tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post2533408443494722349..comments2024-03-18T16:51:10.406-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tours and ChoicesMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25025033705998727842010-03-04T14:47:55.145-08:002010-03-04T14:47:55.145-08:00This document walks you through the choice process...This document walks you through the choice process under the NSAP:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.teriyakidonut.com/schools/choice-2010-2011.pdf" rel="nofollow">How to Rank Schools</a> for the Seattle Public Schools Choice Process for 2010-2011. It was written by Elizabeth Walkup, I found it referenced at the Alternative Schools Coalition group.Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11482989120855925312010-03-04T09:02:27.684-08:002010-03-04T09:02:27.684-08:00An enrollment guide is valuable enough to families...An enrollment guide is valuable enough to families that back when the Seattle Times printed their own annual paper back version of a school guide, many families bought them for $8 a copy!seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18602608213058113332010-03-03T21:27:53.278-08:002010-03-03T21:27:53.278-08:00Sully, thanks for the AP & IB info. Yes, that ...Sully, thanks for the AP & IB info. Yes, that is exactly the type of info many parents are undoubtedly looking for - what are the offerings for next year?wsnorthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03795943009142572757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55576984347387721702010-03-03T08:42:55.746-08:002010-03-03T08:42:55.746-08:00Rosie, putting a guide online doesn't cost tha...Rosie, putting a guide online doesn't cost that much. They update the old one. Then, they have them available - hard copy - at the district headquarters and local libraries. That's far less money than making copies for every school to have.<br /><br />With a new SAP in place, it IS their responsiblity to let parents know information. That is their first and foremost job in enrollment.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-744401209796539432010-03-03T08:25:58.223-08:002010-03-03T08:25:58.223-08:00the simple answer is that it didn't make sense...<i>the simple answer is that it didn't make sense to spend all the time and energy creating the guide.</i><br /><br />as opposed to holding meetings regarding school closures- closing the schools and then reopening them again.<br />Yes I can see decisions are well thought out.Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63495283187059641702010-03-02T16:50:43.391-08:002010-03-02T16:50:43.391-08:00Not having an enrollment guide is a way to keep pa...Not having an enrollment guide is a way to keep parents in the dark, and that's never good....seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13355701458815829792010-03-02T15:58:45.159-08:002010-03-02T15:58:45.159-08:00To me, it seems crazy to have an enrollment guide ...To me, it seems crazy to have an enrollment guide in a year with additional large budget cuts. In the bigger picture, what if you used the guide to base your student's entire high school selection on the fact that just one high school offered a particular elective, and then that high school had to cut 7 or 8 educators, and that meant the loss of that particular elective? <br /><br />It's pretty easy to weave conspiracy theories about why the guide isn't around this year, but in a year with such massive change and budget cuts, maybe the simple answer is that it didn't make sense to spend all the time and energy creating the guide. I can imagine that the guidance department or the office staff of each school spent hours on it, then someone at the Stanford Cetner spent more time, etc. <br /><br />It's clear from the comments that some parents found it to be a useful tool, but I, for one, didn't know it existed and thus, won't miss it at all. Overall, though,if we're trying to retain what's "mission critical" this year I'm not sure that letting it go is such a bad idea. <br /><br />I say this having spent last night listening to the high school principal tell the PTSA how the proposed budget was going to impact us next year. The heck with spending time and money on guides, my eyes are on the real prize -- cut fewer educators.GenericGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08025309294882782157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53589381085240607042010-03-02T15:30:46.154-08:002010-03-02T15:30:46.154-08:00I have a copy of the assignment letter sent to my ...I have a copy of the assignment letter sent to my daughter. Under the heading titled "Students rising from 5th to 6th grade" it states that <br />'all students have been assigned to their attendance area middle school, except:... Spectrum- Eligible students are NOT automatically assigned to Spectrum at their attendance area middle school. Assignment to Spectrum is by application, tiebreakers apply.'