Anonymous
Post 09/19/2024 00:26     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
Anonymous wrote:I have one student who is a Scholar and one who isn't. The one who isn't did not start in all honors level classes, but by sophomore year had been placed in all honors classes.

Not being a Scholar doesn't keep you out of honors classes, the student's grades do. SJC offers a ton of academic support (writiting center, math center, after school tutors, teachers have daily office hours). If you and your child are unhappy with their grades/lack of honors classes, taking advantage of these resources is your best bet. My non Scholar was probably only able to move to honors math because they met with their teacher during office hours at least once a week.
Both my Scholar and non Scholar teens love SJC, and neither are athletes. Both have big groups of friends, but it did take a while from them to find their good friends. It is a large school and most kids come to SJC not knowing many kids (or no kids). It is like freshman year in college when everyone has to make new friends. The upside is that they have a very diverse and interesting group of friends.
This year was my seventh Back to School Night at SJC, so I appreciate that it was virtual. For as long as I've been there, freshman parents go to Back to School Night in person, and older parents of older grades who presumable know the school (go to virtual).
As for National Merit scores, I don't know how anything about SJC's because the school doesn't emphasize it and I don't know what schools the poster is using a comparison. I believe that kids in DC schools have to have a higher National Merit score than kids in MD or VA to qualify for National Merit, SJC is also smaller than public school and prides itself in its diversity (socioeconomic, ethnic, and in academic ability). Unlike other private schools, it takes kids of ALL abilities, not just the top students.
Everyone in my family loves SJC, lots of people love SJC, it has way more applications each year than seats. However, the beauty of the DMV is that there are a lot of schools here, and if SJC isn't your cup of tea then there is another school that will probably work.


+100 Agree with you, and it’s been my experience also.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 23:24     Subject: Re:SJC not work for a kid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: From earlier threads

Eight High Schools in D.C. Area to Drop AP Courses

These Washington area private schools say they will stop offering AP courses.

The AP courses are expected to be dropped by 2022. According to Inside Higher Ed, the high schools making this change are

Georgetown Day,
Holton-Arms,
Landon,
Maret,
National Cathedral, Potomac,
St. Albans and
Sidwell Friends.

https://www.collegemedianetwork.com/high-scho...p-out-of-ap-courses


SJC regular students are competing against the scholars students in their own school who have carte Blanche on the APs and honors courses. If they are applying to the same 100 colleges (which they are) the scholars student will have a superior GPA due to the AP gate keeping. It doesn’t matter what other schools are doing. If you don’t enter SJC as a scholar or an elite athlete, you will fall through the cracks. It does matter what SJC is doing to it’s own students with a lopsided playing field. Which is fine is that is how they run things but parents of regular need to know this and understand how this actually plays out in the real world college admissions versus how it reads in the SJC handbook so they can make informed decisions.


You do know there are no size limits on the Scholars classes, right? So if you are applying, be sure your kid applies to Scholars.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 22:04     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
As a parent of a soon to be 9th grader I very much appreciate this forum re: SJC. The info on honors classes is esp informative. I have. DC in public who is currently taking 3 AP. One of DC’s teacher was skeptical about them taking the AP class and discouraged them from taking it based on past performance in another class. DC is excelling in this class as they CHOSE to take it and are interested in the subject. I would hate for DC to have not been allowed in the class because of a prior grade or expectation that DC could not succeed in the AP class. I will def look into requirements for the scholars program AND consider public instead.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 14:37     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:BTSN was in person for freshman parents. It was good to be able to walk the space and meet the teachers. Perhaps parents should voice concerns about the other grades having theirs virtual to see if there’s an appetite to change.


Parents have complained for years and yet this year was still Zoom. Other private schools have a separate Back to school nights for Freshman. Sophomores Juniors and Seniors parents would like to see the space and meet their kids teachers too. Public schools pull it off with thousands of kids. SJC can too.


Speak for yourself. I vastly prefer zoom after the freshman year.


I think a Zoom back to school night four years post Covid is lazy and shows a lack of respect to the parents and doesn’t build any sense of community. It says a lot about how much the admin values parental input. Even public schools have pulled off in person Back to school nights. For some parents it might be the only time they ever come to the school. I also want to meet in person at least once the people who teach my kids all year long and see their classroom. If you don’t want to go because you have other things to do, I’m sure the teacher can email you their resume and syllabus.



