Current Beauvoir Parents

[Anonymous]

Our DC was recently admitted to Beauvoir. We attended the Newly Admitted Parent Reception and all the new parents were of course excited. Just curious what aspects of Beauvoir do you/your DC most enjoy? Also, how well do parents interact? What about stuff like birthday parties and playdates are all children usually invited and included or just a select few. How are minority parents and children received? We are trying to determine if DC will be ok at Beauvoir? I am a bit nervous about the transition. Thank - you in advance for your responses.

Newly Admitted Parent

[Anonymous]

BUMP

[Anonymous]

We've just put 2 children through Beauvoir. They adored the teachers, liked the various special activities, and were crazy about art, science, drama, and the spring Global Studies events. Parents are generally warm and welcoming, although you may feel, more for Beauvoir than, say, GDS, that you shouldn't show up in sweatpants, even for pickup. The easiest way to make friends - and make no mistake about it, you will end up socializing with your kid's friends' parents - is to volunteer for something and meet people. Beauvoir is generally considerate about making volunteer opportunities flexible enough to include working parents. Birthday parties have strict rules: you may not invite most but not all of a class. It's either all, or fewer than half. Teachers may advise you of which children your child would enjoy, or is trying to befriend, so you can make play dates. The school is wonderful with shy children. They told us so when our first child was accepted, years ago, and they turned out to be absolutely right, giving her support and opportunities to speak in class, then in assemblies and plays. Minority children are never the 'only' - they are always clustered a little, often with one of the (many, terrific) minority teachers. A lot of Beauvoir's minority children are mixed race - my kids argued about various shades because mostly 'black' seemed a funny description of their various hued classmates, no better a match than 'white' seemed for them. It didn't help them pick the right crayon, after all. As for minority parents, look at the composition of the board - it may even be majority non-white at this point.

You're supposed to be nervous - your DC is starting 'big' school. You get another chance at 3rd grade to reassess who they've become and find a school that matches (with Beauvoir's outplacement help, so it won't be nearly as stressful as this).

[Anonymous]

I am the OP and I am so grateful that you posted such an insightful response. It seems that Beauvoir and the other Cathedral schools are getting a bad rap on this site so that is adding to my nervousness a bit. Your response however has illustrated Beauvoir has a warm and welcoming environment that addresses the learning needs of our youngest learners. This is why we chose Beauvoir for our DC; I guess I should reflect on that when my nervous feelings arise. Again thank - you

[Anonymous]

Dear OP:

Welcome to the Beauvoir family!

I am a current Beauvoir parent. It really is as advertised -- very warm and nurturing, with wonderful teachers and staff.

Our children happen to be bi-racial, and I was initially surprised and then comforted by how many other kids seem to have come from the same general DNA pools (in this case, Caucasian and Asian). I can't say that we have ever felt that we were treated diferently because of our family background. There was one instance where one of DS's friends was dumbfounded and speechless when DS's Asian parent did pick-up at school (DS's and sibling's Asian features are very subtle), but we all got a chuckle out of that. Otherwise, as far as I can tell (and I'm pretty good at ferreting this out), it's simply not been a factor in our inter-personal relationships and we have felt very comfortable with, even embraced by, the extended Beauvoir family.

I think you really start to get to know the other families when the Birthday Party madness kicks in. Our experience has been that everyone in the class is invited to each one of the birthday parties. This sometime changes in the later grades, but believe it or not, Birthday Party policies are spelled out in the Parents' Handbook which you should be receiving soon enough. Yes, it will probably be the case that you will be traipsing to at least one, and often more than one, on any given weekend, but they really are fun and a great opportunity to meet everyone else. And Stoddert soccer teams are usually formed during Pre-K. Join if you can. It really does much to bring the class together, both parents and children. I also do as much volunteering as I can. It's not easy as I work full-time. But in addition to helping out the class, the school, and the community, it really is yet another great way to get to know everyone else.

I hope that I've covered most of your questions/concerns. Feel free to post any follow up questions. I'm sure our paths will cross one way or another down the road. Until then, do take care.

Happy Beauvoir Parent

[Anonymous]

What a nice and helpful post. Thank you for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Someone mentioned that Beauvoir and the Cathedral schools have been getting a bad wrap lately. I've noticed that St. Albans has, and NCS to a certain degree, but where has Beauvoir gotten a bad wrap? I'm interested only because we're considering applying there next year and I want a chance to consider all viewpoints.

[Anonymous]

Every school has positive and negatives. I am finishing up 5 years at Beauvoir (okay, my son is), and we loved much of it, and did not like parts of it. I would continue to recommend Beauvoir as a school, particularly some of the very devoted teachers and the nurturing environment. I will be sobbing up a storm at closing chapel, I'm sure. It was a great 5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone mentioned that Beauvoir and the Cathedral schools have been getting a bad wrap lately. I've noticed that St. Albans has, and NCS to a certain degree, but where has Beauvoir gotten a bad wrap? I'm interested only because we're considering applying there next year and I want a chance to consider all viewpoints.

Try the "search" function, typing in "Beauvoir." You will find some good, some bad, and some very ugly. Keep in mind that everything here is anonymous, so for all we know these posts are coming from still seething, recently rejected/waitlisted parents. And because statistically there are more applications to Beauvoir than any other Pre-K/K, there will statistically be more of those seething, rejected parents. The good seems to focus on the quality of the education and exmissions. The bad seems to focus on the perceived or alleged snottiness of the place. I am a current Beauvoir parent and adore the place. I think the good comments are usually on the mark and the bad comments usually laced with hyperbole and vitriol, but sadly, at it's core, with grains of truth.

My guess is that you will apply one day. Almost everyone with a young DC on this forum has! Do your homework and be realistic in your expectations, and I have no doubt you'll be just fine.

[Anonymous]

I don't think seething rejected parents have access to much of the detail that has appeared in some of these posts. And there have been negative comments about the quality of the education. But on the other hand, you might hear similar comments about any school--no school is perfect.