| Author |
Message |
    
Joan Auer
Citizen
Username: Joan
Post Number: 28
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 9:28 am: |     |
I am considering transferring my son to Seth Boyden next year (if they have any openings) and would love to hear from any parents who have children there. What are the benefits of Seth Boyden's program? What are its problems? I have read comments in the attic but would appreciate hearing some more recent opinions. Thanks. |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 65
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 12:35 pm: | |
My daughter is a first grader there and she loves it. We chose to put her in SB because she is shy and very hesitant to speak up. The school she was zoned for seemed very rigid, and I thought she would do better is a more relaxed environment. She is doing very well, she reads chapter books, writes book reports and seems to be getting a well rounded education. Mostly, she is happy and confident.
I don't know what the drawbacks are, other than transportation. Some people are concerned about the test scores, but I think that is largely a function of the school's zoned population, rather than a lack of instruction. Classes are small (she has 15 in her class) and all of the kids in her class seem like they are enthusiastic learners. |
gretchen
Citizen
Username: Gretchen
Post Number: 95
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 2:08 pm: | |
My daughter is in Kindgergarten at SB and we love it. I think it's a personal decision, however. What environment best suits your child and your family? If you haven't visited yet that should be your first step. We've found SB to be a warm, welcoming, creative place with a great energy. Best of luck making your decision. |
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 269
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 3:10 pm: | |
Our first two children went to Tuscan, as did our third, until we transferred him to SB for 4th and 5th grades. I think his wonderful teachers there have a way of looking at the children and letting them shine in their own ways that really enhances the kids' education and self-esteem. Our son had already been an excellent student, and the SB experience let him relax a bit and explore as he might not have at Tuscan (which is a fine school, BTW). I will say, though, that it semed to me that they went on fewer field trips than did the Tuscan kids (perhaps for SES reasons?). Personally, I don't think all field trips are as education-enhancing as they're made out to be, so it didn't really bother me. |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1650
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 3:13 pm: | |
We are very happy with Seth Boyden although we have NOT experienced the small classes that Campbell29 describes. In fact, in first grade last year my daughter had 26 in her class. Our daughter has flourished academically and emotionally at SB. There are plenty of opportunities for creativity, physical exercise and expression, etc.
The main problem we experienced was a teacher (no longer in the district) who did not manage a large, challenging group of children well and resorted to a lot of yelling. I rode out my panic about the situation last year at this time and am now glad I did. This year's teacher is an all-around gem, with a terrific disciplinary style.
The school atmosphere is great, with lots of emphasis on student achievement (check out the walls throughout the school), working cooperatively, and taking pride in the school. The "specials" (art, phys ed & music) are well-integrated into the rest of the curriculum. Parents are most welcome as both participants and observers. The new principal, Mr. Veninger, seems like a great fit even as kids still miss Mr. Harrison who moved on to the middle school. The outdoor space - "Strawberry Fields" - continues to develop as both a learning and recreation site thanks to the hard work of a core group of parents. We were districted for Marshall and have been happy with our decision, altho I imagine Marshall would have been a good fit as well.
Try to fit a longish visit during the school day into your schedule before you finalize your decision. Try to talk to parents in the grade your child will be entering. Best wishes in your decision-making.
Cathy |
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 270
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 3:15 pm: | |
Sorry, but I have to add: I don't know anything about how the lower grades function at SB. What I want to add is this: it seemed to me that the teachers had higher expectations of the older students than did teachers at Tuscan. For example, my son's 5th grade class put on an abbreviated version of Romeo & Juliet. By abbreviated, I mean a performance lasting about one hour, with actual lines from Shakespeare, not some doctored, baby-fied lines. And the kids did it themselves. There wer no adults backstage during the performace, and the teacher sat out in front, talking to them through a headset. The kids did it all themselves, and did it so well! And all of the kids took part, not just a select few. They were so proud of themselves.
This is just an example of what I see as the SB way of raising the level of what kids can do, raising kids' own expectations of temselves, and, in the end, really enhancing their education. |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 482
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 5:01 pm: | |
Just wanted to point out that Tuscan now has close to 600 students - I don't know if this is the largest enrollment in the District's elementary schools, but trying to ensure the best possible school experience for that many children (and remember there are 4 self-contained Special Ed. classes at the school as well) is a difficult task.
Up until 2 years ago, the school had a Principal and an Assistant Principal. The position of Assistant Principal was cut during the last round of budget cuts. The position was replaced by an "Assistant to the Principal", which was a teacher who spent half the time teaching and half of the time handling discipline, administrative issues and support. This position is scheduled to be abolished this year, leaving only the Principal to handle all discipline issues, all teacher observations, all budget matters......
The middle school , with not that many more students, has a principal, two assistant principals and a Guidance Department. How much more can be cut from the non-Seth Boyden elementary schools without negative impact on the students?
