Southern York County Life

I would like to find out about Stewartstown Elementary School since I have a son that will be attending that school in the future. What good or bad things should I be aware of the school. Any information would be helpful and appreciated.

v/r,
KATY

Stewartstown Elementary is a decent school.  Everyone has thier own opinions about it, and they are all formed from thier own personal experiences.  I enjoy spending time there when I can, even though my kids have moved on to high school.  Honestly, the best way to understand more about it is to volunteer.  They would love any time you can give.  There are a few pre-requisites such as a background check, but that is easy. 
Best Wishes, and perhaps I will see you there one day.

I absolutely love Stewartstown Elementary.  My son loves it there.  The staff is very helpful.  The PTA is fantastic and always looking for ways to help out.  I have nothing bad to say about it.  I think you’ll be very happy there.  I’m glad we are a part of that community.

Agreed on all comments-I attended k-5 there, moved away, had kids and moved back JUST to have my son in Stew Elem.  Everyone is fabulous, programs for every childs needs, etc.  Also recommend volunteering if you have questions, there is never anything they couldnt help with or get help with.  (The obvious growing concern is when they get OUT of Stewartstown Elem. to middle and high....Because of the constant problems, I was homeschooled in my first high school year and will probably do the same for my child(ren) if the opportunity is still there at that time...)

k9LuVeR - 19 April 2008 07:32 AM

Agreed on all comments-I attended k-5 there, moved away, had kids and moved back JUST to have my son in Stew Elem.  Everyone is fabulous, programs for every childs needs, etc.  Also recommend volunteering if you have questions, there is never anything they couldnt help with or get help with.  (The obvious growing concern is when they get OUT of Stewartstown Elem. to middle and high....Because of the constant problems, I was homeschooled in my first high school year and will probably do the same for my child(ren) if the opportunity is still there at that time...)

What are the constant problems in middle and high school that you are referring to? Thanks, KATY

Stewartstown Elementary is a wonderful school with fantastic teachers and an excellent, responsive principal.  The test scores are wonderful and they have a lot of programs for kids who struggle.  Those of us on PTA work hard to help keep the school great.  Please volunteer.

I personally can not say enough good about Stewartstown elementary. The staff is very wonderful and helpful and all are very caring. I have a son there and he is one who struggles and I can not say enough good about the teachers who help him. The schools here are much better then where I moved from. I think you will love them as much as the rest of us hear do. Welcome to the area.

My only experience with Stewartstown Elementary was in 2003, my first child was 4, turning 5 in October.  I wanted to start the process of enrollment for Kindergarten and was told that her birthday was after the cutoff date and she would have to wait another year.  I requested a call from the Principal, who did call me, I can’t remember his name.  He told me that under no circumstances would they enroll her.  I requested testing (paid for by me), perhaps a personal meeting so he could meet her, whatever would help.  He just said sorry for your luck, we know what’s best for your child.  I didn’t agree, put her in a Christian school and she is now 4 years in, with no problems, she actually does quite well.  I’m glad it happened because I didn’t want to use public school anyway.  Now, through these years, I have consistently had examples of why we made the best decision for her.  For example, last week, she had to write a poem using illiteration and onomatopoeia, her friend, 2 grades ahead of her in public school said she learned the same thing last week.  I also don’t like how they don’t give actual grades until 2nd grade (unless that has recently changed).  Only you know your child and what’s best for you and your family, and many people place a greater value on the social aspects and the connections that your child will make.  No one who went to my school as a child lived close enough to play with after school, so none of my friends were in my school, I also always played soccer and softball, so I never had any issues with being isolated from others.  Every kid is different, if your hesitant, explore all the other options, there are always open houses.  Both of my sisters and I graduated high school when we were 17, we never had any problems with the curricula being too difficult for our age.

Katy-don’t want this to turn into another “bash sesd” thread, so in a nutshell, administrative wise, alot of things happened in my years at the middle school and starting the high school that really affected most of the students.  my sister before me, also had issues with them constantly changing teachers in classes and no matter what anyone says, it does affect a students ability to stay consistent.

i have some stories, but again, not willing to start on the thread, maybe in our new womens club i will fill u in...lol

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but age cut off dates in public schools are established by the state education department, not an elementary school principal.

stown_guy - 22 April 2008 08:10 AM

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but age cut off dates in public schools are established by the state education department, not an elementary school principal.

