Anonymous wrote:A handful of Beauvior to NCS/STA kids were flat out rejected due to either behavior issues or poor testing not seen in K entry year.

What testing is used as a reject criteria? I presume it can't be 3rd grade ERB's as those results aren't back to Beauvoir until a month after the Beauvoir families are told yes or no .

Anonymous wrote:Guess we are stuck with Chicago math! My kids can barely hold their forks.

Is that why the Capitol Cotillion is now holding those dining etiquette classes?! See that long Capitol Cotillion thread for more info. . .

Guess we are stuck with Chicago math! My kids can barely hold their forks.

Anonymous wrote:Please explain what you mean by "learning style" for Singapore math.

Basically, they observe kids in the lunchroom to see which ones are able to use chopsticks instead of forks. Those who are proficient using chopsticks are taught Singapore math. The rest get everyday math.

I don't know. I am only paraphrasing the information that was given to parents several months ago. I have been happy with my child's progress in math so far, and we're yet at the "math facts" stage, so I have not personally delved any deeper.

Please explain what you mean by "learning style" for Singapore math.

They have added Singapore math, which they say they will be using with some of the kids who have a "learning style" that might be a good fit for it.

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Beauvoir appears to be ramping up their math curriculum, probably in response to parental concerns.[/quote]

Any Beauvoir parents noticed a change in the math curriculum this year?[/quote]

They talk a lot more about math during the parent teacher conferences. But I think the proof will be in the ERB pudding. That's usually when the Beauvoir honeymoon ends.[/quote]


You sound experienced. My child would like to learn more than what is being offered and I don't see why she should have to wait until after ERB's to learn something new.Do you know of any great math tutors?

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We all know Beauvoir is one of the competitive DC Independent Schools!! Would current parents please share your thoughts positive and negative about the school - administration, curriculum, staff professional development, school culture and community, teaching, diversity, and how new K students are transitioned in. Thank - you in advance.[/quote]

I have a child who left Beauvoir (finished Beauvoir) so I have insight into the whole experience from start to finish. The finish is actually important, because the children leave after 3rd grade and you need to know what Beauvoir does to help you transition to another school.

Overall, I think Beauvoir is a good school, but I think it depends enormously on the teachers you get. Some things about Beauvoir are common to any classroom: the use of "life rules", the yearly preparation for "museum night" which entails months of integrated study of a country by each grade (integrated study, in the classroom, through music, through art, etc), chapel services, etc. These things have really defined Beauvoir, and I think they are honestly great. But the quality of the teachers can vary a bit, and I know this was an issue at the end of every year (hunting down other parents to find out which teachers of the next grade were good). I don't think there were any true duds (most had really strong educations, and of course there was a set curriculum), but I feel like there were a lot of teacher requests, which either speaks to super hyper parents or to some red flags about a few teachers. Moreover, Beauvoir suffers from a high degree of teacher turnover. Having said that, my child landed into 4 out of 5 great classrooms (and one mediocre).

On the education (outside the teacher) I will say that despite its incredible reputation, the school my daughter now goes to specifically mentioned that Beauvoir kids come in weak on math. So that's something they obviously need to address.

The parent body is on the surface very nice. On the surface. It's like any school, I'm sure. You have nice parents, and then you have parents whose every conversation with you is an attempt to figure out where your child is placed to their child (academically), what your social status is, etc. I found it easy to find a nice group of parents, and found it easy to be friendly to everyone regardless.

In terms of diversity, there is ethnic, religious, and socio economic diversity, but limited. I heard, and I'm not sure this is true but I found it to be true in my daughter's classes, that they "herd" the black children. Before people have an attack over that one, I mean to say that if they put a black girl in one class, they put another one in there with her too, to make sure the black children have other children of the same sex that look like them. I think it's a little silly, but I can tell you with my daughter, it was either no black children or 4 black children every year.

On outplacement, they have an outplacement director who will provide guidance and at least give you feedback of where you stand. Some call her the weatherman...she can only deliver the weather, she can't change it...but nonetheless there is someone there to see you through the process. And of course, Beauvoir feeds into the other cathedral schools which is nothing to sneeze at.

