Johnson MS Moms of Kids Now Re-zoned to Dowell

My son is a 7th grader (rezoned to Dowell, from Johnson last year). I definitely wasn't impressed with the chaotic schedule pick-up etc, either. Not much seems to bother my son, though... the only thing he's disappointed about is that he has lunch during the 8th grade lunch period, so he's one of only a handful of 7th graders eating at that time. I don't like that they mix them up like that. It would be nice if they could be with their own class during that short "social" time when they can visit with their friends and renew (or establish new) friendships. He did mention an overcrowded Spanish class, but hopefully some of that overcrowding will be addressed. I think with the rezoning, a lot of confusion occurred and it may take time and schedule changes (for some kids, unfortunately) to balance things out. I'm trying to keep open-minded and give some time to let the dust settle. Girls can be more sensitive and dramatic (I have one of those, too, so I know about that), but kids have different personalities, too, so it's not just a girl/boy thing. Plus, it's probably harder for the 8th graders to have to finish out middle school at a new school. DEFINITELY voice your concerns to the administration. They need to hear valid complaints so they can be addressed. I'd start with the counselor and the assistant principal. In the meantime, try to encourage your daughter to give the school and her new classmates a chance. Are there any girls in your neighborhood who are also at Dowell? Maybe that's a place to start with developing friendships. A whole chunk of us (Eddins zoned community) were rezoned, so she's not alone in her predicament. Change is not often easy and middle school kids are at such a hard age to begin with. Hopefully it will be a growing experience in the end. Bottom line... keep trying to be positive for your daughter's sake, and definitely voice your concerns to the school. Good luck!

I share your grief - I'm at a loss to explain the chaos and disorganization within McKinney ISD & at Dowell but have experienced many of your concerns over the years during middle school and high school in McKinney. The best advice I can offer is to be proactive-- email the concerns in a nice manner to the teacher of the class, guidance counselor or whoever is your go to person at that school. If you don't get any response, resend and copy the Principal. There are so many kids that sometimes the admin has no idea of something being wrong until the parent brings it to their attention. In the first 4 days of school here, I have written at least one dozen emails to teachers & guidance counselor (at MHS) on various problems for my 2 kids. High school & elementary. It's exhausting and so frustrating to sit and wait so get the emails going. Let me know if I can help you further. Good Luck!

R., I can't imagine your frustration or your daughter's discomfort either. I'm sorry this first week has been such an experience. Having moved a lot as a military brat, it was always hard for me to change schools and there was always an adjustment period.

I don't know how things will play out from this week forward, but I'd do what has been suggested and that is to e-mail.

On the other side, I'd say that the new principal there is an OUTSTANDING person. I trust he will have things worked out soon if it seems things are still chaotic. I just wanted to reassure you that you at least have a high character principal and I'm sure things will settle down soon.

I would also say most of the things you listed are things that nearly every school is experiencing in McKinney - crowded halls and classrooms. I don't expect that any child will have to sit on the floor the rest of the year. Also, the computer glitch might not have been under Dowell's control. Lastly, kids are kids and it's unfortunate and frustrating, but natural, that cliques exist at that crazy middle school stage. None of those things are necessarily under the administration's control.

I'm betting anything that, given a few weeks to settle in, she'll be happy there. It always takes some time to get used to a new place. You've already encouraged her about making new friends and I'm sure once she does, she'll be happy again.

I do not live in McKinney, but just wanted to say what an awful experience for middle school. My son just started middle school. Most of what I've seen and heard is that many middle schools are simply overcrowded, too many kids for the space. At our school, because of crowds, the children aren't even allowed to go to their lockers between each period. I assume because they can't move the many children thru the halls in the allotted 4 minutes, so they can't start periods on time. So all the kids have to tote several periods worth of stuff, and some kids just carry their backpack all day. It's pathetic in my book.. but we have to deal nonetheless. Lunch is a challenge also, as due to the lines, some kids don't have time to eat. So brown bagging it is a better choice.

