Anonymous
10/10/2021 19:23
Subject: ATS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:mAnonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Just offered a position off the waitlist at ATS. Neighborhood school is Nottingham. Would love to hear from ATS parents - looking to understand the good and the bad. We applied because a friend told us that they emphasize music art which my daughter is obsessed with (is taking private violin lessons and I know that no school can replace private lessons).
Run away from that principal of yours ASAP!
Her music will thrive at ATS.
What’s wrong with her?
OP here. I am curious as well. Granted we have only been at Nottingham for a month but the principal seems perfectly fine to me. DD is in first grade and was virtual last year so this is our first experience with in person public school.
Same question - though we are in K at NES so don't really have a basis of comparison.
Nottingham parent of a 4th grader and a couple of middle schoolers. No one is universally beloved in this world but we have had nothing but positive experiences with Dr. Gardner, and have only heard the same from other parents we know. There is a McKinley parent on this board that is holding onto a grudge they won’t explain from when she was AP at McKinley years ago, but I don’t know if pp is that person.
Many many people have had negative experiences with Dr Gardner
(not the McK parent you reference)
Anonymous
10/10/2021 17:55
Subject: ATS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:mAnonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Just offered a position off the waitlist at ATS. Neighborhood school is Nottingham. Would love to hear from ATS parents - looking to understand the good and the bad. We applied because a friend told us that they emphasize music art which my daughter is obsessed with (is taking private violin lessons and I know that no school can replace private lessons).
Run away from that principal of yours ASAP!
Her music will thrive at ATS.
What’s wrong with her?
OP here. I am curious as well. Granted we have only been at Nottingham for a month but the principal seems perfectly fine to me. DD is in first grade and was virtual last year so this is our first experience with in person public school.
Same question - though we are in K at NES so don't really have a basis of comparison.
Nottingham parent of a 4th grader and a couple of middle schoolers. No one is universally beloved in this world but we have had nothing but positive experiences with Dr. Gardner, and have only heard the same from other parents we know. There is a McKinley parent on this board that is holding onto a grudge they won’t explain from when she was AP at McKinley years ago, but I don’t know if pp is that person.
Anonymous
10/10/2021 17:49
Subject: ATS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We joined ATS last year. Had wonderful and very regular communication from teacher last year. Not much this year so it may depend on the individual teacher.
We really like the families we have met and I would say that the teachers are very dedicated and tend to stay long term at the school. The principal is very involved and quick to respond to any emails from parents.
Pros: they really emphasize literacy skills and my child’s reading has improved tremendously.
The music program. The voice and art teachers are wonderful. Three virtual Kennedy center performances this month for the whole school. Kids from so many countries including Ethiopia, Mongolia, Morocco, etc.
Cons: The homework isn’t much for some grades but is proving to be a lot for my upper grade student ( about 1 hr plus a night). It’s a stressful for her. Yes we knew about homework going in. My child hates doing it though as she has some learning differences. Teacher is working with us and we have a 504.
They are asking people to ride the bus since there is little parking at new location which makes it hard to connect with families. But in person events are returning.
Overall we like the school a lot and feel like our kids are making friends, learning a lot and in a school that is filled with caring adults who want the best for each child. Might be well worth giving it a try. You can always go back to neighborhood school if it doesn’t fit.
I have a child with learning differences who was struggling with homework completion, especially when she already knows the content. A conversation with the teacher was helpful b/c we agreed on some parameters for homework that allowed for mastery and growth but not torture of a tired child. (that's hyperbole)
Interesting. Does your child have an IEP or 504? If it isn’t too personal may I ask which teacher? TIA
Anonymous
10/10/2021 10:58
Subject: ATS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:mAnonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Just offered a position off the waitlist at ATS. Neighborhood school is Nottingham. Would love to hear from ATS parents - looking to understand the good and the bad. We applied because a friend told us that they emphasize music art which my daughter is obsessed with (is taking private violin lessons and I know that no school can replace private lessons).
