Anonymous wrote:This process is about relieving overcrowding at Oakridge. What’s everyone’s take on that?

That Oakridge got its preferred outcome being sent to Hoffman Boston rather than Drew. But also that Oakridge wants to remain an Oakridge enclave on its side of 395. During SAWG they fought hard for a school on their side of 395, even though the long-term numbers and timing just didn't align for them to get the new school built at a location in Pentagon or Crystal City. Of course, it didn't help that there was no immediately available site to build that school on for a 2019 opening. But their rationale didn't sell: we can't send our kids across 395; but you can send your 4 year olds across 395 to our side for preschool until our numbers are high enough to completely fill both schools. Really?

I'm sure Oakridge has been doing its share of advocacy this past year, too. They've just chosen to do it quietly behind-the-scenes rather than open and in-your-face like Henry chose to do.

Quite frankly, I'm sick to death of the word "community" and everyone thinking theirs is is so close and strong and special and sacro-sanct; yet their great and strong community is apparently too fragile to survive a chunk of their kids going to a different school. You'll still go to school with a lot of others in your neighborhood; you'll still see neighbors and classmates and non-classmates in your local parks and restaurants; you can still host social gatherings with neighbors whose kids attend the other school; you can still have your neighborhood potlucks and festivals. In the meantime, you extend your perspective and your community to another part of Arlington - likely the one adjacent, though "separated" by a major road. I understand the angst about switching schools midstream; but I do not get why that is "tearing apart the community." Your community merely extends or evolves into another great one.

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish people would be civil on both sides. Nasty things are being said about Montessori and specific neighborhoods/ parents here and on AEM by some people. Preferring one school or program over another is okay and is not “code” or racist. Once boundaries are drawn, those families will probably not forget what was said about them. I just don’t see how this all works out in a way that is a net positive for Drew’s PTA or South Arlington. The last few years have certainly made me think twice about living in Arlington.

And Drew probably will not forget how this process was a game of musical chairs with everyone trying to grab a seat somewhere else. Spare me the tears for the UMC Henry/Fleet folks.

Quite ironic to point out how Drew won’t forget how they’re being treated when you are saying nasty things about the Henry families in the “disputed” zone. We didn’t ask to be playing musical chairs either. Btw I have nothing to do with the advocacy groups and realize the cards will fall where they may. But the net result of this Henry-Drew squabbling is that, shocker, no one will want to go to Drew. You don’t care about us as a potential community but only because we’ll help the FARMs rate.

Um, the whole point is that people would like to see Drew be able to build a community that will help support a stronger school. No one's saying, "give us your stats and then leave us alone," they're saying, "please come be part of our community."

Please show me where one person wrote anything like that. It’s all been disparaging remarks. Please, change my mind because I haven’t seen one positive thing on here or AEM that would make me want to send my kid to Drew. Just a lot of blaming Henry and Montessori.

Keep Henry Together has been pestering the SB for months trying to avoid Drew, and everyone knew it was happening. It's fingerprints are all over that ridiculous map. Why shouldn't Drew parents feel insulted? They never had the chance to say hello before the millionaires row on 12th street South said "hell no we won't go."

"The most important educational resource the local school district allocates with its decisions, fairly or unfairly, is its high-achieving students. If Arlington school leaders continue to draw boundaries isolating high-achieving students into racially and economically isolated wealthy “neighborhood schools,” it is denying its most crucial educational resource to poor and minority kids."

As true now as when it was written six years ago.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/de-segregating-arlington-schools/2012/10/29/d1530fe2-2085-11e2-afca-58c2f5789c5d_blog.html?utm_term=.c7d9ed894c46

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish people would be civil on both sides. Nasty things are being said about Montessori and specific neighborhoods/ parents here and on AEM by some people. Preferring one school or program over another is okay and is not “code” or racist. Once boundaries are drawn, those families will probably not forget what was said about them. I just don’t see how this all works out in a way that is a net positive for Drew’s PTA or South Arlington. The last few years have certainly made me think twice about living in Arlington.

And Drew probably will not forget how this process was a game of musical chairs with everyone trying to grab a seat somewhere else. Spare me the tears for the UMC Henry/Fleet folks.

Quite ironic to point out how Drew won’t forget how they’re being treated when you are saying nasty things about the Henry families in the “disputed” zone. We didn’t ask to be playing musical chairs either. Btw I have nothing to do with the advocacy groups and realize the cards will fall where they may. But the net result of this Henry-Drew squabbling is that, shocker, no one will want to go to Drew. You don’t care about us as a potential community but only because we’ll help the FARMs rate.

