I am a parent of a Sela student and we are happy with the school and plan on sending our daughter next year too. Her teachers (a lead teacher and assistant) both taught the same grade, as a pair, last year (the first year of the school). Our daughter's teachers really know her strengths and weaknesses. She has learned so much Hebrew language this year. It is true that, as a new school, there are some kinks to work out, but we are satisfied with the education our daughter is getting now and only expect it to improve in coming years. We don't want to lose this opportunity to expose her to the language while she is young. The more people invest in the school and send their kids there, the better it will get.

Troll leave SELA and SS alone. Find other schools ..........

Anonymous wrote:I am a SELA parent. The only grade where there have been changes is 1st grade and the new first grade English teacher is excellent (the Hebrew teacher did not change). My daughter is in 1st grade and while it's not ideal, it's also not atypical of new charters to take a few years to get themselves together. All other grades have been stable and in PreK and Kindergarten, they are mostly the same teachers from last year. The new administration is excellent, very communicative and responsive to parents.

I completely agree, as another Sela parent there have Not been alot of teacher changes this year, my son is in PreK4 and he has had the same Excellent teachers all year. If you do not know facts please keep your opinions about Sela to yourself, if you want Truth ask a Sela parent.

Anonymous wrote:I am a SELA parent. The only grade where there have been changes is 1st grade and the new first grade English teacher is excellent (the Hebrew teacher did not change). My daughter is in 1st grade and while it's not ideal, it's also not atypical of new charters to take a few years to get themselves together. All other grades have been stable and in PreK and Kindergarten, they are mostly the same teachers from last year. The new administration is excellent, very communicative and responsive to parents.

if it's the new as of Jan English teacher then "excellent" is one word for her. we're not happy.

Anonymous wrote:My prediction is that Bridges will move for 2016-2017 to the Mamie D Lee building in Fort Totten (which they have bid on against apparently only DC Bilingual, which does not seem too organized in terms of making a successful bid). Shining Stars will move that year to the current Bridges location on Taylor Street. Until then, Shining Stars will remain at Sela.

Bridges is definitely moving to Mamie D. Lee in 2016. They were awarded the building.

I am a SELA parent. The only grade where there have been changes is 1st grade and the new first grade English teacher is excellent (the Hebrew teacher did not change). My daughter is in 1st grade and while it's not ideal, it's also not atypical of new charters to take a few years to get themselves together. All other grades have been stable and in PreK and Kindergarten, they are mostly the same teachers from last year. The new administration is excellent, very communicative and responsive to parents.

My prediction is that Bridges will move for 2016-2017 to the Mamie D Lee building in Fort Totten (which they have bid on against apparently only DC Bilingual, which does not seem too organized in terms of making a successful bid). Shining Stars will move that year to the current Bridges location on Taylor Street. Until then, Shining Stars will remain at Sela.

^^ Because, in case anyone doesn't make the connection, Sela is where SS ended up as temporary space this year after their location debacle. Certainly possible that some don't know that.

Wonder how current Shining Stars families feel about possibly staying there long term?

I toured the school and I would say it's a nice facility, considering how they converted the building. I'm not a Sela parent, but I would hate to see it go under. If so, an existing Charter would have an easy transition.

[quote=Anonymous]Yes. They are struggling and it appears that the new administration is not much better than the previous one. I'll be surprised if they survive another year.[/quote]

How many teachers/which grades? Any additional comments on administration?

Yes. They are struggling and it appears that the new administration is not much better than the previous one. I'll be surprised if they survive another year.

From their website, it appears yes--looking for details from somebody in the know.

Call the school and ask.

Have any Sela teachers left/started the school since the SY began?