36 replies to this topic

[tessieca]

I've had kids at both schools. No difference perceived. Again, it's the combo of good teachers and involved parents that do the trick.

My youngest two went to middle school in 6th grade. With extremely different personalities and maturity levels they both excelled in that environment. They felt they had a step-up over the ones who didn't come on site until the next year.

[Parizienne]

I teach at Folsom Middle, and I've had three kids at Sutter. I really like Ms. Phillips and Mrs. Knight. They do a phenomenal job. We've had some great experiences with Sutter teachers and some not-so-great ones. Mostly they were minor issues. I am frustrated that Sutter doesn't use Edline ( a web site used by schools that avails parents of access to current grades and class information) to post homework like we do at Folsom, but I am sure they are working on that. Homework hotline ( voice-recorded homework info) is cumbersome - especially if you've got more than one student at that school.

My impression is that FMS has a more comprehensive honors program for GATE students than Sutter has. I may be biased, though because I do teach at Folsom and have a much closer perspective to what we do there than I do as a parent of Sutter kids.

Counselors at Sutter have been responsive to issues we've raised at various times with our children. I know we have some very good counselors at FMS, also. I would be comfortable putting my children at FMS knowing they are thorough and compassionate.

Sutter does have more activities, I think. Both schools try to do a couple of sixth grade only socials. They both do dances for 7th and 8th grades, and they both have other activities for parents and families based on their various programs. We don't do Serenade Under the Stars at FMS, for example.


As far as test scores, both schools have excellent performance. Both schools have relatively small populations of special education children, children in poverty, transient children and children learning English. I don't know off-hand which school has more GATE students, but I do know that the Folsom Cordova district has more than the average California school. If I had to guess, I'd say it's FMS because we get a lot of children of Intel employees, but then so does Sutter. If we have more, it's not by a huge margin.


And just to correct what someone else said, the sixth graders at FMS do not get a whole building. They get the first floor of a building, but there are 7th and 8th graders on the 2nd floor. Mostly, they do remain separate for the majority of the school day.

Hope this helps!

Pari

[awood]

I am frustrated that Sutter doesn't use Edline ( a web site used by schools that avails parents of access to current grades and class information) to post homework like we do at Folsom, but I am sure they are working on that.

We have been using Edline (almost every day) for the last 2 years that our son has been at Sutter MS...not sure what you are referring to?

[s0479]

We have been using Edline (almost every day) for the last 2 years that our son has been at Sutter MS...not sure what you are referring to?

I think she was talking about the homework part of Edline....I haven't seen that being used and I wish it was...it would be much more convienct than the "homework hotline".

[keyplayer]

Sutter is using Edline just like all of the other schools. FMS was a pilot school so they started it a year earlier. Some teachers use it more than others at each school, but every school is on edline. If a teacher is not using it you should ask.

[Parizienne]

Yes, I was referring to homework. The sixth grade teachers that my children have had at Sutter do not use it to post nightly homework assignments. They all use it to post grades, which is nice, yes.

Some teachers in 7th and 8th grade do post homework assignments, but it's not that consistent. With more than one child at Sutter, I would definitely appreciate being able to view this information to stay on top of their calendars and due dates, etc. It doesn't take long at all to post the assignments. I would venture that it takes less time than leaving the HW Hotline voice recording does. I realize it's not going to change over night, but it would be so, so helpful!

Yes, Folsom was a pilot school, so we all use it pretty extensively. However, I've only been at FMS for two years, so I came in totally green. I was able to get comfortable with uploading assignments within a week or so. I even scan worksheets and task sheets in case the student forgets or loses one. It's great because then there are no excuses later.

Pari

Sutter is using Edline just like all of the other schools. FMS was a pilot school so they started it a year earlier. Some teachers use it more than others at each school, but every school is on edline. If a teacher is not using it you should ask.

[EDF]

You know... as a parent that raised a couple of littel brats through the system from Oak Chan all they way through the "old high" school when they split the grades and transitioned to the new high school across from INTEL... I can tell you one thing...

It doesn't make a stinknig difference which school your little "beastie" goes to...

The public schools here are good because of the total demographics here are high income and heavy with "parental" involvement...

Parental invovlement is the one big thing that makes your kid a success... a good teacher helps too don't get me wrong... but if you aren't involved in your little "stinkwad's" education it won't mean didley where they go to school at...

But what do I know... except that I'm a "veteran" of this crap... I remember some parents were so concerned that their little "suzy" get into the right "track" when we started the "year round" thing back in 92... Some parents actually camped out overnight in front of OakChan to get their names on the list to be considered the "right" track...

Didn't mean squat in the end... but some of you folks worry too much about how pretty a stinking school looks...

When my little darlings started at Oak Chan... geez it was nothing but portables... no "multi-purpose" room... no play ground other than a tether ball on some black top and the admin office was out of a stinking trailer...

So relax moms... it'll all be ok... your kid will make it just fine... after all you did...

Love.....

EDF