West Seattle Blog...

WSB Forum » West Seattle Schools

(31 posts)

Problems at Gatewood (?)

Started 4 years ago by WSMommy
Latest reply from WSratsinacage

WSMommy
Member Profile

Hi WS parrents, I am interested in hearing more about the problems at Gatewood created after Fairmont closed. I had heard that the school is having issues and I would like to more about them. anyone?

Posted 4 years ago #
Bonnie
Member Profile

Don\'t know, I just ran into a friend at Target today whose daughter goes there and she told me she loved it.

Posted 4 years ago #
Ken
Member Profile

Fairmont merged with highpoint which was renamed West Seattle Elementary.

Why would fairmont closure have anything to do with Gatewood?

You might be dealing with the usual spring rumors if I had to guess. This is the time of year where teachers tell parents there kid is not doing well academically even though none of the report cards sent home during the previous year indicated that.

State your rumor and make your case. Don\'t try to troll using no bait.

Posted 4 years ago #
WSMommy
Member Profile

I\'m not trolling, I am concerned. I had heard that majority of the children with special needs and behavioral problems were sent to Gatewood and are causing havic at the school. I was told that the teachers and parents have been trying to get help from the district but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Posted 4 years ago #
herongrrrl
Member Profile

I think the Fairmont students were divided up more or less evenly around other WS schools. Didn\'t Fairmont parents have a choice about where their students went after the school closed, as they would in any other case as the district is set up now? I know class sizes at many local schools got bigger after Fairmont closed.

There are children with special needs and behavioral problems all throughout the school district. If they are truly causing havoc at any particular school, I would say that has a lot more to do with with school\'s management than the students themselves. My daughter\'s public school classroom had a very challenging new student in it at the beginning of this school year (in addition to several other high-needs students who have been in her cohort at that school since kindergarten), and I was impressed with how hard all the staff involved worked to make a very difficult situation work as well as was possible.

Posted 4 years ago #
Gina
Member Profile

At Easter I heard nieces talk about the difficulties at their children\'s elemtary schools, in Normandy Park and a Junction area parochial school. Haven\'t heard anything about Gatewood.

Posted 4 years ago #
WSB
Member Profile

If anyone has specifics feel free to e-mail us
editor@westseattleblog.com
and we would be happy to investigate, seek comments, etc. Haven\'t received anything re: Gatewood lately aside from the Project Earth Care promotion. Technically when the building was shut down, Fairmount Park merged with High Point Elementary which then was renamed West Seattle Elementary, but of course people can choose any public school they want as long as there\'s room and they\'re admitted.

Posted 4 years ago #
Crowe
Member Profile

My child goes to Gatewood. We love it! And haven\'t heard ANYTHING about any children special needs or not, causing any \"havoc\" where are you getting your info, and what are the specifics?

Posted 4 years ago #
Anonymous
Member Profile

This sounds a little like cinnalatte resurfacing.

Posted 4 years ago #
JanS
Member Profile

JT...my thoughts exactly...GMTA, huh....

Posted 4 years ago #
Bonnie
Member Profile

What is wrong with special needs children WSMommy? My son is special needs. Is that a problem for you? Maybe you need to go to private school if you think you are too good for SPECIAL NEEDS.

Posted 4 years ago #
WSB
Member Profile

Per Gatewood\'s annual report, there are 46 special education students, out of nearly 300 students (student population was surveyed last October):
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/siso/reports/anrep/elem/225.pdf
West Seattle Elementary, which as I mentioned above is the \"official\" merged site of Fairmount Park and High Point, has 40 special education students per its latest annual report:
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/siso/reports/anrep/elem/236.pdf

Seems like a fairly representative number. Checking some other local elementaries just out of curiosity - Roxhill, for one, has 38.
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/siso/reports/anrep/elem/267.pdf

Posted 4 years ago #
GenHillOne
Member Profile

I\'m with ya, Jan and JT; would even venture to say the second this week, but either way, it appears that the radar is on.

Posted 4 years ago #
Anonymous
Member Profile

I\'m hesitant to really comment on the latte suggestion (because I know what that\'s like when it\'s you and it\'s not true), but it does seem familiar.

Posted 4 years ago #
WSB
Member Profile

Guys, flag me if you think something or someone is fishy, but in this case I\'m not seeing what you\'re all hinting at, on the backend. Do honor the fact that new people might want to join in -- we created this area specifically for people to discuss school issues, concerns, etc., and recently re-promoted it on the home page with that language, and rumors can be issues too.

