Anonymous
03/30/2015 10:24
Subject: Re:Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think anti VN boosters likely fall into one of two groups:
-Parents like pp who have been turned off by the obsession some (one?) posters have with demographics and how many FARM students will or will not attend and
-Capitol Hill parents (mostly Brent) who put years of hard work into improving the schools and are offended by the notion that all it takes to be a top school is having enough white students show up.
Every thread about Van Ness ends up about demographics, but so little is discussed about the actual program. What curriculum will they follow? Will there be dedicated art/music/PE teachers? What about special education? Foreign language? Will there be aftercare? uniforms? The school location is convenient for my family and these are the types of things that would make us interested in attending.
From attending meetings at the school, here's what little I know:
They'll do the Creative Curriculum for PK3 and 4, and DC's standard curriculum (without special approaches like Reggio or Montessori) for K and up
There have to be dedicated art/music/PE/foreign language teachers for Kindergarten and up. DCPS hasn't figured out yet whether those classes will be available for PK3 and 4, at least not for next year. And no decision's been made on which foreign language.
They will have to follow federal law on special ed. The personnel haven't been hired/assigned to VN yet so it remains to be seen how good they are at implementing things.
Since it's planned as a Title I school there will be aftercare. No word on who will operate it, what it will offer, what hours it will run, or how much it will cost. Also no word on beforecare, and what the school day will actually be (I personally doubt it will be extended school day, since the schools that offer that had their teachers vote on it, and there aren't any teachers yet).
No word on uniforms, despite the planning principal being asked. I guess that's something that the new principal will decide. Also no word on if the school will have a mascot or colors--though that would be a good thing to choose now, so school colors could be integrated into the renovation.
Finally, you didn't ask these but I don't think they've decided whether there will be a full time nurse on site, a social worker, school psychologist, partnership with a family strengthening collaborative or other social service provider, or library/librarian.
Thanks for sharing what is known for now, PP. I"ll just add (also from attending meetings) that the interim principal seems understandably reticent to make a lot of the decisions that the PP pointed out are yet unmade. I was under the impression that it was because she wanted room for the permanent principal to play a role in shaping the school (including, choosing an approach for higher grades and hiring the staff to implement the vision). If I remember correctly, they said they'd be looking at/interviewing principal candidates by now and they would announce the hire once it was made *if* it wasn't a current DCPS principal, but if it was a current DCPS principal, the announcement wouldn't be made until after the end of the school year.
Anonymous
03/30/2015 10:10
Subject: Re:Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
Anonymous wrote:I think anti VN boosters likely fall into one of two groups:
-Parents like pp who have been turned off by the obsession some (one?) posters have with demographics and how many FARM students will or will not attend and
-Capitol Hill parents (mostly Brent) who put years of hard work into improving the schools and are offended by the notion that all it takes to be a top school is having enough white students show up.
Every thread about Van Ness ends up about demographics, but so little is discussed about the actual program. What curriculum will they follow? Will there be dedicated art/music/PE teachers? What about special education? Foreign language? Will there be aftercare? uniforms? The school location is convenient for my family and these are the types of things that would make us interested in attending.
From attending meetings at the school, here's what little I know:
They'll do the Creative Curriculum for PK3 and 4, and DC's standard curriculum (without special approaches like Reggio or Montessori) for K and up
There have to be dedicated art/music/PE/foreign language teachers for Kindergarten and up. DCPS hasn't figured out yet whether those classes will be available for PK3 and 4, at least not for next year. And no decision's been made on which foreign language.
They will have to follow federal law on special ed. The personnel haven't been hired/assigned to VN yet so it remains to be seen how good they are at implementing things.
Since it's planned as a Title I school there will be aftercare. No word on who will operate it, what it will offer, what hours it will run, or how much it will cost. Also no word on beforecare, and what the school day will actually be (I personally doubt it will be extended school day, since the schools that offer that had their teachers vote on it, and there aren't any teachers yet).
No word on uniforms, despite the planning principal being asked. I guess that's something that the new principal will decide. Also no word on if the school will have a mascot or colors--though that would be a good thing to choose now, so school colors could be integrated into the renovation.
Finally, you didn't ask these but I don't think they've decided whether there will be a full time nurse on site, a social worker, school psychologist, partnership with a family strengthening collaborative or other social service provider, or library/librarian.
Anonymous
03/30/2015 08:05
Subject: Re:Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
I think anti VN boosters likely fall into one of two groups:
-Parents like pp who have been turned off by the obsession some (one?) posters have with demographics and how many FARM students will or will not attend and
-Capitol Hill parents (mostly Brent) who put years of hard work into improving the schools and are offended by the notion that all it takes to be a top school is having enough white students show up.
Every thread about Van Ness ends up about demographics, but so little is discussed about the actual program. What curriculum will they follow? Will there be dedicated art/music/PE teachers? What about special education? Foreign language? Will there be aftercare? uniforms? The school location is convenient for my family and these are the types of things that would make us interested in attending.