Um, the whole point is that people would like to see Drew be able to build a community that will help support a stronger school. No one's saying, "give us your stats and then leave us alone," they're saying, "please come be part of our community."

Please show me where one person wrote anything like that. It’s all been disparaging remarks. Please, change my mind because I haven’t seen one positive thing on here or AEM that would make me want to send my kid to Drew. Just a lot of blaming Henry and Montessori.

Keep Henry Together has been pestering the SB for months trying to avoid Drew, and everyone knew it was happening. It's fingerprints are all over that ridiculous map. Why shouldn't Drew parents feel insulted? They never had the chance to say hello before the millionaires row on 12th street South said "hell no we won't go."

Anonymous wrote:This process is about relieving overcrowding at Oakridge. What’s everyone’s take on that?

That's one of the things it's about, not the only thing.

Anonymous wrote:Oh please how much time have you spent in Columbia Heights? Homeless and drug users in the park. No playgrounds unless you count the Walter Reed Community Center with a sandbox. It’s high rises, rentals, and cigarette butts littering the sidewalks. Home to worst Rite Aid in the country. Stop trying to make it out to be a wealthy enclave. It’s an urban mixed neighborhood.

I like the Rite Aid! They just remolded it a few years ago and the pharmacy staff is great Don't mess with my rite aid.

This process is about relieving overcrowding at Oakridge. What’s everyone’s take on that?

Anonymous wrote:Oh please how much time have you spent in Columbia Heights? Homeless and drug users in the park. No playgrounds unless you count the Walter Reed Community Center with a sandbox. It’s high rises, rentals, and cigarette butts littering the sidewalks. Home to worst Rite Aid in the country. Stop trying to make it out to be a wealthy enclave. It’s an urban mixed neighborhood.

Really? That Rite Aid is fine.

In the interest of diversity and proximity, the Henry PUs south of the Pike need to be drawn to Drew. This shouldn’t even be a discussion.

Anonymous wrote:Oh please how much time have you spent in Columbia Heights? Homeless and drug users in the park. No playgrounds unless you count the Walter Reed Community Center with a sandbox. It’s high rises, rentals, and cigarette butts littering the sidewalks. Home to worst Rite Aid in the country. Stop trying to make it out to be a wealthy enclave. It’s an urban mixed neighborhood.

And yet, wealthier than other adjacent PUs, like the one where The Berkley is, which will be majority poor once that building reopens. It's all relative. It isn't the parents in the high rises and rentals that are raising a stink about possibly being moved to Drew. Just stop it.

Oh please how much time have you spent in Columbia Heights? Homeless and drug users in the park. No playgrounds unless you count the Walter Reed Community Center with a sandbox. It’s high rises, rentals, and cigarette butts littering the sidewalks. Home to worst Rite Aid in the country. Stop trying to make it out to be a wealthy enclave. It’s an urban mixed neighborhood.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish people would be civil on both sides. Nasty things are being said about Montessori and specific neighborhoods/ parents here and on AEM by some people. Preferring one school or program over another is okay and is not “code” or racist. Once boundaries are drawn, those families will probably not forget what was said about them. I just don’t see how this all works out in a way that is a net positive for Drew’s PTA or South Arlington. The last few years have certainly made me think twice about living in Arlington.

And Drew probably will not forget how this process was a game of musical chairs with everyone trying to grab a seat somewhere else. Spare me the tears for the UMC Henry/Fleet folks.

Quite ironic to point out how Drew won’t forget how they’re being treated when you are saying nasty things about the Henry families in the “disputed” zone. We didn’t ask to be playing musical chairs either. Btw I have nothing to do with the advocacy groups and realize the cards will fall where they may. But the net result of this Henry-Drew squabbling is that, shocker, no one will want to go to Drew. You don’t care about us as a potential community but only because we’ll help the FARMs rate.

Um, the whole point is that people would like to see Drew be able to build a community that will help support a stronger school. No one's saying, "give us your stats and then leave us alone," they're saying, "please come be part of our community."

Please show me where one person wrote anything like that. It’s all been disparaging remarks. Please, change my mind because I haven’t seen one positive thing on here or AEM that would make me want to send my kid to Drew. Just a lot of blaming Henry and Montessori.

Your biases are showing. Why would Drew have less of a community than any other school after this process is done? Your questions seem to presume they wouldn't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish people would be civil on both sides. Nasty things are being said about Montessori and specific neighborhoods/ parents here and on AEM by some people. Preferring one school or program over another is okay and is not “code” or racist. Once boundaries are drawn, those families will probably not forget what was said about them. I just don’t see how this all works out in a way that is a net positive for Drew’s PTA or South Arlington. The last few years have certainly made me think twice about living in Arlington.

