"so it seems that South Lakes is destined to be an under populated school in the future."

No buffer problem, then, right? Welcome Floris and Fox Mill. Good use of an excellent, beautiful newly renovated building full of caring, competent teachers, paid for by our taxes.

Now, what to do about Westfield's undercapacity, so to speak? The current one -- without any changes. How about we make it the new TJ west? A magnet program? Make people WANT to go there who are thinking of moving to Loudoun?

Forum Reader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> HooTribe Wrote:
> > ... Change is always difficult, which is only
> > compounded when you feel like you aren't
> getting
> > anything in return.
> >
> > Now can you understand that I want full
> programs
> > offered at my kids' future high school? South
> > Lakes can not offer more programs without more
> > students - that is the way the SB funds the
> > schools. ...
> >
> > So, the question is, after looking into your
> own
> > heart: would you have us do nothing? All I
> am
> > asking for is as a resident of Fairfax County,
> > equal access to education for my kids. ...
>
> --------
> Not only are the students being moved into South
> Lakes losing their old schools, they are also
> losing their old educational programs.
>
> So DO something! For the umpteenth time, if you
> want equal access, if you want the programs
> offered at AP schools, get rid of IB.

Forum Reader,

I have no problem with changing to all AP, but again, what is the chance of that happening? I also doubt that it alone would make up for all of the difference in programs.

As for doing something,you make my point: this change does in fact "do something". I don't see any other realistic options on the horizon - no bigger study, no magnet school - even though I would welcome them. If you look at some of the other responses today, they essentially are saying "tough luck". Well, doesn't that go both ways? Here is the irony in those responses: the more people put SL down, the more they build the case for the change (i.e. something must be done).

With regards to future students: How are they missing "their old educational programs" if there is grandfathering? We are talking about students who aren't there yet. If your fight is with IB alone, then you have a built in reason to switch to an AP school.

navy area parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> truthbetold Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Navy: Well, we look forward to having you in
> > Reston, then. You can afford to live in a
> fabulous
> > community with a terrific school, comparable
> > houses (really?), and half acres. See you next
> > year.
>
> Actually, this whole mess has really encouraged us
> to give Loudoun a closer look.


That's an interesting idea since both the friends I have in Loudon have been redistricted a number of times - good luck with that!

And, their opinion was surprising when I told them of the issues regarding this study. They couldn't believe that the public even had an opportunity for input. Hmmm.

Berdhuis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For the good folks of South Lakes and the School
> Board - what do you think of this scenario:
>
> 1. Move most of Floris (the entire part which is
> east of Centreville Rd.) and all of McNair to
> South Lakes.
>
> 2. Move Oak Hill from Chantilly to Westfield.
>
> 3. Move Madison island to South Lakes.
>
> According to the SB's criteria, this would work
> best. South Lakes FRM and ESOL would drop, student
> populations at Chantilly and Westfield would drop,
> and it would avoid changing those schools with no
> enrollment issues - Herndon and Oakton would be
> left entirely alone.
>
> This is more efficient than Option #5, and is
> validated. Call it Option #7

Sounds good, except the South Lakes PTSA won't like it. They are very opposed to McNair students going to South Lakes.

Parents of "future students" would like a guarantee that AP will be there for their kids -- I don't see that promise being made. Why are the needs of current students the only thing that matters? Should we not be looking ahead so we don't need to revisit this fiasco in five years?

truthbetold, you are making circular arguments and snidely attacking everyone who disagrees with your position. You're making South Lakes look bad. It's not helping your cause.

Get it right Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> navy area parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > truthbetold Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Navy: Well, we look forward to having you in
> > > Reston, then. You can afford to live in a
> > fabulous
> > > community with a terrific school, comparable
> > > houses (really?), and half acres. See you
> next
> > > year.
> >
> > Actually, this whole mess has really encouraged
> us
> > to give Loudoun a closer look.
>
>
> That's an interesting idea since both the friends
> I have in Loudon have been redistricted a number
> of times - good luck with that!
>
> And, their opinion was surprising when I told them
> of the issues regarding this study. They couldn't
> believe that the public even had an opportunity
> for input. Hmmm.


Good to know. I don't know anyone in Loudoun, so I wasn't aware of that.

I saw signs on streets around where I live advocating residents access this site. I thought some here might want to know about it.



http://www.keepoakton.org/

truthbetold Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>My daughter has a
> dozen 8th-grade friends in that neighborhood and
> they ALL want to go to South Lakes, just as an
> empirical example.

Is that because they are in the GT Center at Hughes where most of the other girls will go to South Lakes? Is this part of the pack mentality of girls, that they must travel in packs from school to school? Or do they have an academic reason for preferring South Lakes over Oakton?

Navy: You are a minority here, right? A small fraction of a huge community, that is being affected by this study. Few people advocating for your cause -- maybe only you. Madison is in the same boat. Now you know what it feels like to be in the minority when an array of entrenched people are fighting for their own interests -- against yours.

The difference? It tends to make you snide when someone is attacking your position with rumor and innuendo and calling fakery fact. Very provocative, which is probably their point. We've tried like the dickens to keep level about things and avoid any negative comments about our neighboring schools and communities. I've caved and called a spade a spade now and then (can't let racist remarks go unremarked). But I've also strongly upheld my belief that 99% of my neighbors are good people who will be caring and engaged families when they come to South Lakes and that they are kind-hearted and open-minded, even if they don't have their facts straight at the moment. I've expressed my sympathy for the fact that people are moved in boundary changes.

That courtesy is rarely returned.

navy area parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Get it right Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > navy area parent Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > truthbetold Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Navy: Well, we look forward to having you
> in
> > > > Reston, then. You can afford to live in a
> > > fabulous
> > > > community with a terrific school,
> comparable
> > > > houses (really?), and half acres. See you
> > next
> > > > year.
> > >
> > > Actually, this whole mess has really
> encouraged
> > us
> > > to give Loudoun a closer look.
> >
> >
> > That's an interesting idea since both the
> friends
> > I have in Loudon have been redistricted a
> number
> > of times - good luck with that!
> >
> > And, their opinion was surprising when I told
> them
> > of the issues regarding this study. They
> couldn't
> > believe that the public even had an opportunity
> > for input. Hmmm.
>
>
> Good to know. I don't know anyone in Loudoun, so
> I wasn't aware of that.


In case you really are serious about Loudon, I have friends in South Riding, Belmont, and Leesburg that have been redistricted. Problem is they've built so fast and furious that they are having a difficult time catching up with the schools. But they're being redistricted to new schools, if that makes a difference...

But really, traffic is HORRIBLE for both of them (regardless of what they say, it doesn't take 20 minutes to get to Reston from South Riding or Belmont except at 3am! - it's more like an hour at rush hour!)

Berdhuis Wrote:

>
> 2. Move Oak Hill from Chantilly to Westfield.
>

Oak Hill is doing fine at Chantilly, thank you very much. An increase in travel time would be neither helpful nor welcome.

I hope truthbetold is not representative of the South Lakes parents, because quite frankly you're a self indulgent idiot.

I thought one poster made an interesting observation recently:


Why would anyone want to force other people's children into something that those children's parents do not want?


Also, I agree with one poster's observation that some of you seem to be enjoying making sport of your neighbors and doing damage to your cause.

Who is going to want to send their children to your school after reading what some of you have written? And you want to force these people's children into your school too boot? [And some of you on the other side seem to be fanning the flames.]


