Anonymous
Post 08/12/2021 13:19     Subject: ASFS new people

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The counselor who is still there is great. And SEL is definitely part of curriculum now. There was a bunch during covid. I think the push was there before covid though.

And generally there isn’t as much homework as there was several years ago. For good or bad.



No she’s not. She’s significantly under experienced and not self aware at all.


What makes you say that?

Regardless, she’s 1000x better than her predecessor.


She's less than 5 years out of college.


Ok. Doesn’t mean she isn’t good at her job. She is. Definitely a step up from before.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2021 12:29     Subject: ASFS new people

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The counselor who is still there is great. And SEL is definitely part of curriculum now. There was a bunch during covid. I think the push was there before covid though.

And generally there isn’t as much homework as there was several years ago. For good or bad.



Can you talk about how much homework there is? I hope this will shift as the parent and student population shifts. But what’s the homework situation like now?


Daily and huge quarterly projects starting in second grade

Not anymore. Fourth and fifth are the only grades that still give considerable homework -- its very different from 6 years ago when my second grader at the time was spending hours doing word study.

Daily homework (reading for 15 minutes) for K and 1st.
Project based learning + 15 minutes reading for second (monthly project like an art project or something similar about something they are learning).
15 minutes math + 20 minutes reading for third.
15 minutes math + 20 minutes reading + weekly readers response for fourth. Quarterly projects for va studies.
15 minutes math + 20 minutes reading + weekly readers response + assorted science homework for fifth. Quarterly projects for reading and science.


Project based learning + 15 minutes reading for second (monthly project like an art project or something similar about something they are learning). = a powerpoint presentation or panorama about native Americans. Not sure where you get art project.

Sorry -- in my mind panorama = art project. there was also all about books (also in my mind mostly an art project since each page is illustrated), collages (which I interpreted as an art project), or posters (again art project). My kids weren't given the option of powerpoint most months, and the teacher said that you could only do one of those a year anyways. Either way not a huge time sink, my kids spent maybe 30 minutes total on it each month.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2021 12:04     Subject: ASFS new people

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The counselor who is still there is great. And SEL is definitely part of curriculum now. There was a bunch during covid. I think the push was there before covid though.

And generally there isn’t as much homework as there was several years ago. For good or bad.



Can you talk about how much homework there is? I hope this will shift as the parent and student population shifts. But what’s the homework situation like now?


Daily and huge quarterly projects starting in second grade

Not anymore. Fourth and fifth are the only grades that still give considerable homework -- its very different from 6 years ago when my second grader at the time was spending hours doing word study.

Daily homework (reading for 15 minutes) for K and 1st.
Project based learning + 15 minutes reading for second (monthly project like an art project or something similar about something they are learning).
15 minutes math + 20 minutes reading for third.
15 minutes math + 20 minutes reading + weekly readers response for fourth. Quarterly projects for va studies.
15 minutes math + 20 minutes reading + weekly readers response + assorted science homework for fifth. Quarterly projects for reading and science.


Project based learning + 15 minutes reading for second (monthly project like an art project or something similar about something they are learning). = a powerpoint presentation or panorama about native Americans. Not sure where you get art project.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2021 12:02     Subject: ASFS new people

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The counselor who is still there is great. And SEL is definitely part of curriculum now. There was a bunch during covid. I think the push was there before covid though.

And generally there isn’t as much homework as there was several years ago. For good or bad.



No she’s not. She’s significantly under experienced and not self aware at all.


What makes you say that?

Regardless, she’s 1000x better than her predecessor.


She's less than 5 years out of college.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2021 10:15     Subject: ASFS new people

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The counselor who is still there is great. And SEL is definitely part of curriculum now. There was a bunch during covid. I think the push was there before covid though.

And generally there isn’t as much homework as there was several years ago. For good or bad.



Can you talk about how much homework there is? I hope this will shift as the parent and student population shifts. But what’s the homework situation like now?


Daily and huge quarterly projects starting in second grade

Not anymore. Fourth and fifth are the only grades that still give considerable homework -- its very different from 6 years ago when my second grader at the time was spending hours doing word study.

Daily homework (reading for 15 minutes) for K and 1st.
Project based learning + 15 minutes reading for second (monthly project like an art project or something similar about something they are learning).
15 minutes math + 20 minutes reading for third.
15 minutes math + 20 minutes reading + weekly readers response for fourth. Quarterly projects for va studies.
15 minutes math + 20 minutes reading + weekly readers response + assorted science homework for fifth. Quarterly projects for reading and science.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2021 09:09     Subject: ASFS new people

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The counselor who is still there is great. And SEL is definitely part of curriculum now. There was a bunch during covid. I think the push was there before covid though.

And generally there isn’t as much homework as there was several years ago. For good or bad.



No she’s not. She’s significantly under experienced and not self aware at all.


What makes you say that?

Regardless, she’s 1000x better than her predecessor.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2021 09:07     Subject: ASFS new people

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The counselor who is still there is great. And SEL is definitely part of curriculum now. There was a bunch during covid. I think the push was there before covid though.

And generally there isn’t as much homework as there was several years ago. For good or bad.



Can you talk about how much homework there is? I hope this will shift as the parent and student population shifts. But what’s the homework situation like now?


It varies by grade level and things may be different post-pandemic, but several years ago even young grades (1st/2nd) would have daily homework. Word study, math sheets, etc. A few years later (kid 2) that dropped to just reading + a homework menu (just 1 activity/night). For 3rd kid, it was just reading. Not sure what older grades will look like this year.

But for my older kids they were very well-prepared for middle school. 6th grade was a breeze.


This middle schoolers from ASFS tend to be bored
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2021 09:07     Subject: ASFS new people

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The counselor who is still there is great. And SEL is definitely part of curriculum now. There was a bunch during covid. I think the push was there before covid though.

And generally there isn’t as much homework as there was several years ago. For good or bad.



Can you talk about how much homework there is? I hope this will shift as the parent and student population shifts. But what’s the homework situation like now?


Daily and huge quarterly projects starting in second grade
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2021 09:06     Subject: ASFS new people

Anonymous wrote:The counselor who is still there is great. And SEL is definitely part of curriculum now. There was a bunch during covid. I think the push was there before covid though.

And generally there isn’t as much homework as there was several years ago. For good or bad.



No she’s not. She’s significantly under experienced and not self aware at all.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2021 09:04     Subject: ASFS new people

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Here’s the thing about ASFS. It is a very tight ship. But for my kid, he’s had kind and nurturing and he fell through the cracks. He enjoyed school more, but no one ever made sure he was doing his work and intervening when he was not. The principal at ASFS does not let kids fall through the cracks and they learn stuff. I would call it a more old fashioned kind of school.


Do they also make sure the social emotional needs are met and fostered? That's my kid's weakness so where I'm more concerned.


Ha no, ASFS is old school, with homework, more discipline, etc. way less modern touchy geeky things like this. It’s on the parents to handle social and emotional. Do you IEP?

This isn’t true. In the past 5-6 years, the culture at Asfs really shifted. There is a big emphasis on sel and the counselor is very tuned into individual kids needs. My kid had emotional/anxiety issues the year before covid, and the counselor was already aware when I contacted them to discuss options. They made many accommodations without any sort of iep/etc. Other parents had similar experiences. The counselor retired last year, but I don’t think it’s different sel wise than other schools. More homework yes. Uncaring no.


Ms Hawthorne retired? Oh no. Oh no. Oh no no no