Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thus far, she is as unresponsive as the previous principal. Perhaps not replying to emails is an ok practice for MCPS principals?

When you have 100 emails from parents, 25 from teachers, and 30 more from headquarters and still try to run a high school it might be a couple of days.

It was more than a couple of days in my situation.

I agree Mrs. Heckert must receive a lot of emails so delegating ones that can be passed off to subordinates like the previous poster suggested would be a vital skill to learn. Letting parents know who to follow up with at school or Central Office shouldn't be that difficult if she isn't going to personally take care of the issue.

For anyone else with difficulties, the new Director for Churchill is Peter Moran. He can help if you don't receive a timely response. Per MCPS policy, 2 business days is sufficient time to receive a response.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thus far, she is as unresponsive as the previous principal. Perhaps not replying to emails is an ok practice for MCPS principals?

I also sent an email and didn't receive any response at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Missed the change in drop off -- what is it?

They did a tiny bit of construction and have cones in place to form two entry lines rather than one. I think they also opened the parking lot near the stadium for drop off. (?? I've never tried that, but they indicated as much in the back-to-school letter??)

Traffic is much more backed up on the side streets in the morning than it used to be. The original traffic loop designed was flawed and the flow stops to a standstill because there is not a 4 way stop at the exit so no one can leave the loop.

In the afternoon, I have seen children driving out of the lot in the wrong direction. It is only a matter of time before a student has a head on collision or heaven forbid, strikes a pedestrian because he/she is not obeying the new traffic patterns. Perhaps the Principal or Assistant Principal can stop this behavior by withdrawing parking passes from Seniors who cannot use the proper exit for the lot.

Finally, it never made any sense for the drop off and pick up loop to be in the Senior Parking Lot. There is a lot less traffic flow in the faculty parking lot. Perhaps switch the Faculty and Senior lots around so parents could drop off and pick up in a lot where the faculty cars are just parked, not Senior cars coming and going. The change would distribute the flow of traffic better.

I agree that the main problem with the traffic flow is the exit. Not only slows traffic, but is dangerous for either driving straight or turning left out of the lot because of poor visibility. (And turning right is terribly backed up.)

Why do so many kids get dropped off and picked up?

Because so many kids don't actually live in bounds for Churchill. Well known that many families in MCPS use alternate addresses to attend different schools. Even the teachers at Churchill know this happens. They admit it's the side effect of working at a school with a 'good reputation'. People want to attend, even if they don't live in bounds.

We live in bound and drive our child to school in the morning as it's a long walk (about 1.5 miles) and we don't have a school bus. Obviously, it's doable, but it's a long walk in the morning. It's also on the way to work so it's easy for us. That's what most of the parents do in our neighborhood, and then the kids make their way home in the afternoon by themselves (Ride on bus or walk). The Ride-on bus isn't really an option in the morning as it's not very reliable and we'd be concerned about our child getting to school late.

Why don't you just drop them a half a mile away? Why do they need curbside?

Churchill wants parents to drop off at the school and not on the street. They actually have police there ticketing parents who do this. I guess you could drop off further away. But, why? As I said the school is on my way to work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Missed the change in drop off -- what is it?

They did a tiny bit of construction and have cones in place to form two entry lines rather than one. I think they also opened the parking lot near the stadium for drop off. (?? I've never tried that, but they indicated as much in the back-to-school letter??)

Traffic is much more backed up on the side streets in the morning than it used to be. The original traffic loop designed was flawed and the flow stops to a standstill because there is not a 4 way stop at the exit so no one can leave the loop.

In the afternoon, I have seen children driving out of the lot in the wrong direction. It is only a matter of time before a student has a head on collision or heaven forbid, strikes a pedestrian because he/she is not obeying the new traffic patterns. Perhaps the Principal or Assistant Principal can stop this behavior by withdrawing parking passes from Seniors who cannot use the proper exit for the lot.

Finally, it never made any sense for the drop off and pick up loop to be in the Senior Parking Lot. There is a lot less traffic flow in the faculty parking lot. Perhaps switch the Faculty and Senior lots around so parents could drop off and pick up in a lot where the faculty cars are just parked, not Senior cars coming and going. The change would distribute the flow of traffic better.

I agree that the main problem with the traffic flow is the exit. Not only slows traffic, but is dangerous for either driving straight or turning left out of the lot because of poor visibility. (And turning right is terribly backed up.)

