stormcenter:

The piece describes exactly what the school board has been doing. It described exactly how the last meeting was managed. It characterized the school board correctly. They are bullies, as we all know, bullies are cowards. No surprise they were hiding behind a screen. It was a scene out of the Wizard of OZ.

stormcenter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TM, only insecure people find it necessary to put
> down others when making their own points. You are
> smarter than that, or so I thought.

If anyone were interested in being psychoanalyzed by you, I'm sure they can make an appointment for your couch.

Holding someone in a leadership position responsible for spreading disinformation is part of an honest exchange of ideas.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2007 08:12PM by Thomas More.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> stormcenter,
> I would ignore TM. His condescension and OPD is
> legendary on this site.

I guess that's because you can't rebut the substance so you revert to ad hominem invective.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2007 08:04PM by Thomas More.

Birdlover,
you must be joking. That piece is clearly an inflammatory, factless, nonobjective piece of "journalism". I called the Post to complain. I can't believe they are allowed to post such tripe as anything but an editorial.

Just because the FCPS isn't allowing themselves be bullied by Stop RD doesn't make THEM bullies. They have a job to do and that is to make sure ALL schools in FCPS are utilized in the best way possible. Redistricting does occur from time to time, and if they gave all the power to parents, they would never be able to redistrict.

I don't think FCPS ever WAS a democracy. How would that be possible?

well----

I don't know why all these parents are very angry about sending their kids there. They just redid the school so it looks great. The IB program would be very beneficial to your children; it teaches communication skills which are of the utmost importance when trying to get a job. To exemplify this, If you were going out for a job interview, and you were brilliant at math but you couldn't communicate your thoughts, you wouldn't get the job. My vocabulary and ability to communicate my thoughts through words has increased ten fold.

Also, this seems to be a problem more with parents than children. I know some of the kids that would be going to SL and they actually want to come.

Plus, i don't see what the fuss is, you aren't going to change the plans this has been happening for years but no one paid attention until now.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Birdlover,
> you must be joking. That piece is clearly an
> inflammatory, factless, nonobjective piece of
> "journalism". I called the Post to complain. I
> can't believe they are allowed to post such tripe
> as anything but an editorial.
>
> Just because the FCPS isn't allowing themselves be
> bullied by Stop RD doesn't make THEM bullies.
> They have a job to do and that is to make sure ALL
> schools in FCPS are utilized in the best way
> possible. Redistricting does occur from time to
> time, and if they gave all the power to parents,
> they would never be able to redistrict.
>
> I don't think FCPS ever WAS a democracy. How
> would that be possible?


By all schools, do you include Langley HS?

Sharon,
I would like it if Langley was included. It would give more options for redistricting.

However, that doesn't mean that the western schools wouldn't be pulled in anyway. Nothing guaranteeing that.

There is more than one way for them to pursue optimal use of schools. Just because some parents don't agree with that way, doesn't mean it's wrong. Any way they pick would make some parents unhappy. That's why they create criteria and stick to them. How else could they choose a scenario?

Parents have to have logical, reasonable input to be heard, not "i don't wanna go!" or my personal favorite, "My property values will go down!" What's FCPS supposed to do with that?

FME Mom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OAKTON
>
> Grade 2004-2005 2005-2006
> 09 615 583
> 10 601 623
> 11 588 600
> 12 552 545
>
> Offense Category 2004-2005 2005-2006
> Related to Weapons 1 1
> Against Student 9 16
> Against Staff 0 2
> Against Person 21 27
> Related to ATOD 28 26
> Related to Property 12 23
> Related to Behavior 51 71
> Other 33 32
>
>
> SOUTH LAKES
> Grade 2004-2005 2005-2006
> 09 427 404
> 10 408 387
> 11 427 386
> 12 340 369
>
> Offense Category 2004-2005 2005-2006
> Related to Weapons 5 11
> Against Student 21 13
> Against Staff 6 6
> Against Person 30 55
> Related to ATOD 37 38
> Related to Property 13 20
> Related to Behavior 82 24
> Other 101 172
>
> OAKTON
> 2004-2005 2,356 students and 155 offences. 6.57%
> 2005-2006 2,351 students and 198 offences. 8.42%
>
> SOUTH LAKES
> 2004-2005 1,602 students and 295 offences.
> 18.41%
> 2005-2006 1,646 students and 339 offences.
> 21.92%
>
> The numbers don't lie. Why in the world would we
> want to place our children there?
>
> I think the SL folks on here just don't realize
> how bad it is because they have not experienced a
> truly great school.

WOW!!! That sure tells it like it is. No wonder parents are concerned about sending their children to South Lakes. Of course ALL of this could be changed if
FCPS had a strict discipline policy at South Lakes. Kids who don't want to learn shouldn't be allowed in our schools.

Actually, we have reason to believe that numbers DO lie. I personally know of at least two incidents at Oakton that were never reported. Some principals cook the books--is that so hard to believe?

Bruce Butler, on the other hand, is a stickler and reports all incidents.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2007 09:12PM by South Lakes Pyramid parent.

Clarifier wrote:

This is a serious concern that South Lakes has, born of a history of prejudice against it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is it just me or do others have trouble interpreting Clarifiers words? What do these words mean.???

If "IB" causes you to "speak" so many don't understand ....it is a failure. With all your building museums visits, eagles scout ceremonies etc etc etc...do people understand you..

Maybe you should at least change your user name from "clarifier" to "obtuse".

Again, it reminds me of the 2007 Miss Teen South Carolina "Youtube" comment.

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Families with children do not buy homes in the
> Reston area because the schools are dreadful.
> That's why enrollment is down. Don't kid yourself.
> This has been going on for a long time.

Yes. That's exactly why we are where we are today, when other people have to be forced to go to South Lakes.

>>>>WILL THE SOUTH LAKES COMMUNITY AGREE TO DELAY THIS WHOLE ISSUE FOR A YEAR AND SUPPORT A COUNTY-WIDE HIGH AND MIDDLE SCHOOL REDISTRICTING EFFORT?<<<<

Of course not. They see no need to ever compromise. And why should they when the school board will gladly force people to attend their school?

Forgive me if this link has already been posted, but it is an excellent article on the subject at hand:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/12/AR2007121201005.html

Does anyone think that Mr.Carney is among us? I do. He's an excellent writer.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bruce Butler, on the other hand, is a stickler and
> reports all incidents.

Or maybe he's just a "kid hater", as my 4 kids and their friends spontaneously describe him.

>>>Keep the SB members OUT of the decision making process-turn it over to professional consultants who have no debts to pay to anyone. We need objectivity and fairness in the process.<<<

Why would the school board ever vote to take that power away from themselves? They won't. Many of them LOVE having that power to move people around as they see fit.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Forgive me if this link has already been posted,
> but it is an excellent article on the subject at
> hand:
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
> le/2007/12/12/AR2007121201005.html
>
> Does anyone think that Mr.Carney is among us? I
> do. He's an excellent writer.



That Carney is one hell of an advocate. Now he's famous.