I am affraid that one school in the study will become a place of racial violence and class war amongst the pupils given what I have been reading here. I have gone to a school that was like that. It was rotten. No one in their right mind wants their children, regardless of class or ethnicity, to go through that hell.


What worries me most is that is seems as if that is exactly what is going to happen.

There has got to be a better way or the schools you get will be the schools you wish you never had.

Floris-Westfield: I have not called anyone here an idiot, or an ass, or any names. See who has. And who they might represent I have accused SOME (without being specific) of being racist, and they know who they are, and they made the case for themselves. It's amusing that when I send back an argument that was used against South Lakes, people get all up in arms and call me snide.

On the plus side, I'm very pleased that South Lakes supporters have comported themselves so very well that when one of us steps down a rung on the ladder, it's noticed.

FME Parent: You're talking about Oakton, Chantilly, and Westfield posters, right? The ones who don't want other kids there, or don't want to force their kids to be with kids they don't like? Certainly not South Lakes, which is one of the most welcoming and warm schools I've ever been involved with, and which is looking forward to having its redistricted neighbors part of the family.

I think most people are sympathetic to the plight of South Lakes ... we'd just rather see the school board clean up the mess FIRST, before sending additional innocent kids and hoping they magically improve things just by their presence. Ditch IB, add AP, work to bring scores up over the next couple of years and I'm sure people will be much more willing to be placed in your pyramid. But as it stands now, you're asking others to sacrifice for your kids and get nothing in return. I know that sounds harsh, but it's the truth.

Truthbetold - make that an ass

Fox Mill Estates Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought one poster made an interesting
> observation recently:
>
>
> Why would anyone want to force other people's
> children into something that those children's
> parents do not want?
>
>
> Also, I agree with one poster's observation that
> some of you seem to be enjoying making sport of
> your neighbors and doing damage to your cause.
>
> Who is going to want to send their children to
> your school after reading what some of you have
> written? And you want to force these people's
> children into your school too boot?
>
>
> I am affraid that one school in the study will
> become a place of racial violence and class war
> amongst the pupils given what I have been reading
> here. I have gone to a school that was like that.
> It was rotten. No one in their right mind wants
> their children, regardless of class or ethnicity,
> to go through that hell.
>
>
> What worries me most is that is seems as if that
> is exactly what is going to happen.
>
> There has got to be a better way or the schools
> you get will be the schools you wish you never
> had.


Wow. That's a sad post. That is far from remotely possible, and it misrepresents the nature of the debate.

I have much more faith in the kids' ability to work things out. And I'll echo Truthbetold's points about who has been nasty and who has not....look at the long history of posts, and any objective scorekeeper will find that SLHS posters and defenders have rarely been snide, demeaning, or profane...(even me, except in rare occasions), in the face of a steady onslaught of disinformation.

Read the Oakton Outlook story....not written by a SLHS kid or parent, but totally consistent with what we have consistently stated about the reality of our school and community.

That's the way it'll continue to be at SLHS. If people want to pupil-place or go to private school, so be it. But it won't be because of the real situation at SLHS; it will only be b/c of parents' fears and preconceptions.

I went to a much, much tougher school than SLHS ever has been. So I refuse to accept the distorted picture that people -- who've never been there -- insist on drawing. My kids read what people say on this thread and they shake their heads in total bewilderment about where this comes from. Too bad.

I find all this very interesting that the school board and SLHS can pick and choose who they want at their school. The communities other than South Lakes have to sacrifice just so the South Lakes parents will be happy. Talk about being spoiled, those South Lake parents are real bullies.

Observer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I find all this very interesting that the school
> board and SLHS can pick and choose who they want
> at their school. The communities other than South
> Lakes have to sacrifice just so the South Lakes
> parents will be happy. Talk about being spoiled,
> those South Lake parents are real bullies.


Amen to that. Nobody's happy with this whole mess..except who is going to be happy in the end? The SB with their personal gains at the expense of hardworking taxpayers?

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> truthbetold Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >My daughter has a
> > dozen 8th-grade friends in that neighborhood
> and
> > they ALL want to go to South Lakes, just as an
> > empirical example.
>
> Is that because they are in the GT Center at
> Hughes where most of the other girls will go to
> South Lakes? Is this part of the pack mentality
> of girls, that they must travel in packs from
> school to school? Or do they have an academic
> reason for preferring South Lakes over Oakton?

Fox Mill kids go to Carson for GT, not Hughes.

Floris - Westfield Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I hope truthbetold is not representative of the
> South Lakes parents, because quite frankly you're
> a self indulgent idiot.

Ain't the truth! I would not be surprised if this is
Stu Gibson clone if not the man himself.

truthbetold Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Berdhuis: I do appreciate the good-faith effort to
> find an alternative. A Floris-McNair scenario was
> definitely considered by South Lakes supporters.
> So was an Aldrin-Crossfield(portion), and an
> Aldrin-Armstrong, and a Fox
> Mill-Crossfield(portion), etc. Many, many hours
> were spent by many people poring over many
> numbers, with independent research, and a lot of
> info obtained from FCPS sites. There were too many
> dominoes and one or another criteria (of the first
> four, then of the eight) were not met or
> inadequately met. This group cared about what
> happened to ALL schools, otherwise they probably
> would have pushed hard for something that included
> Aldrin, for example. That option would have really
> impacted Herndon and would have created a big
> domino effect on Westfield and Chantilly. It was
> going for what made sense and what the school
> administration could support.
>
> I agree with SLV that there is no trusting this
> board or any board to do what's right by South
> Lakes in the future, so we have to proceed with
> what we have now. The scenario presented is
> excellent, but not ideal. It moves kids who aren't
> even in high school yet and will, in fact, remain
> with their neighborhood friends through the whole
> process. The disruption is far less than if a new
> school was built and kids had to populate it
> immediately, as happened with Westfield. We are
> talking about kids who are going to a "different"
> school next year anyway, no matter how you slice
> it.

Its so nice to see that the FCPS staff can't do their job so they contract it out to the South Lakes PTSA who poured their sweat and tears into determining what was best for everyone else.

I have a question for all of the parents who keep saying that it will take years to add AP classes at South Lakes. How was it done instantaneously at Westfield and South County? South Lakes has many, many teachers already who have taught AP in the past. I think the notion that it can't be done is ludicrous and just another manufactured roadblock.

To parents of Floris who say they have no ties to the Reston/Herndon area, what exactly is there about the location of Westfield that creates any semblance of a tie. Isn't it way on the other side of Route 28, and bordering Centreville, a community in no way close to here? Do you do all your shopping over there on the other side of 28, or do you go to Blooms, the New Harris Teeter, Giant at Franklin Farm or Fox Mill or the Clock Tower. Where do you go to Whole Foods? I am not being confrontational, just curious.

HooTribe Wrote:
> I have no problem with changing to all AP, but
> again, what is the chance of that happening? ...

Woodson got IB the same time that South Lakes did. The Woodson community did not want to lose its AP courses so they organized a committee, composed of parents, staff, and students, that evaluated both programs in depth. After months of study, the Woodson community voted for AP. For two years the students who wanted IB were grandfathered. Some Woodson students still pupil-place to other schools, especially Robinson, for the IB programme. The point is, the Woodson community DID get rid of IB. South Lakes can as well. In the words of Nike, JUST DO IT.

Why is everyone beating up on truthbetold?

Forum Reader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
The point is, the Woodson community DID
> get rid of IB. South Lakes can as well. In the
> words of Nike, JUST DO IT.

