Urban Mamas

We are looking at the same two schools for my son who will be a 2nd grader Sept. 2012. He currently attends Glencoe through the lottery where we are having the following problems:
8:00 start time has us perpetually fighting against his natural rhythm.
15 minutes for my underweight slow-eater are not enough.
The curriculum is so worksheet based I feel it's knocking the love of learning right out of him.
I know Creative Science starts at 8:45. When does Ivy start? Can anyone speak to lunchtimes at both places? Also, since he attends his current school through the lottery, if he doesn’t get in to his PPS lottery choice does anyone know if he would default back to his current or neighborhood school?
Thanks so much for the input and forgive me, I wasn't sure whether to start a new thread or not.

We are looking at the same two schools for my son who will be a 2nd grader Sept. 2012. He currently attends Glencoe through the lottery where we are having the following problems:
8:00 start time has us perpetually fighting against his natural rhythm.
15 minutes for my underweight slow-eater are not enough.
The curriculum is so worksheet based I feel it's knocking the love of learning right out of him.
I know Creative Science starts at 8:45. When does Ivy start? Can anyone speak to lunchtimes at both places? Also, since he attends his current school through the lottery, if he doesn’t get in to his PPS lottery choice does anyone know if he would default back to his current or neighborhood school?
Thanks so much for the input and, forgive me, I wasn't sure whether to start a new thread or not.

I would visit both schools, and see what your commute is like to both. Apply to both! You can since they have separate lotteries.

We love the community at Ivy... and it is a place for the whole family to really get involved. Come check out the school!

Here is the proper link to the Creative Science School website page with the details on information nights and applying through the PPS lottery (the prior link is broken due to the inclusion of the closing parenthesis).
http://creativescienceschool.org/home/next-step/

If you have an entering kindergartener, or even one in any grade through 8th , you really should consider Creative Science. It is a magical place. The kids are learning to be thinkers and do-ers, not just vessels for deposited information. I was so nervous about my shy child going from his co-op nursery school where the adult:child ratio was so low to a public school with a 1:25 ratio, but I couldn't be happier, and neither can my (now) out-going and self-confidant child. The ratio is never that high: in K, there is a half time teacher's aide AND and 1/2 time teacher PLUS usually a parent volunteer. I love the community of committed parents and engaged teachers, all of whom have been completely accepting of our gay family. I LOVE both kindergarten teachers. Definitely one to check out.

I cannot speak for the Creative Science School, but The Ivy School starts at 1st grade. Their classrooms are blended (1st/2nd/3rd) (4th/5th/6th) with 30 students in each class. There is one teacher and one assistant in each classroom.

Does anyone know the class sizes in kinder at either school?

We are at Ivy and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. But realistically both schools are in separate lotteries so apply to both, and then if by some chance you get in to both, then you can visit both and see if you like one better then.

Hi Brittney, we have a first grader at The Ivy School and are very happy with it. We find the Montessori model to be excellent and flexible, allowing kids who are accelerated, need additional help in certain areas, or somewhere in-between to be served very well. The school is still young and there's lots of work to do, but the in-classroom academic experience feels very solid.

I know Creative Science is a great school too, utilizing storyline and constructivist learning. However, we stuck with Montessori as it utilizes all of that, plus project- and place-based learning, international elements, etc. There is also a good amount of art, music, PE and Spanish language. In addition to being a great system that really maximizes how kids learn, it touches on all of the great methodologies going on in other charters and focus options. Can you tell we like the school? :)

By the way, their website is going to be redone, so for now, it doesn't really do the school justice. Their open house is coming up on February 16th, from 6-7:30pm. Attending is a great way to get a feel for the school.

Good luck!

Our son is in first grade at Creative Science School, and we absolutely love it. The curriculum/approach is amazing (no worksheets, hands-on learning, constructivist philosophy, storyline approach, many opportunities for creativity), and the parent community is devoted, talented, involved, and welcoming. We have info nights coming up on 2/3 and 2/23 (http://creativescienceschool.org/home/next-step/). I will be there and would be happy to talk with you. There should be at least a handful of 2nd grade spots available next year (and maybe your kiddo and mine will be in the same class!).