And Drew probably will not forget how this process was a game of musical chairs with everyone trying to grab a seat somewhere else. Spare me the tears for the UMC Henry/Fleet folks.

Quite ironic to point out how Drew won’t forget how they’re being treated when you are saying nasty things about the Henry families in the “disputed” zone. We didn’t ask to be playing musical chairs either. Btw I have nothing to do with the advocacy groups and realize the cards will fall where they may. But the net result of this Henry-Drew squabbling is that, shocker, no one will want to go to Drew. You don’t care about us as a potential community but only because we’ll help the FARMs rate.

Um, the whole point is that people would like to see Drew be able to build a community that will help support a stronger school. No one's saying, "give us your stats and then leave us alone," they're saying, "please come be part of our community."

Please show me where one person wrote anything like that. It’s all been disparaging remarks. Please, change my mind because I haven’t seen one positive thing on here or AEM that would make me want to send my kid to Drew. Just a lot of blaming Henry and Montessori.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish people would be civil on both sides. Nasty things are being said about Montessori and specific neighborhoods/ parents here and on AEM by some people. Preferring one school or program over another is okay and is not “code” or racist. Once boundaries are drawn, those families will probably not forget what was said about them. I just don’t see how this all works out in a way that is a net positive for Drew’s PTA or South Arlington. The last few years have certainly made me think twice about living in Arlington.

And Drew probably will not forget how this process was a game of musical chairs with everyone trying to grab a seat somewhere else. Spare me the tears for the UMC Henry/Fleet folks.

Quite ironic to point out how Drew won’t forget how they’re being treated when you are saying nasty things about the Henry families in the “disputed” zone. We didn’t ask to be playing musical chairs either. Btw I have nothing to do with the advocacy groups and realize the cards will fall where they may. But the net result of this Henry-Drew squabbling is that, shocker, no one will want to go to Drew. You don’t care about us as a potential community but only because we’ll help the FARMs rate.

Um, the whole point is that people would like to see Drew be able to build a community that will help support a stronger school. No one's saying, "give us your stats and then leave us alone," they're saying, "please come be part of our community."

Please show me where one person wrote anything like that. It’s all been disparaging remarks. Please, change my mind because I haven’t seen one positive thing on here or AEM that would make me want to send my kid to Drew. Just a lot of blaming Henry and Montessori.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish people would be civil on both sides. Nasty things are being said about Montessori and specific neighborhoods/ parents here and on AEM by some people. Preferring one school or program over another is okay and is not “code” or racist. Once boundaries are drawn, those families will probably not forget what was said about them. I just don’t see how this all works out in a way that is a net positive for Drew’s PTA or South Arlington. The last few years have certainly made me think twice about living in Arlington.

And Drew probably will not forget how this process was a game of musical chairs with everyone trying to grab a seat somewhere else. Spare me the tears for the UMC Henry/Fleet folks.

Quite ironic to point out how Drew won’t forget how they’re being treated when you are saying nasty things about the Henry families in the “disputed” zone. We didn’t ask to be playing musical chairs either. Btw I have nothing to do with the advocacy groups and realize the cards will fall where they may. But the net result of this Henry-Drew squabbling is that, shocker, no one will want to go to Drew. You don’t care about us as a potential community but only because we’ll help the FARMs rate.

Um, the whole point is that people would like to see Drew be able to build a community that will help support a stronger school. No one's saying, "give us your stats and then leave us alone," they're saying, "please come be part of our community."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish people would be civil on both sides. Nasty things are being said about Montessori and specific neighborhoods/ parents here and on AEM by some people. Preferring one school or program over another is okay and is not “code” or racist. Once boundaries are drawn, those families will probably not forget what was said about them. I just don’t see how this all works out in a way that is a net positive for Drew’s PTA or South Arlington. The last few years have certainly made me think twice about living in Arlington.

And Drew probably will not forget how this process was a game of musical chairs with everyone trying to grab a seat somewhere else. Spare me the tears for the UMC Henry/Fleet folks.

Quite ironic to point out how Drew won’t forget how they’re being treated when you are saying nasty things about the Henry families in the “disputed” zone. We didn’t ask to be playing musical chairs either. Btw I have nothing to do with the advocacy groups and realize the cards will fall where they may. But the net result of this Henry-Drew squabbling is that, shocker, no one will want to go to Drew. You don’t care about us as a potential community but only because we’ll help the FARMs rate.