Pp did you donate that this year and did all that happen last school year with the chaos or just recently this school year?

Our classroom parents donated over $1000 to get basic materials in the class. All while being asked by the principal to front money for the growing upper grades.

I decided to take my child out after feeling day after day that safety was in jeopardy. I personally saw kids running around the parking lot in the middle of the day with no supervision, and in fact hiding from staff when they came out of the building. Overheard there were some kids found in Union Station last year. I am a teacher and would never let my kids out of sight for one minute! There are so many more examples, that cannot be justified by "well it's the natural Montessori chaos."

Having changed schools I am shocked by the difference in everything I have seen. From the professionalism of the principal to the PTA operating budget, this place is not worth the wait list. I would never recommend this school. The only thing keeping it alive is a few good teachers and a handful of invested parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

DCPS does not provide the Montessori materials, so the PTA and the parents have to supply them. Our first year we donated $500 the first week.

Not a problem for an existing classroom, but a new teacher requires thousands of dollars in material and that takes time.

Is this true? I can't understand that.

And if it is true, why wouldn't the principal address this over the summer (fundraiser, money from other sources, parent groups, etc.) to ensure supplies are there the first day of school? Seems odd.

Exactly. It's a principal's job and he didn't do it. Speaks volumes.

Some PTAs "front" the cost of getting a school opened in August, which includes classroom supplies, due to the misalignment of funding tied to the fiscal year budgeting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were enough details in that thread (for those who knew the school) to know it was Logan. Wonder if the family stuck it out and/or if they are lotterying for a new school. If that OP is reading this, an update would be so helpful.

I agree. I know someone else who left Logan last year because the classroom didn't have supplies for months. OP said that was the case, and said that she thought her son would do well because e was coming from "another Montessori school." Also said that it was seen as desirable, which to me ruled anything else out but LAMB. I am sure it was Logan.

DCPS does not provide the Montessori materials, so the PTA and the parents have to supply them. Our first year we donated $500 the first week.

Not a problem for an existing classroom, but a new teacher requires thousands of dollars in material and that takes time.

Why would DCPS not supply materials? It would be the same as supplying textbooks or computers for the classroom in other schools. I cannot believe the city would establish a Montessori program and then refuse to purchase materials for new classrooms.

Are you new to DCPS? Your disbelief makes it sound like it.

To the extent PP was suggesting that DCPS contributes nothing, that is not correct. But it is true that DCPS doesn't come close to fully funding what is supposed to be there.

I heard from a current parent that the lake out front is still a problem. If the principal can't, over the past 3 years, prevent a huge body of water from blocking access to the school, I don't think he's up for making sure each classroom has the required materials.

Lake out front? I don't get this reference.

Have you been to the school when it is raining? If not, you wouldn't get the reference.

The problem was recently fixed. But it did take a looooooong time.

Blame the Department of General Services, one of DC's worst, most unresponsive agencies.

I have two children at CHM@L and we have all been quite happy there. Both of my children had new teachers (in their first year of teaching) to the school and we were never asked to supply any "montessori" materials. Teachers certainly ask for donations over the course of the year but we parents are always more than happy to bring in construction paper and hand sanitizer. We have never been asked to purchase anything terribly expensive. We even had one Dad volunteer to build a bookshelf for the classroom to avoid overpaying for one. This exemplifies what I think is one of the schools best assets - it's community. The principal can come off as superficial, yes, but he does a great job at running the school and shouldn't take the blame for the puddle that used to plague us on rainy days. If montessori is the right fit for your child than I would definitely recommend CHM@L. We lucked out and have had great teachers - being young and new graduates means all the information and skills are fresh in their minds, they are patient and kind and genuine in their concern for the children. Now, all that being said, no school is perfect. I've had some concerns over the last two years including recent assistant hires and a little attitude from office staff but nothing major.

Anonymous wrote:We are also happy at CHML and we definitely do not have to provide materials. I do think the Montessori materials are expensive and there is usually a request for donations at the beginning of the year. In our case, its to add to the materials already there, not to buy the basics.

Most of the Montessori materials (think "Pink Tower") are durable. Once a teacher has one, it will last for many years.

This was a specific reference to new teachers who do not have an inventory to draw from. I do not know if this is still the case, but the teachers used to publish a "wish list" at the first orientation meeting where parents could select an item from the catalog to donate to a class.

The last year at Watkins, a new teacher came on board and parents from the existing classes donated to this new teacher's class, I know because I gave her like $50.

I always looked at it as a quirk of a growing program with a tight budget, so I didn't mind. DD got a great start to her education there, so it was money well spent imo.

We are also happy at CHML and we definitely do not have to provide materials. I do think the Montessori materials are expensive and there is usually a request for donations at the beginning of the year. In our case, its to add to the materials already there, not to buy the basics.

Our son has been at CHML since September, and we've never heard that parents are responsible for supplying the Montessori materials. I know that parents are expected to provide snacks, but we haven't been told that they must provide anything else.

If this actually occurred, what year was it, and what specific materials did parents have to supply?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

DCPS does not provide the Montessori materials, so the PTA and the parents have to supply them. Our first year we donated $500 the first week.

Not a problem for an existing classroom, but a new teacher requires thousands of dollars in material and that takes time.

Is this true? I can't understand that.

And if it is true, why wouldn't the principal address this over the summer (fundraiser, money from other sources, parent groups, etc.) to ensure supplies are there the first day of school? Seems odd.

Exactly. It's a principal's job and he didn't do it. Speaks volumes.

