Anonymous wrote:Janney

Mann

Lafayette

Most charters

I could probably like Lafayette once the renovation fixes the "open classroom" philosophy but that will take a while. I don't want my child to grow up in the '70s. Murch, I really do like, but the rest of JKLM is a "No." It looks/feels too much like the suburbs for us.

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Anonymous wrote:PP - why not CM? Is it bc the teachers are young?

Young teachers. But more than that I did not like the head of school's answers to my questions about cultural competency.

This. And I felt like the very young teachers were enthusiastic but felt like the administration was cold and unengaged

The administration seemed surprised and cold when Spanish speaking parents came to the orientation. The parents were left to have their children translate for them. The school was in Columbia Heights so they should have been prepared for interpretation or made other accommodations.

Are you kidding me? Is Columbia Heights a part of the USA? Then I don't understand why the 'spanish speaking parents' should expect any kind of special accomodation. They moved the the US so they need to learn English and, before you accuse me of racism, I am an immigrant but do not expect anyone to speak Russian to me when I go to school orientation meetings.

Not the PP you're responding to, but you're right, you shouldn't expect anyone to speak Russian to you. HOWEVER, this school is in Columbia Heights, which has been traditionally dominant Spanish-speakers for decades. To not even have anyone on hand to answer questions of non-English speaking Spanish families simply shows how clueless or uninterested the school is in engaging those families. "Expecting" it may be too strong a word, but it certainly says plenty that the school itself didn't think of it.

I grew up in DC, and am close to 50. As a teenager, Columbia Heights was one of my hangout spots. Columbia Heights has been traditionally for immigrants from Africa, Carribbean, and Latin American countries. Why are you only focusing on the Spanish. Many families to CH spoke French and Amharic. Would you also advocate on their behalfs.

Sure, I'd be happy to. But tell me some numbers - while I know there is a notable African immigrant population, I don't know DC or CH specifically to have such a large number of Amharic-speaking families that a school based in CH should anticipate non-English speaking parents to come to a Creative Minds open house. I myself have gone to many open houses and while there have definitely been parents at a few who you could tell weren't catching everything that was said (hell, I'm born here and have 2 degrees and I didn't catch everything that was said!), but Spanish is the only language I saw parents come in any numbers and need some assistance understanding what's going on. CH has a history of wonderful diversity, but numbers still matter. How big is the Amharic-speaking community compared to the Spanish-speaking community of CH? Or any other language other than English compared to Spanish in CH?

Anonymous wrote:SWS - I know everyone says otherwise, but I got a very cold reception from the open house.

That's funny (to me). It's the only DCPS that I am interested in.

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Anonymous wrote:PP - why not CM? Is it bc the teachers are young?

Young teachers. But more than that I did not like the head of school's answers to my questions about cultural competency.

This. And I felt like the very young teachers were enthusiastic but felt like the administration was cold and unengaged

The administration seemed surprised and cold when Spanish speaking parents came to the orientation. The parents were left to have their children translate for them. The school was in Columbia Heights so they should have been prepared for interpretation or made other accommodations.

Are you kidding me? Is Columbia Heights a part of the USA? Then I don't understand why the 'spanish speaking parents' should expect any kind of special accomodation. They moved the the US so they need to learn English and, before you accuse me of racism, I am an immigrant but do not expect anyone to speak Russian to me when I go to school orientation meetings.

Totally agree. The bolded is getting real old. Do we want to change the rest of the US into Miami where US citizens are treated like foreigners in their own country because they can't speak Spanish.

Wow! The responses - if from CM folks - is making my point. It is my family's preference that a school I send my child to can treat a diversity of students and parents with respect. I am not telling you what kind of environment you should want for your child.

You are responding to me. I am not a CM parent. Have no interest in the school. My post was about the overall atmosphere that we are getting to a place that if you cannot speak Spanish or accommodate, as you state, Spanish in the USA, something is inherently wrong. Why? If I move to Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, etc I would have to learn the language without accomodations. I don't know if you have lived in Miami, but it is difficult for a non-college educated person to obtain decent employment. In some areas, it is difficult for college edcuated kids to obtain first employment without Spanish language background. Why are they treated like second-class citizens because they cannot speak Spanish? That's what your initial post advocates for a future DC.

It's called the free market. If your client base speaks Spanish, you have to too. You Republicans are fond of the free market, but your platform isn't consistent with it on a lot of issues like immigration and women's reproductive health.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP - why not CM? Is it bc the teachers are young?

Young teachers. But more than that I did not like the head of school's answers to my questions about cultural competency.

This. And I felt like the very young teachers were enthusiastic but felt like the administration was cold and unengaged

The administration seemed surprised and cold when Spanish speaking parents came to the orientation. The parents were left to have their children translate for them. The school was in Columbia Heights so they should have been prepared for interpretation or made other accommodations.

Are you kidding me? Is Columbia Heights a part of the USA? Then I don't understand why the 'spanish speaking parents' should expect any kind of special accomodation. They moved the the US so they need to learn English and, before you accuse me of racism, I am an immigrant but do not expect anyone to speak Russian to me when I go to school orientation meetings.