Why should it be gotten rid of altogether, when even you have said that it does very well with language arts? When even you have admitted that George Mason in Falls Church has an excellent blended program? South Lakes does a very good job with its FRM student SOLs in the areas of reading and writing, which I think may be attributed to it being an IB school.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2008 06:39PM by SLVerity.

SLH Padre, I guess I am getting the wrong end of the stick after reading the posts on this thread. I must be a damn fool. I have read posts mocking people for being upside down in houses, not being able to move anywhere, mentioning body armour, using titles like "Ammo", bats, etc.. Where I went to school when people said these sort of things to each other, they were precursors to smashing heads. But what do I know?


Yes I am prejudice SLH Padre. I don't want my child to mimic those children disinterested in learning. Of that I am guilty 100%.

Now I know that the children my son played football with at South Lakes were friendly and the parents kind. My son played with those children for three years.

But if people "trash talk" each other long enough, the blood is going to spill. And if this thread is any relfection of what could happen, then yes the blood will flow.

But that is just my opinion. I sincerely hope that I am wrong.

Dear Fox Mill Estates Parent,

From what I can tell, the trash talk is mostly flowing in one direction.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WestfieldDad:
>
> Let's look at another school in the study. What
> happened at Oakton last year? Did the scores drop
> significantly because Oakton is failing to educate
> it's students? What was it doing in the years
> prior that it is not doing now. Would you label
> Oakton as a school on a downward slide? If not,
> then would it be fair to not give credit to
> improving scores at SL?
>
> Critical Reading Math
> Writing
>
> School 2005 2006 2007 2005 2006 2007 2006
> 2007
> OAKTON 579 568 558 588 578 572 557
> 550


I'd say a couple things -

First, I don't see where you got the numbers. They don't correspond to any numbers on the SAT tabs from either Oakton or Westfield off the FCPS High Schools links.

Second, assuming your numbers are correct, they do imply that there may be a trend or they may well be noise. Personally, I'd seriously doubt if three years are enough to prove anything one way or the other. And, even if the numbers represent, in fact, a trend, what is the source of the trend? It could be what's happening within the walls of the school or it could be changes in incoming demographics. And, even if it's what's happening within the walls of the school, the difference could be in teaching, in what's happening in the hallways and bathrooms, or it could be that the population of test takers is changing.

In other words, the top line numbers don't tell you much of anything about what's happening in the short term (though they would probably be used to generate some heat on the principal), and, even if the top line numbers are meaningful, it's not meaningful to attribute the change to any particular source(s) without reasonable study.

SLVerity why am I not suprised that you would have a quick response?

Wasn't it you who made a joke about the SLH PTA and the SB being in cahoots when I expressed concern about my son's school choices?

You want Fox Mill Estates children but you think you can make sport with their parents.

navy area parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Forum Reader Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A Baffled Citizen Wrote:
> > > ... I really like the idea of
> > > having a new high school built in the Oak
> Hill
> > > area. It makes more sense to do this, but
> will
> > > that happen?
> >
> > Baffled, take a look at the just-released CIP,...
> >
> > No, it makes absolutely NO sense to build ANY
> more
> > high or middle school space, not when FCPS is
> > projected to have the equivalent of two EMPTY
> > middle schools and two EMPTY high schools in
> > September of 2012.
>
> Those very same projections have Westfield and
> Chantilly operating under capacity by 2012, do
> they not? So why does it make sense to push for
> redistricting kids out of those schools?

I agree. This entire redistricting should be shelved. Redo it next year but COUNTY WIDE. Redistrict only those high schools that are projected to be overcrowded in 2012. And at teh same time, match up middle and high school boundaries.

WestfieldDad:

I applaud you for responding. You are the first parent to do so. I have noticed that South Lakes has been put under a magnifying glass during the course of this study, but whenever any information about other schools in the study is posted that sheds any negative light on those schools, be it newspaper articles or test scores, it is generally ignored. In keeping with your comments, I don't think we should infer that because SL had an SAT//SOL drop in 2005/06 that we should discount any upward trend. The numbers do not tell the whole story about any school, nor the education being received there.

Best, Verity

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> But what about the fact that most people in his
> chair would say IB is wonderful? Sounds like the
> majority would like IB, then. So you quote the
> one who doesn't?
>
> Not that I am Pro-IB or Pro-AP. But you should be
> careful the quotes you use to support your
> arguments.

He didn't say that the others think it's more wonderful than AP.

Also, Georgetown is one of the most internationally oriented schools in the country, including having one of the most prestigious schools of international relations in the country. IB is clearly internationally oriented and appears to be strongest in the humanities and social sciences. Taking the two together, I would give his opinion more weight than the generic others in his chair.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why is everyone beating up on truthbetold?


Because the truth hurts.

Fox Mill Estates Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLVerity why am I not suprised that you would have
> a quick response?
>
> Wasn't it you who made a joke about the SLH PTA
> and the SB being in cahoots when I expressed
> concern about my son's school choices?
>
> You want Fox Mill Estates children but you think
> you can make sport with their parents.

My sport was with Neen, who sees a SL PTSA/Stu Gibson/School Board conspiracy around every corner. She took my joke and fanned the flames, knowing that some would believe it because of possible language issues. It was not fair of her and I corrected the record immediately, if you will recall. Good luck to you and your children. My children loved South Lakes and received an excellent education there. They also felt entirely safe the whole time they were there.

WestfieldDad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Also, Georgetown is one of the most
> internationally oriented schools in the country,
> including having one of the most prestigious
> schools of international relations in the country.
> IB is clearly internationally oriented and
> appears to be strongest in the humanities and
> social sciences. Taking the two together, I would
> give his opinion more weight than the generic
> others in his chair.

Well, I guess they liked South Lakes last year, because they offered a 4-year full scholarship to one of it's students.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2008 07:03PM by SLVerity.

WestfieldDad:
>
> First, I don't see where you got the numbers.

I got them here: http://www.fcps.edu/suptapps/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=700

You forgot to add that the Oak Hill High School is in the CIP in the out years.

navy area parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You know, if this process were fair, the thing
> that would make the most sense is to move the
> Reston/Langley folks into South Lakes (Reston kids
> at Reston's school, solving the demographic
> issues, and those who don't like it could more
> than likely afford other options). Take the $60
> million for the no-longer-necessary Langley
> expansion and put that toward building an Oak Hill
> High School, since kids in most of 20171 have to
> travel pretty far to get to ANY high school. Send
> Floris, McNair, Oak Hill and Fox Mill to Oak Hill
> High, and leave everything else alone, relieving
> overcrowding at all surrounding schools. Yes, it
> would take more time, but I don't hear anyone but
> the School Board claiming that we are in an
> emergency situation that needs to be solved NOW.
>
> Just my thoughts on the issue. Most likely a pipe
> dream thanks to the money and influence of the
> Langley crowd, but I still think it's a better
> idea than the ridiculous school board proposal.
> Much as I wouldn't mind my kids going to Oakton,
> it is REALLY far from my house compared to
> Chantilly -- it doesn't make much sense, when you
> look at the map. The proposal is flawed.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> truthbetold Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >My daughter has a
> > dozen 8th-grade friends in that neighborhood
> and
> > they ALL want to go to South Lakes, just as an
> > empirical example.
>
> Is that because they are in the GT Center at
> Hughes where most of the other girls will go to
> South Lakes? Is this part of the pack mentality
> of girls, that they must travel in packs from
> school to school? Or do they have an academic
> reason for preferring South Lakes over Oakton?


Just FYI, the GT center for FME is Carson.

>
> Just FYI, the GT center for FME is Carson.

