Reply to Holton, NCS, Sidwell, Maret, Visitation or Stoneridge?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Keep in mind one disgruntled student probably is not reflective of the true nature of the school.[/quote]
I also question whether a high school sophomore, who left NCS for BCC after 9th grade apparently, has much credibility on many of these issues. For example, how much do 9th graders typically understand about the role of the Head of School? How credible is a 15-year-old at judging whether other private schools have "spent most of the last few years resting on their laurels"? How does a 15-year-old assess whether the NCS endowment is "rapidly shrinking"? How many of last year's NCS seniors confided to this 9th grader that they were "devastated" about their college admissions results? I do agree though that she's a better writer than most 15-year-old kids.[/quote]

Hello. This is NCS/B-CC girl. I am 16. I am a sophomore. Firstly, to those of you who are complimenting my writing- thanks! I love to write and I was lucky enough to have two great teachers at NCS, Mrs. Simchak in 6th grade and Mr. Muller in 9th. If any of your children or acquaintances go to NCS you should fight to get both of them.

I understand that adults are often suspicious of the ability of a teenager to be able to accurately intuit the inner workings of a private high school but I am very astute, I assure you. I was a part of the NCS community since pre-kindergarten, I went to Beauvior and then on to NCS and I got to know the school, and the whole environment, quite well. I am not just a disgruntled former student. I am not trying to smear the school. My time spent at that institution and the many intelligent and amazing friends that I had the fortune to meet are things that I treasure. I am trying to give an accurate depiction of what school at NCS was like for a student who felt like just another cog in the machine. I just figured that parents would be interested in hearing that from a source that is unaffiliated with the school and therefore able to provide an honest opinion. I think what I wrote is very reflective of the school and the problems within it. I am sure that other schools, public and private, have problems as well but I can only speak from experience. If you don't think I'm credible, fine. I'm not trying to force these views down your throat.

I would like to take back some of what I said about Kathleen Jamison. Pansy was a little harsh. She is a sycophant and the unfortunate truth is that kids with cash will get away with things that kids on scholarship, like myself, would never get away with. Also, it is true that sometimes people just get in because they give a lot of money to the school. How much do I understand about the head of school? Probably as much as any parent who is sending their kid to NCS. I understand that she has let go of a plethora of talented teachers and staff and hired lower-paid and under qualified replacements which has led to complaints from parents and students alike. Which is what I was referring to when I said that NCS was resting on their laurels- assuming that the reputation of the school insures that money keeps rolling in without making changes to benefit the students. The fact that the endowment is shrinking is pretty much common knowledge on the Cathedral close. In fact, it is the reason that NCS is well behind schedule on renovating the school building. A fact which was disclosed to parents and students by the administration of the school.

Moving on to the last point I would like to address... The reason I know that seniors were devastated is twofold: firstly, I was a player on varsity soccer and I was a part of the crew team both of which gave me plenty of opportunities to talk with seniors. Secondly, my older sister was a senior last year which pretty much gives me firsthand knowledge on the feelings of the seniors. Also in a community that is as small as NCS's, news travels fast which means that everybody knows how everybody feels about everything.

Lastly, it is a little bit annoying to be condescended to just because I'm 16. Yes. I get it. I'm young. However, I would really appreciate if you didn't throw my views out the window solely on the basis of my age. Just because I'm a kid doesn't mean that my points aren't valid or that I don't have something important to say. [/quote]

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