Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree you should look at Concord Hill, they do a great job building kids' confidence. Their head of school greets kids at their car each morning shakes their hands -- it makes for impressive kids. Small schools are a great place to look. My kids didn't take at all to Primary Day, it was too overwhelming. Also check out Norwood, Beauvoir, and Feynman.

In what way(s)?

He didn't like the way kids had to sit in rows and stay still for some classes. He thought there was a lot of pressure to behave in a certain way, to learn in a prescribed way, and to do what they told him to do and nothing else. He cried on the way home from his visit. We have neighbors and friends whose kids have gone and loved it. We have friends whose older child loved it, but the younger one hated it.

Kids don’t sit in rows and movement is incorporated into every class. Kids do not sit still for long periods. This is false. I’m not sure how a school with only 110 families and class sizes bw 12-18 can be considered overwhelming. I’m sure every school has some parent that did something that someone else thought was judgemental, however I have found the parents to be warm and friendly. Visit the school and talk to actual parents of students, not anonymous people trying to start drama.

Actually they used to which is why I didn’t send my kids after visitingvfor a tour. That was a long time ago, about seven years ago.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree you should look at Concord Hill, they do a great job building kids' confidence. Their head of school greets kids at their car each morning shakes their hands -- it makes for impressive kids. Small schools are a great place to look. My kids didn't take at all to Primary Day, it was too overwhelming. Also check out Norwood, Beauvoir, and Feynman.

In what way(s)?

He didn't like the way kids had to sit in rows and stay still for some classes. He thought there was a lot of pressure to behave in a certain way, to learn in a prescribed way, and to do what they told him to do and nothing else. He cried on the way home from his visit. We have neighbors and friends whose kids have gone and loved it. We have friends whose older child loved it, but the younger one hated it.

Kids don’t sit in rows and movement is incorporated into every class. Kids do not sit still for long periods. This is false. I’m not sure how a school with only 110 families and class sizes bw 12-18 can be considered overwhelming. I’m sure every school has some parent that did something that someone else thought was judgemental, however I have found the parents to be warm and friendly. Visit the school and talk to actual parents of students, not anonymous people trying to start drama.

+10000 great community of parents, caring and nurturing teachers, and excellent academics. Our kids are thriving there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't. Being "mean" and not being proactively friendly are two different things. Would I seek to be friends with moms who act like that? No. But assigning a "mean mom" label based on that incident alone seems awfully rash.

I agree. Looks like someone is trying to stir up drama.

Those wondering - these are the moms we're talking about. If you get it, beware.

It is mean. Looking someone up and down and not acknowledging them with at least a smile or hello or something is just rude. At least it sounds like the person working for the school is lovely.

It depends. Front desk nightmare admissions nice some teachers nice some nightmare

We’ve had three kids go through PDS. Prek is amazing and you can’t lose with either class, kindergarten you can’t win, first grade two different teachers both excellent but one less organized (think huge mess in the classroom) and DD said she yelled a lot but she was also nice sometimes the other one is organized and a great teacher but not especially warm, second grade doesn’t prepare the kids for third grade at all: math and writing and spelling seriously lacking. Teachers good for a very basic program. Honestly speaking unless you donate a lot of money then one will pay attention to you. One better with boys one caters to girls and wealthy families. The music program and art program are excellent. The phinovisual program is excellent but the kids need better spelling instruction to go to third. Math with the veteran math teacher is fabulous. Languages lackluster. Principal is kind of a creep and micromanages parents and doesn’t seem to get the kids or the heart of the school at all. A lot of changes since he’s been there and not for the better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree you should look at Concord Hill, they do a great job building kids' confidence. Their head of school greets kids at their car each morning shakes their hands -- it makes for impressive kids. Small schools are a great place to look. My kids didn't take at all to Primary Day, it was too overwhelming. Also check out Norwood, Beauvoir, and Feynman.

In what way(s)?

