Moving to Weston this summer- Need help again! (Andrews: rentals, elementary schools) - Broward County - City-Data Forum

MovingtoBroward · 02-01-2010, 09:16 AM

Hello again!
I have used this forum before and it has been a very helpful tool for our relocation plans.

I am moving to Weston (from the Caribbean), with my husband and my 2 children (9yr-6yrs). I have a few questions and it would be great if I get some inputs from some of you.

1. How long does it usually take the Elementary Schools drop/pickup lanes? Are they organized?

2. My childrens native language is Spanish. My daughter reads, writes and speaks English but with difficulties. She is currently in 4th grade. But her reading level comprehension in English is as a 2nd grader .She is my main concern at this time. Her actual curriculum is mainly in Spanish with some subjects in English (Maths, Language Arts, Science) but since we are a Spanish speaker country is not the inttention of the school to have the same level in English as the schools in USA.

My specific questions regarding this are:

a) Will this be a real problem for her performance at school?
b) All Weston School offer ESL Programs? How does this program work?
c) Does she need to be 10yrs to entering 5th grade? Her birthdate is November, after school year starts.
d) She only writes cursive. Is this a problem? I've heard it's required for kids to write blocks.

3. Besides realtor.com, is there any other website where I can find other Weston rental options.

I really really appreciate your comments!!

Roselyn

ruski · 02-01-2010, 07:39 PM

I don't think you will have any problems with Spanish in Weston. I think half the Weston population speaks Spanish.

Drop off/pick ups are pretty organized. There is usually big confusion around schools at the beginning of each year, but it quickly gets back to normal.

namomof3 · 02-01-2010, 09:09 PM

try St. Andrews at Weston, Fairlake at Weston and Weston Place. Good luck

MovingtoBroward · 02-02-2010, 04:19 AM

Thank you very much for your kindly reply

heydade · 02-04-2010, 03:08 PM

where from the caribe are you coming from ? I am a caribe myself

MovingtoBroward · 02-05-2010, 05:07 AM

From Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

AttilaLaczko · 02-08-2010, 07:29 AM

Hi Roselyn,

I can appreciate your concerns personally - my parents had similar situation with my sister, when she came over from Hungary. She did not know the language and the end result - she picked up English and French, and has received advanced degrees. Your child may be having difficulty with English in the DR, but nothing educates a person like immersion. Actually, in many ways she has a benefit that many English speaking, American children don't, she knows Spanish, and will be learning and mastering English - essentially, without much difficulty, she will be completely bilingual. And that is a major asset for anyone.

Regarding her age, Broward County School Board has a cut off date for students - its Sept. 1. Your child must be of a certain age to be eligible for the grade they are entering. If I did my counting properly, she must be 10 by Sept 1 to enter 5th grade - or she is eligible for 4th grade instead.

Broward schools do offer ESL, I recommend looking up the school board's website, that information will be there.

The pickup/drop-off lanes are very well organized, and many children actually ride their bikes or walk to school as many grade schools are close to their respective communities.

As for finding rentals in Weston, you can use a realtor/agent, realtor.com, or look up rental communities in Weston and go directly to there website's for information.

Good luck - Attila.

Shoegal1075 · 02-08-2010, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AttilaLaczko

Hi Roselyn,

I can appreciate your concerns personally - my parents had similar situation with my sister, when she came over from Hungary. She did not know the language and the end result - she picked up English and French, and has received advanced degrees. Your child may be having difficulty with English in the DR, but nothing educates a person like immersion. Actually, in many ways she has a benefit that many English speaking, American children don't, she knows Spanish, and will be learning and mastering English - essentially, without much difficulty, she will be completely bilingual. And that is a major asset for anyone.

Regarding her age, Broward County School Board has a cut off date for students - its Sept. 1. Your child must be of a certain age to be eligible for the grade they are entering. If I did my counting properly, she must be 10 by Sept 1 to enter 5th grade - or she is eligible for 4th grade instead.

Broward schools do offer ESL, I recommend looking up the school board's website, that information will be there.

The pickup/drop-off lanes are very well organized, and many children actually ride their bikes or walk to school as many grade schools are close to their respective communities.

As for finding rentals in Weston, you can use a realtor/agent, realtor.com, or look up rental communities in Weston and go directly to there website's for information.

Good luck - Attila.

What you state about cut-off's is correct if they haven't already started school, but my niece started school in the 2nd grade in Florida and she went right into the grade she would have been here in NYC - she turned 7 in december and was in the 2nd grade. My other niece who had not started school had to repeat prek it was a little weird but it was fine for her since she hadn't ever started school - I called and asked about my boys and they would remain in the grades they are in. 3rd and 6th Grade - and my younger son is born in October - they confirmed that he would not have to repeat the 3rd grade, unless of course he is not at their 3rd grade level, which is something else entirely.

I went to school in Puerto Rico and had no problem learning or adjusting to english, but we were taught in both english and spanish - in fact it was quite the opposite, the school I started after arriving from PR wanted me to skip a grade completetly. My mother chose not to do this saying the social aspect of being a child is just as important as the educational aspect. I agree!

Hopefully, this little girl will do just fine!

MovingtoBroward · 02-08-2010, 12:01 PM

Thank you very much Attila!
Your comments are so helpful to me. I really appreciate it!
Regarding the cut-off I think Chelsea is correct. Just contacted the Broward County Public School Offices and they told me that she woudnt have to repeat the 4th grade. Those are good news for me

AttilaLaczko · 02-09-2010, 02:56 AM

I think its great that your daughter won't have to repeat the 4th grade - I am glad to see that the school board does keep a policy that is considerate of incoming students. Besides the culture shock of moving to another country, she does not need to deal with repeating a grade. Good luck, and let us know how she does!