Newtown Middle School

In today's world, school culture matters now more than ever. Saint Katharine Drexel fosters an environment rich in morals, virtues, and Catholic faith. As one previous review states, by choosing SKD we choose a partner in parenting. Today's world doesn't always support faithful, wholesome family values. However, SKD reinforces our home-life values and the lessons we teach our boys. Combine that with our rich learning environment, exceptional principal/teachers/staff and we could not ask for more!

One of the worst schools I've ever experienced.Where do I even start?My son and daughter had a good experience up until grade 4. Kindergarten and graded 1-3 were excellent, one of the best learning experiences a kid can have! But after this is unfortunately goes down-hill. Saint Andrew brings in affordable beginner teachers witb little to no experience in education. The most qualifications they have is usually teaching kindergarten the year prior. More than 90% of these teachers are unmotivated and act like they don't even want to be there. Every now and the they'll make a horrible side project that they put no thought in to and give us a due date (usually is due two weeks later.) I will give teaching 2/5 just because of the exellent teachers that are outweighed by the weak ones.From what my kids told me, they never are excited to learn anymore. The teachers literally don't care about your child- maybe that's a stretch, but it sure seems that way.Social-emotional learning is pretty bad too. If you need your parent to e-mail a teacher about help in class or anything similar to that, the teachers then proceed to breathe over you and act like your helpless and or oblivious to the unit/lesson. They don't act normally.Now moving on to safety: it's only okay. I was told that my kids have a habdful of issues with lunch and recess. The two periods before your linch time are purposley set to 50 minutes instead of the usual; 45. This is because they want to decrease time from lunch and recess time. After your 50 minute period, it takes 5-10 more minutes to get back to your homeroom, pack up for your period after lunch, and the pray abd walk all the way back downstairs to the cafeteria. By the time you arrive, you have a MAXIMUM of 20 minutes to eat. So, using your common sense, you would make the choice yo immediately go up and buy food to quickly eat. (because they don't let you eat at recess either.) But no, one of the degenerate lunch conselors tell you to hold back until enough classes have been called, which eats up about three more minutes. Even then, you may have to wait for you ger kids to buy lunch before you if they arrive just a but later than you do.In regards to punishments, it is done harshly and lazily every single time. Wagner does not at all make an attempt to crack down on the 1-5 kids that caused trouble in the cafeteria. Instead, she decides to punish the entire grade. By taking away recess, the kid's only excerise for the entire scho-

I had a wonderful experience with Newtown Friends School for all ten years that my child attended the school. She began in Pre-K, graduated from NFS, and went on to attend George School. At every turn, I found the staff to be caring, competent, attentive, and filled with a true sense of responsibility to educate the WHOLE child. I loved the Quaker values. I am not a Quaker myself, but I felt the Quaker values were universal. We are in an area of great public schools for academics, but I wanted more than that for my child. I appreciated the celebration of diversity and inclusion. Kids will be kids; however, my child did not experience any significant teasing or unkindness from her peers. The small school allowed her to be truly known by her teachers. It is not unusual for every adult in the building to know a child's name. She went on amazing field trips every year at no additional cost. Beginning in 5th grade, they take overnight trips to environmental education centers. My child had a blast, and it fostered tremendous independence. Especially if they stay for many years. My daughter left NFS WELL-prepared for high school. She started 9th grade in honors, high-level, and AP classes and did extremely well. NFS has some learning support, with dedicated staff trained in Special Education, but it is true that they cannot meet the needs of children who require a high level of services. I wholeheartedly recommend the amazing education that NFS has to offer.