>>>If you like IB, great. Keep it, but don't try to force other children into it, and don't complain that the courses are not the same as those offered in an AP school.<<<

AMEN!

Yes, Neen, I'm sure the school board people REALLY enjoyed being heckled at the first meeting. They probably went home and had a good laugh about all those angry parents.

Stop the Car... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is it me or do the majority of people believe this
> study should stop? I do not want to throw other
> neighborhoods 'under the bus' to fix a systemic
> problem with the pyramid that feeds into SHS.
> They have great students who excel and achieve but
> no one can argue that their scores and rankings
> aren't equal to their surrounding schools.
>
> We need to communicate the the school board that a
> 'stop work order' is the only solution.
>
> If redistricting is found to be necessary, do it
> with all the boundary schools included and with
> accurate numbers/data. Stop wasting our taxpayer
> dollars to fund this study.
>
> To the School Board: Stop Redistricting and get
> your acts together before beginning it again!


That point has been made to staff, and the school board, hundreds, if not thousands of times. They have made it quite clear that they don't care what the public thinks or desires.

I'm very interested to hear what people would say are "good" reasons to redistrict.
You all are very good at saying the existing reasons are bad, so come on, what would it take? And don't use magnets as an argument. Just reasons.

Thomas More said:
>>>f this fall in yield is attributable to any condition that has recently change (principal, crime)<<<<

How did crime rates at South Lakes change? What has caused that?

A "good" reason to redistrict - a massive redistribution of wealth between neighborhoods takes place not by hard work and/or savings but by government fiat
(FCPS) - sarc

Sharon,
Really, get over yourself. Many of us live in expensive homes.

Come on, real reasons. My point is that I bet you all can't come up with any. You don't want to follow reason or logic. You just don't wanna go.

And I'm sorry, but FCPS doesn't take that too seriously. They can't, and do their jobs effectively.

>>>>anyone who is wiping their brow right now shouldn't be<<<<

You are SO right, this could change on a dime. Until the school board votes, nothing is written in stone.

Berdhuis,
Are you saying that IB should be a magnet program at South Lakes? Isn't it already? Wasn't that one of the reasons that IB was established in these high schools, to attract out of boundary students? The SB was never quite able to sell IB to the parents in FCPS so it never worked as a magnet to attract other students.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sharon,
> Really, get over yourself. Many of us live in
> expensive homes.
>
> Come on, real reasons. My point is that I bet you
> all can't come up with any. You don't want to
> follow reason or logic. You just don't wanna go.
>
> And I'm sorry, but FCPS doesn't take that too
> seriously. They can't, and do their jobs
> effectively.


If you are going to ask rhetorical questions I dont think
anyone should waste time answering.

Mr. Carney's WP piece didn't say anything that wasn't true, did it?

If the article reported the facts, then what makes it an opinion piece?

> The piece describes exactly what the school board
> has been doing. It described exactly how the last
> meeting was managed. It characterized the school
> board correctly. They are bullies, as we all
> know, bullies are cowards. No surprise they were
> hiding behind a screen. It was a scene out of the
> Wizard of OZ.

YES! EXACTLY! Mr.Carney simply wrote the facts of what has happened in this boundary process.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm very interested to hear what people would say
> are "good" reasons to redistrict.
> You all are very good at saying the existing
> reasons are bad, so come on, what would it take?
> And don't use magnets as an argument. Just
> reasons.
-----------
1. Redistrict when a new school needs to be populated, or when an old school is being closed.
2. Redistrict when a school projected to be significantly overcrowded is located next to a school that is projected to be to have significant excess capacity.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm very interested to hear what people would say
> are "good" reasons to redistrict.
> You all are very good at saying the existing
> reasons are bad, so come on, what would it take?
> And don't use magnets as an argument. Just
> reasons.


There are three good reasons -

1. The opening of s new school in the area (e.g. due to new construction).
2. The closing of a school in the area
3. When it is fully documented that a school in the area cannot meet minimum standards of excellence without additional students attending and after all other options for raising the performance level of that school have been explored and found lacking.

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Bruce Butler, on the other hand, is a stickler
> and
> > reports all incidents.
>
> Or maybe he's just a "kid hater", as my 4 kids and
> their friends spontaneously describe him.

Or maybe your kids and their friends are just punks. You know, chips off the old block.

>>>a massive redistribution of wealth between neighborhoods takes place not by hard work and/or savings but by government fiat<<<<

Nothing could make Stu Gibson more proud of his school board.

>>>>This is a serious concern that South Lakes has, born of a history of prejudice against it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is it just me or do others have trouble interpreting Clarifiers words? What do these words mean.???<<<<

It's not just you. Perhaps she's one of FCPS's finest, an educrat. No one ever knows what they are trying to say.

No wonder she loves IB.

>>>They just redid the school so it looks great.<<<

Sorry honey, but no one cares about that. If they did, no parent would send their child to TJ. It's ancient and real dump of a school.

Don't ALL of our schools teach communication so that graduates can get a job? I would hope that it was only the IB program that was doing that for our students.

>>>i don't see what the fuss is, you aren't going to change the plans this has been happening for years but no one paid attention until now.<<<<

This redistricting plan began last summer. But I agree, the decrease in students has been going on for a long time. The school board should have addressed the problem years ago, and stopped the flight out of South Lakes with better programs and better discipline.

JeaNEEN Martin or Jane Oldham or whatever you are calling yourself these days, do you ever get tired of hearing yourself bloviate?

>>>That Carney is one hell of an advocate. Now he's famous.<<<

I don't think an article in the Fairfax weekly would make him famous but the two books he's written and the hundreds of other article probably have.

>>>eaNEEN Martin or Jane Oldham or whatever you are calling yourself these days, do you ever get tired of hearing yourself bloviate?<<<

Yep, that's me. I'm also Lois Lane. AND Mrs. Bruce Butler. Your pal Kate Hanley too.

YOU, however are not much of a detective. Better keep your day job, such as it is.

You liberals just HATE the whole free speech thing, doncha? Oh well!

I'd say, nice try, except that it wasn't. Sucks to be YOU!

Spell check broken too, MA?

This just isn't your day, is it? or should I say, month? I don't expect January or February to be much better for you. You still won't convince anyone to want to go to your school, even with all your efforts to squelch free speech.

Still having fun and dating Superman,
Your Pal Lois

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thomas More said:
> >>>If this fall in yield is attributable to any
> condition that has recently change (principal,
> crime)<<<<
>
> How did crime rates at South Lakes change? What
> has caused that?

Under reporting by Railly (hard to imagine since she had come from Pimmit Hills and treated all of the kids like criminals. She filed a public report with the central office saying the biggest problem at South Lakes was the "criminal element". Such a joke) over reporting by Bruce,

Rates of crime are always changing in every arena, often for no apparent reason.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2007 10:43PM by Thomas More.

I see Neen has been busy tonight. I have to laugh at her characterization of Mr. Carney as a good writer, and famous to boot. He is an automotive writer, for gosh sakes! What I found interesting about his opinion piece was his big ol' picture right there with it - I guess he has an ego, too. Yet he was too chicken to include his email address at the bottom where he provided that great big cv of his amazing career. Let's see, how many viewers does MSNBC have? Last I checked, they were still at the ratings bottom of the cable news race, and fading fast. The most hilarious part of Neen's breathless descriptions of his writing prowess is that I am 100% certain that she loathes PMSNBC and all of it's news commentators. I wonder how she likes Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman, for example.

