Anyone attend 11/29 cluster 1,2,and 3 AAP meeting at Kilmer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Science Olympiad is not just for AAP though, so that argument makes no sense.

The big AAP centers have the most successful team.

They have large numbers of kids interested in programs like Science Olympiad, Odyssey of the Mind, Robotics, Video Game Programing club, etc.

Take 11 kids, move them to a new middle school that up to this point has not had enough interest in those types of programs, and see how successful they are at implementing the same level of program the students at the larger centers currently have. It is not going to happen, and those students in the tiny centers are going to be shortchanged vs what the kids in larger centers are getting.

Another thing to consider, is that by having such a small group of kids in middle school is opening those kids up to all sorts of social issues. I don't know if you have been around many AAP classes, but those classes tend to be dominated by quirky, geeky, nerdy kids who in other situation are the type of kids who tend to be singled out as bully victims. At a center with 2-3 classes, those kids have a peer group where they can just be one of the crowd, or in some cases, have the opportunity to become a social leader. In a regular classroom setting, many of these kids are the ones who are isolated, made fun of and have trouble fitting in. Having such a tiny group of AAP students at the middle school level drastically increases the odds that these kids are going to have a less than positive school experience than they would have in a larger AAP program, and increases the odds of isolation and bullying.

My child's AAP teacher last year said that one of the things she likes best about the peer group in AAP is that it brings together many kids from different schools, who are they type of kids who usually end up bullied, and gives them a place where they fit in and where their differences are seen as something to be accepted, not something to be teased. I think she hit it on the head. Although this sentiment has gone unstated on this board, I think this is one of the many reasons why AAP parents are so emotional about the proposed changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
That was one recommendation from the parents at the Holmes table. There was also talk of combining with Glasgow. But all these were ideas that were transcribed into the ideas block on the papers handed in to FCPS staff.

It seems strange to me that FCPS thinks the MS center at Glasgow under the scenario under discussion would be so much bigger than the centers at Poe or Holmes. Are there that many more AAP kids that end up at JEB Stuart than Annandale?

I have no idea what FCPS thinks about Glasgow. What was stated at Kilmer were ideas coming from parents at the various Cluster 3 middle school tables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Science Olympiad is not just for AAP though, so that argument makes no sense.

From the same argument, TJ is not just for AAP also, you would think TJ kids would not come majority from AAP program.

What does this mean? That only AAP kids can or will do Science Olympiad? There are many schools that do not offer Science Olympiad, at least in Cluster 3. However, I know that there are non-AAP kids who would join Science Olympiad if it were offered at their schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Take 11 kids, move them to a new middle school that up to this point has not had enough interest in those types of programs, and see how successful they are at implementing the same level of program the students at the larger centers currently have. It is not going to happen, and those students in the tiny centers are going to be shortchanged vs what the kids in larger centers are getting.

Another thing to consider, is that by having such a small group of kids in middle school is opening those kids up to all sorts of social issues. I don't know if you have been around many AAP classes, but those classes tend to be dominated by quirky, geeky, nerdy kids who in other situation are the type of kids who tend to be singled out as bully victims. At a center with 2-3 classes, those kids have a peer group where they can just be one of the crowd, or in some cases, have the opportunity to become a social leader. In a regular classroom setting, many of these kids are the ones who are isolated, made fun of and have trouble fitting in. Having such a tiny group of AAP students at the middle school level drastically increases the odds that these kids are going to have a less than positive school experience than they would have in a larger AAP program, and increases the odds of isolation and bullying.

My child's AAP teacher last year said that one of the things she likes best about the peer group in AAP is that it brings together many kids from different schools, who are they type of kids who usually end up bullied, and gives them a place where they fit in and where their differences are seen as something to be accepted, not something to be teased. I think she hit it on the head. Although this sentiment has gone unstated on this board, I think this is one of the many reasons why AAP parents are so emotional about the proposed changes.

Great post!

[Anonymous]

I don't know if you have been around many AAP classes, but those classes tend to be dominated by quirky, geeky, nerdy kids who in other situation are the type of kids who tend to be singled out as bully victims.

[/google]

True spoken words of someone who has NEVER been in an AAP class. Stereotype about 30+ years out of date. Its 2012, not 1978.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Another thing to consider, is that by having such a small group of kids in middle school is opening those kids up to all sorts of social issues. I don't know if you have been around many AAP classes, but those classes tend to be dominated by quirky, geeky, nerdy kids who in other situation are the type of kids who tend to be singled out as bully victims. At a center with 2-3 classes, those kids have a peer group where they can just be one of the crowd, or in some cases, have the opportunity to become a social leader. In a regular classroom setting, many of these kids are the ones who are isolated, made fun of and have trouble fitting in. Having such a tiny group of AAP students at the middle school level drastically increases the odds that these kids are going to have a less than positive school experience than they would have in a larger AAP program, and increases the odds of isolation and bullying.

My child's AAP teacher last year said that one of the things she likes best about the peer group in AAP is that it brings together many kids from different schools, who are they type of kids who usually end up bullied, and gives them a place where they fit in and where their differences are seen as something to be accepted, not something to be teased. I think she hit it on the head. Although this sentiment has gone unstated on this board, I think this is one of the many reasons why AAP parents are so emotional about the proposed changes.