Run away from that principal of yours ASAP!
Her music will thrive at ATS.
What’s wrong with her?
OP here. I am curious as well. Granted we have only been at Nottingham for a month but the principal seems perfectly fine to me. DD is in first grade and was virtual last year so this is our first experience with in person public school.
Same question - though we are in K at NES so don't really have a basis of comparison.
Anonymous
10/10/2021 10:49
Subject: ATS
Anonymous wrote:mAnonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Just offered a position off the waitlist at ATS. Neighborhood school is Nottingham. Would love to hear from ATS parents - looking to understand the good and the bad. We applied because a friend told us that they emphasize music art which my daughter is obsessed with (is taking private violin lessons and I know that no school can replace private lessons).
Run away from that principal of yours ASAP!
Her music will thrive at ATS.
What’s wrong with her?
OP here. I am curious as well. Granted we have only been at Nottingham for a month but the principal seems perfectly fine to me. DD is in first grade and was virtual last year so this is our first experience with in person public school.
Anonymous
10/10/2021 10:46
Subject: ATS
OP here. Thanks everyone! I think we will give it a shot. Fingers crossed that the homework will be manageable for us. We have no homework now so it will definitely be a change.
Anonymous
10/10/2021 09:25
Subject: ATS
mAnonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Just offered a position off the waitlist at ATS. Neighborhood school is Nottingham. Would love to hear from ATS parents - looking to understand the good and the bad. We applied because a friend told us that they emphasize music art which my daughter is obsessed with (is taking private violin lessons and I know that no school can replace private lessons).
Run away from that principal of yours ASAP!
Her music will thrive at ATS.
What’s wrong with her?
Anonymous
10/10/2021 08:06
Subject: ATS
Anonymous wrote:We joined ATS last year. Had wonderful and very regular communication from teacher last year. Not much this year so it may depend on the individual teacher.
We really like the families we have met and I would say that the teachers are very dedicated and tend to stay long term at the school. The principal is very involved and quick to respond to any emails from parents.
Pros: they really emphasize literacy skills and my child’s reading has improved tremendously.
The music program. The voice and art teachers are wonderful. Three virtual Kennedy center performances this month for the whole school. Kids from so many countries including Ethiopia, Mongolia, Morocco, etc.
Cons: The homework isn’t much for some grades but is proving to be a lot for my upper grade student ( about 1 hr plus a night). It’s a stressful for her. Yes we knew about homework going in. My child hates doing it though as she has some learning differences. Teacher is working with us and we have a 504.
They are asking people to ride the bus since there is little parking at new location which makes it hard to connect with families. But in person events are returning.
Overall we like the school a lot and feel like our kids are making friends, learning a lot and in a school that is filled with caring adults who want the best for each child. Might be well worth giving it a try. You can always go back to neighborhood school if it doesn’t fit.
I have a child with learning differences who was struggling with homework completion, especially when she already knows the content. A conversation with the teacher was helpful b/c we agreed on some parameters for homework that allowed for mastery and growth but not torture of a tired child. (that's hyperbole)
Anonymous
10/10/2021 08:02
Subject: ATS
Anonymous wrote:Just offered a position off the waitlist at ATS. Neighborhood school is Nottingham. Would love to hear from ATS parents - looking to understand the good and the bad. We applied because a friend told us that they emphasize music art which my daughter is obsessed with (is taking private violin lessons and I know that no school can replace private lessons).
Run away from that principal of yours ASAP!
Her music will thrive at ATS.
Anonymous
10/10/2021 08:00
Subject: ATS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There is one working playground at ATS just like there was at McKinley. They are adding a second one and it’s been delayed due to supply chain issues. Supply chain issues are also why the kitchen is incomplete. They are serving boxed cold lunches and hope to have the kitchen completed and hot lunches available by winter. It comes with moving schools during the pandemic. Other schools that moved may be having issues too.
Why did they have to redo these kitchens with the school moves?
