floris mom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does anyone know the true headcount on how many
> Floris/FM freshmen are going to South Lakes????


I can report that last Thursday there were three sets of parents/students registering, or trying to register, at Chantilly from South Lakes. One Mom told me her son was scheduled to start at SLHS and one said Westfield/SLHS rded. So I'm assuming they were trying to get into Chantilly so I'm not sure if there was space available or what. Remember back during pupil-placement time we were told that Chantilly was completely full (although we know that is false). I was registering mine too and and all four of us, including myself, were "minorities". The student services office was literally full.

Cool, all the minorities are leaving SLHS and going to Chantilly

Leavem Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cool, all the minorities are leaving SLHS and
> going to Chantilly


Yeah, the RD process revealed much about the racism and bigotry at SLHS. Chantilly has a much more progressive-minded integrated community. Best of luck to all involved.

Navy Mom, hurling slanderous comments will land you in the brig. SL parents never said anything bad; all the bad comments were from the other side.

Navy Brig Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SL parents never said anything
> bad;

Except about those who shop at Shoppers.

Captain's Mast for you, sailor.

Berdhuis, you keep repeating this same tired meme, even though you know it's not true, and even though you know exactly why the SL community did not want to place a larger percentage of Title I kids at SL. You ignore that the SL parents did not think it would be fair to the McNair kids or the SL kids, and that the McNair kids would be better served by remaining at Westfield. You seem a tad too sensitive about where you live. Give it a rest or it's the plank for you.

Navy Brig Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Berdhuis, you keep repeating this same tired meme,
> even though you know it's not true, and even
> though you know exactly why the SL community did
> not want to place a larger percentage of Title I
> kids at SL. You ignore that the SL parents did
> not think it would be fair to the McNair kids or
> the SL kids, and that the McNair kids would be
> better served by remaining at Westfield. You seem
> a tad too sensitive about where you live. Give it
> a rest or it's the plank for you.

Predictably and right on cue. Thanks for the memories, Navy Brig. I won't miss you and your like-minded group. Berhuis, I admire you for trying...

Enjoy those misconceptions and bitter pills, Navy Mom. Hopefully you will find the gumption to move on. Your neighbors have.

South Lakes es numero uno?? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What about Latinos Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Let's take a look at how Latinos fare at SLHS:
> >
> > In 2006-07 18 Latinos took the SAT with about
> 35%
> > scoring above the national average.
> >
> > In 2005-06 21 Latinos took the SAT with about
> 33%
> > scroing above the national average.
> >
> > In 2004-05 12 Latinos took the SAT with about
> 17%
> > scoring above the natonal average.
> >
> > In 2006-07 19 11th and 12th grade Latinos
> > participated in IB with just 7 taking the
> exams.
> >
> > In 2005-06 18 11th and 12th grade Latinos
> > participated in IB with just 8 taking the
> exams.
> >
> > Why isn't this school doing more to improve the
> > participation rate of Latinos on SAT and IB?
> >
> > I thought this school was "on the right track"?
>
>
>
>

Why would minority parents want to keep their kids out of South Lakes? They will get a lot of attention there and get a fine education.

is this diatribe? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> are things really better at SLHS Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As far as participation rates for 12th graders
> at
> > SLHS-an indication of whether the student is
> going
> > the college route-I found some interesting
> data:
> >
> > In 2006-07 40 Black students took the SAT with
> > about 28% scoring above the national average.
> >
> > In 2005-06 38 Black students took the SAT with
> > about 18% scoring above the national average.
> >
> > In 2004-05 42 Black students took the SAT with
> > about 24% scoring above the national average.
> >
> > It does not look like the principal, staff, or
> PTA
> > at SLHS is focused on more Black students
> taking
> > the SAT and/or providing them with SAT prep to
> > help them improve their performance.
>
>
African American students can expect the SLHS staff and community to provide a nurturing environment to help them excell. Bruce Butler is the best principal FCPS has to offer by golly!! We should clone him.

Despite all the yammer, Navy Mom appears to be a minority in that she is one of the few not going to SLHS (and trying to work it out,,,,not spewing bilge bile).

Berdhuis: YOu do need a new schtick. You and Joe Lieberman have strange bedfellows.

Once FairfaxCAPS wins the lawsuit there will be no more redistricting. Make sure you donate, we have a very expensive lawyer and lots of administration costs to pay.

navy parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Yeah, the RD process revealed much about the
> racism and bigotry at SLHS.

