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howa0155

big_noisebig_noise member
in Minnesota Babies

I saw below that you posted that you like school dist. 197. Do you have any tips/info. you can share about it? We obviously won't be there for a few years, but I want to start getting a feel for it. What school(s) do you know about?

Thanks!

BFP #1, 12/22/09 - DD#1 born 9/2010
BFP #2, 12/12/11, m/c 12/25/11
BFP #3, 3/09/12, CP 3/10/12
BFP #4, 7/22/12, DD#2 born 4/2013
 

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Re: howa0155

  • NoBeautyQueenNoBeautyQueen member

    Butting in because I'm nosey and bored on a Sunday afternoon. We're in 197 and love it. I really like their layout of K-4, 5-8, and 9-12. The elementary schools (all I have experience with so far) are all small and pretty close-knit. The principal at our elementary strives to know every student and parent by name and is outside to greet the kids coming to school nearly every morning. When we had some differences with a teacher, the principal stepped right in and helped to work everything out. The different grades/classes have buddies in other grades/classes. The 2nd graders have reading buddies with kindergartners. The 4th graders are bus buddies for kindergartners. The 1st and 3rd graders buddy up for field trips. They really promote getting to know the other kids in the school, not just your classroom or grade.

    I've had fun participating in ECFE with our 18 month old, which we started as soon as she was born. The Baby & Me class is free and was great to get out of the house while I was on maternity leave. Now that I'm on maternity leave again, we're going to do the toddler class for spring session. You aren't necessarily bound to your local school district for ECFE (and St Paul does have much more to offer for selection) but it has been nice meeting other families that live nearby with kids the same age. A lot of the families also seem to be staying put so it is fun knowing that the kids our oldest has been in class with since preschool will probably also be graduating from Sibley together.

    Getting involved is the best way to get to know the district. And definitely sign up for the Community Baby Shower! You get a cute little gift bag with a Sibley onesie :)

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  • big_noisebig_noise member
    That is awesome, thank you for the input!
    BFP #1, 12/22/09 - DD#1 born 9/2010
    BFP #2, 12/12/11, m/c 12/25/11
    BFP #3, 3/09/12, CP 3/10/12
    BFP #4, 7/22/12, DD#2 born 4/2013
     

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  • howa0155howa0155 member

    Sorry I missed this!  I love 197 for all of the reasons pp mentioned.  DD has had great teachers who will stay late, come in early or whatever need be done to help the students/parents.  The parent participation is higher than I have seen at any other school, the principle stood out front to greet the kids even with a broken leg and knows us all by name. 

    I bet you could even get a tour of the ele schools now (even if your LO is a way off from kindergarten). 

    I'd recommend 197 to anyone in a heartbeat.  :)

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