Why do so many kids get dropped off and picked up?

Because so many kids don't actually live in bounds for Churchill. Well known that many families in MCPS use alternate addresses to attend different schools. Even the teachers at Churchill know this happens. They admit it's the side effect of working at a school with a 'good reputation'. People want to attend, even if they don't live in bounds.

We live in bound and drive our child to school in the morning as it's a long walk (about 1.5 miles) and we don't have a school bus. Obviously, it's doable, but it's a long walk in the morning. It's also on the way to work so it's easy for us. That's what most of the parents do in our neighborhood, and then the kids make their way home in the afternoon by themselves (Ride on bus or walk). The Ride-on bus isn't really an option in the morning as it's not very reliable and we'd be concerned about our child getting to school late.

Why don't you just drop them a half a mile away? Why do they need curbside?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thus far, she is as unresponsive as the previous principal. Perhaps not replying to emails is an ok practice for MCPS principals?

When you have 100 emails from parents, 25 from teachers, and 30 more from headquarters and still try to run a high school it might be a couple of days.

Anonymous wrote:Thus far, she is as unresponsive as the previous principal. Perhaps not replying to emails is an ok practice for MCPS principals?

Anonymous wrote:I pray for children’s safety wherever they may be, including in their own home. It is well documented that a parents mental health illness can have devastating effects on the children in the home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Missed the change in drop off -- what is it?

They did a tiny bit of construction and have cones in place to form two entry lines rather than one. I think they also opened the parking lot near the stadium for drop off. (?? I've never tried that, but they indicated as much in the back-to-school letter??)

Traffic is much more backed up on the side streets in the morning than it used to be. The original traffic loop designed was flawed and the flow stops to a standstill because there is not a 4 way stop at the exit so no one can leave the loop.

In the afternoon, I have seen children driving out of the lot in the wrong direction. It is only a matter of time before a student has a head on collision or heaven forbid, strikes a pedestrian because he/she is not obeying the new traffic patterns. Perhaps the Principal or Assistant Principal can stop this behavior by withdrawing parking passes from Seniors who cannot use the proper exit for the lot.

Finally, it never made any sense for the drop off and pick up loop to be in the Senior Parking Lot. There is a lot less traffic flow in the faculty parking lot. Perhaps switch the Faculty and Senior lots around so parents could drop off and pick up in a lot where the faculty cars are just parked, not Senior cars coming and going. The change would distribute the flow of traffic better.

I agree that the main problem with the traffic flow is the exit. Not only slows traffic, but is dangerous for either driving straight or turning left out of the lot because of poor visibility. (And turning right is terribly backed up.)

Why do so many kids get dropped off and picked up?

Because so many kids don't actually live in bounds for Churchill. Well known that many families in MCPS use alternate addresses to attend different schools. Even the teachers at Churchill know this happens. They admit it's the side effect of working at a school with a 'good reputation'. People want to attend, even if they don't live in bounds.

We live in bound and drive our child to school in the morning as it's a long walk (about 1.5 miles) and we don't have a school bus. Obviously, it's doable, but it's a long walk in the morning. It's also on the way to work so it's easy for us. That's what most of the parents do in our neighborhood, and then the kids make their way home in the afternoon by themselves (Ride on bus or walk). The Ride-on bus isn't really an option in the morning as it's not very reliable and we'd be concerned about our child getting to school late.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thus far, she is as unresponsive as the previous principal. Perhaps not replying to emails is an ok practice for MCPS principals?

I also sent an email and didn't receive any response at all.

I guess the energy Heckert brings to Churchill is selective.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thus far, she is as unresponsive as the previous principal. Perhaps not replying to emails is an ok practice for MCPS principals?

I also sent an email and didn't receive any response at all.

Anonymous wrote: I had the opportunity to meet the new principal and am impressed by the energy she brings to Churchill. We continue to have positive experiences at Churchill in the classroom and on various sports teams. Don't be scared off by the one parent who posts non stop (posts and replies to their own posts ) about their negative experiences with the cross country/track coaches and school staff. It is nothing but defamation. The team seems to have record enrollment this season! Speaks highly of the coaches! My child loves being on the team.

Anonymous wrote:Thus far, she is as unresponsive as the previous principal. Perhaps not replying to emails is an ok practice for MCPS principals?