Restonian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Giving it more students who only have Reston in
> their mailing address would STILL impact other
> people's boundaries. In fact, it would have
> impacted many more people's boundaries than the
> current scenario.

How little you Herndonites know about Reston. If all the children who live within Reston's 1965 boundaries were assigned to South Lakes, no one else would have to be transferred to South Lakes

Reston's kids belong at Reston's High School - South Lakes

Hello.

Did anyone happen to see that letter that the Floris Area Parents released? If you haven't I suggest you look at it... here's the link (the letter is under meeting notes): [www.fcps.edu]

Oh,for those of you who haven't seen me post on here before, I attend Westfield, and I'm in my sophomore year. My brother is currently an 8th grader at Carson. Both my brother and I have been through the redistricting that Floris has had in the past 11 or so years.

I am against the redistricting, obviously. However, I don't think South Lakes is a bad school -- I'd just prefer for my brother and I to be able to stay in the same school together, and not get split from any of our friends AGAIN.

Now, does anyone possibly know where these public hearings will be held on January 30th and 31st?

SLHS Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The attachment says it all. When SLHS arrives at
> full strength, it will be hands-down the best high
> school in Fairfax County, if not the entire U.S.

Lost me with the title. I mean really, I don't mean to sound like a xenophobe but I've just really grown tired of the word "diversity".

The attachment is within the post (x SLHS.doc). Also, see the article below regarding a new University of Michigan study.


Diverse group is the best solution for problem-solving tasks
By Jared Wadley
News Service

A diverse group of problem solvers is more likely to outperform a team of the best and brightest problem solvers, a U-M study shows.

Individuals chosen from a diverse, randomly selected pool will offer different perspectives that could result in better solutions. Conversely, a group comprising the best problem solvers is likely to take similar approaches, says Scott Page, a political science, economics and complex systems professor.

"If the best problem solvers tend to think about a problem similarly, then it stands to reason that as a group, they may not be very effective," he says.

Page conducted the research with Lu Hong, a visiting professor in the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and a faculty member at Loyola University in Chicago. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published the paper this month.

In the study, diversity wasn't necessarily meant to indicate identity diversity—differences in race, gender, age or life experiences—but differences in how problem solvers encode problems and attempt to solve them. A person's value to solving problems depends on his or her ability to improve the collective decision, the researchers say.

"A person's expected contribution is contextual, depending on the perspectives and heuristics of others who work on the problem," says Page, who also is a senior research scientist at the Institute for Social Research. Heuristics are the variations in how people encode and search for solutions to problems.

Page and Hong tested their theory using computational and mathematical models, with each determining the best performance occurred when the problem-solving group was diverse.

Page notes that the collection of problem solvers could sit in a room together making a joint decision. These individuals might operate in a hierarchy, in which each person works on a problem and passes his or her solution on to the next person, he says.

The researchers say the study's results have implications for organizational forms and management styles, especially for problem-solving firms and organizations.

"In an environment where competition depends on continuous innovation and introduction of new products, firms that take advantage of the power of functional diversity should perform well," Hong says.

Page teaches an undergraduate course, "Theories of Diversity," that focuses on the many implications of diversity. His course touches on topics ranging from the stability of political systems and ecosystems to the collective wisdom of crowds.

For more information on Page and the project, visit [www.cscs.umich.edu].

SLHS Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The attachment says it all. When SLHS arrives at
> full strength, it will be hands-down the best high
> school in Fairfax County, if not the entire U.S.


Uh? What kind of comment was that? To inflate the ego of SLHS being the best high school in this area if not in the entire US? SL should be grateful they are getting what they wanted, more kids plucked out of communities that do not belong in Reston to help them perform better.

imabulldog Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello.
>
> Did anyone happen to see that letter that the
> Floris Area Parents released? If you haven't I
> suggest you look at it... here's the link (the
> letter is under meeting notes):
> [www.fcps.edu]
> etings.htm
>
> Oh,for those of you who haven't seen me post on
> here before, I attend Westfield, and I'm in my
> sophomore year. My brother is currently an 8th
> grader at Carson. Both my brother and I have been
> through the redistricting that Floris has had in
> the past 11 or so years.
>
> I am against the redistricting, obviously.
> However, I don't think South Lakes is a bad school
> -- I'd just prefer for my brother and I to be able
> to stay in the same school together, and not get
> split from any of our friends AGAIN.
>
> Now, does anyone possibly know where these public
> hearings will be held on January 30th and 31st?

imabulldog - Here is the link to sign up. The hearing for Jan 30 and 31 is completely full. However there are still opening for Saturday, February 9, at 9 a.m., at Jackson Middle School. Please sign up at the link below on the fcps site:

www.fcps.edu/schlbd/requestspeak.htm

Studends like should speak up to make the SB realize that these arbitary decisions to average out scores impact real people lives.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:

>
> Agreed. Langley would have made that possible. We
> are just trying to find the best option within the
> constraints of the study.

