Blair CAP

post reply Forum Index » Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
[Post New]02/02/2023 22:57
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do regular Blair kids take 7 or 8 classes?


The majority of Blair kids take 7 classes. CAP & STEM take 8


CAP and STEM take 8 so that the magnet buses running from Takoma and Eastern can pick up the Blair magnet kids and distribute them all over the county. By ending at 3:25, this aligns the HS schedule with the MS schedule. Like PP said, for CAP, the 8th period is required but afterwards it’s not mandatory. But if you don’t live nearby or can’t take public transportation and you’re dependent ont DH magnet buses, then you might want to take an 8th period. DD is in CAP and took 8 periods in 9th and 11th. Senior year she will only take 7 classes so she has more down time to do a sport or other activities.


So want time do after school activities start? 3:25? What do non magnet/CAP students do between the end of their day and the start of afterschool stuff? Weird set up.


A lot of the sports programs have the athletes do a study hall after school until practice starts at 3:25. A lot of activities meet at lunch. The entire school has a one hour lunch at the same time each day and that is when a lot of the clubs meet. I'm sure others can chime in on this one.
[Post New]02/03/2023 07:11
quote
Anonymous
The 8th period is great to get a leg up for college. It’s also when, in later grades you can take more STEM/CAP electives. The clubs after school do not start until 3:30.
[Post New]02/03/2023 07:44
quote
Anonymous
My CAP student was an athlete (now graduated) and missed the first 15 minutes or so of practice because they got out of class and had to change and go join the team— not a big deal for coaches, they are accustomed to this and are proud to have cap and magnet kids on their teams.
[Post New]02/03/2023 18:35
quote
Anonymous
I firmly believe all students benefit from programs that teach good communication skills and with interdisciplinary projects. How many STEM professionals have to write research papers, present at conferences, or write grant proposals? Plenty of CAP kids take the AP science and math classes, but I don’t think the STEM magnet kids are getting as good writing or communication instruction.
[Post New]02/03/2023 18:43
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I firmly believe all students benefit from programs that teach good communication skills and with interdisciplinary projects. How many STEM professionals have to write research papers, present at conferences, or write grant proposals? Plenty of CAP kids take the AP science and math classes, but I don’t think the STEM magnet kids are getting as good writing or communication instruction.


The STEM kids do independent research and learn to write and present it in different ways.


[Post New]02/04/2023 08:59
quote
Anonymous
I’ve had one kid in CAP, one kid in SMCS. Both are great programs. Humanities/writing definitely better in CAP, especially now that all 9th and 10th grade students take Honors English at Blair (and many other high schools) so there is no differentiation. I care a lot about writing,and I’m pleased with how CAP prepared my kid for college. There is no reason to think that 9th grade APUSH at another school is better than the CAP history offering. It’s all about the cohort and the teacher (that’s always true, from elementary through grad school), and CAP has that.
[Post New]02/04/2023 09:39
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I’ve had one kid in CAP, one kid in SMCS. Both are great programs. Humanities/writing definitely better in CAP, especially now that all 9th and 10th grade students take Honors English at Blair (and many other high schools) so there is no differentiation. I care a lot about writing,and I’m pleased with how CAP prepared my kid for college. There is no reason to think that 9th grade APUSH at another school is better than the CAP history offering. It’s all about the cohort and the teacher (that’s always true, from elementary through grad school), and CAP has that.


Is CAP mainly for creative-focused girls? what about boys who are creative but may also like computer science - is it still a good fit?
[Post New]02/04/2023 11:40
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’ve had one kid in CAP, one kid in SMCS. Both are great programs. Humanities/writing definitely better in CAP, especially now that all 9th and 10th grade students take Honors English at Blair (and many other high schools) so there is no differentiation. I care a lot about writing,and I’m pleased with how CAP prepared my kid for college. There is no reason to think that 9th grade APUSH at another school is better than the CAP history offering. It’s all about the cohort and the teacher (that’s always true, from elementary through grad school), and CAP has that.


Is CAP mainly for creative-focused girls? what about boys who are creative but may also like computer science - is it still a good fit?


Thoughts?
[Post New]02/04/2023 11:43
quote
Anonymous
Can non magnet/CAP students take that extra class if they choose?
[Post New]02/04/2023 14:18
quote
Anonymous
What is the average class size in the CAP, and is it different from other Blair classes?
[Post New]02/04/2023 16:35
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’ve had one kid in CAP, one kid in SMCS. Both are great programs. Humanities/writing definitely better in CAP, especially now that all 9th and 10th grade students take Honors English at Blair (and many other high schools) so there is no differentiation. I care a lot about writing,and I’m pleased with how CAP prepared my kid for college. There is no reason to think that 9th grade APUSH at another school is better than the CAP history offering. It’s all about the cohort and the teacher (that’s always true, from elementary through grad school), and CAP has that.


Is CAP mainly for creative-focused girls? what about boys who are creative but may also like computer science - is it still a good fit?
[Post New]02/04/2023 16:38
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’ve had one kid in CAP, one kid in SMCS. Both are great programs. Humanities/writing definitely better in CAP, especially now that all 9th and 10th grade students take Honors English at Blair (and many other high schools) so there is no differentiation. I care a lot about writing,and I’m pleased with how CAP prepared my kid for college. There is no reason to think that 9th grade APUSH at another school is better than the CAP history offering. It’s all about the cohort and the teacher (that’s always true, from elementary through grad school), and CAP has that.


Is CAP mainly for creative-focused girls? what about boys who are creative but may also like computer science - is it still a good fit?


My SMAC boy who is is fantastic at math and computers but also has a humanities bent would have loved CAP. I might have encouraged him to go there even over RMIB because the writing instruction would have been good (not as good probably but still good), he’d have access to quite a bit of the advanced STEM classes, and the commute would have been so much better.
[Post New]02/04/2023 16:41
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Can non magnet/CAP students take that extra class if they choose?


I don’t know the details, but I’ve heard yes, they can take a ninth period class. Not sure if that’s true all 4 years. So, for example, PE is sometimes offered ninth period. Non-magnets can take it, leaving room for other classes during the regular day. It can be limiting though. My kid couldn’t do certain volunteer activities because of the longer day.
[Post New]02/04/2023 16:46
quote
Anonymous
yes, my SMAC kids friends in CAP ALWAYS stayed for the 9th period!
[Post New]02/04/2023 16:49
quote
Anonymous
Can you take study hall during the last period all 4 years? Is that possible with the requirements?
post reply Forum Index » Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Message Quick Reply
Go to: 

Search   Recent Topics   Hottest Topics