TM,
If the crime stats at SL have actually gone up, then how we do know that crime has gone down?

I didn't say he was famous! Someone else did. I said that if he was famous it wasn't because of this article in the Post but because of the books he's written and hundreds of previous articles.

I have NO Idea if he's famous, or not. But he is a great writer.

stormcenter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Or maybe he's just a "kid hater", as my 4 kids
> and
> > their friends spontaneously describe him.
>
> Or maybe your kids and their friends are just
> punks. You know, chips off the old block.

Actually none of them have ever had a disciplinary issue which makes their spontaneous utterances all the more credible.

So, are you Bruce's personal defender or just another obnoxious child.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TM,
> If the crime stats at SL have actually gone up,
> then how we do know that crime has gone down?

I said change not up or down.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
But he is
> a great writer.

There's no accounting for taste.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TM,
> If the crime stats at SL have actually gone up,
> then how we do know that crime has gone down?

Neen, when there was the big drug bust at Madison several years ago, after the FCPD planted a narc in the school, and over thirty kids were arrested, did it make it into the school profile? From what I remember, the whole thing was hushed up.

Five years ago three Langley students (two were band members) stole a gun and committed armed robbery three times - twice at the Reston Town Center and once in Sterling. Do you remember reading about it? I'll bet you don't.

The school crime stats are totally subjective and dependent on the honesty of the principal submitting the report. You should know that, but I have to remind myself that there is no reality that you won't cover up when it gets in the way of your agenda.

There was a big brawl at Westfield the other day, where an administrator got punched. Gotta shut it down, I guess.

SLVerity - give it a rest pal. Everytime someone points out SL is deficient in some category (Safety and Security, SOLs, Newsweek/J Mathews, GreatSchools.com, SchoolDigger.com, etc., etc.) you feel the need to explain it away.

Fact of the matter is, there are some serious problems at South Lakes. Serious problems that have led to the decline in student population. Perhaps a root cause analysis of the situation needs to be performed.

>>>Neen, when there was the big drug bust at Madison
> several years ago, after the FCPD planted a narc
> in the school, and over thirty kids were arrested,
> did it make it into the school profile? From what
> I remember, the whole thing was hushed up.
>

There were NEVER 30 kids at Madison arrested. Of COURSE it would have made the papers. Sheeze.

I realize you cannot defend South Lakes, but that doesn't give you permission to make up lies about other schools.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >>>Neen, when there was the big drug bust at
> Madison
> > several years ago, after the FCPD planted a
> narc
> > in the school, and over thirty kids were
> arrested,
> > did it make it into the school profile? From
> what
> > I remember, the whole thing was hushed up.
> >
>
> There were NEVER 30 kids at Madison arrested. Of
> COURSE it would have made the papers. Sheeze.
>
> I realize you cannot defend South Lakes, but that
> doesn't give you permission to make up lies about
> other schools.

It happened when my children were small. The narc was a young-looking officer who told the students he was pupil placed from Chantilly. As I said, the incident was hushed up, but it was much talked about. Why do you doubt that it happened? Are Vienna kids perfect? Do they never do drugs?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/2007 12:07AM by SLVerity.

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLVerity - give it a rest pal. Everytime someone
> points out SL is deficient in some category
> (Safety and Security, SOLs, Newsweek/J Mathews,
> GreatSchools.com, SchoolDigger.com, etc., etc.)
> you feel the need to explain it away.
>
First of all, I'm not your pal- I'm not a pal at all. Funny that you mention Jay Matthews - I read today in the Post that SL had the largest gain in the County in the local Challenge Index - up 35%. Can you say upward trend?

Can you tell me why Oakton had such a precipitous drop on their SAT scores last year? I'd like to know more about that. That should be of concern to you. SL had the greatest jump for SATs in the County last year. Isn't that wonderful!

And that USNews Report that you love to brag on - they got the number 5 ranked school (Montpelier HS in VT) wrong the other day and had to retract and downgrade the school's ranking, much to the embarrassment of the publication. So much for the accuracy of their numbers. At any rate, their ratings only looks at AP schools, not IB. So it's not a very comprehensive list and you can't use it to diss SL.

About that safety and security, what did you think of that Washington Post article that I posted recently that detailed in-depth a week in the life of the school resource officer at Oakton last year? Drug issues, gang issues, skanky oufits. Did you brush that off?

Like Neen, you ignore anything positive about South Lakes. It simply doesn't fit your agenda to acknowledge that the school is not all bad. You said it best when you said the Words will never go to SL. I would never expect you to.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen Wrote:
> >
> > I realize you cannot defend South Lakes, but
> that
> > doesn't give you permission to make up lies
> about
> > other schools.


I have noticed that you have a penchant for calling people liars, whenever you don't like what they say. That's not very nice.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/2007 12:24AM by SLVerity.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > >>>Neen, when there was the big drug bust at
> > Madison
> > > several years ago, after the FCPD planted a
> > narc
> > > in the school, and over thirty kids were
> > arrested,
> > > did it make it into the school profile? From
> > what
> > > I remember, the whole thing was hushed up.
> > >
> >
> > There were NEVER 30 kids at Madison arrested.
> Of
> > COURSE it would have made the papers. Sheeze.
>
> >
> > I realize you cannot defend South Lakes, but
> that
> > doesn't give you permission to make up lies
> about
> > other schools.
>
> It happened when my children were small. The narc
> was a young-looking officer who told the students
> he was pupil placed from Chantilly. As I said,
> the incident was hushed up, but it was much talked
> about. Why do you doubt that it happened? Are
> Vienna kids perfect? Do they never do drugs?


There was definitely a pretty major drug bust at Madison within the past couple of years. I have no idea what happened to the students, but I heard that it was headed toward at least a couple of expulsions...

For the last month or so, I've been keeping up with all the posts on this site. I check it during school when parents are at home wasting valuable time, typing away at how bad South Lakes is, I check it after my practices and laugh at the kids who retaliate, because no one is going to see eye to eye here. I am a sophomore at South Lakes High School, I went through the pyramid (Lake Anne Elementary, Langston Hughes, and now South Lakes) and I can honestly say before I went to Hughes, after all the bad things I had heard about it (gangs, drugs, teachers were bad) I was afraid out of my mind to go there, but I did. I had the choice not to, but I won't say no before giving anything a try. I loved Hughes. My 7th grade year was amazing and 8th grade, I was SCA president, I had some of the greatest teachers and things were just good....then I started to hear the rumors about South Lakes. "You're gonna get beat up on Freshman Fuck Up Day!" "Everyone's pregnant!" "There's a bunch a hispanic people in gangs! They'll stab you!" "Someone will try and sell you drugs!" and a part of me had that same nervous feeling that I did before going into Hughes. But I gave it a shot. You all may not know me, but I would be the first person to say if there was something wrong with South Lakes. I wouldn't hide the truth, and especially not in this situation, because of all the opinions, and the "facts" you all seem to conjure up. I am currently a sophomore at South Lakes High School, I've been on the Varsity Cheerleading Squad since last year, I do gymnastics, and I do theater, and I can honestly say there hasn't been one time ever, where I felt unsafe at school. My teachers are absolutely amazing...for example, my Government teacher (who's name I won't put, just in case he doesn't want it here) It's only second semester, and i've learned so much. He's so eloquent and knowledgeable, as are the rest of my teachers, and then there's the issue about IB...IB helps you to dig deeper. It helps you to become more analytical, and it is recognized at many colleges around the country and world. Many people are skeptical about it, but it's been around for years. It's just now getting to the east coast though.

