Anonymous
Post 02/08/2012 23:27     Subject: WIS or Norwood for K?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Question for 00:16. Were you in the Spanish or French section? I went to French schools all my life and recognize the traits you describe (obedience, tight ship, etc) so I'm guessing you were in the French section. I'm interested in the Spanish section for my DC - is the envieonment like that there as well?


I'm not the PP, but I'll respond because my children have been in the Spanish program for years. The program has been incredible for my kids, the teachers are warm and loving (I can think of one exception in the many years we've been there, and that person is gone), and I have no idea what he/she means by a "hazardous playground" or bullying. In fact, my oldest is now in middle school and is one of the few private school girls we know to have never experienced mean girl behavior or witnessed playground bullying.

Of recently departing families we know, the reasons were 1) job changes (mostly overseas); 2) returning home (overseas); 3) academic preferences (moving to a non-immersion program--admittedly the program is not perfect for every family--or a single-sex environment); or 4) financial reasons, i.e., moving to public school.

All of which is to say that you should speak to a variety of parents rather than accepting one former parent's viewpoint as conventional wisdom.

And FWIW, the families we know at Norwood are very happy. I think WIS and Norwood are very different places, but both provide an excellent education.


My DC was kicked by "big kids" when he was 3yo and developed an abnormal fear if older kids after starting at WIS. One teacher asked me to approach administration when I asked her about an unsafe situation in the playground. Her argument was that they would listen to me as a parent. Apparently a teacher's concern was not enough. They also told the mother of a Pk girl that she was "prone to accidents" after a series of injuries in age inappropriate playground equipment. At some point they even asked her to put her "feelings" on paper. The Spanish program seems to be warmer but the administration ruins it. Hope you never have to go to them.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2012 23:15     Subject: WIS or Norwood for K?
Anonymous wrote:Question for 00:16. Were you in the Spanish or French section? I went to French schools all my life and recognize the traits you describe (obedience, tight ship, etc) so I'm guessing you were in the French section. I'm interested in the Spanish section for my DC - is the envieonment like that there as well?


Yes, I was referring to the French class. Cold. Cold. Cold.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2012 11:05     Subject: WIS or Norwood for K?
Anonymous wrote:Question for 00:16. Were you in the Spanish or French section? I went to French schools all my life and recognize the traits you describe (obedience, tight ship, etc) so I'm guessing you were in the French section. I'm interested in the Spanish section for my DC - is the envieonment like that there as well?


I'm not the PP, but I'll respond because my children have been in the Spanish program for years. The program has been incredible for my kids, the teachers are warm and loving (I can think of one exception in the many years we've been there, and that person is gone), and I have no idea what he/she means by a "hazardous playground" or bullying. In fact, my oldest is now in middle school and is one of the few private school girls we know to have never experienced mean girl behavior or witnessed playground bullying.

Of recently departing families we know, the reasons were 1) job changes (mostly overseas); 2) returning home (overseas); 3) academic preferences (moving to a non-immersion program--admittedly the program is not perfect for every family--or a single-sex environment); or 4) financial reasons, i.e., moving to public school.

All of which is to say that you should speak to a variety of parents rather than accepting one former parent's viewpoint as conventional wisdom.

And FWIW, the families we know at Norwood are very happy. I think WIS and Norwood are very different places, but both provide an excellent education.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2012 10:20     Subject: WIS or Norwood for K?
Question for 00:16. Were you in the Spanish or French section? I went to French schools all my life and recognize the traits you describe (obedience, tight ship, etc) so I'm guessing you were in the French section. I'm interested in the Spanish section for my DC - is the envieonment like that there as well?
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2012 10:00     Subject: WIS or Norwood for K?
Private school parent with many colleagues who send their kids to WIS. Quite a few of them have not been pleased with their experience at WIS and one is applying out because his non-europeans kids were not "fitting in" (this is in K I think, or first grade). Another parent wanted to apply out for upper school but her DC insisted on staying. Parent not happy but DC is.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2012 00:16     Subject: Re:WIS or Norwood for K?
My DC got into WIS K and we left running after a short while. Cold, strict, non inspired. Zero attention to the kids as individuals. Hazardous playground and bullying. Great parent community but many voiced in private conversations that "obedience" was a quality and the fact that the teachers ran a "tight ship" as a good thing. We value critical thinking, creativity and a caring environment so we left. DC was miserable and is as happy as a clam now. Many are happy there though. Ask questions to current and past parents and make sure you understand the culture and educational philosophy of European countries (France/Belgium/Netherlands). Don't buy the IB thing in lower school.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2012 12:03     Subject: WIS or Norwood for K?
Both are great schools, so you have great options. Be thankful for that. Then, be honest with the schools and go to everything you can at both schools. Visit classes again. Talk to parents, teachers, etc. Then, tell both schools your decision, and the basis for it (assuming it is a well thought out decision). Then, don't look back.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2011 19:17     Subject: WIS or Norwood for K?
which one did you like better?
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2011 15:37     Subject: WIS or Norwood for K?
Norwood. Wis has always lots of kids in transition due to parents job.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2011 22:03     Subject: Re:WIS or Norwood for K?
Don't forget this is for K--college is a long way off. Who knows if your child will still be at the school or if you will even be in the area by the time those apps come due? I would focus on which school seems a better fir for the next five or six years. Good luck.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2011 21:27     Subject: Re:WIS or Norwood for K?
The bottom of this link gives some info on eventual college placement of Norwood grads.. The main focus of the page is HS placement

http://www.norwoodschool.org/welcome/admission/next_school_placement/index.aspx
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2011 20:47     Subject: WIS or Norwood for K?
Here are WIS college placements 2000-2007. They haven't put their 2010 grads on the website yet, but it was an impressive domestic list. Keep in mind, they only graduate 60 to 70 kids per year. Its a myth that they only place grads in good universities outside the US. Most attend schools in the US.

http://www.wis.edu/academics/upper-school/university-counseling/colleges-of-wis-graduates/index.aspx
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2011 18:05     Subject: Re:WIS or Norwood for K?
Anonymous wrote:Isn't WIS much higher ranked than Norwood? Where do the WIS kids to go college, versus the Norwood alums?


I am the pp who has friends with kids attending WIS. Many WIS graduates go to colleges or universities overseas, as the school caters for the international community. If this is the OP's interest, WIS would be a good fit. If a more "American" curriculum is desired, then Norwood would be a good fit. Most Norwood graduates go on to excellent US colleges and universities, including Ivies.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2011 17:13     Subject: Re:WIS or Norwood for K?
Anonymous wrote:Isn't WIS much higher ranked than Norwood?


By whom?
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2011 16:49     Subject: Re:WIS or Norwood for K?
Norwood actually reports where their kids end up in college even though they leave after 8th - I am sure you could find it on their site somewhere.