The mixing depends on the center. Child at Haycock. There is very little mixing. I can think of band, strings, chorus, field trips and that's it as far as I know. DS says they spend a few minutes together but not th ewhole recess time.

Others jump in and enlighten me if I'm wrong. You know, young boys don't always report home very well on what happens at school.

Anonymous wrote: Local also mixes all the kids up in specials, recess, etc. which the Center does not do and we feel this is important to the social development of our kids.

My daughter's AAP Center had three classes for her grade, and there are three classes of NON-AAP kids in the same grade. They have all their specials with Non-AAP kids, and P.E. and recess. They do all their field trips together and all of their holiday parties and other special events. My daughter's best friend is in a non-AAP class, and they met at school in third grade.

Perhaps it varies between AAP centers, but there is PLENTY of interaction at her school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would choose the center because the teachers are usually better prepared to work with this group.
The teachers at a center usually have done graduate level coursework in teaching the gifted. Local level IV teachers frequently have not finished their AAP certificates.

DW of a teacher at an AAP center. This absolutely NOT true - at least at our center. DH has a masters degree - but it's not in anything having to do with education, much less "gifted" children. He has a required AAP certification or endorsement (I forget what they call it) - but it only required him taking a few classes and the county let him start teaching AAP kids while he worked on getting the certification. They give teachers a period of time to get it and it was more than a year - maybe 3? I forget how long. Anyhow, I didn't want anyone to have the misguided idea that somehow AAP teachers have more specialization than they do.

The state endorsement requires graduate level courses and is transferrable to any other state. The FCPS endorsement can be earned with local "Fairfax Academy" courses and is not transferrable.
They have five years to earn the endorsement. I like knowing a teacher has completed the endorsement, particularly the state endorsement. My child's teachers have mentioned the endorsement if they have it in their intro at Back-to-School Night.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a required AAP certification or endorsement (I forget what they call it)

Link to "PATHWAYS TO ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ENDORSEMENT FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS" brochure:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/pdfs/presentations/Pathways%20to%20AAP%20endorsement%20-%20Elementary%20teachers.pdf

I love DCUM posters - how good of you to look this up and post it! Yes, so it's 5 years to get the endorsement after accepting the job and it's 12 hours of coursework.

Anonymous wrote:He has a required AAP certification or endorsement (I forget what they call it)

Link to "PATHWAYS TO ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ENDORSEMENT FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS" brochure:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/pdfs/presentations/Pathways%20to%20AAP%20endorsement%20-%20Elementary%20teachers.pdf

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Local also mixes all the kids up in specials, recess, etc. which the Center does not do and we feel this is important to the social development of our kids.

Most AAP Centers do mix all the kids up in specials, recess, etc.

+1 - ours does.

Anonymous wrote:I would choose the center because the teachers are usually better prepared to work with this group.
The teachers at a center usually have done graduate level coursework in teaching the gifted. Local level IV teachers frequently have not finished their AAP certificates.

DW of a teacher at an AAP center. This absolutely NOT true - at least at our center. DH has a masters degree - but it's not in anything having to do with education, much less "gifted" children. He has a required AAP certification or endorsement (I forget what they call it) - but it only required him taking a few classes and the county let him start teaching AAP kids while he worked on getting the certification. They give teachers a period of time to get it and it was more than a year - maybe 3? I forget how long. Anyhow, I didn't want anyone to have the misguided idea that somehow AAP teachers have more specialization than they do.

Anonymous wrote:Local also mixes all the kids up in specials, recess, etc. which the Center does not do and we feel this is important to the social development of our kids.

Most AAP Centers do mix all the kids up in specials, recess, etc.

We have chosen local for our other two DCs (6th and 4th grades) and will choose local for our 2nd grader. Our school has 2 AAP classes per grade which is important (if we only had one, probably would have moved to Center). We wanted our child to be at neighborhood school and, as a family, easier to have children all in one school. Local also mixes all the kids up in specials, recess, etc. which the Center does not do and we feel this is important to the social development of our kids.

Wanted the ability to re-set the class with having more than one room per grade. Plus, there appeared to be a more serious focus on education at the center vs school should be fun at base. (True or not/good or bad- that was my impression and prefered education focus.)

Chose center for socialization reason.

At local, only one AAP class, so same 30 kids through 6th.
This has pro and con. Kids can have very close tie and the class may feel like one happy family.

At center, 3-4 classes so DC get broader interactions more various kids through 6th grades (various classmates for each grade)

I would choose the center because the teachers are usually better prepared to work with this group.
The teachers at a center usually have done graduate level coursework in teaching the gifted. Local level IV teachers frequently have not finished their AAP certificates.

Some old threads:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/217587.page#2172739

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/240933.page

Also, you may want to check out some of the archived posts on the FCAG Yahoo Group.

We chose Local 2 years ago (entering 3rd grade thru pool) for following reasons:

-wanted to support the local program
-DC chose local
-knew the 4th grade AAP teacher was Excellent
-given DC's young age and personality thought it may be a better fit (DC tests very well but is not competitive - couldn't care less if he/she does well in competitions but works hard in class)
-base school is newer, brighter, bigger, and has very nice staff

It was a hard decision however as most level IV's did leave for center and the center has a very good reputation academically. (Local level IV is one class and has many principal designees - all hard working kids.)
There are some social issues with the girls, however, as one class moves up together each year.

Looking for input before maki g a choice.