Anonymous
Post 05/23/2016 21:14     Subject: Typical Potomac student?
Meeting new parents will be hard, not because of cliques, but because by the later grades parents aren't that engaged in schools and school socializing.

The kids will be welcoming though.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2016 19:51     Subject: Typical Potomac student?
As a Potomac parent, I don't find the "cliques" an issue. Just like anywhere, some people find comfort (and are likely more introverted) in what htey know- may have been friends for years, even before the kids started at school. There are plenty of other parents who are interested and eager to meet new families. There are ways to get involved and meet other parents, some may be in your kids' social cirlce but some not (it is a matter of chance I suppose) but I don't think Potomac is any different than other indep schools with people who have known each other and people who are still interested to meet others. Don't make this about you, its about the kids and you will find parents you enjoy!
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2016 16:56     Subject: Typical Potomac student?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Could someone give me an idea of a typical Potomac kid? I ask because my kid is very smart but also very social and outgoing - likes to work hard but also have fun. During our last visit, she came away with the impression that the kids were only about academics and not very social - she is now having second thoughts about the school. That's not how I think of Potomac kids - was this just an off group she was placed in? Maybe just some of the new kids?
The Kids at potomac are actually quite social, Former student here. Though in class they are relatively focused, during Lunch (45 minutes each day) or the extra free block the will either be in the Lunchroom eating and talking, playing various games, or talking in the cross roads. Also, to the person who asked if Uber wealth kids cannot fit in, Yes, many kids do not have great financial situations and fit in very well.


PP here. Thanks for this post - it's good to hear from a former student. My daughter was also asking where the kids actually socialize - right now, she is at a school where the kids can just walk into town, no need to plan ahead all the time. Obviously, this is not the case at Potomac and there is no place to "hang out" in McLean as far as I know - do they kids go to Tysons? Hang out at each others homes? It's just so much more spread out than what she is used to so she was just trying to figure it out.

Also, how easy/difficult is it to break into the social groups? She is concerned that students will be nice and polite on the surface and at school but that she will have a hard tome actually breaking into anything outside of school because so many of the kids have been friends for years and may live nearby.


I have a good friend with a rising 9th grader who has been there since K. The Potomac lifers are just as excited as you are to have 40 new kids coming in. They want the new friendships, too. Parents? That's another story. It might take time to break into the parent cliques but it will happen with time.


As the parent of a couple of lifers (or about to be lifers), the mixing with respect to the kids happens completely and the new kids totally stand on their own with no real judgement about being new. The parent cliques are frankly another story--a number of the parent groups are have been extremely close for 10-15 years (often going back before Potomac, to CDS and WGCC) and new parents are going to have a hard time breaking in. The one way that bleeds down into the kids is that often the lifer kids, especially those with parents who are social leaders, will be 'carried' by the more popular lifers in a way that would not otherwise have happened. It is actually kind of sweet in a sense.


OP here. This issue worries me as I have now heard it from several people. I understand of course that parents become friends over a number years - we have many such friends ourselves - but where we are, this pretty much stopped trickling into the kids social circles in middles school. In addition, even in high school, as a parent you want to be part of a welcoming and open parent community - how else are you going to feel comfortable calling the parents to find out what the kids are really up to on Saturday night? I also just think that this kind of cliquey vibe must send a message to their kids that it is is okay to be cliquey.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2016 13:32     Subject: Re:Typical Potomac student?
Anonymous wrote:PP: How exactly is that sweet? Seems very cliquey, more than anything.


PP here. It is sweet in that you have kids that would objectively be considered to be somewhat dorky/bookworms feeling like they are fully a part of the school and the social scene and not excluded. Hard to describe until you (or your kid) has lived it but it is really nice. Honestly this is to many of us one of the main arguments for being a lifer at a K-12 school.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2016 17:48     Subject: Typical Potomac student?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Could someone give me an idea of a typical Potomac kid? I ask because my kid is very smart but also very social and outgoing - likes to work hard but also have fun. During our last visit, she came away with the impression that the kids were only about academics and not very social - she is now having second thoughts about the school. That's not how I think of Potomac kids - was this just an off group she was placed in? Maybe just some of the new kids?


