Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLVerity Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Neen, Neen, Neen...you know you were implying
> that
> > those bright GT girls would only choose South
> > Lakes over their base school Oakton because
> they
> > were blindly following their friends. Only the
> > joke is on you because the girls choosing South
> > Lakes go to Carson.
>
> Then I can't imagine why they would choose South
> Lakes, en mass. I guess they aren't that bright.
> Perhaps they all want to be cheerleaders.

What an ignorant statement. You are particularly offensive tonight. I have to say that Schadenfreude is sweet, though.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2008 12:45AM by SLVerity.

>>>>I guess if you had actually participated, instead of plugging your ears and chanting moratorium, you might have had more sway.<<<

Expressing an opinion that a moratorium is the best way to go, considering what a mess this study was, is not a valid opinion? Stating that opinion doesn't count for 'participation'? What the majority wanted is not valid? Why not?

SLVerity Wrote:
>
> I'll bet you that if Langley or Oakton had a
> percentage of children on Free and Reduced Lunch
> equivalent to South Lakes, their SAT and SOL
> scores would be comparable. If you looked beyond
> the aggregate SL SAT/SOL scores at the scores of
> middle class students at South Lakes, you would
> find that they are equal to those of middle class
> students at Oakton and Langley. Just try it and
> you will see.


Where can one find SAT data broken down by FRL?

SL Verity Private Citizen = I can post anything I want on the SL PTSA website.

Right?

> > > those bright GT girls would only choose South
> > > Lakes over their base school Oakton because
> > they
> > > were blindly following their friends. Only
> the
> > > joke is on you because the girls choosing
> South
> > > Lakes go to Carson.
> >
> > Then I can't imagine why they would choose
> South
> > Lakes, en mass. I guess they aren't that
> bright.
> > Perhaps they all want to be cheerleaders.
>
> What an ignorant statement.

It is noted that you have never explained why a dozen girls in Fox Mill would randomly decide that they wanted to attend same high school out of boundary. I assume you can't think of any reason, or you would have given one. So my guess is as good as your lack of a guess.

Or, perhaps you, like me, knows he was lying. The story made NO sense. No group of 8th grade girls randomly decide to attend an out of boundary, low performing, IB high school. You know it, and I know it.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > SLVerity Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Neen, Neen, Neen...you know you were implying
> > that
> > > those bright GT girls would only choose South
> > > Lakes over their base school Oakton because
> > they
> > > were blindly following their friends. Only
> the
> > > joke is on you because the girls choosing
> South
> > > Lakes go to Carson.
> >
> > Then I can't imagine why they would choose
> South
> > Lakes, en mass. I guess they aren't that
> bright.
> > Perhaps they all want to be cheerleaders.
>
> What an ignorant statement. You are particularly
> offensive tonight. I have to say that
> Schadenfreude is sweet, though.

Huh? I have NO clue what that means.

I guess you can't think of any reason either why a dozen 8th grade girls would randomly decide to attend a low performing, out of boundary, IB school.

Thanks for playing anyway.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2008 12:52AM by Neen.

SLVerity Wrote:
-
>>I'll bet you that if Langley or Oakton had a percentage of children on Free and Reduced Lunch equivalent to South Lakes, their SAT and SOL scores would be comparable. If you looked beyond the aggregate SL SAT/SOL scores at the scores of middle class students at South Lakes, you would find that they are equal to those of middle class students at Oakton and Langley. Just try it and you will see.<<<

Can you give us the webpage where that has been done? Where the SAT scores are broken out by school and by FRL? (I don't think that many people here care as much about SOL.) Thanks.

BTW, Students at Langley and Oakton have an advantage because they aren't stuck with IB.

I did not say that, Padre did.

You profess to caring about children, but revert to insulting them when you are cornered. So sad.

I'm still waiting for an answer on your prior post about children. ;)

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SL Verity Private Citizen = I can post anything I
> want on the SL PTSA website.
>
> Right?

Hahahaha......good luck with that! They even kick off their own, if they dare to criticize anything about South Lakes. Just as Thomas More.

Neen, you can find the information if I did. It's not hard.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen, you can find the information if I did. It's
> not hard.

Is there some reason why you can't share it with us?

Because it doesn't exist? Because there is no high school break down of SAT scores by race or economics?

Just a guess.

Keep on guessing.

OK, what a fun game! We get to guess when you're making up crap and when you aren't. Since you won't tell us (several have asked) where to find the SAT breakdown by schools, race and economics, my guess isn't rocket science, but has a very simple answer.

You lied. Again.

Signups to speak at the school board meeting are now open. Sign up here:

http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/requestspeak.htm

22180 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The FCPS staff's recommended boundary change is
> now posted on the FCPS BoardDocs site, in the New
> Business section for the January 10 regular Board
> meeting. It looks like Option 5. The only
> surprise I spotted was in the grandfathering for
> Wolftrap ES. Everyone else is fully
> grandfathered, but the only kids from the Madison
> island who would get to return to Wolftrap in the
> fall are the ones currently in 5th grade.
>
> Rather than attempt to link to the enormous URL
> for the document, I just attached it.


What the duck? The SB already decided on this scenario even before public hearings can take place and a final decision to reach at the end of Feb? Like I said earlier, this whole process is extremely messed up and those who we are affected are screwed. What kind of SB and anybody those in cahoots with the SB sneak around and decide "ok Floris and Fox Mill and a couple more are to go..we are going to ignore the public so we are not doing anything wrong", why F/FM/M?? I read something in the newspaper that nothing is decided yet, but apparently somebody decided. I bet those who are not in scenario #5 are so relieved they are not affected. Nice that they think it is ok to be this selfish and put these F/FM/M folks on the bus. This is NOT right. Sorry.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OK, what a fun game! We get to guess when you're
> making up crap and when you aren't. Since you
> won't tell us (several have asked) where to find
> the SAT breakdown by schools, race and economics,
> my guess isn't rocket science, but has a very
> simple answer.
>
> You lied. Again.

Another mindless rant...again. Look on the FCPS website under school profiles, and then look at Test Results. Each HS has a breakdown along the lines you demand.
http://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108:5:1703029683731622::::P0_CURRENT_SCHOOL_ID:060


Simple.

WestfieldDad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> navy area parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Regarding housing prices .... check Stratton
> Woods
> > vs. Folkstone, or Polo Fields vs. Franklin Farm.
>
> > Similar housing, dissimilar pricing. We've
> been
> > looking to buy a SFH for a while now and
> anything
> > in South Lakes pyramid is at least $50K and in
> > some cases up to $100K less than its
> counterpart
> > in Oakton or Chantilly. At the very height of
> the
> > bubble, Stratton Woods was well under $600K for
> a
> > remodeled 4 bedroom house with a half-acre yard.
>
> > More like $500-550K. Good luck finding that
> > anywhere else back in 2005.
>
> On Polo Fields - You can't blame this on just
> South Lakes, it's also in Dogwood ES - 60+% FRL.

When I was looking at houses in the area 4 years ago, Dogwood area homes were noticeably lower than Hunters Woods homes, which were not significantly lower than surrounding areas, though. Overall, Reston homes were a little lower than Oakton (but certainly not 100K), but Oakton had bigger lot sizes, so I thought of them as fairly equivalent. So, it's not South Lakes that lowers values, it was specific to the Dogwood area.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2008 08:19AM by South Lakes Pyramid parent.

Year 2000 Open Westfield HS with capacity for 2500 students
Year 2002 Add 36 trailers school as student body is at over 2800
Year 2003 SB funds a $10,000,000 addition to Westfield (600 new seats)
Year 2003 SB funds $7,000,000 addition to Langley (250 new seats)
Year 2003 South Lakes is at 1400 +or- students
Year 2002 SB funds $60,000,000 renovation of South Lakes
Year 2006 SB decides a boundary study is in order (after Langley addition is underway)
July 2007 SB decides that 2000 is in fact a good number of students for a HS

Where is the accountability? How is the FCSB Staff still employed, with such a reckless use of Tax Payer money, always eroneous projections of enrollment etc.?

