Anonymous wrote:The very first town hall said the school would need to raise $800,000 and 150 student to open the next Fiscal year, EVEN with selling the Jefferson building! So the merging plan was NEVER told to the parents before end of January when only 1/3 of fundraising was met! Then all of a sudden the school said they could manage to open with 1/3 of fundraising and selling the Jefferson building. It's so strange. This is from another disappointing parent that will leave!

Do you need someone to come to your house and give you a Powerpoiint briefing, because it sounds like you've either ignored or misunderstood what's been communicated over the last several months. My child graduated years ago and apparently I know more than you do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you like having super small class sizes and have a child that fits “it the box,” you will likely not mind paying the 22k. If you are looking for a strong STEM program, innovative teaching or a school that encourages “out of the box thinking,” you will likely be disappointed. The saying ‘All that glitters is not gold’ comes to mind with this school. We have friends that love CES and we have friends that have transferred out. The parents and staff that post on this board will paint a perfect picture of the school because they want it to succeed. We liked the school when we were there and wish it well.

For someone who wishes the school well, this is certainly an attempt to paint a damning picture! I would imagine that most parents on here who are happy with their child’s school will try to convey a positive message on DCUM, so that’s not exactly unique to CES. I am sorry if the above was your experience at CES, but my children’s has been the opposite. They love how diverse the student body is and we haven’t observed there to be a “box” that students must fit into in order to be successful there. The school is ramping up STEAM offerings under the new Head and the teachers are phenomenal. Re: the tuition, that is not the cost anymore as the new Head lowered it. In any case, our family and our friends’ families cannot relate to the PP’s gripes about the school. Hopefully interested parents who read that will still take a look and draw their own conclusions. Personally, I can’t say enough good things about CES.

Not PP but wanted to say that it *is* possible for families to wish the school well AND STILL want others to be aware of certain issues this school refuses to address. The lack of importance placed on social-emotional and mental health well-being is something we wished we would have known before starting at this school and spending $$$. The fact that the school doesn't even have a part time guidance counselor speaks volumes about what this school chooses to prioritize. If students have an issue with an individual teacher, or another student, there are not any options available to them. The current HoS has children enrolled at the school and it is not farfetched to see how that could create a sticky dynamic.

The preschool and lower school were fine (pre-k and k teacher were particulary great) but the school needs to reconsider how they are addressing the social/emotional needs of tweens/teens. And yes, I have talked to admin and teachers in the past about this issue but there was just more talk and no action. This school seemed to want 10-12 little clones in each class without appreciating (or noticing, wanting, etc.) the talent and skills that individual students can bring to the school.

Another day, another purposeless thread on DCUM that won’t die...

Anonymous wrote:The very first town hall said the school would need to raise $800,000 and 150 student to open the next Fiscal year, EVEN with selling the Jefferson building! So the merging plan was NEVER told to the parents before end of January when only 1/3 of fundraising was met! Then all of a sudden the school said they could manage to open with 1/3 of fundraising and selling the Jefferson building. It's so strange. This is from another disappointing parent that will leave!

Make that 4

Anonymous wrote:The very first town hall said the school would need to raise $800,000 and 150 student to open the next Fiscal year, EVEN with selling the Jefferson building! So the merging plan was NEVER told to the parents before end of January when only 1/3 of fundraising was met! Then all of a sudden the school said they could manage to open with 1/3 of fundraising and selling the Jefferson building. It's so strange. This is from another disappointing parent that will leave!

Again, where exactly did you think the students currently in the Jefferson building were going to go when it was sold? And, the rationale for being able to stay open was described IN DETAIL in emails from the school. Give me a break. You are saying the same thing here over and over again when the information you’re complaining about not having was indeed provided to you.

The very first town hall said the school would need to raise $800,000 and 150 student to open the next Fiscal year, EVEN with selling the Jefferson building! So the merging plan was NEVER told to the parents before end of January when only 1/3 of fundraising was met! Then all of a sudden the school said they could manage to open with 1/3 of fundraising and selling the Jefferson building. It's so strange. This is from another disappointing parent that will leave!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strangely nobody says anything about the Jefferson building will be converted into apartment building. There will be constructions, traffics, etc. upper school will move into the church building with no home rooms. Make sure you ask for more details if you are interested.

