Do they have after school enrichment classes for Pre-K and K?

I would love to hear some feedback about the music program and sports/ PE at WES. Do children get a good exposure to music and sports early on, let's say from K up?
I read on the website that every child participates in the band. Any experience/ comments on that?
Thanks!

WES would have been a good fit for Alex P. Keaton.

Anonymous wrote:I was completely creeped out at the tour last fall by the lack of rigor in the PK and K. Kids are in a great PK right now - and I was shocked as it seemed like very child was off the leash.

I was much more comfortable at my children's public school than WES. Even with the portables.

Creeped out by lack of PK rigor? 4 year olds off the leash? You're funny.

I was completely creeped out at the tour last fall by the lack of rigor in the PK and K. Kids are in a great PK right now - and I was shocked as it seemed like very child was off the leash.

I was much more comfortable at my children's public school than WES. Even with the portables.

Anonymous wrote:THANK YOU, PP!

That is one of the best and most helpful descriptions of WES this prospective WES parent of a boy applicant has heard. It confirms what we have seen during visits and makes me even more excited (if that is possible) about WES!!

I'm glad if it was helpful. Best of luck to you and your son. Hope to see you in September.

Anonymous wrote:THANK YOU, PP!

That is one of the best and most helpful descriptions of WES this prospective WES parent of a boy applicant has heard. It confirms what we have seen during visits and makes me even more excited (if that is possible) about WES!!

That's because you read into the responses what you wanted to hear. Someone else may be turned off by what was posted above.

THANK YOU, PP!

That is one of the best and most helpful descriptions of WES this prospective WES parent of a boy applicant has heard. It confirms what we have seen during visits and makes me even more excited (if that is possible) about WES!!

I have one son at WES with what I'd call a normal level of energy for a boy -- which is to say that he's eager to run and play. This is a traditional school, with all students expected to sit at a desk by first grade, raise their hands, etc. For DS, it works because it's balanced by plenty of time outside, in PE, in movement. He also plays sports or has unstructured playtime after school.

WES has high behavioral expectations, and I think that my son has learned greater self control by having to wait to be called upon to speak, to stay quiet in the hall out of respect for other students who are working, etc. It certainly hasn't tamed all the "boy" out of him. Far from it to judge from the hour-long wrestling match I saw him in with his brother this evening.

All that said, I know that there are some boys who really need the kind of school that allows for more autonomy and self directed learning -- schools that don't expect 1st graders to sit at a desk. These are the schools that cater really high energy boys, and if you visit them, I think you'll know whether that's the better fit for your son.

And what about the "active boys" question?

Anonymous wrote:Would you say that WES is nurturing? What happens if kids can't keep up with the challenging curriculum? Is there flexibility, individual accommodations?

What emphasis does the school place on character development? Good manners, being nice, no bullying etc?

TIA for responses.

I'm not the same person who has been responding to these questions already. Here's my take. There's an emphasis on values education and kindness. Bullying is not something that's an issue at this school. I haven't heard of a single occurence in our 5 years years there. These kids are kind to each other.

As for nurturing, I can tell you that DS has "loved" (his word) his teachers during his first years at WES, and still stops to hug them in the hallway. They helped him overcome some personal insecurities in a way that we'll always be grateful for. Those women are exceptional educators and they genuinely care about their students.

Re individual accommodations, DS' class gets split up for language arts and math -- with several levels to meet each student's needs. The teacher does that quietly -- for the longest time, I wasn't sure what "level" my child was in compared to the others. I just knew that he was on track with those in his group and that he was learning. I appreciated the school's careful handling of that, even when I figured out that he was in the most advanced groups. I imagine that if your child falls outside of what seems to be a wide range of abilities, then you'll find that out in the admissions process.

Anonymous wrote:Oh dear, you sound just like a WES administrator, pp. You are a great ad for the school!!! Top boarding schools, rigor,
scientific methods and just enough homework!!! WOW!

I'm not an employee of WES, PP, but I'm happy to share information about our good experience at this school. Should I not answer OP's questions? You seem a little bitter.

Why not?

Anonymous wrote:Because the school is more nurturing to girls, really.

I think it's not a good fit, or nurturing, for active boys.

Because the school is more nurturing to girls, really.