tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post8132438848041799035..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Center School UpdateMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51886487985150235382014-11-07T10:43:58.114-08:002014-11-07T10:43:58.114-08:00NOTIFICATION OF THREATS OF VIOLENCE OR HARM -Polic...NOTIFICATION OF THREATS OF VIOLENCE OR HARM -Policy No. 4314<br /><br />Pretty cut and dry. <br />Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20600832917808165962014-11-07T09:52:27.379-08:002014-11-07T09:52:27.379-08:00"When we have an incident like we did on Oct...."When we have an incident like we did on Oct. 27, where a Center School student brought an incendiary device to school, it is important that we take the time to review how school and district staff respond to these incidents. While we conducted this review, we did place Principal Oksana Britsova on paid administrative leave. The review is now complete and concluded that there were no issues with how Principal Britsova handled the situation. She has returned to school today."<br /><br />So did they review the staff response on that day only, or did they also look at how the principal (and any other staff) handled the reported threats that preceded the "incident"?<br /><br />HIMSmomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75021872040487622892014-11-07T08:08:55.190-08:002014-11-07T08:08:55.190-08:00Can we talk about the important reason the Center ...Can we talk about the important reason the Center School is in this update? The student on emergency expulsion brought an explosive to school. The Principal is back, but parents cannot be informed about the student due to confidentiality, so we are in the dark as to the safety issues going forward and how things will be handled differently. Center School Parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1144903344046256082014-11-07T08:03:50.068-08:002014-11-07T08:03:50.068-08:00Given the staff turnover, dismal staff survey and ...Given the staff turnover, dismal staff survey and now what is likely complete lack of trust I do not see how this principal can effectively lead the school. <br /><br />Seems to me they made the best decision for the principal, not the students.<br /><br />Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22489605661064805792014-11-07T07:43:02.754-08:002014-11-07T07:43:02.754-08:00The Center School is often misunderstood. Some stu...The Center School is often misunderstood. Some students find it more demanding than they expected, thinking it is only focused on the arts. Our son was in the first graduating class when it had an excellent principal, Judy Peterson, followed by Brian Vance (now the principal at Roosevelt).<br /><br />It appears the school is now led by a principal who is not supported. I hope this wonderful school gets the leadership it deserves.<br /><br />S parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53841833874485445192014-11-07T07:40:57.825-08:002014-11-07T07:40:57.825-08:00Kids do transfer in later grades. I know of sever...Kids do transfer in later grades. I know of several who transferred there after being kicked out of their private school (SAAS) after being caught with pot. One stayed there and graduated from there and one transferred to a new private school, where they got kicked out again for pot. <br /><br />A lot of the private high school kids see the Center School and NOVA as places to go if you get kicked out of your current school unfortunately. I don't think the rigorous nature of the curriculum is communicated very well to the public at large.<br /><br />HPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50983384976717050582014-11-07T06:42:42.732-08:002014-11-07T06:42:42.732-08:00The drop in class size at the Center School is par...The drop in class size at the Center School is partly because the school does not allow students to transfer in, so all of the movement is one-way: out.<br /><br />Here are recent reported enrollment numbers for The Center School:<br /><br />2009: 290<br />2010: 299<br />2011: 278<br />2012: 285<br /><br />Here's a link to <a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/siso/studclimate/2013/climatesurvey_2013_024.pdf" rel="nofollow">the Center School climate survey</a>. Note the changes in the staff survey results.<br /><br />There's a 22 percentage point drop in those who agree that "The principal treats all faculty members fairly"<br /><br />and a 25 percentage point drop in the number who agree that "I receive the support I need to address student behavior and discipline problems"Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-38139098650790119752014-11-07T06:30:36.333-08:002014-11-07T06:30:36.333-08:00My daughter graduated from Center in 2013 and many...My daughter graduated from Center in 2013 and many students drop in their sophomore & junior years because of the rigorous curriculum and the additional graduation requirements. Several of my daughter's friends could not handle the requirements and transferred to other less demanding schools. Classes are college prep and very challenging. It was the best school my daughter attended. All that being said, Britsova is a terrible principal and I am disappointed she is returning. I was considering sending my younger daughter there next year but doubt I will now that I know she is returning. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-4931160092859643662014-11-06T23:01:09.951-08:002014-11-06T23:01:09.951-08:00Those figures for TCS are by assigned grade (rathe...Those figures for TCS are by assigned grade (rather than cohort grade). The average senior class by cohort over the last four years was 55. Those classes averaged 84 students in their freshman year. <br /><br />Garfield and TCS are entirely different schools. If you wanted to compare them though - for the same four years, the senior classes averaged 441 and the corresponding freshman classes averaged 446.<br /><br />Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43107788732002228542014-11-06T22:49:32.370-08:002014-11-06T22:49:32.370-08:00My student graduated from Center in 2012. I know ...My student graduated from Center in 2012. I know that some of the attrition happens at the beginning of the junior year with kids who want to attend Running Start classes -- Center's block schedule makes it very difficult to coordinate time off-campus for community college classes.sandi kurtznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70299558068317162902014-11-06T22:41:29.487-08:002014-11-06T22:41:29.487-08:00The average size of The Center School's senior...The average size of The Center School's senior class for the last four years was 52. Average size of those classes in their freshman year was 98. <br /><br />I don't know anything about TCS. (Maybe a large number of their students graduate early or do early admission at the UW?) I just think that's something to include in a discussion of how well the school is doing.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40739578891011456022014-11-06T21:41:49.081-08:002014-11-06T21:41:49.081-08:00Correct me if I'm wrong...
Under 300 is what T...Correct me if I'm wrong...<br />Under 300 is what The Center School's enrollment has been since its founding. The Center School was founded as a specialized "Arts centered" academically rigorous, college preparatory, small high school. Test scores are only higher at Garfield. Garfield is/was the high school for all the APP students with an all city draw for high achieving students. <br />The waiting list to get into Center school grows every year. Jillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40984685988430776332014-11-06T17:35:48.341-08:002014-11-06T17:35:48.341-08:00Enrollment at Center School is down to 276.Enrollment at Center School is down to 276.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.com