Of course they’re not established by the Principal, but it couldn’t be the state, because at the time Southern’s cutoff was different.  What my point is, is bigger than that (that was my first and only experience), it is that I want to have control over educational decisions for my children, which is why I continued on to say, they should research and find the best situation for their family.

I understand that, but this post was asking for opinions specifically about S-town Elementary School.  You made the school look like the bad guy for not allowing your daughter to enroll early.  Cut off dates are there for a reason, no matter who makes them.  You chose to research and send your child elsewhere, and I’m glad it worked out positively.  But it wasn’t the fault of the school or the principal.

The cut off ages are set locally.  The reason for the steadily advancing cutoff date is the large volume of evidence that 4 year olds, particularly boys, are not quite ready for kindegarten.  That is not to say that all of them are not ready.  There certainly are those that are.  But a lot of kids that age will struggle through kindegarten and continue to struggle through school, whereas if they had been given a year to mature, they likely would have been more confident and capable, and managed school successfully. 
A lot of people seem to think of Kindegarten as the end of paying for daycare, and regardless of the readiness of thier child, they insist that the kid go anyway.

JustPlainC - 22 April 2008 09:13 AM

The cut off ages are set locally.  The reason for the steadily advancing cutoff date is the large volume of evidence that 4 year olds, particularly boys, are not quite ready for kindegarten.  That is not to say that all of them are not ready.  There certainly are those that are.  But a lot of kids that age will struggle through kindegarten and continue to struggle through school, whereas if they had been given a year to mature, they likely would have been more confident and capable, and managed school successfully. 
A lot of people seem to think of Kindegarten as the end of paying for daycare, and regardless of the readiness of thier child, they insist that the kid go anyway.

Once again, I am not interested in the broad brush strokes that occur.  I feel that every child is different, and my experience did end up positive, but the experience was not a good one.  I am not a person who believes that a government run agency should make decisions for my kids.  I was treated rudely and talk to as if someone who did not know my child was telling me what was best for her.  So, if you feel I’m bashing, you just don’t get it.  I felt it was a clue to what was to come, so I did WHAT WAS BEST FOR MY FAMILY, which is the only thing I am recommending.  Please remember that people ask for opinions or experiences, that is what they want.

Not trying to stir anything up - but I found BevyJean’s comments helpful.  I have a daughter also with an October birthday and personally was wondering the same thing about early enrollment.  She has a few years to go before she has to worry about that and I will contact the school myself, perhaps things have changed, but I do appreciate the information provided. 
I also can understand the need for a set date for children to enter kindergarten, but it seems, especially if the parent is willing to pay for testing, there should be some flexibility.  Christian school isn’t an option for our family, but I will do more research now that I know someone else had a problem enrolling their child early.  Thanks. 

My daughter has a november bday.  She had kindergarten in MD as well as PA because of the cut off date and our move.  (I have a neighbor whos daughter did the same) Ironically, MD changed their cut-off dates the same year we moved so both states had the same rule.  I also asked at the time if she could go right into 1st grade and was told initially that she could test out and they would see.  Mr Sowers renigged on that and I chose not to fight it.  She had friends that she played with and was close with that would be going to Kindergarten with her so that helped too.  She has always been at the top of her class.  Could be cuz shes one of the oldest, could be cuz she had a head start going in, could just ‘be’.  She was still challenged and is now in the gifted program.  I don’t necesarrily like the way Mr sowers handled things but he is not in charge at the school anymore so maybe things would be differant now.  Either way - it was not indicative of things to come at the school.  We love Stewartstown Elem.  I have had 2 kids go through there and my youngest will be starting there in the fall.
another thing - I have a friend in MD who just went through this too, his son missed the cut off by only 3 days and they even had him tested and he barely missed ‘passing’.  They have to do the cut-off somewhere.