I was at Oakton HS standing in line with about 15 parents from SLHS that are pupil placing into Oakton. I was surprised to see that all the Moms pupil placing their kids were what I would call low life minority. It seems those that are pupil placing out of SLHS are the minorities. There's a huge minority influx at Oakton.

Are you clammy because 'low-life' minorities are moving to Oakton?

Well, you can't really blame the minorities being RD'd. Through the RD, people like Berduis repeatedly explained the part of McNair that could be RD'd to SLHS are high performing minority kids, yet SLHS refuses to take them. The message is loud and clear from SLHS, isn't it?

I wouldn't count on Berdhuis as a font of knowledge. You might just be spewing bilge bile, dontcha know?

But you can't deny that part of McNair consists of high performing kids, only thing is most of them are not white. I don't want to start another round of debate, but want to point out there are rooms for SLHS to make the new coming minorities feel welcome, not just the white students.

I am sure that SL is totally welcoming any and all new students. Period.

minorities get the message Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> But you can't deny that part of McNair consists of
> high performing kids, only thing is most of them
> are not white. I don't want to start another round
> of debate, but want to point out there are rooms
> for SLHS to make the new coming minorities feel
> welcome, not just the white students.


South Lakes can't handle it. They are doing a lousy job of educating the minorities that they have. Other schools like Lee, Annandale, Stuart, Falls Church are getting these kids in advanced courses, SAT prep, etc, South Lakes is not.

SLHS has one of the lowest IB participation rates for minorities.

SLHS has one of the lowest SAT take rates for minorities.

It is no wonder that these parents are staying away. Good for them for looking out for their kids' best interests. These kids would be much better served at Oakton, Herndon or Chantilly.

I find it ironic how the SLHS would call all the RD parents racists. I think it is time for this PTA and staff to take a good long look in the mirror and admit how their indifference to these kids has hurt them academically.

The numbers don't lie. Butler better get his act together.

Not Bilge Bile? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wouldn't count on Berdhuis as a font of
> knowledge. You might just be spewing bilge bile,
> dontcha know?

I don't count myself as a font of knowledge, either, but I have been an acute observer of my own neighborhood for the past several years.

Devil to pay for you, shipmate.

minorities get the message Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> But you can't deny that part of McNair consists of
> high performing kids, only thing is most of them
> are not white. I don't want to start another round
> of debate, but want to point out there are rooms
> for SLHS to make the new coming minorities feel
> welcome, not just the white students.

95% of the Mothers and kids weren't in the RD'd area, they were current minority students that go to SLHS that now are going to attend Oakton. I thought it was interesting because I thought pupil placing was an upper middle class thing, but it appears that low income mothers are the real ones doing it.

Clammy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was at Oakton HS standing in line with about 15
> parents from SLHS that are pupil placing into
> Oakton. I was surprised to see that all the Moms
> pupil placing their kids were what I would call
> low life minority. It seems those that are pupil
> placing out of SLHS are the minorities. There's a
> huge minority influx at Oakton.


What are "low life" minorities? Please define for the rest of us.

Thanks, FM Mom. Clammy, and you do make me clammy, and you say more about yourself with your post that maybe you intend. You are the low life.

FM mom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Clammy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I was at Oakton HS standing in line with about
> 15
> > parents from SLHS that are pupil placing into
> > Oakton. I was surprised to see that all the
> Moms
> > pupil placing their kids were what I would call
> > low life minority. It seems those that are
> pupil
> > placing out of SLHS are the minorities. There's
> a
> > huge minority influx at Oakton.
>
>
> What are "low life" minorities? Please define for
> the rest of us.

My friend's son graduated this year with an FCPS IB diploma and has a full-ride physics scholarship, plus another engineering scholarship, at a top Virginia school. He reports that the "calculus for engineers" class he's taking is going to be a breeze, and that the one required writing class is easier than 10th grade classes were. He says he looks forward to a fairly easy first year at college while he gets grounded and works with professors to help him decide, eventually, which field in physics he's going to pursue. He's also enjoying his chemistry class, having had excellent grounding in pre-IB chemistry. He couldn't tell my friend whether he felt IB prepared him better for college because he has no experience with AP, except that his brother, who took AP calc BC with a score of 5, struggled with calc his first year in college.

One kid, one view, one IB diploma.