Not the PP you're responding to, but you're right, you shouldn't expect anyone to speak Russian to you. HOWEVER, this school is in Columbia Heights, which has been traditionally dominant Spanish-speakers for decades. To not even have anyone on hand to answer questions of non-English speaking Spanish families simply shows how clueless or uninterested the school is in engaging those families. "Expecting" it may be too strong a word, but it certainly says plenty that the school itself didn't think of it.

I grew up in DC, and am close to 50. As a teenager, Columbia Heights was one of my hangout spots. Columbia Heights has been traditionally for immigrants from Africa, Carribbean, and Latin American countries. Why are you only focusing on the Spanish. Many families to CH spoke French and Amharic. Would you also advocate on their behalfs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP - why not CM? Is it bc the teachers are young?

Young teachers. But more than that I did not like the head of school's answers to my questions about cultural competency.

This. And I felt like the very young teachers were enthusiastic but felt like the administration was cold and unengaged

The administration seemed surprised and cold when Spanish speaking parents came to the orientation. The parents were left to have their children translate for them. The school was in Columbia Heights so they should have been prepared for interpretation or made other accommodations.

Are you kidding me? Is Columbia Heights a part of the USA? Then I don't understand why the 'spanish speaking parents' should expect any kind of special accomodation. They moved the the US so they need to learn English and, before you accuse me of racism, I am an immigrant but do not expect anyone to speak Russian to me when I go to school orientation meetings.

Totally agree. The bolded is getting real old. Do we want to change the rest of the US into Miami where US citizens are treated like foreigners in their own country because they can't speak Spanish.

Wow! The responses - if from CM folks - is making my point. It is my family's preference that a school I send my child to can treat a diversity of students and parents with respect. I am not telling you what kind of environment you should want for your child.

You are responding to me. I am not a CM parent. Have no interest in the school. My post was about the overall atmosphere that we are getting to a place that if you cannot speak Spanish or accommodate, as you state, Spanish in the USA, something is inherently wrong. Why? If I move to Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, etc I would have to learn the language without accomodations. I don't know if you have lived in Miami, but it is difficult for a non-college educated person to obtain decent employment. In some areas, it is difficult for college edcuated kids to obtain first employment without Spanish language background. Why are they treated like second-class citizens because they cannot speak Spanish? That's what your initial post advocates for a future DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP - why not CM? Is it bc the teachers are young?

Young teachers. But more than that I did not like the head of school's answers to my questions about cultural competency.

This. And I felt like the very young teachers were enthusiastic but felt like the administration was cold and unengaged

The administration seemed surprised and cold when Spanish speaking parents came to the orientation. The parents were left to have their children translate for them. The school was in Columbia Heights so they should have been prepared for interpretation or made other accommodations.

Are you kidding me? Is Columbia Heights a part of the USA? Then I don't understand why the 'spanish speaking parents' should expect any kind of special accomodation. They moved the the US so they need to learn English and, before you accuse me of racism, I am an immigrant but do not expect anyone to speak Russian to me when I go to school orientation meetings.

Not the PP you're responding to, but you're right, you shouldn't expect anyone to speak Russian to you. HOWEVER, this school is in Columbia Heights, which has been traditionally dominant Spanish-speakers for decades. To not even have anyone on hand to answer questions of non-English speaking Spanish families simply shows how clueless or uninterested the school is in engaging those families. "Expecting" it may be too strong a word, but it certainly says plenty that the school itself didn't think of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP - why not CM? Is it bc the teachers are young?

Young teachers. But more than that I did not like the head of school's answers to my questions about cultural competency.

DP, but so interested in this. I too was not even faintly interested in CM after going to their open house and it was mainly the Head of School that turned me off as well. What did you ask and what was her answer?

I am the PP new CMI parent--we are not in PK3 so I don't know about that.

I know several PK3 families at Creative Minds who are not happy there, particularly with the PK3 teachers.

Anonymous wrote:I'm intimated by JKLM schools because though we are a hard working, professional family, our income and lifestyle doesn't really jive with the families at these mostly high SES in-bounds schools. I find it nervewracking and unsettling. Also I've become accustomed to the incredibly diverse environment of our current school. For example, we played several sports teams from a few JKLM's and 90% of the kids were white. While that's not their fault, it doesn't represent my reality and I consciously reject it. Granted this is a team and not the school itself, but it's different than my current school's teams.

Complete lack of diversity (racial and socioeconomic) at our JKLM is my biggest problem and it's an unfixable problem short of citywide lottery.

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty much uninterested in any school that would take me across town or isn't an easy detour from my current commute. So there are pretty much only 4 schools I have any interest in.

This

I'm pretty much uninterested in any school that would take me across town or isn't an easy detour from my current commute. So there are pretty much only 4 schools I have any interest in.

SWS - I know everyone says otherwise, but I got a very cold reception from the open house.

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Anonymous wrote:I was unimpressed by MV though we applied last year anyway, mostly because the new location is so convenient for us.

I was also very unimpressed by LAMB, but again we applied anyway for an extra spin of the dice (this was under the old system).

So where did you end up?

NP, I'm not sure what is the point of saying where we ended up. Although you may not be interested in certain schools it's not like you're guaranteed the opportunity of attending your top choices.