Thoughts on Chevy Chase HGC

[Anonymous]

Can anyone tell us about the Chevy Chase HGC? Any thoughts, experiences? I'd appreciate any information. Thx

[Anonymous]

On my second child there.
Excellent experience for both, good center teachers in a well-run school.
Worth the hassle of the commute.

[Anonymous]

Do you have other options? Someone I know who went there felt it wasn't as nurturing as they were expecting for a HGC. Little tolerance for their child's quirks. Read up on the school..."well run school" has its drawbacks.

[Anonymous]

do you have sour grapes or can you provide more specifics?

[Anonymous]

My impression has always been that the peer group at the centers are more accepting of quirky kids, not the teachers. The teachers, at least by reputation, are more in the "if you got in here you should be able to do the work" and "if you're not keeping up it's because you're not organized/not using your time well/goofing off" camps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My impression has always been that the peer group at the centers are more accepting of quirky kids, not the teachers. The teachers, at least by reputation, are more in the "if you got in here you should be able to do the work" and "if you're not keeping up it's because you're not organized/not using your time well/goofing off" camps.

I think the teachers are more accepting of the kids foibles, but they definitely have the attitude you mention with regard to time management. I'm often surprised by what they think 4th graders should be able to do organizationally.

[Anonymous]

Expectations for organization are so inappropriate in MCPS, and not just in the HGCs. Who needs a binder in 4th grade? And denying recess if you forget to have your parents sign your planner? Come on. I don't recall having these kinds of demands until 7th grade. I think kids are more ready for them then.

[Anonymous]

My child has had an agenda since 2nd grade. It's not just in the HGC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Expectations for organization are so inappropriate in MCPS, and not just in the HGCs. Who needs a binder in 4th grade? And denying recess if you forget to have your parents sign your planner? Come on. I don't recall having these kinds of demands until 7th grade. I think kids are more ready for them then.

Denying recess for not getting the planner signed is excessive. I agree that expectations for time management in MCPS is not age appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Expectations for organization are so inappropriate in MCPS, and not just in the HGCs. Who needs a binder in 4th grade? And denying recess if you forget to have your parents sign your planner? Come on. I don't recall having these kinds of demands until 7th grade. I think kids are more ready for them then.

Denying recess for not getting the planner signed is excessive. I agree that expectations for time management in MCPS is not age appropriate.

Not only excessive, but entirely wrong. They should never, ever deny recess, any more than they should refuse to allow a child to eat food at lunch time.

[Anonymous]

That happens as the regular elementary schools too.

[Anonymous]

It is really bad when the teachers steal children's lunch or recess time. No good teacher will do that, so why those of HGC would do that? With my second child, I will stand up for right to recess and lunch, and will bring it up with the County before or at the Open House. We should all ask for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That happens as the regular elementary schools too.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Well, as the parent, why don't you help your child to be more organized?

[Anonymous]

I think that by 4th grade, kids should be able to follow instructions and be responsible. I'm glad to hear that the HGC enforces this (but I wouldn't support taking recess away b/c it is also an important part of the day!). I think my child's regular school accommodates too many disruptive children so I look forward to more structure.