Agree. Because unhappy parents on those facts will leave and they don't bother to post here. Many advocating parents, as were asked by the school admin, only mentioned the positive facts, but not those negative facts. We no longer feel CES was honest when communicating with parents. They never mentioned the construction and the plan merging of middle school into the church building during the fundraising. They will collect the fundraising from the parents "as long as the school is open". However, the school is open with a totally different and worse situation with construction and condensed space. We choose to leave.

They talked about the desire to sell the Jefferson building for ages. That was hardly a secret. I have found the new leadership to be very transparent, having worked with them on multiple committees for several months now. The back and forth on this thread is pointless. Every school on here has people in its camp and people who are dissatisfied. From my perspective, Mrs Stone and co as well as the new vestry leadership have been forthright and honest in regards to every question I have had. Prospective parents can ask questions and decide for themselves if it’s a good fit. There are plenty of people who love the school and wouldn’t want to send their kids anywhere else.

If they are transparent, why they didn’t mention about the plan of moving middle school during the fundraising? They claimed they had to close if they can’t make the 800k fundraising goal. But how come they still remain open with only 1/4 of the amount was pledged? Why they still need to collect the pledges if they have enough proceeds from selling the building? None of these questions were directly addressed. All these disheartened lifers like us.

It was a slim shady move PP. I totally agree

Huh? They were always VERY clear about needing to sell the Jefferson Building as it was underutilized and not worth the cost. When they sold the Jefferson Building, where did you think they were going to put the middle schoolers? Dump them in the parking lot? I don’t mean to be insensitive but it does not sound like English is your first language and am wondering if maybe you just misunderstood their communications. They communicated frequently and in depth about this issue - almost too much - so perhaps you missed one of the many emails updating the school community. The school also awards financial to a little over half of the students and their operating costs (which is what the fundraising was for) INCLUDES the substantial amount of money necessary for need based aid. Also next year the school has reduced tuition by $3,000 so at a minimum if there are at least 120 students, this results in the school passing on a savings of $360,000 - a little MORE than that building costs the school annually. So the school, penny for penny passed on the savings to the families at a time when most schools are increasing tuition.

Anyhow, I wish you well, wherever you have landed for next year and I truly hope your new school is everything you have hoped and dreamed about. And I’m sure if for whatever reason you change your mind, Christ Episcopal School will welcome your family back with open arms, just as they have to other families who often return. Have a peaceful Easter week.

Oh my goodness...I could have written this word for word. My exact reaction was where that poster thought the middle schoolers were going to go, if not to the readily available classrooms in the church building??? To say this was some sort of underhanded deal is bonkers, when discussions of selling the Jefferson building have been ongoing for years. I genuinely hope the person or persons complaining that there was no transparency from the school are more proactive/attentive in their child’s new school. There have been so many emails from the school, town halls, and parent committees where all of the info they claim to be lacking was available. If all else failed, those posters had only to contact the school leadership and would get all of those answers. My mind is blown at these claims of lack of transparency. If anyone on here claims they attended the town halls, read the numerous and VERY detailed emails, served on a parent committee, and reached out to staff and still didn’t know the answers to their questions I call complete and total bs. One of the nicest things about being at a smaller school is that the leadership literally knows everyone and you have a direct line right to them when you have any concerns or questions. Every now and then, there will be a random CES complaint on DCUM where it is clear that the poster made no effort to talk to the school directly. I echo what the PP said and hope prospective parents read that post in its entirety. This is a wonderful, warm, and yes, honest community to be a part of and if you have found another school you think is a better fit we wish you well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strangely nobody says anything about the Jefferson building will be converted into apartment building. There will be constructions, traffics, etc. upper school will move into the church building with no home rooms. Make sure you ask for more details if you are interested.

Agree. Because unhappy parents on those facts will leave and they don't bother to post here. Many advocating parents, as were asked by the school admin, only mentioned the positive facts, but not those negative facts. We no longer feel CES was honest when communicating with parents. They never mentioned the construction and the plan merging of middle school into the church building during the fundraising. They will collect the fundraising from the parents "as long as the school is open". However, the school is open with a totally different and worse situation with construction and condensed space. We choose to leave.

They talked about the desire to sell the Jefferson building for ages. That was hardly a secret. I have found the new leadership to be very transparent, having worked with them on multiple committees for several months now. The back and forth on this thread is pointless. Every school on here has people in its camp and people who are dissatisfied. From my perspective, Mrs Stone and co as well as the new vestry leadership have been forthright and honest in regards to every question I have had. Prospective parents can ask questions and decide for themselves if it’s a good fit. There are plenty of people who love the school and wouldn’t want to send their kids anywhere else.