I know that I can't change your opinions....alot of you are sticking with the way you feel about South Lakes, and that's your prerogative, but don't judge before you know firsthand. I am sure that our outstanding principal, Mr. Butler, would have no problem with parents sitting in on classes, maybe even walking around, just to see how it's like at our school. We had 4 students come from Oakton, about 2 weeks ago (one in particular who sat in my government class) and I think that was a great idea.

I love my school, and I have so much seahawk pride.
We are by NO means perfect, but we are a great school.

Taylor:

Outstanding post. I am so glad that you like your school and are willing to defend it. Don't worry, there are lots of kids who won't mind in the least coming to South Lakes. They will be in good company.:)

Thank you

>>>>I have noticed that you have a penchant for calling people liars, whenever you don't like what they say. That's not very nice.<<<.

It's not very nice of you to make up lies about students at other schools.

If you can post a link to ANYTHING about 30 Madison kids being arrested, I shall be happy to withdraw the accusation.

>>>I heard that it was headed toward at least a couple of expulsions..<<<<

A couple of explusions is not quite the same as 30. Is it?

How could the story of a drug bust in Vienna of 30 students been "hushed up"? And why would it have been? Sheeze. You people make up the silliest things.

Since so many of you claim to know about it, it wasn't 'hushed up' very well, was it? Surely it would have made the papers if that many students had been arrested and expelled.

And the song remains the same.

Yes, there were two kids at Madison expelled for drugs, a couple of years back. One went to Marshall for a semester then returned to Madison and graduated the next year. The second one graduated from Tysons Pimmit and died the next month in a car accident. Very sad.

Perhaps these were the '30' students you are referring to?

Taylor Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
I won't argue with you except to say you've got to be in school in 7 hours and have the Herndon game Friday night. Please darlin' go to bed before you get very sick.

PEOPLE!
PLEASE STOP!
I posted, and told myself I wouldn't post anymore, but by reading everything that you all respond to, I feel compelled!

Redistricting is GOING TO HAPPEN. People will find a way to deal.
They can gripe about it and HELL, they can take their kids out of the school if it's that big of a deal.

Having a post war on this forum changes NOTHING.
NOTHING AT ALL.

I've been to ALL the meetings.
I've read everything there is from both sides, and neither side is going to change their opinion.

Neen and all the other SL-haters: You can feel how you want, that's completely ok. You're entitled to feel the way you want, but please go off of actual fact and not things you just hear, or made up statistics,

AND

South Lakes Supporters: Just don't write back! These people obviously aren't going to change how they feel and putting so much effort into trying to change their mind, is keeping us away from the important things.

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Taylor Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> I won't argue with you except to say you've got to
> be in school in 7 hours and have the Herndon game
> Friday night. Please darlin' go to bed before you
> get very sick.

So true.
I need to be asleep for the big day tomorrow, but I can't take this anymore. It's just not right.

Taylor,
Try not to take it all so seriously. It really won't effect you or your friends at all. Just focus on your own life, what we do here doesn't matter at all. We're just having silly adult fun.

Enjoy your big day tomorrow. Have fun!

Taylor wrote:

"For the last month or so, I've been keeping up with all the posts on this site. I check it during school when parents are at home wasting valuable time, typing away at how bad South Lakes is, I check it after my practices and laugh at the kids who retaliate, because no one is going to see eye to eye here. I am a sophomore at South Lakes High School, I went through the pyramid (Lake Anne Elementary, Langston Hughes, and now South Lakes) and I can honestly say before I went to Hughes, after all the bad things I had heard about it (gangs, drugs, teachers were bad) I was afraid out of my mind to go there, but I did. I had the choice not to, but I won't say no before giving anything a try. I loved Hughes. My 7th grade year was amazing and 8th grade, I was SCA president, I had some of the greatest teachers and things were just good....then I started to hear the rumors about South Lakes. "You're gonna get beat up on Freshman Fuck Up Day!" "Everyone's pregnant!" "There's a bunch a hispanic people in gangs! They'll stab you!" "Someone will try and sell you drugs!" and a part of me had that same nervous feeling that I did before going into Hughes. But I gave it a shot. You all may not know me, but I would be the first person to say if there was something wrong with South Lakes. I wouldn't hide the truth, and especially not in this situation, because of all the opinions, and the "facts" you all seem to conjure up. I am currently a sophomore at South Lakes High School, I've been on the Varsity Cheerleading Squad since last year, I do gymnastics, and I do theater, and I can honestly say there hasn't been one time ever, where I felt unsafe at school. My teachers are absolutely amazing...for example, my Government teacher (who's name I won't put, just in case he doesn't want it here) It's only second semester, and i've learned so much. He's so eloquent and knowledgeable, as are the rest of my teachers, and then there's the issue about IB...IB helps you to dig deeper. It helps you to become more analytical, and it is recognized at many colleges around the country and world. Many people are skeptical about it, but it's been around for years. It's just now getting to the east coast though.

I know that I can't change your opinions....alot of you are sticking with the way you feel about South Lakes, and that's your prerogative, but don't judge before you know firsthand. I am sure that our outstanding principal, Mr. Butler, would have no problem with parents sitting in on classes, maybe even walking around, just to see how it's like at our school. We had 4 students come from Oakton, about 2 weeks ago (one in particular who sat in my government class) and I think that was a great idea.

I love my school, and I have so much seahawk pride.
We are by NO means perfect, but we are a great school."

_________________________________________________________________

We have read many posts written by IB students from South Lakes High School.

Why aren't these children taught any writing skills? Why are they unfamiliar with the mechanics of a paragraph? Don't they have to take composition classes? These kids are unable to express a thought in a clear, precise and coherent manner. Each one of them writes profusely with constant repetition of the same thought.

They just write and write and write and write and write and write...almost as if they are simply documenting the rapid, untamed thoughts which rush through the brain. Why are they unable to organize their thoughts? Are there no English teachers at this school?

I live near SLHS and I wouldn't want my kids going to school there, if I had any. What those kids do at the school is probably nothing compared to what they do away from it. I've personally witnessed more than one act of wanton destruction from students from that school, and I haven't been here all that long. Kids will get into tussles with other kids, that's just the nature of children, but when they even challenge adults it's a whole different ballgame.