The constraints of the study practically forced the Fox Mill/Floris result. As we've been reminded many times, only option 5 met all 8 criteria and I suspect it'd be nearly impossible to come up with a different all 8 criteria answer given the constraints. However, if you changed the initial constraints in very reasonable ways - added Langley, added Madison - both schools adjacent to the study area, both schools over capacity, wasting money on the Langley addition, ridiculous bus distances for "North Herndon" (my new name for Western Langley) - there'd be more than one all 8 criteria alternative.

Baffled Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLHS Parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The attachment says it all. When SLHS arrives
> at
> > full strength, it will be hands-down the best
> high
> > school in Fairfax County, if not the entire
> U.S.
>
>
> Uh? What kind of comment was that? To inflate the
> ego of SLHS being the best high school in this
> area if not in the entire US? SL should be
> grateful they are getting what they wanted, more
> kids plucked out of communities that do not belong
> in Reston to help them perform better.


1) There is nothing wrong, and alot that is good, with promooting a sense of school identity and school pride if it is rooted in the right values. Diversity and excellence are the right values. Fear and elitism are not.

2) SL will indeed be grateful if the school board does the right thing. The students affected ultimately will be grateful too for the enhanced education they will receive.

WestfieldDad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
>
> >
> > Agreed. Langley would have made that possible.
> We
> > are just trying to find the best option within
> the
> > constraints of the study.
>
> The constraints of the study practically forced
> the Fox Mill/Floris result. As we've been
> reminded many times, only option 5 met all 8
> criteria and I suspect it'd be nearly impossible
> to come up with a different all 8 criteria answer
> given the constraints. However, if you changed
> the initial constraints in very reasonable ways -
> added Langley, added Madison - both schools
> adjacent to the study area, both schools over
> capacity, wasting money on the Langley addition,
> ridiculous bus distances for "North Herndon" (my
> new name for Western Langley) - there'd be more
> than one all 8 criteria alternative.

You know, somebody made a post about Langley being excluded out of the study and how this was illegal because the boundary study stated as "west county boundary study" and with Langley being part of the west county, it should HAVE been part of the study. With this and all those hocus pocus meeting EIGHT criteria (why eight?), Floris/FM/M have the right to be ticked off. If anybody living in those areas do not mind going to South Lakes, then why not opt for pupil placement to SL if the boundary study does not get approved?

SL needs more students. No one locally is willing to go there. We can solve this problem the way we solve most others - Let import them from Mexico or any other country where people are willing to come to US... I am sure there will be thousands of applicants, if we offer free visas and settle them in Reston, so that they can fill up the empty seats at SL.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FoxMillDad Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Who has an interest in working together toward
> a
> > plan that meets EVERYONE's needs and interests?
>
>
> And what would that entail? Are you thinking
> Magnet???? This in my opinion does not meet the
> needs of SL kids.

It is up to South Lakes administration, parents, and PTSA to give out of boundary parents a reason to want to go to South Lakes. Your PTSA needs to have a plan to welcome new families, and something to offer them. That might mean some kind of magnet, it might mean starting the process all over, it might mean an AP program, or something else entirely.

You need to be able to explain the REAL reasons for the redistricting, to be brutally honest with yourselves, and the new people, or they won't trust you. You must tell new families what South Lakes has to offer ACADEMICALLY. It's obvious now that out of boundary parents are not impressed with the 'diversity' at South Lakes. It simply is not enough of a reason for them to be happy about leaving their current schools for South Lakes. What else do you have to offer them? Try to find those things. What makes a school worth attending? What are you willing to compromise on so that you can welcome these families and make them feel a part of your school community? Concentrate on things, then go out to the new communities and sell, sell, sell, your school. Stop focusing on race and diversity and begin to focus on what parents care about, academics. It's clear now that parents want a great academic programs. (That's why nearly 3,000 students a year take the TJ test.) Without an excellent academic program, they won't willingly change schools. What will your parents and PTSA do to help reassure them that their children's What are you willing to compromise on? Will you support an AP program? A Magnet? A new redistricting plan? Or at least form a committee of new parents and current parents to let the principal know what AP courses are important to parents. Can you reassure parents that the principal will include them on the curriculum committee? That he will listen to parents? Can he meet with the parents at Floris and Fox Mill and assure them that THEY will have a voice in what is taught at South Lakes, rather than leaving it up to staff as he has done in the past, and as he did with Human Geography? (That was terrible judgment on his part and certainly doesn't reassure anyone that he understands how much parents care about real academics.)

