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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The Powell’s principal is black and doesn’t speak Spanish. She’s been there for 8 years or more. [/quote]

Powell is NOT Oyster-Adams.

Race is irrelevant here. Hispanics who are native Spanish speakers can be any race. As an O-A parent, I just want a good principal who is a native Spanish speaker. [/quote]

What do you mean by that statement about Powell not being Oyster-Adams?  I am trying to withhold judgement until I understand the intent of the comment.[/quote]

Powell is not, and never has been on O-A’s level. This is a result of O-A’s:

1. Stated mission that at least 50% of the students come from native Spanish speaking homes;

2. Historical importance (O-A is nearly 50 years old and one of the oldest and best dual immersion public schools in the country). It is a national model for bilingual education;

3. Programming (introducing Mandarin as a 3rd language in 4th grade, Embassy partnerships, AP Spanish exam administered to 8th graders, student travel/exchange to Taiwan, Spain, and Costa Rica, etc); and

4. Test scores (self explanatory).

This list is not exhaustive. Just what came to mind quickly. [/quote]

What you mean is that O-A's population, including its Spanish speaking population, is largely wealthy and has the associated clout/power to demand a Spanish speaking principal. Also, it's a DCPS neighborhood school, which is at odds with its "stated mission that half the kids come from Spanish speaking homes." It manages that by restricting the IB kids it admits for PK4 and preferencing non-IB Spanish speakers instead.[/quote]

OA not IB parent here. Putting some holes in the pp statement.

OA is a good school but there has been a clear decline. It's so so disorganized, it's ridiculous. The middle school academics is not that strong.  Those good test scores? Parents with money complementing with tutors. Chinese is just for a few, not all kids get "chosen" to be in the Chinese track, no explanation is given as to why a kid is chosen to be in a Chinese track, and there is no alternative track for those who are not chosen. Same for the international trips. Only the privileged ones get to go. There is a clear haves and have-nots feel to the school that is not entirely healthy.

[/quote]

Perspective is based on where you sit.

1. ALL students take Chinese in 4th and 5th grade, as a once per week elective. [b]If your child wasn’t “chosen” to take Chinese as a 3rd language (daily class) for 6th through 8th grade, it’s because your child’s EOY test scores were too low in English, Spanish and/or math.[/b] Therefore, you’re child will take a support class in one of those subjects, instead of Chinese class. Information on EOY test score targets, in order to be selected for Chinese, are made clear to parents during the parent- teacher conferences first quarter. Btw, my children didn’t need any tutoring to excel at OA, or to qualify for Chinese.

2. International trips. There are three payment levels: full pay, reduced payment ($100+ off), or super discounted pricing for families receiving free or reduced meals. No one should expect to receive a completely free international trip. You do realize this is a capitalist country—home of the haves and have nots. Maybe you should enroll your child in a bilingual school where international trips aren’t offered, so you feel more comfortable.

I said exactly what I said. Zero apologies given. [/quote]

You are wrong about number 1. That's not how it works. [b]Many kids who have good grades on all those other subjects do not make it to Chinese in MS[/b] because there aren't enough spots for everyone, so they are randomly put in any other subject. But if that's what you want to believe, go ahead.

I said what I said. The school has a huge gap of have and have-nots that is not healthy. It could potentially be with the right leadership, but it isn't. Also, this isn't about me and how comfortable I feel. We are OK. This is about the have-nots receiving way less support at OA. [/quote]

You seem to struggle with reading comprehension. You also don’t understand how Chinese class placement works at OA. It’s not based on inflated 4th and 5th grades in various subjects, it’s based on 5th grade EOY test scores in English, Spanish, and math. I’ve been through the Chinese placement process twice with my two OA lifers. I know how it works.

Once again, if the have-nots are not having their needs met at OA (e.g., free international trips), then they should transfer to a school that doesn’t offer such things and makes them feel more comfortable. [/quote]

You make OA seem insufferable if there are parents there who say the have-nots at a public school should transfer.  It’s gross.[/quote]

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