Yes, girls actually do have minds of their own and are more than capable of making choices outside of the 'pack.' AT least my girl is.

I'm jumping in the debate here without having read all 137 pages that span 6 months of discussion, but I want to take issue with this:

Posted by: Fox Mill Estates Parent (IP Logged)
Date: January 03, 2008 06:37PM

Yes I am prejudice [sic] SLH Padre. I don't want my child to mimic those children disinterested in learning. Of that I am guilty 100%.


I graduated from South Lakes within the last decade. I had the opportunity to attend TJ but chose not to -- and I am so glad I made that choice. I flourished academically at South Lakes in a way I never had before. I had some amazing, inspired teachers and found myself in an environment that developed my potential for critical thought.

I went on to attend a program at Carnegie Mellon that was ranked in the top 10 within its discipline -- not just nationally but internationally.

There were definite downsides to going to the school, but I am thankful every day that I was exposed to the diversity of background and of opinion that South Lakes embodies. To say that being among the students of South Lakes would taint your children with a disinterest in learning is a disservice to both myself and my fellow students who taught me so much.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have a question for all of the parents who keep
> saying that it will take years to add AP classes
> at South Lakes. How was it done instantaneously
> at Westfield and South County? South Lakes has
> many, many teachers already who have taught AP in
> the past. I think the notion that it can't be
> done is ludicrous and just another manufactured
> roadblock.
>
> To parents of Floris who say they have no ties to
> the Reston/Herndon area, what exactly is there
> about the location of Westfield that creates any
> semblance of a tie. Isn't it way on the other
> side of Route 28, and bordering Centreville, a
> community in no way close to here? Do you do all
> your shopping over there on the other side of 28,
> or do you go to Blooms, the New Harris Teeter,
> Giant at Franklin Farm or Fox Mill or the Clock
> Tower. Where do you go to Whole Foods? I am not
> being confrontational, just curious.


At the same places McNair and the lower southeast/west?? quadrant of Floris shops.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why is everyone beating up on truthbetold?


Because he is obnoxious.

RESTON: Hey! I don't have enough of the right kind of kids in my high school, and it's all your fault. Gimme some of yours!
THE REST: No, thanks. I'm happy with my current arrangement. Good luck with that, though.
RESTON: That does not meet my needs. You must be Afraid of Change! Now gimme some kids! You don't realize it, but they'll be better off over here anyway.
THE REST: No, really, I'm good. By the way, how is your predicament my fault? I thought you were a 'planned community.'
RESTON: You are a narrowminded bigot!
THE REST:
RESTON: I know you are, what am I?

There are three objectives to this so-called study.

South Lakes
South Lakes
South Lakes



Reston Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FES MOM
>
> The objectives of this boundary change are two
> fold - One filling the capacity of SLH and Two
> improving the social economic imbalances among the
> high schools. South Lake High has more than its
> fair share of the disadvantaged students. Even if
> all the new students coming to South Lake are
> advantaged it still leave South Lake with 20% plus
> of disadvantaged students which is more than
> doubling of its neighboring schools. We all live
> in the same county and every community has a
> responsibility to make sure we have the best
> efficient education model for all our kids.

Reston Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> The objectives of this boundary change are two
> fold - One filling the capacity of SLH and Two
> improving the social economic imbalances among the
> high schools.

That's simply not true.

SB/Staff told us that the real reason we're doing this is that Westfield is so overcrowded that my kids can't be cheerleaders.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

Here is a cultural difference. I can't speak for others, but I shop at Costco not Whole Foods.

We have spend 7 years building ties to Westfield. Some people put their kids in Chantilly sports leagues. We have been using Cub Run instead of Herndon community center. We don't want to change again. We don't want our families split between schools. Yes there are times when redistricting needs to be done. What is so infuriating here is that it doesn't need to be done.

All South Lakes parents who think that continuity between schools is not important, that sibling ties are not important, that going to school in your community is not important, what is keeping you from pupil placing your kids to schools with your desired curriculum? Why redistrict mine?

> To parents of Floris who say they have no ties to
> the Reston/Herndon area, what exactly is there
> about the location of Westfield that creates any
> semblance of a tie. Isn't it way on the other
> side of Route 28, and bordering Centreville, a
> community in no way close to here? Do you do all
> your shopping over there on the other side of 28,
> or do you go to Blooms, the New Harris Teeter,
> Giant at Franklin Farm or Fox Mill or the Clock
> Tower. Where do you go to Whole Foods? I am not
> being confrontational, just curious.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Forum Reader Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> The point is, the Woodson community DID
> > get rid of IB. South Lakes can as well. In the
> > words of Nike, JUST DO IT.
>
> Why should it be gotten rid of altogether, when
> even you have said that it does very well with
> language arts? When even you have admitted that
> George Mason in Falls Church has an excellent
> blended program? South Lakes does a very good job
> with its FRM student SOLs in the areas of reading
> and writing, which I think may be attributed to it
> being an IB school.

-------
SLV,
You may be confusing me with another poster. When did I EVER say IB "does very well with language arts"? The full IB Diploma is good for a few above-average students who are gifted in foreign languages - which is totally different from saying it is appropriate for the rest of the school.

I did point out the IB programme is successful at George Mason High School in Falls Church, which is a much smaller school than South Lakes, in large part BECAUSE they spend far more per pupil than is allocated in FCPS.

Which is part of why IB is NOT appropriate at South Lakes. IB Diploma Candidates MUST be taught the courses they need for their IB Diplomas and the rest of the master schedule must revolve around their requirements.

But all that is beside the point. I was responding to another poster who indicated displeasure with IB but doubt that it could be ejected from South Lakes.

A Conversation With Reston Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RESTON: Hey! I don't have enough of the right kind
> of kids in my high school, and it's all your
> fault. Gimme some of yours!
> THE REST: No, thanks. I'm happy with my current
> arrangement. Good luck with that, though.
> RESTON: That does not meet my needs. You must be
> Afraid of Change! Now gimme some kids! You don't
> realize it, but they'll be better off over here
> anyway.
> THE REST: No, really, I'm good. By the way, how
> is your predicament my fault? I thought you were
> a 'planned community.'
> RESTON: You are a narrowminded bigot!
> THE REST:
> RESTON: I know you are, what am I?


Yeah whatever happened to North Reston and South Reston? Why can't they be one planned community? Aren't they politically divided? RESTON should go ask NORTH RESTON and ask for more kids to come to their school and then we will see who is the narrowminded bigot.

WestfieldDad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > But what about the fact that most people in his
> > chair would say IB is wonderful? Sounds like
> the
> > majority would like IB, then. So you quote the
> > one who doesn't?
> >
> > Not that I am Pro-IB or Pro-AP. But you should
> be
> > careful the quotes you use to support your
> > arguments.
>
> He didn't say that the others think it's more
> wonderful than AP.
>
> Also, Georgetown is one of the most
> internationally oriented schools in the country,
> including having one of the most prestigious
> schools of international relations in the country.
> IB is clearly internationally oriented and
> appears to be strongest in the humanities and
> social sciences. Taking the two together, I would
> give his opinion more weight than the generic
> others in his chair.

WestfieldDad:

Careful. You're getting mighty close to straying from the reservation by talking about "internationally oriented schools" and "strongest in the humanities and social sciences". Pretty soon, Forum Reader and the Neenster will be after you, trying to keep you in line.

If a SLHSer said that, we'd hear the Euro-weenie and socialist drivel....but I hear ya...... internationally-oriented schools that are strong in humanities and social sciences, as well as those with strong traditions in math and sciences should be heeded.