At this point, it may well be too late to do anything. It may be that the process has been so poor executed that there is no hope of salvaging a viable plan that will make the redistricting a success. BUT, if there is any hope, the SL PTSA must be less strident, they must be open and honest. They can't be planning the future in secret. Parents are not reassured when they hear that the South Lakes PTSA has a private, secret, website. It's the PTÂ! People wonder why the PTA would need to hide anything from the public. What would the PTSA have to hide from the public? It's supposed to be an open, public, group to support parents! Parents who don't have access to their private PTSA group can't help but wonder, What are they hiding? And why? You can't do things in secret and tell people to 'just trust us, we know what's right for you'. It hasn't worked and it won't work. You can't expect people to want to attend a school where the PTSA board works in secret, with a hotline to their school board representative, while all others are excluded from such representation on the school board. Floris and Fox Mill have no representative like that who they can call at any time and who will represent them and their concerns. They don't feel they have that, in public or in secret. South Lakes PTSA must abandon their adversarial and defensive postures. They must be totally honest and above board. The current actions of the PTSA, the secretiveness, the private websites, the paranoia, the silly conspiracy theories, have not served you well. It has been anything but helpful to the process and it is frightening to out of boundary parents.

South Lakes PTSA and parents must be willing to give something, some compromises, if they expect hundreds of parents to give up their children to a school they never chose, and an academic program that they never wanted. You have asked these parents to make HUGE sacrifices. What sacrifices is South Lakes willing to make? South Lakes can't expect this will work if all the sacrifices are only to be made by other people who are forced to attend South Lakes. It's setting up a lose-lose for everyone. If you are unwilling to even compromise, how can you ask other people to make what they consider the ultimate family sacrifices?

SLHS Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The attachment says it all. When SLHS arrives at
> full strength, it will be hands-down the best high
> school in Fairfax County, if not the entire U.S.

I don't know what bird is in that drawing but it is most assuredly not a seahawk.

Will you please get it through your thick skulls that Langley will NEVER be redistricted. We are different from you!!! Get over it!!!

As for "reporting us to the Dept of Justice" and other nonsense, we also purchase influence on the Federal level. So don't get your hopes up on that. We put our MONEY where our mouths are, that's the difference between us and you.

Sure it's "unfair" (wahhhh). LIFE IS UNFAIR!!!!

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > FoxMillDad Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Who has an interest in working together
> toward
> > a
> > > plan that meets EVERYONE's needs and
> interests?
> >
> >
> > And what would that entail? Are you thinking
> > Magnet???? This in my opinion does not meet
> the
> > needs of SL kids.
>
> It is up to South Lakes administration, parents,
> and PTSA to give out of boundary parents a reason
> to want to go to South Lakes. Your PTSA needs to
> have a plan to welcome new families, and something
> to offer them. That might mean some kind of
> magnet, it might mean starting the process all
> over, it might mean an AP program, or something
> else entirely.
>
> You need to be able to explain the REAL reasons
> for the redistricting, to be brutally honest with
> yourselves, and the new people, or they won't
> trust you. You must tell new families what South
> Lakes has to offer ACADEMICALLY. It's obvious now
> that out of boundary parents are not impressed
> with the 'diversity' at South Lakes. It simply is
> not enough of a reason for them to be happy about
> leaving their current schools for South Lakes.
> What else do you have to offer them? Try to find
> those things. What makes a school worth
> attending? What are you willing to compromise on
> so that you can welcome these families and make
> them feel a part of your school community?
> Concentrate on things, then go out to the new
> communities and sell, sell, sell, your school.
> Stop focusing on race and diversity and begin to
> focus on what parents care about, academics. It's
> clear now that parents want a great academic
> programs. (That's why nearly 3,000 students a year
> take the TJ test.) Without an excellent academic
> program, they won't willingly change schools.
> What will your parents and PTSA do to help
> reassure them that their children's What are you
> willing to compromise on? Will you support an AP
> program? A Magnet? A new redistricting plan?
> Or at least form a committee of new parents and
> current parents to let the principal know what AP
> courses are important to parents. Can you
> reassure parents that the principal will include
> them on the curriculum committee? That he will
> listen to parents? Can he meet with the parents
> at Floris and Fox Mill and assure them that THEY
> will have a voice in what is taught at South
> Lakes, rather than leaving it up to staff as he
> has done in the past, and as he did with Human
> Geography? (That was terrible judgment on his part
> and certainly doesn't reassure anyone that he
> understands how much parents care about real
> academics.)
>
> At this point, it may well be too late to do
> anything. It may be that the process has been so
> poor executed that there is no hope of salvaging a
> viable plan that will make the redistricting a
> success. BUT, if there is any hope, the SL PTSA
> must be less strident, they must be open and
> honest. They can't be planning the future in
> secret. Parents are not reassured when they hear
> that the South Lakes PTSA has a private, secret,
> website. It's the PTÂ! People wonder why the PTA
> would need to hide anything from the public. What
> would the PTSA have to hide from the public? It's
> supposed to be an open, public, group to support
> parents! Parents who don't have access to their
> private PTSA group can't help but wonder, What are
> they hiding? And why? You can't do things in
> secret and tell people to 'just trust us, we know
> what's right for you'. It hasn't worked and it
> won't work. You can't expect people to want to
> attend a school where the PTSA board works in
> secret, with a hotline to their school board
> representative, while all others are excluded from
> such representation on the school board. Floris
> and Fox Mill have no representative like that who
> they can call at any time and who will represent
> them and their concerns. They don't feel they
> have that, in public or in secret. South Lakes
> PTSA must abandon their adversarial and defensive
> postures. They must be totally honest and above
> board. The current actions of the PTSA, the
> secretiveness, the private websites, the paranoia,
> the silly conspiracy theories, have not served you
> well. It has been anything but helpful to the
> process and it is frightening to out of boundary
> parents.
>
> South Lakes PTSA and parents must be willing to
> give something, some compromises, if they expect
> hundreds of parents to give up their children to a
> school they never chose, and an academic program
> that they never wanted. You have asked these
> parents to make HUGE sacrifices. What sacrifices
> is South Lakes willing to make? South Lakes can't
> expect this will work if all the sacrifices are
> only to be made by other people who are forced to
> attend South Lakes. It's setting up a lose-lose
> for everyone. If you are unwilling to even
> compromise, how can you ask other people to make
> what they consider the ultimate family sacrifices?