If they are transparent, why they didn’t mention about the plan of moving middle school during the fundraising? They claimed they had to close if they can’t make the 800k fundraising goal. But how come they still remain open with only 1/4 of the amount was pledged? Why they still need to collect the pledges if they have enough proceeds from selling the building? None of these questions were directly addressed. All these disheartened lifers like us.

It was a slim shady move PP. I totally agree

Huh? They were always VERY clear about needing to sell the Jefferson Building as it was underutilized and not worth the cost. When they sold the Jefferson Building, where did you think they were going to put the middle schoolers? Dump them in the parking lot? I don’t mean to be insensitive but it does not sound like English is your first language and am wondering if maybe you just misunderstood their communications. They communicated frequently and in depth about this issue - almost too much - so perhaps you missed one of the many emails updating the school community. The school also awards financial to a little over half of the students and their operating costs (which is what the fundraising was for) INCLUDES the substantial amount of money necessary for need based aid. Also next year the school has reduced tuition by $3,000 so at a minimum if there are at least 120 students, this results in the school passing on a savings of $360,000 - a little MORE than that building costs the school annually. So the school, penny for penny passed on the savings to the families at a time when most schools are increasing tuition.

Anyhow, I wish you well, wherever you have landed for next year and I truly hope your new school is everything you have hoped and dreamed about. And I’m sure if for whatever reason you change your mind, Christ Episcopal School will welcome your family back with open arms, just as they have to other families who often return. Have a peaceful Easter week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strangely nobody says anything about the Jefferson building will be converted into apartment building. There will be constructions, traffics, etc. upper school will move into the church building with no home rooms. Make sure you ask for more details if you are interested.

Agree. Because unhappy parents on those facts will leave and they don't bother to post here. Many advocating parents, as were asked by the school admin, only mentioned the positive facts, but not those negative facts. We no longer feel CES was honest when communicating with parents. They never mentioned the construction and the plan merging of middle school into the church building during the fundraising. They will collect the fundraising from the parents "as long as the school is open". However, the school is open with a totally different and worse situation with construction and condensed space. We choose to leave.

They talked about the desire to sell the Jefferson building for ages. That was hardly a secret. I have found the new leadership to be very transparent, having worked with them on multiple committees for several months now. The back and forth on this thread is pointless. Every school on here has people in its camp and people who are dissatisfied. From my perspective, Mrs Stone and co as well as the new vestry leadership have been forthright and honest in regards to every question I have had. Prospective parents can ask questions and decide for themselves if it’s a good fit. There are plenty of people who love the school and wouldn’t want to send their kids anywhere else.

If they are transparent, why they didn’t mention about the plan of moving middle school during the fundraising? They claimed they had to close if they can’t make the 800k fundraising goal. But how come they still remain open with only 1/4 of the amount was pledged? Why they still need to collect the pledges if they have enough proceeds from selling the building? None of these questions were directly addressed. All these disheartened lifers like us.

It was a slim shady move PP. I totally agree

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strangely nobody says anything about the Jefferson building will be converted into apartment building. There will be constructions, traffics, etc. upper school will move into the church building with no home rooms. Make sure you ask for more details if you are interested.

Agree. Because unhappy parents on those facts will leave and they don't bother to post here. Many advocating parents, as were asked by the school admin, only mentioned the positive facts, but not those negative facts. We no longer feel CES was honest when communicating with parents. They never mentioned the construction and the plan merging of middle school into the church building during the fundraising. They will collect the fundraising from the parents "as long as the school is open". However, the school is open with a totally different and worse situation with construction and condensed space. We choose to leave.

They talked about the desire to sell the Jefferson building for ages. That was hardly a secret. I have found the new leadership to be very transparent, having worked with them on multiple committees for several months now. The back and forth on this thread is pointless. Every school on here has people in its camp and people who are dissatisfied. From my perspective, Mrs Stone and co as well as the new vestry leadership have been forthright and honest in regards to every question I have had. Prospective parents can ask questions and decide for themselves if it’s a good fit. There are plenty of people who love the school and wouldn’t want to send their kids anywhere else.