Report from College Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My friend's son graduated this year with an FCPS
> IB diploma and has a full-ride physics
> scholarship, plus another engineering scholarship,
> at a top Virginia school. He reports that the
> "calculus for engineers" class he's taking is
> going to be a breeze, and that the one required
> writing class is easier than 10th grade classes
> were. He says he looks forward to a fairly easy
> first year at college while he gets grounded and
> works with professors to help him decide,
> eventually, which field in physics he's going to
> pursue. He's also enjoying his chemistry class,
> having had excellent grounding in pre-IB
> chemistry. He couldn't tell my friend whether he
> felt IB prepared him better for college because he
> has no experience with AP, except that his
> brother, who took AP calc BC with a score of 5,
> struggled with calc his first year in college.
>
> One kid, one view, one IB diploma.



Wow, do you write the "Bud Light" commercials, too?

SLHS IB certainly didn't hold back 30 recent SLHS graduates that are now attending UVA.

Go Hoo's!

Report from College Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My friend's son graduated this year with an FCPS
> IB diploma and has a full-ride physics
> scholarship, plus another engineering scholarship,
> at a top Virginia school. He reports that the
> "calculus for engineers" class he's taking is
> going to be a breeze, and that the one required
> writing class is easier than 10th grade classes
> were. He says he looks forward to a fairly easy
> first year at college while he gets grounded and
> works with professors to help him decide,
> eventually, which field in physics he's going to
> pursue. He's also enjoying his chemistry class,
> having had excellent grounding in pre-IB
> chemistry. He couldn't tell my friend whether he
> felt IB prepared him better for college because he
> has no experience with AP, except that his
> brother, who took AP calc BC with a score of 5,
> struggled with calc his first year in college.
>
> One kid, one view, one IB diploma.


As has been covered ad nauseum - the key phrase in your post is 'IB Diploma'.

As previously noted, the IB diploma rate at SLHS is shockingly low - no-one has ever explained why.

I have no reason to either defend or criticize Bruce Butler, other than to mention that by reputation he is well thought of and engaged in a job that is by most any description challenging.

And generally I do think principals in particular need to be highly accountable.

But the call for Mr. Butler to get his act together may be unfair. It would be an interesting social science exercise, particularly if an unbiased source could be utilized (easier said than done), but it strikes me that the reason minority performance at South Lakes is desultory is not due to the circumstance of pigmentation. No, my guess is that it has a considerably higher number of students from families receiving forms of public assistance, including 8(a) vouchers.

And nothing has proven more deadly to aspirations or work ethic than the narcotic like, stultifying effect of Great Society welfare programs. No one should be surprised at what is going on at SLHS in the minority community - social entitlements bring with them cultural problems that are more pernicious than any other. Again, just an opinion, not sufficiently grounded in research. But as a fair guess, I would go with it. And from this perspective I would take pains to be fair to Mr. Butler and his staff. We should expect a lot from school leaders, but they cannot be expected to work magic.

realmanofgenius Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Report from College Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > My friend's son graduated this year with an
> FCPS
> > IB diploma and has a full-ride physics
> > scholarship, plus another engineering
> scholarship,
> > at a top Virginia school. He reports that the
> > "calculus for engineers" class he's taking is
> > going to be a breeze, and that the one required
> > writing class is easier than 10th grade classes
> > were. He says he looks forward to a fairly easy
> > first year at college while he gets grounded
> and
> > works with professors to help him decide,
> > eventually, which field in physics he's going
> to
> > pursue. He's also enjoying his chemistry class,
> > having had excellent grounding in pre-IB
> > chemistry. He couldn't tell my friend whether
> he
> > felt IB prepared him better for college because
> he
> > has no experience with AP, except that his
> > brother, who took AP calc BC with a score of 5,
> > struggled with calc his first year in college.
> >
> > One kid, one view, one IB diploma.
>
>
>
> Wow, do you write the "Bud Light" commercials,
> too?



It's great that your IB Diploma friend is breezing through his freshmen classes. It also might be interesting to compare that with his brother who took AP calc (and scored well on the test) and then struggled in college calc. Unless they both went to the same schools, it's really hard to draw any conclusions. If the older son went to MIT, Cal Tech, etc, that might explain why his frosh calc caused the kid to struggle...particularly if the younger son is going to a top state school versus a top national school. (Also, maybe the older boy met the love of his life early freshmen year and found it hard to concentrate on anything but her.) I think fair comparisons are really hard to make...just too many variables.