Well-said, Neen! Thanks. Well, SL?

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FoxMillDad Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Who has an interest in working together toward
> a
> > plan that meets EVERYONE's needs and interests?
>
>
> And what would that entail? Are you thinking
> Magnet???? This in my opinion does not meet the
> needs of SL kids.

THAT's the problem, it's ALL about what South Lakes students want, with nothing being offered to those who are being asked to make the sacrifices of leaving their schools for South Lakes. It can never work if it is ONLY about what students at Söuth Lakes want. What is South Lakes willing to offer other people for coming to their school? Where is the compromise from the South Lakes community to make this work for everyone?

It is up to South Lakes administration, parents, and PTSA to give out of boundary parents a reason to want to go to South Lakes. Your PTSA needs to have a plan to welcome new families, and something to offer them. That might mean some kind of magnet, it might mean starting the process all over, it might mean an AP program, or something else entirely. But you have to be willing to offer SOMETHING to these new people, or they simply will not come to South Lakes.

You need to be able to explain the REAL reasons for the redistricting, to be brutally honest with yourselves, and the new people, or they won't trust you. You must tell new families what South Lakes has to offer ACADEMICALLY. It's obvious now that out of boundary parents are not impressed with the 'diversity' at South Lakes. It simply is not enough of a reason for them to be happy about leaving their current schools for South Lakes. If diversity was their MOST important thing in a school, they would have moved to Reston, or Stuart, districts. It's obvious now that academics are the MOST important. Offering your diversity is not a good selling point. What else do you have to offer them? Try to find those things. What makes a school worth attending? What are you willing to compromise on so that you can welcome these families and make them feel a part of your school community? Concentrate on things, then go out to the new communities and sell, sell, sell, your school. Stop focusing on race and diversity and begin to focus on what parents care about, academics. It's clear now that parents want a great academic programs. (That's why nearly 3,000 students a year take the TJ test.) Without an excellent academic program, they won't willingly change schools. What will your parents and PTSA do to help reassure them that their children will get that at South Lakes What are you willing to compromise on? Will you support an AP program? A Magnet? A new redistricting plan? Or at least form a committee of new parents and current parents to let the principal know what AP courses are important to parents. Can you support new parents on an AP program? A magnet? What? Can you reassure parents that the principal will include them on the curriculum committee? That he will listen to parents? Can he meet with the parents at Floris and Fox Mill and assure them that THEY will have a voice in what is taught at South Lakes, rather than leaving it up to staff as he has done in the past, and as he did with Human Geography? (That was terrible judgment on his part and certainly doesn't reassure anyone that he understands how much parents care about real academics.)

At this point, it may well be too late to do anything. It may be that the process has been so poorly executed that there is no hope of salvaging a viable plan that will make the redistricting a success. BUT, if there is ANY hope, the SL PTSA must be less strident, they must be open and honest. They can't be planning the future in secret. Parents are not reassured when they hear that the South Lakes PTSA has a private, secret, website. It's the PTÂ! People wonder why the PTA would need to hide anything from the public. What would the PTSA have to hide from the public? It's supposed to be an open, public, group to support parents! Parents who don't have access to their private PTSA group can't help but wonder, What are they hiding? And why? You can't do things in secret and tell people to 'just trust us, we know what's right for you'. It hasn't worked and it won't work. You can't expect people to want to attend a school where the PTSA board works in secret, with a hotline to their school board representative, while all others are excluded from such representation on their school board. People outside of the SL PTSA board can call their school rep on his cell phone while people in other schools can't get an email response, much less a phone call. Again, it doesn't build trust and confidence. Floris and Fox Mill have no representative like that who they can call at any time and who will represent them and their concerns. They don't feel they have that, in public or in secret. South Lakes PTSA must abandon their adversarial and defensive postures. They must be totally honest and above board. The current actions of the PTSA, the secretiveness, the private websites, the paranoia, the silly conspiracy theories, have not served you well. It has been anything but helpful to the process and it is frightening to out of boundary parents.

