tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539823730290811025.post5355711215104165147..comments2018-02-02T00:22:30.487-08:00Comments on Gallini Tales: DilemmaShellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914485369716434868noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539823730290811025.post-52352951208229662982009-02-25T12:47:00.000-08:002009-02-25T12:47:00.000-08:00That's a tough one. For us, we're just where we ar...That's a tough one. For us, we're just where we are until Billy's done with school. Then I know I'll be looking into our options wherever we are going. Emily will get up through 3rd grade here, but Jacob will have just a couple years of school and the rest won't matter yet. I figure we're very supportive and involved at home and I'm getting involved at school, but really that's all we can do at the moment. <BR/><BR/>I am no help, but does all this thinking mean you're staying where you are for a long time?Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614271785761000294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539823730290811025.post-14976776346609736262009-02-17T20:18:00.000-08:002009-02-17T20:18:00.000-08:00Good to know I'm not alone. Trust me, I've been t...Good to know I'm not alone. Trust me, I've been thinking about this for a few years and only held off truly looking because we didn't know where we would be. In fact, we didn't really know we'd be here until 2-3 weeks before kindergarten started. <BR/><BR/>A lot (LOT!!) of the people in ward here homeschool and are huge proponents of doing so---to the point it frustrates those like me that just don't see it as a viable option. (I actually had one person tell me that I'd be able to homeschool my son if I "had a better bond with him" -- rather insulting..) <BR/><BR/>I'm going to go check out the magnet school and talk to the charter school people a bit more. Part of me says I can always move him if things are working out, but I want him to have stability and not be switching around a lot.Shellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09914485369716434868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2539823730290811025.post-41495421804746868962009-02-17T14:44:00.000-08:002009-02-17T14:44:00.000-08:00I started looking at schools for kindergarten when...I started looking at schools for kindergarten when Zoë was 4!<BR/><BR/>I looked at parochial schools- there's a great Catholic school not too far from our house that all of our neighbors (pretty much) send their kids to. It's a great school, and they've done really well teaching their students. Then I learned what it would cost. GULP! That was WAAAY out of our budget. Then I found out more about the school, and talk about indoctrination- not to the least common denominator, but definitely to Catholicism (All those SAINTS!). They apparently also have mass daily, which wouldn't be so bad, but might take a bit of explaining to our 5-year-old, and she's rather blunt about her opinions; she once told our Catholic friends that they didn't go to the true church, OUR church is the only true church. Hmmmm.<BR/><BR/>The public school we're "zoned" for is one I KNEW I didn't want Zoë to go to- a very culturally un-diverse population i.e. all black and mostly poor. Worse, it has HORRIBLE test scores, poor student-teacher ratios, and poor performances. I just was worried that Zoë would be one to "fall through" the cracks because teachers were more worried about the other kids. <BR/><BR/>I also looked at putting her in private Kindergarten at her current preschool. It is an AMAZING program, and I signed her up- as a fall back. I would only be delaying the inevitable by putting her there.<BR/><BR/>My first choice required an admissions process- a form filled out by a current teacher, a parental evaluation, and an exam for the potential enrollee. It was a nerve-wracking couple of months until she was accepted. This school as the highest scores in the state of Indiana (I think 97% of the students "pass" the state test). It has a good student-teacher ratio, and they have "flex" groups where kids are divided according to their skill level so each group of kids gets the same help/instruction that is needed (more or less). It is a "magnet" school, and heavy on the sciences, but I don't mind that emphasis- they still have "art" and "music" and "Spanish" and they are reading and writing as well. <BR/><BR/>I'm sorry this is such a long post, but I really think it's hard NOT to worry about the school your kid attends these days. I'm sure that no matter where your kids attend, they are so stinkin' smart they'll excel in whatever they do (look at their over-achiever-type parents!) :) But worry on (I say that only because I know you will), and shoot for the "best". <BR/><BR/>Visit the schools, see what vibe you get from the visit. Ignore the principle, but pay attention to teachers/classrooms. Ask other parents of kids who attend the school(s) (the ward is GREAT for that!). And then, pray.<BR/><BR/>G'luck! I'm eager to see where your grown-up kid will go to school!Irish Creamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13410923860392523733noreply@blogger.com