Right on, right on.

please Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> But the call for Mr. Butler to get his act
> together may be unfair. It would be an
> interesting social science exercise, particularly
> if an unbiased source could be utilized (easier
> said than done), but it strikes me that the reason
> minority performance at South Lakes is desultory
> is not due to the circumstance of pigmentation.
> No, my guess is that it has a considerably higher
> number of students from families receiving forms
> of public assistance, including 8(a) vouchers.
>
> And nothing has proven more deadly to aspirations
> or work ethic than the narcotic like, stultifying
> effect of Great Society welfare programs. No one
> should be surprised at what is going on at SLHS in
> the minority community - social entitlements bring
> with them cultural problems that are more
> pernicious than any other. Again, just an
> opinion, not sufficiently grounded in research.
> But as a fair guess, I would go with it. And from
> this perspective I would take pains to be fair to
> Mr. Butler and his staff. We should expect a lot
> from school leaders, but they cannot be expected
> to work magic.

I have a modest proposal. Think about what results in a successful life for students. What do they need to learn to achieve their potential?

Once they leave college, who looks at their grades? Usually nobody. If their grades are reviewed upon hiring just after graduation, are they ever reviewed again? Not likely.

The strongest variable in career success is career satisfaction. That means you're comfortable with your work and peers and, as a result, your performance is maxed out. Another key variable is interpersonal skills - how well you communicate, how effective are you at leading, following, sharing a common goal or task. Except for specialized technical jobs, e.g. software development, etc., it's the quality of your ability to get along that counts (and even among developers, at times;)

In terms of property values, I can understand the concerns about living on one district and then having that changed. However, in terms of the outcomes of a high school education, why isn't there a concern for classes or atmospheres that promoted the qualities of teamwork and the task of identifying the form of study that is most amenable to the student? You can do this just as well at SLHS as you can at LHS.

If you want to assure your children a great shot at life, teach them tolerance and expose them to a variety of cultures and classes. Don't force them to think that their specific high school is a make or break event any more than straight "A's" are a make or break event. And if they're going to SLHS instead of Madison or Oakton, by all means don't fill them with the hostility you may feel about this. They will miss a real opportunity to learn about the larger world and hot to adapt to change.

please Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have no reason to either defend or criticize
> Bruce Butler, other than to mention that by
> reputation he is well thought of and engaged in a
> job that is by most any description challenging.
>
> And generally I do think principals in particular
> need to be highly accountable.
>
> But the call for Mr. Butler to get his act
> together may be unfair. It would be an
> interesting social science exercise, particularly
> if an unbiased source could be utilized (easier
> said than done), but it strikes me that the reason
> minority performance at South Lakes is desultory
> is not due to the circumstance of pigmentation.
> No, my guess is that it has a considerably higher
> number of students from families receiving forms
> of public assistance, including 8(a) vouchers.
>
> And nothing has proven more deadly to aspirations
> or work ethic than the narcotic like, stultifying
> effect of Great Society welfare programs. No one
> should be surprised at what is going on at SLHS in
> the minority community - social entitlements bring
> with them cultural problems that are more
> pernicious than any other. Again, just an
> opinion, not sufficiently grounded in research.
> But as a fair guess, I would go with it. And from
> this perspective I would take pains to be fair to
> Mr. Butler and his staff. We should expect a lot
> from school leaders, but they cannot be expected
> to work magic.


Sure SLHS and Butler have challenges-so do Annandale, Stuart, Falls Church, Lee and Edison. SLHS is trailing those schools in the participatory catagories for minorities-such as advanced classes and SAT.

You have to work with what you have-you can't change the poverty rate in your school (although the SB is trying with this RD). The principals that are successful are making it happen and not making excuses.

It is inexcusable that ANY FCPS school is trailing other VA schools on test scores. We have far more resources than other school districts and we should be getting better results.

nice try Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Sure SLHS and Butler have challenges-so do
> Annandale, Stuart, Falls Church, Lee and Edison.
> SLHS is trailing those schools in the
> participatory catagories for minorities-such as
> advanced classes and SAT.
>
> You have to work with what you have-you can't
> change the poverty rate in your school (although
> the SB is trying with this RD). The principals
> that are successful are making it happen and not
> making excuses.
>
> It is inexcusable that ANY FCPS school is trailing
> other VA schools on test scores. We have far more
> resources than other school districts and we
> should be getting better results.

I agree, the FCPS board should dedicate resources to help SLHS!

