Reflecting On 9 Years At The Wesley School by Jessica Gottlieb

Wesley School

 

My friend Jessica Gottlieb is feeling nostalgic after 9 years at The Wesley School, a K-8 in N. Hollywood.

 

“I’ve just signed the contract for Alexander’s High School. Now that we’ve completed the application process for a second child I’d like to talk to you about The Wesley School where both my children attended elementary and middle school. In the coming weeks parents of middle school kids and then a week later elementary students will get their acceptance letters and have decisions to make about which school to attend. This is written for you, the prospective parent. Hopefully it will help you make a decision.”

To continue reading, click on Jessica Gottlieb. 

 

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Differences Between Progressive and Traditional Schools (Part 5)

Traditional School
Traditional Schools: Barbie is just a toy, not a political statement or a cause of bad body image among young girls
Traditional Schools: Barbie is just a toy, not a political statement or a cause of bad body image among young girls. 

Progressive School

Progressive Schools: Toys are eco-friendly and their origin is important.

Progressive Schools: Toys are eco-friendly and their origin is important.

Traditional School

Traditional Schools: What's wrong with a good, old-fashioned hamburger?
Traditional Schools: What’s wrong with a good, old-fashioned hamburger?

Progressive School 

Progressive Schools: Vegan options are offered for hot lunch at some private progressive schools
Progressive Schools: Vegan options are offered for hot lunch at some progressive private schools.

 Traditional School

Traditional Schools: Uniforms reflect the school's culture
Traditional Schools: Uniforms reflect the school’s culture and help guard against over-the-top outfits.

Progressive School

Progressive Schools: Hipster kids dress the part (Singer Gwen Stephani's kids)
Progressive Schools: Hipster kids dress the part (Singer Gwen Stephani’s kids)

 Traditional School

Violin
Traditional Schools: Structure is necessary for learning.

Progressive School

Progressive Schools: Kids learn through play
Progressive Schools: Kids learn through play using found objects.

 

5 Big Differences Between Traditional and Progressive Schools: Part 2

Boy on the monkey bars

Many L.A. private schools are a hybrid of educational philosophies, a blend of school types (traditional, developmental and progressive) that define each institution. However, there are schools that are purely traditional or progressive and have chosen not to incorporate a mix of educational philosophies. Any of these school types can offer an academically challenging, intellectually rigorous learning environment. Selecting a school depends on your preferences as a parent and finding the best fit for your kid.

 

  • Progressive elementary schools utilize play-based projects to encourage learning. In a progressive school, student initiated projects (or projects developed with student input) are more common. In traditional schools, teachers develop lesson plans and projects for students to work on.
  • Traditional elementary and middle schools emphasize formal activities like Cotillion. Manners and proper greetings are considered essential.
  • Progressive schools place less importance on standardized testing. The curriculum of progressive schools is not specifically designed to prepare kids for standard tests. However, some progressive schools may give practice tests to help kids prepare for these exams.
  • Traditional schools encourage friendly one-on-one competition among kids through writing contests, math contests, valedictorian and tryouts for sports teams. Contest results and honor rolls are posted for students and parents to see in traditional schools.
  • Progressive schools typically reward achievements of the elementary school class or grade rather than individual acknowledgements.

See Differences Between Traditional and Progressive Schools Part 1 HERE

Chandler School: Acclaimed Academics On An Expansive Campus

Entrance to Chandler School
Entrance to Chandler School

 

Last year I was invited to attend a book signing at Chandler, organized by a friend who is a parent at the school. Connie Rice, the author of Power Concedes Nothing, was the eloquent and fascinating featured speaker. It was my first time at Chandler and the beauty of the campus awed me.

 

Inside the school
Inside the school

 

When the school invited me to tour and write about it, I happily accepted. John Finch, Chandler’s head of school, presides over one of Pasadena’s most in-demand institutions. The word that comes to mind when I think of Chandler is refined. John was friendly and generous with his time as he ushered me into his office to talk about the school. John garners praise from Chandler parents who applaud his excellent oratory skills, his years of educational experience and his ability to handle any situation that arises with diplomacy and fairness. Even after eight years at Chandler, John (or Mr. Finch as the kids call him) wears a coat and tie every day. A quintessential British headmaster, he greets the children every morning with a handshake, remembering all their names.

 

“Chandler’s curriculum is purposeful,” says John, as I ask him about what makes this K-8 school so impressive. “We want kids to think critically and work with their classmates to solve authentic problems,” he continued.

 

Outdoor space
Outdoor space

 

A champion of academic excellence, Chandler is a traditional school. It is located in several large craftsman-inspired buildings. Its woodsy aesthetic is carefully cultivated to blend with its ideal location, a tree-lined residential street.

