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07.24.08, 06:41 AM NY Schools
26 replies
Rhinelander or Merricat's Castle? Why? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
NY Schools 07.24.08, 06:41 AM Flag
 

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Merricats is a much better school. The teachers are better. There is a lot of turnover at Rhinelander. Also, the famous coke-pepsi challenge happened at Rhinelander. The directorat Merricats is well connected. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 07:32 AM Flag
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And, one more thing, the diversity at Merricats is good for preschoolers, imo. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 07:33 AM Flag
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what does that mean, "the famous coke-pepsi challenge happened at Rhinelander"? Do you mean they gave the 3 year olds soda? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 08:21 AM Flag
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no, tehy did not (it was the 4s class, and the teacher wanted to a thimble-full coke-pepsi challenge as a graphing exercise, as they were working on graphing in class. a letter went home about it, and when parents complained -- me included -- the director stepped in and cancelled it. truly, while the teacher made an error in judgment, it really wasn't that big of a deal.) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 12:10 PM Flag
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but why would thy do it? just wondering...bad judgement sure, but just seems stupid. Give them different color gummy bears or something, not caffeinated soda! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 12:12 PM Flag
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i agree completely -- as i said, i complained as well. the graphing exercise was a great idea, but the teacher's original thought to use soda was stupid. everyone agreed, some other item was used in its place (can't remember what), and that was the end of it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 12:16 PM Flag
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I remember doing this as a kid but the choice was between cats and dogs! (Actually, I think this was first done as a vote, as it was an election year and they wanted to teach us about that) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 12:18 PM Flag
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they did that too at rhinelander, if i recall. after apple picking, i think -- yellow, red, or green apples were the choices... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 12:27 PM Flag
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I see... both of these are UES preschools? Why have I never heard of EITHER before this post? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 12:28 PM Flag
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don't know. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 12:44 PM Flag
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It was supposed to be a taste test - but it was literally 4 years ago! It is over! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 08.18.08, 05:48 PM Flag
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disagree on merricats being much better. we disliked it when we toured. thought rhinelander was a very nice, sweet place. ended up sending dc there -- we were there during the coke-pepsi thing, and believe me, it has been way overblown (and it happened three years ago -- that teacher isn't even there anymore, i don't think). newish director at rhinelander is quite good -- more and more kids going to private school now. the school's grads have always been successful with the selective publics (many each year going to LL, anderson, and hunter). [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 11:10 AM Flag
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I totally disagree! The teachers at Rhinelander are amazing! Very nurturing and creative with their curriculum. The director has been there 3 years and is very well liked. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 08.18.08, 06:00 PM Flag
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How would you know that the teachers are better? Do you have children at both schools to compare the two? Both my kids went to Rhinelander and I loved all their teachers. They were extremely nurturing and had an amazing curriculum. Loved our field trips and the director is great - very approachable. In addition, from what my friends told me who had children graduate this year from Rhinelander, many children went on to TT schools including Chapin and Horace Mann. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 08.26.08, 04:54 PM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 08:22 AM Flag
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To Dalton, yes, but mainly for minorities and/or legacies. Of those accepted last year, only one was neither. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 08.17.08, 06:40 PM Flag
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where are these places? never heard of either [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 11:15 AM Flag
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They are pretty equal. Pick the one you like better. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 11:22 AM Flag
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They are only equal in location... Merricat's Castle 100%! I did several mommy and me classes at Rhinelander which were all fine but when it comes to their nursery school program Merricat's is so much better (IMO). We LOVE Merricat's and everything about it. The director is fantastic and has been there for ages. They have great exmissions to private schools, 12 kids went to Dalton this past year from Merricat's. Did your DC get accepted to both? Did you get a better vibe at one over the other? I had an "in" at Rhinelander but let it slide in order to first choice Merricat's and hope for the best, which it is! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 11:54 AM Flag
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my goodness -- you should be merricat's PR director. i really doubt your claim that 12 grads went to dalton this past year, btw -- given that the school isn't really that big, and that a set percentage of the class is either special needs in some way or receiving some sort of therapy, and given that while private exmissions from the school are pretty good, at least 40-50% are still public bound, your claim seems unlikely. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 12:14 PM Flag
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Not a Merricats mom but met at least 4 Merricats moms at Dalton new parents event this past Spring - although 1 or 2 were sibs if I recall correctly. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 12:37 PM Flag
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Merricats send a few kids every year to Dalton and other great schools. There is no way 12 went in one year though. Merricats has a well established director and teachers. There have been 3 directors at Rhinelander over the past few years. There is uneven teaching and the new schedule sucks if you want full days for younger kids. Merricat has a flexible schedule and a warm and loving environment. We had to choose between the two and are really happy there. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 12:46 PM Flag
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The flexible schedule at Merricat's has a big downside if you want a typical five day schedule and consistent classmates for your child. For example, when my daughter was there most of her classmates were on different schedules and very few four year olds were in school all five half-days unless they did some combination of mornings and afternoons. This is not typical of most preschools where your child would have a consistent group of peers, all on the same schedule. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 08.18.08, 04:48 PM Flag
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I got into both and chose Rhinelander. Merricat's is great, however, I am certain that 12 children did not get into Dalton this past year. It should also be known that the director of Merricats has her own children there, so there is definitely a great connection with the school. Rhinelander is a great school as well and the director was able to place children this year at competitive schools such as Horace Mann, Dalton, Chapin, and Town. The director gave individualized attention to all her parents and the Pre-K parents were very pleased with her support. She is very approachable and loved by the kids and parents. As far as having an "in" to the school, I find that highly unlikely - the director is pretty clear that she does not give preferential treatment. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 08.18.08, 05:46 PM Flag
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We loved Merricat's. It was warm, friendly, the teachers are fantastic. it is also a integrated classroom with kids with special needs. It has a very loving atmosphere and I would agree about the staff. They are a core group that has been with the school for a long time. Rhinelander is a bit more traditional than Merricat's which I would call more progressive and flexible (our child took summer camp there one year). Overall, we were very happy with our child's experience at Merricat's. and yes, I would say it is connected to the private school loop. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 08.18.08, 07:59 PM Flag
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Rhinelander is certainly not traditional in their teaching. The director makes it very cleat that they are much more on the progressive side. The Director was a past special Ed. teacher herself, so definitely believes in a "hands-on approach" to learning. Only one head teacher has left during the past 4 years. And Rhinelander's director got many kids into to schools this year (Sacred Heart, Chapin, Dalton, Horace Mann, etc..). Just because people go to one school does not make you an expert on another school. Unless your child actually went to a given school, it very pointless to talk about another school as if you know everything about it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 08.20.08, 04:19 AM Flag
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