Wesmere Elementary School

Don't bother calling the school if you have a question or concern. Your name and number will be taken but you will not receive a follow up call. The academics at the school leave a lot to be desired. My son feels frustrated and bored in class because he is not being challenged. academically. When my husband and I have spoken to his teachers about this, we have been told that they give him "time to do things on his own." The new accelerated program is a joke due to "lack of funding". It's very sad as a parent to watch a child who was once so enthusiastic about learning become disallusioned and give up.
—Submitted by a parent

i have to agree with the posting from 2/16/08 the parent who has the 1st grader who is stressed and scared. i have been every involved in the school with the pto and just being there in general my son is in 2nd grade and last year was scared to death of his teacher and hated school he still has issues with year while he likes his teacher he hates being there he feels way too much pressure i dont remember school at this age being so pressured there is way to much push for the kids to learn everything now now now and the ratings and grading of schools throughout the distric is too much presure the disctric need to back off , make this time of learning fun for the kids we are setting a like or dislike in this case for learning for life here
—Submitted by a parent

In my honest opinion, the teachers are overstressed and I have witnessed comments and attitudes toward the kids that were unacceptable. I have heard children being told to shut up and I don't even tell my dog to shut up. What gets me is if a student were to tell another student to shut up, that student would be in trouble for saying it. Isn't that a double-standard? The screaming/yelling at children that I have observed is just appalling and makes the school look bad because the people in charge are not stepping up to stop it. My daughter is a 1st grader and has recently developed anxiety attacks because she is afraid of her teacher. This is just unreal to me. I think the teachers need to be offered stress management classes or something because this is ridiculous.
—Submitted by a parent

The 'foreign language lessons' are a joke. They occur after school, and the child gets about 10 lessons. Foreign languages are NOT A PART OF THE ACADEMIC CURRICULUM!!! There is a band, which your child can optionally join in the 5th grade. HOWEVER, this turns into quite a LOT of hostility among other children towards your child's participation in the band. If your child gets involved in the band, then he will be socially ostracized and labeled a 'Geek.' Buying a house in this school district was the MOST REGRETTABLE MISTAKE OF MY LIFE! There is NO ORCHESTRA!
—Submitted by Willard Losinger, a parent

I am sad to say that a relocation forced my family out of this school district. District 202 is great! Four out of five of my children attended over the last seven years and the entire experience has been nothing short of excellent! My family participated in many extracurricular programs such as Band, Foreign Language Lessons, Soccer, Cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and PTO all of these programs either met or exceeded our expectations. The Principals and Staff at Wesmere Elementary and Drauden Point middle school were genuinely concerned for the eduation of each of my children. We are sorry to be leaving and I know that it will not be easy to find another school district that will be comperable to Plainfield Community Consolidated school district 202.
—Submitted by Kim Girga, a parent

I am so very pleased that my children have had the opportunity to attend this school. It is excellent! The teachers are dedicated and informative and work with parents well. They are innovative in the programs offered to the students such as foreign languages, clubs and the post office. Highly recommend!
—Submitted by Lisa, a parent

This school has many good teachers. The principles leave much to be desired. As does the playground supervision. Academically, it is not all it is said to be either. My children have learned at home and through SCORE Learning centers and Sylvan than they will ever learn at this school. You also should be aware that Plainfield schools have opted not to teach phonics at all. This is a problem for many children when they are learning to read and spell.
—Submitted by a parent

I would like to respond to the Jan. 2005 comment. The school does have extra curricular activities. I'm not sure if you read the papers that go home with the children. They do have band they teach foreign languages, Chess club and so forth, so I'm not sure why you made that statement. I love this school and the teachers are wonderful. We were planning to move, but we can't part with this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I don't think the management is up to par but I have not had any problems with any of the teachers and my kid is in 4th grade. They DO have foreign language and lots of circuits where they pull kids out to read or do math on their level as well as with the rest of the class.
—Submitted by a parent

The school is ok as long as you have good communication with the teacher. The math program leave a lot to be desired and there doesn't seem to be a set curriculum for reading at any of the Plainfield schools. The teachers do the best they can in overcrowded classrooms. My son's class has 32 in it this year. Most teachers only have an aid for half of the day in classrooms where all day would be must better.
—Submitted by a parent

My older daughter has been in school since the kindergarten at Wesmere.I believe it is the parents responsibility to also help their childern succeed as well as the teacher's who have to teach them! I am not a teacher and could never be one in a school,but if I do not teach my childern at home first who will? We need to help the teachers, keep on top of your child & what they are doing at school.My childern are in sports after school because the do well in school.I am happy w/most of the teachers at Wesmere my childern are doing a good job and so are the teachers.
—Submitted by a parent