Has anyone put together an actual time line for how and when decisions were made on what schools to expand, and how that ties to the current redistricting study?

We I asked Denise James point blank about why Langley addition was funded when South Lakes was under capacity, she indicated that the SB was taking into consideration the fact that there was going to be a boundary study that would bring new students into SL, therefore Langley needed more space.

Does anyone have any documents that may indicate that this current boundary study was conceived back in 2003? Even if what Denise James is stating is true, then why build the addition onto Westfield?

I feel that the only way that this current study and forced shifting of students can be stopped, is if we can uncover enough facts to show that our elected school board members have been engaging in gross mismanagement of tax payer money, as well as showing that this current boundary study has been conducted as a way of covering up mismanagement of money, as well as the neglect that they have shown to SL.

truthbetold,

Okay, here's a modification to Option #7, work with me here:

1. Part of McNair (portion east of Centreville Rd.) to South Lakes HS - will reduce FRM and ESOL percentages even more, and will not overenroll SL.

2. Most of Floris ES (entire portion east of Centreville Rd.) to South Lakes HS.

3. Madison island to South Lakes HS.

4. Oak Hill ES to Westfield HS.

Herndon HS and Oakton HS remain unchanged, eliminating boundary change for schools without alleged enrollment issues. It also spares Navy a ridiculous commute to Oakton HS. This is more efficient than Option #5.

Public:
Note that I am opposed to redistricting, but am merely trying to come up with an efficient scenario that is compliant with the School Board's criteria. I am not trying to throw myself and other people under the bus.

I have an idea,

Since there is much discussion stating that disadvantaged and lower performing student will do much better when they are in a school with better performing students, why not take the lowest and most disadvantaged 10%-%15% of South Lakes students, and bus them to Langley? With 250 spaces opening up there, this would provide these most disadvantaged students the opportunity to be a part of the best performing student boby in the county. As far as transportation, the buses are already running from North Reston on their way to Langley anyway, so it shouild not add too much expensef

This would also help to balance the socio-economic balance that many feel is important in our public schools.

Floris Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have an idea,
>
> Since there is much discussion stating that
> disadvantaged and lower performing student will do
> much better when they are in a school with better
> performing students, why not take the lowest and
> most disadvantaged 10%-%15% of South Lakes
> students, and bus them to Langley? With 250 spaces
> opening up there, this would provide these most
> disadvantaged students the opportunity to be a
> part of the best performing student boby in the
> county. As far as transportation, the buses are
> already running from North Reston on their way to
> Langley anyway, so it shouild not add too much
> expensef
>
> This would also help to balance the socio-economic
> balance that many feel is important in our public
> schools.


That is a very nice idea, but would SL lament they would be "losing" more of their kids? The whole idea behind the SB is to fill up SL without even thinking of many many others affected by the redistricting.

Floris Parent Wrote:
> ESTIMATED TOTAL POPULATION BY AGE
> Age 0 to 4 6.88% 6.74%
> Age 5 to 9 6.82% 6.73%
> Age 10 to 14 6.08% 7 .10%
> Age 15 to 17 3.75% 4.32%
> Age 18 to 20 2.40% 4.37%
> Age 21 to 24 3.56% 5.53%
> Age 25 to 34 13.74% 13.47%
> Age 35 to 44 17.71% 14.86%
> Age 45 to 49 8.01% 7.51%
> Age 50 to 54 8.26% 6.73%
> Age 55 to 59 8.10% 5.66%
> Age 60 to 64 5.69% 4.44%
> Age 65 to 74 5.49% 6.45%
> Age 75 to 84 2.42% 4.41%
> Age 85 and over 1.09% 1.70%

Okay -- I was away and am way behind. I was trying not to comment on old posts that have already been addressed, but I haven't seen this mentioned. I've even seen posts that are taking the faulty analysis as fact.

The stats above don't show consistent age groups. The drop in percentage of population between the pre-teen/young teen and older teen group is not due to any group of high school age children leaving Reston.

The 10 - 14 group has five years worth of kids counted.

The 15 - 17 group only counts three years worth of kids. Of course three years worth of kids is a much smaller group than five years worth.

It might provide the buffer in the future that will probably be needed in the out years if the future Meto does bring in more families. I am not sure, but it is just a thought.

Baffled Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Floris Parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I have an idea,
> >
> > Since there is much discussion stating that
> > disadvantaged and lower performing student will
> do
> > much better when they are in a school with
> better
> > performing students, why not take the lowest
> and
> > most disadvantaged 10%-%15% of South Lakes
> > students, and bus them to Langley? With 250
> spaces
> > opening up there, this would provide these most
> > disadvantaged students the opportunity to be a
> > part of the best performing student boby in the
> > county. As far as transportation, the buses are
> > already running from North Reston on their way
> to
> > Langley anyway, so it shouild not add too much
> > expensef
> >
> > This would also help to balance the
> socio-economic
> > balance that many feel is important in our
> public
> > schools.
>
>
> That is a very nice idea, but would SL lament they
> would be "losing" more of their kids? The whole
> idea behind the SB is to fill up SL without even
> thinking of many many others affected by the
> redistricting.

Truth hurts...uhm? I don't even try to understand why you were so involved with the SB board to create this fiasco, since your children already left SL? Oh wait...I know....because your property values will go up! You have no business whatsoever to get involved, even as a private citizen.....you should be sued by all the disgrunted parents, shame on you......and thank you for sending me to bed. I rested to come back to the forum and read mostly your postings...I bet you have NO life, you are a busynobody.

Good luck to you....you should run for the board, I bet you will get most of the SL vote and perhaps replace Stu....oh wait, maybe YOU are Stu! This was entertainting while it lasted....WAR stars now from the rest...get prepared...as for me I am retiring to Alaska...and hybernate, good night and good luck (again)!

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Curious George, the Man With the Yellow Hat says
> eat your banana and go to bed.

All the whining can now stop. We SL parents got exactly what we wanted. Moratorium be damned! South Lakes will rise again!

How sweet it is!!!! See you passive-aggressive helicopter parents at the next PTSA meeting and/or orientation!!!!

bwaahaaahahahaha

www.tubgirl.com


All the latest SL news straight from a South Lakes students point of view

booya Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> All the whining can now stop. We SL parents got
> exactly what we wanted. Moratorium be damned!
> South Lakes will rise again!
>
> How sweet it is!!!! See you passive-aggressive
> helicopter parents at the next PTSA meeting and/or
> orientation!!!!
>
> bwaahaaahahahaha


Doesn't sound very welcoming to those who are affected by this redistricting, doesn't it? Please be nice.

Everyone,

We need to do our part in protecting those families who are about to get split between two high schools if this redistricting plan is approved. We should petition the School Board during the public hearings to allow liberal grandfathering so that siblings remain together, even for those younger ones who are not yet in 8th grade.

It's just unrealistic to expect split families to be able to provide the same level of logistical, financial or otherwise support for their children's school activities. We parents pride ourselves on being actively involved in our children's school environment; we should not tolerate having our roles and responsibilities reduced to a diluted level. Ultimately this reduces our children's experience in school.

Surely we can all agree on that point? No one loses with such an arrangement.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> You lied. Again.

In the words of the late, great Ronald Reagan, 'there you go again' accusing anyone who disagrees with you of lying. But I must be dreaming, because you said you never do that.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Curious George, the Man With the Yellow Hat says
> eat your banana and go to bed.


Why are you so proud of yourself ruining hundreds of families' life here? Are you happy because so many families will financially struggling to move their kids out of SL?

If your kids are in SL(I know you don't right now) and love SL, all of sudden SB forced them to move to DC because DC kids neeed equal opportunities, will you be happy to send your kids there? Do you ever think in other people's position?

