Open Thread (So How Was the First Day of School?)
Open thread time and I thought I 'd ask how the first day of school was at your house.
Tuesday Open Thread
The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested. It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio. (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
Comments
One glitch as Transportation thought she was supposed to be on the bus even though we called and said she wouldn't be, all sorted out now.
The energy level was amazing, everyone so positive.
My oldest (Emma and Claire) returned to their same fabulous teachers in the Frog and Spider clans. One of the many benefits of a mixed grade classroom is that the kids get the same teacher for two years straight, allowing them to build good relationships and have teachers who already know their learning styles, strengths and weaknesses.
The problem is that they can't move a waitlist until other students don't show up.
One piece of (unsolicited) advice for parents; do your part in elementary but don't let yourself get burned out. Everyone is always full of enthusiasm during elementary schools but after 6 years, they can then feel burned out. Your kids, despite what they say, need you in middle and high school (and so do the schools).
Also to Anonymous on the waitlist; have courage. It is a drag to move your child but a lot of people give up and that's how the waitlist moves faster. If Eckstein means something to your family, then be willing to move in the 3rd, 4th or even 6th week because many families won't and you benefit from that. Check back every week (at the school). The waitlist does dissolve on Oct 31st. Good luck!
It's been an emotional week for us after finding out last Thursday that Hay moved their waitlist and we got our reference school (4 blocks away) so she won't spend almost 2 hours a day on the bus!
I know how you feel Anonymous (waiting for Eckstein)...and hope you are soon as fortunate.
But he ran into a friend, a junior, who showed him the band lockers. Then he found all his classes, mooched some food off friends at lunch and had an OK day.
He had homework --- to finish drawing a comic strip for Health. I had the usual first day homework --- the parent packet. I know it is all important and interesting, but good golly, the amount of paper kid's bring home for us to read and sign and write checks for!
On the plus side, she did say that the cafeteria food looked good.
My kids each went to very small ( North Seattle 5s & Matheia) schools for their first school experience- so I was broken in slowly ( as compared to the kids who like to jump in feet first!)
My own daughters first ( as a senior)went very well in her opinion.
She had a course changed from one she didn't need- to a class she wanted to take ( as a TA).
While she is not on the 5 AP class track with many of her friends- she does have good friends on the one AP track, and is happy to have friends in all her classes.
Im still not so thrilled that she only has three academic classes, ( and only five classes- as a 6th wasn't available) but I am going to encourage her to make the most of all of them & as I am also beginning school this fall, it will give her more space to take more charge of concerns/conflicts as she will have to do that on her own in college.
So all in all, I think things went very well.
For 4th grade- the expectations all year were MUCH lower than the ones for 3rd grade had been.
The teacher was in 2nd year teaching ( the previous year she had taught 1st gd)and while the 3rd grade teacher had them writing essays and researched reports- the 4th grade teacher had many papers for coloring.( and much was made of the class bunny- sounds like K doesn't it)
In our case- the parents who were active advocates- had already been assigned a different teacher-My daughters classroom was mostly made of parents who either thought it was OK or otherwise weren't heard.
Compound that with a craptacular teacher for the next year & we got two years in a row that had repercussions for years ( she is now a senior)
I would find out what expectations are ASAP- you can't waste any time- and you might be reassured ( I hope)
Am I missing something? Is there an emergency contact number to call after 4:30? Of course, I can't get through to the Transportation Dept. to find out. I assume this has been adressed before, it seems to be a major safety issue.
Transportation didn't really care, and let me know it very clearly. The school couldn't do anything about it but complain, which was futile.
Transportation in SPS stinks, and someone really should do something about it.
This year she got on because a real human being on the phone realized that her 8th grade brother was already on the bus and could keep an eye on her. (I had sworn that I would always come meet her but they didn't believe me--and had no mechanism for me to sign it in blood!).
What can we do about it. So many families that I know choose not to use the bus for these very reasons (not to mention poor bus behavior). It seems like families are not benefiting from the services and that's just not fair.
My son's old afternoon bus time was after four, so I don't know that I've ever called transportation when it *wasn't* after four-thirty. If it's busy, that's actually a good sign -- means there are a lot of late buses and a lot of parents calling.
I just discovered an automatic redial function on my cell phone that I didn't know I had. You just hold the phone to your ear and pace about while it keeps redialing the ever-busy number.
Helen Schinske
This is a huge issue
I actually drove my daughter most of the time to school- and while that was a huge PITA sometimes- there were so many issues with transportation- that it was just easier.
I think this is something the school district needs to address.
Yes some routes are fine- and not all drivers change every month. Some actually learn the route- get to know the kids and have a nice rapport with them.
There should be an emergency number- and kids less than a certain age should not just be left at bus stop unless there is an adult there.
BUs routes need to be shorter- safer.
When I used to ride a school bus ( and even when my D was younger) they were never allowed to ride a bus other than their own without a signed note from office.
They were never allowed to get off at a different stop than their own without a signed note from office.
The district should be liable for kids from the time they are picked up at their stop to when they are released at their stop.
I hear too many stories of SPED kids dropped off where ever or not even picked up- what will it take to get policy changed?
I shudder to think.
She now rides metro- which still isn't perfect- but at least the drivers generally know their routes
While this is not a safety concern, it is a tragedy. No child should sit on a bus for three hours EVERY DAY.
Suggestions for improvement should go first to the people directly responsible. In the event that you do not get satisfaction there, then you should follow the District's complaint process. Contact the folks in customer service and they will help you.
It may still pay for you to come to a Board meeting because the Superintendent says that staff from Customer Service will be at the Board meeting to handle complaints.