Anonymous
Post 12/10/2015 14:24     Subject: Sidwell Community
Money's not an issue that I see but the parents can be very cliquey and not always genuinely friendly. You will hear that a lot of the same ones that volunteer together also socialize together. And the ones that add the ethnic mix are either trying to social climb where it's so obvious, or they just aren't received as well as non diverse families.

We didn't choose this school for our friends, but if we did, I would be pretty sad about it.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 17:37     Subject: Re:Sidwell Community
I had heard that too about Upper School potlucks but each one has been fun and filled with guests.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 17:29     Subject: Sidwell Community
With three kids in the school, I have been to a couple dozen potlucks or more by this point. Never an attendance problem. Some are more lively than others.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 17:18     Subject: Sidwell Community
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kids are doing great in US. However I will never offer to host a "potluck".


Why not? We've enjoyed hosting for many years. FWIW, we don't think the school is perfect, but one thing I do like about it is that you get a lot of people who really care about education -- and not just so they can slap that Ivy League decal on the back of the car (though, of course, there are those folks too). There's less of a country-club feeling and fewer ostentatious displays of wealth than at other independent schools in the area. Finally, the relatively large size of the US (again, compared to other area independent schools) means that you tend to have less of the "cool kids" factor among parents. This may all sound like damning with faint praise, but I actually do see the community as a plus for the school. That said, however, I'm always surprised by the parents whose kids have graduated and who are dismayed that Sidwell is no longer the center of their lives. I think it's much more realistic to expect that you'll continue friendships with just a few other parents.


I hear not many parents show up for the potlucks--is that true?


We always had upwards of 20, but, overall, I have no idea. Probably varies from class to class and year by year.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 17:05     Subject: Sidwell Community
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kids are doing great in US. However I will never offer to host a "potluck".


Why not? We've enjoyed hosting for many years. FWIW, we don't think the school is perfect, but one thing I do like about it is that you get a lot of people who really care about education -- and not just so they can slap that Ivy League decal on the back of the car (though, of course, there are those folks too). There's less of a country-club feeling and fewer ostentatious displays of wealth than at other independent schools in the area. Finally, the relatively large size of the US (again, compared to other area independent schools) means that you tend to have less of the "cool kids" factor among parents. This may all sound like damning with faint praise, but I actually do see the community as a plus for the school. That said, however, I'm always surprised by the parents whose kids have graduated and who are dismayed that Sidwell is no longer the center of their lives. I think it's much more realistic to expect that you'll continue friendships with just a few other parents.


I hear not many parents show up for the potlucks--is that true?
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 16:00     Subject: Sidwell Community
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did you not read about how they treat the sick and elderly?


I'm sorry your child didn't get in. Hoping mine will fare better.


We didn't apply to SF, and I'm glad. After reading this article, it's sad that Quaker Values aren't being instilled in all SF students.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sidwell-friends-alumni-raise-concerns-about-purchase-of-nursing-home/2015/11/18/f27f7a00-8d4e-11e5-acff-673ae92ddd2b_story.html


See the 13.02 PP. In any case, we didn't know that SF students were negotiating real estate transactions. That's not apparent from the article.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 15:53     Subject: Sidwell Community
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did you not read about how they treat the sick and elderly?


I'm sorry your child didn't get in. Hoping mine will fare better.


We didn't apply to SF, and I'm glad. After reading this article, it's sad that Quaker Values aren't being instilled in all SF students.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sidwell-friends-alumni-raise-concerns-about-purchase-of-nursing-home/2015/11/18/f27f7a00-8d4e-11e5-acff-673ae92ddd2b_story.html
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 15:21     Subject: Re:Sidwell Community
Are there not P-T conferences freshman year?


There are in November.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 15:19     Subject: Sidwell Community
Are there not P-T conferences freshman year?
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 15:15     Subject: Sidwell Community
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There are no parent teacher conferences like in elementary and middle schools. Parent community is not strong at the high school level.


Not true. We're in the lower school and had a parent-teacher conference.


I think you misconstrued to PP. There are no P-T conferences in the upper school. There are, of course such meetings in the lower and middle schools.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 14:10     Subject: Sidwell Community
Anonymous wrote:My kids are doing great in US. However I will never offer to host a "potluck".


Why not? We've enjoyed hosting for many years. FWIW, we don't think the school is perfect, but one thing I do like about it is that you get a lot of people who really care about education -- and not just so they can slap that Ivy League decal on the back of the car (though, of course, there are those folks too). There's less of a country-club feeling and fewer ostentatious displays of wealth than at other independent schools in the area. Finally, the relatively large size of the US (again, compared to other area independent schools) means that you tend to have less of the "cool kids" factor among parents. This may all sound like damning with faint praise, but I actually do see the community as a plus for the school. That said, however, I'm always surprised by the parents whose kids have graduated and who are dismayed that Sidwell is no longer the center of their lives. I think it's much more realistic to expect that you'll continue friendships with just a few other parents.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 13:59     Subject: Sidwell Community
Anonymous wrote:There are no parent teacher conferences like in elementary and middle schools. Parent community is not strong at the high school level.


Not true. We're in the lower school and had a parent-teacher conference.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 13:20     Subject: Sidwell Community
My kids are doing great in US. However I will never offer to host a "potluck".
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 13:02     Subject: Sidwell Community
Anonymous wrote:Did you not read about how they treat the sick and elderly?


Please. The Washington Home was put up for sale. Would the result have been more "just" if Sidwell Friends simply had sat on its hands (when it was looking for space), and watched some development group tear down Washington Home to build SmartGrowthCommons next door? And it's doubtful that developer would have been as flexible as Sidwell, in agreeing to a long transition period for WH, until July 2017 if it is needed.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 12:54     Subject: Sidwell Community
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did you not read about how they treat the sick and elderly?


I'm sorry your child didn't get in. Hoping mine will fare better.


better than the sick ad the elderly? Time (and karma) will tell.