If I had to guess I would say that the trigger for redistricting is probably the drop in the housing market. Now that a good number of parents can't sell their houses in a weakening market and leave, they've got everybody by the short hairs.

Of course, we could have every single kid educated well in a safe environment, were the money spent on teaching them things they need to know to lead productive lives, rather than how to put condoms on bananas.

DG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I live near SLHS and I wouldn't want my kids going
> to school there, if I had any. What those kids do
> at the school is probably nothing compared to what
> they do away from it. I've personally witnessed
> more than one act of wanton destruction from
> students from that school, and I haven't been here
> all that long. Kids will get into tussles with
> other kids, that's just the nature of children,
> but when they even challenge adults it's a whole
> different ballgame.
>
> If I had to guess I would say that the trigger for
> redistricting is probably the drop in the housing
> market. Now that a good number of parents can't
> sell their houses in a weakening market and leave,
> they've got everybody by the short hairs.
>
> Of course, we could have every single kid educated
> well in a safe environment, were the money spent
> on teaching them things they need to know to lead
> productive lives, rather than how to put condoms
> on bananas.


Sybil, I mean, BirdLover:

When you look in the mirror, do you get dizzy from the kaleidoscopic effect. How many personalities are you going to adopt, girl? I notice that you -- in whatever guise -- have a thing about fruit, animals, and....er....hair length.

Really, and I mean this in the most earnest way, get a life......one life.

Padre, please explain.

I get the Sybil part. You think I am DG..... Just examine writing patterns a little more carefully and you'll discover you are incorrect. When I'm playing a role, other than that of a bird, it is usually, rather obvious.

But this part... "Fruit, animals and hair length." Padre, this is just weird. What in tarrrrrnation does that mean??

And, the 'get a life' insult. That's become dated, Padre. Makes you sound old.

The examiner had an opinion article supporting dropping the boundary chage proposal. It cited the dirty politics and unfair process that we are witnessing.I think there could be an uprising, throw fuel on the fire nd you know what happens. More attention from more important people that the County folks simply cannot ignore.

If the powers that be want Proposal #5 then they better get smart fast or they will get burned and end up empty handed. There are too many people on the sidelines ready to pounce.

Deliver it as done with no more adjustments or run for the hills. And fast!

The other day I saw a South Lakes kid running around, behind my house. He was knocking the eggs out all my beautiful berdhuises. I flew outside to intervene but the kid had some gang friends hiding in the bushes. It was all an elaborate plot to lure me out there. They chased me, yelled gang language, and tried to knock me around.

But, luckily, I'm a well trained ninja kind of bird. After whipping out one of my well concealed weapons, I took care of all three of them. South Lakes now has 3 fewer hoodlums to worry about.

Mike Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm very interested to hear what people would
> say
> > are "good" reasons to redistrict.
> > You all are very good at saying the existing
> > reasons are bad, so come on, what would it take?
>
> > And don't use magnets as an argument. Just
> > reasons.
>
>
> There are three good reasons -
>
> 1. The opening of s new school in the area (e.g.
> due to new construction).
> 2. The closing of a school in the area
> 3. When it is fully documented that a school in
> the area cannot meet minimum standards of
> excellence without additional students attending
> and after all other options for raising the
> performance level of that school have been
> explored and found lacking.

Also, Forum Reader:
1. Redistrict when a new school needs to be populated, or when an old school is being closed.
2. Redistrict when a school projected to be significantly overcrowded is located next to a school that is projected to be to have significant excess capacity.


Thanks for responding with real reasons.

I think Mike's #3 is true. I think FRs #1 is true. #2 is debatable--some people think Westfield and Chantilly are overcrowded, some don't. FCPS thinks they are, and not without some reason.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/2007 08:28AM by South Lakes Pyramid parent.

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have read FFX HS senior essays for college
> admission on many occasions and I can say that FFX
> HS seniors who exhibit knowledge of the proper use
> of the apostrophe were so rare as to be designated
> an "endangered species". I ascribed this
> phenomenon to FCPS's infatuation with "whole
> language" which was at its height when the current
> cohort of FFX HS students were going through
> elementary and middle school.
>
> If you want to see how pervasive the ill effects
> of this ill starred fad was on the children of
> FFX, ask your child tonight to name the eight
> parts of speech and give an example of each one's
> proper use in a sentence.
>
> I have yet to find a child who graduated from any
> FFX public school since 1996 who could pass this
> little quiz.


Yes, that "whole language" experiment was an absolute nightmare. When I read the MySpace pages of many of the teenagers I know, my toes curl. It's painful. About 12 years ago, my co-worker was telled at by her daughter's third grade teacher for reinforcing phonics at home.

I'm sure her daughter writes fine.

Padre, wearing his Sherlock Holmes hat, is walking around with a magnifying glass. No, Padre, I'm not SLPP, but you're getting warm.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And seriously, no one can call that Washington
> Post "article" anything other than what it is, a
> flaming opinion piece. Shame on the Post for
> printing that unless it was billed as an
> editorial.
>
> I just went and looked. It's NOT billed as an
> opinion piece. I can't believe the Post could
> print it without it even remotely trying to look
> objective.
>
> I don't think the numbers that show up at the
> boundary meeting constitute the "majority", and he
> should not be allowed to claim that without
> checking his facts. Many people who don't really
> mind coming to SL aren't going to the meetings. I
> know many personally.

I would estimate that about 5% (I'll be generous and give you 10%) want to go to South Lakes, therefore, the MAJORITY do not want to go. To achieve accurate numbers, perhaps you and I can approach each and every house and ask their opinion.

Even those I have encountered who have older children (who went to Oakton... for the past TWENTY-SOME-ODD YEARS in this neighborhood) or do not have children at all see the negative impact.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sharon,
> Really, get over yourself. Many of us live in
> expensive homes.
>
> Come on, real reasons. My point is that I bet you
> all can't come up with any. You don't want to
> follow reason or logic. You just don't wanna go.
>
> And I'm sorry, but FCPS doesn't take that too
> seriously. They can't, and do their jobs
> effectively.


When you bought your house, were you excited about the big socioeconomical melting pot known as Reston? Did you thoroughly investigate the Rreston school system, and inform yourself about South Lakes and their long standing history as an underachieving and violent school, or did you buy your expensive house and have an "Oh Shit!" moment when your child reached school age?

Many people in Fox Mill did the research. You chose to live in Reston, many of us chose to buy in Fox Mill for Oakton, and to avoid Reston's schools.

Here is a link to the Examiner piece, Winston mentioned. Winston is right. This is starting to get noticed. It's got just enough spice to become a story, with 'legs'. Corruption, abuse of power, the stomping on basic civil rights, etc. Soon, Fox News will be reporting.

This school board is going down.

http://www.examiner.com/Washington_DC-Opinion.html

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > >>>Neen, when there was the big drug bust at
> > Madison
> > > several years ago, after the FCPD planted a
> > narc
> > > in the school, and over thirty kids were
> > arrested,
> > > did it make it into the school profile? From
> > what
> > > I remember, the whole thing was hushed up.
> > >
> >
> > There were NEVER 30 kids at Madison arrested.
> Of
> > COURSE it would have made the papers. Sheeze.
>
> >
> > I realize you cannot defend South Lakes, but
> that
> > doesn't give you permission to make up lies
> about
> > other schools.
>
> It happened when my children were small. The narc
> was a young-looking officer who told the students
> he was pupil placed from Chantilly. As I said,
> the incident was hushed up, but it was much talked
> about. Why do you doubt that it happened? Are
> Vienna kids perfect? Do they never do drugs?