I haven't been that big an advocate in the IB v. AP debate, b/c I think both are good, and kids can't go wrong with either...but it burns my butt when the no-nothings talk as if IB is rare and only for those going to OxBridge, Edinburgh, Heidelberg and the Sorbonne. Just ain't so:


Johns Hopkins -- great at Lax and tops in International Relations, and they like IB:

"You may receive college credit for higher level International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in the following subjects:

IB Exam Score Credits Awarded
Biology 6 or 7 8
Chemistry 6 or 7 8
Computer Science 6 or 7 3
French 6 or 7 6
German 6 or 7 6
Mathematics 6 or 7 4
Mathematics with Further Math 5 4
Mathematics with Further Math 6 or 7 8
Physics 6 4
Physics 7 8
Spanish 6 or 7 6

Tufts, home of Fletcher School of Diplomacy: Provides credit for IB http://ase.tufts.edu/bulletin/Tufts%20Bulletin%202007_2008.pdf

Univ of Notre Dame, a Catholic U of some repute: award credit for scores of 4s and 5s on AP exams, 6s and 7s on IB Higher Level exams.

Columbia, Yale, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, U of Chicago, Michigan, Vanderbilt, UNC Chapel Hill and Duke ("Entering students who have completed internationally recognized college-level examinations with high scores will receive international placement credit in essentially the same way that credit is awarded for AP exams.") all give credit for IB, including some SL course ---NOT JUST FOR DIPLOMA Holders.

And from the FCPS FAQ (http://www.fcps.edu/fts/planning/westcoboundary/faq.htm#21)

"All Virginia universities provide credit for IB courses, although they do on different levels. Each school develops its own standards for college credit. There are two sources of information to determine the university recognition at an individual school; the most specific information is available on the university website. Often, the schools list the IB and AP acceptance together. In addition, IB lists a general description of the school’s recognition of IB examinations on their website – http://www.ibo.org/diploma/recognition/. Generalizing, most schools offer credit for HL courses in which a student receives a 5 or higher on the examination."

Go Hoyas.

Well said Westfield Mom. My biggest complaint with all of this is that the Floris community is being told we have to move AGAIN. Enough is enough. My daughter has excelled at Westfield and has no trouble with its size. I don't really think the Floris 69 will ease the supposed overcrowding at Westfield. It has all been about filling SL. Leave us alone. WE ARE WESTFIELD.

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

On Polo Fields - You can't blame this on just South Lakes, it's also in Dogwood ES - 60+% FRL.

navy area parent Wrote:

> Actually, this whole mess has really encouraged us
> to give Loudoun a closer look.

If you do, be really careful about where you look/buy. Most Loudouners have had more redistrictings in the last 15 years than even we Florisers.

Westfield Dad,

Thank you for being civil in your posts.

Good for him/her....ONE out of 1600. Wow! I am impressed...NOT!


SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WestfieldDad Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Also, Georgetown is one of the most
> > internationally oriented schools in the
> country,
> > including having one of the most prestigious
> > schools of international relations in the
> country.
> > IB is clearly internationally oriented and
> > appears to be strongest in the humanities and
> > social sciences. Taking the two together, I
> would
> > give his opinion more weight than the generic
> > others in his chair.
>
> Well, I guess they liked South Lakes last year,
> because they offered a 4-year full scholarship to
> one of it's students.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Forum Reader Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> The point is, the Woodson community DID
> > get rid of IB. South Lakes can as well. In the
> > words of Nike, JUST DO IT.
>
> Why should it be gotten rid of altogether, when
> even you have said that it does very well with
> language arts? When even you have admitted that
> George Mason in Falls Church has an excellent
> blended program? South Lakes does a very good job
> with its FRM student SOLs in the areas of reading
> and writing, which I think may be attributed to it
> being an IB school.

On George Mason, if a real dual program were possible, it'd be interesting, but, as I recall, some SL parent said George Mason spends 17K per student so it simply isn't going to happen.

Given that, what's actually on the table is a couple AP courses in an IB school. For those who want an AP-based education for their kids, it's simply not going to cut it.

SL_alum, I am glad that you did so well at South Lakes.

I looked at the numbers posted on the Fairfax County Public School Website relative to the SOLs and compared them between South Lakes and Oakton. I have looked at the S.A.T. scores between both schools as well. I am just looking at the numbers. If South Lakes numbers where better than Oaktons numbers I would be very glad indeed. I would be thrilled that my son were going to South Lakes.

Also I was under the impression that the children my son played football with were less interested in academics than my son. That doesn't make the children bad children.

What a parent like myself is concerned about, and willing to write, is that my son is a follower rather than a leader. I do not want my son to be disinterested in academics through peer pressure. I put my son into specific schools and programs so that he would be influenced by positive peer pressure. For example, enrolling our son in the Japanese Emmerision Program.

[I even sent my son to military academy for two summers so he could leap ahead of his peers in mathematics and sure up his literature skills. And, yes, give him a taste of the military if the United States government brings back the draft.]

I am, yes, even paranoid of loosing that focus. I have had to direct this boy through his childhood toward academic achievement. I do not want to loose focus.

We live in a society that is so absolutely competitive and full of human beings that I can't think any other way. I can't afford to.

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

Rather than attempt to link to the enormous URL for the document, I just attached it.
Attachments:

Curious George, the Man With the Yellow Hat says eat your banana and go to bed.

Fox Mill Estates Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SL_alum, I am glad that you did so well at South
> Lakes.
>
> I looked at the numbers posted on the Fairfax
> County Public School Website relative to the SOLs
> and compared them between South Lakes and Oakton.
> I have looked at the S.A.T. scores between both
> schools as well. I am just looking at the
> numbers. If South Lakes numbers where better than
> Oaktons numbers I would be very glad indeed. I
> would be thrilled that my son were going to South
> Lakes.
>
> Also I was under the impression that the children
> my son played football with were less interested
> in academics than my son. That doesn't make the
> children bad children.
>
> What a parent like myself is concerned about, and
> willing to write, is that my son is a follower
> rather than a leader. I do not want my son to be
> disinterested in academics through peer pressure.
> I put my son into specific schools and programs so
> that he would be influenced by positive peer
> pressure. For example, enrolling our son in the
> Japanese Emmerision Program.
>
>
>
> I am, yes, even paranoid of loosing that focus. I
> have had to direct this boy through his childhood
> toward academic achievement. I do not want to
> loose focus.
>
> We live in a society that is so absolutely
> competitive and full of human beings that I can't
> think any other way. I can't afford to.


That is very admirable, and I think I hear where you are coming from...my oldest was more of a follower who loved athletics, but it turned out that he hung with most of the focused and self-motivated kids at SLHS -- and there were a lot more than I thought when we started...at the same time his cousin (with whom he is quite close) with perfect SATs was going off the rails at Oakton. The latter wasn't Oakton's fault, but it happened and perhaps helped keep my child more centered, and he now is doing very well in college (and still does sports, sees old SLHS pals from all strata, etc).

My point is that (a) the overall numbers at SLHS are still pretty good, even compared to the high bar of Oakton, et al., and (b) there is a strong current of positive, focused, and happy kids at SLHS that will bring along those who could otherwise wander or lose focus.

I would add that it sounds like you provide strong guidance and care for your child and that would be both very welcome (again?) at SLHS, yet would be among peers of parents, teachers, coaches, and administrators. Like Avis, we try harder.

