of children coloring culturally relevant things. I think the question to ask is how faithful they are in the younger ages to Montessori materials. From what I know about Montessori, but from what I understand there would likely be some paper and crayons and the kids could choose to draw what they want, but not coloring papers, even if flags, etc, etc,

From my experience they are not particularly faithful to Montessori materials in any of the grades. For example, they do a 100 book challenge from the American Reading Company that is very clearly NOT in line with a Montessori approach. It actually involves some level of competition amongst the kids which is really the opposite of what Montessori is all about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In recent Facebook posts they have included pictures of children coloring culturally relevant things. I think the question to ask is how faithful they are in the younger ages to Montessori materials. From what I know about Montessori, but from what I understand there would likely be some paper and crayons and the kids could choose to draw what they want, but not coloring papers, even if flags, etc, etc,

From my experience they are not particularly faithful to Montessori materials in any of the grades. For example, they do a 100 book challenge from the American Reading Company that is very clearly NOT in line with a Montessori approach. It actually involves some level of competition amongst the kids which is really the opposite of what Montessori is all about.

LAMB also does this book challenge and I think it's a great way to encourage reading at home. The entire reading program at LAMB is not Montessori, but it's working. Sometimes I feel like schools can't win - either they adhere strictly to their preferred pedagogy, and get lower PARCC scores, or they don't, and get criticism like this. I don't see any competition in this book challenge at LAMB (at least, in K) so perhaps it's all in the execution. Also the implementing teachers are primarily Montessori teachers so they hopefully try to make it adhere to that philosophy. I think having some materials that aren't strictly montessori is ok so long as the guiding principles are strongly upheld. Coloring pages aren't really part of that, but some teachers like to bring them in to celebrate holidays and things like that. LAMB also has the flags to color in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is entering K and completed the last two years at SSMA. We’ve had incredible teachers for primary and my child is reading and doing so well in math (addition, subtraction and multiplication) and receives so much emotional support. Another kid in class was doing long division. If you get a good instructor and your kid is a good candidate for Montessori, I recommend it. The other issues mentioned by other posters are true with many families happy with lower grades and community, but there are admin issues and the question of how well the higher grades are performing.

Multiplication and long division before K. They'll be doing calculus before middle school. Sounds odd considering the amount of worksheets and coloring activities some other SSMA parents complain about.

Just wanted to jump into this old thread to mention that we did an open house at SSMA today and saw kids in one of the primary (PK-3 to K) classrooms working on coloring worksheets. I was shocked. They couldn't even pretend to be working on something educational, knowing that the Open House was scheduled and that parents would be coming by? So yes, coloring worksheets are apparently still a thing here.

We left after last year because our kid who was advanced wasn't being given lessons in her K year. Her guide was new and overwhelmed and couldn't handle classroom management. The guide's solution was to give DD math worksheets to do, because he didn't have time to give her math lessons, the antithesis of Montessori. (I also have a dozen other stories I could tell, but most would out me.)

Run away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is entering K and completed the last two years at SSMA. We’ve had incredible teachers for primary and my child is reading and doing so well in math (addition, subtraction and multiplication) and receives so much emotional support. Another kid in class was doing long division. If you get a good instructor and your kid is a good candidate for Montessori, I recommend it. The other issues mentioned by other posters are true with many families happy with lower grades and community, but there are admin issues and the question of how well the higher grades are performing.

Multiplication and long division before K. They'll be doing calculus before middle school. Sounds odd considering the amount of worksheets and coloring activities some other SSMA parents complain about.

Just wanted to jump into this old thread to mention that we did an open house at SSMA today and saw kids in one of the primary (PK-3 to K) classrooms working on coloring worksheets. I was shocked. They couldn't even pretend to be working on something educational, knowing that the Open House was scheduled and that parents would be coming by? So yes, coloring worksheets are apparently still a thing here.

We left after last year because our kid who was advanced wasn't being given lessons in her K year. Her guide was new and overwhelmed and couldn't handle classroom management. The guide's solution was to give DD math worksheets to do, because he didn't have time to give her math lessons, the antithesis of Montessori. (I also have a dozen other stories I could tell, but most would out me.)

Run away.

I trusted too much in the guides and the Montessori process and didn't realize how far behind my child actually was until we went to a DCPS at 2nd grade. Totally agreed. Run away from this place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just wanted to jump into this old thread to mention that we did an open house at SSMA today and saw kids in one of the primary (PK-3 to K) classrooms working on coloring worksheets. I was shocked. They couldn't even pretend to be working on something educational, knowing that the Open House was scheduled and that parents would be coming by? So yes, coloring worksheets are apparently still a thing here.