South Lakes PTSA and parents must be willing to give something, some compromises, if they expect hundreds of parents to give up their children to a school they never chose, and an academic program that they never wanted. You have asked these parents to make HUGE sacrifices. What sacrifices is South Lakes willing to make? South Lakes can't expect this will work if all the sacrifices are only to be made by other people who are forced to attend South Lakes. It's setting up a lose-lose for everyone. If you are unwilling to even compromise, to even listen to the academic wants of those who you hope will forced to attend South Lakes, how can you ask those same people to make what they consider the ultimate family sacrifices, sending their children to your school? It can't only be about what your kids need. What are you willing to sacrifice?

Neen and others, asking for AP at SL is the most counterproductive thing you can do. Not having AP at SL is the only viable ticket out of SL via pupil placement. Please do not push for AP at SL. If they have AP classes at SL, short of selling and moving we will be forced to go to south lakes. Be careful of what you ask for.

saxon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Will you please get it through your thick skulls
> that Langley will NEVER be redistricted. We are
> different from you!!! Get over it!!!
>
> As for "reporting us to the Dept of Justice" and
> other nonsense, we also purchase influence on the
> Federal level. So don't get your hopes up on
> that. We put our MONEY where our mouths are,
> that's the difference between us and you.
>
> Sure it's "unfair" (wahhhh). LIFE IS UNFAIR!!!!


Ooooo somebody is acting spoiled.

saxon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Will you please get it through your thick skulls
> that Langley will NEVER be redistricted. We are
> different from you!!! Get over it!!!
>
> As for "reporting us to the Dept of Justice" and
> other nonsense, we also purchase influence on the
> Federal level. So don't get your hopes up on
> that. We put our MONEY where our mouths are,
> that's the difference between us and you.
>
> Sure it's "unfair" (wahhhh). LIFE IS UNFAIR!!!!


This is why you SHOULD get redistricted... because you all would balance out the economics with your MONEY.

If you don't have anything useful to say regarding redistricting, why are you even posting on here?

Baffled Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > FoxMillDad Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Who has an interest in working together
> toward
> > a
> > > plan that meets EVERYONE's needs and
> interests?
> >
> >
> > And what would that entail? Are you thinking
> > Magnet???? This in my opinion does not meet
> the
> > needs of SL kids.
>
>
> Which comes back to the very thing about the main
> argument---"meeting SL kids' needs"..what about
> potentially redistricted kids' needs?

THat's what I just asked, except in a MUCH more complicated way! Thanks for your succinct post.

greatIdea Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen and others, asking for AP at SL is the most
> counterproductive thing you can do. Not having AP
> at SL is the only viable ticket out of SL via
> pupil placement. Please do not push for AP at SL.
> If they have AP classes at SL, short of selling
> and moving we will be forced to go to south lakes.
> Be careful of what you ask for.

Your point is well taken.

I wouldn't worry about it since it is highly unlikely that the current South Lakes people would make that compromise.

Remember also that you can request pupil placement for ANY course that Oakton, or Madison, or Chantilly, or Westfield, offers that is not at South Lakes. I hear that American sign language has worked well in the past, and it's a good course too. Kids love it.

To: Neen

Here are just a few things that come to mind that SLHS can offer:

1) A first-rate education in a learning environment enriched by diversity. Every year, SLHS produces academic stars who are prepared to thrive in a flat, diverse world.

2) An IB program - which recently was graded higher than AP.

3) A better chance to engage in extracurriculars, particularly for Floris students.

4) A sense of community that comes with attending a more local school.

5) A shorter commute to school.

6) A newly renovated, state-of-the-art facility.

7) The best young principal in the school system.

8) Freedom from the shackles of fear and elitism.

SLHS Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To: Neen
>
> Here are just a few things that come to mind that
> SLHS can offer:
>
> 1) A first-rate education in a learning
> environment enriched by diversity. Every year,
> SLHS produces academic stars who are prepared to
> thrive in a flat, diverse world.
>
> 2) An IB program - which recently was graded
> higher than AP.
>
> 3) A better chance to engage in extracurriculars,
> particularly for Floris students.
>
> 4) A sense of community that comes with attending
> a more local school.
>
> 5) A shorter commute to school.
>
> 6) A newly renovated, state-of-the-art facility.
>
> 7) The best young principal in the school
> system.
>
> 8) Freedom from the shackles of fear and elitism.


Oh my goodness..I am going to retire for the night. Good night.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> greatIdea Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Neen and others, asking for AP at SL is the
> most
> > counterproductive thing you can do. Not having
> AP
> > at SL is the only viable ticket out of SL via
> > pupil placement. Please do not push for AP at
> SL.
> > If they have AP classes at SL, short of selling
> > and moving we will be forced to go to south
> lakes.
> > Be careful of what you ask for.
>
> Your point is well taken.
>
> I wouldn't worry about it since it is highly
> unlikely that the current South Lakes people would
> make that compromise.
>
> Remember also that you can request pupil placement
> for ANY course that Oakton, or Madison, or
> Chantilly, or Westfield, offers that is not at
> South Lakes. I hear that American sign language
> has worked well in the past, and it's a good
> course too. Kids love it.


