Rochembeau

[Anonymous]

Can any current families tell me about your experience at Rochembeau (elementary)? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

What grades are you interested in, and are your kids already French-speaking?

[Anonymous]

Our son's soccer team plays against one of their soccer teams, and they and their parents are entitled jerks. In addition to their parents sitting or standing right in front of where you are sitting or standing intentionally blocking your view, theor coach (teacher at the school) spends the entire game screaming at the players in French, and the players and parents curse and say other nasty things to opponents and parents also in French, and think no one understands. Many of us do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What grades are you interested in, and are your kids already French-speaking?

My child willl be entering 2nd grade next year. He attends a public French immersion school now and has been in the school since PK 3. Parents are not native speakers but his dad took enough French in college/ lived abroad and can read at a lower ES level. Our child can speak, understand the language (watches tv in French) and reads A/B level books - equivalent to early K level reading. He can’t really write or spell but his English spelling is not very strong. I’m wondering if it would be a good fit. We are also considering WIS but missed the application deadline (we probably missed it for Rochbeau too). We are considering it because school is all virtual and we think it might be that way next year too. Thanks for any information you can share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What grades are you interested in, and are your kids already French-speaking?

My child willl be entering 2nd grade next year. He attends a public French immersion school now and has been in the school since PK 3. Parents are not native speakers but his dad took enough French in college/ lived abroad and can read at a lower ES level. Our child can speak, understand the language (watches tv in French) and reads A/B level books - equivalent to early K level reading. He can’t really write or spell but his English spelling is not very strong. I’m wondering if it would be a good fit. We are also considering WIS but missed the application deadline (we probably missed it for Rochbeau too). We are considering it because school is all virtual and we think it might be that way next year too. Thanks for any information you can share.

PP here. Happy to respond, as my child started in 1st and is now in 4th. But first, will he be entering the immersion program (for kids relatively new to French), or the regular classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What grades are you interested in, and are your kids already French-speaking?

My child willl be entering 2nd grade next year. He attends a public French immersion school now and has been in the school since PK 3. Parents are not native speakers but his dad took enough French in college/ lived abroad and can read at a lower ES level. Our child can speak, understand the language (watches tv in French) and reads A/B level books - equivalent to early K level reading. He can’t really write or spell but his English spelling is not very strong. I’m wondering if it would be a good fit. We are also considering WIS but missed the application deadline (we probably missed it for Rochbeau too). We are considering it because school is all virtual and we think it might be that way next year too. Thanks for any information you can share.

PP here. Happy to respond, as my child started in 1st and is now in 4th. But first, will he be entering the immersion program (for kids relatively new to French), or the regular classes?

We have not applied yet but plan to. I left a message for the school because one of my questions is which program is a better fit? I would like my child to be in an immersion program because that’s what we are in now but since I have nothing to compare with I don’t know if the immersion program is right for DS. Any information you can share is appreciated. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What grades are you interested in, and are your kids already French-speaking?

My child willl be entering 2nd grade next year. He attends a public French immersion school now and has been in the school since PK 3. Parents are not native speakers but his dad took enough French in college/ lived abroad and can read at a lower ES level. Our child can speak, understand the language (watches tv in French) and reads A/B level books - equivalent to early K level reading. He can’t really write or spell but his English spelling is not very strong. I’m wondering if it would be a good fit. We are also considering WIS but missed the application deadline (we probably missed it for Rochbeau too). We are considering it because school is all virtual and we think it might be that way next year too. Thanks for any information you can share.

PP here. Happy to respond, as my child started in 1st and is now in 4th. But first, will he be entering the immersion program (for kids relatively new to French), or the regular classes?

We have not applied yet but plan to. I left a message for the school because one of my questions is which program is a better fit? I would like my child to be in an immersion program because that’s what we are in now but since I have nothing to compare with I don’t know if the immersion program is right for DS. Any information you can share is appreciated. Thanks!

PP here. We've had a good experience thus far. The "immersion" program is a bit of a misnomer, as it's for kids that are new/new-ish to French and would benefit from additional help until they can be mainstreamed into the regular French classes, where all subjects are in French (except English class, of course). Our kid had some prior formal French exposure but not much, and spent 1st grade in the immersion program. In spring of the first year, the immersion kids start spending more time in their regular classes--this varies, though, depending on the kid. If your son is already in a French immersion school, it's possible you wouldn't need this program, but at least pre-pandemic they would do an in-person "test"/admissions interview to gauge your kid's fluency. Valerie in admissions is great and can provide further details.

I've heard the French really picks up in later years, and anecdotally I've heard that the few American families tend to leave around middle school. We are probably similar to you in that I speak French on an early elementary level, and the other of us studied abroad in France and has a more advanced command of French. For now, we are planning on staying at least through middle school.

I'm happy to answer any other specific questions you have. As for admissions, I think applications submitted by mid-Jan. have priority, but there are rolling admissions after this date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What grades are you interested in, and are your kids already French-speaking?

