Ms. Ollinger is 3rd grade, I think, not AAP.

Where will the AAP kids in the FHS pyramid go if MW is no longer an option?

Anonymous wrote:Is she an AAP teacher?

special ed

Is she an AAP teacher?

One of their teachers just got an award. http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=2251

I am a parent of a child in AAP and MW is our base school. I can tell you that the AAP classes are by far the largest. 5th grade AAP has 36 or 37 kids in each class (there are two). The Gen. Ed only have in the 20s. I thought AAP was all about differentiated math - not so - they all learn the same math; there are no high, med, low math groups, same goes for language arts. The exception is 3rd grade AAP - that is the one grade (in our experience) where they have different levels. The school is very crowded. All 5th and 6th graders are in trailers. There is no breezeway to the building - the kids are in the element. The PTA is run by the same group of people year after year and is a great PTA, just not a whole lotta folks helping out, compared to other schools. IOW, a few do most of the work. I can't say much about the administration (I care not to), but have been rather pleased with the teaching staff. Overall, a really good school. We are happy, but wish there was more differentiated instruction in base and AAP. Both are lacking in this.

MW parent here but my child has just been found eligible for AAP so I can't comment on the program itself. We do really like the school, though. My child has been there since kindergarten.

The school does not seem crowded to me. I see the trailers but next to a wide open field of grass and surrounding trees. I have even seen deer grazing at the back of the field. The neighborhood around the school has lots of greenery and a small pond called Shadow Pond, with some beautiful weeping willows, as you are about to turn into the school. The school playground is nice and spacious and the trailers don't crowd out playground space like at some other schools.

Through a brief glance at the school directory, I don't think that most of the AAP classes have more than 30 kids. Of ones that I know are AAP (through knowing who some of the AAP teachers are or some of the kids), they seem to be more like in the upper 20s at least for third and fourth grade. There may be at least one with a little more than 30 for fifth grade. I haven't heard any parents of older AAP children complaining about too many kids in the classes, but again I do not have a child in the program yet, so maybe I am just unaware. For the classes K through second my child's classes have had in the low to mid 20s. Though this may not be relevant to the AAP numbers, the school has been good about creating new classes with new teachers if the numbers are getting too high.

Foreign language is not part of the core curriculum in that there is no FLES. But there are FLEX classes in Mandarin (Chinese), Spanish, and French, one hour per week. Global Korean is offered one hour per week. And the school is extremely diverse, so you can always find someone to practice with for whatever language you are learning, except perhaps French. The school's international festival is a highlight each year.

Mosby Woods is a CETA school (Changing Education Through the Arts, partnership with the Kennedy Center). The art classes are great, and all students have the opportunity to learn violin beginning in third grade.

I hope this helps and sorry not to have more information about the AAP classes themselves!

I looked into Mosby Woods Elementary for my child. And I know several students who go or went there. The principal is great, according to everyone I spoke to. She is very involved. I don't think they have language, but they are focused on the arts and have a joint program of some sort with the Kennedy Center. They start instruments at 3rd grade (strings) and band in 4th grade - a year earlier than most schools. Lots of great artwork around the school - you can see the emphasis in that area.

I've heard the school is crowded, however, I urge you to go there, take a tour and talk to the staff and current parents. Most people really like it. Also, while the 6th graders are in trailers, they are the permanant kind, which look much nicer than the temp. ones. And I believe there is a breezeway to the main building, which is nice.

We ended up not going there, for a completely different reason not related to the school. But I would check it out. You might be very impressed.

Anonymous wrote:Based on the crickets chirping, I guess the MW AAP crew is not full of DCUM lurking crazies like myself.

tee hee. If it was about Kilmer or Thoreau MS you'd have replies up the ying yang.

Anonymous wrote:Based on the crickets chirping, I guess the MW AAP crew is not full of DCUM lurking crazies like myself.

I suggest posting on the FCAG Yahoo Group. There are lots of parents there.

Based on the crickets chirping, I guess the MW AAP crew is not full of DCUM lurking crazies like myself.

Anonymous wrote:the above change is being considered for the 2014-15 school year. not the 2013-14 school year.

Still important to know if DC will have to move (again) after one year or will be grandfathered in .

the above change is being considered for the 2014-15 school year. not the 2013-14 school year.

Can't speak to what MW is like now, but it will likely change next year when it will only be for Oakton HS pyramid elementary schools. You may want to start figuring out what grandfathering is going to look like next year before you make your decision. The person to talk to in the administration is Dr. Zuluaga, Asst. Superintendant for Cluster 8. He is the one pushing for MW AAP to be only for MW, Oakton ES, and Waples Mill ES.

We received an eligibility letter today and our center is Mosby Woods. We are very happy to have this opportunity for DC, but have some reservations. Reservations may be a strong word - I guess we just want to more information. We love DC's current (base) school. It is a Title I school, STEM focus and offers a Chinese language program. We enjoy the smaller class sizes, the culture and the STEM focus and language. From what I have heard (mind you, I have never even stepped foot into Mosby Woods, and plan to take a tour, go to orientation,etc) MW is very crowded, with AAP class sizes of over 30 and most of 6th grade out in trailers. Also, foreign language is not part of the core curriculum (correct me if I am wrong.)

So I guess, my question is - is the AAP curriculum such that the benefits of it outweigh the other factors? I certainly feel that DC would benefit from a more challenging curriculum, but am reluctant to leave some of the things we enjoy at the base school. Parents of MW AAP students, please share your experiences, I would love to hear from you. Thanks in advance.