Posted 4 years ago #
karen
Member Profile

My child goes to Gatewood and I don\'t see this problem. Gatewood in an inclusive school, which means that all children are in the classroom - including the special needs kids - like mine. Maybe someone who doesn\'t like this model has spoken with you about it?
I am there often. I see the respect that all of the staff gives to the students. when a child needs extra help everyone there is willing to help. I\'ve seen kids hanging out in the office, with the principle, at the library, in the hall with a helper, whatever is needed. The classes are well run and seem productive. My 8 year old spent a large part of yesterday teaching me about minerals and their properties. I am VERY happy with the school.

Posted 4 years ago #
WSMommy
Member Profile

I am sorry, I don\'t know what the latte reference means. I am new to the Seattle and the forum and I thought this was a good place to find out about a school that my child is scheduled to attend in the fall.

More important than the latte reference.... Bonnie, I am sorry if you took offense to the special needs comment I made. The special needs children themselves aren\'t the problem, it\'s the district\'s lack of support for the team and staff that need to care for them. sorry if I hurt your feelings, I did not mean too. :(

Lowmanbeach, thank you for the numbers. I will go to those schoolâ€™s website to see if I can find the total numbers of students at those schools and compare the ratios and see if I can find out if the numbers at Gatewood greatly increased after Fairmont closed. I appreciate your help.

Posted 4 years ago #
GenHillOne
Member Profile

LOL - I thought the reference to Roxhill stat had meaning (of all the schools, that was the choice?)! So back on topic then, WSMommy, can you share the source of your concerns? Current parents or just word of mouth? Are you looking to choose a school for your child or just curious? If it is the former, maybe you could schedule a visit during the school day or attend a PTA meeting; ask questions and get information straight from the horses mouth. We\'re well beyond the usual registration period though; are you new to the area or are you looking for the following year?

Posted 4 years ago #
GenHillOne
Member Profile

Drat, our posts crossed. WSMommy, I\'d still say that spending some time at school will help with your questions and concerns.

Posted 4 years ago #
WSMommy
Member Profile

answers:
From a parent

Listed Gatewood as third on my list when I registered my child. Received the letter yesterday saying Gatewood was confirmed

Have visited the school, spoke to the principal, spoke to parents, did my research but it did not surface until 2 weeks ago when I ran into the parent again and he told me he was pulling his kid.

I am new to the state of Washington

Posted 4 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

WsMommy...

some parents still have the mistaken idea that special needs students should be segregated.. like they once were.

Many parents of special needs students feel the same way. they would love to see charter schools for their children since many of them are gifted and languish in regular classes...

For those parents.. the options are private schools. If that is an option for you... there are a couple here in West Seattle..

i have heard wonderful things from a mother who sends hers to the local lutheren school.

Asking about local schools instead of looking for specific negative information about one will probably get you more useful information.

If you are just looking for ammunition to get your kid into your first or second choice schools.. you probably aren\'t going to find it here.

the stats don\'t back it up.

Posted 4 years ago #
WSMommy
Member Profile

JoB - thanks, I am fully aware of the private options in West Seatle and beyond. I have done my homework and know about all of the wonderful things about the public and private schools. I needed to hear from parents that live it everyday.

Thank for your advice on how to pose a question and what information I need to consider .....I can handle it though

Posted 4 years ago #
Ken
Member Profile

The needs of WASL and NCLB in the Seattle area require that elementary teachers and administrators start classifying any students that differ from \"normal\" (compliant, docile, linear thinkers). Those who are different, get classified as \"special needs\" (which seems to include any who can be bent into the classifications of ADD, ADHD, Autistic, Aspergers, as well as active learners who are bored with the plodding pace of \"normal\") There is no longer anything resembling the accelerated classes of the 90\'s. By highschool age they will be pushed out of the system entirely lest scores on standardized test suffer and some administrators lose their position.

This will continue until \"learn how to learn\" replaces \"teach to the test\".

I am not holding my breath.

Elections have consequences and we have not seen the worst the last decade has created descend on us yet.

Posted 4 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

ken.. i agree completely.

