Yes, I'd still like to know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just an observation: There seems to be a divide on perspectives here, and elsewhere. There were clearly many, many battles fought over the "Cluster Schools". Those families that were involved are understandably entrenched and their perspectives are informed greatly by that. But for those of us who are only now entering ECE, we don't share that perspective. I don't think of SWS as anything other than a boundary-less DCPS school. And Peabody and Watkins are just one elementary school that happens to be in two buildings. Stuart Hobson isn't a "Cluster School" to me; it is the MS into which several ES (including Watkins) feed. It's interesting to me that Peabody/Watkins parents and posters with older kids lay claim to SH as if it was part of that school, instead of what it is now, a feeder school from area elementary schools.

Not a judgment. Not a shot at anyone. Just an observation.

It may be best for you not to spout when you aren't on top of the facts. Until a few years ago, only P/W fed to SH. Through the end of this year, P/W and SH share a Principal, share the PTA and LSAT, and essentially share a budget allocation from DCPS, because of the fungibility of the budgets across campuses. There is a lot more to SH being part of the Cluster than the feeder aspect. For over 20 years, nearing 30, the objective was to treat this as one Pk4-8th grade school, not simply as a feeder. It doesn't always align that way, but the model and objective differs substantially from a feeder model.

I don't know the exact history of the Cluster, but I bought my house IB for LT in 2002 and it has been IB for SH since I bought it. I checked what the feed was when we were looking and it was LT, SH, Dunbar at that point. With the redistributing ,only the Dunbar feed changed to Eastern. I believe JO Wilson has also always fed into SH, but I don't have first-hand knowledge of that. It's not really relavent to this thread, but I wanted to correct this misstatement by the PP.

This isn't true. Your HOUSE may have been inbounds for SH, but Ludlow Taylor nor JO Wilson were officially feeders ( i.e. all students there had rights to SH regardless of home address )until around 2010ish.

This is a distinction without a difference for everyone who lives IB for LT or JO Wilson. Our houses are, and always have been, IB for SH without having any relationship to the Cluster. We only had the right to send our kids to SH without entering the OOB lottery. SH has always had a bigger relationship to our neighborhood that it's status as part of the Cluster. It is our neighborhood middle school even though we don't have rights to Peabody or Watkins.

Anonymous wrote:Not going to start giving specific examples on an anonymous message board. It is ok. It is not a big deal. The kids are fine so who cares about the adults? We all have busy lives and different priorities. All schools have certain cultures or "feels" to them that change over time just like the larger culture so I am sure whatever is causing a few posters to nod their heads in agreement here will die away or move on.

For all prospective parents reading, SWS is a great school with great teachers and administration. It is going through changes and growing pains but sorting them out intelligently and well. You should apply, you are lucky if you get in and your child will be great. Don't worry about parental social stuff. It's no big deal.

For any SWS parents who asked sincere questions about what a visitor feels or sees that causes us to feel this way, please PP.

Anonymous wrote:Why are you talking about the cluster on the SWS page? This ship sailed 5 years ago and has little to do with the parental cliques.

The cluster-war people see that to inform all things on the Hill. I was the PP who said I felt the vibe (not good or bad, just my impression). and my feeling had nothing to do with the cluster.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just an observation: There seems to be a divide on perspectives here, and elsewhere. There were clearly many, many battles fought over the "Cluster Schools". Those families that were involved are understandably entrenched and their perspectives are informed greatly by that. But for those of us who are only now entering ECE, we don't share that perspective. I don't think of SWS as anything other than a boundary-less DCPS school. And Peabody and Watkins are just one elementary school that happens to be in two buildings. Stuart Hobson isn't a "Cluster School" to me; it is the MS into which several ES (including Watkins) feed. It's interesting to me that Peabody/Watkins parents and posters with older kids lay claim to SH as if it was part of that school, instead of what it is now, a feeder school from area elementary schools.

Not a judgment. Not a shot at anyone. Just an observation.

It may be best for you not to spout when you aren't on top of the facts. Until a few years ago, only P/W fed to SH. Through the end of this year, P/W and SH share a Principal, share the PTA and LSAT, and essentially share a budget allocation from DCPS, because of the fungibility of the budgets across campuses. There is a lot more to SH being part of the Cluster than the feeder aspect. For over 20 years, nearing 30, the objective was to treat this as one Pk4-8th grade school, not simply as a feeder. It doesn't always align that way, but the model and objective differs substantially from a feeder model.

I don't know the exact history of the Cluster, but I bought my house IB for LT in 2002 and it has been IB for SH since I bought it. I checked what the feed was when we were looking and it was LT, SH, Dunbar at that point. With the redistributing ,only the Dunbar feed changed to Eastern. I believe JO Wilson has also always fed into SH, but I don't have first-hand knowledge of that. It's not really relavent to this thread, but I wanted to correct this misstatement by the PP.

This isn't true. Your HOUSE may have been inbounds for SH, but Ludlow Taylor nor JO Wilson were officially feeders ( i.e. all students there had rights to SH regardless of home address )until around 2010ish.