<br /><br />There are seat caps at middle school? Shouldn't a middle school's Spectrum program capacity be determined, in the very least, by the number of students feeding into the school from the Spectrum programs at the feeder elementaries? Why is this not the case?ttlnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036145163804967748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78797129263786080162010-03-02T14:33:39.239-08:002010-03-02T14:33:39.239-08:00Oh there it is. Thanks seattleparent.Oh there it is. Thanks seattleparent.h2o girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512408535354009657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2435390392078505382010-03-02T14:23:17.495-08:002010-03-02T14:23:17.495-08:00the end of that got cut off-- it was outreach.html...the end of that got cut off-- it was outreach.htmlseattleparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16174682405886497565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65225297202662044962010-03-02T14:21:14.378-08:002010-03-02T14:21:14.378-08:00they are, it's here:
http://www.seattleschools...they are, it's here:<br />http://www.seattleschools.org/area/eso/openenrolloutreach.htmlseattleparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16174682405886497565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83773685054391180812010-03-02T13:12:24.481-08:002010-03-02T13:12:24.481-08:00Saw this today on myballard.com:
"On March 2...Saw this today on myballard.com:<br /><br />"On March 24th at the Ballard Library, enrollment staff will be on hand from 5:30 – 7 p.m. to help answer your questions. You can use this opportunity to enroll new students and/or submit School Choice Forms for next school year. Make sure to bring all necessary documents to register your child."<br /><br />I would think the district is likely doing this in other neighborhoods as well? Do you think they might mention it somewhere?h2o girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512408535354009657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42512926539725670812010-03-02T11:57:36.323-08:002010-03-02T11:57:36.323-08:00The KeepOurKidsTogether group has produced Help2En...The <a href="http://www.keepourkidstogether.org/" rel="nofollow">KeepOurKidsTogether</a> group has produced <a href="http://www.keepourkidstogether.org/docs/The%20Family%20Friendly%20Enrollment%20Supplement_2.pdf" rel="nofollow">Help2Enroll Enrollment Supplement.</a> <br /><br />It is somewhat focused on sibling issues and skims over applying to Option schools, but contains useful information and links. It is all about the process of enrolling-not about what different schools offer.Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76524426856502388392010-03-02T11:28:51.838-08:002010-03-02T11:28:51.838-08:00The question regarding why Spectrum students aren&...The question regarding why Spectrum students aren't automatically assigned has to be because the middle schools have historically limited Spectrum enrollment (WMS carries a waitlist every year as I'm sure so does Eckstein etc.). APP has to accept all that qualify.<br /><br />That is ridiculous - especially since we have neighborhood school assignment. Spectrum students should be automatically assigned to Spectrum at their Spectrum middle school, no matter how many there are.CCMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07038994914929300444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54575689231623423432010-03-02T11:28:40.660-08:002010-03-02T11:28:40.660-08:00I just called the enrollment office with a questio...I just called the enrollment office with a question and thought I’d share what I learned here.<br /><br />As I mentioned before, we might have split siblings next year. Furthermore, the new boundary (going down the middle of our street, no less) is an attendance area boundary as well as a service area boundary. Our new attendance area school will not have on site child care. Our former reference school, where our oldest attends, does, and any child can go as long as s/he signs up by the deadline. My oldest is grandfathered for transportation for 2 years to her current school; my youngest can only receive bussing to schools in our new service area. <br /><br />My question was: how do we arrange for after school care for next year if our kids are indeed split up by the district? My youngest cannot get bussed to our oldest’s school, and our oldest, now in a different service area, cannot get bussed to our new service area for after-school care. All the enrollment office person (very pleasant, by the way) could tell me was that perhaps there would be a bus going by in that general direction and she hoped it would work out for us. We won’t learn whether a bus will take my child to after school care until a week or so before school begins.Pherniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08513541672890462986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-19426860795182803302010-03-02T11:09:32.399-08:002010-03-02T11:09:32.399-08:00I have a question.
