Anonymous wrote: 16:37 here. Thanks for the greaT feedback. I do love the idea of the Hill community getting behind E-H. I just don't want those folks thaT decide against e-h to be shunned by the community.

We are so far from this. We are looking for the first pioneer family!

16:37 here. Thanks for the greaT feedback. I do love the idea of the Hill community getting behind E-H. I just don't want those folks thaT decide against e-h to be shunned by the community.

Anonymous wrote:Why not expect families to go their own way and start to focus on the middle school that works for their family? We are personally planning to start attending games and plays and maybe even PTA meetings at E-H, but we don't expect the entire Brent community to do the same.

This is a very valid point. But I think it fails to distinguish between what families ultimately decide to pursue and what the community as a whole advocates. By "community" I mean not just Brent but roughly all of Capitol Hill, Ward 6 or whatever your point of reference. I'd love to see the community as a whole pull roughly in the same direction while recognizing that may not work for everybody, or not yet, or not completely. In fact, to get anything accomplished we really need to roughly work toward the same vision.
For me, that vision really is Eliot-Hine. I realize that may sound dauntingly distant for parents of 5th graders who feel, and have even been told, that Eliot-Hine is just not ready for them (I realize that "they/them" lacks definition). But I think if you start looking even just one year down the road, not waiting and looking on, but getting involved here and there, requesting here and there, advocating here and there, you'll realize that it actually wouldn't take all that much. Moreover, if everyone realizes that they're not alone contributing to that vision then it isn't all that daunting either.
What I'd find important is to identify concrete steps that could be taken, as simple as aligning schedules of PTA meetings, games, and performances as mentioned, cross-listing schedules.
Also, although small numbers comes with power for the few who get involved, it shouldn't be the same people and the same school(s) at the helm of this effort, and neither should it only be an effort "higher up" but also something of a grassroots effort. Everyone of these pieces matters.

I love this idea from 16:37. It's how the cluster works a little better because Peabody, Watkins and Stuart have rotating PTA meetings at the diff campuses, and you can attend plays, concerts etc at Stuart. But 16:48 has a good point too-as people peel off to go elsewhere, it makes everyone else who's left question their own decision and not want to be the "last one". One thing that I think happens though, is that the kids make so many other friends, that it's not so noticeable to them, but to the parents, it's brutal.

because it is easier for your student if he/she goes to a middle school with friends

because you don't want your child to be in a middle school with few other highly performing students

but what happens is one by one students are let in to charters, OOB, privates, and strong cohorts disappear

Anonymous wrote:More seriously, what's the take-away from yesterday's community meeting at Brent? I hear there were a lot of parents in attendance willing to ponder all the options and willing to listen to all the sides. But what are next steps, what's the course forward now to help us all pull in the same direction?

I don't intend to sound snarky but, why should we all pull in the same direction? Why not expect families to go their own way and start to focus on the middle school that works for their family? We are personally planning to start attending games and plays and maybe even PTA meetings at E-H, but we don't expect the entire Brent community to do the same.

More seriously, what's the take-away from yesterday's community meeting at Brent? I hear there were a lot of parents in attendance willing to ponder all the options and willing to listen to all the sides. But what are next steps, what's the course forward now to help us all pull in the same direction?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am with you the rally to save Eastern and Eliot-Hine was all show. As it made the property values more stable. I think Eastern and Eliot-Hine are regarded as the "help" when it comes to their tecognition among the education future.

and

In certain instances Ward 6 can be viewed as potential horders for education.

What? What does that mean?

Maybe that Eastern and Eliot-Hine grads are supposed to be "the Help" for families in Ward 3?

But you've got me as to how the hoarders are going to keep the education all to themselves...

Anonymous wrote:How did the Tommy Wells Middle School meeting at Brent go this evening? Can someone share the highlights?

He directed Brent to set its sights on Elliot-Hine and shift away from Jefferson entirely. Maybe Elliot-Hine will become Elliot-Hine-Jefferson (EHJ) and the Jefferson campus (AMAZING location) will be leased to a charter school.

I like this plan, but I'm not sure how SW residents will feel about it as SW to EHJ would be long trek. Hope that this is where the providing residents of the surrounding area a preference for admission to the charter would kick in.

Anonymous wrote:I am with you the rally to save Eastern and Eliot-Hine was all show. As it made the property values more stable. I think Eastern and Eliot-Hine are regarded as the "help" when it comes to their tecognition among the education future.

and

In certain instances Ward 6 can be viewed as potential horders for education.

What? What does that mean?

I am with you the rally to save Eastern and Eliot-Hine was all show. As it made the property values more stable. I think Eastern and Eliot-Hine are regarded as the "help" when it comes to their tecognition among the education future.

In certain instances Ward 6 can be viewed as potential horders for education.

I am with you the rally to save Eastern and Eliot-Hine was all show. As it made the property values more stable. I think Eastern and Eliot-Hine are regarded as the "help" when it comes to their tecognition among the education future.

In certain instances Ward 6 can be viewed as potential horders for education.

How did the Tommy Wells Middle School meeting at Brent go this evening? Can someone share the highlights?

Anonymous wrote:Wells was not helpful nor influential when Eastern experienced their crises. Don't get your hopes high on Wells.

He'll have to adjust to his electorate having expanded east (and south) or lose voters, as simple as that. Lip service paid by rallying to keep Eliot-Hine and Eastern in Ward 6 won't do for me, and I suspect neither will it for many others. There needs to be a true commitment to Hill East, including its educational success.

Wells was not helpful nor influential when Eastern experienced their crises. Don't get your hopes high on Wells.