Assuming you are correct and that we look past the cute little distinction that somehow someone who was IB for LT and JO had a right to SH, but somehow it was the address and not the school that fed into SH (a ridiculous bit of hair splitting designed, I guess, to allow P/W to lay claim to SH), that ended 5 years ago according to even your presentation of the facts. 5 hears is a lifetime in DCPS terms. So tell me again how the cluster is as relevant to those of us in ECE?

Signed,
Someone who is enjoying watching you prove my point with every post you make.

Not going to start giving specific examples on an anonymous message board. It is ok. It is not a big deal. The kids are fine so who cares about the adults? We all have busy lives and different priorities. All schools have certain cultures or "feels" to them that change over time just like the larger culture so I am sure whatever is causing a few posters to nod their heads in agreement here will die away or move on.

For all prospective parents reading, SWS is a great school with great teachers and administration. It is going through changes and growing pains but sorting them out intelligently and well. You should apply, you are lucky if you get in and your child will be great. Don't worry about parental social stuff. It's no big deal.

Why are you talking about the cluster on the SWS page? This ship sailed 5 years ago and has little to do with the parental cliques.

Again. An example of a cold shoulder would be helpful here. I'm perplexed as to how this is being conveyed to you.

Anonymous wrote:I think the "clique" piece may be a misunderstanding of the school culture as it expands. When it was just a couple of grades, the expectation was that parent involvement was high - many parents responded and believed that they were true partners in the school. That was an approach that many believe grows out of reggio. But as the school has expanded I think the culture is changing and the school's expectations are not as clear. But I've found if you dive in, including to the parent involvement part, you will get more out of it. Not sure how that continues to be communicated without seeming snobby or cliquey but I think it is also an important part of the school.

Right, but some people can't or choose not to "dive in". Currently this earns some a cold shoulder. Deserved? maybe. But certainly not a warm and fuzzy reaction.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just an observation: There seems to be a divide on perspectives here, and elsewhere. There were clearly many, many battles fought over the "Cluster Schools". Those families that were involved are understandably entrenched and their perspectives are informed greatly by that. But for those of us who are only now entering ECE, we don't share that perspective. I don't think of SWS as anything other than a boundary-less DCPS school. And Peabody and Watkins are just one elementary school that happens to be in two buildings. Stuart Hobson isn't a "Cluster School" to me; it is the MS into which several ES (including Watkins) feed. It's interesting to me that Peabody/Watkins parents and posters with older kids lay claim to SH as if it was part of that school, instead of what it is now, a feeder school from area elementary schools.

Not a judgment. Not a shot at anyone. Just an observation.

It may be best for you not to spout when you aren't on top of the facts. Until a few years ago, only P/W fed to SH. Through the end of this year, P/W and SH share a Principal, share the PTA and LSAT, and essentially share a budget allocation from DCPS, because of the fungibility of the budgets across campuses. There is a lot more to SH being part of the Cluster than the feeder aspect. For over 20 years, nearing 30, the objective was to treat this as one Pk4-8th grade school, not simply as a feeder. It doesn't always align that way, but the model and objective differs substantially from a feeder model.

I don't know the exact history of the Cluster, but I bought my house IB for LT in 2002 and it has been IB for SH since I bought it. I checked what the feed was when we were looking and it was LT, SH, Dunbar at that point. With the redistributing ,only the Dunbar feed changed to Eastern. I believe JO Wilson has also always fed into SH, but I don't have first-hand knowledge of that. It's not really relavent to this thread, but I wanted to correct this misstatement by the PP.

This isn't true. Your HOUSE may have been inbounds for SH, but Ludlow Taylor nor JO Wilson were officially feeders ( i.e. all students there had rights to SH regardless of home address )until around 2010ish.

I think the "clique" piece may be a misunderstanding of the school culture as it expands. When it was just a couple of grades, the expectation was that parent involvement was high - many parents responded and believed that they were true partners in the school. That was an approach that many believe grows out of reggio. But as the school has expanded I think the culture is changing and the school's expectations are not as clear. But I've found if you dive in, including to the parent involvement part, you will get more out of it. Not sure how that continues to be communicated without seeming snobby or cliquey but I think it is also an important part of the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just an observation: There seems to be a divide on perspectives here, and elsewhere. There were clearly many, many battles fought over the "Cluster Schools". Those families that were involved are understandably entrenched and their perspectives are informed greatly by that. But for those of us who are only now entering ECE, we don't share that perspective. I don't think of SWS as anything other than a boundary-less DCPS school. And Peabody and Watkins are just one elementary school that happens to be in two buildings. Stuart Hobson isn't a "Cluster School" to me; it is the MS into which several ES (including Watkins) feed. It's interesting to me that Peabody/Watkins parents and posters with older kids lay claim to SH as if it was part of that school, instead of what it is now, a feeder school from area elementary schools.

Not a judgment. Not a shot at anyone. Just an observation.

