Anonymous
08/06/2014 08:40
Subject: Shining Stars New Location!
I know that there is discussion/concern among current families about the future of the school, what this location means for the social justice mission, and a variety of other things.
I would like to point out, however, that many families would've been facing the same terrible commute in the co-location with Sela, which was also being tossed around as a potential new location. Honestly, for my family, either of those locations mean a wretched commute in the opposite direction of work, likely in pretty bad traffic. Neither of them are near a metro stop and while I know they're on a bus line, buses face the same traffic issues that cars face. In a straight comparison between the two, I personally prefer the location that was chosen partly because the neighborhood offers more. It would be easy, for example, to pick my kid up at school and then go grocery shopping. If we wanted to go to dinner, that would be easy in that neighborhood as well. The Sela location was well outside the areas of the city we spend any time in. I'd never even been to that part of town until we drove up to see how long it would take to get there.
Also, in previous discussions of inconvenient charter locations, many people have said things along the lines of "If you truly care about the school and are committed to its mission, you'll be willing to drive a long way to get there." People are derided for admitting that they prioritize convenience and location when they say they don't know if they can drive to Brookland or Edgewood or wherever, but now that a charter has actually chosen a long term home in Ward 3, all of a sudden the charter should factor in convenience for the families in their "target demographic."
I think the honest truth is that people on this board are simply skeptical of the school. I understand why, but I think that holding this school to a standard that other schools are not held to doesn't pass the smell test.
I would like to point out, however, that many families would've been facing the same terrible commute in the co-location with Sela, which was also being tossed around as a potential new location. Honestly, for my family, either of those locations mean a wretched commute in the opposite direction of work, likely in pretty bad traffic. Neither of them are near a metro stop and while I know they're on a bus line, buses face the same traffic issues that cars face. In a straight comparison between the two, I personally prefer the location that was chosen partly because the neighborhood offers more. It would be easy, for example, to pick my kid up at school and then go grocery shopping. If we wanted to go to dinner, that would be easy in that neighborhood as well. The Sela location was well outside the areas of the city we spend any time in. I'd never even been to that part of town until we drove up to see how long it would take to get there.
Also, in previous discussions of inconvenient charter locations, many people have said things along the lines of "If you truly care about the school and are committed to its mission, you'll be willing to drive a long way to get there." People are derided for admitting that they prioritize convenience and location when they say they don't know if they can drive to Brookland or Edgewood or wherever, but now that a charter has actually chosen a long term home in Ward 3, all of a sudden the charter should factor in convenience for the families in their "target demographic."
I think the honest truth is that people on this board are simply skeptical of the school. I understand why, but I think that holding this school to a standard that other schools are not held to doesn't pass the smell test.
Anonymous
08/06/2014 08:26
Subject: Re:Shining Stars New Location!
Anonymous wrote:I'm disappointed to see them open WoTP. Those communities have good schools already IB. The charter system is intended to help those without options nearby. So shame on SSMA for not sticking with their existing families in n EoTP spot.
Where I think you'll see a huge shift in demographics starting next year. Remember, the JKLM schools don't have PK3. So guess who's going to be number 1 on the list for all the WoTP folk starting out?
I think that is true. But it will be interesting to see how many stay past that point. The school might have a lot of turnover at PK4 and K.
Anonymous
08/05/2014 23:29
Subject: Shining Stars New Location!
Anonymous wrote:All the past talks about why there aren't any Charters in Ward 3, and now that there is one, people are complaining. Damn if you do, damn if you don't.
The only set of people complaining are the ones who "can't take the social scene at Janney." Those of us EoTP "can't take the 30% CAS pass rate"
Anonymous
08/05/2014 23:10
Subject: Re:Shining Stars New Location!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm disappointed to see them open WoTP. Those communities have good schools already IB. The charter system is intended to help those without options nearby. So shame on SSMA for not sticking with their existing families in n EoTP spot.
Where I think you'll see a huge shift in demographics starting next year. Remember, the JKLM schools don't have PK3. So guess who's going to be number 1 on the list for all the WoTP folk starting out?
I'm disappointed too, but it's not like there are a whole lot of choices 3 weeks before school is supposed to start. The question is how long they'll stay there. Methinks they'll get very used to being in demand with high SES families very quickly.
They have a 10 year lease on the new location.
Anonymous
08/05/2014 23:08
Subject: Shining Stars New Location!
All the past talks about why there aren't any Charters in Ward 3, and now that there is one, people are complaining. Damn if you do, damn if you don't.
Anonymous
08/05/2014 22:51
Subject: Re:Shining Stars New Location!
Anonymous wrote:I'm disappointed to see them open WoTP. Those communities have good schools already IB. The charter system is intended to help those without options nearby. So shame on SSMA for not sticking with their existing families in n EoTP spot.
Where I think you'll see a huge shift in demographics starting next year. Remember, the JKLM schools don't have PK3. So guess who's going to be number 1 on the list for all the WoTP folk starting out?
I'm disappointed too, but it's not like there are a whole lot of choices 3 weeks before school is supposed to start. The question is how long they'll stay there. Methinks they'll get very used to being in demand with high SES families very quickly.
Anonymous
08/05/2014 22:45
Subject: Re:Shining Stars New Location!
I'm disappointed to see them open WoTP. Those communities have good schools already IB. The charter system is intended to help those without options nearby. So shame on SSMA for not sticking with their existing families in n EoTP spot.
Where I think you'll see a huge shift in demographics starting next year. Remember, the JKLM schools don't have PK3. So guess who's going to be number 1 on the list for all the WoTP folk starting out?
