HGC letters

[Anonymous]

I'm generalizing, but I think the description you will most often hear of the kids in HGC classes is "quirky."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm generalizing, but I think the description you will most often hear of the kids in HGC classes is "quirky."

Most are nerdy, including my DS. That's not to say that they don't like sports; I think some of the HGC kids play soccer during recess. But, they are definitely *nerdy* in that they get really excited about books and stuff. My DS is in heaven in bookstores/library.

[Anonymous]

My child struggles with writing--only the part related to getting ideas from his head (and actually forming the ideas in the first place) to his paper--and he was accepted to a HGC. He is very talented many other areas. There was not a writing component on the test so that didn't make a difference. It is heartening to hear that there is another child who is more of mathy kid who is doing well at the HGC and that he learned to write better there. I am concerned about my son's writing ability at the HGC and if they will put too much pressure on him since writing stresses him out. It's going to be interested to see the types of students who attend because there are so many types of gifted. There are going to be those who can practically write a novel and those who can solve a complex algebraic equation. And there's my kid who qualified to compete in a national geography olympiad and is composing classical music and has perfect pitch. It could be interesting. I hope the curriculum is diversified and can meet the needs of all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm generalizing, but I think the description you will most often hear of the kids in HGC classes is "quirky."

Some of them are "quirky", some of them aren't -- just like my child's class at the home school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child struggles with writing--only the part related to getting ideas from his head (and actually forming the ideas in the first place) to his paper--and he was accepted to a HGC. He is very talented many other areas. There was not a writing component on the test so that didn't make a difference. It is heartening to hear that there is another child who is more of mathy kid who is doing well at the HGC and that he learned to write better there. I am concerned about my son's writing ability at the HGC and if they will put too much pressure on him since writing stresses him out. It's going to be interested to see the types of students who attend because there are so many types of gifted. There are going to be those who can practically write a novel and those who can solve a complex algebraic equation. And there's my kid who qualified to compete in a national geography olympiad and is composing classical music and has perfect pitch. It could be interesting. I hope the curriculum is diversified and can meet the needs of all.

There's a lot of writing in HGC. My DC just complained about this very thing today. Too much writing. DC abhors writing. Funny thing, though, is DC got an ES on the last report card in one of the writing categories.

[Anonymous]

I have two kids who have gotten in to the HGC. One could be described as quirky, etc. and the other is not at all. She is very popular and social and athletic. The program has all types of kids.

[Anonymous]

One thing I've found in DS's class at HGC is that the kids really appreciate each other's strengths. He has told me that everyone is smart in something, it's just not all the same things. (and he applies that outside the HGC as well, now). Before the HGC, he did not at all think highly of others around him.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. Too much writing. Good that your child is doing well despite the fact that he/she hates it. Do they pressure the kids or will they just accept it if they just can do something so well like writing? Will they offer them help in the areas in which they struggle because no one is good at everything!

[Anonymous]

My DC is definitely "quirky" and generally cannot find peers to be as excited to learn different things. I hope DC will find some like-minded peers at HGC who love learning as much.

[Anonymous]

Is anyone else totally stressed out at this decision and cannot WAIT until the Open House to find out more information about the HGC??? I'm am so anxious!! I don't want to make a poor decision. Actually DC's behavior since finding out about the acceptance to HGC has been just awful. Flying off the handle for no apparent reason, getting in arguments with people, and being rude. I finally sat down with DC and talked about the pros and cons of the HGC and that seemed to calm DC. I didn't really expect DC to get accepted so having to make this decision has come as somewhat of a shock.

[Anonymous]

21:40: Calm down. It's just 2 years of school. DC's stress probably stems from you're stress about it.

Let your child help make the decision on whether to go or not. I can promise you that your child will be fine with whichever decision child/you make. I know a few people who turned down HGC and still ended up in middle school magnets.

[Anonymous]

My advice is to accept the offer. Your child can always return to home school. This is unlikely to happen though. You can't get the spot back. Also, at this age, your child could change over the next few months and it might become clearer over the summer whether the HGC is a good fit. Also, do you know if his or her friends were accepted yet? That could make a difference to your child.

[Anonymous]

I agree with accepting the offer now. Keep the spot and think later when everything calms down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else totally stressed out at this decision and cannot WAIT until the Open House to find out more information about the HGC??? I'm am so anxious!! I don't want to make a poor decision. Actually DC's behavior since finding out about the acceptance to HGC has been just awful. Flying off the handle for no apparent reason, getting in arguments with people, and being rude. I finally sat down with DC and talked about the pros and cons of the HGC and that seemed to calm DC. I didn't really expect DC to get accepted so having to make this decision has come as somewhat of a shock.

I would not count on the open house to give you a black and white answer. Like other presentations, it is general and only give you a small picture of life at a HGC. It doesn't give you a sense of day to day life. If you think you want to try it out, accept and go. You can always go back to home school, but it doesn't work the other way around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids in the program are like any other kids. Some are quiet. Some are loud. Some are into sports. Some aren't.

agreed 100% - a diverse group of kids in every sense of the word.