 

Craftsman inspired buildings fit the neighborhood
Craftsman inspired buildings fit the neighborhood

 

With its sprawling outdoor campus, minutes from the heart of Old Town Pasadena. Chandler has distinguished itself as an academic powerhouse. Chandler’s is a traditional paradigm, with a laser focus on academic excellence and strong moral character. Many of the parents at Chandler are professionals such as doctors, lawyers, teachers, executives, and faculty at Cal Tech. Legacy families return with their kids, recalling their own wonderful experience at the school.

 

A Kindergarten classroom
A Kindergarten classroom

 

Gretchen Lurie, the admissions director took me on a campus tour. Gretchen is extremely knowledgeable about all things Chandler. She’s energetic and friendly, a mom of two-college age kids. Walking in and out of classrooms, Gretchen discussed the school’s multi-faceted programs. It bears repeating: Chandler’s is an academically rigorous program. Just as important, however, as subject matter learning is organization, which is emphasized by the school. Starting in kindergarten, kids learn how to study. There is about 10-15 minutes of homework per night for kindergarten. This increases by grade so that by 6th grade there is approximately 2 hours of homework per night. Each class has a teacher and an assistant. There are specialists for art, Spanish, science, library and music. Competitive team sports begin in 7th grade.

 

Kindergarten play area
Kindergarten play area

 

Chandler uses differential instruction to create learning groups for math and reading. There is fluidity between groups, meaning kids can move into different groups during the year. There are also pullout groups run by resources specialists for gifted or advanced kids and for those who need a bit more help.

 

Theater program
Theater program

 

The school uses a 1:1 laptop program in the Middle School. For K-2nd grades, there are iPads and laptops are introduced for grades 3-5. All technology is well integrated into the curriculum the students are learning. Chad is the school’s technology specialists who works in the Library, teaching Internet skills and other aspects of the use and application of technology.

 

Gretchen was very straightforward about Chandler’s admissions process, telling me that the school’s wait-list does open up and sometimes a family can be offered a spot as early as March or as late as August. It is a “very active” wait-list, she said. There are approximately 40 openings for kindergarten. There are two classes of about 20 kids per grade for Kindergarten. Chandler seeks “bright, motivated and well-rounded students who can benefit from a strong academic program…” (Source: Chandler School). Gretchen also let me know that for 2012-13, there were about 100 fewer 5 year-old students who took the Integrated Learning Solutions (ILS) readiness exam than in previous years. It may be a good year to apply!

 

The library
The library
A close-up of a corner of the library
A close-up of a corner of the library

 

The STEAM Program

Martin Voss, in charge of communications for the school, showed me several of Chandler’s facilities and provided me information about an exciting new program. STEAM is science, technology, engineering, art and math. It’s a very new development at Chandler, a project-based curriculum organized by grade. Each grade level in the school will be executing a project based on a theme.

 

STEAM will celebrate the end of the 2013 school year with STEAM week, where students and faculty show their work.

 

One of the first STEAM projects is one where Eighth-graders designed miniature golf courses in the classrooms based on some historical or geographical element. Students worked on these in their advisory groups. Within those groups, each student had a specific role, be it historian or brochure maker, accountant, architect, fabricator and more. Brochures were made in English and Spanish. The students updated their work on a Wiki page to detail the theme of the golf holes and all of their research with documentation. The students are enthused by STEAM and their ability to create and innovate.

 

The science lab
The science lab

 

Chandler is committed to finding the best resources in its community—and on its own campus!  First grade teacher, Christine Barry, was awarded the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program’s Teacher Recognition award 2010-11. The fifth grade class took a visual calculus course with Caltech astrophysicist Dr. Mamikon Mnatsakanian, or just “Mamikon” to the students. Alumnus Ben Samuels, ’05, was elected president of the Harvard Crimson, joining Max Child, ’02, as the second Chandler to helm the Crimson in the last four years. (Source: Chandler School).

 

A garden grows at Chandler!
A garden grows at Chandler!

 

Chandler is a warm, nurturing school infused with a very traditional approach to education  which includes many of the hallmarks of a traditional school including uniforms and addressing teachers by their surnames.  It is committed to providing its students with an excellent academic education that prepares them for professional and personal success. A key part of a Chandler education is the promotion of the values of good citizenship.

 

Arts Studio
Arts Studio

 

Visiting Chandler was a true delight! It is a venerable institution, where a love of learning shines bright among students and staff. Respected for its esteemed academics, it is a contemplative, energetic and beautiful place for kids to accept academic challenges, as well as to learn how to challenge themselves as they grow.

 

Pottery and ceramics
Pottery and ceramics

 

Chandler students go on to 9th grade at a variety of schools, including Polytechnic, Flintridge Preparatory, Mayfield, Harvard-Westlake, St. Francis, Loyola and others.

 

Athletic fields!
Athletic fields!

 

For more information, visit, www.chandlerschool.org