Reply to recent experiences at takoma park elementary

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]PBES splits the grade in two so that lunch and recess are smaller. TPES doesn’t do that, so when the grade is 230 vs 160, it’s just a lot more hectic. [/quote]

All but one of the grades at TPES were below 200 last year, according to the at a glance.

[b]Nevertheless, I have to disagree with the PP's assessment. It was so well run that my kids hardly noticed. [/b]
Just imagine lunch at Blair with 3000+ kids. These judgments are relative.[/quote]

I sent three kids through these schools and felt they were well-run and organized.

The scale was more of a benefit than a liability since this allowed for many extras like math acceleration or additional STEM units.

Like the PP, my kids also preferred the TPES model since they could visit with friends during lunch and recess.[/quote]

It’s just a shame that it becomes so difficult to develop a school wide sense of community this way. A PP asked about the benefits of sitting the sculls and I struggle to come up with any. Anyone? One big downside is that having younger children In the school can help temper the behavior of the older kids, and the absence of little ones at PBES shows in the behavior of the older ones.[/quote]

It's not a problem. Consider how schools like BCC or Churchill, with 2000 students, do this. Although I don't live in TKPK, my impression is there is already a strong sense of community there.

Similarly, having older kids with younger ones seems to cause more problems. Separating them by age, just like separating MS and HS kids, seems to work well.
[/quote]

Not according to PBES teachers who see the benefit of having younger kids around.

Also I live in TKPK and the community sucks. It’s surprisingly unwelcoming and very difficult to get to know others. Folks keep to themselves.[/quote]

The teachers and administrators I've discussed this with claimed grouping students by age was much healthier for everyone and that's why they do it.

And I totally have to say, I couldn't disagree more with anyone saying Takoma Park wasn't welcoming when my family and I moved into town. We connected mostly through our kids' school. Seriously, people were so chill and friendly—parents, teachers, neighbors—all of them. We dove into school events and random chats, and the vibe was warm and inclusive. Takoma Park has this awesome community spirit that made us feel right at home. [/quote]

Very sadly not my experience at all. Perhaps the pandemic was the reason everyone is so insular. Polar opposite from our friendly DC neighborhood. So disappointing.[/quote]

The pandemic was hard for a lot of people. I guess we moved to TKPK a few years earlier and had a very positive experience. Still find the community to be amazing and inclusive. Way more welcomng than our previous NW DC neighborhood.[/quote]

When we lived in DC, we hardly knew anyone near us, but once we moved to Takoma, all that changed. My kids are very connected to the community and their friends too.[/quote]

Takoma is DC. [/quote]

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