Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like Sally is retiring?
http://sidwell.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=305047&&#job

Darn, such a shame, she really is the best!!!

Agree it's very sad. As a parent of a middle schooler, with a couple more headed that way, I've been watching the situation closely for a couple years now, expecting something like this eventually. IMHO, the rest of the team is extremely strong and seems ready to keep the middle school strong. Also, knowing Sally, I'm betting she had a carefully thought out succession plan in place before any of this went public. I am sad for this change, but not scared.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like Sally is retiring?
http://sidwell.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=305047&&#job

Darn, such a shame, she really is the best!!!

Sounds like Sally is retiring?
http://sidwell.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=305047&&#job

Curious what the transition is like for kids who move over from Beauvoir? While 4th grade is not exactly MS, I'm wondering how different Beauvoir and Sidwell are in terms of educational philosophy/approach. Any Beauvoir families whose kids went to Sidwell instead of the St. Albans/NCS route?

My daughter has loved MS - she has had some fantastic teachers, has loved the PE program ('sampling' sports in 5/6 and then the competitive vs other schools in 7/8). I agree nice balance of academics and some 'pressure' to get ready for high school but also some great perspectives on this is 'just MS'. Sally is a great principal and leader. Teachers foster the love of learning while also building good citizens within the quaker values. Been really happy with our MS experience.

Anonymous wrote:Sally Selby is perhaps the best principal we have seen. Smart, supportive, observant, funny, gracious and generous. Too bad they can't clone her.

+1 - she is fantastic!

My child entered in 7th, and had a wonderful middle school experience. Great teachers, great facilities, great administration who communicates/responds to emails, and a great principal. Sally gets to know every single child in the MS. Wish we had moved our child in 6th.

OP here. Thanks for all your input.

Another educator here from another school, and I love Sally's approach and the whole philosophy of the middle school. If anything, Sally is known for telling parents in a gentle way to "just breathe." She is a voice of reason, and she keeps middle school as it should be. I have had two kids go through the middle school, and they absolutely loved it. One was more social than the other, and both had very positive experiences.

Sidwell middle school is rigorous and skills oriented. Good for prepping kids for the high school. Sally is a warm welcoming person that worries a lot about the pressure cooker aspect of the school

Amazing program, amazing educators, amazing leadership, amazing facility. New HOS is outstanding on all fronts. Great MS and only getting better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Sally Selby is perhaps the best principal we have seen. Smart, supportive, observant, funny, gracious and generous. Too bad they can't clone her.


So, I guess you never heard her compare Sidwell middle-schoolers to Harvard freshmen?

It's not clear to me whether this is a troll comment or a serious question but I'll treat it as serious. I have never heard Sally say anything remotely like that. In fact, one thing she is famous for telling parents is that she hopes middle schoolers will all fail at something so they will learn they can fail and recover before they get to high school. I agree that she is a wonderful person, educator and administrator.

perhaps that what the point of the Harvard comment. Seems I remember that being said about Harvard freshman

Anonymous wrote:Everyone knows that GDS is the number one feeder school to Harvard...This has already been proven...

You are persistent, aren't you. Never miss an opportunity to bash GDS, even on a Sidwell thread.

Everyone knows that GDS is the number one feeder school to Harvard...This has already been proven...

Anonymous wrote:
Sally Selby is perhaps the best principal we have seen. Smart, supportive, observant, funny, gracious and generous. Too bad they can't clone her.


So, I guess you never heard her compare Sidwell middle-schoolers to Harvard freshmen?

It's not clear to me whether this is a troll comment or a serious question but I'll treat it as serious. I have never heard Sally say anything remotely like that. In fact, one thing she is famous for telling parents is that she hopes middle schoolers will all fail at something so they will learn they can fail and recover before they get to high school. I agree that she is a wonderful person, educator and administrator.