My child willl be entering 2nd grade next year. He attends a public French immersion school now and has been in the school since PK 3. Parents are not native speakers but his dad took enough French in college/ lived abroad and can read at a lower ES level. Our child can speak, understand the language (watches tv in French) and reads A/B level books - equivalent to early K level reading. He can’t really write or spell but his English spelling is not very strong. I’m wondering if it would be a good fit. We are also considering WIS but missed the application deadline (we probably missed it for Rochbeau too). We are considering it because school is all virtual and we think it might be that way next year too. Thanks for any information you can share.

PP here. Happy to respond, as my child started in 1st and is now in 4th. But first, will he be entering the immersion program (for kids relatively new to French), or the regular classes?

We have not applied yet but plan to. I left a message for the school because one of my questions is which program is a better fit? I would like my child to be in an immersion program because that’s what we are in now but since I have nothing to compare with I don’t know if the immersion program is right for DS. Any information you can share is appreciated. Thanks!

PP here. We've had a good experience thus far. The "immersion" program is a bit of a misnomer, as it's for kids that are new/new-ish to French and would benefit from additional help until they can be mainstreamed into the regular French classes, where all subjects are in French (except English class, of course). Our kid had some prior formal French exposure but not much, and spent 1st grade in the immersion program. In spring of the first year, the immersion kids start spending more time in their regular classes--this varies, though, depending on the kid. If your son is already in a French immersion school, it's possible you wouldn't need this program, but at least pre-pandemic they would do an in-person "test"/admissions interview to gauge your kid's fluency. Valerie in admissions is great and can provide further details.

I've heard the French really picks up in later years, and anecdotally I've heard that the few American families tend to leave around middle school. We are probably similar to you in that I speak French on an early elementary level, and the other of us studied abroad in France and has a more advanced command of French. For now, we are planning on staying at least through middle school.

I'm happy to answer any other specific questions you have. As for admissions, I think applications submitted by mid-Jan. have priority, but there are rolling admissions after this date.

P.S. I just noticed that he's been in French since PK3--if this is Stokes, we also applied, and were like #400 on the waitlist, lol. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What grades are you interested in, and are your kids already French-speaking?

My child willl be entering 2nd grade next year. He attends a public French immersion school now and has been in the school since PK 3. Parents are not native speakers but his dad took enough French in college/ lived abroad and can read at a lower ES level. Our child can speak, understand the language (watches tv in French) and reads A/B level books - equivalent to early K level reading. He can’t really write or spell but his English spelling is not very strong. I’m wondering if it would be a good fit. We are also considering WIS but missed the application deadline (we probably missed it for Rochbeau too). We are considering it because school is all virtual and we think it might be that way next year too. Thanks for any information you can share.

Hi - our child is in 1st grade this year and we've been happy with the experience so far. Rochambeau has rolling admissions and a spot may open up (contact Valerie - the Admissions Director). As the other PP mentioned, there is a French language assessment (conducted virtually during pandemic), based on which they'll recommend whether to start your son in immersion or the regular French classes. Even within the regular French class, students who need some additional language help can work with support teachers in pull-asides (pace during class can be pretty fast). The 1st graders are learning French reading, grammar, spelling, and cursive writing. Math is currently double-digit addition/subtraction, comparisons, etc. We don't speak French at home (have a French speaking babysitter for the time being), but our child came in from another immersion program and is doing fine in the regular class. Hope this helps. Happy to answer other questions.

You can find some info about elementary school schedules and curriculum here:
https://www.rochambeau.org/academics/back-to-school-2020/elementary
https://www.rochambeau.org/academics/elementary-school/our-curriculum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What grades are you interested in, and are your kids already French-speaking?

My child willl be entering 2nd grade next year. He attends a public French immersion school now and has been in the school since PK 3. Parents are not native speakers but his dad took enough French in college/ lived abroad and can read at a lower ES level. Our child can speak, understand the language (watches tv in French) and reads A/B level books - equivalent to early K level reading. He can’t really write or spell but his English spelling is not very strong. I’m wondering if it would be a good fit. We are also considering WIS but missed the application deadline (we probably missed it for Rochbeau too). We are considering it because school is all virtual and we think it might be that way next year too. Thanks for any information you can share.

Hi - our child is in 1st grade this year and we've been happy with the experience so far. Rochambeau has rolling admissions and a spot may open up (contact Valerie - the Admissions Director). As the other PP mentioned, there is a French language assessment (conducted virtually during pandemic), based on which they'll recommend whether to start your son in immersion or the regular French classes. Even within the regular French class, students who need some additional language help can work with support teachers in pull-asides (pace during class can be pretty fast). The 1st graders are learning French reading, grammar, spelling, and cursive writing. Math is currently double-digit addition/subtraction, comparisons, etc. We don't speak French at home (have a French speaking babysitter for the time being), but our child came in from another immersion program and is doing fine in the regular class. Hope this helps. Happy to answer other questions.

You can find some info about elementary school schedules and curriculum here:
https://www.rochambeau.org/academics/back-to-school-2020/elementary
https://www.rochambeau.org/academics/elementary-school/our-curriculum

Valerie, is that you!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What grades are you interested in, and are your kids already French-speaking?