My wife and I are happy with Capitol Hill Montessori. We feel very lucky that our child is there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were enough details in that thread (for those who knew the school) to know it was Logan. Wonder if the family stuck it out and/or if they are lotterying for a new school. If that OP is reading this, an update would be so helpful.

I agree. I know someone else who left Logan last year because the classroom didn't have supplies for months. OP said that was the case, and said that she thought her son would do well because e was coming from "another Montessori school." Also said that it was seen as desirable, which to me ruled anything else out but LAMB. I am sure it was Logan.

DCPS does not provide the Montessori materials, so the PTA and the parents have to supply them. Our first year we donated $500 the first week.

Not a problem for an existing classroom, but a new teacher requires thousands of dollars in material and that takes time.

Why would DCPS not supply materials? It would be the same as supplying textbooks or computers for the classroom in other schools. I cannot believe the city would establish a Montessori program and then refuse to purchase materials for new classrooms.

Are you new to DCPS? Your disbelief makes it sound like it.

To the extent PP was suggesting that DCPS contributes nothing, that is not correct. But it is true that DCPS doesn't come close to fully funding what is supposed to be there.

I heard from a current parent that the lake out front is still a problem. If the principal can't, over the past 3 years, prevent a huge body of water from blocking access to the school, I don't think he's up for making sure each classroom has the required materials.

Lake out front? I don't get this reference.

Have you been to the school when it is raining? If not, you wouldn't get the reference.

The problem was recently fixed. But it did take a looooooong time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were enough details in that thread (for those who knew the school) to know it was Logan. Wonder if the family stuck it out and/or if they are lotterying for a new school. If that OP is reading this, an update would be so helpful.

I agree. I know someone else who left Logan last year because the classroom didn't have supplies for months. OP said that was the case, and said that she thought her son would do well because e was coming from "another Montessori school." Also said that it was seen as desirable, which to me ruled anything else out but LAMB. I am sure it was Logan.

DCPS does not provide the Montessori materials, so the PTA and the parents have to supply them. Our first year we donated $500 the first week.

Not a problem for an existing classroom, but a new teacher requires thousands of dollars in material and that takes time.

Why would DCPS not supply materials? It would be the same as supplying textbooks or computers for the classroom in other schools. I cannot believe the city would establish a Montessori program and then refuse to purchase materials for new classrooms.

Are you new to DCPS? Your disbelief makes it sound like it.

To the extent PP was suggesting that DCPS contributes nothing, that is not correct. But it is true that DCPS doesn't come close to fully funding what is supposed to be there.

I heard from a current parent that the lake out front is still a problem. If the principal can't, over the past 3 years, prevent a huge body of water from blocking access to the school, I don't think he's up for making sure each classroom has the required materials.

Lake out front? I don't get this reference.

Have you been to the school when it is raining? If not, you wouldn't get the reference.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were enough details in that thread (for those who knew the school) to know it was Logan. Wonder if the family stuck it out and/or if they are lotterying for a new school. If that OP is reading this, an update would be so helpful.

I agree. I know someone else who left Logan last year because the classroom didn't have supplies for months. OP said that was the case, and said that she thought her son would do well because e was coming from "another Montessori school." Also said that it was seen as desirable, which to me ruled anything else out but LAMB. I am sure it was Logan.

DCPS does not provide the Montessori materials, so the PTA and the parents have to supply them. Our first year we donated $500 the first week.

Not a problem for an existing classroom, but a new teacher requires thousands of dollars in material and that takes time.

Why would DCPS not supply materials? It would be the same as supplying textbooks or computers for the classroom in other schools. I cannot believe the city would establish a Montessori program and then refuse to purchase materials for new classrooms.

Are you new to DCPS? Your disbelief makes it sound like it.

To the extent PP was suggesting that DCPS contributes nothing, that is not correct. But it is true that DCPS doesn't come close to fully funding what is supposed to be there.

I heard from a current parent that the lake out front is still a problem. If the principal can't, over the past 3 years, prevent a huge body of water from blocking access to the school, I don't think he's up for making sure each classroom has the required materials.

Lake out front? I don't get this reference.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were enough details in that thread (for those who knew the school) to know it was Logan. Wonder if the family stuck it out and/or if they are lotterying for a new school. If that OP is reading this, an update would be so helpful.

I agree. I know someone else who left Logan last year because the classroom didn't have supplies for months. OP said that was the case, and said that she thought her son would do well because e was coming from "another Montessori school." Also said that it was seen as desirable, which to me ruled anything else out but LAMB. I am sure it was Logan.

DCPS does not provide the Montessori materials, so the PTA and the parents have to supply them. Our first year we donated $500 the first week.

Not a problem for an existing classroom, but a new teacher requires thousands of dollars in material and that takes time.

Why would DCPS not supply materials? It would be the same as supplying textbooks or computers for the classroom in other schools. I cannot believe the city would establish a Montessori program and then refuse to purchase materials for new classrooms.

Are you new to DCPS? Your disbelief makes it sound like it.

To the extent PP was suggesting that DCPS contributes nothing, that is not correct. But it is true that DCPS doesn't come close to fully funding what is supposed to be there.

I heard from a current parent that the lake out front is still a problem. If the principal can't, over the past 3 years, prevent a huge body of water from blocking access to the school, I don't think he's up for making sure each classroom has the required materials.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

DCPS does not provide the Montessori materials, so the PTA and the parents have to supply them. Our first year we donated $500 the first week.

Not a problem for an existing classroom, but a new teacher requires thousands of dollars in material and that takes time.

Is this true? I can't understand that.

And if it is true, why wouldn't the principal address this over the summer (fundraiser, money from other sources, parent groups, etc.) to ensure supplies are there the first day of school? Seems odd.