Honest Opinion
Hi, I left this graduated three years ago and this is my opinion as a student of the school:
Good Things:
1) VERY Small Classes
2) Good Friendships
3) Encouragement in Extra Curricular
4) Student Enthusiasm for Achieving
And as for the reasons I would would no recommend it:
1) A sense of unprofessionalism
2) Math, Science, and History departments are not very strong (upper school)
3) Not much course selection (upper school)
4) TOO many teachers that hold unnecessary positions
Comments
While you rated the school on the low side, you made valid comments and your areas for improvement are things the school takes into consideration. As a small school, it is difficult to offer a wide variety of courses when there might be just 1 or 2 students interested in a specialty course. However, we certainly would like to offer more selection to students as the school grows. The school was started by a group of parents in the late 80s - as the school has become accredited and grows in age and prestige, so does the professionalism of the staff. Hawthorn thanks you for your comments and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Yes, I did rate the school on the low side, for the reason that the negative aspects greatly outweigh the positive ones.
I appreciate that you've considered my opinion to be unbiased because thats what I aimed to convey. I never talked in depth about the negative elements of the school, because I think a lot of people have already done so, and it doesn't take an expert to point them out, but I certainly would not recommend this school due to its mediocracy... basically NOTHING the school offers will ever make one feel "WOW, that was money worth spent!" and if a parent does however feel that way simply over the "character education" that you guys offer, I'm sorry but any sane parent would tell you that they can offer that to there kids at home rather than having to pay $15 000+.
What you need to do is:
- in the upper school strengthen your academics! (STOP HIRING TEACHERS THAT ARE BARELY OUT OF UNI AND DON'T HAVE TEACHING DEGREES!)
- relax on your "character development" (if you consistently and STRICTLY impose your views, a child is bound to snap, pushing them - and there friends - to want to rebel and further themselves away from having any desire to want to understand why something is done the way it is)
- DON'T LIE! (this may seem self-explanatory, but however this golden rule was not always practiced in many departments within the school)
- THE TEACHERS ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT! (they may be right in terms of correcting a student, but when a parent get involved its a whole different scenario - the parent has clearly taken the time out of there busy work day to address a concern, so respect them and address there needs professionally, and learn to apologize when the mistake is on the schools behalf)
- DESIGNATE SPECIFIC JOBS and train them to be experts in what it is they are to do. (Every department seems to have there own rules; upper school, lower school, front desk) where the staff don't even know what there job actually is! everyone interferes into everyone else's business, assign SPECIFIC jobs, leaving no room for confusion and only room for efficiency)