Better to smoke some pot with the Madison kids than be a wannabe gang banger at South Lakes.

Neen, I said the drug incident happened when my children were small, which would make it many years ago, so I can't post an article for you. The point is, that there are bad and troubled kids at every school. If you prefer to think that Vienna kids are perfect and South Lakes kids are bad, go right ahead. It would fit right in with all of the other delusions floating around in your head.

I'm a Mom that lives in South Lakes district, and I wanted to send my kids there, but I just couldn't do it. I love diversity, but as a bible reading Christian, the voting of a lesbian couple as class couple at SL turned me off, among other similar incidents. I visited the school and met with the administrators and told them so. Every pillar in the cafeteria on the day of SAT testing was plastered with advertisements to join the gay club. Another prominent wall had posters of teen pregnancy issues. Somehow, I think the admin folks should realize that the average 'family' with father and mother is going to be a little turned off from that. Want to increase inrollment in SL? Ask all of us who live here already why we won't send our kids there. I'm sure I could find other things to do with the mega-bucks I'm spending for private education. (And no, I'm not the north-Reston rich folk) And before you bash me for my Christian beliefs (Romans 1), note that I'm not bashing gays, just the in-your-face attitude about telling my kids what they should think from a secular point of view. I have a right to raise them with my Christian views without the school system undermining me. This may be true at other high schools as well, but I just have been focused on news stories here.

FME Mom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > And seriously, no one can call that Washington
> > Post "article" anything other than what it is,
> a
> > flaming opinion piece. Shame on the Post for
> > printing that unless it was billed as an
> > editorial.
> >
> > I just went and looked. It's NOT billed as an
> > opinion piece. I can't believe the Post could
> > print it without it even remotely trying to
> look
> > objective.
> >
> > I don't think the numbers that show up at the
> > boundary meeting constitute the "majority", and
> he
> > should not be allowed to claim that without
> > checking his facts. Many people who don't
> really
> > mind coming to SL aren't going to the meetings.
> I
> > know many personally.
>
> I would estimate that about 5% (I'll be generous
> and give you 10%) want to go to South Lakes,
> therefore, the MAJORITY do not want to go. To
> achieve accurate numbers, perhaps you and I can
> approach each and every house and ask their
> opinion.
>
> Even those I have encountered who have older
> children (who went to Oakton... for the past
> TWENTY-SOME-ODD YEARS in this neighborhood) or do
> not have children at all see the negative impact.

My point exactly. He cannot claim as a fact what the majority want without professionally executed polling. THAT would be journalism. Not what he did. Any statistician could tell you that the angry people at the meeting were self selected, meaning that a large percentage of the STOP RD people were probably at that meeting. "The majority" cannot be extrapolated from the percentages of STOP RD at the meeting. People who are not angry are not turning out in strong numbers at the meeting.

Franklin Farm puts out talking points that doesn't say No Redistricting. Neither does Herndon. They just don't want their neighborhoods going. So many of the people at the boundary meeting were not STOP RD, but representing their neighborhoods.


Also, I would be willing to bet that many STOP RD people are only part of that organization because they think strength in numbers will stop the process so that their neighborhood is not affected. Still selfish motives, but allows them to claim that they are the "majority".


Don't you think the hostile heckling going on at the first meeting made it very difficult for them to respond reasonably? Come on, now THAT was bullying, and I applaud them for standing up to it without returning in kind. They are just people trying to do their jobs. The South Lakes people felt very bullied also.


Also, again, FCPS is not a democracy. They must look at the situation as what is best for ALL kids. Would you want to live in a country where majority always gets their way? The whole electoral process was set up to allow those fewer in numbers to be represented also.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/2007 09:18AM by South Lakes Pyramid parent.

BirdLover Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> We have read many posts written by IB students
> from South Lakes High School.
>
> Why aren't these children taught any writing
> skills? Why are they unfamiliar with the
> mechanics of a paragraph? Don't they have to take
> composition classes? These kids are unable to
> express a thought in a clear, precise and coherent
> manner. Each one of them writes profusely with
> constant repetition of the same thought.
>
> They just write and write and write and write and
> write and write...almost as if they are simply
> documenting the rapid, untamed thoughts which rush
> through the brain. Why are they unable to
> organize their thoughts? Are there no English
> teachers at this school?


WHOLE LANGUAGE how many times do I have to write this. It's a blight across the FCPS. Too many FCPS english teachers think they are literature professors at a small liberal arts school. Teaching grammar is beneath them.

SL district Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm a Mom that lives in South Lakes district, and
> I wanted to send my kids there, but I just
> couldn't do it. I love diversity, but as a bible
> reading Christian, the voting of a lesbian couple
> as class couple at SL turned me off, among other
> similar incidents. I visited the school and met
> with the administrators and told them so. Every
> pillar in the cafeteria on the day of SAT testing
> was plastered with advertisements to join the gay
> club. Another prominent wall had posters of teen
> pregnancy issues. Somehow, I think the admin
> folks should realize that the average 'family'
> with father and mother is going to be a little
> turned off from that. Want to increase inrollment
> in SL? Ask all of us who live here already why we
> won't send our kids there. I'm sure I could find
> other things to do with the mega-bucks I'm
> spending for private education. (And no, I'm not
> the north-Reston rich folk) And before you bash me
> for my Christian beliefs (Romans 1), note that I'm
> not bashing gays, just the in-your-face attitude
> about telling my kids what they should think from
> a secular point of view. I have a right to raise
> them with my Christian views without the school
> system undermining me. This may be true at other
> high schools as well, but I just have been focused
> on news stories here.


SL District - thanks for the heads up. This is among many reasons why South Lakes is under enrolled.

A root cause analysis for the underenrollment at South Lakes needs to be performed. This nonsense about old folks retiring and not moving is BS. There is no data to support it. It's reasons like the above, the low test scores, the violence, etc. that has caused people to avoid the place.

Each scenario should have breakdowns on special programs and every elementary school. Proposing moving all of Fox Mill plus that section of Floris is silly since boundaries at the elementary level are far less than ideal. And Aldrin? I cannot begin to understand how that place is held harmless from any changes EVER.

IB? If it costs more to run than AP scrap it -- bus the SL's ACTUAL DIPLOMA candidates to Marshall on the TJ bus -- goes that way anyway. Put ALL Japanese Immersion at Foxmill and hughes. South Lkaes still has a conceise boundary - dvelope good boundary for Fox Mill and all South Lkaes/Hughes get better start times. Move out the cooking class.

