Kids talking about AAP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I call BS. Which FCPS elementary school awards an "academic achievement award" to K and 1st graders at an assembly?

Zero, UNLESS it is something every kid gets. (We do have awards at our school from the specials - music, art, etc. but no kid would ever get the award more than once.)

Not sure if your child's school isn't doing it or you child just hasn't received it but it's 100% true. I think it's great to recognize all talent - music, art, etc. Why is it any different to recognize academic achievement? Maybe a child struggles in the arts but excels in academics, Why would it be better to recognize the specials and not academics?

Which school name? I'll independently verify it. (As you can tell, I don't believe you). The only way this is true in FCPS is if EVERY child is receiving awards of some kind.

Will not give the school name as it makes this forum less anonymous but why so hard to believe? Do you also have your doubts about students getting awards for specials? Are you suggesting every student in the class should get some kind of award? Maybe a school participation award would be appropriate? This attitude, IMO, is what contributes to a child's sense of entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I call BS. Which FCPS elementary school awards an "academic achievement award" to K and 1st graders at an assembly?

Zero, UNLESS it is something every kid gets. (We do have awards at our school from the specials - music, art, etc. but no kid would ever get the award more than once.)

Not sure if your child's school isn't doing it or you child just hasn't received it but it's 100% true. I think it's great to recognize all talent - music, art, etc. Why is it any different to recognize academic achievement? Maybe a child struggles in the arts but excels in academics, Why would it be better to recognize the specials and not academics?

Which school name? I'll independently verify it. (As you can tell, I don't believe you). The only way this is true in FCPS is if EVERY child is receiving awards of some kind.

Will not give the school name as it makes this forum less anonymous but why so hard to believe? Do you also have your doubts about students getting awards for specials? Are you suggesting every student in the class should get some kind of award? Maybe a school participation award would be appropriate? This attitude, IMO, is what contributes to a child's sense of entitlement.

I am telling you that I do not believe that FCPS has a school in its system that awards a single kid in elementary school classes an academic achievement award. I am not suggesting that every kid should get the award. I'm suggesting that IF your kid got such an award, there is no way he was the only kid who did so, they all did, because the school isn't singling a kid out in kindergarten, first or second grade for being "THE" smartest in the class. Oh - sorry - except in your mind.

[Anonymous]

NP here. DC went to Lake Anne ES and in 1st grade got various good citizenship awards. Got stickers too. Came home wearing them. Their newsletters had a bunch of names of kids receiving various awards. 2 per classrm for each category.

The other school we are in now, we dont get those. depends on the school i guess

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. DC went to Lake Anne ES and in 1st grade got various good citizenship awards. Got stickers too. Came home wearing them. Their newsletters had a bunch of names of kids receiving various awards. 2 per classrm for each category.

The other school we are in now, we dont get those. depends on the school i guess

Good citizenship awards, yes. Honesty awards, sure. Academic achievement, nope.

[Anonymous]

my dc got good citizenship awards. The newsletter had names for Math, Lang Arts, etc..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. DC went to Lake Anne ES and in 1st grade got various good citizenship awards. Got stickers too. Came home wearing them. Their newsletters had a bunch of names of kids receiving various awards. 2 per classrm for each category.

The other school we are in now, we dont get those. depends on the school i guess

Good citizenship awards, yes. Honesty awards, sure. Academic achievement, nope.

Thank you previous poster for acknowledging that this is in fact happening in FCPS ES. Why was it so hard to believe?!?! And no, not by a long shot, do I believe my child is the smartest. I think he has a strong ability to focus, interest in learning and figuring out new things, good critical thinking and reasoning, and enjoys going above and beyond assignment requirements, etc. and this translates into academic achievement for him. There are many areas my other children excel in that are not strengths of my DS's and I praise them all for their different strengths - that's what makes us all unique and special in our own ways and this is something that I want them to go through life remembering and not judging others for being different. In my opinion all previous award areas mentioned (citizenship, honesty, etc.) are equally important and should be equally acknowledged and celebrated. Not sure why such the big hang up over a child receiving an academic achievement award. It is given to a student in each class for each grading period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. DC went to Lake Anne ES and in 1st grade got various good citizenship awards. Got stickers too. Came home wearing them. Their newsletters had a bunch of names of kids receiving various awards. 2 per classrm for each category.

The other school we are in now, we dont get those. depends on the school i guess

Good citizenship awards, yes. Honesty awards, sure. Academic achievement, nope.

Thank you previous poster for acknowledging that this is in fact happening in FCPS ES. Why was it so hard to believe?!?! And no, not by a long shot, do I believe my child is the smartest. I think he has a strong ability to focus, interest in learning and figuring out new things, good critical thinking and reasoning, and enjoys going above and beyond assignment requirements, etc. and this translates into academic achievement for him. There are many areas my other children excel in that are not strengths of my DS's and I praise them all for their different strengths - that's what makes us all unique and special in our own ways and this is something that I want them to go through life remembering and not judging others for being different. In my opinion all previous award areas mentioned (citizenship, honesty, etc.) are equally important and should be equally acknowledged and celebrated. Not sure why such the big hang up over a child receiving an academic achievement award. It is given to a student in each class for each grading period.

