Home › Forums › West Seattle Schools › Problems at Gatewood (?)
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March 29, 2008 at 9:20 pm #586644
WSMommyMemberHi 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?
March 29, 2008 at 9:40 pm #620463
BonnieParticipantDon’t know, I just ran into a friend at Target today whose daughter goes there and she told me she loved it.
March 29, 2008 at 11:05 pm #620464
KenParticipantFairmont 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.
March 29, 2008 at 11:12 pm #620465
WSMommyMemberI’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.
March 29, 2008 at 11:44 pm #620466
herongrrrlParticipantI 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.
March 30, 2008 at 12:12 am #620467
GinaParticipantAt 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.
March 30, 2008 at 12:46 am #620468
WSBKeymasterIf anyone has specifics feel free to e-mail us
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.
March 30, 2008 at 2:26 am #620469
CroweMemberMy 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?
March 30, 2008 at 2:49 am #620470
AnonymousInactiveThis sounds a little like cinnalatte resurfacing.
March 30, 2008 at 3:28 am #620471
JanSParticipantJT…my thoughts exactly…GMTA, huh….
March 30, 2008 at 5:16 am #620472
BonnieParticipantWhat 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.
March 30, 2008 at 5:46 am #620473
WSBKeymasterPer 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
March 30, 2008 at 6:07 am #620474
GenHillOneParticipantI’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.
March 30, 2008 at 6:12 am #620475
AnonymousInactiveI’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.
March 30, 2008 at 9:04 am #620476
WSBKeymasterGuys, 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.
March 30, 2008 at 2:47 pm #620477
karenParticipantMy 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.
March 30, 2008 at 2:48 pm #620478
WSMommyMemberI 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 school’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.
March 30, 2008 at 2:54 pm #620479
GenHillOneParticipantLOL – 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?
March 30, 2008 at 3:01 pm #620480
GenHillOneParticipantDrat, our posts crossed. WSMommy, I’d still say that spending some time at school will help with your questions and concerns.
March 30, 2008 at 3:02 pm #620481
WSMommyMemberanswers:
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
March 30, 2008 at 3:53 pm #620482
JoBParticipantWsMommy…
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.
March 30, 2008 at 4:20 pm #620483
WSMommyMemberJoB – 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
March 31, 2008 at 7:26 pm #620484
KenParticipantThe 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.
April 1, 2008 at 1:21 am #620485
JoBParticipantken.. i agree completely.
April 1, 2008 at 11:09 pm #620486
Parentof2ParticipantHave 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.
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