Why is it more nurturing for girls? What do you mean? I only have boys so maybe that's why I don't get what the diff would be.

Most of the kids can keep up with the 'rigor'. The school does place emphasis on getting along, but the academics just aren't that great. WES is a nurturing place, especially for girls.

Would you say that WES is nurturing? What happens if kids can't keep up with the challenging curriculum? Is there flexibility, individual accommodations?

What emphasis does the school place on character development? Good manners, being nice, no bullying etc?

TIA for responses.

Oh dear, you sound just like a WES administrator, pp. You are a great ad for the school!!! Top boarding schools, rigor,
scientific methods and just enough homework!!! WOW!

DC hasn't reached middle school yet, so I can't say. He was doing 20-30 minutes by 2nd grade and in 4th grade is always done by the end of study hall, which lasts an hour. He says that he always finishes early enough to read a chapter in his book, which is why I estimate no more than 45 minutes.

Academic rigor from an early age is a hallmark, but I think that can and should be achieved without loads of homework. The kids are challenged to think critically in the classroom, to write well, to learn scientific methodologies from a really young age. They're quizzed each week, and prepare monthly book reports starting in 2nd grade. But almost all of that is in the classroom. Maybe because the day is so long from an early grade (8:10 to 3:25), they're able to squeeze more in without requiring long homework assignments? I don't question the rigor. DC is challenged, and we have a WES friend whose DC is now at a top boarding school and took the transition to that challenging program in stride.

Which schools? Sorry to be dense but this is both new to me and important to me.

Rigorous doesn't mean too much HW. It should mean a challenging curriculum. There are schools with curriculae a year ahead of their counterparts that assign half as much HW.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if they teach cursive writing and if yes, is it in Kindergarten or 1st grade or later?

When does homework starts? Is it manageable? I am especially curious about K, 1st and 2nd grades.

Thanks for any info.

Re homework, I remember that a 2 or 3 times, DC came home with a little art project to do in Transition. It was mostly to get both child and parents used to the idea. In kindergarten, we were asked to read together nightly. In first grade, DC was so excited to begin bringing home 10-15 minutes of homework each night. He (and the other kids) looked forward to it. A big deal was made about setting up a desk with paper, pencils, light so that he could do that 10 minutes of practising his writing skills.

Flash forward a few years, and DC has developed great study habits. The homework load is really reasonable (30-45 minutes), but there's an emphasis on getting it done right after school. DC asks me to leave him at study hall so he can come home with his homework all finished. I hear that WES kids keep these habits forever. I'm grateful that I've never had to nag DC to do his homework.

Seriously? WES has been described here as "rigorous", which I take to mean lots of homework. I like a traditional, structured school but worry that they assign too much homework. What year did the 30-45 min start? How much homework is there in MS?

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if they teach cursive writing and if yes, is it in Kindergarten or 1st grade or later?

When does homework starts? Is it manageable? I am especially curious about K, 1st and 2nd grades.

Thanks for any info.

Re homework, I remember that a 2 or 3 times, DC came home with a little art project to do in Transition. It was mostly to get both child and parents used to the idea. In kindergarten, we were asked to read together nightly. In first grade, DC was so excited to begin bringing home 10-15 minutes of homework each night. He (and the other kids) looked forward to it. A big deal was made about setting up a desk with paper, pencils, light so that he could do that 10 minutes of practising his writing skills.

Flash forward a few years, and DC has developed great study habits. The homework load is really reasonable (30-45 minutes), but there's an emphasis on getting it done right after school. DC asks me to leave him at study hall so he can come home with his homework all finished. I hear that WES kids keep these habits forever. I'm grateful that I've never had to nag DC to do his homework.

Does anyone know if they teach cursive writing and if yes, is it in Kindergarten or 1st grade or later?

When does homework starts? Is it manageable? I am especially curious about K, 1st and 2nd grades.

Thanks for any info.

The second grade class was expanded this year,but the goal of that expansion was to fill the seats. It hasn't worked and is a money drain on WES. Something done under the watchful eye of the last Head of School.

Anonymous wrote:How about Pre-K through 2nd grade at WES?

Really wonderful teachers, caring and warm environment, lots of opportunity for movement and play-based learning. In 2nd grade, there are only 12 kids per class, so real one-on-one instruction tailored to the student's needs. We've had a great experience and are so glad we found this school. We almost enrolled elsewhere and while it would probably have been just fine, WES has truly become family.

How about Pre-K through 2nd grade at WES?

o

PP, most of what shows upon these board is about a problem teacher in the 4th grade. That person is now gone, as is the Head who didn't move quickly enough to fire the teacher. Yet the fall-out continues. I sometimes wonder about it. I don't discount that this teacher did a lousy job, but this was hardly the magnitude of problem as the pedophile teachers at two of the "big 3" in recent years. Let's get over it already, and let the new Head figure out whether any additional changes need to be made.

There does continue to be turnover in the 3rd and 4th grades. Most of the families I know who left did so because they had strong Holton/Landon or NCS/STA ties. They were headed there no matter what. We stayed put, are happy, and intend to go all the way through.