Perhaps the most accurate analogy of Potomac I have heard is that it is about as close to high school musical as there is. Potomac kids have active academic, athletic, artistic, and social lives. There also is only competition with oneself, not with the other students, so that allows the kids to truly be happy for their classmates' accomplishments. Potomac is a really special place, and it would really be a shame for an off visit to dissuade your daughter from joining such an incredible community.


Wow. This is a great summary. I was reading the responses and getting ready to post one of my own but I think you nailed it.

It is a truly wonderful place.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2016 17:46     Subject: Re:Typical Potomac student?
PP: How exactly is that sweet? Seems very cliquey, more than anything.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2016 17:43     Subject: Typical Potomac student?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Could someone give me an idea of a typical Potomac kid? I ask because my kid is very smart but also very social and outgoing - likes to work hard but also have fun. During our last visit, she came away with the impression that the kids were only about academics and not very social - she is now having second thoughts about the school. That's not how I think of Potomac kids - was this just an off group she was placed in? Maybe just some of the new kids?
The Kids at potomac are actually quite social, Former student here. Though in class they are relatively focused, during Lunch (45 minutes each day) or the extra free block the will either be in the Lunchroom eating and talking, playing various games, or talking in the cross roads. Also, to the person who asked if Uber wealth kids cannot fit in, Yes, many kids do not have great financial situations and fit in very well.


PP here. Thanks for this post - it's good to hear from a former student. My daughter was also asking where the kids actually socialize - right now, she is at a school where the kids can just walk into town, no need to plan ahead all the time. Obviously, this is not the case at Potomac and there is no place to "hang out" in McLean as far as I know - do they kids go to Tysons? Hang out at each others homes? It's just so much more spread out than what she is used to so she was just trying to figure it out.

Also, how easy/difficult is it to break into the social groups? She is concerned that students will be nice and polite on the surface and at school but that she will have a hard tome actually breaking into anything outside of school because so many of the kids have been friends for years and may live nearby.


I have a good friend with a rising 9th grader who has been there since K. The Potomac lifers are just as excited as you are to have 40 new kids coming in. They want the new friendships, too. Parents? That's another story. It might take time to break into the parent cliques but it will happen with time.


As the parent of a couple of lifers (or about to be lifers), the mixing with respect to the kids happens completely and the new kids totally stand on their own with no real judgement about being new. The parent cliques are frankly another story--a number of the parent groups are have been extremely close for 10-15 years (often going back before Potomac, to CDS and WGCC) and new parents are going to have a hard time breaking in. The one way that bleeds down into the kids is that often the lifer kids, especially those with parents who are social leaders, will be 'carried' by the more popular lifers in a way that would not otherwise have happened. It is actually kind of sweet in a sense.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2016 09:30     Subject: Re:Typical Potomac student?
Anonymous wrote:We are happy with every other aspect of the school. Truly. And actually my DC is as well. The teachers, without exception, are fantastic. I think that things will get better mostly because, as is often the case, things sometimes just take time. Advisor reports that DC appears to have immediately fit in and found several groups of friends to spend breaks and lunch with. So I do think DC is just feeling very sensitive. Neither my DC or us have made an effort for things to happen outside of school--DC doesn't want to appear "desperate." I think the start of next year, DC will feel more comfortable. I will say, I have another friend who started in 7th a few years ago and reported the same thing. DC was happy enough and plenty of kids to hang out with at school, but no real bonding until 9th. What I heard from friend, and from others, is that there's real reshuffling that takes place with the arrival of a bigger group of new students and more opportunity for everyone to find their place beginning in 9th. Honestly, I would recommend Potomac to just about anybody, and if your DD is outgoing, I bet she won't have to take as much time as my DC to find her social life there. Good luck!