Clammy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> nice try Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > Sure SLHS and Butler have challenges-so do
> > Annandale, Stuart, Falls Church, Lee and Edison.
>
> > SLHS is trailing those schools in the
> > participatory catagories for minorities-such as
> > advanced classes and SAT.
> >
> > You have to work with what you have-you can't
> > change the poverty rate in your school
> (although
> > the SB is trying with this RD). The principals
> > that are successful are making it happen and
> not
> > making excuses.
> >
> > It is inexcusable that ANY FCPS school is
> trailing
> > other VA schools on test scores. We have far
> more
> > resources than other school districts and we
> > should be getting better results.
>
> I agree, the FCPS board should dedicate resources
> to help SLHS!



I will verify the numbers, but my hunch is that SLHS is getting "their share" of resources. It appears to be lack of focus and leadership that is resulting in their underperformance relative to these other schools. We really need to hold these individual school leaders accountable. Throwing more money at a problem that appears to be incompetence does not help.

What's the word? How many new students did SL's get? Surely Butler has bragged about it by now.

A South Lakes graduate...................?


Report from College Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My friend's son graduated this year with an FCPS
> IB diploma and has a full-ride physics
> scholarship, plus another engineering scholarship,
> at a top Virginia school. He reports that the
> "calculus for engineers" class he's taking is
> going to be a breeze, and that the one required
> writing class is easier than 10th grade classes
> were. He says he looks forward to a fairly easy
> first year at college while he gets grounded and
> works with professors to help him decide,
> eventually, which field in physics he's going to
> pursue. He's also enjoying his chemistry class,
> having had excellent grounding in pre-IB
> chemistry. He couldn't tell my friend whether he
> felt IB prepared him better for college because he
> has no experience with AP, except that his
> brother, who took AP calc BC with a score of 5,
> struggled with calc his first year in college.
>
> One kid, one view, one IB diploma.

Thirty students from one school seems a bit over the top. That is a huge number. Does anyone know how many TJ sent to UVA?









Wahoooooooooooo! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLHS IB certainly didn't hold back 30 recent SLHS
> graduates that are now attending UVA.
>
> Go Hoo's!

Somewhere around 125. More were accepted.

The South Lakes population increased by about 200 students.


[www.washingtonpost.com]

Thank goodness those Floris kids are out of Westfield. For the first time ever my daughter made cheerleading and my son no longer gets his toes stepped on between classes. Thanks Kathy! Thanks Stu!

read in the post that now Oakton freshman class is too crowded. principal is quoted as saying he has to "wedge kids in". i guess kathy and stu just made it someone else's problem now.

now crowded Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> read in the post that now Oakton freshman class is
> too crowded. principal is quoted as saying he has
> to "wedge kids in". i guess kathy and stu just
> made it someone else's problem now.

Stu got what he wanted - some more kids at South Lakes to improve test scores and make the SLPTSA happy.

If that bothers you, vote him out in 2011, because he is pretty clear (now that the RD suit has been decided in the SB's favor) that he does not care at all whether any other school is bursting at the seams or, for that matter, under-capacity. The facilities-based arguments used to justify the last RD were a crock, and he dragged Tisdadt and James along for the ride.

Stay tune for the Coppermine ES redistricting. More of the same. This time, however, the school board said they will have criteria for deciding what neighborhoods stay and which go.

There will be the same town hall meetings, where neighborhoods will be divided and conquered. When do we say enough is enough. I guess when the elections roll around.

Mary Ellen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Stay tune for the Coppermine ES redistricting.
> More of the same. This time, however, the school
> board said they will have criteria for deciding
> what neighborhoods stay and which go.
>
> There will be the same town hall meetings, where
> neighborhoods will be divided and conquered. When
> do we say enough is enough. I guess when the
> elections roll around.


criteria just mean that you know what they decided in advance

wait... exactly the same as the last time

the SB can't be trusted to tie their own shoelaces let alone run an RD or set the conditions. The recent debacle showed them for what they are - devious, cowardly, conniving and dishonest. The final board meeting of the process was a disgrace - they should all have resigned in shame.

They decided on the criteria on Sept. 4. There is a link on the FCPS home page.

removed - posted in wrong thread



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/2008 04:07PM by Lurker..

criteria Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They decided on the criteria on Sept. 4. There is
> a link on the FCPS home page.


can someone post the direct link to where on the FCPS site?

Are you people still crying about this shit?
Give it a rest already

Coppermine is not a high school. Discussions of Coppermine do not belong on this thread.