Anonymous
11/30/2012 16:02
Subject: What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Well, I'm a potential YY parent and don't put too much stock in what happens on DCUM. It's clear from the thread that there are lots of non-YY parents on it. Obviously the anonymous nature of DCUM encourages people to make snide comments that they would never dream of making in person.
It seems like there is a pattern: when a school is new or in transition, the parents are really pulling together to make the school work. As it becomes established and successful, people have the luxury of taking potshots and nitpicking.
It seems like there is a pattern: when a school is new or in transition, the parents are really pulling together to make the school work. As it becomes established and successful, people have the luxury of taking potshots and nitpicking.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 13:46
Subject: Re:What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying has been an amazing experience for us and many of our friends.
OP, read this ongoing thread - http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/256347.page - before you think about Yu Ying. The PTA harpies there have been flaming each other for three months now. Not exactly a glowing recommendation for the community there.
Wow. I've read the thread and I don't see it as any kind of disqualifier. The school wants to send each child on 3 trips to China, that has to be one of the most ambitious public school projects ever. Now, there's a shake-out about how independent children are, not to mention the cost. Disparate points of view on this are hardly a harbinger of doom.
I think DCUM is a silly place to have the conversation, but that doesn't mean there are not conversations about funding to be had. The PA raises a lot of money every year, perhaps this is a worthwhile way to spend it. I don't know, I can only speak for my own opinion.
However, to assume that the fact that the community is not yet unified on how to offer the students the most possible benefits of a Chinese language education? Well, it sounds more like bitterness, sour grapes, sore loserness, etc. than a thoughtful and informed opinion.
There are Universities with Endowments larger than the GNP of some nations (I should know, I attended one), and yet they have not determined how to provide their students with a solid bilingual education and experience.
So, you're complaining that a 4 year-old DC charter elementary hasn't figured it out either? Despite how well they're trying?
How do you not understand that you and people like you are the problem, not the solution?
I'm not "complaining" about anything about them. Merely observing that the parents have an ongoing flame war on DCUM that is rife with name-calling, classism and the nastiness kind of bitchiness you find here. That's all.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 13:45
Subject: Re:What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying has been an amazing experience for us and many of our friends.
OP, read this ongoing thread - http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/256347.page - before you think about Yu Ying. The PTA harpies there have been flaming each other for three months now. Not exactly a glowing recommendation for the community there.
If you're thinking about YY, yes, you should read that thread. Because you'll see some serious bickering about a hot topic at that school... but you'll also see there that - as PP just demonstrated - there is this vehement anti-YY contingent here as well, and you gotta wonder why people spend so much time flaming a school that their kids don't go to.... jealous much?
Not that there aren't parents at YY with criticisms, or that no one's ever left YY. But the criticisms and exits are pretty small compared to the glowing raves of current parents and crazy efforts others make to get their kids in.
So yes, check it all out (do that with all schools), but also notice and ask yourself what motivates the detractors when there are a lot of them. Sometimes it's bad experiences and that is very important to pay attention to... but sometimes... it just looks like sour grapes.
Well, I'm the poster you're responding to and no, it's not sour grapes. I could give a crap about my kid ever going to YY. I just find it amazing that you chickens are still pecking at each other on DCUM three months after that thread was started I am sick to death of seeing it pop up and just wish you would all go have a big rumble in the parking lot or something, scratching and clawing each other's eyes out. Come to think of it, if you do, will you let us know so I can come watch? It would be hilarious.
I worked at a private school once and when the parents are like that, the kids end up that way, too. And the culture becomes insufferable. You've all pretty much convinced me it's a similar environment. I'd rather scratch my OWN eyes out than subjugate myself or my kid to that kind of toxic culture.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 12:40
Subject: Re:What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying has been an amazing experience for us and many of our friends.
OP, read this ongoing thread - http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/256347.page - before you think about Yu Ying. The PTA harpies there have been flaming each other for three months now. Not exactly a glowing recommendation for the community there.
Wow. I've read the thread and I don't see it as any kind of disqualifier. The school wants to send each child on 3 trips to China, that has to be one of the most ambitious public school projects ever. Now, there's a shake-out about how independent children are, not to mention the cost. Disparate points of view on this are hardly a harbinger of doom.
I think DCUM is a silly place to have the conversation, but that doesn't mean there are not conversations about funding to be had. The PA raises a lot of money every year, perhaps this is a worthwhile way to spend it. I don't know, I can only speak for my own opinion.
However, to assume that the fact that the community is not yet unified on how to offer the students the most possible benefits of a Chinese language education? Well, it sounds more like bitterness, sour grapes, sore loserness, etc. than a thoughtful and informed opinion.
There are Universities with Endowments larger than the GNP of some nations (I should know, I attended one), and yet they have not determined how to provide their students with a solid bilingual education and experience.
So, you're complaining that a 4 year-old DC charter elementary hasn't figured it out either? Despite how well they're trying?
How do you not understand that you and people like you are the problem, not the solution?