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WestfieldDad Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > navy area parent Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Regarding housing prices .... check Stratton
> > Woods
> > > vs. Folkstone, or Polo Fields vs. Franklin
> Farm.
> >
> > > Similar housing, dissimilar pricing. We've
> > been
> > > looking to buy a SFH for a while now and
> > anything
> > > in South Lakes pyramid is at least $50K and
> in
> > > some cases up to $100K less than its
> > counterpart
> > > in Oakton or Chantilly. At the very height
> of
> > the
> > > bubble, Stratton Woods was well under $600K
> for
> > a
> > > remodeled 4 bedroom house with a half-acre
> yard.
> >
> > > More like $500-550K. Good luck finding that
> > > anywhere else back in 2005.


Stratton Woods area might be a little bit lower. The houses there were built in 70s and smaller compared to other neighborhood. I don't see much difference between Polo Fields and Franklin Farm between comparable houses.

If you compare houses with similar age/size/style you would find prices are not significantly differently. You shouldn't worry about property value drop at all. Reston's SFHs are just as pricey as its surrounding neighborhood's. With the rail coming and its location and most importantly an improved vibrant high school with your participation South Lake Pyramid houses can only go up!

upset parents Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLVerity Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Curious George, the Man With the Yellow Hat
> says
> > eat your banana and go to bed.
>
>
> Why are you so proud of yourself ruining hundreds
> of families' life here? Are you happy because so
> many families will financially struggling to move
> their kids out of SL?
>
> If your kids are in SL(I know you don't right now)
> and love SL, all of sudden SB forced them to move
> to DC because DC kids neeed equal opportunities,
> will you be happy to send your kids there? Do you
> ever think in other people's position?


Yes, I am not impressed with some of the SL supporters, parents or followers' attitudes rubbing into other families' faces affected by the redistricting. It is horrible how a community is saying me me me I want this I want this, NOT even thinking about how other affected families by the redistricting feel.

upset parents Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLVerity Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Curious George, the Man With the Yellow Hat
> says
> > eat your banana and go to bed.
>
>
> Why are you so proud of yourself ruining hundreds
> of families' life here? Are you happy because so
> many families will financially struggling to move
> their kids out of SL?
>
> If your kids are in SL(I know you don't right now)
> and love SL, all of sudden SB forced them to move
> to DC because DC kids neeed equal opportunities,
> will you be happy to send your kids there? Do you
> ever think in other people's position?


Sorry that you are upset, but I don't accept that rational people would seek to move, instead of sending their kids to SLHS, especially in the current market. I believe that such people have never been to the school.

This from a parent whose kids went to private schools before moving here and attending South Lakes. We heard all the bad rumors, and none turned out to be true.

This is irrational fear.

upset parents:

I did not initiate the boundary study, the School Board did. You should direct your frustration at them, not me. You chose to live in Fairfax County, which has one of the largest school systems in the Country. Redistricting happens all the time. My children attended South Lakes, did quite well, and earned positions at a very competitive university, so I think the concerns about South Lakes are overblown. Before you make any moves, I suggest you visit the school and find out for yourself, instead of relying on rumors posted here and circulating in your neighborhood. You might be pleasantly surprised.

This is a straw man created to blur the real issues:

- breaking up established communities and families
- continual churning of Floris area to fill gaps at other schools
- forcing students into the unwanted unpopular IB program

I don't have any more safety fears for my child at South Lakes than Westfield. I think the boundary study is a farce and that the only motivation is to fill up South Lakes. I am angry that my family is to be split and my child is to lose the opportunity to take Honors and AP courses so that someone else's kid can get an extra elective.

NoVa newcomer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Sorry that you are upset, but I don't accept that
> rational people would seek to move, instead of
> sending their kids to SLHS, especially in the
> current market. I believe that such people have
> never been to the school.
>
> This from a parent whose kids went to private
> schools before moving here and attending South
> Lakes. We heard all the bad rumors, and none
> turned out to be true.
>
> This is irrational fear.

Verity,

Can you tell me why the SL parents and community waited so long to try to improve the student body population at SL? Why was there no outcry from SL when Westfield and Langley were being expanded?

Baffled Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Yes, I am not impressed with some of the SL
> supporters, parents or followers' attitudes
> rubbing into other families' faces affected by the
> redistricting. It is horrible how a community is
> saying me me me I want this I want this, NOT even
> thinking about how other affected families by the
> redistricting feel.

Let's at least be honest: Do you care about the families of South Lakes whose children are not receiving equal return for their tax investment or are you only thinking about yourselves? No one here is rubbing anything in your faces. We have invited you many times to visit the school and we have also said we will warmly welcome all new families. We did not initiate this boundary study, but we are glad it happened because it was needed to correct inequities among the schools in the study.

Floris Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Verity,
>
> Can you tell me why the SL parents and community
> waited so long to try to improve the student body
> population at SL? Why was there no outcry from SL
> when Westfield and Langley were being expanded?

There was most definitely an outcry from me when Westfield was built. Floris should have been districted to South Lakes before that ever happened. Unfortunately, the School Board was too cowardly to consider it because the parents of Floris wanted nothing to do with us. It was a crime that so much money was spent to build such a large school when we were sitting here with plenty of room for your students.

I advise you to demand the addition of AP math and science classes at South Lakes, if you are being moved there. You may be surprised at how much influence you may have.

Again, my experience with South Lakes was very positive, and I am a demanding parent. You have nothing to fear.

Westfield Mom,

I will do everything I can to prevent your family, and others, from being split. I know at least what the logistical issues are going to be for you.

SLVerity Wrote:
---------------------------------
> We have invited you many times to visit the school and we
> have also said we will warmly welcome all new
> families.

All?

Verity,

This is a very unfair statement. I have asked the SB staff on a number of occaisions whether more or less money is spend at SL per student. They have repeatly stated that SL gets the same or more money and services as any other HS in the county. They did indicate that some electives may not be available due to lack of interest and or not enough children to justify the expense of them. They mentioned classes like advanced photography etc. I feel that those in the SL pyramid have done a huge disservice to themselves but not pushing for action way back in 2002, when the school was already in a decline. Why wait until millions of dollars on expansion of 2 schools were spent to bring up what appears to be a chronic issue at SL?

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Baffled Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > Yes, I am not impressed with some of the SL
> > supporters, parents or followers' attitudes
> > rubbing into other families' faces affected by
> the
> > redistricting. It is horrible how a community
> is
> > saying me me me I want this I want this, NOT
> even
> > thinking about how other affected families by
> the
> > redistricting feel.
>
> Let's at least be honest: Do you care about the
> families of South Lakes whose children are not
> receiving equal return for their tax investment or
> are you only thinking about yourselves? No one
> here is rubbing anything in your faces. We have
> invited you many times to visit the school and we
> have also said we will warmly welcome all new
> families. We did not initiate this boundary study,
> but we are glad it happened because it was needed
> to correct inequities among the schools in the
> study.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Baffled Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > Yes, I am not impressed with some of the SL
> > supporters, parents or followers' attitudes
> > rubbing into other families' faces affected by
> the
> > redistricting. It is horrible how a community
> is
> > saying me me me I want this I want this, NOT
> even
> > thinking about how other affected families by
> the
> > redistricting feel.
>
> Let's at least be honest: Do you care about the
> families of South Lakes whose children are not
> receiving equal return for their tax investment or
> are you only thinking about yourselves? No one
> here is rubbing anything in your faces. We have
> invited you many times to visit the school and we
> have also said we will warmly welcome all new
> families. We did not initiate this boundary study,
> but we are glad it happened because it was needed
> to correct inequities among the schools in the
> study.


Did you read Booya's post? That is what I was referring to. Go scroll up and read the post. I care about families having their sense of communities without disruptions such as the high school redistricting. We all moved to communities for whatever reasons we have, be it be the schools or the nature of the communities and such. I am a parent of a rising 9th grader and will do whatever is best for my kid.

