Anonymous
Post 05/14/2015 13:09     Subject: Confused about MV
Anonymous wrote:
I also came across a few student working outside of their classrooms and asked them why there were not in their class doing their work to which they replied it was too loud in the class to concentrate so the teacher asked to finish their assignments in the corridor. Those classrooms were JAM PACKED with kids.


The first grade expedition is maps, and they have spent much of this week measuring the school to make a map of it while integrating math lessons (i.e., first with baby feet, then larger feet, then standard feet). I wonder if that is what you ran into.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2015 12:48     Subject: Re:Confused about MV
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Does MV have a for-proft component to them? I can't imagine why a school would want to grow so much so soon and have plans to grow across the street. It can't just be about the renovations right? Did ITS expand classes this year for renovation? Are CMI and Bridges planning to do the same? Even if Bridges is, they are more established. It's just really concerning to me.


This would not be in the near future, and I don't think they would use it to grow the size of the school. Maybe to add extra facilities... like a bigger library (that is still non-existent), a gym space, etc.


library and gym across a busy street? greatttttt idea.


I don't think anybody would describe the unit block of P street as a "busy street".


P st is only busy during morning drop off for MV... Then P st can be a nightmare to be avoided at all costs.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2015 12:47     Subject: Confused about MV
Anonymous wrote:When is the next open house?


Friday 10a.m. I'm coming then to turn in enrollment but only as a safety. Looking at other waitlists to clear.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2015 12:46     Subject: Confused about MV
Seriously? You sound like the parent of a PS3 student.

After attending another charter (at 2 locations) for the past two years, as well as visiting my inbounds DCPS AND the OOB-proximity school as well, I think the Mundo Verde space is excellent. Tall ceilings, natural light, and the innovation to create playspaces out of what they have to offer.

Except for lacking a playground- which most charters also don't have- the classrooms themselves are as good as, or perhaps better, than other alternatives.

We live in an urban environment. Kids adapt to what is around them and the attitude that they see in their leaders . be it parents or educators. I, for one, am impressed by the ability of teachers to manage 20 or so small children at once, ANY day of the week. Kudos to them.

Anonymous
Post 05/14/2015 12:42     Subject: Confused about MV
When is the next open house?
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2015 12:30     Subject: Confused about MV
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So others may Eat (SOME) is on the next block and buses the homeless in to feed them.

If having homeless dudes bother you, go to another school.



Thanks the the replies all. So the schools top 3 were "too busy"
to welcome new families and answer questions--and current families are okay being treated that way?


OP here and I don't live too far from MV, so no issues with homeless. Aggressive panhandling and harassment such as I experienced today , however crossed a line.



I, too, attended yesterday's Open House tour. I was VERY disappointed. I had high expectations of the school and after that tour, it really fell short of my expectations. The tour guide was not very insightful. She didn't seem to be prepared to answer obvious questions. She was "winging it" and doing a poor job of it.

I was not pleased to here that after all of the construction & renovation, there would be no viable playground. Therefore, they'd round up 22-24 kids, per class, and walk them through a very traffic heavy area with 2 teachers to nearby playgrounds. The neighborhood doesn't seem to be safe enough to have preschoolers walking through on a daily basis just for recess. I work on North Capitol street (about 5 minutes from the MV location) and our organization is always being made aware of murders, muggings, bicyclist assaults and thefts that seem to happen weekly, if not daily.

I also came across a few student working outside of their classrooms and asked them why there were not in their class doing their work to which they replied it was too loud in the class to concentrate so the teacher asked to finish their assignments in the corridor. Those classrooms were JAM PACKED with kids.


Do you have another option? Will you be taking it?
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2015 12:25     Subject: Confused about MV
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So others may Eat (SOME) is on the next block and buses the homeless in to feed them.

If having homeless dudes bother you, go to another school.



Thanks the the replies all. So the schools top 3 were "too busy"
to welcome new families and answer questions--and current families are okay being treated that way?


OP here and I don't live too far from MV, so no issues with homeless. Aggressive panhandling and harassment such as I experienced today , however crossed a line.



I, too, attended yesterday's Open House tour. I was VERY disappointed. I had high expectations of the school and after that tour, it really fell short of my expectations. The tour guide was not very insightful. She didn't seem to be prepared to answer obvious questions. She was "winging it" and doing a poor job of it.

I was not pleased to here that after all of the construction & renovation, there would be no viable playground. Therefore, they'd round up 22-24 kids, per class, and walk them through a very traffic heavy area with 2 teachers to nearby playgrounds. The neighborhood doesn't seem to be safe enough to have preschoolers walking through on a daily basis just for recess. I work on North Capitol street (about 5 minutes from the MV location) and our organization is always being made aware of murders, muggings, bicyclist assaults and thefts that seem to happen weekly, if not daily.

I also came across a few student working outside of their classrooms and asked them why there were not in their class doing their work to which they replied it was too loud in the class to concentrate so the teacher asked to finish their assignments in the corridor. Those classrooms were JAM PACKED with kids.
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2015 23:35     Subject: Re:Confused about MV
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Does MV have a for-proft component to them? I can't imagine why a school would want to grow so much so soon and have plans to grow across the street. It can't just be about the renovations right? Did ITS expand classes this year for renovation? Are CMI and Bridges planning to do the same? Even if Bridges is, they are more established. It's just really concerning to me.


