Anonymous
Post 02/05/2024 17:45     Subject: Norwood or not?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are very sad the MS Head is leaving. Being a URM family, he really championed our child and it's made a significant impact in DC's self confidence and who is thriving academically. I'm always concerned that my DC won't been "seen" but I'm hopeful for the new MS head. They're working hard to ensure a smooth transition.


I hear you on the loss of URM leadership. But do know that you are in very good hands with new MS head.


Norwood parent (of multiple kids) here who is lukewarm about the current lower school head, and not thrilled we will deal with him in middle school. But he’s not terrible, so I guess the devil you know.

We think the HOS is great, and teachers have been mostly great too. Very happy with the education our kids are getting.

I am really unhappy that there do not seem to be any URM in leadership positions at Norwood. I really like that the Norwood teachers are diverse and my URM kids are exposed to people of color as their teachers, but sad that they aren’t getting promoted to leadership positions.


Current Middle School head is URM. Having nothing to do with that, he did not have a good first couple years at the school, and most families wanted him out. They hired from within to ensure good leadership. Most people are really happy with the incoming leadership team. They will need to hire a new director of curriculum, so they could end up with someone of color. In past years, there was more URM leadership, but people have left for various reasons (having nothing to do with color), so it makes sense for them to hire those they think will do a good job and that have shown dedication to the school now.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2024 17:35     Subject: Norwood or not?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are very sad the MS Head is leaving. Being a URM family, he really championed our child and it's made a significant impact in DC's self confidence and who is thriving academically. I'm always concerned that my DC won't been "seen" but I'm hopeful for the new MS head. They're working hard to ensure a smooth transition.


I hear you on the loss of URM leadership. But do know that you are in very good hands with new MS head.


Norwood parent (of multiple kids) here who is lukewarm about the current lower school head, and not thrilled we will deal with him in middle school. But he’s not terrible, so I guess the devil you know.

We think the HOS is great, and teachers have been mostly great too. Very happy with the education our kids are getting.

I am really unhappy that there do not seem to be any URM in leadership positions at Norwood. I really like that the Norwood teachers are diverse and my URM kids are exposed to people of color as their teachers, but sad that they aren’t getting promoted to leadership positions.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2024 14:13     Subject: Norwood or not?
Anonymous wrote:VERY happy Norwood family here with two kids attending. We specifically chose Norwood because it only goes through grade 8. Our oldest is in the middle school now and is thriving. I'm not sure that would be the case at a K-12. Nothing wrong with that model at all, but our kids are doing great at a school focused specifically on the younger years and middle school.


A lot kids who start at PK/K-12 schools transfer, so it's not at all a guarantee that starting out at one means they'll graduate. For PK/K, I think it's important to find a school that fits the child's current needs.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2024 14:05     Subject: Norwood or not?
VERY happy Norwood family here with two kids attending. We specifically chose Norwood because it only goes through grade 8. Our oldest is in the middle school now and is thriving. I'm not sure that would be the case at a K-12. Nothing wrong with that model at all, but our kids are doing great at a school focused specifically on the younger years and middle school.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2024 18:45     Subject: Re:Norwood or not?
Anonymous wrote:My son attended Norwood from 1-8 grade and is now in 9th at a private. He is performing beyond amazing academically and feels super prepared. My son isn’t a genius but Norwood gave him confidence, study skills, and a passion for education. His grades are at the top of his class. He loves his high school but I don’t think there will ever be another school as fabulous as Norwood. Of course there were some small things we didn’t live but overall it is the most amazing, loving, special place.
Ps- applying to high schools wasn’t fun but the administrators h held our hand and it was painless. There is something to be said for picking a high school when your child is older.


Our kid is in the lower school (amazing experience) and all the middle schoolers we've encountered have been very impressive--and sweetly normal. I'm struck by how a place can encourage accomplishment without snottiness. One of the middle school grades does a poetry unit and the kids all station around the school and recite the poems as you wander around (it was held on a day that we were there for a lower school parent thing). I was pretty impressed by the insightful poems and their ability to perform to complete strangers.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2024 17:36     Subject: Norwood or not?
We had two kids at Norwood. One is at a “big three” and the other at a single sex school. I wouldn’t have chosen these schools for them in kindergarten, but now that they’re older and they had a say in what they wanted for HS (plus what kind of learner they are, activities they like, etc…) they are both at the right fit for their high school experience!
Kids change so much, I would not personally do a K-12.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2024 17:22     Subject: Re:Norwood or not?
My son attended Norwood from 1-8 grade and is now in 9th at a private. He is performing beyond amazing academically and feels super prepared. My son isn’t a genius but Norwood gave him confidence, study skills, and a passion for education. His grades are at the top of his class. He loves his high school but I don’t think there will ever be another school as fabulous as Norwood. Of course there were some small things we didn’t live but overall it is the most amazing, loving, special place.
Ps- applying to high schools wasn’t fun but the administrators h held our hand and it was painless. There is something to be said for picking a high school when your child is older.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2024 09:13     Subject: Norwood or not?
Two kids went through Norwood. The thing you need to remember about schools with smaller cohorts is the social dynamic can vary from year to year and there is less room for manoeuvre. My DS’s year was fine. However, my DD definitely had some difficult friendships but there wasn’t a big enough to move much socially. She couldn’t wait to leave and a key criteria for her when looking at high schools was there had to be bigger grades. This obviously can happen anywhere.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2024 21:45     Subject: Re:Norwood or not?
norwood is so ez
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2024 17:55     Subject: Norwood or not?
The younger children at Norwood benefit tremendously from the Marriott Early Childhood Building. My kids were very happy in the Norwood Lower School despite missing out on this new school building which is an incredible addition.

As for transitioning to high school, it did require time and effort. Do keep in mind that many highly regarded schools only start in 9th grade, for example Gonzaga and Georgetown Prep, or Whitman for that matter, so there will always be a transition.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2024 15:26     Subject: Norwood or not?
Anonymous wrote:Any Norwood families want to shed light on their experiences especially for the early years? What sets them apart?


We really enjoyed Norwood, but HATED having to transition for high school. If we had to do it again, I'd look for a school that went as close to K-12 as I could find.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2024 12:56     Subject: Norwood or not?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are very sad the MS Head is leaving. Being a URM family, he really championed our child and it's made a significant impact in DC's self confidence and who is thriving academically. I'm always concerned that my DC won't been "seen" but I'm hopeful for the new MS head. They're working hard to ensure a smooth transition.


I hear you on the loss of URM leadership. But do know that you are in very good hands with new MS head.


Thank you.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2024 12:37     Subject: Norwood or not?
Anonymous wrote:We are very sad the MS Head is leaving. Being a URM family, he really championed our child and it's made a significant impact in DC's self confidence and who is thriving academically. I'm always concerned that my DC won't been "seen" but I'm hopeful for the new MS head. They're working hard to ensure a smooth transition.


I hear you on the loss of URM leadership. But do know that you are in very good hands with new MS head.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2024 12:18     Subject: Norwood or not?
We are very sad the MS Head is leaving. Being a URM family, he really championed our child and it's made a significant impact in DC's self confidence and who is thriving academically. I'm always concerned that my DC won't been "seen" but I'm hopeful for the new MS head. They're working hard to ensure a smooth transition.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2024 11:29     Subject: Norwood or not?
Anonymous wrote:We've had two kids go through Norwood from K to 8. Simply awesome and could not recommend it more. Faculty and parent community are supportive and friendly.


+1 same here