> Floris should have been districted to South Lakes before that ever happened. Unfortunately, the School Board was too cowardly to consider it because the parents of Floris wanted nothing to do with us.

And they still don't.

Like most people, we bought our house based on schools. If we like SL, we would bought a house there at that time, it would save us a lot money. We paid high price just for the schools we choose.

SL might be a good school but just not the right one for us. We don't like the IB program, we don't like the commute and we don't like SLPTA.

NoVa newcomer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> upset parents Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > SLVerity Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Curious George, the Man With the Yellow Hat
> > says
> > > eat your banana and go to bed.
> >
> >
> > Why are you so proud of yourself ruining
> hundreds
> > of families' life here? Are you happy because
> so
> > many families will financially struggling to
> move
> > their kids out of SL?
> >
> > If your kids are in SL(I know you don't right
> now)
> > and love SL, all of sudden SB forced them to
> move
> > to DC because DC kids neeed equal
> opportunities,
> > will you be happy to send your kids there? Do
> you
> > ever think in other people's position?
>
>
> Sorry that you are upset, but I don't accept that
> rational people would seek to move, instead of
> sending their kids to SLHS, especially in the
> current market. I believe that such people have
> never been to the school.
>
> This from a parent whose kids went to private
> schools before moving here and attending South
> Lakes. We heard all the bad rumors, and none
> turned out to be true.
>
> This is irrational fear.

People,
Get over it. You were outsmarted at your own game. After all the nonsense spewed on this forum about SL, it will be hard to welcome anyone.

I don't care about the well being of your children anymore than you care about mine. Split up families? Who cares? You'll make it work.

Now STFU. Go hawks!

booya Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> People,
> Get over it. You were outsmarted at your own
> game. After all the nonsense spewed on this forum
> about SL, it will be hard to welcome anyone.
>
> I don't care about the well being of your children
> anymore than you care about mine. Split up
> families? Who cares? You'll make it work.
>
> Now STFU. Go hawks!



Subterfuge by an outsider.....probably the Birdloather.

Don't believe that that this is a SLHS poster. Read the post and make your own judgment.

To booya, I will make sure that my kid will not be friend with your kids if you have any. I don't feel like you have kids based on your words, You are kind of person I want to stay away from, more parents in SLHS like you, more family will try to stay away from SLHS. Hope not all SLHS parents like you.

=====================
booya Wrote:

People,

Get over it. You were outsmarted at your own game. After all the nonsense spewed on this forum about SL, it will be hard to welcome anyone.

I don't care about the well being of your children anymore than you care about mine. Split up families? Who cares? You'll make it work.

Now STFU. Go hawks!

Sorry, last post using wrong name, I am Floris parents.

Floris Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Verity,
>
> This is a very unfair statement. I have asked the
> SB staff on a number of occaisions whether more or
> less money is spend at SL per student. They have
> repeatly stated that SL gets the same or more
> money and services as any other HS in the county.
> They did indicate that some electives may not be
> available due to lack of interest and or not
> enough children to justify the expense of them.
> They mentioned classes like advanced photography
> etc. I feel that those in the SL pyramid have done
> a huge disservice to themselves but not pushing
> for action way back in 2002, when the school was
> already in a decline. Why wait until millions of
> dollars on expansion of 2 schools were spent to
> bring up what appears to be a chronic issue at
> SL?
>

The solution would have been the same as that being proposed now and you and others would not have liked it then. We were not given a voice then, so welcome to our world. Our prior principal contributed greatly to our decline, yet we were not listened to when we complained. This is the first time we have been given a voice in my memory. Examples of some of the classes not available: High Level Physics, High Level Chemistry mixed with regular chemistry and students working on their own because not enough students to sustain a full class. Do you consider those electives? I imagine not.

Booya = agitator. Booya is not representative of South Lakes parents and is probably not one either.

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> And they still don't.

Are you still hung over from too much Clos du Bois or on a dry drunk? Or was that VaDriver?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2008 10:59AM by SLVerity.

The current 8th graders from Fox Mill and Floris will bear the brunt of the backlash from SL parents and students like booya. The pent up animosity SL has for Oakton and Westfield will be unleashed on this class, as they have no support from anyone but themselves. I hope the SB is considering adding addtional police presence at the schools. It's no secret that these kids and parents don't want to be there. And that won't go over well with those at SL that are prone to use violence to intimidate them. This is going to get ugly. Pupil place, find a private school or move.

SLVerity - my guess is that you were not listened to when you (and others like you) complained because of the minority status of the principal and an associated dogged determination that because SLHS was pursuing progressive ideals the complainants were mere recalcitrants who didn't really "know" the right answers. No gets ignored better a group addressing ideologues. In fact, all of this is likely more than a guess, and given your own comments, I would be surprised if you are not in agreement with me.

So this is the dilemma - isn't it? There clearly is a new sheriff in town and things are heading in the right direction (or so it seems), but how do you get people NOW excited to participate what is seen by many as yet another failed progressive sandbox.

The answer would be to make a number of changes appurtenant to the redistricting to make the school fit the profile of other high performing schools (and yes, despite the IB program's merits, that means transitioning to AP classes), and really compete for the slug of 600 students that will putatively come (and that means compete, not merely welcome them in some warmed over progressive were are glad to have every student way). This of course means taking people out of their comfort zone, so it is hard to do. You are a reasonable person. At some level I am making sense, correct?

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The current 8th graders from Fox Mill and Floris
> will bear the brunt of the backlash from SL
> parents and students like booya. The pent up
> animosity SL has for Oakton and Westfield will be
> unleashed on this class, as they have no support
> from anyone but themselves. I hope the SB is
> considering adding addtional police presence at
> the schools. It's no secret that these kids and
> parents don't want to be there. And that won't go
> over well with those at SL that are prone to use
> violence to intimidate them. This is going to get
> ugly. Pupil place, find a private school or move.


Yes, whatever happened to one RESTON planned community instead of having North and South Reston being divided--so North Reston is immune to all this mess?...so Fox Mill and Floris will have to suffer the consequences of the redistricting--all this is ridiculous.

Word, are you really as nasty as you seem? By comparison, anyone associated with South Lakes looks like an angel. There will be no retribution there. You, on the other hand, seem intent on stirring the pot.

HA! I'm the only SL parent that has the cajones to say how we all really feel. All the other SL parents are trying to make nice. Forget that! You got what you deserve, and what we want.

Tell your darling children to sit down, shut up, and pay attention. They might actually learn something - which is better than the likes of you.

upset parents Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Like most people, we bought our house based on
> schools. If we like SL, we would bought a house
> there at that time, it would save us a lot money.
> We paid high price just for the schools we choose.
>
>
> SL might be a good school but just not the right
> one for us. We don't like the IB program, we don't
> like the commute and we don't like SLPTA.

There is hardly any evidence to suggest that a comparable house in SL worth less than others. Don't worry your property value will be fine. I suggest you visit SLHS and get a feel about the school. If you really don't want to send your kids there, there are always options like pupil placement, GT, and TJ. But we can't delay this change any longer. You have to look at the big picture from a county wise point of view. SLHS students have equal rights to access the same programs that other schools provide.

Berdhuis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLVerity Wrote:
> ---------------------------------
> > We have invited you many times to visit the
> school and we
> > have also said we will warmly welcome all new
> > families.
>
> All?


ha, ha, ha ...that is so funny, except of course certain families from certain schools! And especially not those that shop at Shoppers Food!

Booya: What sub-school is your kid(s) in? Who's the AP?

Quantum, of course you are, and I have agreed with you many times. I also would urge any parent with a child potentially heading to South Lakes to advocate for what they want, just as you urge current SL parents to advocate. They probably have more power than they know to effect change at the school, and waiting parents will welcome their contributions and efforts. We have worked very hard for this opportunity, and we will not be blowing it. There are a great deal of excellent parents involved in this effort, and they all feel passionately about the education of all students.

