During my daughter's shadow at a rigorous girls school, a student left the class crying. Huge red flag that we ignored...We should have probably taken it as a sign of things to come...

Years ago, my daughter's shadow buddy at a k-8 ended up at another school's tour with her later in the week (so obviously the shadow buddy was applying out).

My son's shadow buddy at another k-8 left him at lunch at another school. Fortunately other kids asked him to sit with them so it was fine.

Neither situation deterred us though. I tell my kids to really observe everyone not just their own buddy to see if the kids seem nice, happy, etc.

I do think schools in general should vet their shadow buddies a little better.

I was highly turned off by snobs at open house events and places where no other parents talked to me at acceptance events.

This was many years ago when were looking for entry into Kindergarten (now in senior year). We went to an admitted families event and the HOS opened with, "Welcome to this side of the fence."

That was not the only factor in our decision to enroll elsewhere, but it left a deep impression as we weighed our options.

Kids wore dress shoes and didn't change into sneakers for PE. This was a K-8. We toured 5 years ago so I'm hoping that they've changed their policy.

PP can dish out snark about GDS, but can't take it back?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our LS interview at GDS was really bad. The interviewer seemed really disinterested throughout, didn't pre-read anything about our kids, was just going through the motions. It was such a different vibe than what we had expected from the school and turned us off completely.

Same.

Hmm. All the GDS haters are out. Or are you trying yo discourage the competitions get your kid in?

Lol all the haters must be very organized because it’s the same feedback for years- disinterest/cold interview, 3-4 hours of homework in the US and a HOS who seems to be unable to preform basic administrative task or deal/communicate with parents, the neighborhood, DC government, etc.

LOL if the allegations against the HOS had merit, they would've come up during the Board of Trustees Parent Corporation meeting. I've always attended and not heard anything of the sort, nor do these types of complaints ever come up in my conversations with fellow GDS parents. The students we see and know all seem happy to be there.

"Same feedback for years" on DCUM is just as likely evidence of one or two anonymous posters repeating the same talking points over and over.

I’m glad you are happy at GDS. Many people are happy there. But it is a bad fit for many kids and you are being strangely defensive. Even parents who like the school roll their eyes and get frustrated with the extreme but superficial focus on social justice. It is not a perfect school by any means. So chill out a little.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. When we were on a tour with the admission director of Holton for upper school, she came across a student and had her speak about her experience at Holton and student sized my DD up and down before proceeding with an answer.

2. While at open house last year at Georgetown Prep, volunteer parents were more interested in talking to people they knew than in helping a future family. Truly felt like I was an outsider in a country club.

#2 is not petty and is my peeve! I’ve experienced that before at multiple schools and it’s so unwelcoming and gross. I help with admissions tours now at another school and we have made a pact that volunteers will never talk to each other during mingling times unless every visitor has a current parent to talk to.

We ended up at Gonzaga where we did not know a soul and are not Catholic. But I was pleasantly surprised how friendly and welcoming everyone was. And somehow my kid has been fine with prayers before every class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our LS interview at GDS was really bad. The interviewer seemed really disinterested throughout, didn't pre-read anything about our kids, was just going through the motions. It was such a different vibe than what we had expected from the school and turned us off completely.

Same.

Hmm. All the GDS haters are out. Or are you trying yo discourage the competitions get your kid in?

Lol all the haters must be very organized because it’s the same feedback for years- disinterest/cold interview, 3-4 hours of homework in the US and a HOS who seems to be unable to preform basic administrative task or deal/communicate with parents, the neighborhood, DC government, etc.

LOL if the allegations against the HOS had merit, they would've come up during the Board of Trustees Parent Corporation meeting. I've always attended and not heard anything of the sort, nor do these types of complaints ever come up in my conversations with fellow GDS parents. The students we see and know all seem happy to be there.

"Same feedback for years" on DCUM is just as likely evidence of one or two anonymous posters repeating the same talking points over and over.

Anonymous wrote:My sons shadow day student lost (or ditched him, I am not fully sure) during the day and my son was wandering around for 30 minutes on his own trying to find where he was supposed to be. The teachers who he asked kept directing him towards admissions to sort out the situation but that building was a good walk away. Needless to say when we got the acceptance, we went elsewhere.

This happened to me as a kid-- I was ditched while on my shadow day. I chose to go elsewhere based on that pretty terrible day. It's a shame that one day (and one kid, really) and make or break a school.

School was still asking for Vax card to visit even though this was last year. Even though we are vaxxed it seemed strange like they are a crazy over the top worry school.

My sons shadow day student lost (or ditched him, I am not fully sure) during the day and my son was wandering around for 30 minutes on his own trying to find where he was supposed to be. The teachers who he asked kept directing him towards admissions to sort out the situation but that building was a good walk away. Needless to say when we got the acceptance, we went elsewhere.

School for kids who need a little more help with learning. When we toured, a kid was cowering in a chair where he had been sent outside the classroom. We never forgot that image.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our LS interview at GDS was really bad. The interviewer seemed really disinterested throughout, didn't pre-read anything about our kids, was just going through the motions. It was such a different vibe than what we had expected from the school and turned us off completely.

Same.

Hmm. All the GDS haters are out. Or are you trying yo discourage the competitions get your kid in?

Lol all the haters must be very organized because it’s the same feedback for years- disinterest/cold interview, 3-4 hours of homework in the US and a HOS who seems to be unable to preform basic administrative task or deal/communicate with parents, the neighborhood, DC government, etc.

School openly noted it was behind a rival school in academics. Sent child to the rival.