Seriously? At what point do you think your kid might be responsible for these type of issues. I get freshman year to learn more about the school, etc. But, after that, what are you going to learn from a BTSN for kid in High school. Go over a syllabus? Do you need to go to BTSN to get that? High school is about learning to grow up and not have your parents around to watch over you every minute of the day. If you respond that your kid isn't responsible and you need to be constant vigilent, than that is a you problem because you have failed to set expectations for your children (and reprecusions when they haven't.) A BTSN isn't going to solve that problem.


Really? Wanting to to actually meet your kids teachers in person for one night out if how many in a school year is being over vigilant and failing to let my kid grow up? Lol tell that to the public school parents who had in person back to school nights.

For the hands off parents like you, just stay home then. Let your kid run his own life at the ripe age of 14-17. I’m sure your kids are perfect and already know everything. But for parents who are interested in the people teaching their kids who are influencing them every single day deserve a chance to see them in person. I am surprised you don’t expect more from a school where you actually PAY TUITION.

Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 14:36     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
I am very on board with some of the complaints/concerns voiced here (I am fine with zoom BTSN) but I will say that all of my kids teachers last year and this have been very accessible and the school offers tutoring for kids who need or request it. If you kid wants or needs help it is there. My kid did not level into the classes they wanted this year. Tough start adjusting as a freshman, and it sucks...and it worries both of us. BUT if he had chosen to work harder and use the resources available he would have. I am not sure that the super high grades required to take honors/AP are a good idea (my kid is an A/B student and very capable) but the support is there if wanted.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 14:17     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:BTSN was in person for freshman parents. It was good to be able to walk the space and meet the teachers. Perhaps parents should voice concerns about the other grades having theirs virtual to see if there’s an appetite to change.


Parents have complained for years and yet this year was still Zoom. Other private schools have a separate Back to school nights for Freshman. Sophomores Juniors and Seniors parents would like to see the space and meet their kids teachers too. Public schools pull it off with thousands of kids. SJC can too.


Speak for yourself. I vastly prefer zoom after the freshman year.


I think a Zoom back to school night four years post Covid is lazy and shows a lack of respect to the parents and doesn’t build any sense of community. It says a lot about how much the admin values parental input. Even public schools have pulled off in person Back to school nights. For some parents it might be the only time they ever come to the school. I also want to meet in person at least once the people who teach my kids all year long and see their classroom. If you don’t want to go because you have other things to do, I’m sure the teacher can email you their resume and syllabus.



Seriously? At what point do you think your kid might be responsible for these type of issues. I get freshman year to learn more about the school, etc. But, after that, what are you going to learn from a BTSN for kid in High school. Go over a syllabus? Do you need to go to BTSN to get that? High school is about learning to grow up and not have your parents around to watch over you every minute of the day. If you respond that your kid isn't responsible and you need to be constant vigilent, than that is a you problem because you have failed to set expectations for your children (and reprecusions when they haven't.) A BTSN isn't going to solve that problem.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 13:49     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
Respectfully, this thread has gone off the rails. Some people like Zoom BTSN, some don't. Ok, the original question was what type of kid would SJC not work for. I can't imagine anyone choosing a high school based on a 2 hour event held once a year.

Some people are using this thread to air all of their SJC grievances, and while some seem to be in good faith, some do not.

In case anyone is wondering, parents can meet with their kids' teachers at parent-teacher conferences, which are held twice a year. All of my kids teachers also put their cell numbers and email on the syllabus and tell parents they are willing to meet with them if they have any questions. If you want to meet your kids' teachers, you can always take advantage of either of the above options.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 13:46     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:BTSN was in person for freshman parents. It was good to be able to walk the space and meet the teachers. Perhaps parents should voice concerns about the other grades having theirs virtual to see if there’s an appetite to change.


Parents have complained for years and yet this year was still Zoom. Other private schools have a separate Back to school nights for Freshman. Sophomores Juniors and Seniors parents would like to see the space and meet their kids teachers too. Public schools pull it off with thousands of kids. SJC can too.


Isn't this a logistics issue? Where would everyone park?