Baffled Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Yes, whatever happened to one RESTON planned
> community instead of having North and South Reston
> being divided--so North Reston is immune to all
> this mess?...so Fox Mill and Floris will have to
> suffer the consequences of the redistricting--all
> this is ridiculous.

Please don't listen to word. He is just trying to make trouble. Ask North Reston why our community is split. Guess what? The school board did that years ago, before North Reston was fully developed. We at South Lakes were very upset about it, but it is just another example of when our wishes were ignored.

Berdhuis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLVerity Wrote:
> ---------------------------------
> > We have invited you many times to visit the
> school and we
> > have also said we will warmly welcome all new
> > families.
>
> All?


Yes, all.

Just because I didn't think that adding another Title 1 school (which would have brought 100 more FRL students to SLHS the first year) was the best for those students (who are currently enrolled in a school where all FRL is only 11% of the student body) or fair for South Lakes, that doesn't mean I wouldn't have welcomed them if they were redistricted to SL.

Back when the original 4 options were out for comment, even though most (not all) at the South Lakes boundary meetings were against moving McNair away from Westfield (to either SLHS or HHS) there was agreement that IF McNair was moved to South Lakes, the students and families would, of course, be welcomed into the school.

Here is an example of the mean and vengeful student body that Word speaks of:

http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/Sports/Detail?contentId=5379762&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=6.1.1



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2008 11:15AM by SLVerity.

Baffled Wrote:
>
> Did you read Booya's post? That is what I was
> referring to. Go scroll up and read the post. I
> care about families having their sense of
> communities without disruptions such as the high
> school redistricting. We all moved to communities
> for whatever reasons we have, be it be the schools
> or the nature of the communities and such. I am a
> parent of a rising 9th grader and will do whatever
> is best for my kid.


Booya is a troll, please don't ascribe what trolls post to the people posting here in an effort to dialouge about the issue.

Living in a dynamic area with a county school system = redistricting.

I'm not saying everyone one will seek retribution, but there are some out there that will. Provding addtional police presence would be the prudent thing to do.

Glarson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ha, ha, ha ...that is so funny, except of course
> certain families from certain schools! And
> especially not those that shop at Shoppers Food!

You crack me up, Glarson.

You know, the really beautiful part of being in McNair is the fact that we pretty much have the whole world represented here. There are SO many immigrant families here who have a serious attitude towards academics; many had a good education and decent jobs from their home countries. Why did they leave? Some to be with family already here, war, greed, relative ease of acceptance into colleges here, professional vacancies here, many others.

I've enjoyed getting to know so many of them, and granted some don't speak English really well, but their attitude and culture are superior. I'll bet many of the children and adults have had exposure to IB from their home countries, too.

Here's another thought - many parents here send their children on the bus to Aldrin ES as the alternate to Title I McNair. These children are typically not the ones who are academically lagging and "socioeconomically challenged". But they are not accounted for on the radar being used right now to qualify McNair. Food for thought....

Baffled Wrote:
>
> Yes, whatever happened to one RESTON planned
> community instead of having North and South Reston
> being divided--so North Reston is immune to all
> this mess?...so Fox Mill and Floris will have to
> suffer the consequences of the redistricting--all
> this is ridiculous.


IF North Reston had been moved to South Lakes
THEN Floris and McNair would have split, with the eastern half of each moved to Herndon
AND Oak Hill would have moved to Westfield

This would have impacted hundreds of more students than the current scenario.

How is that better than what is currently proposed?

Are you implying that's the part of welcome the children will get? And because you claim it's a troll, we shall just pretend everything is rosy?

I've never said anything bad about SL, but now I start to get a creepy feeling and WORRIED.

Restonian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Baffled Wrote:
> >
> > Did you read Booya's post? That is what I was
> > referring to. Go scroll up and read the post.
> I
> > care about families having their sense of
> > communities without disruptions such as the
> high
> > school redistricting. We all moved to
> communities
> > for whatever reasons we have, be it be the
> schools
> > or the nature of the communities and such. I am
> a
> > parent of a rising 9th grader and will do
> whatever
> > is best for my kid.
>
>
> Booya is a troll, please don't ascribe what trolls
> post to the people posting here in an effort to
> dialouge about the issue.
>
> Living in a dynamic area with a county school
> system = redistricting.

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm not saying everyone one will seek retribution,
> but there are some out there that will. Provding
> addtional police presence would be the prudent
> thing to do.


Balderdash, with apologies to Quantum.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Floris Parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Verity,
> >
> > Can you tell me why the SL parents and
> community
> > waited so long to try to improve the student
> body
> > population at SL? Why was there no outcry from
> SL
> > when Westfield and Langley were being expanded?
>
> There was most definitely an outcry from me when
> Westfield was built. Floris should have been
> districted to South Lakes before that ever
> happened. Unfortunately, the School Board was too
> cowardly to consider it because the parents of
> Floris wanted nothing to do with us. It was a
> crime that so much money was spent to build such a
> large school when we were sitting here with plenty
> of room for your students.
>
> I advise you to demand the addition of AP math and
> science classes at South Lakes, if you are being
> moved there. You may be surprised at how much
> influence you may have.
>
> Again, my experience with South Lakes was very
> positive, and I am a demanding parent. You have
> nothing to fear.


If you are so demanding then how come no AP, yet??? You really expect that the new parents are going to fight the AP fight? Why would the new parent effort be a more favorable outcome in terms of AP? Honestly, you think any new parent wants to join the SL PTSA bandwagon to go fight worthless causes after deriving their perceptions of this PTSA and their back-door, deal-making behavior? Better yet, these same parents are to quickly sweep the muck of this process under the carpet so they can expend even more useless energy in another rigged process? There will be few skipping over with flowers and smiles to join hands with the exclusive Option 5 PTSA faction to fight much of anything.

Floris Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have an idea,
>
> Since there is much discussion stating that
> disadvantaged and lower performing student will do
> much better when they are in a school with better
> performing students, why not take the lowest and
> most disadvantaged 10%-%15% of South Lakes
> students, and bus them to Langley? With 250 spaces
> opening up there, this would provide these most
> disadvantaged students the opportunity to be a
> part of the best performing student boby in the
> county. As far as transportation, the buses are
> already running from North Reston on their way to
> Langley anyway, so it shouild not add too much
> expensef
>
> This would also help to balance the socio-economic
> balance that many feel is important in our public
> schools.


This is the perfect solution to the so-called socio-economic
balancing act known as redistricting (but we all know that redistricting
is just CYA for the SB and its extravagant expenditures courtesy of the taxpayers).

This scenario will never happen (it should and ASAP) but North Reston has $$$$$$!

SLVerity wrote:

"Let's at least be honest: Do you care about the families of South Lakes whose children are not receiving equal return for their tax investment or are you only thinking about yourselves?"

__________________________________________


The old, don't be selfish line. Usually that's combined with the racist accusation. According to South Lake parents, people who don't want their kids going to this school, are selfish and racist.

SLVerity, since you are so kind and unselfish, why don't you open your home to some to those poor underprivileged kids from the projects. Your house is bigger than you really need. Don't you care about poor kids or are you only thinking about yourself? Or, are you a racist? Surely, you could take in a black kid from the projects and help turn his life around.

Now, don't tell me how you volunteer at a soup kitchen or whatever. I've decided if you don't take in a kid from the projects then you are selfish and racist because the way I define selfish and racist is the correct way.

Floris Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are you implying that's the part of welcome the
> children will get? And because you claim it's a
> troll, we shall just pretend everything is rosy?
>
> I've never said anything bad about SL, but now I
> start to get a creepy feeling and WORRIED.
>
I'm saying that Booya is somebody pretending to be a SL parent to upset you. Someone who is here to play games. Please don't let them win.

What did you think I meant by, "troll"?