My child willl be entering 2nd grade next year. He attends a public French immersion school now and has been in the school since PK 3. Parents are not native speakers but his dad took enough French in college/ lived abroad and can read at a lower ES level. Our child can speak, understand the language (watches tv in French) and reads A/B level books - equivalent to early K level reading. He can’t really write or spell but his English spelling is not very strong. I’m wondering if it would be a good fit. We are also considering WIS but missed the application deadline (we probably missed it for Rochbeau too). We are considering it because school is all virtual and we think it might be that way next year too. Thanks for any information you can share.

Hi - our child is in 1st grade this year and we've been happy with the experience so far. Rochambeau has rolling admissions and a spot may open up (contact Valerie - the Admissions Director). As the other PP mentioned, there is a French language assessment (conducted virtually during pandemic), based on which they'll recommend whether to start your son in immersion or the regular French classes. Even within the regular French class, students who need some additional language help can work with support teachers in pull-asides (pace during class can be pretty fast). The 1st graders are learning French reading, grammar, spelling, and cursive writing. Math is currently double-digit addition/subtraction, comparisons, etc. We don't speak French at home (have a French speaking babysitter for the time being), but our child came in from another immersion program and is doing fine in the regular class. Hope this helps. Happy to answer other questions.

You can find some info about elementary school schedules and curriculum here:
https://www.rochambeau.org/academics/back-to-school-2020/elementary
https://www.rochambeau.org/academics/elementary-school/our-curriculum

Valerie, is that you!?

Umm, no. As noted above, I don't speak French.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What grades are you interested in, and are your kids already French-speaking?

My child willl be entering 2nd grade next year. He attends a public French immersion school now and has been in the school since PK 3. Parents are not native speakers but his dad took enough French in college/ lived abroad and can read at a lower ES level. Our child can speak, understand the language (watches tv in French) and reads A/B level books - equivalent to early K level reading. He can’t really write or spell but his English spelling is not very strong. I’m wondering if it would be a good fit. We are also considering WIS but missed the application deadline (we probably missed it for Rochbeau too). We are considering it because school is all virtual and we think it might be that way next year too. Thanks for any information you can share.

PP here. Happy to respond, as my child started in 1st and is now in 4th. But first, will he be entering the immersion program (for kids relatively new to French), or the regular classes?

We have not applied yet but plan to. I left a message for the school because one of my questions is which program is a better fit? I would like my child to be in an immersion program because that’s what we are in now but since I have nothing to compare with I don’t know if the immersion program is right for DS. Any information you can share is appreciated. Thanks!

PP here. We've had a good experience thus far. The "immersion" program is a bit of a misnomer, as it's for kids that are new/new-ish to French and would benefit from additional help until they can be mainstreamed into the regular French classes, where all subjects are in French (except English class, of course). Our kid had some prior formal French exposure but not much, and spent 1st grade in the immersion program. In spring of the first year, the immersion kids start spending more time in their regular classes--this varies, though, depending on the kid. If your son is already in a French immersion school, it's possible you wouldn't need this program, but at least pre-pandemic they would do an in-person "test"/admissions interview to gauge your kid's fluency. Valerie in admissions is great and can provide further details.

I've heard the French really picks up in later years, and anecdotally I've heard that the few American families tend to leave around middle school. We are probably similar to you in that I speak French on an early elementary level, and the other of us studied abroad in France and has a more advanced command of French. For now, we are planning on staying at least through middle school.

I'm happy to answer any other specific questions you have. As for admissions, I think applications submitted by mid-Jan. have priority, but there are rolling admissions after this date.

P.S. I just noticed that he's been in French since PK3--if this is Stokes, we also applied, and were like #400 on the waitlist, lol. Good luck!

Yes lol ! Totally fed up with this year and their unwillingness to bring kids back. I guess we will be #401. Worth a try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our son's soccer team plays against one of their soccer teams, and they and their parents are entitled jerks. In addition to their parents sitting or standing right in front of where you are sitting or standing intentionally blocking your view, theor coach (teacher at the school) spends the entire game screaming at the players in French, and the players and parents curse and say other nasty things to opponents and parents also in French, and think no one understands. Many of us do

Non! Sucre bleu!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son's soccer team plays against one of their soccer teams, and they and their parents are entitled jerks. In addition to their parents sitting or standing right in front of where you are sitting or standing intentionally blocking your view, theor coach (teacher at the school) spends the entire game screaming at the players in French, and the players and parents curse and say other nasty things to opponents and parents also in French, and think no one understands. Many of us do

Non! Sucre bleu!!

Those French and their damned blue sugar!

[Anonymous]

Hi, another Rochambeau parent from Elementary. I wasn't sure of Rochambeau at first because of some online reviews, but then noticed how many schools have its group of "haters."
We started last year and very impressed with the school. I haven't noticed any nastiness or entitlement from other parents, so far a pretty mellow and agreeable group of people. The teachers have been super helpful and supportive to my DC who was struggling at first with DL. The new matternelle Director M. Zala is a blessing and you can tell he really cares about the children. I just see a dedicated group of people trying to do their best to provide a great learning experience during an extremely challenging year. Our experience has led us to enroll our second DC in the school as well.