There are kids at MS who are in Honors classes who would be thrilled to have the Science Olympiad and other opportunities. and some of them are also looking for a place to fit in, not having met the cutoff for AAP, but also not quite fitting in with General Ed either. So, I think it would not be as much of a problem as you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[/google]

True spoken words of someone who has NEVER been in an AAP class. Stereotype about 30+ years out of date. Its 2012, not 1978.

Wow, lots of hits when I googled that. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Science Olympiad is not just for AAP though, so that argument makes no sense.

The big AAP centers have the most successful team.

They have large numbers of kids interested in programs like Science Olympiad, Odyssey of the Mind, Robotics, Video Game Programing club, etc.


Another thing to consider, is that by having such a small group of kids in middle school is opening those kids up to all sorts of social issues. I don't know if you have been around many AAP classes, but those classes tend to be dominated by quirky, geeky, nerdy kids who in other situation are the type of kids who tend to be singled out as bully victims. At a center with 2-3 classes, those kids have a peer group where they can just be one of the crowd, or in some cases, have the opportunity to become a social leader. In a regular classroom setting, many of these kids are the ones who are isolated, made fun of and have trouble fitting in. Having such a tiny group of AAP students at the middle school level drastically increases the odds that these kids are going to have a less than positive school experience than they would have in a larger AAP program, and increases the odds of isolation and bullying.

My child's AAP teacher last year said that one of the things she likes best about the peer group in AAP is that it brings together many kids from different schools, who are they type of kids who usually end up bullied, and gives them a place where they fit in and where their differences are seen as something to be accepted, not something to be teased. I think she hit it on the head. Although this sentiment has gone unstated on this board, I think this is one of the many reasons why AAP parents are so emotional about the proposed changes.

This is utter bullshit, although no doubt you've repeated it to yourself so many times that you believe it. The AAP kids are also part of the human race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know if you have been around many AAP classes, but those classes tend to be dominated by quirky, geeky, nerdy kids who in other situation are the type of kids who tend to be singled out as bully victims.

[/google]

True spoken words of someone who has NEVER been in an AAP class. Stereotype about 30+ years out of date. Its 2012, not 1978.

My dd's AAP class at Haycock is very similar to what the pp described. Sure, there are some "normal" kids, but they aren't the ones that are clearly gifted. I would say that her experience in the AAP program has been filled with a fair amount of "twice exceptional" kids, and a good number of kids who are just plain awkward or have extreme emotions and random obsessions. This is pretty typical for gifted kids.

[Anonymous]

PP you are actually wrong.

Other PPs-- you could have a Science Olympiad team without AAP center. And it could be open to all kids. If any school is lacking that now, what is missing is teachers or parents willing to run the program. That's a very big reason why the School Board cannot just declare that every MS will be an AAP center on September 3, 2013 with any credibility. Schools that could offer certain intellectual enrichment simply aren't. Conveying the title AAP alone doesn't create the resources and means to actually implement AAP education, or anything different, for that matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Science Olympiad is not just for AAP though, so that argument makes no sense.

The big AAP centers have the most successful team.

They have large numbers of kids interested in programs like Science Olympiad, Odyssey of the Mind, Robotics, Video Game Programing club, etc.

Take 11 kids, move them to a new middle school that up to this point has not had enough interest in those types of programs, and see how successful they are at implementing the same level of program the students at the larger centers currently have. It is not going to happen, and those students in the tiny centers are going to be shortchanged vs what the kids in larger centers are getting.

Another thing to consider, is that by having such a small group of kids in middle school is opening those kids up to all sorts of social issues. I don't know if you have been around many AAP classes, but those classes tend to be dominated by quirky, geeky, nerdy kids who in other situation are the type of kids who tend to be singled out as bully victims. At a center with 2-3 classes, those kids have a peer group where they can just be one of the crowd, or in some cases, have the opportunity to become a social leader. In a regular classroom setting, many of these kids are the ones who are isolated, made fun of and have trouble fitting in. Having such a tiny group of AAP students at the middle school level drastically increases the odds that these kids are going to have a less than positive school experience than they would have in a larger AAP program, and increases the odds of isolation and bullying.

My child's AAP teacher last year said that one of the things she likes best about the peer group in AAP is that it brings together many kids from different schools, who are they type of kids who usually end up bullied, and gives them a place where they fit in and where their differences are seen as something to be accepted, not something to be teased. I think she hit it on the head. Although this sentiment has gone unstated on this board, I think this is one of the many reasons why AAP parents are so emotional about the proposed changes.

This post must set some sort of record for small-minded bigotry, unfounded assumptions, and sterotypes, even for DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Has your child been bullied?

[Anonymous]

Thoreau is a very nice school which would greatly benefit from Level IV AAP. There are plenty of students there in Honors who could easily qualify for AAP, or already have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thoreau is a very nice school which would greatly benefit from Level IV AAP. There are plenty of students there in Honors who could easily qualify for AAP, or already have.

Yep. Of the big current AAP programs, Rocky Run and Kilmer seem like they may be gutted the most, with kids leaving Kilmer for Thoreau and Cooper.

Amazing how if the MS realignment is somehow supposed to respond in some way to this civil rights complaint, the biggest AAP center in the fall of 2013 could be at Cooper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has your child been bullied?

Has anyone ever been mean to you?