At South Lakes, things are rosy. We're just underpopulated, and because of that can not offer as many classes as other Ffx County schools.

It is a safe place, please go and visit for yourself. If you don't have any high schoolers, why not plan visits to some of the other high schools to so you have something to compare?

Restonian,
Please don't put words in my mouth, and I won't put any in yours. I'm speaking for the majority of the SL parents who have had enough of this slanderous and malicious verbage posted about our school.

Its fine with me if the redistricted folks don't want to come to SL. I could really care less. My children have everything they need. To have these outsiders come in will only disrupt what I percieve to be a great school.

Not seeking retribution, but vengeance.

Berdhuis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Glarson Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ha, ha, ha ...that is so funny, except of
> course
> > certain families from certain schools! And
> > especially not those that shop at Shoppers
> Food!
>
> You crack me up, Glarson.
>
> You know, the really beautiful part of being in
> McNair is the fact that we pretty much have the
> whole world represented here. There are SO many
> immigrant families here who have a serious
> attitude towards academics; many had a good
> education and decent jobs from their home
> countries. Why did they leave? Some to be with
> family already here, war, greed, relative ease of
> acceptance into colleges here, professional
> vacancies here, many others.
>
> I've enjoyed getting to know so many of them, and
> granted some don't speak English really well, but
> their attitude and culture are superior. I'll bet
> many of the children and adults have had exposure
> to IB from their home countries, too.
>
> Here's another thought - many parents here send
> their children on the bus to Aldrin ES as the
> alternate to Title I McNair. These children are
> typically not the ones who are academically
> lagging and "socioeconomically challenged". But
> they are not accounted for on the radar being used
> right now to qualify McNair. Food for thought....

Hey Berhuis,

I do shop at Shopper's as well as all the other Clock Tower offerings. So I am not poking fun at that, for sure. I laugh at the irony of your comment. I couldn't think of a better fit for the IB- South Lakes community than many from the McNair community. It is too bad that the South Lakes PTSA has such narrow periscopes and couldn't see beyond the nicley-trimmed yards of the few Floris neighborhoods they hand-picked instead.

booya Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Restonian,
> Please don't put words in my mouth, and I won't
> put any in yours. I'm speaking for the majority
> of the SL parents who have had enough of this
> slanderous and malicious verbage posted about our
> school.
>
> Its fine with me if the redistricted folks don't
> want to come to SL. I could really care less. My
> children have everything they need. To have these
> outsiders come in will only disrupt what I
> percieve to be a great school.
>
> Not seeking retribution, but vengeance.



Balderdash. You don't have a kid there or know (and certainly don't speak for) a single SLHS parent. tweet tweet.

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The current 8th graders from Fox Mill and Floris
> will bear the brunt of the backlash from SL
> parents and students like booya. The pent up
> animosity SL has for Oakton and Westfield will be
> unleashed on this class, as they have no support
> from anyone but themselves. I hope the SB is
> considering adding addtional police presence at
> the schools. It's no secret that these kids and
> parents don't want to be there. And that won't go
> over well with those at SL that are prone to use
> violence to intimidate them. This is going to get
> ugly. Pupil place, find a private school or move.


Unfortunately, the SB has dodged the question of "grandfathering" so
there is the distinct possiblity that only current HS seniors will stay put at Oakton. I dont think that the SB has gone through so much trouble to ensnare only eight-graders.

Samgee, get your facts straight. The recommended proposal posted on fcps.edu includes grandfathering and clearly states that only rising ninth graders will go.

Glarson Wrote:
------------------------------
> Hey Berhuis,
>
> I do shop at Shopper's as well as all the other
> Clock Tower offerings. So I am not poking fun at
> that, for sure. I laugh at the irony of your
> comment. I couldn't think of a better fit for the
> IB- South Lakes community than many from the
> McNair community. It is too bad that the South
> Lakes PTSA has such narrow periscopes and couldn't
> see beyond the nicley-trimmed yards of the few
> Floris neighborhoods they hand-picked instead.

Glarson,

Don't worry, I understood what you meant the first time - "...shop at Shoppers Food." - and I still chuckle over it.

You're right, McNair would be a perfect fit for the IB program at South Lakes. It is sad to see folks who are presented a gift, but then refuse it because it is not what they had expected, or not what they had originally wanted.

Booya,
Seriously, I cannot believe you are a parent, at least not a good one, otherwise you would not be making statements that would hurt your child or anyone else's.

When my daughter was in sixth grade and going to Hughes and all of her friends were going to Carson, her friends were worried for her, because of what they had heard from their parents. One of her friend's mom commended me for being so confident about Hughes. She said that this had a big effect on my daughter--apparently she displayed the same confidence at going to Hughes. (She now laughs at what they told her about Hughes--it was blatantly untrue.)

Kids will listen to their parents, either way. If parents project fear and loathing of SL, their kids will do the same. If parents put a positive spin on it, their kids will too.

Food for thought.

Restonian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Baffled Wrote:
> >
> > Yes, whatever happened to one RESTON planned
> > community instead of having North and South
> Reston
> > being divided--so North Reston is immune to all
> > this mess?...so Fox Mill and Floris will have
> to
> > suffer the consequences of the
> redistricting--all
> > this is ridiculous.
>
>
> IF North Reston had been moved to South Lakes
> THEN Floris and McNair would have split, with the
> eastern half of each moved to Herndon
> AND Oak Hill would have moved to Westfield
>
> This would have impacted hundreds of more students
> than the current scenario.
>
> How is that better than what is currently
> proposed?

we would have gone to Herndon instead

booya Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Restonian,
> Please don't put words in my mouth, and I won't
> put any in yours. I'm speaking for the majority
> of the SL parents who have had enough of this
> slanderous and malicious verbage posted about our
> school.
>
> Its fine with me if the redistricted folks don't
> want to come to SL. I could really care less. My
> children have everything they need. To have these
> outsiders come in will only disrupt what I
> percieve to be a great school.
>
> Not seeking retribution, but vengeance.



Sorry all, the troll sounds like Spanky. Hi Spanky - back again to call us bad names? How's that parochial school working out for your kids? Are they learning the kind manners that you teach at home?

BirdLover Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLVerity wrote:
>
> "Let's at least be honest: Do you care about the
> families of South Lakes whose children are not
> receiving equal return for their tax investment or
> are you only thinking about yourselves?"
>
> __________________________________________
>
>
> The old, don't be selfish line. Usually that's
> combined with the racist accusation. According to
> South Lake parents, people who don't want their
> kids going to this school, are selfish and racist.
>
>
> SLVerity, since you are so kind and unselfish, why
> don't you open your home to some to those poor
> underprivileged kids from the projects. Your house
> is bigger than you really need. Don't you care
> about poor kids or are you only thinking about
> yourself? Or, are you a racist? Surely, you could
> take in a black kid from the projects and help
> turn his life around.
>
> Now, don't tell me how you volunteer at a soup
> kitchen or whatever. I've decided if you don't
> take in a kid from the projects then you are
> selfish and racist because the way I define
> selfish and racist is the correct way.

Now Bird, what in my statement remotely suggested accusing anyone of racism? I'll repeat it here:

SLVerity wrote:
>
> "Let's at least be honest: Do you care about the
> families of South Lakes whose children are not
> receiving equal return for their tax investment or
> are you only thinking about yourselves?"

I was speaking about tax-paying families, period. I think your knickers are showing, though, based on your strange reaction.

Padre,
Oh yes, I most certainly do.

Floris2 Wrote:
> > This would have impacted hundreds of more
> students
> > than the current scenario.
> >
> > How is that better than what is currently
> > proposed?
>
> we would have gone to Herndon instead


So the several hundred extra families having to switch schools would be worth it, simply because you would go to Herndon instead of South Lakes?

If that is the sort of comment you made in meetings or online, no wonder you feel disenfranchised.