PP thank you - that is really good to hear as our interactions with the school so far have been uneven and so we have been really starting to wonder if this is the right match. My kid is social but is worried about living far from the school and other students and not being super rich. Hopefully it will all work out!
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2016 07:47     Subject: Re:Typical Potomac student?
We are happy with every other aspect of the school. Truly. And actually my DC is as well. The teachers, without exception, are fantastic. I think that things will get better mostly because, as is often the case, things sometimes just take time. Advisor reports that DC appears to have immediately fit in and found several groups of friends to spend breaks and lunch with. So I do think DC is just feeling very sensitive. Neither my DC or us have made an effort for things to happen outside of school--DC doesn't want to appear "desperate." I think the start of next year, DC will feel more comfortable. I will say, I have another friend who started in 7th a few years ago and reported the same thing. DC was happy enough and plenty of kids to hang out with at school, but no real bonding until 9th. What I heard from friend, and from others, is that there's real reshuffling that takes place with the arrival of a bigger group of new students and more opportunity for everyone to find their place beginning in 9th. Honestly, I would recommend Potomac to just about anybody, and if your DD is outgoing, I bet she won't have to take as much time as my DC to find her social life there. Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 05/20/2016 16:26     Subject: Typical Potomac student?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Could someone give me an idea of a typical Potomac kid? I ask because my kid is very smart but also very social and outgoing - likes to work hard but also have fun. During our last visit, she came away with the impression that the kids were only about academics and not very social - she is now having second thoughts about the school. That's not how I think of Potomac kids - was this just an off group she was placed in? Maybe just some of the new kids?
The Kids at potomac are actually quite social, Former student here. Though in class they are relatively focused, during Lunch (45 minutes each day) or the extra free block the will either be in the Lunchroom eating and talking, playing various games, or talking in the cross roads. Also, to the person who asked if Uber wealth kids cannot fit in, Yes, many kids do not have great financial situations and fit in very well.


PP here. Thanks for this post - it's good to hear from a former student. My daughter was also asking where the kids actually socialize - right now, she is at a school where the kids can just walk into town, no need to plan ahead all the time. Obviously, this is not the case at Potomac and there is no place to "hang out" in McLean as far as I know - do they kids go to Tysons? Hang out at each others homes? It's just so much more spread out than what she is used to so she was just trying to figure it out.

Also, how easy/difficult is it to break into the social groups? She is concerned that students will be nice and polite on the surface and at school but that she will have a hard tome actually breaking into anything outside of school because so many of the kids have been friends for years and may live nearby.




I have a good friend with a rising 9th grader who has been there since K. The Potomac lifers are just as excited as you are to have 40 new kids coming in. They want the new friendships, too. Parents? That's another story. It might take time to break into the parent cliques but it will happen with time.


Unfortunately, I have found the PP's concern about friendliness at school not translating to a social life outside of school to be valid, even now that the end of my DC's first year there. Definitely only made friends with other new kids, and even they have not socialized once outside of school. DC likes to play things on the cool side though, so hasn't made tons of effort. I am pretty confident that another year will see some changes. Only in IS right now.


PP here. I'm sorry to hear that is the case - that does really concern me. Are you happy with other aspects of the school? What makes you think the US will be better?
Anonymous
Post 05/20/2016 12:43     Subject: Typical Potomac student?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Could someone give me an idea of a typical Potomac kid? I ask because my kid is very smart but also very social and outgoing - likes to work hard but also have fun. During our last visit, she came away with the impression that the kids were only about academics and not very social - she is now having second thoughts about the school. That's not how I think of Potomac kids - was this just an off group she was placed in? Maybe just some of the new kids?
The Kids at potomac are actually quite social, Former student here. Though in class they are relatively focused, during Lunch (45 minutes each day) or the extra free block the will either be in the Lunchroom eating and talking, playing various games, or talking in the cross roads. Also, to the person who asked if Uber wealth kids cannot fit in, Yes, many kids do not have great financial situations and fit in very well.


PP here. Thanks for this post - it's good to hear from a former student. My daughter was also asking where the kids actually socialize - right now, she is at a school where the kids can just walk into town, no need to plan ahead all the time. Obviously, this is not the case at Potomac and there is no place to "hang out" in McLean as far as I know - do they kids go to Tysons? Hang out at each others homes? It's just so much more spread out than what she is used to so she was just trying to figure it out.