Where I think you'll see a huge shift in demographics starting next year. Remember, the JKLM schools don't have PK3. So guess who's going to be number 1 on the list for all the WoTP folk starting out?
Anonymous
08/05/2014 22:18
Subject: Shining Stars New Location!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anyone enrolled in Lee Montessori want to trade for a spot at Shining Stars now?
Same here!
PP here. I mean, enrolled at Lee and want to get into SSMA now!
I wish there was some way to make this switch a reality. Is there? I live relatively close to Lee so the new SSMA location is a stretch. I guess you can add yourself to the SSMA waitlist and see what happens, then if you get a spot Lee's list could move!
Are you serious? I thought Lee was showing all signs of having top class admin. You'd switch to a completely disorganized school just based solely on the fact that they allegedly have a building in a part of town with a lot of wealthy families?
Admin is important. But good quality instruction and a good parent community are more important. SSMA has the parent community and quality Montessori education. So you would choose a completely unknown school based on their supposedly " top class admin"???!
principal
my mom is a teacher. the principle matters a lot, but primarily in allowing good teachers to do their jobs and stay year after year (good teachers bail on bad administrations). good teachers are most important. That has yet to be seen at Lee. Several first time teachers there, from what I can see. It's a gamble. I choose lee over SS, but I knew even then it was a gamble.
Anonymous
08/05/2014 22:18
Subject: Shining Stars New Location!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anyone enrolled in Lee Montessori want to trade for a spot at Shining Stars now?
Same here!
PP here. I mean, enrolled at Lee and want to get into SSMA now!
I wish there was some way to make this switch a reality. Is there? I live relatively close to Lee so the new SSMA location is a stretch. I guess you can add yourself to the SSMA waitlist and see what happens, then if you get a spot Lee's list could move!
Are you serious? I thought Lee was showing all signs of having top class admin. You'd switch to a completely disorganized school just based solely on the fact that they allegedly have a building in a part of town with a lot of wealthy families?
Admin is important. But good quality instruction and a good parent community are more important. SSMA has the parent community and quality Montessori education. So you would choose a completely unknown school based on their supposedly " top class admin"???!
my mom is a teacher. the principle matters a lot, but primarily in allowing good teachers to do their jobs and stay year after year (good teachers bail on bad administrations). good teachers are most important. That has yet to be seen at Lee. Several first time teachers there, from what I can see. It's a gamble. I choose lee over SS, but I knew even then it was a gamble.
Anonymous
08/05/2014 21:57
Subject: Shining Stars New Location!
Many EOTP families commute to "Upper NW" for schools so this is not new.
Anonymous
08/05/2014 21:40
Subject: Shining Stars New Location!
This is all so very strange to me, as an impartial (non Lee or SSMA observer).
To see SS to go from "disaster" to next HRCS overnight based on a location.
I've been planning/coordinating/stressing about our new charter school drop off logistics for PS3 and have 2 months to do so. More power to the SSMA parents who have held on tight for the swings from current to Fort Totten to what I would call upper NW. I wonder how many have done so bc their kids birthdays are October-Dec 2011 and this is their only option.
And I can't help but worry about Sela. Did they need that rent share to keep their doors open?
To see SS to go from "disaster" to next HRCS overnight based on a location.
I've been planning/coordinating/stressing about our new charter school drop off logistics for PS3 and have 2 months to do so. More power to the SSMA parents who have held on tight for the swings from current to Fort Totten to what I would call upper NW. I wonder how many have done so bc their kids birthdays are October-Dec 2011 and this is their only option.
And I can't help but worry about Sela. Did they need that rent share to keep their doors open?
Anonymous
08/05/2014 21:33
Subject: Shining Stars New Location!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anyone enrolled in Lee Montessori want to trade for a spot at Shining Stars now?
Same here!
PP here. I mean, enrolled at Lee and want to get into SSMA now!
I wish there was some way to make this switch a reality. Is there? I live relatively close to Lee so the new SSMA location is a stretch. I guess you can add yourself to the SSMA waitlist and see what happens, then if you get a spot Lee's list could move!
Are you serious? I thought Lee was showing all signs of having top class admin. You'd switch to a completely disorganized school just based solely on the fact that they allegedly have a building in a part of town with a lot of wealthy families?
Admin is important. But good quality instruction and a good parent community are more important. SSMA has the parent community and quality Montessori education. So you would choose a completely unknown school based on their supposedly " top class admin"???!
Anonymous
08/05/2014 21:26
Subject: Shining Stars New Location!
Anonymous wrote:Location is very important to a lot of people. If you live next to ssma's new location and prioritize Montessori plus a quality of life that doesn't involve driving all of over the city, ssma starts to look more attractive.
Very true. But the reality is that for as many people that find this new location to be conveniently located there will be many more that it is completely impractical. Sure many high income families live close to the school but MORE high income families live in the rest of the city, as a whole. I'm sure that the new location will be very inconvenient to many current or potential SSMA families. So, some might find it more attractive, others might find it less so.
Anonymous
08/05/2014 21:18
Subject: Shining Stars New Location!
Location is very important to a lot of people. If you live next to ssma's new location and prioritize Montessori plus a quality of life that doesn't involve driving all of over the city, ssma starts to look more attractive.
Anonymous
08/05/2014 21:07
Subject: Shining Stars New Location!
Several Lee families have already turned down spots at Shining Stars.
Apart from PS3, it would be easy to switch as SS doesn't have a waiting list for PK4, K, 1st or 2nd.
Apart from PS3, it would be easy to switch as SS doesn't have a waiting list for PK4, K, 1st or 2nd.