Reply to Thoughts on Burgundy Farm Country Day?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]In our classes at Burgundy, the students were kind to each other. Given how small the classes are, I think the social atmosphere can vary significantly year by year. [/quote]

+1 But FYI, starting next year , [b]they are truly mixing the 2/3 and 4/5 classes (not just in social studies like in years past) so class size will feel bigger [/b]even though there are two teachers. But yes, bullying and bad behavior is class to class dependent just like at any other school.[/quote]

Who makes these decisions? This is just a HORRIBLE idea. They should get rid of the mixed grade classrooms altogether, not integrate them more! It is the multiple two year cycles with the same class that leads to so many social issues. Reshuffle the kids into new classes each year and keep them with kids in their own grade. Is it a cost saving measure? It doesn’t work and consistently, the four years in the 2/3 and 4/5 classroom are the weakest and most problematic at the school. [b]Now that the middle school is thriving with the new head, the mixed age classrooms are the weak link at Burgundy. [/quote][/b]

Not so fast.  The MS is far from thriving with the new Head. He's strong, but there is a lot of work to do.  There are teachers who need to go, they need to hire a strong full-time counselor, the curriculum needs an overhaul and they need to get a hold on the social issues.  [/quote]

Agree. Thriving is an overstatement but "headed in the right direction" is probably more on the nose. In addition to what PP said, the MS also needs a much needed infrastructure upgrade (especially outdoor areas), a bigger emphasis on STEM subjects, a more robust after-school club roster (robotics, debate, etc), slightly larger class sizes, and an emphasis on executive function coaching to benefit those going on to bigger, tougher, HS environments both public and private.[/quote]

Agree they are headed in the right direction.

They already have an emphasis on STEM.  Most people associate STEM with those one off science projects, or science camps or robotics when that's not really what it is about.

After school clubs don't get a lot of traction because kids are doing so many things already outside of school. They do offer other a few clubs and kids can always suggest them and find support to start them if they want.

And absolutely agree on the executive functioning skills. The middle school teachers are bad at giving schedules and deadlines and sticking too them making it difficult to help teach students to plan. Over all, teachers and faculty are terrible at project and time management and they all need a crash course in it. [/quote]

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