No idea. It was something APS decided was necessary not anything that ATS requested.
Anonymous
10/09/2021 11:42
Subject: ATS
Anonymous wrote:There is one working playground at ATS just like there was at McKinley. They are adding a second one and it’s been delayed due to supply chain issues. Supply chain issues are also why the kitchen is incomplete. They are serving boxed cold lunches and hope to have the kitchen completed and hot lunches available by winter. It comes with moving schools during the pandemic. Other schools that moved may be having issues too.
Why did they have to redo these kitchens with the school moves?
Anonymous
10/09/2021 11:23
Subject: ATS
There is one working playground at ATS just like there was at McKinley. They are adding a second one and it’s been delayed due to supply chain issues. Supply chain issues are also why the kitchen is incomplete. They are serving boxed cold lunches and hope to have the kitchen completed and hot lunches available by winter. It comes with moving schools during the pandemic. Other schools that moved may be having issues too.
Anonymous
10/09/2021 09:47
Subject: ATS
We joined ATS last year. Had wonderful and very regular communication from teacher last year. Not much this year so it may depend on the individual teacher.
We really like the families we have met and I would say that the teachers are very dedicated and tend to stay long term at the school. The principal is very involved and quick to respond to any emails from parents.
Pros: they really emphasize literacy skills and my child’s reading has improved tremendously.
The music program. The voice and art teachers are wonderful. Three virtual Kennedy center performances this month for the whole school. Kids from so many countries including Ethiopia, Mongolia, Morocco, etc.
Cons: The homework isn’t much for some grades but is proving to be a lot for my upper grade student ( about 1 hr plus a night). It’s a stressful for her. Yes we knew about homework going in. My child hates doing it though as she has some learning differences. Teacher is working with us and we have a 504.
They are asking people to ride the bus since there is little parking at new location which makes it hard to connect with families. But in person events are returning.
Overall we like the school a lot and feel like our kids are making friends, learning a lot and in a school that is filled with caring adults who want the best for each child. Might be well worth giving it a try. You can always go back to neighborhood school if it doesn’t fit.
We really like the families we have met and I would say that the teachers are very dedicated and tend to stay long term at the school. The principal is very involved and quick to respond to any emails from parents.
Pros: they really emphasize literacy skills and my child’s reading has improved tremendously.
The music program. The voice and art teachers are wonderful. Three virtual Kennedy center performances this month for the whole school. Kids from so many countries including Ethiopia, Mongolia, Morocco, etc.
Cons: The homework isn’t much for some grades but is proving to be a lot for my upper grade student ( about 1 hr plus a night). It’s a stressful for her. Yes we knew about homework going in. My child hates doing it though as she has some learning differences. Teacher is working with us and we have a 504.
They are asking people to ride the bus since there is little parking at new location which makes it hard to connect with families. But in person events are returning.
Overall we like the school a lot and feel like our kids are making friends, learning a lot and in a school that is filled with caring adults who want the best for each child. Might be well worth giving it a try. You can always go back to neighborhood school if it doesn’t fit.
Anonymous
10/09/2021 08:22
Subject: ATS
We are new this year and there are several other new students in our class so it has been a good social tradition. My child actually isn't in to music much, so having band, chorus, and music class is a lot for them but I bet it would be great for your kid. The amount of communication from the school and teacher is much higher than our last school. Homework is about 10 minutes each night. There's also a few email listservs which are good for information.
Short term issues are that part of the playground isn't finished yet and there is no cafeteria for hot food right now.
Short term issues are that part of the playground isn't finished yet and there is no cafeteria for hot food right now.
Anonymous
10/09/2021 00:21
Subject: ATS
Just offered a position off the waitlist at ATS. Neighborhood school is Nottingham. Would love to hear from ATS parents - looking to understand the good and the bad. We applied because a friend told us that they emphasize music art which my daughter is obsessed with (is taking private violin lessons and I know that no school can replace private lessons).