Also, how easy/difficult is it to break into the social groups? She is concerned that students will be nice and polite on the surface and at school but that she will have a hard tome actually breaking into anything outside of school because so many of the kids have been friends for years and may live nearby.


I have a good friend with a rising 9th grader who has been there since K. The Potomac lifers are just as excited as you are to have 40 new kids coming in. They want the new friendships, too. Parents? That's another story. It might take time to break into the parent cliques but it will happen with time.


Unfortunately, I have found the PP's concern about friendliness at school not translating to a social life outside of school to be valid, even now that the end of my DC's first year there. Definitely only made friends with other new kids, and even they have not socialized once outside of school. DC likes to play things on the cool side though, so hasn't made tons of effort. I am pretty confident that another year will see some changes. Only in IS right now.
Anonymous
Post 05/20/2016 12:39     Subject: Typical Potomac student?
Anonymous wrote:does anyone have the 2016 college placements for Potomac yet?


I would like to see this too - is it out yet?
Anonymous
Post 05/20/2016 09:59     Subject: Typical Potomac student?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Could someone give me an idea of a typical Potomac kid? I ask because my kid is very smart but also very social and outgoing - likes to work hard but also have fun. During our last visit, she came away with the impression that the kids were only about academics and not very social - she is now having second thoughts about the school. That's not how I think of Potomac kids - was this just an off group she was placed in? Maybe just some of the new kids?
The Kids at potomac are actually quite social, Former student here. Though in class they are relatively focused, during Lunch (45 minutes each day) or the extra free block the will either be in the Lunchroom eating and talking, playing various games, or talking in the cross roads. Also, to the person who asked if Uber wealth kids cannot fit in, Yes, many kids do not have great financial situations and fit in very well.


PP here. Thanks for this post - it's good to hear from a former student. My daughter was also asking where the kids actually socialize - right now, she is at a school where the kids can just walk into town, no need to plan ahead all the time. Obviously, this is not the case at Potomac and there is no place to "hang out" in McLean as far as I know - do they kids go to Tysons? Hang out at each others homes? It's just so much more spread out than what she is used to so she was just trying to figure it out.

Also, how easy/difficult is it to break into the social groups? She is concerned that students will be nice and polite on the surface and at school but that she will have a hard tome actually breaking into anything outside of school because so many of the kids have been friends for years and may live nearby.


I have a good friend with a rising 9th grader who has been there since K. The Potomac lifers are just as excited as you are to have 40 new kids coming in. They want the new friendships, too. Parents? That's another story. It might take time to break into the parent cliques but it will happen with time.
Anonymous
Post 05/20/2016 08:44     Subject: Typical Potomac student?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Could someone give me an idea of a typical Potomac kid? I ask because my kid is very smart but also very social and outgoing - likes to work hard but also have fun. During our last visit, she came away with the impression that the kids were only about academics and not very social - she is now having second thoughts about the school. That's not how I think of Potomac kids - was this just an off group she was placed in? Maybe just some of the new kids?
The Kids at potomac are actually quite social, Former student here. Though in class they are relatively focused, during Lunch (45 minutes each day) or the extra free block the will either be in the Lunchroom eating and talking, playing various games, or talking in the cross roads. Also, to the person who asked if Uber wealth kids cannot fit in, Yes, many kids do not have great financial situations and fit in very well.


PP here. Thanks for this post - it's good to hear from a former student. My daughter was also asking where the kids actually socialize - right now, she is at a school where the kids can just walk into town, no need to plan ahead all the time. Obviously, this is not the case at Potomac and there is no place to "hang out" in McLean as far as I know - do they kids go to Tysons? Hang out at each others homes? It's just so much more spread out than what she is used to so she was just trying to figure it out.

Also, how easy/difficult is it to break into the social groups? She is concerned that students will be nice and polite on the surface and at school but that she will have a hard tome actually breaking into anything outside of school because so many of the kids have been friends for years and may live nearby.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 15:20     Subject: Typical Potomac student?
Anonymous wrote:does anyone have the 2016 college placements for Potomac yet?


Trump University 100% of the kids.