Registration

[shadesong]

Okay, I'm pleased.

Well, in case you didn't pick it up from my frustration, Elayna didn't get into the magnet school. Which she would have if it were merit-based... grr. But. Anyway. We talked about it yesterday, and she's cool with it.

So registration at her "old" school is today, 7 AM to 7 PM. We got there around 7:15 or so. At first we were a bit disgruntled because not all of the stations were set up yet; we were further disgruntled when they weren't able to tell us what teacher Elayna would have. They were able to tell us in previous years. Not this year. She was really hoping to find out today!

But that was almost it on the frustration level.

The new-as-of-last-year principal rocks. The old principal was, you should pardon my vulgarity, a lazy bitch. This one, the former vice-principal, is very proactive, and it shows.

The new after-school program involves chess club, piano lessons, dance, science, etc., with the kids in small groups that move every hour. And they're very accomodating. I'd forgotten to save $240 for the first month... I'd grown unaccustomed to kid-expenses over the summer! But they were fine with my just paying the registration fee and sending in a check on the first day of school (I get paid on Friday).

Another fantastic idea - they sold pre-packed school supplies! Whole Foods bags labeled with "grades 1-3" and "grades 4-5", with everything they needed. Only $17. If they charged any extra, it wasn't much, and hey, it goes to the school! But I'd be surprised if they overcharged at all. That's a lot of stuff! And the convenience - wow. Not having to push and shove to get to the pencil boxes at Target!

They had school-year calendars, flyers about the Montessori program, etc. After-school pickup registration was hella organized - all color-coded, even.

A new principal - one that actually feels like doing her job - makes a world of difference. I'll have to send a first-day gift for her as well as for the teacher.

The cool thing about this school is the everyone knows her. The Montessori liaison/Gifted Program teacher remembered the whole family. All of the teachers know her. Not just the ones she's had. The lawn maintenance guys know her; as we were walking out, a guy with an edger said, "Is that Elayna? Hey, how was summer?"

Y'know, everything happens for a reason. If she's here instead of at the magnet school, there's a reason. Maybe it's so she can help the kids on the lower comprehension levels. Maybe it's because my commitment to helping out around the school is needed here more than it is at the magnet school. Who knows? But I'm confident that she's going to have a good year. We will Make It So.

Comments

[terminalwriter.livejournal.com]

Gah. EJ turns 4 in January, that means I gotta start thinking about where she's going to school. We're moving a county over in the spring, to keep her our the god awful system where we live now. I know it's a good thing, that we have options. But the school system we're headed to definitely doesn't make it easy:

http://www.wcpss.net/school-directory/magnet/elementary.html

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

Wow - lots of options!

[terminalwriter.livejournal.com]

I know. I thought about the Montessori option, but they're running American Montessori rather than International Montessori, which I like a lot better.

Actually, I'll probably end up sending the girls to different schools, the more I look at them. Right now I'm leaning towards EJ going to creative arts and science, she seems to be my little artist. An amazing imagination in that one.

The little one, however, every day I see more and more a mini-female-me in her. She's independant, strong willed, and highly intelligent. I'm definitely leaning towards the leadership school with her. Hopefully it'll teach her to develop the focus and self-discipline I'm only now starting to develop in myself.

Although, even no decision wouldn't be a bad one. 'Cuz the local school is a gifted and talented school.

And year-round definitely has it's advantages as well.

~sigh~

At least I have some time...

[nurrynur.livejournal.com]

I can't offer you any advice about elementary ( or even middle) but when your chilluns are ready for high school I recommend both Broughton and Enloe. They have the AP classes and the International Baccalaureate programs.

I don't have anything really bad to say about WCPSS but I don't have anything good either...

[terminalwriter.livejournal.com]

~grins~ I have plenty of good things to say about Enloe. I'm an alumnus.

And yes, AP is wonderful. I started college with 18 credits. I just hope they still count when I go back to school in the next year.

[amokk]

Wei wu wei.

[conuly]

That's very good to hear. If the school is improving like that, maybe she's better there than in the magnet school anyway - she's always (?) been there, so it's not an adjustment.

[fiddledragon]

yeah, we're still waiting to hear who the girls' teachers are - which is a little annoying because last year we knew on the last day of the previous year, and were able to establish relationships with teachers early. But there's a lot of change there this year.

Sounds like things are turning around in the education department for you - yay for good principals (really hoping our new principal is good)

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

*nods* I would love to have met Elayna's new teacher!

[ellseth.livejournal.com]

Isn't it amazing what having a good creative principal does for a school... No matter how good and well trained your teaching staff is, the administrator sets the tone for how the school year will be in the long run.

I am so glad that my demon spawn is moving up a grade and changing schools this year to get away from the horrid one that was at his last school.

[runnerwolf.livejournal.com]

:) All things work out for the best. :)

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

What a great kid, to make such an impression on the whole staff! :-)

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

She's cute, energetic, excitable, and LOUD.

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

The principal sounds fantastic. A good principal makes a huge HUGE difference to the *teachers'* lives, too. When I was teaching (and student-teaching) I can't even begin to tell you what a difference it made. I had one who was just magic; she'd find money for things the kids needed in the most unlikely places and times. Principals can do a whole LOT with a school; the ones who think they're just figureheads are so, so wrong. Sometimes if you find a school where the teachers don't seem to be cutting it, sometimes it's partly for lack of support from their administrators.

[daonnan.livejournal.com]

my son did not make it into Kitteredge either...

just one of those things about our modern world, not enough spots for all the smart kids

its awful really

but we make do and his regular school is good ...just not great

[anamacha.livejournal.com]

So, something I've been wondering about: What's the difference between a "magnet" school such as what you were looking at, and a "regular" school? And what's the diff between a magnet school and a charter school, if you happen to know that?

Reason I ask is that I was looking for schools for my daughter, who is Getting To Be That Age. Her mom and I have both had rotten experiences at public schools -- "regular" schoo,s, if you will. So we're not keen at all on sending her there.

Good news is that I managed to find a charter school that seems to absolutely rock. Bad news is that due to state law, she won't be able to go until next year. Suck. Intellectually, she's more than able to handle it. It's just that stupid cut-off date -- based on age, not merit.

Oh,and how old is Elayna, again?

[conuly]

I don't know about where she is, but magnet schools are generally public schools with special programs of some sort, designed to attract students from all over the area. They have slightly different standards for admission than other public schools, and the education is generally better. Charter schools are schools run with public money by private organizations or corporations. They vary from very good to very bad, and everywhere in between. They often try unusual testing techniques, and they usually have smaller classes than public schools.

[anamacha.livejournal.com]

oh, k ... thanks for the explanation :)

So there are Art magnet schools and Sience magnets, and Drama magets, and so on? How are they funded, do you know?

[conuly]

1. Where I am, yes, especially for the high schools (New York has a LOT of specialized high schools!). There's even general "smart" magnet schools.
2. Same way as other public schools, I think. Maybe they get a little extra money for their extra programs, but they're public schools.

[anamacha.livejournal.com]

cool, thanks! 'preciate it

[ocean-song.livejournal.com]

That is so great! I'm sorry Elayna didn't make it into the magnet school, but this sounds very promising!

[dandelion-diva.livejournal.com]

She was the vice president? Oh, she must have been champing at the bit for *ages*...this must be a sort of heaven for her. :)

The school supply bags are such a *good* idea.

I'm glad she gets to go to the after school program, which sounds great and I wish her the best school year so far.

Gessi