That is the type of comment I heard in meeting rooms. The type of comment I considered throwing away the speaker's voice.

That type of self centered comment certainly can't have been what was important to the FCPS Staff when they worked up their recommendation. For all the harsh talk here about the school board, the staff did their job, and did it well.

They were tasked with finding the solution that was best for the county, using the schools in the study and the 8 criteria. The fact that they chose the scenario that impacted the smallest number of students possible is something I commend.

Booya, you are acting like a blowhard. Your comments are not appreciated by anyone here either for or against redistricting. As Thumper said, "If you can't think of anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

Let's get real - No one could possibly be more self-centered than the SL crowd.

Well it looks like it’s settled then, for better or for worse. I’m sure many are convinced that this was a charade and that the sb had the fix in from the start to throw floris and fox mill into the mix at south lakes. I might be persuaded of that myself if it were not for the absolutely pitiful performance in the public debate of the opponents of redistricting. It may be easier for your kid to make the varsity football team at SL than Oakton but if the parents are any reflection of the kids then don’t bother trying out for the debate team.

Rather than play by the rules of the debate/game/charade established by the sb, opponents resorted to booing and shouting down the sb at the November town hall meeting and then called the sb bullies when they changed the format to avoid having the same result at the next one. If all three town hall meetings had taken place in the same manner as the first one did would anyone have benefited from that?

The SL group obviously read the rules and prepared for the December meeting. I haven’t seen the talking points memo in awhile but I seem to recall it saying something about not getting into side issues such as property values, magnet schools or schools not included in the study. They also managed to get a parent and/or student into every one of the zillions of breakout rooms at Westfield (I know it’s a great school but I couldn’t help but be reminded of Perriman High from Friday Night Lights when I entered that campus). Meanwhile, opponents organizational efforts consisted of flyers and frantic phone call pushing me to “vote for option 1” as if the purpose of that meeting was to fight like hell to preserve your communities interests and push some other community under the bus. Pathetic.

Meanwhile lost among any rational arguments opponents made was the constant noise of “don’t do it at all” or “forced bussing/social engineering”. They already told you why they were doing it and the bussing/social engineering argument is equally ridiculous. A home in fox mill runs around $500k and the commute to oakton is twice as long down w. ox or fox mill rd (pick your poison) past the multi-million dollar mansions of the flint hill school area and then you get to watch the light at Jermantown rd and 123 change three times before finally arriving at the school. Who exactly is the socially engineered under the status quo? On what basis do you claim the right to have taxpayer subsidized transportation to this school? I know you’re more than happy to provide your own transportation but then you, your spouse or your kids are clogging up the roads that other taxpayers, maybe even ones without kids, are using to get to work. If this district ever made sense, it was a generation ago when the western county was far less developed.

I’ll wind up this post that’s already longer than I intended by saying to the south lakes community of which we’ll be joining, you can expect a very involved and committed group of parents and kids to be coming to your school. Don’t worry about the knee-jerk reactionaries, most will adjust while the rest will move on. I may even buy one of their houses and rent it out if they’re desperate enough to sell it at the right price. Suckers buy houses for the high school district, the real value of a home in a middle class community was, is and always will be in the elementary schools.

Oh, one more thought for those in my community that are genuinely fearful of your kid’s safety. The real state of SL is completely unknown to us and it natural to feel this way. If you channel that fear into involvement in this school I have no doubt that you will not regret the way things turn out in the end.

To everyone else, spare us your crocodile tears about fox mill being “thrown under the bus” and say whatever you want about me, I won’t reply as I’ve said everything I care to.

Berdhuis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Glarson Wrote:
> ------------------------------
> > Hey Berhuis,
> >
> > I do shop at Shopper's as well as all the other
> > Clock Tower offerings. So I am not poking fun
> at
> > that, for sure. I laugh at the irony of your
> > comment. I couldn't think of a better fit for
> the
> > IB- South Lakes community than many from the
> > McNair community. It is too bad that the South
> > Lakes PTSA has such narrow periscopes and
> couldn't
> > see beyond the nicley-trimmed yards of the few
> > Floris neighborhoods they hand-picked instead.
>
> Glarson,
>
> Don't worry, I understood what you meant the first
> time - "...shop at Shoppers Food." - and I still
> chuckle over it.
>
> You're right, McNair would be a perfect fit for
> the IB program at South Lakes. It is sad to see
> folks who are presented a gift, but then refuse it
> because it is not what they had expected, or not
> what they had originally wanted.



Ok, Berdhuis. You are generally a reasonable poster, but you deserve a stern rebuttal. Every McNair parent in the meetings I attended was hell-bent on staying at Westfield, and not getting sent to the SLHS.

You know what I mean about how people talk about SLHS, so don't fall too hard for the way those same people -- who don't give a damn about the McNair community -- have used and distorted some SLHS parents' comments about seeking a feeder other than another Title I school.

At the end of the day, SLHS still has - and is very proud of having -- a very diverse student population (racially, ethnically, and socio-economically). And McNair parents -- by and large -- seem to quite happy with where they will be, post-resdistricting. So please turn down the volume on the "spurned suitor" gig.

And we shop at SFW, btw, and eat often at Sorrento's.....better than Moby Dick's, IMHO.

Lets hope they add a self defense elective at SL, rather than jewelry making.

RESTON, Va. - A Reston mob allegedly attacked two 19-year-old Maryland men after they dropped off a friend at her home near the intersection of Glade Drive and Marginella Drive.

On Tuesday, Jan. 1, around 1:30 a.m., the two men attempted to drive away when a group of 10 to 15 men surrounded the victims' vehicle. One of the men reached through a back window and stabbed a passenger in the back. Another member of the group punched the driver. The driver pulled away and called 911. Once help arrived, the stabbing victim was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital. The driver was not seriously injured.

Police arrested a 17-year-old Reston man in connection with the assault and charged him with assault by mob, destruction of property, and brandishing of a firearm. There were no descriptions of other group members provided to police and there have been no arrests for the stabbing.

I can see how this redistricting will benefit "advantaged" children in SLH. But I can't see how it'll benefit the "disadvantaged" portion of students in SLH, as statistically, they are getting less help towards them, percentage wise. No I'm not talking about extracurriculum bunch, but academics, the stuff will really help them be successful in the future.

Is there a voice for these children in SLH here?

Floris2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Restonian Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Baffled Wrote:
> > >
> > > Yes, whatever happened to one RESTON planned
> > > community instead of having North and South
> > Reston
> > > being divided--so North Reston is immune to
> all
> > > this mess?...so Fox Mill and Floris will have
> > to
> > > suffer the consequences of the
> > redistricting--all
> > > this is ridiculous.
> >
> >
> > IF North Reston had been moved to South Lakes
> > THEN Floris and McNair would have split, with
> the
> > eastern half of each moved to Herndon
> > AND Oak Hill would have moved to Westfield
> >
> > This would have impacted hundreds of more
> students
> > than the current scenario.
> >
> > How is that better than what is currently
> > proposed?
>
> we would have gone to Herndon instead


You still can. You can pupil place for AP and you'll probably get Herndon. The SAT scores are the same as SL although SL does has a higher than county average of FRL of 33%.

Good luck with that already balanced community and all that...

Floris Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can see how this redistricting will benefit
> "advantaged" children in SLH. But I can't see how
> it'll benefit the "disadvantaged" portion of
> students in SLH, as statistically, they are
> getting less help towards them, percentage wise.
> No I'm not talking about extracurriculum bunch,
> but academics, the stuff will really help them be
> successful in the future.
>
> Is there a voice for these children in SLH here?



I'm hoping that all this controversy at SE status will spur the SB to really begin putting programs in place to help these kids. There are schools with the same SE profile with higher scores, even within the county. Let's hope the SB takes what works in the schools that are succeeding and implement them in our pyramid.

