We're in the midst of the (somewhat disorganized) Anchorage school district optional programs lottery for our entering Kindergartener.
Looking for advice for those who may have confronted these same choices and have children in the programs.
So far we've won spots at Denali Montessori and Polaris K-12... and we're waiting to hear from Chugach and Susitna Optional and the Winterberry Waldorf-like school.
We think the multi-age classroom settings, freedom of movement and more-or-less self-directed nature of these schools will be a good fit for our child. (Chugach Optional stands out in this regard.) We also highly value the values of the Waldorf preschool community we've been part of the past few years... emphasis on individual growth, emphasis on nature and outdoor learning, and very strong emphasis on family involvement with the school. We also value for our child the de-emphasis on violent, scary, mass-marketing-to-kids media and consumer culture and all the baggage that goes along with it.
We understand that our possible transition from our current setting to the public optional programs may necessarily introduce more media influence to our child's life. We also understand that any of the non-Waldorf options may be more "traditionally academic" (for want of a better phrase) to a point... but most of these programs utilize portfolio-based evaluation and differ quite significantly from traditional classroom setting.
Any advice on your experiences with these programs? How "crunchy" (oh how I hate that word) are they?
The culture at Polaris K-12 in particular is difficult for us to read. Seems like it might be crunchy... but... hard to say.
Hi,
my eldest dd goes to Polaris. I would not define it as 'crunchy'... 'progressive' may be a better descriptor. I don't think a crunchy parent would feel out of place, but imo most of the other parents are not too far out of the 'mainstream'. She's in 2nd grade now. I've been very happy with both her teachers so far K/1 and now in 2/3. I like the emphasis on developing independent learners in a collaborative environment. Everyone is on a first name basis. I feel there is alot of respect for the children who attend. Some of my friends, who did not choose Polaris, did not like that it is a k-12. I think for my daughter, this is a benefit, and learning how to interact with people of all ages is important, not just your own little clique. I also like that the older students get the opportunity to be 'teachers' to the younger, and cross age relationships are developed- the teens at the school are really cool, creative, respectful people.
did you have any more specific questions?
I am surprised you both got into polaris. I was under the assumption that it was mostly "legacy" kids at this point. By that I mean that they have preferance to allow siblings to attend school together, so siblings get priority..
OP, check out the "ongoing Alaskan mama thread".. there are several mommas there with kids in different programs, you might get more feedback that way.. there are a couple of mommas that have kids in the German school..
Thanks everyone. We're gathering opinions from friends and acquaintances about their own choices as well and it's helped quite a bit. Still, for a 5-year-old, it's always going to be a bit of a shot in the dark as to what school will fit best. We also appreciate how blessed we were with this lottery result and wish everyone entering future lotteries the best of luck. In the word of the Chugach Optional principal (at which only 12 slots are open this year), "Don't worry! Your child will do fine wherever they go!"
I'm not sure how "crunchy" Rilke Schule is but I really like that school. I have a K and a 2nd grader going there. My other kids are older (7th and 9th)
It is brand new, just into it's 2nd year, so they are still working out the kinks but things are progressing along nicely.
My kids are doing very well. We have homeschooled in the past and intigrating from home-school to regular school has been pretty smooth.
Kindergarden is full day and their school hours conincide with middle schools around here. 8:15 to 2:45
There is a LOT of parent involvment and it is so cool how all of the staff knows the kids by name and most of them know the partents by name as well. Even if they dont know "your" name, they recognize which kids belong to which parents! that is nice.
of course learning german is a HUGE plus for me. It is amazing how quickly the kids pick that up. Of course they dont call it an Immersion school for nothing!
The initial lottery for this school is over though. But if there are any slots left, they hold another one in early August.
We got in to Polaris too, but I wasn't as impressed with it as I was with Denali Montessori and Aquarian. Rilke is my husband's top choice for our daughter, and she did get in there - I just am afraid that it won't be the right place for her and then I'll lose out on getting another spot for her later on down the road since I know there's not as many spots for the upper grades as there are for kindergarten - unless I'm mistaken...anyone who's got kids at any of these schools to provide some input?
Originally Posted by lellenn
We got in to Polaris too, but I wasn't as impressed with it as I was with Denali Montessori and Aquarian. Rilke is my husband's top choice for our daughter, and she did get in there - I just am afraid that it won't be the right place for her and then I'll lose out on getting another spot for her later on down the road since I know there's not as many spots for the upper grades as there are for kindergarten - unless I'm mistaken...anyone who's got kids at any of these schools to provide some input?
Does this mean your name was picked for Polaris or you "got in" to the lottery system.. If you got picked for Polaris I would take it.
Rilke Schule was certainly attractive, the environment felt orderly and respectful, parents enthusiastic, and the German is an incredible plus. For us coming from a Waldorf background, the practice kindergarten and our later visit of school in session, was of a style and pace we were not accustomed to. Bad? Not at all. Instead our deciding factor on Rilke Schule was that we felt the optional programs we also won - multiyear classrooms, heavy emphasis on independently directed study to help cultivate a self-starter kind of kid - were more aligned to what we want. But who knows? Our child is only now entering Kindergarten! We will only know for sure once our child is in the school we choose.