He didn't like the way kids had to sit in rows and stay still for some classes. He thought there was a lot of pressure to behave in a certain way, to learn in a prescribed way, and to do what they told him to do and nothing else. He cried on the way home from his visit. We have neighbors and friends whose kids have gone and loved it. We have friends whose older child loved it, but the younger one hated it.

Kids don’t sit in rows and movement is incorporated into every class. Kids do not sit still for long periods. This is false. I’m not sure how a school with only 110 families and class sizes bw 12-18 can be considered overwhelming. I’m sure every school has some parent that did something that someone else thought was judgemental, however I have found the parents to be warm and friendly. Visit the school and talk to actual parents of students, not anonymous people trying to start drama.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't. Being "mean" and not being proactively friendly are two different things. Would I seek to be friends with moms who act like that? No. But assigning a "mean mom" label based on that incident alone seems awfully rash.

I agree. Looks like someone is trying to stir up drama.

Those wondering - these are the moms we're talking about. If you get it, beware.

It is mean. Looking someone up and down and not acknowledging them with at least a smile or hello or something is just rude. At least it sounds like the person working for the school is lovely.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't. Being "mean" and not being proactively friendly are two different things. Would I seek to be friends with moms who act like that? No. But assigning a "mean mom" label based on that incident alone seems awfully rash.

I agree. Looks like someone is trying to stir up drama.

Those wondering - these are the moms we're talking about. If you get it, beware.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree you should look at Concord Hill, they do a great job building kids' confidence. Their head of school greets kids at their car each morning shakes their hands -- it makes for impressive kids. Small schools are a great place to look. My kids didn't take at all to Primary Day, it was too overwhelming. Also check out Norwood, Beauvoir, and Feynman.

In what way(s)?

He didn't like the way kids had to sit in rows and stay still for some classes. He thought there was a lot of pressure to behave in a certain way, to learn in a prescribed way, and to do what they told him to do and nothing else. He cried on the way home from his visit. We have neighbors and friends whose kids have gone and loved it. We have friends whose older child loved it, but the younger one hated it.

Anonymous wrote:I don't. Being "mean" and not being proactively friendly are two different things. Would I seek to be friends with moms who act like that? No. But assigning a "mean mom" label based on that incident alone seems awfully rash.

I agree. Looks like someone is trying to stir up drama.

I don't. Being "mean" and not being proactively friendly are two different things. Would I seek to be friends with moms who act like that? No. But assigning a "mean mom" label based on that incident alone seems awfully rash.

Anonymous wrote:How is that "mean mom" behavior?

You seriously don’t know?

Anonymous wrote:Funny story: I'm an AA mother who took my DD in for an interview. I was sitting at a table with two other mothers. They looked me up and down, then continued their whispered discussion about the school, and how they hoped their daughters would be able to go to Holton.

One of the school staff who had been there forever came in the room. "Hi, Ms. G we are so happy that your daughter is applying to PDS. How is your other daughter? Is she still at Holton? And I remember your sister, how is she doing? "

The ladies at the table had their mouths hanging open. I would agree that there is a mean mom element at the school.

That is a great story! Where did you end up sending your DD? The Moms you just described are the absolute worst.

How is that "mean mom" behavior?

Funny story: I'm an AA mother who took my DD in for an interview. I was sitting at a table with two other mothers. They looked me up and down, then continued their whispered discussion about the school, and how they hoped their daughters would be able to go to Holton.

One of the school staff who had been there forever came in the room. "Hi, Ms. G we are so happy that your daughter is applying to PDS. How is your other daughter? Is she still at Holton? And I remember your sister, how is she doing? "

The ladies at the table had their mouths hanging open. I would agree that there is a mean mom element at the school.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a current parent who knows most of the K/2nd families at PDS. Not really friends with any of the moms but also don't find any of them remotely mean. All seem perfectly nice to me. PP is trolling.

+1 NP and current parent at the school. All the families I've encountered are wonderful.