I also think we need to take a hard look at curriculum and why some kids are failing, particularly ESOL and poor. Could it be the "whole language" method of teaching reading? I would bet that it is. And what about this "Everyday Math"? To me, it's a confusing mess. These are issues to take a hard look at across the county.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Samgee, get your facts straight. The recommended
> proposal posted on fcps.edu includes
> grandfathering and clearly states that only rising
> ninth graders will go.


Perhaps you should get your facts straight. Are you afraid that
the facts will cause more panic among the Fox Mill community?
Stu Gibson told Crossfield PTA parents that the only students
guaranteed to benefit from grandfathering would be rising seniors.
Perhaps, you can offer Fox Mill ES parents your personal guarantee
that only rising 9th graders will be affected. I know many parents
will be seeking your counsel in this matter.

Another Fox Mill Dad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well it looks like it’s settled then, for better
> or for worse. I’m sure many are convinced that
> this was a charade and that the sb had the fix in
> from the start to throw floris and fox mill into
> the mix at south lakes. I might be persuaded of
> that myself if it were not for the absolutely
> pitiful performance in the public debate of the
> opponents of redistricting. It may be easier for
> your kid to make the varsity football team at SL
> than Oakton but if the parents are any reflection
> of the kids then don’t bother trying out for the
> debate team.
>
> Rather than play by the rules of the
> debate/game/charade established by the sb,
> opponents resorted to booing and shouting down the
> sb at the November town hall meeting and then
> called the sb bullies when they changed the format
> to avoid having the same result at the next one.
> If all three town hall meetings had taken place in
> the same manner as the first one did would anyone
> have benefited from that?
>
> The SL group obviously read the rules and prepared
> for the December meeting. I haven’t seen the
> talking points memo in awhile but I seem to recall
> it saying something about not getting into side
> issues such as property values, magnet schools or
> schools not included in the study. They also
> managed to get a parent and/or student into every
> one of the zillions of breakout rooms at Westfield
> (I know it’s a great school but I couldn’t help
> but be reminded of Perriman High from Friday Night
> Lights when I entered that campus). Meanwhile,
> opponents organizational efforts consisted of
> flyers and frantic phone call pushing me to “vote
> for option 1” as if the purpose of that meeting
> was to fight like hell to preserve your
> communities interests and push some other
> community under the bus. Pathetic.
>
> Meanwhile lost among any rational arguments
> opponents made was the constant noise of “don’t do
> it at all” or “forced bussing/social engineering”.
> They already told you why they were doing it and
> the bussing/social engineering argument is equally
> ridiculous. A home in fox mill runs around $500k
> and the commute to oakton is twice as long down w.
> ox or fox mill rd (pick your poison) past the
> multi-million dollar mansions of the flint hill
> school area and then you get to watch the light at
> Jermantown rd and 123 change three times before
> finally arriving at the school. Who exactly is
> the socially engineered under the status quo? On
> what basis do you claim the right to have taxpayer
> subsidized transportation to this school? I know
> you’re more than happy to provide your own
> transportation but then you, your spouse or your
> kids are clogging up the roads that other
> taxpayers, maybe even ones without kids, are using
> to get to work. If this district ever made sense,
> it was a generation ago when the western county
> was far less developed.
>
> I’ll wind up this post that’s already longer than
> I intended by saying to the south lakes community
> of which we’ll be joining, you can expect a very
> involved and committed group of parents and kids
> to be coming to your school. Don’t worry about
> the knee-jerk reactionaries, most will adjust
> while the rest will move on. I may even buy one
> of their houses and rent it out if they’re
> desperate enough to sell it at the right price.
> Suckers buy houses for the high school district,
> the real value of a home in a middle class
> community was, is and always will be in the
> elementary schools.
>
> Oh, one more thought for those in my community
> that are genuinely fearful of your kid’s safety.
> The real state of SL is completely unknown to us
> and it natural to feel this way. If you channel
> that fear into involvement in this school I have
> no doubt that you will not regret the way things
> turn out in the end.
>
> To everyone else, spare us your crocodile tears
> about fox mill being “thrown under the bus” and
> say whatever you want about me, I won’t reply as
> I’ve said everything I care to.

Another Fox Mill Dad,

I look forward to your involvement in the school - my kids aren't there yet but will be in a few years. Lost in all of this is that South Lakes is already on an upswing and will continue to do so. With the current admin (I went in and met Bruce to decide for myself), the rennovated school, supportive parents, and additional programs (let's add AP), the future looks bright for SL.

By the way, I agree with your real estate comment - we picked our house to be in Hunters Woods. My kids are in GT and that way they can stay in their home school, which is also a magnet school.

I don't have any problem sending my kids to Herndon. I am really having problem sending them to SL.


Restonian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> IF North Reston had been moved to South Lakes
> THEN Floris and McNair would have split, with the
> eastern half of each moved to Herndon
> AND Oak Hill would have moved to Westfield
>
> This would have impacted hundreds of more students
> than the current scenario.
>
> How is that better than what is currently
> proposed?

Another Fox Mill Dad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> I’ll wind up this post that’s already longer than
> I intended by saying to the south lakes community
> of which we’ll be joining, you can expect a very
> involved and committed group of parents and kids
> to be coming to your school. Don’t worry about
> the knee-jerk reactionaries, most will adjust
> while the rest will move on. I may even buy one
> of their houses and rent it out if they’re
> desperate enough to sell it at the right price.
> Suckers buy houses for the high school district,
> the real value of a home in a middle class
> community was, is and always will be in the
> elementary schools.


Mr. Another Fox Mill Dad,

Yeah - you are EXACTLY the kind of parent that we can't wait to see at SL. The Old Timers will be there in a few years and will be excited to support the school with you.

Oh my, there is common sense out there - yeahaw!

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> I also think we need to take a hard look at
> curriculum and why some kids are failing,
> particularly ESOL and poor. Could it be the
> "whole language" method of teaching reading? I
> would bet that it is. And what about this
> "Everyday Math"? To me, it's a confusing mess.
> These are issues to take a hard look at across the
> county.


What is Everyday Math? I've seen that discussed here before but my 6th grader is doing the math that I learned - pre algebra, geometry, integers, in prparation for algebra.

He did have this wacko text book in third grade that I complained about. It was written by a some social scientist or something but not a mathematician. We got rid of that. Is that Everday Math? I'm wondering if some of this stuff is elementary school specific.

Another Fox Mill Dad:

Thank you for your perspective. I think I'm in like! Please use your considerable skills in your children's schools. They will be blessed to have your input.

SLHS Padre Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ok, Berdhuis. You are generally a reasonable
> poster, but you deserve a stern rebuttal.

Oh, slap me!

> Every McNair parent in the meetings I attended was
> hell-bent on staying at Westfield, and not getting
> sent to the SLHS.

I never claimed that McNair folks wanted to go to South Lakes. I just dispassionately observed that we would fit well.

> You know what I mean about how people talk about
> SLHS, so don't fall too hard for the way those
> same people -- who don't give a damn about the
> McNair community -- have used and distorted some
> SLHS parents' comments about seeking a feeder
> other than another Title I school.

You're making unsubstantiated assumtions in part of the above passage, so I won't comment on that.

> At the end of the day, SLHS still has - and is
> very proud of having -- a very diverse student
> population (racially, ethnically, and
> socio-economically).

I'm glad for you, Padre, and we in McNair are even more diverse and proud.

> And McNair parents -- by and
> large -- seem to quite happy with where they will
> be, post-resdistricting. So please turn down the
> volume on the "spurned suitor" gig.

But we haven't received a final decision from the School Board. Are you saying the decision concerning McNair was a done deal before the School Board publicized the scope?

> And we shop at SFW, btw, and eat often at
> Sorrento's.....better than Moby Dick's, IMHO.

Now we're talking! I like your taste in groceries, and I'll bet we've unwittingly crossed paths at Shoppers many times. We eat at Minerva, btw.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2008 12:58PM by Berdhuis.