Very hands on is what I heard about the head at PDS but it wasn't meant in a good way. Teachers have to pass every single email through her. She is micro-managing the staff to death. One PDS parent said to me that she seems paranoid. Lots of drama. I hope it is all due to establishing herself and once she feels confident she will start to back off a bit. I will be looking next year but if things stay like they are now, I will skip - lots of other choices and don't need a place where all the adults are drama filled and forgetting to focus on the children.

Define "lots of parents". 2/5/10???

Anonymous wrote:I got an earful the other day from some current parents really not happy with the school head. I had no idea it had changed so much. Lots of people pulling their kids to go to Mater Dei, Norwood or other schools. Some parents just waiting it out since they only have a year or two left. It seems like it is really polarized there, some parents i guess must like the new head, but lots just biding time. Shame, shouldn't be like that.

+1. I wonder of it would make sense to fold it into another school.

I got an earful the other day from some current parents really not happy with the school head. I had no idea it had changed so much. Lots of people pulling their kids to go to Mater Dei, Norwood or other schools. Some parents just waiting it out since they only have a year or two left. It seems like it is really polarized there, some parents i guess must like the new head, but lots just biding time. Shame, shouldn't be like that.

Important distinction to the 3/13 poster....PDS new head of school is NOT an educator. She is an administrator and does not have a teaching degree or classroom experience. This is highly exceptional among the top local independent schools so interpret how you see fit.

I am also a current parent and couldn't be happier! I think it is an amazing school where my daughters love going to school every single day. Although we do not have experience with the old principal, Ms. Geppert is a fantastic principal who is very hands on. She wants each student to reach their highest potential and have a fantastic learning experience.

Anonymous wrote:Primary Day is a gem of a school, and it has only gotten stronger in the last couple years. The phonovisual method is a tried and true approach to building strong readers. The math program has always been great too and I think the shift to Singapore math is a further enhancement. Some of the other recent improvements include an expansion of the language program and increased use of technology (ipads, smart boards). Children get an outstanding foundation at PDS in an environment that is very supportive and nurturing.

+1000. Current parent and could not be happier!

Yes, I get your focus on culture. But slamming a school because you don't like the new culture due to the new head of the school is not helpful when people are asking about the school in my opinion. And that is what my first post was addressing - that I thought the "new" culture was just fine and the revised academic truly awesome. (ESPECIALLY if you still want your grandchildren to attend the school. ) As for your exit interview question, no of course I haven't but I certainly know that some staff/teachers have left because they were not comfortable under the new regime. This is common in all work places when a new leader comes in. Again to address the original question, PDS is a gem of a school and a bargain too boot.

Anonymous wrote:Your focus is interesting. I was responding to very negative comments that I assume you must have written about Primary Day that I totally disagreed with. I am glad you had fond memories of the school but to say negative things that just are not true is not helpful, especially based on your past experiences at the school and the past teachers. And placing the blame on the current head is ridiculous. While I agree that there were lovely teachers and staff that have left the school (Form many different reasons), there were other teachers that really needed to go. As for why they left ("writing on the wall"?) - who can say. Yes, change is hard and perhaps they didn't want to work with the new head, but be that as it may, the new teachers are wonderful and warm. So unlike the PP, I feel Primary Day is still great and I am a current parent who has gone through the administrative changes in the last two years.

My focus is on the culture of the school which is typically defined by the leadership and staff. I am not sure what statements you are referring to that are not true, please elaborate. If you have done an exit interview with each of the staff that is no longer there, then I guess you should share the information and tell me how wrong I am about why the staff left. According to you, the current head has had nothing to do with any it. Did you know that the old head of the school was banned (this is very well known) from coming back and visiting until the board got word and then she was invited once in 2013-2014? Agree that some staff should have gone, however, there is a way to let people go professionally and then there is the new head's way. Don't get me wrong, I loved PDS and love the staff that is there. You are foolish if you think that the staff shows up thrilled to be there, and i would not be surprised to see more changes at the end of this year. I really am done commenting on this and am glad that you are having a great experience. I just hope when my children's children attend, they can still see some of the Old PDS.

Your focus is interesting. I was responding to very negative comments that I assume you must have written about Primary Day that I totally disagreed with. I am glad you had fond memories of the school but to say negative things that just are not true is not helpful, especially based on your past experiences at the school and the past teachers. And placing the blame on the current head is ridiculous. While I agree that there were lovely teachers and staff that have left the school (Form many different reasons), there were other teachers that really needed to go. As for why they left ("writing on the wall"?) - who can say. Yes, change is hard and perhaps they didn't want to work with the new head, but be that as it may, the new teachers are wonderful and warm. So unlike the PP, I feel Primary Day is still great and I am a current parent who has gone through the administrative changes in the last two years.

Anonymous wrote:That alumni parent does not know. I am a current parent who has been there thru the old head and the new head. There have been a lot of changes and that has lead to some teacher turnover but the best teachers have stayed and the new teachers are really excellent (good teachers who are warm and caring). As for tradition, yes things have changed and that seems to cause angst for families that have been there a while but these changed (mostly academic - going to Sinapore math, adding foreign languages, introducing reading workshop) were absolutely needed.

Wow what a champion you are for the people that lost their jobs or simply left since the writing was on the wall. As someone who was there under old and new, it must have delighted you to see people who had been there 10+ years just summarily dismissed. Art teachers, pre-K, kindergarten, admin and admissions all hit within a year, but according to you they were lousy people to begin with. I have no problem with adding academic enhancements, and yes, it is very important for a pre-ker to know chinese, but it the fabric of the community the made PDS special. All I can say is that I am glad I got to experience it without all this negative nonsense. People are grumbling for a reason, but soon those "old" people will be out of the school, it doesn't make a difference anyway.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, current climate at pds is horrible. Staff turnover has been huge, due to a new head. New parents may not notice, but as an alumni parent is is very disappointing to see the direction of the school. Well loved teachers fired or quitting due to her management. It's all about numbers and money now, no longer about a traditional, community based education with strong academics. Standards for admission have been lowered, the admissions director quit last summer. Head is bringing in her "yes" people, such a shame.

I am a current parent, whose child came in with the new head. I have "heard" these grumblings. But from my perspective I could not disagree more strongly and I think the changes were needed. The new head is great, approachable, and an educator and she has made some much needed improvements such as adding language and technology. I agree that this is a "gem" of a school that does an amazing job of focusing on the primary years. Most importantly, my kid loves it and is flourishing.

Primary Day is a gem of a school, and it has only gotten stronger in the last couple years. The phonovisual method is a tried and true approach to building strong readers. The math program has always been great too and I think the shift to Singapore math is a further enhancement. Some of the other recent improvements include an expansion of the language program and increased use of technology (ipads, smart boards). Children get an outstanding foundation at PDS in an environment that is very supportive and nurturing.

Primary Day is a gem of a school, and it has only gotten stronger in the last couple years. The phonovisual method is a tried and true approach to building strong readers. The math program has always been great too and I think the shift to Singapore math is a further enhancement. Sone of the other recent improvemebnts include an expansion of the language program and increased use of technology (ipads, smart boards). Children get an outstanding foundation at PDS in an environment that is very supportive and nurturing.

That alumni parent does not know. I am a current parent who has been there thru the old head and the new head. There have been a lot of changes and that has lead to some teacher turnover but the best teachers have stayed and the new teachers are really excellent (good teachers who are warm and caring). As for tradition, yes things have changed and that seems to cause angst for families that have been there a while but these changed (mostly academic - going to Sinapore math, adding foreign languages, introducing reading workshop) were absolutely needed.