Reply to Sidwell vs GDS -- specific examples of what differentiates the two

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We were lucky to have the choice btw the two as well, as did a family we met at the school we chose later. We compared notes on key differences. Here are the top 10 that I recall:

1. GDS felt like it had a stronger community (school supporting the kids/events/parents volunteering).
2. Sidwell had a larger MS/HS campus for the kids to spread out. 
3. GDS had a modern, new building for LS/MS (deceptively big).
4. HS at GDS had an open campus so kids come and go whenever they want. Not sure the rules at Sidwell.
5. Academics at both seemed really good. Teachers we met at both seemed really good.
6. Big focus at GDS on social justice, so it's integrated into the curriculum and assemblies. Very liberal.
7. Sidwell is a Quaker school, so they talked about God and have times of worship where they sit in silence so God can give them insights (this is how it was described to us, apologies if I'm misrepresenting).
8. Both schools courses of study seemed interesting and challenging. Parents at Sidwell shared there was pressure/expectation to do well and competition amongst peers, but that drove the kids. I was impressed by the kids they set-up for us to meet. Parents at GDS said it's challenging and kids study really hard to get a B. 
9. GDS seemed more fun/joyful. Kids seemed more at ease.
10. Sidwell athletics seemed better.

We chose GDS.[/quote]

GDS seems happier overall but the open campus open lunch off campus I think does not promote community. [b]I think lunch time can be a time to know your community and sit at tables and get to know one another.[/b][b] [/quote]

This is a nice theory, but in reality this sort of bonding doesn't really happen at Sidwell lunch (but it does at St Albans). The food is great and having access to the food is also great - but it's not a community building block.[/quote]

Speak for yourself/your own children. My children are US students at Sidwell and they usually eat cafeteria lunch. They definitely enjoy spending time and bonding with their friends during lunchtime. [/quote]

It is no more special at Sidwell than at GDS.  We've had US students at both schools and they both tended to eat out once a week and eat at school with friends on other days.  (And they both tend to eat out after school a few times a month when sports/school/life gets busy) Neither Sidwell, nor GDS has some special bonding magic at lunchtime more than the other.  The students we know at St Albans have a far more structured lunch period ritual and I'd say that's a school where bonding at lunch is  next level and a building block to their community.

The main difference is we had between the two kids was more effort was required for lunches for our GDS student. We thought this would be a huge hassle going in, but it wasn't really that bad. (And our Sidwell student had some food unexpected challenges along the way that made it harder than we thought - but again - not a big deal)[/quote]

I don’t believe for one moment that your child attended Sidwell. If she/he had attended, you would know there’s a HUGE difference in convenience and time saved by having lunch on campus. I packed my children’s lunches through 6th grade (they each joined Sidwell in 7th), and I couldn’t wait to be released from that hellish chore.

You chose GDS, and that’s fine for you. My children wouldn’t change their lunch setup for GDS’ situation. [/quote]

OP - well - here's another difference for you.  There are a set of Sidwell parents that never want to believe anything that doesn't fit the narrative of their child's own experience.

PP - you're nuts.  Yes - I have had children at both Sidwell and GDS for high school. Having lunch available is great and the DC who went to Sidwell very much appreciated it.  And, not having lunch at GDS was not as big of a deal as we expected - and we expected it to be a complete hassle. (The reason it wasn't, is partly because GDC DC is more flexible about options to bring in lunch - so this is kid dependent).  But my point is that neither lunch scenario - Sidwell or GDS - had ANY impact on socialization at lunch time.  They both spent time with friends.  Sometimes my DCs went out for lunch (both of them, once a week!), but most often they did not. And GDS is not some dead zone at lunch with "haves" going out and "have nots" left behind.  Just because there are wealthy families there, many parents do not support the idea of their student going out for lunch every day - it is unhealthy and it is an expensive habit to teach a kid who will one day need to manage daily lunch as an young adult on their own dime. Sure - I bet some kids go out more than others - but really - both my kids did the same thing at lunch at these two schools. You don't need cafeteria tables and a lunch line to bond with friends at lunchtime.  And that was the point I was expressing when someone else suggested it made a difference in bonding.[/quote]

Why are you belaboring this point? GDS’ US cafeteria situation—or lack there of (among other issues) doesn’t work for us, and that’s ok. It’s not a big deal to you, but it’s a big deal to my family. Sidwell is a much better fit for our entire family. We don’t have to prioritize the same things. I’m happy to hear that GDS is a better fit for your family. [/quote]

I'm not belaboring anything - I am replying to directly the person saying "speak for yourself" (which I was).  Having lunch can be a big deal and I never said it wasn't (in fact I explicitly said I thought it would be a huge pain and it turned out not to be an issue).

My original reply was specifically related to a comment related to community building aspect of having lunch vs not.  It is Sidwell parents who are belaboring (or not hearing) their view that somehow having lunch at Sidwell is more of a community bonding aspect. This did not play out. Of course people will make choices based on lunch - and it really mattered to one of my kids.  But "bonding at lunch" was not different for our children across these schools.

Furthermore, I never aid GDS is a better fit for our family. Every kid is different and mine happen to be different and made different choices for HS. [/quote]

Having lunch on campus, from a conveniently located cafeteria, has facilitated bonding and friendship strengthening for my children at Sidwell. It sounds like children had a different experience.[/quote]

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