Home › Forums › West Seattle Schools › Honest Denny feedback needed
- This topic has 9 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 1 month ago by wshomegrown.
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February 8, 2016 at 8:07 pm #833177
StringCheeseParticipantI would love to hear the honest thoughts and experiences of current Denny parents about your educational experiences thus far.
How are your child’s teachers?
Has your child developed healthy friendships?
What is your child’s outlook on school?
Does anyone have experience with the Spectrum and advanced learning courses?I went to the open house last week and we really liked most of what we saw. We will also be doing a day-time tour. What I’m missing is that great parent-to-parent dialogue about the good, the bad, and the WTF.
I’m not looking for a discussion about recent unfortunate incidents outside of school. It is the culture and vibe inside that I am interested in.
Thank you in advance!
February 9, 2016 at 6:32 am #833199
berthaParticipantMy kid is attended Denny 6-8, started high school this year. Honors teachers were great, gen ed not so much. My kid never used the bathroom at anytime because of fear. Kids smoking pot, hanging out, bullying. Bullying in the halls, disrespectful language. Many teachers did not like Clark and his discipline philosophy (or lack thereof). Many are afraid to speak out about the issues but the District Admin love him so he remains. I and a group of other parents met with him about our concerns and were dismissed and he basically called our children liars. My child has experienced kids walking into classrooms and refusing to leave and the teachers ignoring the situation, kids being threatened and physically bullied. Two years a teacher was assaulted but it was reported to the district as misbehavior, that teacher has left the school. If I could redo my kid’s middle school years I would not choose Denny.
February 11, 2016 at 3:04 pm #833540
esheymcParticipantWould love to hear some other thoughts about Denny?? My child will be there in only a couple of years.
February 11, 2016 at 3:07 pm #833541
steveParticipantI’m sorry you had that experience at Denny. We did not have problems like you experienced. One kid is still there and the other is in HS now. I asked my kids directly and they didn’t experience or see the bullying that you described, nor have problems with using the bathroom. They said that there are some mean kids there, but I think that could be said of any school. They liked their teachers for the most part and they had/have both honors and gen ed classes. Both really liked their math and science teachers. They also both made a smart, nice, large group of friends and both my kids came into Denny with knowing few if any other kids as we attended school elsewhere for elementary. They both participate in sports and that definitely helped with making friends. I don’t regret at all that my kids are/were at Denny.
February 12, 2016 at 9:02 am #833656
esheymcParticipantThank you for the feedback Steve. I also talked to another parent last night who has 2 kids at Denny currently and had nothing but positive things to say. Middle school is a hard age for everyone, kids and parents alike, so I fully understand that issues arise but I was assured the staff and administrators at Denny are receptive and prompt about handling issues as they come up. And the kids are happy and receiving a good education. So, I thought I would share what I had heard.
February 12, 2016 at 5:06 pm #833718
spsstudent2018ParticipantAs a former Denny student and current sophomore, I wish I hadn’t gone to Denny. I took regular classes(you could choose electives, but you couldn’t choose your core classes), however, my close friends who went to Denny with me took honors classes and they were considerably better than regular classes. When I was in sixth grade(not sure if this is how classes are still set up) math and science were in a block and LA and reading were in a block. Clark pushed math more than science and as a result I had a two hour math class(we did two labs over the entire year in science). In Washington State History in eighth grade, I became the unofficial TA. I sat at my usual desk grading papers instead of focusing on the lesson. Regarding friendships, there were cliques. If you are going to Denny from a small school, good luck(I spent the entirety of seventh grade at the corner table of the cafteria reading alone). After nearly every assembly(which took place in Sealth) a fight would break out and teachers would rush to restrain people. I was present during two separate incidents when an angry student threw a chair and a desk in the direction of the teacher. I remember all of the mirrors in the girls’ bathrooms being removed after people smashed/graffitied them. The administrators don’t provide much help when it comes to bullying and Clark ignores any reports of it–he only wants to hear the good and refses to face reality. I agree with what bertha said about kids coming into classes and refusing to leave.
February 13, 2016 at 10:41 pm #833879
manolitaParticipantI am confused by the disparity of experiences at Denny. Are we talking about the same school? I currently have two students there (6th and 8th grade). Our experience has been nothing but positive. The general ed teachers are highly capable and responsive to parents. I wrote to one of the Language Arts teachers last week and he responded within 5 minutes with ideas to help my child get back on track with her reading. Also, I recently reached out to Mr Clark regarding my kids’ class schedule and he wrote a thorough response and followed up with me when he saw me at a school event to see how things were going.
I asked my youngest if she liked her school so far and she said yes, because teachers don’t let you fail.
Both my kids are in honor roll.February 15, 2016 at 9:35 pm #834080
AJPParticipantI have no comment on the subject but just wanted to say that spsstudent2018 has written an eloquent response and I am impressed with your reply!
February 23, 2016 at 10:27 am #834862
BonnieParticipantA little late to the posting here but our experiences have been nothing but positive at Denny. Both my kids have had excellent teachers and we have not seen any bullying issues. My kids have never seen anybody smoking. Yes, I’ve heard some swearing but I have heard that from kids at other schools too.
editing to add that I have had two children at Denny. My son is a freshman at Sealth now. My son is in special ed with an IEP and none of the other schools he was at (before Denny) pushed him and tried to get him on track with the other students. The teachers at Denny worked very hard for him and in my opinion Denny was wonderful. As for Mr. Clark my son never caused any problems so we didn’t have to deal with him much. My son was in general ed classes with no problems.
My daughter is now attending Denny and she is in the honors classes. The teachers keep in contact with me, I can text them and email them and they get right back to me. She says in her gen ed classes (Science is all combined and they do not combine math and science anymore) some kids do act up but my daughter can still keep on track. She hasn’t noticed big cliques and has had no problems meeting new friends.
Anyway, adding on to add my 2 cents.
- This reply was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by Bonnie.
February 26, 2016 at 10:56 am #835160
wshomegrownParticipantI had two children that attended Denny and had similar experiences as Bertha. The advanced classes are better than the general classes but by no means would I categorize it as an acceptable learning environment. We too met with Mr. Clark, the administration, teachers, etc. We even went on to meet with SPS about the lack of discipline and support Mr. Clark has shown for the past 8 years. We have seen too many teachers leave, as well as many of our families because of the environment at the school. I have been to the school on several occasions, and there are constantly kids wandering the halls, the language and behavior at times shocking. When I asked how students were supposed to learn in an environment of constant disruption, Mr. Clark stated he felt it important for other students (well-behaved ones) to show the disruptive students examples of good behavior?? It is not my student’s job to teach someone how to behave, my student is there to get an education! There were multiple fights, bullying, kids disrespecting teachers as well as Mr. Clark. When I went to pick my daughter up from soccer, he was walking a student out who was yelling profanities at him and threatening him. I asked my daughter later about the student and she said he is always like that. She said he was back in school the next day and went on to say none of the students have any respect for Mr. Clark. They think he is a joke. Our youngest will be in middle school next year and many of the parents at our elementary school are looking for alternatives to Denny, as we have. It is just not where I want my child. Again, this has been our experience. We have heard from parents, usually with kids in advanced classes that were okay with Denny. However, if I had to do it over again with my other two, I would and regret ever sending them there.
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