Anonymous
11/30/2012 12:14
Subject: Re:What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Anonymous wrote:PP, it was an april fool's joke
PP here
Really? Sorry for the sarcasm, but that was kind of the point!
Anonymous
11/30/2012 12:09
Subject: Re:What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying has been an amazing experience for us and many of our friends.
OP, read this ongoing thread - http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/256347.page - before you think about Yu Ying. The PTA harpies there have been flaming each other for three months now. Not exactly a glowing recommendation for the community there.
If you're thinking about YY, yes, you should read that thread. Because you'll see some serious bickering about a hot topic at that school... but you'll also see there that - as PP just demonstrated - there is this vehement anti-YY contingent here as well, and you gotta wonder why people spend so much time flaming a school that their kids don't go to.... jealous much?
Not that there aren't parents at YY with criticisms, or that no one's ever left YY. But the criticisms and exits are pretty small compared to the glowing raves of current parents and crazy efforts others make to get their kids in.
So yes, check it all out (do that with all schools), but also notice and ask yourself what motivates the detractors when there are a lot of them. Sometimes it's bad experiences and that is very important to pay attention to... but sometimes... it just looks like sour grapes.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 11:34
Subject: What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure whether the PP who asked about touring FARMS schools was trying to imply something, or if so what, but I can't imagine a better PS3 experience for our child than the one he had at a Title I school using a Head Start for All model.
We are upper middle class parents at a very high farms title 1 school, and the resources are tremendous. We love it. Couldn't ask for a better experience.
+1 Not to mention, my kid will get the idea that not everyone in the world is rich and white.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 11:33
Subject: Re:What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying has been an amazing experience for us and many of our friends.
OP, read this ongoing thread - http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/256347.page - before you think about Yu Ying. The PTA harpies there have been flaming each other for three months now. Not exactly a glowing recommendation for the community there.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 10:36
Subject: Re:What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Oh my. Unless you are prepared to move in bounds for a DCPS, any ranking is irrelevant. You could determine that a school is a fantastic fit for your child and your family, but if you don't get in through the lottery it doesn't matter. Even if you move in bounds, you are only guaranteed admission at a DCPS at the kindergarten level.
Good luck - we've all been there. Open houses, spread sheets, asking trusted friends with kids at different schools. For PS and PK the lottery will determine everything.
Good luck - we've all been there. Open houses, spread sheets, asking trusted friends with kids at different schools. For PS and PK the lottery will determine everything.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 10:27
Subject: What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
I've got to reply to this
Obviously, it depends on what you base your standards on. My kids' school (which is Thurgood Marshall in Ft. Lincoln and currently on the proposed closure list) has a phenomenal early childhood program. It offers Montessori (where my boys are) and traditional. The teachers have consistently recieved some of the highest evaluations in the city from the Master Educators.
Unfortunately, many families leave after Kindergarten, but that's a different conversation.
My oldest began reading at the beginning of his preK year, my younger son is doing the same. As for testing, if you know anything about how DCPS tests kids using DIBELS, my older son has consistently been above level. (DIBELS doesn't start until K, so we'll see where my younger son comes out next year, but I think he'll do well.)
Obviously, it depends on what you base your standards on. My kids' school (which is Thurgood Marshall in Ft. Lincoln and currently on the proposed closure list) has a phenomenal early childhood program. It offers Montessori (where my boys are) and traditional. The teachers have consistently recieved some of the highest evaluations in the city from the Master Educators.
Unfortunately, many families leave after Kindergarten, but that's a different conversation.
My oldest began reading at the beginning of his preK year, my younger son is doing the same. As for testing, if you know anything about how DCPS tests kids using DIBELS, my older son has consistently been above level. (DIBELS doesn't start until K, so we'll see where my younger son comes out next year, but I think he'll do well.)
Anonymous
11/30/2012 09:43
Subject: What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Anonymous wrote:Whatever ranking you assign to DC preschools it will never rank close to this one.
http://m.npr.org/story/149804404
Good one.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 09:40
Subject: Re:What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
PP, it was an april fool's joke
Anonymous
11/30/2012 09:35
Subject: What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Whatever ranking you assign to DC preschools it will never rank close to this one.
http://m.npr.org/story/149804404
http://m.npr.org/story/149804404
Anonymous
11/29/2012 16:52
Subject: What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure whether the PP who asked about touring FARMS schools was trying to imply something, or if so what, but I can't imagine a better PS3 experience for our child than the one he had at a Title I school using a Head Start for All model.
We are upper middle class parents at a very high farms title 1 school, and the resources are tremendous. We love it. Couldn't ask for a better experience.
Anonymous
11/29/2012 16:28
Subject: What's the best Pk3 and Pk4 programs in DC? Rank 1-5
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are any of the programs bad? Went to many open houses and they all seemed similar to me.
how many schools did you visit that had FARMS populations of higher than 50%?
PP here. Four of the 6 I visited had more than 50% FARMS and we ended up choosing one of these 4, due to the administration and location. And DC and we are very happy with our choice..