| Author |
Message |
    
stephen clayton
Citizen
Username: Lucky13
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 1:25 am: | 
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Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Maplewood, (247 Parker, near Irvington), was not easily on our radar for Pre-K/K/1st Grade for our two children, ages 3 and 5. Speaking bluntly, we're neither Catholic nor Black. We were seeking a full-day school with a structured academic environment. Particularly, our 5-year-old was already reading and writing proficiently. We toured I. H. M. and were stunned by what we saw- children remarkably well-behaved, engaged in formal classroom learning all the way down to the pre-K classes. The principal of the school tested our oldest child and accepted him into the 1st grade. To my further surprise, all of the 1st-graders could read and write Day 1, attesting to the fact they had matriculated from the school's own Kindergarten. The teachers at I. H. M. are all certified, many with Master's degrees. From pre-K on, all children are formally assessed; we receive detailed progress reports on our 3-year-old, for instance, including how high he can count, his ability to write, and a wide range of social and behavioral skills and traits. With all of this, the tuition is remarkable, around $4,000/year per child. My wife and I had been a bit frustrated trying to find quality structured academic daycare for our children, and we're ecsatic to have found this school. |
Taylor M
Citizen
Username: Anotherusername
Post Number: 319
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 9:32 am: |
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What does being black or not have to do with IHM? |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1863
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 9:41 am: |
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Stephen, when our daughter was 3 and 4 we had the same kind of assessments from Kindercare in Newark. It's a well-tested tool that is used for assessing children of that age. It is essentially a check-off list that teachers complete for each student. Our child attended kindergarten at Seth Boyden and attended the excellent Kindergarten afterschool program run by the rec dept. She continues to be an excellent and well-behaved student (now a 3rd grader.) When discipline problems arose with classmates in a past class, appropriate and effective interventions were taken by the school principal and social worker. I'm glad your family is having a good experience with Immaculate Heart but I'd like to point out that the same results can be had in-district.
Cathy
P.S. we are not Catholic or African-American, either. |
Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7711
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 9:45 am: |
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Isn't IHM scheduled to be closed by the Arch Diocese? |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1864
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 10:50 am: |
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Taylor M: I haven't been inside IHM school (except the gym, to vote) but I'd guess the racial configuration is probably more than 50% African-American. Many urban parents, seeking an alternative to schools which may be overcrowded and/or have discipline problems, enroll their kids in the local parochial/catholic school in hopes of a better environment. IHM borders both Newark and Irvington and is likely to draw from concerned, involved families from both of those communities as well as Maplewood families. Newark and Irvington are both predominantly African-American communities at this point, I believe.
Cathy |
Chris Prenovost
Citizen
Username: Chris_prenovost
Post Number: 357
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 11:59 am: |
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A school actually obtaining measurable results, engaged in 'formal classroom learning'?
Enjoy that while you can. Once in the public schools, it's quite a different story. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 280
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 2:14 pm: |
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Cheap shot, Chris. There's a lot of good education going on in SOMA schools, though some missed opportunities too. |
lumpyhead
Citizen
Username: Lumpyhead
Post Number: 1143
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 2:17 pm: |
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Yes, provided your child is in a high level class in Columbia. Otherwise it is an expensive babysitting joke. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 282
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 2:37 pm: |
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Actually, lumpy, our experiences with Marshall, Jefferson and SOMS also ranged from acceptable (in a few cases) to super. Teachers were uniformly available and responsive, and administrators could generally be pushed along too. Not saying it's been perfect (could do with less boredom and crowd-control time in some cases), but I guess I'm out of patience today with sweeping dismissive statements about SOMA schools. To me, it's disrespectful of a lot of staff who bring their heart and talent to work every day for the kids, and it doesn't advance the discussion about how to improve where improvement is needed.
cheers -
MC |
lumpyhead
Citizen
Username: Lumpyhead
Post Number: 1145
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 2:48 pm: |
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I said Columbia HS. |
Lucky13
Citizen
Username: Lucky13
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 3:18 pm: |
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Bobkat, as far as i know, it is not. we have decided to enroll for next year, and they would not be taking applications were that the case, at least i would not think so.
Cathy, Thank you for the information- my wife and I both work and we require a full-day program, and the District does not offer one without our having to be involved midday. So you'll know, my parents both worked in public schools and they are very important to me- our situation revolved around an insurmountable bureaucratic issue concerning our oldest son's age- we will bring him into Jefferson when he hits 3rd grade (by law, the District must accept him as a transfer student at his grade level, not his age level.) I simply wanted to praise this school- they have by quirk or by stroke the most marvelous set of teachers- if one goes by, you'll see every child in every classroom sitting attentively and participating in formal instruction- my 3-year-old has homework! It is really wonderful. I'm guessing they could use a few more students (the classes are small) and I'm guessing the money would help them, so I wanted to let people know that, if their situation might call for it and if they are open-minded to the extreme diversity issue (we're very happy about that part of it, in terms of our children's development) then please stop by and see the school. The school is small enough that your children get personalized care as well- they can accept them in the gym early in the morning, they will feed them breakfast if they need it (they keep an account for you), and they have after-care as well. I always know my child is being taken care of personally, whatever my schedule.
Taylor, the school is perhaps 90%+ African-American. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 283
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 3:46 pm: |
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Looks like I misconstrued your sentence, lumpy, sorry.
As for CHS, I'm a booster of the school for the same reasons cited before, plus the breadth of curriculum (still) available. You're right, I don't have direct experience of all levels, but I have gone through it with a kid who was struggling in some areas, and I know a lot of reasonably satisfied parents with kids in various levels and various areas of interest.
I have nothing but respect for parents (and other citizens) who have had negative experiences with CHS and know where improvement is needed; it's the global statements that wear me down.
happy snow day -
MC |
lumpyhead
Citizen
Username: Lumpyhead
Post Number: 1146
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 4:04 pm: |
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Sorry mjc. Columbia High School has it's scholars and is still a good school for the most part. A lot depends on the parents and how hard they want to fight for their child especially if they are struggling and in a low level where not a lot of learning goes on. I am just having a bad day hearing about all the suing going on in the district. We just don't need this. Parents bothering to sue but not bothering to teach their children how to act and to respect others. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 284
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 4:15 pm: |
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Bingo, lump. |
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