Anonymous
04/24/2026 10:13
Subject: WTF is Focus?
Entitled children at this fancy school?
Gossipy moms at this fancy school throwing shade at children?
Shocking.
Gossipy moms at this fancy school throwing shade at children?
Shocking.
Anonymous
04/24/2026 09:57
Subject: WTF is Focus?
I think they were the same options that they have every year. A few kids opt out but have never taken an alternate trip together before.
Anonymous
04/24/2026 09:25
Subject: WTF is Focus?
Is it normal for kids to opt out of 8th grade trips or were this years options just not great?
Anonymous
04/24/2026 09:23
Subject: WTF is Focus?
It’s not. Reading between the lines, it looks like somebody’s daughter wasn’t invited and is going to be stuck on a class trip so the mom has made it about focus instead of her daughter not being included.
Anonymous
04/24/2026 09:16
Subject: WTF is Focus?
I feel like I’m missing context—why is this a big deal?
Anonymous
04/24/2026 09:13
Subject: WTF is Focus?
Private school is about paying to do whatever you want. It is anti social to take your kid and their friends to Florida instead of going on a school trip but they are entitled to that. They probably don’t want to go on the trip because they’ve already been there and their vacation to that place was nicer than whatever the school is doing. The school should prop up the illusion that the school community is real and important so it’s very strange that they are allowing this to happen. But not unusual. This type of stuff happens all the time.
Anonymous
04/24/2026 09:05
Subject: Re:WTF is Focus?
Anonymous wrote:It is very embarrassing and icky and it is in the school and individual families best interests for nobody to find out about it.
It’s 8 girls and 3 boys skipping the defining 8th grade event to go on a second spring break to Florida mostly they either feel entitled to their first choice trip (there are options for the 8th grade trip) or because they are leaving for another school and want to send a message as they leave. 5-10 other kids also opted out of the trip but will be participating in a local option or just chilling at home. That’s around 1/4 of the class who have opted out of the 8th grade trip. That is a terrible look for the school.
Noteworthy that the kids traveling to Florida belong to the focus club. To me it signals that they’re very fulfilled by focus and don’t need or want to participate in the school community. Embarrassing for the school to allow a group to lure their students away like this.
...sounds like it is already getting out/has gotten out... I'm not close to this particular school, but if it is already here in this sort of way, I can guarantee it is going to be coming down the grapevine too... especially given the number of kids and what a big deal 8th grade trips are...
Anonymous
04/24/2026 08:45
Subject: Re:WTF is Focus?
Anonymous wrote:It is very embarrassing and icky and it is in the school and individual families best interests for nobody to find out about it.
It’s 8 girls and 3 boys skipping the defining 8th grade event to go on a second spring break to Florida mostly they either feel entitled to their first choice trip (there are options for the 8th grade trip) or because they are leaving for another school and want to send a message as they leave. 5-10 other kids also opted out of the trip but will be participating in a local option or just chilling at home. That’s around 1/4 of the class who have opted out of the 8th grade trip. That is a terrible look for the school.
Noteworthy that the kids traveling to Florida belong to the focus club. To me it signals that they’re very fulfilled by focus and don’t need or want to participate in the school community. Embarrassing for the school to allow a group to lure their students away like this.
Only one of the kids going to Florida is leaving the school so I don’t think this is about sending a message. They are simply entitled and think the school trips aren’t worth their time.
Anonymous
04/24/2026 08:25
Subject: Re:WTF is Focus?
It is very embarrassing and icky and it is in the school and individual families best interests for nobody to find out about it.
It’s 8 girls and 3 boys skipping the defining 8th grade event to go on a second spring break to Florida mostly they either feel entitled to their first choice trip (there are options for the 8th grade trip) or because they are leaving for another school and want to send a message as they leave. 5-10 other kids also opted out of the trip but will be participating in a local option or just chilling at home. That’s around 1/4 of the class who have opted out of the 8th grade trip. That is a terrible look for the school.