This would not be in the near future, and I don't think they would use it to grow the size of the school. Maybe to add extra facilities... like a bigger library (that is still non-existent), a gym space, etc.


library and gym across a busy street? greatttttt idea.


P isn't that busy. The busy streets are Florida, North Capitol and New York. Where would you propose they build instead?
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2015 23:25     Subject: Re:Confused about MV
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Does MV have a for-proft component to them? I can't imagine why a school would want to grow so much so soon and have plans to grow across the street. It can't just be about the renovations right? Did ITS expand classes this year for renovation? Are CMI and Bridges planning to do the same? Even if Bridges is, they are more established. It's just really concerning to me.


This would not be in the near future, and I don't think they would use it to grow the size of the school. Maybe to add extra facilities... like a bigger library (that is still non-existent), a gym space, etc.


library and gym across a busy street? greatttttt idea.


I don't think anybody would describe the unit block of P street as a "busy street".
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2015 22:05     Subject: Re:Confused about MV
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Does MV have a for-proft component to them? I can't imagine why a school would want to grow so much so soon and have plans to grow across the street. It can't just be about the renovations right? Did ITS expand classes this year for renovation? Are CMI and Bridges planning to do the same? Even if Bridges is, they are more established. It's just really concerning to me.


This would not be in the near future, and I don't think they would use it to grow the size of the school. Maybe to add extra facilities... like a bigger library (that is still non-existent), a gym space, etc.


library and gym across a busy street? greatttttt idea.


Clearly this is hypothetical... who knows what the building would be used for if its even a possibility. I guess you think its a greatttttt idea to also walk to neighborhood parks also crossing the street....
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2015 21:59     Subject: Re:Confused about MV
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Does MV have a for-proft component to them? I can't imagine why a school would want to grow so much so soon and have plans to grow across the street. It can't just be about the renovations right? Did ITS expand classes this year for renovation? Are CMI and Bridges planning to do the same? Even if Bridges is, they are more established. It's just really concerning to me.


This would not be in the near future, and I don't think they would use it to grow the size of the school. Maybe to add extra facilities... like a bigger library (that is still non-existent), a gym space, etc.


library and gym across a busy street? greatttttt idea.
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2015 21:55     Subject: Confused about MV
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:FYI: Other neighborhood news: A new 120+ unit luxury condo building is going up on the site of the old Brass knob building on N St and Hanover, down the street from SOME. Building will commence later this year once the construction on MV is done. Designed by the same architectural firm as MV. So traffic will not be getting better anytime soon.



lets not forget that MV wants to partner with someone to renovate the old abandoned building across the street from the school.


Can you share what you know about that? The building is actually occupied, not "abandoned" though it looks like it's in bad shape. It's city owned but used by an educational non-profit who run a head start program there.


I was referring to the building to the right I think its 43 P ST. Was used as a school once upon a time but now it is to run down for a charter to renovate it on its own dime. They have a vision of one day being able to partner to renovate the building.. didn't make it clear if it was partnering with another school or a private entity. You are probably talking about the other building that is used as an early education center.



Both of those buildings are owned by the city. No-one can do anything with them until the city decides that they are surplus. It's not like they can just find a partner and do it. There are buildings like that all over the city and nothing can be done about them. In the meantime plenty of schools are looking for permanent locations.


The paperwork for the building says that it is up for grabs and that Charters have first dibs... No one can take he building because of the amount of work. The other building is said to be occupied.


What paper work? (Sorry for all the questions, just curious). Is the cost issue because it's a historic building?


Yes. It is a cost issue. The old building cannot be razed but the building has to be preserved and renovated. Same as the old Brass Knob building on N st which cannot be bulldozed. The front facade has to be preserved thus it costs more money, thus the luxury condos going up in the back while preserving the front facade. Also, height restrictions which limits the number of units.
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2015 21:53     Subject: Re:Confused about MV
Anonymous wrote:Does MV have a for-proft component to them? I can't imagine why a school would want to grow so much so soon and have plans to grow across the street. It can't just be about the renovations right? Did ITS expand classes this year for renovation? Are CMI and Bridges planning to do the same? Even if Bridges is, they are more established. It's just really concerning to me.


This would not be in the near future, and I don't think they would use it to grow the size of the school. Maybe to add extra facilities... like a bigger library (that is still non-existent), a gym space, etc.
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2015 21:46     Subject: Re:Confused about MV
Anonymous wrote:Does MV have a for-proft component to them? I can't imagine why a school would want to grow so much so soon and have plans to grow across the street. It can't just be about the renovations right? Did ITS expand classes this year for renovation? Are CMI and Bridges planning to do the same? Even if Bridges is, they are more established. It's just really concerning to me.


No, it doesn't. It would take several years to get and renovate that building even if it were a possibility, which I doubt it is.
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2015 21:35     Subject: Re:Confused about MV
Does MV have a for-proft component to them? I can't imagine why a school would want to grow so much so soon and have plans to grow across the street. It can't just be about the renovations right? Did ITS expand classes this year for renovation? Are CMI and Bridges planning to do the same? Even if Bridges is, they are more established. It's just really concerning to me.