Anonymous wrote:I may have missed it somewhere in one of the previous posts, but with no PK3, what will the extra classroom be used for?

In addition to creating space for student pull-outs, I hope some of the reclaimed space will be used to give teachers a proper lounge/work area. It is very common to see teachers preparing lessons and checking student work at child-sized tables in the hallways while their classes are having gym or recess or whatever. The same is true after school when many of the classrooms are in use for aftercare. It is hard to imagine where a teacher could even go to make a private phone call.

Ross has an terrific professional staff and a principal who holds her team to high expectations. It is so important to treat them like professionals so they don't burn out.

1/ The Francis building is only about 90% utilized so there is room for room for another 15-20 students.

2/ The school is already planning for increased enrollment. It won’t be a surprise in August.

Does SWW@FS have an extra classroom if another 20 rising 6th-graders from Ross ES arrive on their doorstep in August?

Anonymous wrote:

Francis Stevens middle divides kids for math by ability, and those kids are also in the same English class. So there is sorting that will ease some concerns of parents of high scoring kids.

Thanks for this info, I was wondering about differentiation. SWW@FS is our IB and I'm on the fence about whether to send my kid there next year or just bite the bullet and move to the suburbs now instead of waiting for HS. I absolutely dread the thought of commuting in from the suburbs, though, and have been putting it off so I've been pleased to find SWW@FS becoming a more viable option the last few years. I am going to go to the Feb. Open House to learn more. Is there a sense of how many Ross 5th graders plan to go to SWW@FS next year?

I've heard from a few Ross families that there are about 20 Ross 5th graders planning to go to SWW@FS next year.

Francis Stevens middle divides kids for math by ability, and those kids are also in the same English class. So there is sorting that will ease some concerns of parents of high scoring kids.

Thanks for this info, I was wondering about differentiation. SWW@FS is our IB and I'm on the fence about whether to send my kid there next year or just bite the bullet and move to the suburbs now instead of waiting for HS. I absolutely dread the thought of commuting in from the suburbs, though, and have been putting it off so I've been pleased to find SWW@FS becoming a more viable option the last few years. I am going to go to the Feb. Open House to learn more. Is there a sense of how many Ross 5th graders plan to go to SWW@FS next year?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I may have missed it somewhere in one of the previous posts, but with no PK3, what will the extra classroom be used for?

That was my question earlier. How does eliminating one 15-class all IB class reduce crowding? They will still get those kids in K, and the K-5 classes are still very large. Adding a K-1 class could add too many seats that then have to move up to one class in 2nd.

The schools has no overflow teaching space- they were teaching in the stair well until the fire warden told them to more the chairs. So the available class room will hopefully be used as flex space. Using it for another grade class room might also help with the large class sizes in k and 1, but does not solve the flex space issue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is interesting is that 90% and 80% of students from Ross are proficient or advanced in literacy and mathematics. Basically all students in the classroom are proficient. SWW@FS's scores from last year's PARCC 39% and 43%. That means not even half are proficient. As a parent, I would not be happy nor content with my child going from a classroom full of proficient/advanced students to a classroom that is not even half proficient. What do you think?

It is tough. But if a big enough cohort travels from grade 5 to 6 it become easier to deal with. Also the kids scoring low probably are new to English.

Francis Stevens middle divides kids for math by ability, and those kids are also in the same English class. So there is sorting that will ease some concerns of parents of high scoring kids.

Anonymous wrote:I may have missed it somewhere in one of the previous posts, but with no PK3, what will the extra classroom be used for?

That was my question earlier. How does eliminating one 15-class all IB class reduce crowding? They will still get those kids in K, and the K-5 classes are still very large. Adding a K-1 class could add too many seats that then have to move up to one class in 2nd.