On the whole we were happy, but we would change things if we could.[/quote]


Thanks for your post, especially the "weatherman" analogy. My question: If the child applying to NCS or STA is a very strong student, well liked by his/her peers, loves the school , is very athletic and has great reports, but the parents are not a fit socially in a way that may have not shown up applying to Beauvoir( say they are not big donors, weren't asked to chair or co-chair on any major events, are treated like the help when picking up their child at a play date,etc... ) will the placement director suggest that their child is not a "fit" eventhough the child may fit in great but its the parents that just aren't part of the club ? I am not looking for a social outlet just the best education to help my child reach his/her potential.

















having just graduated Beauvoir, I can say this is by far the most useful Beauvoir post on DCUM.
[/quote]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beauvoir appears to be ramping up their math curriculum, probably in response to parental concerns.

Any Beauvoir parents noticed a change in the math curriculum this year?

They talk a lot more about math during the parent teacher conferences. But I think the proof will be in the ERB pudding. That's usually when the Beauvoir honeymoon ends.

Anonymous wrote:Beauvoir appears to be ramping up their math curriculum, probably in response to parental concerns.

Any Beauvoir parents noticed a change in the math curriculum this year?

Beauvoir appears to be ramping up their math curriculum, probably in response to parental concerns.

PP, you write well for someone who just finished 3rd grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all know Beauvoir is one of the competitive DC Independent Schools!! Would current parents please share your thoughts positive and negative about the school - administration, curriculum, staff professional development, school culture and community, teaching, diversity, and how new K students are transitioned in. Thank - you in advance.

I have a child who left Beauvoir (finished Beauvoir) so I have insight into the whole experience from start to finish. The finish is actually important, because the children leave after 3rd grade and you need to know what Beauvoir does to help you transition to another school.

Overall, I think Beauvoir is a good school, but I think it depends enormously on the teachers you get. Some things about Beauvoir are common to any classroom: the use of "life rules", the yearly preparation for "museum night" which entails months of integrated study of a country by each grade (integrated study, in the classroom, through music, through art, etc), chapel services, etc. These things have really defined Beauvoir, and I think they are honestly great. But the quality of the teachers can vary a bit, and I know this was an issue at the end of every year (hunting down other parents to find out which teachers of the next grade were good). I don't think there were any true duds (most had really strong educations, and of course there was a set curriculum), but I feel like there were a lot of teacher requests, which either speaks to super hyper parents or to some red flags about a few teachers. Moreover, Beauvoir suffers from a high degree of teacher turnover. Having said that, my child landed into 4 out of 5 great classrooms (and one mediocre).

On the education (outside the teacher) I will say that despite its incredible reputation, the school my daughter now goes to specifically mentioned that Beauvoir kids come in weak on math. So that's something they obviously need to address.

The parent body is on the surface very nice. On the surface. It's like any school, I'm sure. You have nice parents, and then you have parents whose every conversation with you is an attempt to figure out where your child is placed to their child (academically), what your social status is, etc. I found it easy to find a nice group of parents, and found it easy to be friendly to everyone regardless.

In terms of diversity, there is ethnic, religious, and socio economic diversity, but limited. I heard, and I'm not sure this is true but I found it to be true in my daughter's classes, that they "herd" the black children. Before people have an attack over that one, I mean to say that if they put a black girl in one class, they put another one in there with her too, to make sure the black children have other children of the same sex that look like them. I think it's a little silly, but I can tell you with my daughter, it was either no black children or 4 black children every year.

On outplacement, they have an outplacement director who will provide guidance and at least give you feedback of where you stand. Some call her the weatherman...she can only deliver the weather, she can't change it...but nonetheless there is someone there to see you through the process. And of course, Beauvoir feeds into the other cathedral schools which is nothing to sneeze at.

On the whole we were happy, but we would change things if we could.

having just graduated Beauvoir, I can say this is by far the most useful Beauvoir post on DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh? lots of old money folks I. And, yeah, they do tend to drive real beaters come to think of it.

Ah, but ancient Mercedes wagons & volvos, or....Pontiac Trans Ams...

I drove a Grand Am. No other Pontiacs for miles.