Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is amazing to me that a good chunk of the "hot topics" on DCUM directly or indirectly relate to Beauvoir. This fact is even more amazing as the admissions season has not truly begun.

There is clearly an obsession about the school on both sides of the aisle.

What I can't quite figure out is, why?

Because even in this day an age, everyone just wants to be a WASP, regardless of religion, color, or creed. Beauvoir provides entree into that world.

Because their true obsession in St. Albans or NCS.

How generous of you, PP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is amazing to me that a good chunk of the "hot topics" on DCUM directly or indirectly relate to Beauvoir. This fact is even more amazing as the admissions season has not truly begun.

There is clearly an obsession about the school on both sides of the aisle.

What I can't quite figure out is, why?

Because even in this day an age, everyone just wants to be a WASP, regardless of religion, color, or creed. Beauvoir provides entree into that world.

We're hoping our Dc is accepted so we can add a bit of diversity and share our cultural experiences with the other children. As an educator, I believe exposing children to all aspects of life and mutliple cultures are very important.

Oh, BS. My family is very jewish, we have a Jewish home, and our kids went to Beauvoir. It has nothing to do with wanting to be a WASP, not that we could anyway. Way to be judgmental.

Anonymous wrote:It is amazing to me that a good chunk of the "hot topics" on DCUM directly or indirectly relate to Beauvoir. This fact is even more amazing as the admissions season has not truly begun.

There is clearly an obsession about the school on both sides of the aisle.

What I can't quite figure out is, why?

Because even in this day an age, everyone just wants to be a WASP, regardless of religion, color, or creed. Beauvoir provides entree into that world.

GDS doesn't have a cafeteria in the lower/middle school or the upper school. The upper school kids are allowed to leave campus, which I didn't like AT ALL (Burke allows this too). At GDS they tried to make it into a positive, like "they all get to eat with their class and bond" but I wasn't buying it. It's not a deal breaker by any means, but for nearly 30K, it would be nice not to have to pack a lunch, especially when so many of the other private schools have dining halls (Sidwell, Maret, St. Albans, Landon, NCS, Holton).

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the GDS lunch thing. I am not saying the the lunch has to be catered or fancy, but not even a basic cafeteria. I really think that a 4 -5 yo needs to be "served" lunch. Its seems counterintuitive to offer lunch to the upper grades but not the lower.

What does GDS say about why they do lunch in this way? I went on a parent tour the other day, but was afraid to ask.

But other schools offer the same or even better ratios with two full-fledged teachers per class.

Just to clarify, the associate teacher in each classroom IS a full-fledged teacher - they are just new to Beauvoir. Many of the associate teachers we've had over the years have had advanced teaching degrees and were not in their first year of teaching.

our child is in prek and has two great young teachers, each w. years of experience.

Very interesting.

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that there are 2 teacher in every class. Thus, a 10 to 1 ratio. Yes, the second teacher is an associate teacher, or whatever they're calling them these days.

But other schools offer the same or even better ratios with two full-fledged teachers per class.

Keep in mind that there are 2 teacher in every class. Thus, a 10 to 1 ratio. Yes, the second teacher is an associate teacher, or whatever they're calling them these days. Yes, the idea under this program is for the newly minted teacher experience. Yes, most if not all are right out of college or graduate school. Yes, many leave after 1 or 2 years. But to a person, everyone I've met are smart, energetic, devoted, and talented.

I would much prefer the young teachers, high turnover and all, than the "experienced" teachers at the DC public that my poor DC had to suffer through until we were rescued by Beauvoir.

That's exactly why we chose not to apply to Beauvoir. The turnover in the teaching staff is way too high. The school is doing something wrong. Experience really matters, especially with younger students.

For anyone touring Beauvoir (and other schools for that matter), look carefully at the experience of the teaching staff and ask questions about retention and attrition. How does Beauvoir compare to area private or other schools? Why such high turnover?

In our five years of experience, we had one experienced lead teacher and one experienced associated teacher. Otherwise, you have teachers will little experience. They may be talented and have great teaching potential, but still experience counts for something. Some studies about teachers have shown that teachers need about 5 years to firmly establish themselves.

So funny -I think I know you too!