Wow. Were all of the students coloring on worksheets? I know my kid's play-based school has kids in PreK coloring on worksheets to strengthen fine motor skills, so I suppose what they were doing at SSMA could be considered educational. Trying to give them the benefit of the doubt here...

Hi! Sorry for not seeing this and responding sooner. Yes, all of the kids in the entire primary classroom were working on coloring worksheets. I forget which room it was; one of the immersion classes, I think, on the basement level, all the way at the east end of the building (went down a long hallway and ramp, past a fish tank; a current parent would know what the room is called. Ghandi Stars? Something Else Stars?). The Principal (who seemed nice) had a few of the kids get up and show her where their favorite math, reading, etc. areas of the classroom were, and what their favorite tools were (e.g., blocks, beads, etc.). So I guess she was trying to compensate for the fact that the teacher had the kids coloring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is entering K and completed the last two years at SSMA. We’ve had incredible teachers for primary and my child is reading and doing so well in math (addition, subtraction and multiplication) and receives so much emotional support. Another kid in class was doing long division. If you get a good instructor and your kid is a good candidate for Montessori, I recommend it. The other issues mentioned by other posters are true with many families happy with lower grades and community, but there are admin issues and the question of how well the higher grades are performing.

Multiplication and long division before K. They'll be doing calculus before middle school. Sounds odd considering the amount of worksheets and coloring activities some other SSMA parents complain about.

Just wanted to jump into this old thread to mention that we did an open house at SSMA today and saw kids in one of the primary (PK-3 to K) classrooms working on coloring worksheets. I was shocked. They couldn't even pretend to be working on something educational, knowing that the Open House was scheduled and that parents would be coming by? So yes, coloring worksheets are apparently still a thing here.

Were there a lot of parents there? Did they acknowledge any of the problems?

Hello! Let's see...I think there were about 7-8 families there. Did they address any of the problems? Ehhhh. I'll be honest, I wasn't aware of all of the problems going into the open house (but boy did I get up to speed afterward! Thank you, DCUM, for existing.). However, one astute dad there must have been familiar with a lot of it, because he asked some great, on-point questions that were relevant to a lot of the issues (as I later learned), and I think his questions must have been intended to suss out whether things were getting addressed now. (Trying to think of an example, and am blanking at the moment. Will follow up if I recall any. Sorry, we've been doing so many open houses lately that I've forgotten some of details.)

I can say, on one of the issues--heat--that the school had installed electric plug-in overhead heaters above some of the doorways to the rooms on the main level. They look like those heaters you see on restaurant patios. I was actually really surprised to see them inside a building--it seemed unsafe, since they get so hot!--but apparently there are models you can get intended for indoor and outdoor use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is entering K and completed the last two years at SSMA. We’ve had incredible teachers for primary and my child is reading and doing so well in math (addition, subtraction and multiplication) and receives so much emotional support. Another kid in class was doing long division. If you get a good instructor and your kid is a good candidate for Montessori, I recommend it. The other issues mentioned by other posters are true with many families happy with lower grades and community, but there are admin issues and the question of how well the higher grades are performing.

Multiplication and long division before K. They'll be doing calculus before middle school. Sounds odd considering the amount of worksheets and coloring activities some other SSMA parents complain about.

Just wanted to jump into this old thread to mention that we did an open house at SSMA today and saw kids in one of the primary (PK-3 to K) classrooms working on coloring worksheets. I was shocked. They couldn't even pretend to be working on something educational, knowing that the Open House was scheduled and that parents would be coming by? So yes, coloring worksheets are apparently still a thing here.

We left after last year because our kid who was advanced wasn't being given lessons in her K year. Her guide was new and overwhelmed and couldn't handle classroom management. The guide's solution was to give DD math worksheets to do, because he didn't have time to give her math lessons, the antithesis of Montessori. (I also have a dozen other stories I could tell, but most would out me.)

Run away.

Hello! PP here. Thank you so much for this update. Our DD seems like she'd probably fall into the advanced category, too, so this is very helpful feedback. I assume Montessori would be a good fit for her, since she'd be able to work at her own level and pace (she's also great with younger kids and would honestly probably enjoy helping "teach" the younger kids; she does it all the time at daycare!). But I know the fish rots from the head, and after what I've read about Dr. ("Dr."?) R., I'm not interested in enrolling our kid in a school where basic management is lacking (building maintenance, late paychecks, threatened health insurance cancellation--oh my), teachers aren't happy, and--yeah--kids are coloring all day. (Also, can I just say: older comments about a teacher pulling PK-ers up by their arms? That's abusive. How the eff haven't the cops been called on her? (Yes, cops, because it's clear the school hasn't done anything about it.) Also, OSSE has a strict policy against punitive, denigrating, and abusive conduct. That woman should never be allowed in a school, and I don't understand how she still is.)