Barnette Elementary School

I am an educator in another state who has family who attend your school. I first of all have to applaud the fifth grade team for being, in the words of a 10 year old I know, the best school year of his life. Based on what he shares with me, the 5th grade teachers need to be commeded. On the other hand I am just curious to know what expectations are put forth to the kindergarten students. Do the students have a highly engaged classroom where movement is permitted? Are the teachers certified in early childhood? Are there instructional and developmental centers? I have been hearing of some alarming stories about students expected to sit, extremely still for unreasonably long periods of time. If they do not they are referred for testing and medication. Are meeting the standards clouding judgement? Having conversed with many early childhood specialists I think the administration needs to reassess some of the practices it accepts towards the 5 year old population.
--Submitted by a teacher

I think this is a great school - the best in town - I think it only has an '8' because it is such a new school. Barnette has opportunities you cant get at Huntersville El and no overcrowding! Teachers really care and the principal works very hard to make this the best school.
--Submitted by a parent

My post have been removed, and continue to be removed so I will just state the facts that have happened this year....my children attended this school the day the doors opened and the first year and a half were great. I volunteered my time 3-4 days a week 1 and sometimes 2 hours a day. I took my kids out last year and I am now home schooling them... my children have gotten into a charter school for the upcoming 2011-2012 year. DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU SEND YOUR KID TO THIS SCHOOL....I WAS AN INVOLVED PARENT....so all of the post saying the parents posting the bad post were not involved is a lie...I WAS!!!!
--Submitted by a parent

We have been at BES for 3 years now going on our fourth. We, the parents and children, love the school. We have have had WONDERFUL teachers who have impacted my children's learning in the most POSITIVE way. The communication could use some improvement and should improve this upcoming school year with going "green". Barnette is no different than any other school or business environment. There is going to be turnover. In some previous reviews turnover was mentioned and those that posted will be surprised to see some familiar teachers coming back. I recommend attending PTA meetings and getting involved where your time permits.
--Submitted by a parent

My original post was deleted. That's nice because I have more info to share w/ anyone looking to put their child in Barnette. Please note: I only speak for my child's classroom & will only state the FACTS that have happened this school year. -FACT: During the 5th grade transition year, She's had THREE different teachers. -FACT: My honor roll student now attends TUTORING twice a week because the classroom does not have a positive work/learning environment - in her words "My teacher doesn't care and confuses me & gets mad when I ask questions". -FACT: When parents ask questions & inquire about what's going on in the classroom, a sugar coated explanation is provided but accountability, problem solving solutions, and clear communication is disregarded. -FACT: Several students have left my child's class to be HOME SCHOOLED by their parents as a result of the ongoing issues at this school and particularly this class. -FACT: This school has a very high number of faculty/staff that have abruptly left for "various reasons". I'm sure there are positives about this school as well & people who have had wonderful teachers/experiences. Just do your homework before you step into a nightmare.
--Submitted by a parent

What a wonderful school! I am so pleased with my son's Teacher. She is very intune to my childs needs! I have spent several hours in his classroom during class instruction and was impressed with the task that are placed on our children. The teacher's have a full daily learning schedule and the kids love it. Thank you Ms. Kem for caring! My son is not the easiest child to handle as he is very active and you have made a hough difference in his life.
--Submitted by a parent

Now I understand why my second grader's fluency took a nose dive in the last Qtr. He was on top of his class and had straight 3s since he was in K. Then all of a sudden he gets a 1 in reading. When I timed his reading at home, he was doing good. I was very confused and did not know what was going on. NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE. My child will be a part of "one year worth growth statistics". Not sure how long this posting will be up for but a note to Great shool.org. I also noticed that some of the negative postings have been taken off the website. Please do not try to paint a rosy picture of this school. Once we acknowledge that there is a problem, we can fix it. Denying that the problem is there doesn't help. When you take the negative postings off, you may be able to improve the rating of the school but does that help the kids in getting better education? This is a democratic forum and let it be that way. So PLEASE do not try to bump up the rating of the school or the principal.
--Submitted by a parent

An intelligently and powerfully worded review, which expressed the crux of the issues at Barnette, posted the other day. It appears that it has since been targeted and removed. The reviewer expressed that some are turning a blind-eye to the underlying issues that plague our school and that anyone who doesn't think that attrition and retention rates are valid measures of the success of a leader/manager of a school or business is wrong! Furthermore, the reviewer noted that accountability was another marker of an effective leader and went on to say that they were not seeing this in the present administration. I could not agree more with the person who composed that review and wish they would repost their comments. Nevertheless, I want to add to the discussion by pointing out that attrition rates are important indicators of job satisfaction. Are teachers happy/unhappy in their work environment? Is the system they are employed within working well? Looking at Barnette's attrition rates this school year ( 9 teachers and 1 assist. principal gone since Sept.), one could conclude that teachers at Barnette aren't very happy and the system, in which they function, isn't working very well!
--Submitted by a parent

Enough is enough. I was a part of all the initial drama after a fifth grade teacher chose to resign. After sitting and talking with the fifth grade team and administration I am almost embarrassed for the way we have treated the staff and administration. All of the things we did to the principal was while she was with child and I feel horribly for this. My child comes home and tells me that there have been several members of the administrative team in his class along with the teacher aides. I know that this is his third teacher but finally I get that he has had three other teachers all year. The members of the fifth grade team have taken on this class and I am thankful for them. I am officially removed from all of negative comments about this school. I will work to make the best of the rest of this year and work with the school. I regret acting the way that I did. I would advise the rest of you to wake up. We need to support this team, administration, and most importantly, our kids.
--Submitted by a parent

The work-load for teachers and students is exorbitant this year! Teachers are working later and longer than I've ever seen before. My children are working on homework till bedtime! I can't imagine having to grade the volume of homework that my children complete nightly, times 23 other students, and then have to log it in Parent Assist; In addition to all the other student data that our teachers have to record. Our school has become so data-driven, that it is no longer people-driven. The passion and creativity is being sucked right out of our teachers and the enthusiasm for and curiosity of learning is draining from our children. All for the sake of achieving "the numbers". Yes, we just may achieve those EOG numbers that are being so desperately sought after, BUT AT WHAT PRICE? FUTHERMORE, THE ESSENCE OF LEARNING FAR SURPASSES MERE TEST PERFORMANCE!!!
--Submitted by a parent