Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding OOB children at Brent: with the possible exception of 5th grade, most of the children who were admitted OOB still live on or near Capitol Hill. It's a neighborhood school.

In the early childhood classes,

the OOB children got in by cheating on the lottery.

How does one "cheat" a lottery? Does the technique apply to Megamillions? Inquiring minds want to know.

We live in Ward 8 and our second-grader attends Brent. I'm not sure how we could possibly cheat the lottery, we picked our schools, and got lucky. My son was in the single digits on both Brent and Two Rivers waitlist, only difference was the Brent had movement on its list, and TR did not. We would have had many restless nights had we had to send him to Turner ES which is across the street from our home. Shiny new building, but after speaking with a few of the staff members on Beautification Day, my suspicions were confirmed, chaotic is an understatement.

Anonymous wrote:You know a school has "arrived" when parents have the time and energy to snipe at each other about kickball.

+1. These are the problems Brent has. Things must be going well!

Perhaps you need to use a stroller, stay with your toddler or take her to Turtle Park.

My toddler has almost been knocked over even when we are where the equipment is.

What next, toe shoes?

You know a school has "arrived" when parents have the time and energy to snipe at each other about kickball.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never witnessed bullying taking place in the current iteration of the Brent aftercare program. There also are some seemingly disengaged caregivers who do very little in terms of supervision and discipline on the playground after school. Overall, there is too much wrestling and other rough housing on the playground for my taste, and older kids are seldom, if ever, excluded from areas that should be reserved for younger ones. The principal also continues to allow kickball on the playground in the morning as families are arriving. This is not acceptable in my view.

Oh my gosh, this! I have a little toddler that is always with me during drop off and pick up and every time he almost gets wacked in the head by flying balls. Is there anything to do about this?

Yeah, there is something you can do. Move to the far end of the playground with all of the equipment and open areas, and stay away from the kids playing kickball. Plenty of room on the playground that is away fro the "danger zone," even a separate gate entrance if you need it. It is not that hard, unless it really is all about you.

What's the point of gratuitous nastiness? You do realize that the kickball area is virtually on top of the designated areas where students are expected to queue before entering their classrooms, right? So it's not a simple matter of staying away from what you properly characterize as the "danger zone." Families and caregivers also have need to enter and leave the school after dismissal to participate in various after school activities, or for other reasons. They should not be forced to exit the D Street gate and walk around to the front entrance because some parents and/or nannies are indifferent to whether the behavior of their children might endanger others. You could, for example, teach your child to briefly stop their all-important kickball or soccer game so as to allow others to leave the playground. Better yet, third, fourth and fifth graders not participating in aftercare could be walked over to X Park, leaving the playground open for the younger children, of which there are increasing numbers. Sometimes it's not all about you and your child either.

Signed, parent of upper grade student.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never witnessed bullying taking place in the current iteration of the Brent aftercare program. There also are some seemingly disengaged caregivers who do very little in terms of supervision and discipline on the playground after school. Overall, there is too much wrestling and other rough housing on the playground for my taste, and older kids are seldom, if ever, excluded from areas that should be reserved for younger ones. The principal also continues to allow kickball on the playground in the morning as families are arriving. This is not acceptable in my view.

Oh my gosh, this! I have a little toddler that is always with me during drop off and pick up and every time he almost gets wacked in the head by flying balls. Is there anything to do about this?

This was supposedly to be addressed last year. Football, soccer, kickball, etc. were to be stopped promptly at 8:30 because parents and young children were repeatedly being struck. i seem to recall hearing that a three year old was knocked down and suffered a minor head injury or broken arm. Address your concerns to Principal Young as no one should have to resort to circumnavigating the playground simply to keep their children safe, despite what others may happen to think. You can also try entering the playground through the school until the situation is fixed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never witnessed bullying taking place in the current iteration of the Brent aftercare program. There also are some seemingly disengaged caregivers who do very little in terms of supervision and discipline on the playground after school. Overall, there is too much wrestling and other rough housing on the playground for my taste, and older kids are seldom, if ever, excluded from areas that should be reserved for younger ones. The principal also continues to allow kickball on the playground in the morning as families are arriving. This is not acceptable in my view.

Oh my gosh, this! I have a little toddler that is always with me during drop off and pick up and every time he almost gets wacked in the head by flying balls. Is there anything to do about this?

Yeah, there is something you can do. Move to the far end of the playground with all of the equipment and open areas, and stay away from the kids playing kickball. Plenty of room on the playground that is away fro the "danger zone," even a separate gate entrance if you need it. It is not that hard, unless it really is all about you.

Anonymous wrote:I have never witnessed bullying taking place in the current iteration of the Brent aftercare program. There also are some seemingly disengaged caregivers who do very little in terms of supervision and discipline on the playground after school. Overall, there is too much wrestling and other rough housing on the playground for my taste, and older kids are seldom, if ever, excluded from areas that should be reserved for younger ones. The principal also continues to allow kickball on the playground in the morning as families are arriving. This is not acceptable in my view.

Oh my gosh, this! I have a little toddler that is always with me during drop off and pick up and every time he almost gets wacked in the head by flying balls. Is there anything to do about this?

I have never witnessed bullying taking place in the current iteration of the Brent aftercare program. There also are some seemingly disengaged caregivers who do very little in terms of supervision and discipline on the playground after school. Overall, there is too much wrestling and other rough housing on the playground for my taste, and older kids are seldom, if ever, excluded from areas that should be reserved for younger ones. The principal also continues to allow kickball on the playground in the morning as families are arriving. This is not acceptable in my view.

To answer OP question, I have seen a bit of bullying at school playground after school. Unfortunately parents or childcare providers are not watching their children carefully enough so just be aware, it does happen but no different than any other school I would think.

It's unfair to say that just the "advanced" students are leaving after Fourth for Latin/Basis. All rising 5th Graders almost certainly played the lottery and while the majority eventually found spots at Latin or Basis (as well as other options) the fact a few might have returned to Brent for Fifth should not be seen as a reflection of their academic acumen.

Brent has been working to strengthen programs for the upper grades and new teachers have been hired, in part due to classroom expansion. A new fifth grade teacher was also hired last year after the prior teacher left for another school on the Hill. Also, in recent years, a K teacher spent a year teaching 3d Grade with mixed results and a 4th Grade teacher was forced to take a lengthy leave of absence just before the start of the school year due. Things seem to have stabilized, but it is possible that a third classroom could be added for 4th Grade next year.

The 5th grade teacher is very strong from our personal experience.

After 4th grade the peer group tends to lose its advanced students to Latin/BASIS.

Most students it seems, having attended Brent for seven years, are ready for middle school and flourish at Latin/BASIS.