My kid had inexperienced teachers for English. It was a problem.

My DC had two great experienced teachers so far

REEF at YY is HUGE step up from the aftercare we had at Eaton (one of the "good" schools). I admit that it is pricey, but we use it for our kids activities.

The aftercare seems no better than the much cheaper aftercare we had at a prior school. I previously spent $20 on school supplies, now it's $100. And I think the school takes a cut on lunch too. Maybe it's necessary to being all these good things to the kids but it sure is expensive. We don't have a ton if money (though we are far from FARM income levels) and I feel it. Feel good because it's for our children's education but dang it's expensive.

Anonymous wrote:REEF is high quality childcare with lots of interesting and enrichment choices.

Lunch is from organic and/or sustainable sources and healthy.

The supplies fee is convenient for parents who don't have to drive all over town.

The campus is beautiful with a playground, nature walk, playing field.

My kid is speaking, reading and writing Mandarin and loves going to school.

No complaints here.

+1!

REEF is high quality childcare with lots of interesting and enrichment choices.

Lunch is from organic and/or sustainable sources and healthy.

The supplies fee is convenient for parents who don't have to drive all over town.

The campus is beautiful with a playground, nature walk, playing field.

My kid is speaking, reading and writing Mandarin and loves going to school.

No complaints here.

The school makes a profit on each lunch sold. Last year they raised the price of the lunch, even though Revolution Foods kept the cost the same.

Little of what Yu Ying does is good educationally, but it is very, very shrewd from a business sense.

The aftercare is a huge fundraiser for the school. It funds most of the extras that you see at Yu Ying that you don't see at other schools. Money has to come from somewhere. It just so happens that the former ED, who is now heading the DCI initiative, is a very shrewd businesswoman. The bubble year of kids was a crucial part of that business plan and she makes no secret about it. Personally, I didn't think the bubble year made good educational and programming sense, but they pulled it off and did it well.

Regarding supplies: every school asks for parents to get their kids supplies. It was the PA plus the administration who decided to do a supply fee after the first year. The school doesn't profit from lunch, so I'm not sure how that factors into the discussion. High quality food is what the parents wanted, so they sought a high quality vendor.

Not true.

Yu Ying had OSSE funding for the building.

By charging top dollar for aftercare, charging parents for supplies, lunches, etc... Yu Ying was able to save enough money from their state dollars to get a new building.

YY also saved money on teacher salaries by hiring faculty with no experience, not having a music teacher, no library, and xeroxing resources rather than legally buying them. They also front loaded pre-K with 100s of kids so they could get those state dollars.

The 990s are out there. Prove that this school raised $5 million. Show us the evidence. I say you are wrong.

I think you also might be the magical thinker who believes that bakesales and scholarships are going to cover this trip.

I have kids in Yu Ying (not 5th grade). And I do have some qualms about an international trip for 5th graders. We have also already taken our kids on a family trip to China, so my concerns are not all financial.

HOWEVER

To all the nay-sayers out there:

Yu Ying has accomplished a TREMENDOUS amount over the past five years, in spite of those who said they couldn't. They fund-raised $4 million to acquire their own land, then another million to convert an existing building to a school. Then they added a wing on the school, put in a playground, soccer field, and nature walk. They've brought in dozens of teachers from mainland China and Taiwan, and trained them in American teaching methods. They've added music to the curriculum and created a library. They've attracted nationwide attention

Send a 5th grade to China? Small potatoes. Yu Ying regularly exceeds expectations of both its supporters and detractors. If YY parents have the wll to take this trip, I have no doubt whatsoever they will make it happen.

Who's going to teach them? Will they be downgraded to a lower grade while their classmates have fun on the other side of the globe?

can someone just answer the question about the kids NOT GOING on this trip?
What happened to them?

Why any of you keep posting to this forum is beyond me. It is clear that you won't change the minds of those who disagree with you. Is it really that important to have the last word? Walk away with your feelings and sanity in tact while you still can.

If DeMatha can go to NC and make the news then let this school go abroad and let's see what will transpire.

I am not a YY parent - GO ON THE TRIP - make the world a better place by enriching young minds.