Why are APP qualified students...I have a question.<br /><br />Why are APP qualified students automatically assigned, but Spectrum students are not? If the district assumes all APP parents want the program, why do they not assume the same for Spectrum? Seems it would make the enrollment folk's job easier right?Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12875541753709754758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88007219142195320942010-03-02T11:07:37.258-08:002010-03-02T11:07:37.258-08:00Yes, Josh I know.
I meant for entry grade student...Yes, Josh I know.<br /><br />I meant for entry grade students. Should have been clearer.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12875541753709754758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1469785027323422222010-03-02T11:06:47.645-08:002010-03-02T11:06:47.645-08:00Sully-you discovered what some of us in S. Seattle...Sully-you discovered what some of us in S. Seattle already knew-that the perception of all of the high schools being "bad schools" with no rigor is incorrect. <br /><br />Unfortunately, a lot of parents still "flee" as they like to say without ever looking at them. My older daughter went ot Franklin where she took advantage of the AP and honors classes and got into every college to which she applied. So did several of her friends, who ranged from doctor's kids to at least one recent immigrant.<br /><br />As for the guide-well, that might be a perfect vehicle to learn this information, but she never even looked at one when choosing a school. She went on the tours provided for 8th graders and asked friends who knew someone at each of the schools for their opinions. So we-although we also looked at the guide. In the end her choice was ok with us and it all worked out.<br /><br />Someone else asked about APP enrollment for next year's 6th graders. We were automatically assigned. We did not have to fill out anything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2333665661801093612010-03-02T10:43:46.183-08:002010-03-02T10:43:46.183-08:00Keepin'On writes:
"It may interest you t...Keepin'On writes:<br /><br /><i>"It may interest you to know Melissa, that parents all received letters assigning their children to their neighborhood school, and for the regular program."</i><br /><br />This isn't entirely accurate -- my kids both currently attend AS1, and they were assigned back there next year. I realize this is a minor nitpick, but at least they weren't assigned to Whitman and Viewlands, respectively. Yikes!Josh Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242600011474990770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70457291184664725352010-03-02T10:34:07.117-08:002010-03-02T10:34:07.117-08:00Looking at the 2009/10 enrollment guide I see that...Looking at the 2009/10 enrollment guide I see that Franklin offered AP Biology. The only other HS in the entire district to offer AP biology was Ballard. Not even Garfield or Roosevelt offered it.<br /><br />Franklin also offered AP Chemistry. The only other schools in the district that offered AP Chemistry were Garfield and Ballard.<br /><br />RBHS offered 7 AP classes last year. That's two more than West Seattle HS offered, and the same amount that Nathan Hale offers.<br /><br />And, Cleveland offered 8 AP classes!<br /><br />Garfield offered 15 AP classes, Ballard offered 12, and Roosevelt offered 11.<br /><br />Ingraham offered 17 standard level IB classes and 11 higher level IB classes<br /><br />Sealth offered 12 standard level IB classes and 6 higher level IB classes.<br /><br />This is all information that would take a family hours to research on their own. It was all available on one page of last years enrollment guide.seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46459734204517160322010-03-02T10:12:58.127-08:002010-03-02T10:12:58.127-08:00I just dug out my old 2009/2010 middle/high school...I just dug out my old 2009/2010 middle/high school enrollment guide. <br /><br />In spreadsheet format it lists by school and offerings:<br /><br />Each type of CTE class that each high school offers (web site design, chef school, early childhood education, etc)<br /><br />Each different world language offered at each high school<br /><br />The arts, broken down by band, jazz band, choir, orchestra, drama, theater, and photography<br /><br />Bilingual education<br /><br />Every AP and IB class offered at each individual school. <br /><br />Plus a wealth of information on special programs, APP, ALO and Spectrum, and so much more.