Since this is a major secondary school change possibly :

Into South Lakes in this order with aaproximatley 150 or more open seats for 2012-
1. A. Aldrin [part of the Lake Anne, Forest Edge cluster of nearby schools ABOVE the major business sections and Toll Road interchanges in Reston]

B. Fox Mill - only the portion of the current attendance area on the Reston side of the FXC Parkway. The school is over capacity.

C. Wolftrap - only the portion off Sunset Hills -Business Center, Equistrian, dressage, Pony Club . More clearly Reston area v Vienna area which has the Marshall/Westbriar AND Madison/Wolftrap Islands AND Langley/Mclean/Colvin Run Islands. [Note some of the Wolftrap Island could be in the Westbriar Island. That part should not be moved to South Lakes since that should be a decision for another boundary process. HAH - perfect midmangement-Marshall HS in Tysons in a boundary process with westfield out by Dulles Airport]

2. A. Floris- portion between Monroe , Fox Mill Rd that has road access from residence to Sycamore Lakes Cove PLUS any street with access to Fox Millrd that is between that area and the Fox Mill attendance area.

3. A. Floris - portion towards Fox mill rd including and north-Piney Glen , Dwight.

4. Crossfield- small section off Lawyers - Seskey,Caulkins, Delevan



Into Herndon-
McNair [portions more finely tuned with Floris and potential Coppermine.]

Into Chantilly- parts of Floris/Oak Hill / Fox mill Triangle should be at the same school. Sully can't be selfish - move people from Chantilly who live closer to Westfield.

Oakton /Navy/Chantilly - let the future school board members deal with it since Phil , Tina, and Jim all live in Providence Dstrict.

FME Mom Wrote:
>
> Many people in Fox Mill did the research. You
> chose to live in Reston, many of us chose to buy
> in Fox Mill for Oakton, and to avoid Reston's
> schools.

FME Mom,

So when you did your research, did you also look at the boundary map? If not, you clearly didn't do enough research. If so, did you really think Fox Mill was going to stay in Oakton forever? Given that it is closer to either Herndon, South Lakes, or even Chantilly, it is obvious that there was always a strong chance that Fox Mill could be changed in any boundary study. If you were so worried about South Lakes, it is ironic that you picked a neighborhood so close to the school and Reston.

Fairfax County has always changed boundaries. Agree or disagree with the county's approach, the chance of a change should always be factored into a buying decision.

There are many problems with this proposal, but just to point out one big one: you can't break up Fox Mill to more than one HS because of the immersion program. That would result in a few Japanese immersion students going to each of several high schools.

One big problem with Option 5 is SL is over capacity. The capacity is listed incorrect at 2100 it is really 2050 after the remodel job. All other schools are way underenrolled. There is no buffer for all of the new housing being built in the area.

Everyone needs to make this point to the county on the feedback form.

foxmill/carson/oakton parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There are many problems with this proposal, but
> just to point out one big one: you can't break up
> Fox Mill to more than one HS because of the
> immersion program. That would result in a few
> Japanese immersion students going to each of
> several high schools.

When FCPS set up the immersion programs it DID NOT intend for them to diffuse to so many middle and high schools. That was a political function from multiple boundary changes since the inception of the programs. Time to clean it up -- it is not a mandated program yet has more protection than anything else in this county. GT centers move so can Immersion.

-------------------------------------------------------
> The Fox Mill people have always been a big part of
> Oakton HS and we will fight to keep you with us.
>
>
Beware Fox Mill, the love is only shared until Crossfield is back on the table and then all of a sudden the fight for you is over:(

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And the song remains the same.

Mmmm. song. Maybe you are Birdlover.

SL district Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm a Mom that lives in South Lakes district, and
> I wanted to send my kids there, but I just
> couldn't do it. I love diversity, but as a bible
> reading Christian, the voting of a lesbian couple
> as class couple at SL turned me off, among other
> similar incidents. I visited the school and met
> with the administrators and told them so. Every
> pillar in the cafeteria on the day of SAT testing
> was plastered with advertisements to join the gay
> club. Another prominent wall had posters of teen
> pregnancy issues. Somehow, I think the admin
> folks should realize that the average 'family'
> with father and mother is going to be a little
> turned off from that. Want to increase inrollment
> in SL? Ask all of us who live here already why we
> won't send our kids there. I'm sure I could find
> other things to do with the mega-bucks I'm
> spending for private education. (And no, I'm not
> the north-Reston rich folk) And before you bash me
> for my Christian beliefs (Romans 1), note that I'm
> not bashing gays, just the in-your-face attitude
> about telling my kids what they should think from
> a secular point of view. I have a right to raise
> them with my Christian views without the school
> system undermining me. This may be true at other
> high schools as well, but I just have been focused
> on news stories here.

In what year did you see these things? My children were there from 2002 - 2007, and I never saw or heard of the things of which you speak.

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
>
> SL District - thanks for the heads up. This is
> among many reasons why South Lakes is under
> enrolled.
>
> A root cause analysis for the underenrollment at
> South Lakes needs to be performed. This nonsense
> about old folks retiring and not moving is BS.
> There is no data to support it. It's reasons like
> the above, the low test scores, the violence, etc.
> that has caused people to avoid the place.

Have you ever visited the school to see for yourself? Why didn't you answer my question about the precipitous drop in SATs at Oakton last year?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/2007 10:13AM by SLVerity.

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One big problem with Option 5 is SL is over
> capacity. The capacity is listed incorrect at 2100
> it is really 2050 after the remodel job. All other
> schools are way underenrolled. There is no buffer
> for all of the new housing being built in the
> area.
>
> Everyone needs to make this point to the county on
> the feedback form.

What new housing? High end condos for singles and empty nesters? How many children will the RTC produce? Get your facts straight.

Word,
I find it interesting that you will take one comment from one SL person, and, because it reflects badly on SL, use it to make some broad generalization. But, the many posts about the good things at SL you choose to ignore completely, even when corroborated by a number of people.

Who is biased? I think that you are perpetuating bad rumors about SL to make sure the STOP RD gets new recruits. Propaganda, if you will.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/2007 10:17AM by South Lakes Pyramid parent.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Word,
> I find it interesting that you will take one
> comment from one SL person, and, because it> reflects badly on SL, use it to make some broad
> generalization. But, the many posts about the
> good things at SL you choose to ignore completely,
> even when corroborated by a number of people.

Yes, SLPP, word often plays fast and loose with the truth. I actually encourage word to spout some of the misinformation at the meeting, because it will make word's words look foolish when met with the truth. Below I have posted some facts for Word.

FROM FCPS FAQ SHEET:

Why has the overall population of SLHS dropped off so much?

Like many communities in Fairfax County, school enrollment in the South Lakes area
has declined as the community aged. A goal of the countywide high and middle school boundary study conducted in the mid 1980’s was to move enrollment from newly developed areas in the western portion of the county, to schools serving older communities in the east where enrollment had declined and school capacity was available. Many of the high school boundaries in existence today reflect the changes made in the 1980’s to use this available capacity. Examples are the Oakton High attendance area which extends several miles to the west of the school site; likewise, the Marshall and McLean High School attendance areas stretch several miles to the west along Leesburg Pike. At the time of the countywide study, the South Lakes High School and Hughes Middle School attendance areas were the only ones not adjusted. The attendance areas for these schools were very compact, and the area they served was fairly new and yielding enough students to keep both schools at capacity.

