Anonymous wrote:It’s not supposed to have substance. It’s about self expression and creating vibes.

Anonymous wrote:If you are still thinking about it, here’s what you can expect - this is a note from the head of school sent to all families.

A Note from Francesca

Dear Families,

A few thoughts about pumpkins.

One of our beloved school traditions, the Pumpkin Party, is coming up on October 25th. This annual event brings the whole community together. We are all looking forward to crafts, readings, animal visitors, and a few surprises.

Every year before the Pumpkin Party, a small truckload of pumpkins is unloaded on the playground. During the party, children select and decorate these, and many make their way to your homes. The remainder become loose parts for the next few months. They are rolled, smushed, buried, and cooked in all manner of heavy work and dramatic play. As they deteriorate, the seeds are carried by our furry and winged friends to corners of the playground. In the fall, bright orange pumpkins appear unexpectedly under leafy umbrellas. They bring a splash of color, unexpected delight, and remind us of the fundamental drive of all living things to take root and stretch to the sun.

An important quote in my family is one from Virginia Woolf, where she talks not about life’s big revelations but of the “little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark.” Discovering a pumpkin growing on our playground is one such illumination; a moment of unexpected joy. When we pause and pay attention, we can experience these moments every day: when an early learner flips their coat for the first time; when a preschooler completes a challenging puzzle; or when Pre-K students successfully negotiate the rules of an invented game. I look for these moments on my walks home from school: the puppy barking a greeting to friends at the dog park, a cluster of colorful mushrooms pushing through the grass, or the unexpected peal of the Cathedral bells. I am reminded to pause, notice, and be grateful.

We are approaching the six-week mark of our school year, which is generally the period when we start to feel truly settled in the new year. We are! Teachers have built routines and students have learned expectations. The community is connecting and reconnecting. Children are rooted and thriving.

As always, it’s joyful, messy, and inspired. We can't wait to see what’s ahead.

(And it’s sweater weather!)

Enjoy the long weekend,
Francesca💚🐿️💙

--
Francesca Gallozzi, M.A.
(she/her/hers)
Interim Head of School
National Child Research Center
3209 Highland Place N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008
202.363.8777
ncrcpreschool.org

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe you are considering that school after what happened ….

This is just silly. Do you know how many pedophiles are out there in the world? If you ruled out every school based on that fear, your kids wouldn’t go anywhere or ever leave the house. You should be more worried to let your kid have a phone or internet access - ever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our friends have two kids there and their pediatrician told them that it's rare for a kid to go there and not get some sort of therapy - much of which is not needed according the pediatrician. She said that school is notorious for over-therapizing kids.

Also, with the scandal, there was an exodus of families so the school is not on strong financial footing. Teacher student ratios have gone in a bad direction. But no one talks about it openly.

My pediatrician told me the same thing when the school suggested therapy for my child. Our doctor strongly disagreed, reassuring us that my child was completely normal. So I chose to stop the process and, from then on, simply nodded politely whenever the school recommended therapy.

And for those wondering, most of us at NCRC don’t have a regular in-network pediatrician. We choose an out-of-network doctor instead. We pay more, but we get a full 45-60 minute appointment rather than a rushed 15-minute visit. These pediatricians know their patient very well.

Anonymous wrote:Our friends have two kids there and their pediatrician told them that it's rare for a kid to go there and not get some sort of therapy - much of which is not needed according the pediatrician. She said that school is notorious for over-therapizing kids.

Also, with the scandal, there was an exodus of families so the school is not on strong financial footing. Teacher student ratios have gone in a bad direction. But no one talks about it openly.

Anonymous wrote:NCRC is truly a special place but I do remember being annoyed that the kids weren’t allowed to celebrate Mother’s Day or Halloween and I’m pretty progressive. I also remember almost being tackled on the playground by a teacher AFTER school one day because I had a bag of almonds and they are nut free. That was a bit over the top. Yea, I get the nut allergy thing, but we were outdoors and it was after school hours and there were no other kids around. I still chuckle about that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe you are considering that school after what happened ….

This is just silly. Do you know how many pedophiles are out there in the world? If you ruled out every school based on that fear, your kids wouldn’t go anywhere or ever leave the house. You should be more worried to let your kid have a phone or internet access - ever.