Charter School
I started looking into schools for Shayna during the Fall and more detailed research after the new year. Since discovering that financial aid for the 2 good private schools in our area only cover part of tuition, I started looking into charter schools.
Last week I visited the School Lane Charter School in Bensalem, and went back again after school on Wed. Jan. 25th with Shayna.
I found out from Joanne Dwyer, Student Services, that while the 3rd grade is currently full, there is a child leaving at the end of this month. There are 9 children on the waiting list but NONE from Bensalem. Since Bensalem residents get put to the top of the list, this means that if we decide we would like Shayna to switch to this school and apply ASAP=she would get in. If we wait to try for a Fall 2006 start (4th grade) there is no garantee she would get in, because there would have to be an opening.
So I have been faced with this very important decision over the last week and the last few days. I also found out just today that if she switches, she will not be able to stay in the SIP-gifted and talented program- but she would if she was switching to private or parochial.
From what I have seen- this school is much better academically. They do so much more, including Spanish as a weekly special. They do projects, daily writing, humanities and science (much more then her awful school), have a co-teacher for language arts and math, will give her harder math and work with her in math (very similar to how it was last year at her private school where mrs. Buckley taught Shayna long division), after school clubs including educationally enriching ones like sign language and chess, teaching them to write (none of that in current school) and have a writing portfolio, oral presentations in front of class, basically just more. No classrooms in rows. They have video monitors and you can watch your childs class at any time to see what they are doing. Classroom size right now is 25 kids per class but next year they plan on lowering the sizes.They teach the kids about various cultures and cultural diversity. After much thought my gut tells me that this is right. and we can always switch back if it doesn't work out...so we can't lose.
IF we switch her and like the school and she winds up staying and not switching back for 6th grade when gifted/talented becomes 100% curriculum...then Skyler can go there for kindergarten because siblings get 1st priority.
Also, everyone I met and spoke with at the school was extremely friendly, open and accomodating...opposite of her current school where the secretary is extremely rude, cold and unpleasant and the Principal is a domineering control hungry nasty woman and difficult to deal with from day one.
I also found out while talking with Ms. Dwyer last week that some private and parochial high schools have FULL academic scholarships. I had NO idea this existed! So this is definately something I will pursue for Shayna and look into for her when she is in 6th grade.
The school day is one hour longer and school year ten days longer, and Shayna will have to ride the school bus.
School Lane Charter school's web site:
www.schoollane.org
Last week I visited the School Lane Charter School in Bensalem, and went back again after school on Wed. Jan. 25th with Shayna.
I found out from Joanne Dwyer, Student Services, that while the 3rd grade is currently full, there is a child leaving at the end of this month. There are 9 children on the waiting list but NONE from Bensalem. Since Bensalem residents get put to the top of the list, this means that if we decide we would like Shayna to switch to this school and apply ASAP=she would get in. If we wait to try for a Fall 2006 start (4th grade) there is no garantee she would get in, because there would have to be an opening.
So I have been faced with this very important decision over the last week and the last few days. I also found out just today that if she switches, she will not be able to stay in the SIP-gifted and talented program- but she would if she was switching to private or parochial.
From what I have seen- this school is much better academically. They do so much more, including Spanish as a weekly special. They do projects, daily writing, humanities and science (much more then her awful school), have a co-teacher for language arts and math, will give her harder math and work with her in math (very similar to how it was last year at her private school where mrs. Buckley taught Shayna long division), after school clubs including educationally enriching ones like sign language and chess, teaching them to write (none of that in current school) and have a writing portfolio, oral presentations in front of class, basically just more. No classrooms in rows. They have video monitors and you can watch your childs class at any time to see what they are doing. Classroom size right now is 25 kids per class but next year they plan on lowering the sizes.They teach the kids about various cultures and cultural diversity. After much thought my gut tells me that this is right. and we can always switch back if it doesn't work out...so we can't lose.
IF we switch her and like the school and she winds up staying and not switching back for 6th grade when gifted/talented becomes 100% curriculum...then Skyler can go there for kindergarten because siblings get 1st priority.
Also, everyone I met and spoke with at the school was extremely friendly, open and accomodating...opposite of her current school where the secretary is extremely rude, cold and unpleasant and the Principal is a domineering control hungry nasty woman and difficult to deal with from day one.
I also found out while talking with Ms. Dwyer last week that some private and parochial high schools have FULL academic scholarships. I had NO idea this existed! So this is definately something I will pursue for Shayna and look into for her when she is in 6th grade.
The school day is one hour longer and school year ten days longer, and Shayna will have to ride the school bus.
School Lane Charter school's web site:
www.schoollane.org
posted by shoshanamom @ 3:25 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home