It may be best for you not to spout when you aren't on top of the facts. Until a few years ago, only P/W fed to SH. Through the end of this year, P/W and SH share a Principal, share the PTA and LSAT, and essentially share a budget allocation from DCPS, because of the fungibility of the budgets across campuses. There is a lot more to SH being part of the Cluster than the feeder aspect. For over 20 years, nearing 30, the objective was to treat this as one Pk4-8th grade school, not simply as a feeder. It doesn't always align that way, but the model and objective differs substantially from a feeder model.

I don't know the exact history of the Cluster, but I bought my house IB for LT in 2002 and it has been IB for SH since I bought it. I checked what the feed was when we were looking and it was LT, SH, Dunbar at that point. With the redistributing ,only the Dunbar feed changed to Eastern. I believe JO Wilson has also always fed into SH, but I don't have first-hand knowledge of that. It's not really relavent to this thread, but I wanted to correct this misstatement by the PP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just an observation: There seems to be a divide on perspectives here, and elsewhere. There were clearly many, many battles fought over the "Cluster Schools". Those families that were involved are understandably entrenched and their perspectives are informed greatly by that. But for those of us who are only now entering ECE, we don't share that perspective. I don't think of SWS as anything other than a boundary-less DCPS school. And Peabody and Watkins are just one elementary school that happens to be in two buildings. Stuart Hobson isn't a "Cluster School" to me; it is the MS into which several ES (including Watkins) feed. It's interesting to me that Peabody/Watkins parents and posters with older kids lay claim to SH as if it was part of that school, instead of what it is now, a feeder school from area elementary schools.

Not a judgment. Not a shot at anyone. Just an observation.

It may be best for you not to spout when you aren't on top of the facts. Until a few years ago, only P/W fed to SH. Through the end of this year, P/W and SH share a Principal, share the PTA and LSAT, and essentially share a budget allocation from DCPS, because of the fungibility of the budgets across campuses. There is a lot more to SH being part of the Cluster than the feeder aspect. For over 20 years, nearing 30, the objective was to treat this as one Pk4-8th grade school, not simply as a feeder. It doesn't always align that way, but the model and objective differs substantially from a feeder model.

Everything other than your first sentence was rational, helpful and interesting. But then there's the matter of your snotty and condescending first sentence...which actually made my case for me!!! Prey tell, what facts are not correct? Does SH not get fed by other schools as well? Is the last vestige of the cluster not going awway (e.g., budget)? And how does the shared budget make any difference at all when that budget also supports all the other kids in that school? Yes, until a few years ago - which is to say, not now. Of course, now there's the feeder pattern which makes it not a P/W school, but a regular feeder school. And yes, that WAS the objective...but not anymore. Do you have the ability to process how things changed? That people looking for schools now look at things as they are, nit how they were? And that the historical perspective, while interesting, doesn't inform the next 10 years, which is the relevant time period for those of us in ECE? Your lack of self awareness is astounding...and exactly what I've come to expect from those of you stuck in the past.

Anonymous wrote:Just an observation: There seems to be a divide on perspectives here, and elsewhere. There were clearly many, many battles fought over the "Cluster Schools". Those families that were involved are understandably entrenched and their perspectives are informed greatly by that. But for those of us who are only now entering ECE, we don't share that perspective. I don't think of SWS as anything other than a boundary-less DCPS school. And Peabody and Watkins are just one elementary school that happens to be in two buildings. Stuart Hobson isn't a "Cluster School" to me; it is the MS into which several ES (including Watkins) feed. It's interesting to me that Peabody/Watkins parents and posters with older kids lay claim to SH as if it was part of that school, instead of what it is now, a feeder school from area elementary schools.

Not a judgment. Not a shot at anyone. Just an observation.

It may be best for you not to spout when you aren't on top of the facts. Until a few years ago, only P/W fed to SH. Through the end of this year, P/W and SH share a Principal, share the PTA and LSAT, and essentially share a budget allocation from DCPS, because of the fungibility of the budgets across campuses. There is a lot more to SH being part of the Cluster than the feeder aspect. For over 20 years, nearing 30, the objective was to treat this as one Pk4-8th grade school, not simply as a feeder. It doesn't always align that way, but the model and objective differs substantially from a feeder model.

Just an observation: There seems to be a divide on perspectives here, and elsewhere. There were clearly many, many battles fought over the "Cluster Schools". Those families that were involved are understandably entrenched and their perspectives are informed greatly by that. But for those of us who are only now entering ECE, we don't share that perspective. I don't think of SWS as anything other than a boundary-less DCPS school. And Peabody and Watkins are just one elementary school that happens to be in two buildings. Stuart Hobson isn't a "Cluster School" to me; it is the MS into which several ES (including Watkins) feed. It's interesting to me that Peabody/Watkins parents and posters with older kids lay claim to SH as if it was part of that school, instead of what it is now, a feeder school from area elementary schools.

Not a judgment. Not a shot at anyone. Just an observation.