Final recommendations given. Game over, it never was even opened. The final decision from FCPS is the same as the pdf posted on SL PTA site, even before the Dec 3 meeting that presented the 4 options to throw the public off..

www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/0/7154BDE74574E5D68525732B0063C3AA?OpenDocument

What a total waste of time of all involved. Stu Gibson and SL PTA should have just met and decided the whole thing in private.

Once again, if South Lakes is so wonderful, why can't you leave us alone? Why break up our community and drag our kids over there?



SLHS Padre Wrote:

>
> My point is that (a) the overall numbers at SLHS
> are still pretty good, even compared to the high
> bar of Oakton, et al., and (b) there is a strong
> current of positive, focused, and happy kids at
> SLHS that will bring along those who could
> otherwise wander or lose focus.
>
> I would add that it sounds like you provide strong
> guidance and care for your child and that would be
> both very welcome (again?) at SLHS, yet would be
> among peers of parents, teachers, coaches, and
> administrators. Like Avis, we try harder.

They did and we knew it. We just felt that we had to (yet again) go to the meetings and be ignored just like the last 7 times.


game_over Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> What a total waste of time of all involved. Stu
> Gibson and SL PTA should have just met and decided
> the whole thing in private.

game_over Wrote:

> What a total waste of time of all involved. Stu
> Gibson and SL PTA should have just met and decided
> the whole thing in private.

They did. They professed this a few posts earlier.

>>>What a total waste of time of all involved. Stu
> Gibson and SL PTA should have just met and decided
> the whole thing in private.<<<<

Isn't that exactly what happened? Isn't that how staff got scenario #5?

It was nice playing charades with all of you. Pretending our opinions mattered was fun while it lasted.

SLHS Padre, If you and other SL parents think that the current state of SL is good obviously it will never improve. Look at the performance and course offerings of other HS around you will find how far behind SL is. Until SL trashes IB and adopts AP it will never improve. You have to set the bar high in order to excel. If the bar is set low, exceeding the bar means nothing. Forcing some "advantaged" middle class students to waste their 4 years at SL is not going to "improve" it. To improve hard targets have to set, the bar has to raised and efforts made to excel. Hiding behind IB is not setting the bar high. Tell Bruce Butler to introduce Math and Science related AP classes, persuade the students to take the AP tests every year, and raise the bar. Results are in hard numbers - how many students are passing AP courses and what is the average SAT score. Rest of the arguments are all excuses for losers for not stiving hard enough.

Please remember to call and sign up to speak at the school board hearings. If you don't, the school board will only hear from hundreds of South Lake PTSA members and South Lakes students. They will then use it as an excuse to do what they want. I understand that many of you don't think it matters what you say since the school board and staff have ignored you at every meeting, but by speaking at the hearings, it's public and you will be on record of opposing this sham. Information on signing up to speak:

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

Scroll to the bottom of the page for sign up on boundaries.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2008 11:07PM by Neen.

SLHS Padre Wrote:

> ... Johns Hopkins -- great at Lax and tops in
> International Relations, and they like IB:
>
> "You may receive college credit for higher level
> International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in the
> following subjects:
>
> IB Exam Score Credits Awarded
> Biology 6 or 7 8
> Chemistry 6 or 7 8
> Computer Science 6 or 7 3
> French 6 or 7 6
> German 6 or 7 6
> Mathematics 6 or 7 4
> Mathematics with Further Math 5 4
> Mathematics with Further Math 6 or 7 8
> Physics 6 4
> Physics 7 8
> Spanish 6 or 7 6
>
> Tufts, home of Fletcher School of Diplomacy:
> Provides credit for IB
> http://ase.tufts.edu/bulletin/Tufts%20Bulletin%202
> 007_2008.pdf
>
> Univ of Notre Dame, a Catholic U of some repute:
> award credit for scores of 4s and 5s on AP exams,
> 6s and 7s on IB Higher Level exams. ...
>
>

And about how many students at FCPS IB schools, including South Lakes, earn at least three "6's" or above in HL courses? Remember that most "Regular Kids" take SL, not HL courses, and that even for top students the IB Diploma Programme requires at least three but NO MORE THAN four HL courses.

[In contrast, in the AP system 4 and 5 are the top two scores; MANY FCPS students at AP schools earn at least three "4's" or above.]

Neen, I went to all meeting, contributed discussion points both online and in the small groups. Those points did not even show up in the transcript of the second meeting as posted on fcps. Stu Gibson is going to do this even if 100% of the speakers speak against it. There is nothing to stop him. We had our chance during the last elections, but many of us choose not to go to vote, thinking that this wont effect us. While he did trick us by not showing the true colors of redistricting before the elections, we should have done more to safegaurd our interests during the last elections... Now we have to pay the price of letting Stu get elected.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Please remember to call and sign up to speak at
> the school board hearings. If you don't, the
> school board will only hear from hundreds of South
> Lake PTSA members and South Lakes students. They
> will then use it as an excuse to do what they
> want. I understand that many of you don't think
> it matters what you say since the school board and
> staff have ignored you at every meeting, but by
> speaking at the hearings, it's public and you will
> be on record of opposing this sham. Information
> on signing up to speak:
>
> http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/requestspeak.htm

The South Lakes scenario #5 will be presented to the school board on January 10. It has been posted on boarddocs, under new business, for the regular school board meeting on the 10th.
http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/Public?OpenFrameSet

Interesting letter from Floris parents now posted at FCPS.

http://www.fcps.edu/fts/planning/westcoboundary/meetings.htm

affected_parent,
All you can do now is express your displeasure to the school and the board of supervisors. I am assuming that you have signed the recall petition.

SLHS Padre Wrote:
> ... Pretty
> soon, Forum Reader and the Neenster will be after
> you, trying to keep you in line.

Excuse me, but where and when have I "gone after" ANYONE? I have pointed out a few factual errors in what a couple posters have written, but that is quite different from "going after" people -- or calling names.

affected_parent:

I say you don't mean to be rude, but you have offended me and many other South Lake parents and students with your words. Our children strive just as hard. How dare you say to know what they do. You are not nice person with your words.

Neen is not an honest person. She tells many lies about people of South Lakes.

Get it right Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> navy area parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > truthbetold Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Navy: Well, we look forward to having you in
> > > Reston, then. You can afford to live in a
> > fabulous
> > > community with a terrific school, comparable
> > > houses (really?), and half acres. See you
> next
> > > year.
> >
> > Actually, this whole mess has really encouraged
> us
> > to give Loudoun a closer look.
>
>
> That's an interesting idea since both the friends
> I have in Loudon have been redistricted a number
> of times - good luck with that!
>
> And, their opinion was surprising when I told them
> of the issues regarding this study. They couldn't
> believe that the public even had an opportunity
> for input. Hmmm.

Hi! You're back!

But the public here didn't have any input! That's THE PROBLEM! DUH.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Interesting letter from Floris parents now posted
> at FCPS.
>
> http://www.fcps.edu/fts/planning/westcoboundary/me
> etings.htm

So are the Floris parents now in cahoots with the School Board? Why does their letter get such a prominent position? Why is it not posted under the comments section? Hmmm.... I sense a conspiracy.

Get it right Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > > Navy: Well, we look forward to having you in
> > > Reston, then. You can afford to live in a
> > fabulous
> > > community with a terrific school, comparable
> > > houses (really?), and half acres. See you
> next
> > > year.
> >
> > Actually, this whole mess has really encouraged
> us
> > to give Loudoun a closer look.
>
>
> That's an interesting idea since both the friends
> I have in Loudon have been redistricted a number
> of times - good luck with that!
>
> And, their opinion was surprising when I told them
> of the issues regarding this study. They couldn't
> believe that the public even had an opportunity
> for input. Hmmm.