The same place they park for all of the football games and prior to Covid when BTSN was in person. They find a spot on the street around the school. Ya know. Just like they do at public schools and all big schools.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 13:39     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:BTSN was in person for freshman parents. It was good to be able to walk the space and meet the teachers. Perhaps parents should voice concerns about the other grades having theirs virtual to see if there’s an appetite to change.


Parents have complained for years and yet this year was still Zoom. Other private schools have a separate Back to school nights for Freshman. Sophomores Juniors and Seniors parents would like to see the space and meet their kids teachers too. Public schools pull it off with thousands of kids. SJC can too.


Isn't this a logistics issue? Where would everyone park?
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 12:46     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:BTSN was in person for freshman parents. It was good to be able to walk the space and meet the teachers. Perhaps parents should voice concerns about the other grades having theirs virtual to see if there’s an appetite to change.


Parents have complained for years and yet this year was still Zoom. Other private schools have a separate Back to school nights for Freshman. Sophomores Juniors and Seniors parents would like to see the space and meet their kids teachers too. Public schools pull it off with thousands of kids. SJC can too.


Speak for yourself. I vastly prefer zoom after the freshman year.

Speaking for myself, I’d be very disappointed with a Zoomed BTSN. I didn’t even know that was a thing anywhere at this point. So glad our school doesn’t do that.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 12:43     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:BTSN was in person for freshman parents. It was good to be able to walk the space and meet the teachers. Perhaps parents should voice concerns about the other grades having theirs virtual to see if there’s an appetite to change.


Parents have complained for years and yet this year was still Zoom. Other private schools have a separate Back to school nights for Freshman. Sophomores Juniors and Seniors parents would like to see the space and meet their kids teachers too. Public schools pull it off with thousands of kids. SJC can too.


Speak for yourself. I vastly prefer zoom after the freshman year.


I think a Zoom back to school night four years post Covid is lazy and shows a lack of respect to the parents and doesn’t build any sense of community. It says a lot about how much the admin values parental input. Even public schools have pulled off in person Back to school nights. For some parents it might be the only time they ever come to the school. I also want to meet in person at least once the people who teach my kids all year long and see their classroom. If you don’t want to go because you have other things to do, I’m sure the teacher can email you their resume and syllabus.



+1.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 11:47     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:BTSN was in person for freshman parents. It was good to be able to walk the space and meet the teachers. Perhaps parents should voice concerns about the other grades having theirs virtual to see if there’s an appetite to change.


Parents have complained for years and yet this year was still Zoom. Other private schools have a separate Back to school nights for Freshman. Sophomores Juniors and Seniors parents would like to see the space and meet their kids teachers too. Public schools pull it off with thousands of kids. SJC can too.


Speak for yourself. I vastly prefer zoom after the freshman year.


I think a Zoom back to school night four years post Covid is lazy and shows a lack of respect to the parents and doesn’t build any sense of community. It says a lot about how much the admin values parental input. Even public schools have pulled off in person Back to school nights. For some parents it might be the only time they ever come to the school. I also want to meet in person at least once the people who teach my kids all year long and see their classroom. If you don’t want to go because you have other things to do, I’m sure the teacher can email you their resume and syllabus.

Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 11:39     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:BTSN was in person for freshman parents. It was good to be able to walk the space and meet the teachers. Perhaps parents should voice concerns about the other grades having theirs virtual to see if there’s an appetite to change.


Parents have complained for years and yet this year was still Zoom. Other private schools have a separate Back to school nights for Freshman. Sophomores Juniors and Seniors parents would like to see the space and meet their kids teachers too. Public schools pull it off with thousands of kids. SJC can too.


Speak for yourself. I vastly prefer zoom after the freshman year.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 11:37     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
Anonymous wrote:BTSN was in person for freshman parents. It was good to be able to walk the space and meet the teachers. Perhaps parents should voice concerns about the other grades having theirs virtual to see if there’s an appetite to change.


Parents have complained for years and yet this year was still Zoom. Other private schools have a separate Back to school nights for Freshman. Sophomores Juniors and Seniors parents would like to see the space and meet their kids teachers too. Public schools pull it off with thousands of kids. SJC can too.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2024 10:24     Subject: SJC not work for a kid
BTSN was in person for freshman parents. It was good to be able to walk the space and meet the teachers. Perhaps parents should voice concerns about the other grades having theirs virtual to see if there’s an appetite to change.