If they are transparent, why they didn’t mention about the plan of moving middle school during the fundraising? They claimed they had to close if they can’t make the 800k fundraising goal. But how come they still remain open with only 1/4 of the amount was pledged? Why they still need to collect the pledges if they have enough proceeds from selling the building? None of these questions were directly addressed. All these disheartened lifers like us.

I know the answers to all of those questions from either communications from the school or asking them directly. Not going to air it all here but anyone can ask them any of this and will get a straight answer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strangely nobody says anything about the Jefferson building will be converted into apartment building. There will be constructions, traffics, etc. upper school will move into the church building with no home rooms. Make sure you ask for more details if you are interested.

Agree. Because unhappy parents on those facts will leave and they don't bother to post here. Many advocating parents, as were asked by the school admin, only mentioned the positive facts, but not those negative facts. We no longer feel CES was honest when communicating with parents. They never mentioned the construction and the plan merging of middle school into the church building during the fundraising. They will collect the fundraising from the parents "as long as the school is open". However, the school is open with a totally different and worse situation with construction and condensed space. We choose to leave.

They talked about the desire to sell the Jefferson building for ages. That was hardly a secret. I have found the new leadership to be very transparent, having worked with them on multiple committees for several months now. The back and forth on this thread is pointless. Every school on here has people in its camp and people who are dissatisfied. From my perspective, Mrs Stone and co as well as the new vestry leadership have been forthright and honest in regards to every question I have had. Prospective parents can ask questions and decide for themselves if it’s a good fit. There are plenty of people who love the school and wouldn’t want to send their kids anywhere else.

If they are transparent, why they didn’t mention about the plan of moving middle school during the fundraising? They claimed they had to close if they can’t make the 800k fundraising goal. But how come they still remain open with only 1/4 of the amount was pledged? Why they still need to collect the pledges if they have enough proceeds from selling the building? None of these questions were directly addressed. All these disheartened lifers like us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strangely nobody says anything about the Jefferson building will be converted into apartment building. There will be constructions, traffics, etc. upper school will move into the church building with no home rooms. Make sure you ask for more details if you are interested.

Agree. Because unhappy parents on those facts will leave and they don't bother to post here. Many advocating parents, as were asked by the school admin, only mentioned the positive facts, but not those negative facts. We no longer feel CES was honest when communicating with parents. They never mentioned the construction and the plan merging of middle school into the church building during the fundraising. They will collect the fundraising from the parents "as long as the school is open". However, the school is open with a totally different and worse situation with construction and condensed space. We choose to leave.

They talked about the desire to sell the Jefferson building for ages. That was hardly a secret. I have found the new leadership to be very transparent, having worked with them on multiple committees for several months now. The back and forth on this thread is pointless. Every school on here has people in its camp and people who are dissatisfied. From my perspective, Mrs Stone and co as well as the new vestry leadership have been forthright and honest in regards to every question I have had. Prospective parents can ask questions and decide for themselves if it’s a good fit. There are plenty of people who love the school and wouldn’t want to send their kids anywhere else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strangely nobody says anything about the Jefferson building will be converted into apartment building. There will be constructions, traffics, etc. upper school will move into the church building with no home rooms. Make sure you ask for more details if you are interested.

Agree. Because unhappy parents on those facts will leave and they don't bother to post here. Many advocating parents, as were asked by the school admin, only mentioned the positive facts, but not those negative facts. We no longer feel CES was honest when communicating with parents. They never mentioned the construction and the plan merging of middle school into the church building during the fundraising. They will collect the fundraising from the parents "as long as the school is open". However, the school is open with a totally different and worse situation with construction and condensed space. We choose to leave.

Can I get an Amen

Anonymous wrote:Strangely nobody says anything about the Jefferson building will be converted into apartment building. There will be constructions, traffics, etc. upper school will move into the church building with no home rooms. Make sure you ask for more details if you are interested.

Agree. Because unhappy parents on those facts will leave and they don't bother to post here. Many advocating parents, as were asked by the school admin, only mentioned the positive facts, but not those negative facts. We no longer feel CES was honest when communicating with parents. They never mentioned the construction and the plan merging of middle school into the church building during the fundraising. They will collect the fundraising from the parents "as long as the school is open". However, the school is open with a totally different and worse situation with construction and condensed space. We choose to leave.

Strangely nobody says anything about the Jefferson building will be converted into apartment building. There will be constructions, traffics, etc. upper school will move into the church building with no home rooms. Make sure you ask for more details if you are interested.