Hi! You're back!

But the public here didn't have any input! They were allowed to go to meetings, waste their time, and be ignored. That's THE PROBLEM. The public was set up to think they had some input. Only after wasting their time did they realize they'd been had. The outcome is exactly as you claim it is in Loudoun but here people are even MORE upset because of the process. People do not appreciate being tricked into thinking that they had input when it's obvious that they didn't.

It's the process, stupid.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2008 12:59AM by Neen.

Just wondering Why it is already closed for both days? Is it suppose to be open for signing up tomorrow? Can SB fill all the slots ahead of time?


Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Please remember to call and sign up to speak at
> the school board hearings. If you don't, the
> school board will only hear from hundreds of South
> Lake PTSA members and South Lakes students. They
> will then use it as an excuse to do what they
> want. I understand that many of you don't think
> it matters what you say since the school board and
> staff have ignored you at every meeting, but by
> speaking at the hearings, it's public and you will
> be on record of opposing this sham. Information
> on signing up to speak:
>
> http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/requestspeak.htm
>
> Scroll to the bottom of the page for sign up on
> boundaries.

They did it again, before post our meeting notes and online comments, the final option out again. FCPS tThey don't care our opinion. All those meetings are just a show. They are wasting our time and our tax money.

I am upset about this whole process, not mad at SLHS people, I believe they don't trust the school board members too, they don't love Mr. Gibson. Maybe some of them are, What he has done for South Lake HS for all those years? Unless they are blind. SLHS people just try to get what's left possible for them. They can't get the best solutions for their kids, I feel sorry for them, they went the wrong direction. If they are happy and think the game is over, OK. Then be happy!

I am in NorthEast Floris area, this split our ES and make Carson MS feeder of 3 High School, Well, FCPS doesn't care about our kids. They are just numbers for them to play with. I don't like to be forced to change school, I will do what I can to take good care of my kid myself. Trust me on that even I need move or buy second house or rent. Whatever option I can afford.

I didn't have time read all 138 pages here, I did read several pages. I got kid/family/job/mortgage to take care, didn't have that much free time.

Thank you all spend your time post messages here, I did get a lot valuable info from this board. Whoever you are, Thanks a lot!

No surprise that the option that SL PTSA drafted is the one that staff is recommending to the board. This process has been political and corrupt from the start. By that I mean leaving Langley out, Madison proper out, allowing SL to hand pick who they want.

The efforts of the SL PTSA, aka Stu's whores, will not be forgotten among the communities that are forced to attend SL. Stu has thrown his own communities (Fox Mill, Floris) under the bus in what may seem an admiral compromise.... but in reality these communities voted overwhelmingly to get rid of the unsavory bastard. But it didn't matter in his liberal enclave. His take - "I don't need you"!

Kathy Smith is pretty much left off the hook - save for an angry bunch at Navy/2. She's proven she doesn't need you either.

Politically correct and absolutely nausiating.

AnotherTaxpayer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The failure of this boundary study to look beyond
> a few schools will make it more difficult to fill
> about 700 empty seats at Falls Church HS. To
> rationally allocate students who live west of Rt.
> 395, the county needs to look at all school
> boundaries at the same time. Langley and Madison
> should be part of that equation. So should Falls
> Church HS, McLean HS, Marshall HS, and all the
> others.

Janie Strauss would NEVER let that happen to her schools, so forget redistricting Langley or McLean. It's unlikely that the town of Vienna would be forced out of Madison. Local pols wouldn't permit it. Those families north of the town could be put back into Marshall, as they were 20 years ago, but to what end? Who fills Falls Church?

That means Marshall and Falls Church have no students to fill their schools, other than each other. Close Marshall, send most of the kids to Falls Church and the rest to Madison, McLean, Langley. Sell that property for many millions.

Let's face it, we have 2,000 empty high school seats and that number will grow. Some high school will have to close, or be turned into another TJ type school. Too bad it won't be South Lakes.

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

"The speakers list for the January 30 public hearing
on the Proposed 2008-2009 Program/Attendance Area Adjustment is closed.

The speakers list for the January 31 public hearing on the Proposed 2008-2009 Program/Attendance Area Adjustment is closed.

For further information you may contact the School Board Office at 571-423-1075."

Get it right Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RE Langley -
>
> Not that I think anyone on the south side of Route
> 7 west of Baron Cameron should go to Langley,
> especially those close to STERLING, BUT those
> Langley kids that everyone so desperately wants to
> be in this study aren't close to South Lakes.
>
> They would go to Herndon.
>
> Maybe a neighborhood like Bishopsgate or others
> MIGHT go to South Lakes, it's doubtful. That
> would give SL, what, 5 kids?
>
> They are much further away then Fox Mill,
> Crossfield, or Floris to South Lakes. Plus there
> really aren't that many of them to make a
> difference.
>
> I know that it's not what people want to hear or
> believe, sorry...

UUUMMMMM..........let us think for a minute. (This isn't rocket science, and YOU know it.) What if those Langley students near Sterling, those in Great Falls, were sent to Herndon HS and the students in North Reston were sent to the Reston school, South Lakes?

See how that would work?

Perhaps you could return to blaming this all on Lou Zone. lol

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
Let me repeat: I was one of the authors of Option 5. I am not a member of SL PTSA. I don't have children at South Lakes. Other authors included parents of pre-school and elementary-aged children, parents of middle-school children, and empty-nesters.
I did not vote for Stu Gibson.

Try as you might to make this about the SL PTSA, it will not fly. The PTSA had nothing to do with Option 5.

Actually, Neen, Lou Zone was an ass, and he was responsible for some decisions that damaged South Lakes in the past.

Floris Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So what your saying Truthbetold is that all of
> your "smart" friends cashed in the chips, and
> moved out of Reston? I can understand this, but
> why should those of us who have chosen to stay in
> this high cost area, be asked to change our lives
> and the lives of our children in order to support
> a HS that we have no associations with?
>
> I will also try to dig up stats on the total
> number of SF homes vs. TH/Condo. It seems to me
> that the drop in school student body population is
> another example of poor planning by the SB and the
> Board of Supervisors. If the area in which a
> public shcool is located, is not viable due to
> lack of families to support it, the perhaps it is
> something that should be looked at for another
> use. Everyone keeps down playing the impact of
> future residential housing in Reston (all high
> density, no kids etc), so if seems that South
> Lakes is destined to be an under populated school
> in the future.
>
> If there are not enough SF homes in Reston now for
> families with HS aged children, and there will be
> no future housing for families with HS aged
> children, and the existing population of families
> with HS aged children are leaving for larger or
> lower cost homes, it seems like utilizing our
> $60,000,000 building for another use may be a
> better option. Perhaps a magnet school, admin
> building etc.

South Lakes could easily have been closed and the land sold. Surrounding schools could easily have absorbed the 1,300 students over the next 4 years. But our school board doesn't care about saving money. And, why should they? Bonds are a bottomless pit of funding AND few will object to another tax increase 'for the chillren'.

Parents don't want their children bused as part of this ridiculous socio-economic balancing scheme. These children are being used as a means to improve the image of an inferior school. This is all about image and an attempt to disguise the real failure of this school.

Who will prosper from this busing scheme? Certainly not the children being kidnapped from their superior schools. They will lose as they now will be attending an inferior school. Not the poor kids from the government housing projects. South Lakes has already failed them. If they were to represent a smaller percentage of the school's enrollment it will be easier to hide the systemic neglect of these kids.

