Shining Stars Montessori in Brookland

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[Post New]05/17/2017 11:27
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is this really all people have to say about it? I've talked to a lot of happy parents. We are enrolled. I simply don't get why the school is considered some kind of mediocre option on this type of snobby forum as compared to other "HRCS" in the area. The charter score is equal to or higher than some of those as well. Perhaps I'm missing something and I should be more concerned, but I thought we were lucky to get a spot there until I realized other SES white folks on forums seem to regard it with disdain. Anyways, hopefully they're all going somewhere else.


Ahh, DCUM's school popularity contest. I notice some schools are better than others at shutting down discussion by flooding threads with over-the-top glowing posts and denigrating any more circumspect posts. SSMA's parents don't do this and thus they have a slightly lower rep; but for this reason they are likely to get a parent body not as interested in school popularity contests. It's a win IMO.


I hope you're right. I just have been a little surprised by the popularity contest thing! It does have a real world impact and is not only on here. It plays out at open houses when parents size up the popularity of the school based on number of parents at the OH and their apparent demographic.

Not to hijack the thread here! My advice: visit SSMA and see what you think. You can even sit in on a classroom I believe. Then read up on Montessori and see if it's your cup of tea.


You don't want those parents. First they'll keep playing the lottery until thy get into the most popular school (yy?). Second they'll be irrational booster types while they are there.
[Post New]05/17/2017 11:36
quote
mcjd79
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Anonymous wrote:Hopefully your child will not turn out to have any learning disabilities or need special ed services. They haven't yet figured that out.


Oh, my. We had put them on our list we liked Montessori & some other things about the school & location. But our little needs speech & some special education services. I would very much like to learn more about their services level or issues with providing services. We are still wait listed but if our child won't get the help needed there is no reason stay on the list!
[Post New]05/17/2017 11:46
quote
Anonymous
mcjd79 wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hopefully your child will not turn out to have any learning disabilities or need special ed services. They haven't yet figured that out.


Oh, my. We had put them on our list we liked Montessori & some other things about the school & location. But our little needs speech & some special education services. I would very much like to learn more about their services level or issues with providing services. We are still wait listed but if our child won't get the help needed there is no reason stay on the list!


Just know that you will need to really advocate to get services. Hopefully you won't have to fight as much as families did in the last few years.

But needing to fight for services isn't unique to Shining Stars.

Call and ask for a meeting with the special education coordinator and see what you think.
[Post New]05/17/2017 11:52
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Anonymous
Read the QSR from 2015.

There was supposed to be another one done before spring 2017 but the link on the DCPCSB website is broken.

http://www.dcpcsb.org/qualitative-site-review/2016-17-shining-stars-montessori-qsr


[Post New]05/17/2017 12:49
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Anonymous
My friend's kid started there, transferred to a very highly regarded charter school, then RANNNNNN back to SSMA. They didn't realize how much she was thriving there. I know that's not helpful for specifics, but certainly instills some confidence.

We didn't get in are in private Montessori, so we are nutty enough to love it enough for it to really hurt the wallet. But Montessori isn't for everyone, and I imagine kids with special needs may have particular difficulties. I don't think that's the OP's ? though.
[Post New]05/17/2017 13:21
quote
Anonymous
I don't really understand why DCUM denigrates SSMA either. It had location troubles in years past but is in a great permanent location now. They are dually-accredited by Middle States Association (for all grades) and American Montessori Society (PK3-3) and hoping to have AMS accrediation for the upper grades complete this year. So its Montessori cred is legit. There a plenty of other Tier 2 charters that are HRCSs here. So I'm not sure what the complaints are based on, but I get the sense most of the critics don't have any experience with the school. We're there and are extremely happy. There are many other high SES families that are too. Its very diverse but that is what we want. To me it seems like a hidden gem. I don't think SSMA families are very active here, but families are very active in the school community. I would really encourage people who are considering it to see the school for themselves.
[Post New]05/17/2017 13:24
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Anonymous
How many Primary classrooms does SSMA have now?
[Post New]05/17/2017 13:32
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:How many Primary classrooms does SSMA have now?


Enrollment is:

1st - 32
2nd - 10
3rd - 6
4th - 3
5th - 7
[Post New]05/17/2017 13:44
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How many Primary classrooms does SSMA have now?


Enrollment is:

1st - 32
2nd - 10
3rd - 6
4th - 3
5th - 7


That's not the answer to my question.

My question is how many Primary classrooms do they have? Primary classes in Montesori are PK3-K. What you have is Lower and Upper Elementary.
[Post New]05/17/2017 13:47
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How many Primary classrooms does SSMA have now?


Enrollment is:

1st - 32
2nd - 10
3rd - 6
4th - 3
5th - 7


That's not the answer to my question.

My question is how many Primary classrooms do they have? Primary classes in Montesori are PK3-K. What you have is Lower and Upper Elementary.


They have 145 Pk3-K students, so 5.
[Post New]05/17/2017 14:19
quote
Anonymous
My son is finishing up his first year in PK-3 at SSMA. We think it's a great school that we're happy to have him return to next year, and add his little sister to the mix the next year. I was nervous to send him there after reading the posts on DCUM, but we have found a great supportive school that has him reading his own bedtime stories as of about a month ago. I've found the parents to be active, but also a little more laid back than the collective voices at some other nearby charters. The PTO has raised over $100K this year, so families are supportive in that way too. If you live in Brookland, you can't beat the commute, but friends in Petworth and Bloomingdale don't seem to have any complaints about the commute either.

Can't speak to the Special Ed needs of others, but it's a very approachable and caring staff from every encounter I've had.

[Post New]05/17/2017 14:48
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My son is finishing up his first year in PK-3 at SSMA. We think it's a great school that we're happy to have him return to next year, and add his little sister to the mix the next year. I was nervous to send him there after reading the posts on DCUM, but we have found a great supportive school that has him reading his own bedtime stories as of about a month ago. I've found the parents to be active, but also a little more laid back than the collective voices at some other nearby charters. The PTO has raised over $100K this year, so families are supportive in that way too. If you live in Brookland, you can't beat the commute, but friends in Petworth and Bloomingdale don't seem to have any complaints about the commute either.

Can't speak to the Special Ed needs of others, but it's a very approachable and caring staff from every encounter I've had.



how?! What did you do?
[Post New]05/17/2017 14:48
quote
Anonymous
There are six Primary classrooms at SSMA. They are adding a seventh for SY 2017-2018.

-SSMA parent.
[Post New]05/17/2017 14:52
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:There are six Primary classrooms at SSMA. They are adding a seventh for SY 2017-2018.

-SSMA parent.


Thanks!
--PP
[Post New]05/17/2017 16:19
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My son is finishing up his first year in PK-3 at SSMA. We think it's a great school that we're happy to have him return to next year, and add his little sister to the mix the next year. I was nervous to send him there after reading the posts on DCUM, but we have found a great supportive school that has him reading his own bedtime stories as of about a month ago. I've found the parents to be active, but also a little more laid back than the collective voices at some other nearby charters. The PTO has raised over $100K this year, so families are supportive in that way too. If you live in Brookland, you can't beat the commute, but friends in Petworth and Bloomingdale don't seem to have any complaints about the commute either.

Can't speak to the Special Ed needs of others, but it's a very approachable and caring staff from every encounter I've had.



how?! What did you do?


Online fundraiser before the holidays. People asked family and friends to contribute as well, but the Gala w/ silent auction did well too, plus the PTO has done a handful of other small things, yard sale, etc.
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