-Parents like pp who have been turned off by the obsession some (one?) posters have with demographics and how many FARM students will or will not attend and
-Capitol Hill parents (mostly Brent) who put years of hard work into improving the schools and are offended by the notion that all it takes to be a top school is having enough white students show up.
Every thread about Van Ness ends up about demographics, but so little is discussed about the actual program. What curriculum will they follow? Will there be dedicated art/music/PE teachers? What about special education? Foreign language? Will there be aftercare? uniforms? The school location is convenient for my family and these are the types of things that would make us interested in attending.
Anonymous
03/30/2015 02:26
Subject: Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
It's very easy to have anti VN feelings. Especially if you live in SW. They fought so hard to keep many of our kids out of their schools by pretending to be scared of south capitol street. It felt like a quarantine.
Also- many of us had stumbled into the VNPG meetings and saw them in action. Even for DCUM standards it was distasteful. Not to mention their ignorance about school form and structure. A bunch of political wonks throwing around things like IB or immersion. It was painful to watch.
I don't call everything rascist and I actually get wanting a good kiddo mix in your schools. All good things. Then, you have the VNPG.
Also- many of us had stumbled into the VNPG meetings and saw them in action. Even for DCUM standards it was distasteful. Not to mention their ignorance about school form and structure. A bunch of political wonks throwing around things like IB or immersion. It was painful to watch.
I don't call everything rascist and I actually get wanting a good kiddo mix in your schools. All good things. Then, you have the VNPG.
Anonymous
03/29/2015 23:59
Subject: Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
Van Mess becoming the new YY? The school DCUM become ambivalent about due to wack-doodle Pollyannas?
No school is perfect. This one hasn't opened yet. You can lay off the salesmanship now that lottery is passed. The proof will be in the pudding.
No school is perfect. This one hasn't opened yet. You can lay off the salesmanship now that lottery is passed. The proof will be in the pudding.
Anonymous
03/29/2015 23:46
Subject: Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
A flurry of sock puppet postings within eight minutes attacking the poster who took issue with vapid silliness. Impressive.
Anonymous
03/29/2015 22:25
Subject: Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:VN Booster strikes again. We need a drinking game for every time she posts about VN using terms like "great."
First, this is a thread about VN. So it's absolutley reasonable for a so called booster to be here. And I find YOUR constant "calling out" of said booster as tiresome and irksome as you find the booster emails. Go away.
Yes, go away self-anointed anti-booster. You add zero value. Start your own antiVan Ness booster thread. Just go away.
Anonymous
03/29/2015 22:23
Subject: Re:Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think if Van Ness adopts an International Baccalaureate program, the school has a great chance at attracting a good number of families out of bounds that stay through at least 4th grade.
the planning year principal has said they are not expecting to make it an International Baccalaureate school since doing so narrows the field too much for recruiting teachers and principals. So I hope you have another plan to make it the school you hope it will be.
I was on the principal panel for an IB PYP school. There is no requirement that the principals and teachers have IB experience. DCPS gives them training.
Anonymous
03/29/2015 22:23
Subject: Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:VN Booster strikes again. We need a drinking game for every time she posts about VN using terms like "great."
First, this is a thread about VN. So it's absolutley reasonable for a so called booster to be here. And I find YOUR constant "calling out" of said booster as tiresome and irksome as you find the booster emails. Go away.
Yes, I agree. It's obnoxious and annoying.
Anonymous
03/29/2015 22:21
Subject: Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
Anonymous wrote:VN Booster strikes again. We need a drinking game for every time she posts about VN using terms like "great."
First, this is a thread about VN. So it's absolutley reasonable for a so called booster to be here. And I find YOUR constant "calling out" of said booster as tiresome and irksome as you find the booster emails. Go away.
Anonymous
03/29/2015 22:17
Subject: Re:Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
Anonymous wrote:I think if Van Ness adopts an International Baccalaureate program, the school has a great chance at attracting a good number of families out of bounds that stay through at least 4th grade.
the planning year principal has said they are not expecting to make it an International Baccalaureate school since doing so narrows the field too much for recruiting teachers and principals. So I hope you have another plan to make it the school you hope it will be.
Anonymous
03/29/2015 15:56
Subject: Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
I don't think all the positive posts about Van Ness are from the mythical Van Ness booster. My kids are OOB at Brent, and I'm excited about Van Ness as a Ward 6 resident, and I'm excited for the future of Jefferson (even thought my kids are unlikely to attend Jefferson).
Anonymous
03/29/2015 15:34
Subject: Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
VN Booster strikes again. We need a drinking game for every time she posts about VN using terms like "great."
Anonymous
03/29/2015 10:38
Subject: Re:Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
I think if Van Ness adopts an International Baccalaureate program, the school has a great chance at attracting a good number of families out of bounds that stay through at least 4th grade.
Anonymous
03/29/2015 05:40
Subject: Re:Van Ness Elementary School Lottery Results
Anonymous wrote:A bunch of IB Brent PK3 kids will be enrolling!
Yes, but when the leave for K, all those spots will end up being filled by 'neighborhood' kids. Seen this happen for years in other neighborhoods, no one is going to stop going to Brent for K because of VN.