November 2014 – Beyond the Brochure

Weekend Links: Play-Based Nature Kindergartens, Parenting Trends and more!

November 22, 2014November 22, 2014 admin Leave a comment

Viewpoint at Laurel Hall. First year playing for Viewpoint's flag football team. What a blast! — Viewpoint at Laurel Hall. My son’s first year playing for Viewpoint’s flag football team. What a blast!

Nature inspired forest kindergartens aren’t focused on academics and they’re catching on around the country. (NPR/KQED)

Since my daughter was born in 2000, a lot has changed in the world of parenting. My go-to basics like Sippy cups are now out! Who knew? This week, I wrote about the top14 parenting trends, what’s in (and out!) (mom.me)

One of the BEST pieces I’ve read about how moms need to be all in, all the time. Our Mommy Problem (NYT)

My friend Sarah Maizes (above) wrote this hilarious piece about vintage (and terrifying car seats). You must see how we used to ride with our babies! (mom.me)

A stunningly beautiful piece about missing the village to raise our kids. This piece resonated with me deeply, as I sometimes feel so alone in raising my kids in L.A. (Huffington Post)

If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you know how much I love school gardens and the movement to feed our kids healthy food at school. Farm to table movement comes to school cafeterias (Marketplace on NPR)

Authors of a new report aren’t happy about kindergarten becoming the new first grade. The article points out that some kids are ready to read in kindergarten while others need more time. (Washington Post)

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Ethics Guru Josephson’s Lawsuit Against The Archer School For Girls in Brentwood

November 18, 2014November 18, 2014 admin 1 Comment

In July, 2014, the LA Times published an article detailing the lawsuit by ethics guru Michael Josephson against his daughters’ former school, The Archer School For Girls in Brentwood (7-12th grade).

To summarize, after his older daughter was expelled for an argument with a teacher (facts are disputed), he filed suit against the school. Shortly thereafter, his younger daughter left the school just before the end of the school year and was subsequently told by Archer she could not re-enroll for the next school year. The entire Josephson family was banned from the Archer campus. His wife, Anne, had previously served on the Archer board of trustees. Josephson, an attorney, started a blog detailing his legal case against the school.

According to the Times, Josephson’s lawsuit seeks $10 million in damages, which the school calls “frivolous.” The litigation is extremely contentious, settlement attempts appear to have failed and the school is seeking arbitration which Josephson is fighting in court. According to his blog, Josephson is seeking the resignation of the head of school, among other things. As of Oct. 2014, the matter had not been resolved.

Marlborough Head of School to Resign Following Sexual Harassment Investigation Report

November 15, 2014November 16, 2014 admin Leave a comment

Barbara Wagner, head of school at Marlborough School will resign effective June 30, 2015, following an investigation into her handling of allegations of sexual harassment brought by two former students against a former teacher. The report points to a “serious error in judgement by the head of school” when in 2005, Ms. Wagner failed to fully investigate a complaint by a student against the teacher, Mr. Koetters. The report states that Ms. Wagner incorrectly questioned the student’s veracity and motive regarding the teacher. According to the report, Ms. Wagner also failed to fully investigate a second student’s complaint about the teacher in 2012.

2:45 p.m. update: BuzzFeed quotes an attorney for one of the victims who says he’s not satisfied with the outcome. Looks like there may be a lawsuit brewing. The piece also quotes the mother of one victim.

Here is the report issued by the Board of Trustees and the Special Investigative Committee

How To Navigate Private School Admissions on mom.me

November 12, 2014November 12, 2014 admin Leave a comment

I’m SO excited to be a new contributor to mom.me, a national parenting site (part of AOL Lifestyle). –Christina

Here’s an excerpt from my piece, part one of two in a series.

“When you embark on this journey, you might feel like Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” as she travels down the Yellow Brick Road and encounters all kinds of characters (some admissions directors may remind you of the Wicked Witch). So, put on your ruby red slippers to navigate the ups and downs of the admissions process. When it’s over, you’ll (hopefully!) be holding a handful of acceptance letters as you pop open a bottle of celebratory champagne.”

To continue reading, click on mom.me

Private Elementary School BUZZ

November 10, 2014November 10, 2014 admin Leave a comment

Alice Fleming, Campbell Hall’s long-serving director of admissions, will be leaving her job at the end of this admissions cycle.

Mr. Andrew, the head of Fountain Day School, has a kid at Laurence School so its not surprising that the West Hollywood preschool is a big feeder to very-popular Laurence School.

At my kids’ school, Viewpoint, our very well-respected headmaster, Dr. Robert J. Dworkoski, has stepped down after three decades as head of school. A national search for his replacement is underway. Luckily, Dr. Dworkoski will continue on in a new role as President of the Viewpoint Educational Foundation. We wish him success in his new position!

Becky Riley Fisher is no longer the Mirman School’s admissions director. The acting director of admissions is Jocelyn Balaban-Lutzky.

Congratulations to Beyond The Brochure’s good friend, Jen Foley Tolbert, who will start as the new head of St. Mark’s in Altadena in 2015. She is currently finishing her tenure as director of the Middle School at Polytechnic. Jen will make an excellent head of school!

If you have a legendary last name or you’re a celebrity, feel free to use the school roster at some schools (not Viewpoint) for solicitations for your personal charity or your friend’s jewelry line. If you don’t have a famous last name, don’t even try it.

At Willows School, apparently TWO members of the board are applying out for 7th grade this year (rather than stay through 8th grade). Is the Willows middle school not good enough for their kids? Given the school’s rather desperate attempts to keep families in the middle school, this highly unusual move smacks of a double standard. Board members, don’t seem to have to follow the rules that apply to other families.