Ah, that is a little different. That's 4 kids/year and I doubt the same kid gets it more than once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is absolutely no need for a child who is already at a center school to go to an orientation for AAP at that center. I never understood this. They already know the school and the teachers. It just promotes the hierarchy like others have mentioned. They all talk after that.

Totally agree, but of course, it's for the parents' benefit. So they can check out who else got in and then gossip about it. An acquaintance of mine breathlessly reported who had been there at last year's orientation... and who hadn't. I wonder if the School Board realizes the extent to which AAP feeds the parents' ego.

I agree. I believe it ALL starts in the home. We have had many kids over the house who have sibs in AAP who talk to my DC about it and how their parents tell them that Gen Ed is boring and for kids who are not so bright. Yes this is coming out of 1st graders mouths.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is absolutely no need for a child who is already at a center school to go to an orientation for AAP at that center. I never understood this. They already know the school and the teachers. It just promotes the hierarchy like others have mentioned. They all talk after that.

How do they already know the teachers?

+1

I'd really like to know this, too. Teacher changes happen all the time in schools. We just received a letter from the school principal (of an AAP Center school) explaining that teachers move around in the school and in and out of the school. I am not sure how the originally quoted PP already knows the teachers at the center school.

My kid knows several teachers in above grade levels for both AAP and Gen Ed in their center school. The teachers are all awesome and they have a way interacting in halls at lunch, outside recess, after school with all kids. Of course teachers change schools or leave all of the time but how about you think of it this way:
A prospective AAP student gets to go to their base school which is already center to "meet" the AAP teachers for a "special" orientation(in second grade they already know most of the third grade teachers). So why don't the Gen ED kids get to go to an orientation to "meet" their teachers on a special day? I get it if the kids will be NEW to the school but its senseless otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is absolutely no need for a child who is already at a center school to go to an orientation for AAP at that center. I never understood this. They already know the school and the teachers. It just promotes the hierarchy like others have mentioned. They all talk after that.

How do they already know the teachers?

+1

I'd really like to know this, too. Teacher changes happen all the time in schools. We just received a letter from the school principal (of an AAP Center school) explaining that teachers move around in the school and in and out of the school. I am not sure how the originally quoted PP already knows the teachers at the center school.

My kid knows several teachers in above grade levels for both AAP and Gen Ed in their center school. The teachers are all awesome and they have a way interacting in halls at lunch, outside recess, after school with all kids. Of course teachers change schools or leave all of the time but how about you think of it this way:
A prospective AAP student gets to go to their base school which is already center to "meet" the AAP teachers for a "special" orientation(in second grade they already know most of the third grade teachers[u]). So why don't the Gen ED kids get to go to an orientation to "meet" their teachers on a special day? I get it if the kids will be NEW to the school but its senseless otherwise.

There are 5 third grade teachers in our school. My rising 3rd grader - going into AAP - knows one by name, but none know her.

[Anonymous]

I think the PPP was mostly referring to the fact that not everyone gets to meet the next years teachers in May. It gives the new AAP students a chance to see who is in and who is not. Thus fueling the nasty talk that occurs at most schools. These kids won't be new to the center because they already go there as its their base school. So why do they get to meet the teachers? I saw this happen last year at our center, As a volunteer the day after the AAP orientation.

[Anonymous]

I think it started b/c it was a program orientation, similar to Kindergarten to create goodwill and let the kids feel more confortable.

I agree now it feeds the nasty AAP talk. parents go and look and report on who was there. it is gross. it feeds the jealousy and superiority thing.
honestly I think you have to ignore the parents that think they are special b/c their kids is in AAP.
I have even heard parents brag more, my kid is in AAP and we didn't EVEN prep. so their kid is a better AAP kid. whatever.
just try to keep cool about it and go to the orientation.

[Anonymous]

Its just orientation, b/c kids need to switch schools.

Its the same thing when the 6th GR kids get an orientation day at middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its just orientation, b/c kids need to switch schools.

Its the same thing when the 6th GR kids get an orientation day at middle school.

Nope its not about the kids going to a new school. It's about the kids already at the center school because it's their base school who don't need an orientation. Our center/ base school has a huge problem with the parents and the kids in AAP being very demeaning and down right rude to those in Gen Ed. The admin has said they are trying to help make it a non issue.

[Anonymous]

Level 4 is not my DC base school, so entering the Level 4 programs is a school change, which is a big decision. I am happy there is an orientation where my DC can see who got in (to identify some friendly faces) and take a tour around the school. Assuming that everyone going to orientation is going to orientation at their base school is completely off the mark -- many kids are required to move schools to receive Level 4 services. I wish our base school was a level 4 center as our decision to put DC into Level 4 over Level 3 services would be much easier.