Travilah Elem

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience/thoughts about this school? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience/thoughts about this school? Thanks.

Back in the day most of the students were children of farmers and quarry workers. Today its draw area is very affluent and the children come from upper middle to upper class families. Can't tell you anything about the inner workings of the school because I am long gone from that area.

[Anonymous]

We're very happy with Travilah. We have friends at Wayside, StoneMill, and a few others as well. The area that feeds into Travilah is expensive but its a very Target friendly crowd. The diversity is good in terms of ethnicity and race less so socioeconomically.

[Anonymous]

I know this wasn't asked, but.... when my son plays soccer at Travilah on Saturdays, I couldn't help but notice the number of electrical lines as well as what looks to be a cell phone tower farther off (looks like off Dufeif Rd). Does that concern anyone? I only ask because it really surprised me to see an ES in a triangle of high power lines. How did that pass any sort of inspection?

[Anonymous]

I know this wasn't asked, but.... when my son plays soccer at Travilah on Saturdays, I couldn't help but notice the number of electrical lines as well as what looks to be a cell phone tower farther off (looks like off Dufeif Rd). Does that concern anyone? I only ask because it really surprised me to see an ES in a triangle of high power lines. How did that pass any sort of inspection?

The fall off occurs very high up toward the top near the line and dissipates long before it would reach you. You are exposed to more electricity from your cell phone than if you are standing even directly under a power line. I worry more about the nearby fields. There have been credible sitings of crop circles and aliens which is more likely than health issues arising from proximity to power lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this wasn't asked, but.... when my son plays soccer at Travilah on Saturdays, I couldn't help but notice the number of electrical lines as well as what looks to be a cell phone tower farther off (looks like off Dufeif Rd). Does that concern anyone? I only ask because it really surprised me to see an ES in a triangle of high power lines. How did that pass any sort of inspection?

The power lines have been there for fifty years. The school longer. If there were any issues it would have been known long before now. Typical helicopter parent question.

[Anonymous]

We have friends in the area that go to other schools. I get the feeling that Travilah is more laid back with the exception of the principal who seems obsessed with test scores. I'm not a fan of how she addresses parents at functions. I do get the feeling that she is trying to preemptively manage parents en masse and wants no intrusions into her kingdom. The teachers on the other hand are great. The PTA stuff is fun and very community oriented. At first I thought that the events were pretty cheesy and a little disorganized but this is the type of activity that kids love. Its much easier to participate in the activities and actually have fun than the more over the top stuff we saw/did at private school.

Many of our friends at StoneMill complain about it being too rigid and way too many worksheets. Travilah also has tons of worksheets but doesn't seem as rigid. Our friends at Wayside seem to get much better communication from the school about the curriculum, what is being taught etc.

There are a good number of sport activities and after school activities on the school grounds which are great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have friends in the area that go to other schools. I get the feeling that Travilah is more laid back with the exception of the principal who seems obsessed with test scores. I'm not a fan of how she addresses parents at functions. I do get the feeling that she is trying to preemptively manage parents en masse and wants no intrusions into her kingdom. The teachers on the other hand are great. The PTA stuff is fun and very community oriented. At first I thought that the events were pretty cheesy and a little disorganized but this is the type of activity that kids love. Its much easier to participate in the activities and actually have fun than the more over the top stuff we saw/did at private school.

Many of our friends at StoneMill complain about it being too rigid and way too many worksheets. Travilah also has tons of worksheets but doesn't seem as rigid. Our friends at Wayside seem to get much better communication from the school about the curriculum, what is being taught etc.

There are a good number of sport activities and after school activities on the school grounds which are great.

ALL principals are obsessed with test scores. The don't necessarily want to be but there is pressure on them from their area superintendent., who gets pressure from the likes of Weast and Starr. People lose their jobs over test scores.

[Anonymous]

Principal at Travilah ES is horrible. She doesnt really care/love the kids. She only cares about numbers. Also, she is not a nice person in general. She often yelled at the staff and kids for no reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Principal at Travilah ES is horrible. She doesnt really care/love the kids. She only cares about numbers. Also, she is not a nice person in general. She often yelled at the staff and kids for no reason.

Still mad about EEK?

[Anonymous]

Mad about EEK? Why?

[Anonymous]

Principal at Travilah ES is horrible. She doesnt really care/love the kids. She only cares about numbers. Also, she is not a nice person in general. She often yelled at the staff and kids for no reason.

And from the EEK thread an hour before this post (with no previous mention in the thread about Travilah):

Do NOT try EEK at Travilah ES in North Potomac. Principal at the school is very horrible. When you go get the form for orientation, She will tell you that she will not accept EEK.

I've changed my mind though--I'll say disgruntled former Travilah staff member, not frustrated would-be EEK parent.

[Anonymous]

Try diff school, Travilah is just a horrible school to go to. 1. Power Line 2. Principal 3. Main Office people not nice 4. Low enrollment for K so only 2 classes now 5. Small playarea

[Anonymous]

What is EEK?

[Anonymous]

EEK = Early Entrance Kindergarten, if your kid just misses the cut-off date. They have to be 5 by Sept. 1, but there's a birthday window (6 weeks? October 1? I don't know) where they could potentially test in and be allowed to start K at 4 years old.