For anyone still overthinking their school choices, we found the meeting minutes and teachers' class newsletters posted on school websites helpful - especially Winterberry, where they detailed things such as what 's working, what needs to be improved, how to improve it, how many families had withdrawn and why. For outsiders, this showed us an extraordinarily thoughtful group making a go of their school.
Originally Posted by lellenn
We got in to Polaris too, but I wasn't as impressed with it as I was with Denali Montessori and Aquarian. Rilke is my husband's top choice for our daughter, and she did get in there - I just am afraid that it won't be the right place for her and then I'll lose out on getting another spot for her later on down the road since I know there's not as many spots for the upper grades as there are for kindergarten - unless I'm mistaken...anyone who's got kids at any of these schools to provide some input?
I know that at Rilke Schule, there are quite a few spots in the upper grades. K, 1st, and 2nd were all full this year and had a wait list. Not sure how full it will be next year.
Anyone know how waitlisting goes with the Charter Schools? I put my kindergartner to be in a few lottieries-the best he got was number 18 waitlist for Winterberry. When does it all get figured out? We are moving up to either Anchorage or Palmer this summer, it would be nice to know if there is a chance of getting into Winterberry or not...
if the schools have already drawn names for next year then the wait list kids will have to wait for another in that same grade to drop out or move.
It does happen. 18 kids though?? Might not make it in this year.
I wonder if you will be farther up the list come next year though? I would think all wait list kids should get first dibs next year.
Originally Posted by Ak Mom
Anyone know how waitlisting goes with the Charter Schools? I put my kindergartner to be in a few lottieries-the best he got was number 18 waitlist for Winterberry. When does it all get figured out? We are moving up to either Anchorage or Palmer this summer, it would be nice to know if there is a chance of getting into Winterberry or not...
I'm SURE he'll get in. Remember, most K parents do all the lotteries & get accepted into a couple.
At the very worst, be prepared to jump ship after the 1st of the year.
Originally Posted by Ak Mom
Anyone know how waitlisting goes with the Charter Schools? I put my kindergartner to be in a few lottieries-the best he got was number 18 waitlist for Winterberry. When does it all get figured out? We are moving up to either Anchorage or Palmer this summer, it would be nice to know if there is a chance of getting into Winterberry or not...
There is a Waldorf charter scheduled to open in the valley this coming school year. They are hoping to work with Winterberry.
Originally Posted by Ak Mom
I did know about the waldorf charter starting in Palmer-but is it a sure thing? When is a lottery going to be held for it, do you know?
By getting in to Polaris, they drew her name. We have already declined them for Rilke Schule (it's closer and for the sake of marital harmony I'm going to go with my husband) and ALSO 2 of my daughter's little friends are going to go to Rilke as well, so she's VERY excited about having friends in Kindergarten with her. That certainly is worth something. We are #10 on the list at Denali Montessori, I don't know what at Winterberry (but she didn't like it anyway) and I think #61 at Aquarian. Denali is the only one I could see her still getting into and if so I think that would throw me for a loop but so far I'm okay with our pick of Rilke Schule - in spite of other shortcomings (lack of a playground) I do like the language immersion so I know she will only have benefits from learning a 2nd language early on like a lot of other countries do.
Originally Posted by lellenn
Denali is the only one I could see her still getting into and if so I think that would throw me for a loop but so far I'm okay with our pick of Rilke Schule - in spite of other shortcomings (lack of a playground) I do like the language immersion so I know she will only have benefits from learning a 2nd language early on like a lot of other countries do.
Someone mentioned to me yesterday that there is new legislation regarding charter schools that now any NEW charter schools will have to have playgrounds before they opened (or something like that?) and basically it was because of the issues Rilke had with this.. perhaps also the Native school in Muldoon (I haven't been to that one, but I drove by and it sure looks industrial..)
Anyone know anything about this?
Originally Posted by Pinoikoi
Someone mentioned to me yesterday that there is new legislation regarding charter schools that now any NEW charter schools will have to have playgrounds before they opened (or something like that?) and basically it was because of the issues Rilke had with this.. perhaps also the Native school in Muldoon (I haven't been to that one, but I drove by and it sure looks industrial..)
Anyone know anything about this?
That's good! I think playgrounds are important, especially for young kids.
Rilke had to raise the funds for their's themselves. They had to get volunteers for nearly everything. Do you think in the future, the state will help out with grants to install playgrounds?
Originally Posted by roadfamily6now
That's good! I think playgrounds are important, especially for young kids.
Rilke had to raise the funds for their's themselves. They had to get volunteers for nearly everything. Do you think in the future, the state will help out with grants to install playgrounds?
I like the idea behind "charter" schools, but when schools accepted the label of "charter" school rather than "public" school they are essentially opting out of some of the responsibilities AND advantages that "public" schools get.
I realize that charter schools get public funding, but they are a different branch from regular public schools, so it just works differently.. I actually think that charter schools should be under the umbrella of a direct public school (sort of school within a school) type thing, so they can get the advantages (like paid playgrounds) without all that other stuff..
But the change in rules should force school planners of charter schools to budget playgrounds into their start up plans.. so I don't know maybe it will force more start up money to be put on the table in the first place?
Maybe all this "need" for volunteers and funds really helps to motivate the parents to help out. I have never seen this much family participation in a school before. It really is great.
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