Neen, can you elaborate on that - if that is the case all we have to do is to see what course of interest is offered at Oakton and not at SL and use that as a ticket out of SL .. that seems to be too simple .. surely FCPS can see through that?

Rational Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> People dont want that school and for whatever
> reason or it would be the fucking bargain of the
> centrury and that school would be jammed full.
> prediction - in 4 years they still wont have
> anybody going there. damn it will be some good
> cheap houses there

Yes, if they don't deal with the most basic of educational problems, at ALL the schools that feed to South Lakes, it doesn't matter how much they expand the boundaries, South Lakes will remain under enrolled. We need only look at Marshall for proof. They've tried everything, including redistricting, and Marshall has never been near capacity. South Lakes won't either. The process has helped to assure that it won't work. They are offering nothing that would make people want to go to South Lakes. That has to change, if there is to be any hope of success.

SLHS Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To: Neen
>
> Here are just a few things that come to mind that
> SLHS can offer:
>
> 1) A first-rate education in a learning
> environment enriched by diversity. Every year,
> SLHS produces academic stars who are prepared to
> thrive in a flat, diverse world.
>
> 2) An IB program - which recently was graded
> higher than AP.
>
> 3) A better chance to engage in extracurriculars,
> particularly for Floris students.
>
> 4) A sense of community that comes with attending
> a more local school.
>
> 5) A shorter commute to school.
>
> 6) A newly renovated, state-of-the-art facility.
>
> 7) The best young principal in the school
> system.
>
> 8) Freedom from the shackles of fear and elitism.


1. Doesn't most, if not all, FCPS high schools do that?

2. I'm in the AP program, which starts in high school. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the IB program a long-going process and it starts in elementary and middle schools... so how would students who don't go to elementary and middle schools with IB preparation/introductory classes succeed in this type of program?

3. The majority of Floris students attend Westfield High School, which has a plentiful amount of extracurriculars which would meet, if not be more than, the amount that will be offered at South Lakes.

4. All of the high schools are "local, and if students who aren't in the Reston community, how is that "more local"?

5. That's not necessarily true. For students within the Oakton district that are threatened for redistricting, yes, it is most likely true for all of them. However, for those students in the Floris/Westfield district that are threatened, Westfield and South Lakes are pretty much equidistant from the majority of those students.

6. Westfield was built 7 years ago, renovated 2 years ago. It's decently new.

7. Personally, I'd rather have an older, more experienced principal in place rather than a younger principal.

8. What? Pretty much any high school will have "fear and elitism" within it because pretty much all high schools have cliques... I wouldn't consider South Lakes to be any different in not having cliques, since having cliques is a normal high school quality, no matter how "fearful" they are.

saxon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Will you please get it through your thick skulls
> that Langley will NEVER be redistricted. We are
> different from you!!! Get over it!!!
>
> As for "reporting us to the Dept of Justice" and
> other nonsense, we also purchase influence on the
> Federal level. So don't get your hopes up on
> that. We put our MONEY where our mouths are,
> that's the difference between us and you.
>
> Sure it's "unfair" (wahhhh). LIFE IS UNFAIR!!!!

Sho nuf we knows yous different from us, all the mo reason to ghetto-ize yo azzes at South Lakes. Youz call yoselfs da Saxons, I mean whatup wit dat shit! Why don't you just call you selfs da "tidy whiteez".

>>>>I am glad someone has the balls to infiltrate the SLPTSA secret society. You go Neen.<<<

Why would ANY PTSA even have a secret society? It certainly isn't endearing anyone to South Lakes. It only serves to fuel the imaginations of outsiders regarding what goes on behind those closed doors. They really need to be open, honest, and welcoming to everyone as that's what most people expect in a PTA or PTSA.

greatIdea Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Neen, can you elaborate on that - if that is the
> case all we have to do is to see what course of
> interest is offered at Oakton and not at SL and
> use that as a ticket out of SL .. that seems to be
> too simple .. surely FCPS can see through that?


Through the FCPS system, if a student wants to take a course at let's say Oakton, but they're in South Lakes district, they can be pupil-placed to Oakton in order to take that class along with all of their other classes. However, I think the student has to provide their own transportation? I'm not entirely sure on that issue, though.

If the course is an AP one that is offered at various high schools, though, and the student is in the IB South Lakes district, they are sent to the closest AP school to where they live.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> anotherobserver:
>
> I don't really agree with piling on those who are
> potentially being moved, but I must ask, where is
> your concern for the students of South Lakes who
> have read every imaginable slight written against
> them, their parents, and their school on the 150
> pages of this thread? When you express some
> concern for them I will accept that you are being
> sincere.

Yes, yes, yes, it's all about the South Lakes students and parents. This is exactly the attitude that has gotten all of you in trouble. Please, try, to reach out to the others and think about what you can offer to THEM, rather than focusing on what they will give to YOU.

imabulldog, thanks for the info. One more question, say once the student is placed into Oakton for a year, would he automatically be placed for the next three years at Oakton, or would the process have to be repeated every year for the 4 years?