<br /><br />Here is a link to the guide (it's still online)<br /><br />http://www.seattleschools.org/area/eso/secondary_guide<br />_0910.pdf<br /><br />How at a time when parents are disoriented and uninformed could the district do away with the enrollment guide?seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25623090953248420762010-03-02T10:02:59.165-08:002010-03-02T10:02:59.165-08:00And in the enrollment pages the Option Schools are...And in the enrollment pages the Option Schools are still said to have "Attendance Area" boundaries (Follow the pull downs from this <a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/area//boundarymapa/index.xml" rel="nofollow"> Boundary Area Maps</a> page). No where does it say that you can apply to any Option school from anywhere in the city but that transportation is only guaranteed from one Middle School Service Area. <br /><br />I know that Tracy knows about this, and I don't know how hard it would be to fix so I don't know if I should be bombarding them with emails?<br /><br />The first TOPS K tour was down almost 50% from last years first tour (There were still 40 families and the earlier Open House was well attended, so it may net out).<br /><br />Tell everyone about the "Family to Family" Option School Fair:<br /><br /><i>On March 13, 2010, the Alternative Schools Coalition is sponsoring an Option<br />School Fair at the John Stanford Center (School District headquarters). This<br />will be an opportunity to meet with families from throughout the<br />Seattle School District to learn about Seattle's unique option schools.<br /><br /> <br /><br />The following schools will be represented:<br /><br />K-5s: Queen Anne, Thornton Creek<br />K-8s: AS #1, Jane Addams, Orca, Pathfinder, Salmon Bay, South Shore, TOPS<br />High Schools: Center School, Cleveland, Nova<br /><br />Enrollment personnel will be available to answer questions about enrollment and<br />the new student assignment plan. You will be able to fill out and submit your<br />application to option schools at the fair.<br /><br />March 13, 2010 10 am to noon<br />2445 3rd Ave. South<br />Seattle, WA 98134</i>Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85276865103115011842010-03-02T10:00:41.828-08:002010-03-02T10:00:41.828-08:00Good point about Spectrum. Parents MUST complete ...Good point about Spectrum. Parents MUST complete the open enrollemt forms in order to have their 5th graders continue in Spectrum in middle school.<br /><br />Wonder if it is the same for APP 5th graders moving to 6th grade APP?ParentofThreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15853045587227159562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57084124370837255112010-03-02T09:17:42.304-08:002010-03-02T09:17:42.304-08:00Oh I think it is deliberate. The tours I have bee...Oh I think it is deliberate. The tours I have been on have been extremely low attendance. Parents probably feel like - well we have no shot at anything but our neighborhood school, so why bother? The district has not really bothered to correct this impression.<br /><br />RE: Enrollment forms. It may interest you to know Melissa, that parents all received letters assigning their children to their neighborhood school, and for the regular program. Fine. But, spectrum eligible children, at least for middle school,were not informed on the assignment form that their children were eligible for that program (or any other), and the information stating that they have to enroll in the program is buried on page 4 of the "Quick Facts" that came in the envelope.<br /><br />One might assume that Dr. MGJ not only wants people to stay at their neighborhood schools, she wants to drive down enrollment in programs as well.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12875541753709754758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88964445648284493112010-03-02T09:05:28.763-08:002010-03-02T09:05:28.763-08:00Again, I see the fine hand of Dr. G-J here. First...Again, I see the fine hand of Dr. G-J here. First, we weren't going to have tours. That got stopped and so all the schools have at least one. No explanation given for why that would be the case when it has been practice in this district for years.<br /><br />Now, no enrollment guides. I should have been tipped off because normally staff, especially Tracy, always harp on getting stuff done because "we have to get the info to the printer". Reflecting back, I didn't really hear that during the SAP process. I think they knew they weren't going to publish any. <br /><br />I'm sorry to be a bore and say this AGAIN but why do parents have to become detectives to learn about this district, its schools and its programs? I've said this for more than a decade and now, with a new SAP, we still have this issue. Unbelievable.<br /><br />Dr. G-J really thinks she is going to force people into fewer and fewer choices until they give up and just go to their assignment school. <br /><br />I have to say that I do enjoy a good fight and while I have no illusions about any kind of "win", I do believe she underestimated the parents in this district. It would be nice if the NTN was her undoing but I think not. But she doesn't have all the cards and she might not want to believe she is that secure in what she is unleashing (and I choose that word deliberately).Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.com