On the School Front

In what seems like the blink of an eye, the school year is halfway over.  Actually, more than halfway as the 100^th day just passed.  Only 80 more to go.  Crazy.  Report cards came home last week. It’s still strange to look at the new grading system (1 ,2 ,3 or 4).  Both kids got good report cards.  Keely received all 3s and 4s, top marks.  Quinn received mostly 3s and 4s…except for Arabic because he doesn’t enjoy the class, and missed the first 3 years of it so I think he’s a bit lost.  He also received some lower grades on his conduct and behavior…but when queried about those, he said it’s because he graded himself on those areas.  A self-assessment perhaps, but one that his teachers didn’t disagree with because that’s what came home on the final report.  My little social butterfly…it seems this is the only trouble spot.  However, he’s still getting top marks in an advanced class despite socializing and having fun throughout the day.  It’s hard to get mad about it given that fact. 

On a side note, Keely has been recommended for the AAP (as a reminder, Advanced Academic Program).  This subject has been one of frequent conversation in our house since 3^rd grade began.  We have mixed emotions about the program.  Obviously, Quinn has been in it for most of 4^th grade and now all of 5^th.  He does well, and it seems to challenge him more than the regular 4^th grade class he began in last year.  Getting into the program though is quite suspect, and that’s where our issues lie.  All students are tested and only those in the top percentile (95 or above, I believe) are automatically considered.  If test scores are lower, there are other ways a student can get into the program.  A teacher can make a recommendation and that triggers a packet to be put together for consideration.  If the student is denied, a parent can ask nicely and their child can be added as a ‘guest’ to the program.  A guest is for all intents and purposes a full fledged member of the program. Guesting is common, and to be completely transparent Quinn was a guest in 4^th grade.  However, his test scores were in the high percentiles and that combined with his teacher’s recommendation and his already established performance in the 4^th grade AAP class earned him the status of an AAP student.  Our trouble lies with the demographics, or shall I say percentage, of this year’s 3^rd grade classes.  There are three classes, one AAP and two regular.  Each of the two regular classes has 15-16 students, while the AAP has 22.  So what they’re telling me is that more than 1/3 of these 3^rd graders is ‘gifted and talented’.  Quite honestly, I want to ask the AAP specialist how many of these are actually in the program and how many are guests.  I think this is a question of what comes first – chicken or egg.  Does a student do well in the class because they are already smart, or does a student do better when placed in an advanced class?  In any event, what happened this year has been a personal assault to Keely as almost all of her friends (including her best friend and all of her soccer team) is in the AAP class.  It’s almost comical that all of these girls could be the best and brightest in the 3^rd grade…oh, and they all happen to play on the same soccer team.  So back to Keely, she has been trying so hard this year to impress her teacher because we told her that was the main way we would feel comfortable recommending her for 4^th grade AAP.  We also had her re-tested, this time emphasizing the importance of these tests, to see if her scores would improve.  The scores came last week.  They were better, in fact higher than average, but not high enough to be considered an automatic.  Her teacher, though, did decide to recommend her.  If she goes through this process and is not accepted, her teacher’s recommendation and our insistence could get her into the class as a guest.  So we will see how it turns out.  Honestly, I have been happy with her situation this year.  Low student-teacher ratio, and she’s done well.  I’d be fine with her staying in the regular classes…but she won’t quit.  We won’t hear the end of it.  You want your child to be happy, most of all – and have the best experience.  Will she turn out fine without being in the AAP class?  Absolutely, no doubt in my mind.  But I do think she’d do fine in the AAP class also, and if that makes her school days happier then I’ll try to make that happen.

On another (and hopefully shorter) side note, Quinn is entering middle school next year.  He’s chosen to go to Poe, which is our neighborhood school.  We will be attending an open house next week so we can learn more about the school and its curriculum.  Quite honestly, I’m still in shock that my baby will be in middle school.  He’s taking it in stride though, and seems quite relaxed about this upcoming transition.  It will be a huge change though, and I’m not sure he quite understands how different it will be.