FoxMillDad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are there people posting to this board who have an
> interest is working together toward a plan that
> meets everyone's needs and interests?

YES!!! That's what must happen, if this is to ever work for South Lakes.

greatIdea Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> imabulldog, thanks for the info. One more
> question, say once the student is placed into
> Oakton for a year, would he automatically be
> placed for the next three years at Oakton, or
> would the process have to be repeated every year
> for the 4 years?

I'm not sure. If it's an ongoing [like, over the course of more than one year of high school] course, like a language or music theory something like that, then I'd assume they'd be allowed to stay at the school just as long as they were continuing with the course [or other courses that wouldn't necessarily be offered at South Lakes] since they'd still have a legitimate reason for being there.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> greatIdea Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Neen and others, asking for AP at SL is the
> most
> > counterproductive thing you can do. Not having
> AP
> > at SL is the only viable ticket out of SL via
> > pupil placement. Please do not push for AP at
> SL.
> > If they have AP classes at SL, short of selling
> > and moving we will be forced to go to south
> lakes.
> > Be careful of what you ask for.
>
> Your point is well taken.
>
> I wouldn't worry about it since it is highly
> unlikely that the current South Lakes people would
> make that compromise.

And you know this how?
>
> Remember also that you can request pupil placement
> for ANY course that Oakton, or Madison, or
> Chantilly, or Westfield, offers that is not at
> South Lakes. I hear that American sign language
> has worked well in the past, and it's a good
> course too. Kids love it.

So despite your long-winded post above, which you had the temerity to bore us with twice, you really don't give a rats ass about South Lakes after all. Well, we've known it all along.

BTW, I am a member of the South Lakes Boundary Group and I am not a member of the SL PTSA. The site is owned by a parent of elementary-aged children. It is not a PTSA website, despite what Neen says. She is talking out of her ass.

Hey Neen, have you finished all of the background checks on the group members to determine their affiliations? Could you please wrap it up?

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why would ANY PTSA even have a secret society? It
> certainly isn't endearing anyone to South Lakes.
> It only serves to fuel the imaginations of
> outsiders regarding what goes on behind those
> closed doors. They really need to be open,
> honest, and welcoming to everyone as that's what
> most people expect in a PTA or PTSA.

Twilight Zone time. Neen, put on your tinfoil hat. I thought you said that liberals were the conspiracy theorists? But for you, it's black helicopter time all the time.

BTW, have you figured out the secret handshake yet?

Neen:

> Please, try, to reach out to the others and think
> about what you can offer to THEM, rather than
> focusing on what they will give to YOU.

At the rate you are going, Neen, we won't have anyone to approach. If you have your way, they will all pupil place out.

Have you found any more boundaries to breach? You are very good at it. I commend you.

>>>>In a perfect world, the SB would have been better positioned to spend megabucks and play Bob the Builder with South Lakes had it had the good sense to initiate the programs with the new principal much earlier than it did. And isn't this the reasoned way to look at the issue? South Lakes supporters really don't accomplish anything by whining that people give their school a bad rap, just as those that do not want to go there demonize or overstate the current safety/cultural factors without realistically looking at the projected daily lives of their kids if they would matriculate there. The real problem is that school mucked around for years with politically correct notions that have been absolute empirical disasters (retaining a minority principal on that sole basis when Rome was burning among them) and that only when it reached the breaking point was anything done. So the school is left pleading that it is on the upswing (likely true) and yet at the same time it doesn't have non-transitory record of positive data to trot out - and the years of lack of diligence and wrong headed ideology don't help.<<<

This disaster might have been avoided if the SB had put some effort into improving South Lakes years back. It seems likely that there would never have been a need for this redistricting if they hadn't let it go so far down for so long. And these are the same people we are now supposed to trust that South Lakes is on the upswing. People need more, at a minimum, a few more years with the new principal at the helm, and more evidence of zero tolerance for those who have no interest in learning.

Neen's Conscience Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen:
>
> > Please, try, to reach out to the others and
> think
> > about what you can offer to THEM, rather than
> > focusing on what they will give to YOU.
>
> At the rate you are going, Neen, we won't have
> anyone to approach. If you have your way, they
> will all pupil place out.
>
> Have you found any more boundaries to breach? You
> are very good at it. I commend you.

Isn't it SL that is broaching boundaries? wink, wink.

What can I say? You've done your work on me. :)

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> This disaster might have been avoided if the SB
> had put some effort into improving South Lakes
> years back. It seems likely that there would
> never have been a need for this redistricting if
> they hadn't let it go so far down for so long.

Now we're making progress. At least you admit that it is not the fault of the SLPTSA and the parents. Thank heaven for small favors.

Neen Wrote:
>
> Isn't it SL that is broaching boundaries? wink,
> wink.
>
> What can I say? You've done your work on me. :)

Believe it or not, I have no earthly idea what you are talking about.