This isn't meant to be a knock at the Seth Boyden program, but I am questioning the District's allocation of scare resources among the schools that make up the entire District. |
jfburch
Citizen
Username: Jfburch
Post Number: 1301
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 5:19 pm: | |
Just a note--in the budget proposal the assistants to the principals are not just being abolished, they are being replaced with the Elementary Instructional Resource Teachers who will cover some of the same responsibilities with more time for admin support and there will be an increase in the FTE count so principals should get some more in-building support. |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 483
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 6:33 pm: | |
I'll believe it when I see it. |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 968
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 8:20 am: | |
We have also been pretty happy with our experience at SB. Our older child moved from Tuscan in 4th grade and our younger one started Kindergarten at SB the same year. The younger one is now in 3rd grade. Both of those particular years have large populations (at least at SB), so we have not experienced particularly small class sizes. This year a third grade teacher was added mid-year to bring the number of sections to five in order to deal with that issue. So my daughter's class, which formerly had 24 students, now has 20.
Parent involvement is particularly high and always welcomed and encouraged by the teachers and administration. Not that this isn't the case at some of the other schools also, but it isn't universal.
We have experienced very good teachers throughout both of our children's years at both schools (with only one or two exceptions that were "OK", not bad), so my impression is that the quality of teachers throughout the district is pretty darn good.
Ditto the suggestions to visit the school and see for yourself first-hand. |
Joan Auer
Citizen
Username: Joan
Post Number: 29
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 1:11 pm: | |
Thanks for everyone's comments.
Last week, having heard so much about Strawberry Fields, I stopped by Seth Boyden with my kids to take a look at the grounds. They had a blast playing on the stage, telling stories on the throne chair, which I assume is an outside story area, playing the drums and xylophone, and just running around. Seth Boyden's schoolyard is really magical and shows that there really must be a lot of dedicated and involved parents at the school. I can't wait to see what is going on in the building. |
Joan Auer
Citizen
Username: Joan
Post Number: 30
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 1:16 pm: | |
Sorry, a few more questions. How are the resources in the schoolyard integrated into the school's program? How is the garden used? Do the kids do plays or performances on the outside stage? Is the area with the throne a storytelling area and how is it used? |
Barbara
Citizen
Username: Blh
Post Number: 217
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 3:25 pm: | |
Joan,
The story-telling area is last year's 5th grade legacy project. SB school got a grant from the NJSCA for an artist-in-residence to work with students (with a focus on the 5th graders) to build the story telling area. That was the "graduating class" gift to the school. The prior year's class built the music garden, with the project funded through local fund-raising.
Classes meet in the story telling area during the nice weather. The music classes sometimes use the music garden, though its more used by children during free time. The outdoor theatre and stage (funded in part by the Maplewood Rotary) is used for outdoor assemblies, classes and for special productions.
Did you see the teaching gardens -- they're on the same side as the story telling area, just closer to the school. Each class had a garden bed that they plant and care for -- members of the Hilton NA tend them during the summer. My daughter's class planted a fall harvest garden -- the children were invited back in the fall to "break bread" and have soup and salad with the current class to enjoy the fruit of the work.
I love the moon garden -- all plants that bloom at night, the pizza garden and the kindergarten's Wizard of Oz garden (though they may be changing their theme.)
The phys ed classes use the climbing wall and the exercise station, again obtained through private grants. (See the creativity in putting the climbing wall on the back of the stage wall!)
Our experience at SB is the same as SAC's. In fact, our children are the same age so my oldest too completed 4th and 5th at SB, after beginning at Tuscan, while my youngest has been there K-3 so far.
We've been blessed to have some exceptional teachers and wonderful experiences. Is everything perfect -- no -- but my kid's wouldn't say that! My oldest considers himself a SB Alum and is very proud of his school. |
Jacqueline Jones-Peace
Citizen
Username: Jjp
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 7:17 pm: | |
I am also considering Seth Boyden v. Tuscan. I havent been to SB yet but went to see Tuscan. From what I have seen and heard (which granted is not that much) Cody's earlier post sounds like a dead on: SB is a rising star in the town, at the expense of (??) Tuscan and Clinton. Is this really the case, certain parents seem to be pulling kids from these schools like rats from a sinking ship. Ultimately I will have to see for myself but my son seems to do better in a "traditional" academic setting so I was leaning toward Tuscan. But I have heard that many of Tuscan's good teachers have moved to SB, that Tuscan's scores are down, about the large number of special ed classes (do they have a gifted/talented progam by the way) etc. etc. What's a parent to do?! |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 955
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 8:22 pm: | |
Tuscan has been great for my two daughters. I have LOVED every one of their teachers (four teachers and three aides so far). |
mommydee
Citizen
Username: Mommydee
Post Number: 80
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 8:48 pm: | |
My two daughters also are thriving at Tuscan and love it. One is in second grade and one is in Kindergarten. I have been happy with their teachers and overall the whole experience. As for larger classes. My Kin. has 21 and my 2nd grader has 23. |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 453
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 9:54 pm: | |
A major strength of Tuscan is the amount of parent involvement. There are enough parents to provide chaperones for field trips, organize the annual fair, assist with the art show, write and direct the school play, etc. etc.
There are still many excellent teachers at Tuscan, despite the machinations of the District, which tends to favor its bloated central administration over the needs of the elementary schools. |
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