Noteworthy that the kids traveling to Florida belong to the focus club. To me it signals that they’re very fulfilled by focus and don’t need or want to participate in the school community. Embarrassing for the school to allow a group to lure their students away like this.
It’s 8 girls and 3 boys skipping the defining 8th grade event to go on a second spring break to Florida mostly they either feel entitled to their first choice trip (there are options for the 8th grade trip) or because they are leaving for another school and want to send a message as they leave. 5-10 other kids also opted out of the trip but will be participating in a local option or just chilling at home. That’s around 1/4 of the class who have opted out of the 8th grade trip. That is a terrible look for the school.
Noteworthy that the kids traveling to Florida belong to the focus club. To me it signals that they’re very fulfilled by focus and don’t need or want to participate in the school community. Embarrassing for the school to allow a group to lure their students away like this.
Anonymous
04/24/2026 08:00
Subject: WTF is Focus?
Weird that you two know about this and both post to DCUM about it.
Anonymous
04/24/2026 07:50
Subject: WTF is Focus?
Anonymous wrote:About ten 8th grade girls are skipping the 8th grade trip to go on a first class beach vacation with a focus counselor. That is weird.
It’s six girls. A mom is taking them and is bringing a focus counselor as an additional chaperone. And yes, it’s still weird.
Anonymous
04/24/2026 06:41
Subject: WTF is Focus?
About ten 8th grade girls are skipping the 8th grade trip to go on a first class beach vacation with a focus counselor. That is weird.
Anonymous
06/18/2025 17:36
Subject: WTF is Focus?
Pp: thank you both for the helpful answers!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This thread went way off the rails. Does anyone know more about what Focus actually is? We are mainline Protestant and I would like to understand if it aligns or is more evangelical. It is hard to tell from the online materials. Thank you.
My kids have attended (we're Episcopalians) and I know many other kids who haves as well and have met the staffers. It's really very low key. There is no hard core theology or any proselytizing. I come from dogmatic Evangelical roots and I know that world well. This is not it--it's just a very positive space for kids that includes prayer, sharing, singing, snacks. I would encourage your kids to try it--if it's not for them they'll know. My son wasn't interested but my daughter has been.
Agree with you. Staffers are amazing and the program itself is nice and low-key BUT the families attracted to it in recent years especially at the all boys schools (with a few exceptions) are very conservative families and the larger Focus world is full of very conservative Trump families. Not all but yes most so by association those are the people your kid will be with and more importantly influenced by. Something to think about.
Anonymous
06/18/2025 14:38
Subject: WTF is Focus?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This thread went way off the rails. Does anyone know more about what Focus actually is? We are mainline Protestant and I would like to understand if it aligns or is more evangelical. It is hard to tell from the online materials. Thank you.
My kids have attended (we're Episcopalians) and I know many other kids who haves as well and have met the staffers. It's really very low key. There is no hard core theology or any proselytizing. I come from dogmatic Evangelical roots and I know that world well. This is not it--it's just a very positive space for kids that includes prayer, sharing, singing, snacks. I would encourage your kids to try it--if it's not for them they'll know. My son wasn't interested but my daughter has been.
Agree with you. Staffers are amazing and the program itself is nice and low-key BUT the families attracted to it in recent years especially at the all boys schools (with a few exceptions) are very conservative families and the larger Focus world is full of very conservative Trump families. Not all but yes most so by association those are the people your kid will be with and more importantly influenced by. Something to think about.
Anonymous
06/18/2025 09:30
Subject: WTF is Focus?
Anonymous wrote:This thread went way off the rails. Does anyone know more about what Focus actually is? We are mainline Protestant and I would like to understand if it aligns or is more evangelical. It is hard to tell from the online materials. Thank you.
My kids have attended (we're Episcopalians) and I know many other kids who haves as well and have met the staffers. It's really very low key. There is no hard core theology or any proselytizing. I come from dogmatic Evangelical roots and I know that world well. This is not it--it's just a very positive space for kids that includes prayer, sharing, singing, snacks. I would encourage your kids to try it--if it's not for them they'll know. My son wasn't interested but my daughter has been.