Posted 4 years ago #
Parentof2
Member Profile

Have to comment on this. I am a parent at Gatewood. I love the staff, but see how they need additional support due to the influx of special needs children. Most of the issues are upstairs in the 4/5 teams. Yes the classes are small - only about 20 in each, but 4-5 of those kids/room are behavioral disorder children which can put a strain on the learning for other kids. A couple families have left due to bullying by these kids which had gotten physical. They were told \"their hands were tied\" when it comes to how to discipline these kids. Overall, it\'s a good school. The staff could use aides in the class to help keep BD kids focused so learning can still be done.

Posted 4 years ago #
Bonnie
Member Profile

It\'s true that their hands are tied when it comes to behavioral students. These students have a Behavioral IEP, which means they really can\'t do much re: discipline. It\'s frustrating. My son has a few in his class too. I don\'t understand why the learning disabled children are lumped in with the behavioral disorder children. My son does not go to Gatewood.

Posted 4 years ago #
sw
Member Profile

Another Gatewood parent here. \"Parentof2\" has it correct - when Fairmount Park closed, Gatewood received an influx of BD kids - more so than anyone anticipated. Word is that Roxhill received kids in the K-3 grade bands where it is easier to address - Gatewood received kids in the 4-5 grade band where kids are set in their ways and is more challenging.

The principal has continually asked the distict for support, but none has been forthcoming. The staff really did get blindsided with this as there were more BD kids assigned to the school than anticipated. A majority of them are 5th graders, so will move on from the school after this year. Come Fall, there should be a more realistic expectation set and hopefully additional support from the district based on projected need.

I have a child in the 4-5 grade band, and she has not reported much in the way of problems. Gatewood has always been an \"inclusion\" school - meaning that BD and special needs kids have been in mainstream classrooms. Historically, it has been manageable and even educational for all students. The influx of Fairmount kids simply tipped over the apple cart this year and there has only been so much that the school administration can do.

The families that have left the school have been a fairly vocal minority - perhaps justifiably so. Every kid and family has a different relationship with the staff and school in general. There are just as many families (like mine) that has had and continues to have nothing but positive experiences. If anyone has any concerns or reservations, please feel free to contact the principal, Rhonda Claytor. She will be more than happy to speak with you and give you the straight scoop - no sugar coating.

As usual, this is only one parent\'s opinion - your mileage may vary. In the end, we all are simply trying to do what\'s best for our kids.

Posted 4 years ago #
Elizabeth
Member Profile

I am a child psychologist and West Seattle parent. There are students with special education needs (e.g., behavior disorders, learning disabilities) at every school, public or private.

My professional experience with Gatewood is that they have a dedicated staff and principal. However, they follow an educational model that works great for many students and not so great for some. I have noticed that although they have small class sizes, Gatewood also does team teaching, during which classes are combined. So during those times you have 40 kids instead of 20; this makes managing challenging behavior as well as responding to student individual needs more difficult.

They do use an inclusion model for special ed. which means that regular ed. teachers deliver special education services to students throughout the the school day. If a school uses a more traditional model, however, this does not mean that most students are pulled into a special education class separate from other students as a matter of course. Often it means that a student is in a regular education class and pulled out for 45 minutes to go to a resource room a few times a week. Some children receive more services or spend all or most of the day in a special education classroom but this is not the norm.

I\'ve found that one of the best things you can do is ask the principal about whether their are specific policies or programs used to support student social emotional development or to deal with bullying, which happens at every school. If the principal cannot give you a detailed answer or just tells you something like, \"we don\'t have those problems here,\" or \"we have a zero tolerance policy\" (without details to back it up), that would be cause for concern because even if there is not a big problem now, the school needs to have a plan in place to keep it that way. Otherwise school culture can change very quickly.

Also, please keep in mind that students in special ed are disproportionately bullied and this includes the kids with behavior problems, even those who engage in bullying themselves.

I hope this helps and good luck with your search.

Posted 4 years ago #
WSratsinacage
Member Profile

When I first saw this subject, I thought it was about the problems Gatewood had with a former staff member. I'm not mud slinging. I have info from a primary source. Can anyone confirm?

Posted 3 years ago #
Parentof2
Member Profile

Thought this might have been a new thread. Read the last post and I'm curious as to which staff member they meant and how long ago? There was an issue a few years ago and that's when the new principal was hired.

Posted 3 years ago #
WSratsinacage
Member Profile

Yup that's what I meant .. I heard about some outrageous behavior that went on for too many years .. glad they have a new principal, not sure what took so long.

Posted 3 years ago #