RealityCheck Wrote:
In FME I don't see the kind of
> lots that would make you want
> > to stay in place rather than move up and out.
>
> Sounds like you have a long-term demographic
> problem over there. I wouldn't expect this
> boundary shuffle to provide lasting relief.

Why not? What do you predict will happen to FME and the portion of Floris being considered for redistricting?

>
> > Fox Mill is the closest elementary school to
> South
> > Lakes High School, and South Lakes needs more
> > students feeding into it.
> >
>
> And everyone else exists to serve the needs of
> South Lakes?

Our county school system should make changes as needed to serve the students in the system fairly.

Neen's Conscience Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why would ANY PTSA even have a secret society?
> It
> > certainly isn't endearing anyone to South Lakes.
>
> > It only serves to fuel the imaginations of
> > outsiders regarding what goes on behind those
> > closed doors. They really need to be open,
> > honest, and welcoming to everyone as that's
> what
> > most people expect in a PTA or PTSA.
>
> Twilight Zone time. Neen, put on your tinfoil
> hat. I thought you said that liberals were the
> conspiracy theorists? But for you, it's black
> helicopter time all the time.
>
> BTW, have you figured out the secret handshake
> yet?

Oh whew! So glad to hear that the SL PTSA has no secrets, no private, invitation only, forums. Everything out in the open! Great news. That will be reassuring to others.

I wonder what all the fuss was about? Who knows? (shrugs)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2008 11:53PM by Neen.

Neen's Conscience Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen Wrote:
> >
> > Isn't it SL that is broaching boundaries?
> wink,
> > wink.
> >
> > What can I say? You've done your work on me.
> :)
>
> Believe it or not, I have no earthly idea what you
> are talking about.

No sense of humor? Sorry. :(

You are my conscience, you've worked your magic on me. Get it?

Hey Neen! Guess what? I've infiltrated the StopRD group. All I had to do was enter their last meeting in a Brown Shirt and yell, "MORATORIUM." They have no idea that I am a member of the South Lakes Secret Society.

Neen's Conscience Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > This disaster might have been avoided if the SB
> > had put some effort into improving South Lakes
> > years back. It seems likely that there would
> > never have been a need for this redistricting
> if
> > they hadn't let it go so far down for so long.
>
> Now we're making progress. At least you admit
> that it is not the fault of the SLPTSA and the
> parents. Thank heaven for small favors.

That was never fault of the PTSA. But if they want to turn it around now, and make this a success, they need to make some changes too.

I've stated my opinions on what the PTSA needs to do now.

Cute!
Now repeat after me: I will no longer display animosity toward South Lakes and Reston. I will accept that they are working to make parents feel welcome. I will not assign ulterior motives to the SL PTSA.

Now, breathe deeply. Isn't that better?

Neen's Conscience Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey Neen! Guess what? I've infiltrated the StopRD
> group. All I had to do was enter their last
> meeting in a Brown Shirt and yell, "MORATORIUM."
> They have no idea that I am a member of the South
> Lakes Secret Society.

Good for you! Thanks for sharing. But StopRD had nothing to infiltrate. They had no secret meetings, or secret anything. And now we know that South Lakes PTSA is just as open and honest.

You sound like a very bitter, angry, person. I bet we can guess your previous nic, can't we?

All we are saying, is give a magnet (or AP or something else) a chance. (Song while waving the peace flag.)

Peace brother. Er sister...............

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> That was never fault of the PTSA. But if they
> want to turn it around now, and make this a
> success, they need to make some changes too.
>
> I've stated my opinions on what the PTSA needs to
> do now.

Your opinions have been noted and will be taken into consideration. You are much more effective when you are not working against them.:)

Restonian Wrote:

> Why not? What do you predict will happen to FME
> and the portion of Floris being considered for
> redistricting?

The same that has happened to Reston areas going to SL. The FME and Floris families will pupil place or move. I doubt new families with High School age children will move into the new boundaries. The demographics will change in that area, and SL will not get new students it thinks it will.
>
> Our county school system should make changes as
> needed to serve the students in the system fairly.

And that should also apply to the people who are being disrupted to hide the failures at SL.

Neen's Conscience Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >>>that they are working to make parents feel
> welcome<<<<


Great! Can you let us know when that will begin? I would be happy to support their efforts at compromising with the new communities and making them feel welcome. There is really NO time for them to waste. So much damage has been done. If SL PTSA has ANY hope of this redistricting happening, they need to begin NOW, immediately.

Please keep us posted on their efforts, what they are willing to do, what they are willing to compromise on, to reassure new families.

This could be a great beginning. Families are looking for a reason to like South Lakes. Give them some!

I thought I was a happy,funny person. Now you tell me I'm a bitter, angry person. You've ruined my night. Instead of 'give peace a chance' I'll have to sing 'Is that all there is.'

You know what, all of this does not amount to a hill of beans in the larger scheme. It will all work out, too.:)