Anonymous wrote:We’ve definitely seen the admin issues, but also had very positive experiences with the principal (who sadly is no longer there).

This pretty much sums up the school. You see the issues (admin), but find the good (staff), until the admin fires or chases off the good staff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a current family. I literally don’t know a single family that plans to stay if they get a halfway decent option in the lottery.

What counts as halfway decent?

Also interested what people count as halfway decent..

Not a SSMA parent but live nearby. I think last year or the year before, people would pick SSMA over Noyes and Langley. Now I think it is more of a toss up or people only do SSMA if they really want Montessori. I attribute this to general improvement at Langley and Noyes having Turnaround Arts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a current family. I literally don’t know a single family that plans to stay if they get a halfway decent option in the lottery.

What counts as halfway decent?

Also interested what people count as halfway decent..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if there are any Shining Stars open houses?

According to their website, these are the Open Houses on the calendar:

Be sure to RSVP to attend an upcoming open house and tour.

Open Houses:
Wednesday, January 16, 2019, 9:00am
Saturday, January 19, 2019, 10am
Saturday, February 2, 2019, 10am
Wednesday, February 6, 2019, 10am
Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 9am
Saturday, March 16, 2019, 10am
Wednesday, April 10, 2019, 9am
Wednesday, May 15, 2019, 9am


RSVP

Email Teresa Burgess at Tburgess@shiningstarspcs.org with questions.

The open house dates on the website seem to be incorrect. If you call the school they tell you other dates, most of which are at 6pm.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if there are any Shining Stars open houses?

According to their website, these are the Open Houses on the calendar:

Be sure to RSVP to attend an upcoming open house and tour.

Open Houses:
Wednesday, January 16, 2019, 9:00am
Saturday, January 19, 2019, 10am
Saturday, February 2, 2019, 10am
Wednesday, February 6, 2019, 10am
Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 9am
Saturday, March 16, 2019, 10am
Wednesday, April 10, 2019, 9am
Wednesday, May 15, 2019, 9am


RSVP

Email Teresa Burgess at Tburgess@shiningstarspcs.org with questions.

We are a first year family and I have to say it’s really grown on me over the year. We have two children in the school and both sets of guides/assistants are wonderful. Our kids are loved well and it’s a warm, caring place. We’ve definitely seen the admin issues, but also had very positive experiences with the principal (who sadly is no longer there). We hadn’t visited ahead of getting in but had applied because we wanted Montessori. I think you’ll still get a great Montessori education (at least in primary which is our experience). With all it’s faults, there are still a lot of intangible qualities to the school and wonderful staff. I don’t have personal experience with a lot of schools but think it’s still a good option for those who don’t have a good guaranteed option and are looking for a decent Montessori education with a higher probability of getting in.

Anonymous wrote:We are a current family. I literally don’t know a single family that plans to stay if they get a halfway decent option in the lottery.

What counts as halfway decent?

We are a current family. I literally don’t know a single family that plans to stay if they get a halfway decent option in the lottery.

I, too, went to the open house that wasn't. I was thoroughly disgusted, but SSMA is along the route of my daily commute. I have to keep it as an option, but I listed it at #11 on my lottery application.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any Shining Stars parents that are happy with the school and plan to stay there? I’m interested in Montessori for my upcoming pk3er and SSMA is convenient for us, but the recent threads make it clear there are at least a few very unhappy families. A couple neighbors recommended the school, but their kids go elsewhere. I tried to attend an Open House and was turned away. That was a big red flag, but I’m not ready to completely remove them from my list. Other Montessori options seem hard to get into or not convenient

I think I attempted to go to the same open house (hopefully there wasn’t more than one where this happened)! This was also a big red flag for me. An even bigger red flag was that no one responded to the two emails I sent asking if it was canceled or would be rescheduled.

Yes, this has happened many times now. The place is completely mismanaged.

Truly.

Does anyone know if there are any Shining Stars open houses?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any Shining Stars parents that are happy with the school and plan to stay there? I’m interested in Montessori for my upcoming pk3er and SSMA is convenient for us, but the recent threads make it clear there are at least a few very unhappy families. A couple neighbors recommended the school, but their kids go elsewhere. I tried to attend an Open House and was turned away. That was a big red flag, but I’m not ready to completely remove them from my list. Other Montessori options seem hard to get into or not convenient

I think I attempted to go to the same open house (hopefully there wasn’t more than one where this happened)! This was also a big red flag for me. An even bigger red flag was that no one responded to the two emails I sent asking if it was canceled or would be rescheduled.

Yes, this has happened many times now. The place is completely mismanaged.

Anonymous wrote:Are there any Shining Stars parents that are happy with the school and plan to stay there? I’m interested in Montessori for my upcoming pk3er and SSMA is convenient for us, but the recent threads make it clear there are at least a few very unhappy families. A couple neighbors recommended the school, but their kids go elsewhere. I tried to attend an Open House and was turned away. That was a big red flag, but I’m not ready to completely remove them from my list. Other Montessori options seem hard to get into or not convenient

I think I attempted to go to the same open house (hopefully there wasn’t more than one where this happened)! This was also a big red flag for me. An even bigger red flag was that no one responded to the two emails I sent asking if it was canceled or would be rescheduled.

LOL where to begin!

Are there any Shining Stars parents that are happy with the school and plan to stay there? I’m interested in Montessori for my upcoming pk3er and SSMA is convenient for us, but the recent threads make it clear there are at least a few very unhappy families. A couple neighbors recommended the school, but their kids go elsewhere. I tried to attend an Open House and was turned away. That was a big red flag, but I’m not ready to completely remove them from my list. Other Montessori options seem hard to get into or not convenient