Gonzaga summer school for incoming freshman

[Anonymous]

A big reason for freshman summer classes is to meet other classmates and get used to things like the commute, the school culture, etc. A refresher on math and reading is just the cherry on top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bump on this thread and particularly the last post for high HSPT kids.

I talked to them at the event they had for admitted students a couple weeks ago. Basically, they encourage the Welcome to Eye St class for everyone. Helps the boys learn about the school/area and feel comfortable before classes start. They said the other more academic classes can’t hurt but were totally not necessary for my son (he got a 99 on the HSPT). My son ended up at a different school but I was only going to have him do the intro class had he picked GZ.

Curious where your DS decided to go?

[Anonymous]

My kid did Intro and writing. Coming from MCPS. High HSPT.

Thought it was great. Not a lot of grammar and no points off for spelling in MCPS, so it was helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bump on this thread and particularly the last post for high HSPT kids.

I talked to them at the event they had for admitted students a couple weeks ago. Basically, they encourage the Welcome to Eye St class for everyone. Helps the boys learn about the school/area and feel comfortable before classes start. They said the other more academic classes can’t hurt but were totally not necessary for my son (he got a 99 on the HSPT). My son ended up at a different school but I was only going to have him do the intro class had he picked GZ.

Curious where your DS decided to go?

Coed independent. In the end, he decided against all boys. I was pretty sad, because I really like Gonzaga. But I let him decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What would others recommend for a bright student (98th percentile on HSPT) as far as the summer classes go? Would love for him to meet other students before the school year gets antarted and become acquainted with school etc, however don’t want him to be bored out of his mind. Would it be okay to just enroll him in the intro one?

My 99th percentile HSPT (Presidential Scholar) did three classes and enjoyed it. It gave him so much more confidence when school started because he knew a lot of kids walking in and had friends to eat lunch with day one. I don't think academically it gave him a leg up necessarily. He said a lot of it was review for him but it was still a good way to learn the campus and make friends. Plus, it forced him to do the summer reading early! Some of those kids he met during the summer programming are still his close friends.

[Anonymous]

Our freshman loved it and made a great group of friends. He did 3 classes and the Intro to Eye St was great. It walked the kids though some executive functioning skills, took field trips, really made expectations clear for the school year. English was great for summer reading and they worked through a binder full of grammar and writing tips. Time very well spent. Our son did not get much out of the math class. He also had football practice most days so it was fun to get lunch with new buddies between classes and workouts/practice.

[Anonymous]

Why did he not get much from the math? How was the writing class? Trying to choose...

[Anonymous]

According to my son, he didn’t get much out of math because the teacher pretty much phoned it in. Said there was a LOT of scrolling happening and not much teaching. I also think he knew all the material and didn’t feel challenged. He said he learned a LOT in English and bonus to get all the summer reading done and discuss it in class as they went. He came from MCPS and had not had a ton of grammar and writing practice IMO. I’m so glad he did the English class. It helped him a lot for the school year and also just in general. Filled in gaps we didn’t realize he had.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to my son, he didn’t get much out of math because the teacher pretty much phoned it in. Said there was a LOT of scrolling happening and not much teaching. I also think he knew all the material and didn’t feel challenged. He said he learned a LOT in English and bonus to get all the summer reading done and discuss it in class as they went. He came from MCPS and had not had a ton of grammar and writing practice IMO. I’m so glad he did the English class. It helped him a lot for the school year and also just in general. Filled in gaps we didn’t realize he had.

Unless your kid is struggling in math, it doesnt make much sense to take that class. It doesn't get you a leg up.

English and writing, as noted, can be helpful.

The Welocme to Eye Street is also a good one. Probably the most helpful of them all because it gives the boys that attend that class a good sense of the neighborhood and some insight as to why Gonzaga does things the way they do.

Also as an aside, be prepared for most communication to come through the boys so it helps to make a friend of a parent that has been around the Gonzaga block with an older boy.