Middle school is such a turning point, I wish you the best in helping your daughter find the silver lining in this new experience. But I would be sitting on top of the district board, or whoever is in charge, to at least get the basic needs of children met. All should have a desk, a locker, and ability to get food in their belly at lunch. It's sad that a parent would even have to fight for such things.

P.S. I echo the sentiments of getting the emails going! I too have sent a number of emails this week, on behalf of my two children. I figure it's always best to err on the side of asking questions and pointing out issues, as I can't assume someone knows. From something as supposedly simple as a huge ant bed being right by the school front door, with ants everywhere, and no one addressing it all week. To a K child being picked up after school, and no one watching her transition from the gym to the front door. So yes... get those emails going! Also, at our school anyway, the entire schedule pick-up process and such is run by PTA. So I'd go in search of the PTA lead, offer some type of assistance to get involved in the school, on any level. I too work FT, and know how hard it is. But I also know it's in my best interest to spend even 5 minutes in the school, as it can be eye opening and one might find just a tidbit of something they could offer to help make it better for everyone.

I'm really sorry your daughter is having a tough time. I can sympathize. My daughter just started HS this year and didn't get a schedule until the first day of school! I'm wondering if there was a glitch in the system, because I'm hearing that from a lot of people all over the district. I'm trying to wait through this week to see if things smooth out before I start emailing the administration. The high school is also very crowded. My daughter hasn't bothered to get a locker because she doesn't have time to go in between classes (even though most of her classes are in 1 wing) because of the crowded hallways. I'm hearing this is a problem at other schools as well. I'm thinking that if things don't rapidly improve, we may need to email the school board about the overcrowding in our schools. This is not an issue that an individual school can address as it usually means building a new school or rezoning to balance the numbers of students at each school. Hang in there and encourage your daughter that things will get better as she learns her way around the new school and makes new friends. (Hopefully things will get better soon!) You can email me if you want to chat more.

Hi R....wow, what a mess! Have you cnsidered transferring her back to the school she likes? I might consider that if that's the kind of chaos you child gets to look forward every day...she has enough to keep up with without all that going on around her. I would be very angry in that situation.

I totally agree with the email campaign...my kids are in Plano ISD, and there have been some problems there for us. Our elementary school was great for the longest time, and now it's not even a shadow of it's former greatness. It was a blue ribbon school a few years ago when my daughter was there, and now it barely qualifies for 'acceptable' status. A long standing tradition of going to the 'outdoor classroom' called Camp Classen for three days has been canceled in favor of a couple of days at some concrete learning center because some people at the ISD made some deal with the City of Plano, at the expense of our children. The advanced class, or the TAG or PACE class, or whatever you want to call it class, has been disbanded because "it made the other students feel inadequate"...WHAT?? So they just dumbed down the whole school! Our school is too overcrowded, too concerned with ESL, and too busy teaching to the TAKS test. My son is going through this same school now and I don't recognize even half the teachers.

Trust me...I feel your pain!

Good Luck!

S.

Hi R.,

I don't know where to start with this so I will just dive in. This is my daughters second year at Dowell and she has the same issues. Almost all of her friends including her best friend were rezoned to the new middle school. She has been really unhappy since she started this year and we have had several evenings of crying as well.

Now she says that all her classes have new Johnson students and they won't talk to her because she is from Dowell. :) She is pretty out going and has tried to jump in on conversation and introduce herself but it hasn't worked out so far. I think it is just going to take some getting used to for all these kids because it seems like all the schools treat each other like they are rivals.

As far as Dowell in general goes, We were not very happy with it last year and so far they have had a rocky start this year. My daughter did say that several of her classes as well have over 35 students in them and the kids are really cramped for space. She is in the 7th grade so I guess it is just all over the school in every grade they are having that problem. Her friends at the new middle school said their classes are really light with only about 18-19 kids in them. Hopefully this will all get ironed out soon but I bet it will mean more rezoning. :(

At this point, if things don't get any better as school goes on, we are looking to alternative means for our kids education. We move to the burbs to provide structure and stability during their younger academic years and have been unhappy with all the rezoning and over crowding McKinney has had.

Sorry, this probably has not helped much but at least you know it's not just your daughter. You can contact me anytime if you want to chat more. Good Luck!