During the 20 plus years since that study, the South Lakes community has aged and is experiencing an enrollment decline similar to what occurred in other areas of the county in the past. It should be noted that in the late 1980’s, the School Board adjusted the South Lakes High School attendance area from the Dulles Area Access Road to Baron Cameron Avenue to address declining enrollment brought about by changing demographics. There have been no significant adjustments to the South Lakes High School attendance area since that time. The current boundary study is being undertaken in part for the same reasons. In recent years new development in the Reston area has consisted primarily of high density residential development in mid-and high-rise structures that generate far fewer school children than new single family and townhouse developments. Source: FCPS Facilities Office

Was SLHS not just renovated, but also enlarged with a $54 million renovation?

The School Board did not approve an expansion to South Lakes: the Board approved a
renovation. When completed, the capacity for South Lakes will be slightly reduced from 2150 to 2100 as reported in the 2008-20012 CIP. The South Lakes High School
renovation planning funds were approved in the 1999 Bond Referendum with construction funding approved in the 2003 Bond Referendum. South Lakes High School
was originally built in1978 and this is the first major renovation project for the school.
Source: FCPS

The reason the SB has left almost no buffer at SL is because they are anticipating pupil placements, and a general mass exodus from SL. So once again, they have planned to fail. And they will....

SL district Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm a Mom that lives in South Lakes district, and
> I wanted to send my kids there, but I just
> couldn't do it. I love diversity, but as a bible
> reading Christian, the voting of a lesbian couple
> as class couple at SL turned me off, among other
> similar incidents. I visited the school and met
> with the administrators and told them so. Every
> pillar in the cafeteria on the day of SAT testing
> was plastered with advertisements to join the gay
> club. Another prominent wall had posters of teen
> pregnancy issues. Somehow, I think the admin
> folks should realize that the average 'family'
> with father and mother is going to be a little
> turned off from that. Want to increase inrollment
> in SL? Ask all of us who live here already why we
> won't send our kids there. I'm sure I could find
> other things to do with the mega-bucks I'm
> spending for private education. (And no, I'm not
> the north-Reston rich folk) And before you bash me
> for my Christian beliefs (Romans 1), note that I'm
> not bashing gays, just the in-your-face attitude
> about telling my kids what they should think from
> a secular point of view. I have a right to raise
> them with my Christian views without the school
> system undermining me. This may be true at other
> high schools as well, but I just have been focused
> on news stories here.


Wow! Well I actually applaud the student body for doing that. It's a far cry from my day when children were assaulted and tormented when people simply suspected they were gay.

Oh, and it's the Gay/Straight Alliance. Most schools have them. No one is going to join a "gay club" and become gay. Gay is not contagious.

To be fair to South Lakes, I did see that they also have a bible club, and a Christian athletes club.

I also applaud South Lakes for talking about teen pregnancy and trying to prevent it. Again, back in my day there was a lot of teen pregnancy. Condoms and education should be made available.

I believe most schools have these programs, and I wholeheartedly support them.

This is where my liberal side comes out....

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SL district Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm a Mom that lives in South Lakes district,
> and
> > I wanted to send my kids there, but I just
> > couldn't do it. I love diversity, but as a
> bible
> > reading Christian...

That is another issue which has nothing to do with this boundary process. I've heard complaints from parents about Thanksgiving [some well-heeled Middle eastern immigrants didn't think it should be a day off let alone a parent attended school lunch "feast"], Halloween, Valentines Day [objected to by some Jewish parents], the use of the "C" word AKA Christmas-- Hispanics get Cinquo de mayo parties now in FCPS but US schools used to have May Day when I was a child--

I like Christmas and FCPS goes overboard to the point where traditional Christmas cookies are NOT ALLOWED at {WINTER} PARTIES.

Last year the Oakton Theater Arts group performed The Vagina Monologues for a group of elementary students in the Pyramid. It was fabulous! The same year, the choral group, directed by star of film and stage Birdlover, sang while pole-dancing. They really know how to perform at Oakton.

Meanwhile, over at Madison, Neen's son had the starring role in The Kiss of the Spider Woman and the home economics class held a seminar on the correct way to roll a joint and fill a bong.

Verity.

"Why has the overall population of SLHS dropped off so much? "




NOV 2006 South Lakes PTSA Newsletter

“For years South Lakes High School has been perceived negatively by surrounding school communities;

however, when the disparaging comments began to be expressed by its own families, the school seemed to be caught in a self-fulfilling prophesy. Our own students and families called it a “ghetto” school, reflecting negative feelings about its physical layout and diverse population.

Families began seeking pupil placement at other FCPS schools or private alternatives.

Pride was spotty and a product of the moment.

New initiatives to change attitude faltered due to overwhelming issues of discipline, lack of academic rigor, or other day-to-day problems”.

FMTribe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FME Mom,
>
> So when you did your research, did you also look
> at the boundary map? If not, you clearly didn't
> do enough research. If so, did you really think
> Fox Mill was going to stay in Oakton forever?
> Given that it is closer to either Herndon, South
> Lakes, or even Chantilly, it is obvious that there
> was always a strong chance that Fox Mill could be
> changed in any boundary study. If you were so
> worried about South Lakes, it is ironic that you
> picked a neighborhood so close to the school and
> Reston.
>
> Fairfax County has always changed boundaries.
> Agree or disagree with the county's approach, the
> chance of a change should always be factored into
> a buying decision.

Well, a lot of my research came from being a Reston resident from 1984-1998 where Fox Mill has ALWAYS been a part of the Oakton district. When a neighborhood has been with a specific school for over 20 years, you tend to believe that the established bond will not be broken. Especially since South Lakes has always been tauted as "Reston's School" and Fox Mill is not Reston.

VaDriver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Verity.
>
Driver, I know who wrote that piece and I helped edit it. You have taken the comments out of context. It was written to contrast with the change in perception since Bruce Butler took the helm. The item from FCPS that I just posted above addressing factual reasons for declining enrollment I think helps to more accurately reflect the reality.

You realize that SL did not benefit at all from newer developments in North Reston. I note that now Aldrin and Armstrong are under-enrolled because the community has aged out. Is that because they are in the Henrdon pyramid, or because they have just aged?

I remember when Madison had declining enrollment. They were underenrolled as little as 3 or 4 years ago. Metro in Vienna has contributed to a rebirth in the area and the recent renovation of the school probably played a part. Neighborhoods once considered outdated are now being reinvented (Vienna Woods). Every community has it's up and down cycles. If Oakton's boundary had not reached so far West to undeveloped lands recently built out, it would have suffered from declining enrollment and boundaries certainly would have been adjusted before now.

I have maintained all along that if Floris had been added to SL pyramid before the County planned Westfield, they would not have made Westfield so big. That is not our problem now. Our problem is underenrollment.

I'm not sure why I continue to post. I must be a glutton for punishment because some minds will never be open to seeing that SL just might actually be a good school.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/2007 11:16AM by SLVerity.