So, let's see. I guess the only real winners will be those kids who chose to attend the SLHS IB program. Now they'll have a few more electives.....BIG DEAL. But, with a lower percentage of kids on free lunch, etc., and more college bound kids enrolled, their school will appear to be doing a better overall job and the image of the school will improve.

This is nothing more than the slight of hand used by a magician. But, there is no such thing as magic. This is just a trick.

Neen Wrote:

Bonds are a
> bottomless pit of funding AND few will object to
> another tax increase 'for the chillren'.

What are you trying to achieve with your spelling of the word children, Neen? Are you making fun of the way some people speak? Some might say that you were making a racial slur, but I couldn't possibly comment.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2008 12:18AM by SLVerity.

Floris - Westfield Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I hope truthbetold is not representative of the
> South Lakes parents, because quite frankly you're
> a self indulgent idiot.

That brought a chuckle! Well said.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Just FYI, the GT center for FME is Carson.
>
> Yes, girls actually do have minds of their own and
> are more than capable of making choices outside of
> the 'pack.' AT least my girl is.

Oh really? why did your child 'choose' South Lakes?

How rare that is among girls. At least based on GT stats in FCPS.

Does your daughter have a group of friends? And she wouldn't choose to stay with them in high school? It's a rare 8th student who carefully looks at the academics of various high schools before deciding where they want to go to high school. The VAST majority, including those who aim for TJ, want to go where their friends are going, especially girls. I suspect that you know that is true.

Neen, Neen, Neen...you know you were implying that those bright GT girls would only choose South Lakes over their base school Oakton because they were blindly following their friends. Only the joke is on you because the girls choosing South Lakes go to Carson.

WestfieldMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Once again, if South Lakes is so wonderful, why
> can't you leave us alone? Why break up our
> community and drag our kids over there?
>
>
Because they want more choices in classes. They need your kids so that their kids can take jewelry making and guitar lessons.

SL Verity - no need to defend yourself, and thanks for the confession (Author of Option 5). Please provide names and email adresses of your fellow Option 5 draftees as well as yourself. I am sure there are many that would want to forward their thoughts. How about some accountability?

And no it had nothing to do with the SL PTSA (names and email addresses forthcoming) - it just appeared on their website prior to Meeting 3 at Westfield, what a coincidence.

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen, Neen, Neen...you know you were implying that
> those bright GT girls would only choose South
> Lakes over their base school Oakton because they
> were blindly following their friends. Only the
> joke is on you because the girls choosing South
> Lakes go to Carson.

Then I can't imagine why they would choose South Lakes, en mass. I guess they aren't that bright. Perhaps they all want to be cheerleaders.

Affected SL Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> affected_parent:
>
> I say you don't mean to be rude, but you have
> offended me and many other South Lake parents and
> students with your words. Our children strive
> just as hard. How dare you say to know what they
> do. You are not nice person with your words.
>
> Neen is not an honest person. She tells many lies
> about people of South Lakes.


Sorry if you got offended. My qoute was not meant towards the students at SL. They have little or no control over what programs gets offered to them. If the school itself does not offer advanced course opportunities in AP as other schools have, how will the studends find a bar that is comparable to other schools such as Oakton or Langley? This has a cascading effect on SAT scores too. My post was aimed at the posters on this board who say SL is a great school. In this super competitive world, results are what matters. If even without the AP or SAT results that are the most widely used yardstick to measure performance of schools, SL parents are content and happy with the status quo, then there is little hope for improvement. There are posts from SL parents, defending SAT scores or lack of AP at SL. There is only one way to truely defend a school - by results measured by a yardstick that is nationally and widely accepted. If the parents at SL dont push for those high standards, who will? The SB and Stu are only interested in averaging out the scores. Average is not good enough. If SL had the highest SAT scores and most number of students in AP, do you think anyone would fight to such an extent to not come to SL?
SL wanted more "advantaged" students in their boundary. Once you get them, we will ask tough questions and demand higher standards from the school. The first step is to see where we stand. Like it or not - where SL is by numbers - no AP courses and some of the lowest SAT scores in fairfax county. You wanted 700 new students - they also come with 1400 parents who will ask very blunt and hard questions .. best effort is not good enough, if everyone around is consistently outperforming you

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SL Verity - no need to defend yourself, and thanks
> for the confession (Author of Option 5). Please
> provide names and email adresses of your fellow
> Option 5 draftees as well as yourself. I am sure
> there are many that would want to forward their
> thoughts. How about some accountability?
>
> And no it had nothing to do with the SL PTSA
> (names and email addresses forthcoming) - it just
> appeared on their website prior to Meeting 3 at
> Westfield, what a coincidence.

What are you talking about? I have said all of this before and it's no confession. I am a private citizen and it was within my right to try to come up with an option that would best fit the criteria laid out by the School Board. It did not take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Obviously the School Board staff agreed and I am grateful that they listened.

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

I'll post my email when you post yours.

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SL Verity - no need to defend yourself, and thanks
> for the confession (Author of Option 5). Please
> provide names and email adresses of your fellow
> Option 5 draftees as well as yourself. I am sure
> there are many that would want to forward their
> thoughts. How about some accountability?
>
> And no it had nothing to do with the SL PTSA
> (names and email addresses forthcoming) - it just
> appeared on their website prior to Meeting 3 at
> Westfield, what a coincidence.

You can find the couple of the authors at the South Lakes PTSA website, the PTSA officers. You can find the rest of them here, although you will have to sign up, pledge your undying devotion to South Lakes, and wade back to their development of their plan, prior to the second meeting on December 3rd:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SouthLakesboundary/

Of course there will be no accountability, they are following the lead set by the school board. They aren't accountable to anyone.

affected_parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Affected SL Parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > affected_parent:
> >
> > I say you don't mean to be rude, but you have
> > offended me and many other South Lake parents
> and
> > students with your words. Our children strive
> > just as hard. How dare you say to know what
> they
> > do. You are not nice person with your words.
> >
> > Neen is not an honest person. She tells many
> lies
> > about people of South Lakes.
>
>
> Sorry if you got offended. My qoute was not meant
> towards the students at SL. They have little or no
> control over what programs gets offered to them.
> If the school itself does not offer advanced
> course opportunities in AP as other schools have,
> how will the studends find a bar that is
> comparable to other schools such as Oakton or
> Langley? This has a cascading effect on SAT scores
> too. My post was aimed at the posters on this
> board who say SL is a great school. In this super
> competitive world, results are what matters. If
> even without the AP or SAT results that are the
> most widely used yardstick to measure performance
> of schools, SL parents are content and happy with
> the status quo, then there is little hope for
> improvement. There are posts from SL parents,
> defending SAT scores or lack of AP at SL. There is
> only one way to truely defend a school - by
> results measured by a yardstick that is nationally
> and widely accepted. If the parents at SL dont
> push for those high standards, who will? The SB
> and Stu are only interested in averaging out the
> scores. Average is not good enough. If SL had the
> highest SAT scores and most number of students in
> AP, do you think anyone would fight to such an
> extent to not come to SL?
> SL wanted more "advantaged" students in their
> boundary. Once you get them, we will ask tough
> questions and demand higher standards from the
> school. The first step is to see where we stand.
> Like it or not - where SL is by numbers - no AP
> courses and some of the lowest SAT scores in
> fairfax county. You wanted 700 new students - they
> also come with 1400 parents who will ask very
> blunt and hard questions .. best effort is not
> good enough, if everyone around is consistently
> outperforming you

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