Home › Forums › West Seattle Schools › Are you transfering to STEM?
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February 21, 2012 at 10:22 pm #602248
SPSMOMMemberSince this blog is anonymous – I am curious to know if you’re:
A) 100% sending your child(ren) to STEM this fall
B) 100% NOT sending them to STEM
C) on the fence
I don’t work for the district, I am just a curious parent who’s (c) but leaning towards (a)
February 21, 2012 at 10:35 pm #748500
Ms. SparklesParticipantI currently have a 1st grader and a child entering Kindergarten in Sept; I am deffinately NOT sending either to STEM.
I’m sure the STEM program will be fine, but I like being able to walk my kids to school…and I can’t do that at the STEM school site
February 21, 2012 at 10:38 pm #748501
maplesyrupParticipantFor us a lot depends on whether the program will continue into middle school.
Not too thrilled about the building or the location though.
I’m not 100% in either camp until I get more info.
February 21, 2012 at 11:23 pm #748502
HPfamilyMemberI am on the fence, but strongly leaning toward the STEM option.
February 22, 2012 at 4:33 am #748503
BonnieParticipantOn the fence. I don’t have enough information.
February 22, 2012 at 4:41 am #748504
pattileaParticipantI am 100% send my son to STEM, we have to look at the long road. This new and where the money is going!! Plus the partners are awesome, so much potential!
February 22, 2012 at 8:39 am #748505
HMC RichParticipantC.
I think Pathfinder might fit my child better. Kudos to people who have already decided. I sincerely hope it works out well.
February 23, 2012 at 5:37 am #748506
kayoParticipantTough call for us. One the one hand, I love the idea of the STEM school and a school that is starting from the ground up. But, it is just an idea at this point so is a risk. On the other hand, boundaries are very likely to change for neighborhood schools and our younger child will likely be caught up in that (and if we aren’t happy with the stem school getting back into our neighborhood school may be impossible even if that hasn’t changed). I am also concerned about the potential gender imbalance at the school after hearing from the Aviation High students. This is a big concern for us. We may hang back and see what happens and wait to meet the principal and then decide. I really wish SPS would extend the open enrollment window for the school until the end of March.
February 23, 2012 at 6:04 pm #748507
WSBKeymasterFYI – the district has just announced the 2nd informational meeting for March 1.
February 23, 2012 at 7:11 pm #748508
StringCheeseParticipantAs I’ve said in many of the comment sections regarding this program, I think that it could be PHENOMENAL. However, I will not risk my child’s current placement at the “word” of the SPS. I pride myself of making informed decisions. Just waiting for the “information” part before the “decision”. If the facts support the dream, I would love to send my daughter to the STEM program. If my decision to wait means we lose a spot at the new program then at least I my daughter will stay at her current school. Honestly, we wouldn’t even be looking at STEM if her current school were able to meet her math needs (heavy sigh)…
February 24, 2012 at 6:00 pm #748509
lpsmithParticipantYup, we’re on board to switch. It’s an easier decision for us, since our daughter is losing her transportation next year anyway (she was on a 2-year grandfathered plan to attend her brother’s school, and that runs out), so our options were to switch schools or figure out alternative transportation. But even without that, the lure of potentially smaller class sizes and hyper-involved parents is a big draw.
February 24, 2012 at 7:08 pm #748510
SPSMOMMemberThe lure of a non-everyday math program is attracting me to it. I hear great things about Singapore Math, and the parents at the STEM meeting want it there. Which SPS *said* they would accommodate. With the amount of interest, I doubt we’ll have smaller classrooms in the lower grades. But, who knows!
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Curious, what math program do they use at Lafayette?
February 24, 2012 at 8:52 pm #748511
kayoParticipantWe go to Lafayette (kindergarten) and as far as I know the math curriculum is EDM and I have heard nothing about a plan to get a waiver.
February 29, 2012 at 12:28 am #748512
evergreenMemberMy son has wanted to be an engineer for three years thus far, loves to build/design things, and would learn best in a hands-on type environment. STEM seems like a good fit. However, since the Seattle curricular standards are uniform across schools, I am skeptical about the execution of a STEM program. Will there really be the long-term funds or time set aside to have a strong program? It seems more likely to me that an elementary school in our district would feel they meet the definition of “STEM” by putting an aquarium in the class (science), utilizing power-point or white boards (technology), creating some element of the day’s science or reading lesson with construction paper (engineering), and playing math games already used in EDM (math). How deep do you really think they will go? I know there may be community partnerships, but this is the Seattle district we are talking about…
February 29, 2012 at 1:11 am #748513
bsmommaParticipantI put in for the School Choice to have our child do the STEM program. I think with the way the world is moving as far as Technology, this is a great opportunity.
February 29, 2012 at 3:09 pm #748514
SPSMOMMemberWhat I find troubling is that so many parents, teachers & SPS staff are talking about this “Miracle BEX IV levy” in 2014… correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t this something that must be voted in by the public? at 50% or more to pass? I just feel like a lot of eggs are being put in one basket, and no one may buy that basket in two years, sending lots of eggs to break.
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I think if you send your kids to STEM, expect them to be at Boren longer than 2 yrs. It doesn’t add up to me.
March 9, 2012 at 4:31 am #748515
OliverMemberSPS Mom – the federal and private money is going to STEM programs. Because of that, the district will do everything to make it successful and attract those dollars. I have sent in our choice form to transfer my son there. It’s a tough call because we’re not unhappy with his current school, but I think he would be more engaged by STEM curriculum.
March 9, 2012 at 6:25 am #748516
evergreenMemberIf we were at Schmitz Park or Pathfinder, I wouldn’t apply. But since we are not, after a lot of thought & watching both videos we have also decided to go with it. We are hoping that the program will have more hands-on and project based learning. If it doesn’t prove to be a successful STEM model, then at the very worst it will be exactly like my son’s current experience in public school (since it’s the same curriculum).
I wonder how many people are applying? It could be competitive to get in even this first year, but if so, we are fine w/ his current placement.
March 9, 2012 at 6:42 am #748517
StringCheeseParticipantWe’ll be signing up our daughter tomorrow. I’d love to hear of more girls signing up! Are you out there girls? Either way, I think this will turn into something amazing.
March 9, 2012 at 3:28 pm #748518
BonnieParticipantReally thought about it but they didn’t give me enough time. I just wish I had more time to make the decision.
March 9, 2012 at 4:33 pm #748519
pattileaParticipantWe signed our 5 year old up. I am very excited, and look forward to many volunteer hour. Worse case senerio it won’t be worse than the other schools.
March 9, 2012 at 6:27 pm #748520
lpsmithParticipantBonnie, don’t forget you can request to be switched any time up through the end of September, if you need more time. You’re slightly less likely to get in, but the worst that can happen is that you stay at your current assignment.
March 9, 2012 at 6:34 pm #748521
HydrangeaMemberWe applied for our 5-year-old daughter to go there. So there will be at least two girls, StringCheese! :-)
March 10, 2012 at 12:38 am #748522
MercyMoiParticipantI requested a spot for my incoming-kindergartener. I’m actually nervous they’ll have to resort to lottery to place those of us interested…I think there are more supporters than are speaking up on WSB!
March 10, 2012 at 5:59 am #748523
StringCheeseParticipantI agree Mercy. Due to the power outage at the Stanford Center today, open enrollment has been extended until 12:30 on Monday. I’m less worried because we are headed into 2nd grade. Anyone heard who they chose for the design team?
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