Maybe this is a completely wrong question to ask here but if I have a 5th grader who is accepted into AAP and I know that 3rd grade AAP has a different teacher and so does the combined 4-5th grades, do I assume that the AAP orientation is not geared just toward the incoming 3rd graders but also for those in 4th or 5th grades? Thank you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how important is it for the student to attend the AAP orientation. My wife and I can be there but my kid has a game that evening and my kid doesn't want to miss his game to go to orientation if he doesn't have to. We already attend the AAP center so he knows his way around, etc. Is it really useful for the student to attend orientation?

BTW why do people us DD DC and other shorthand when referring to heir children and what do the acronyms mean?

The orientation is more for the parents because feeder school parents need to decide whether to switch to a center school or not. During the presentation, kids may stay in one room and play with teachers. Not a big deal.

Thanks to both of you.

So if I am already zoned o an AAP center school and have no choice in where to send my kid. Is it still worth going if we have never gone before?

BTW, what does DC and DD mean?

DC dear child
DD dear daughter
DS dear son
DH dear husband
DW dear wife

These are pretty standard on the internet, not just this forum.

Oh OK. I have never encountered these acronyms before. but then again I don't read enough parenting sites. I seems a bit pretentious but I suppose you save half a second typing out DS rather than son or kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how important is it for the student to attend the AAP orientation. My wife and I can be there but my kid has a game that evening and my kid doesn't want to miss his game to go to orientation if he doesn't have to. We already attend the AAP center so he knows his way around, etc. Is it really useful for the student to attend orientation?

BTW why do people us DD DC and other shorthand when referring to heir children and what do the acronyms mean?

The orientation is more for the parents because feeder school parents need to decide whether to switch to a center school or not. During the presentation, kids may stay in one room and play with teachers. Not a big deal.

Thanks to both of you.

So if I am already zoned o an AAP center school and have no choice in where to send my kid. Is it still worth going if we have never gone before?

BTW, what does DC and DD mean?

DC dear child
DD dear daughter
DS dear son
DH dear husband
DW dear wife

These are pretty standard on the internet, not just this forum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how important is it for the student to attend the AAP orientation. My wife and I can be there but my kid has a game that evening and my kid doesn't want to miss his game to go to orientation if he doesn't have to. We already attend the AAP center so he knows his way around, etc. Is it really useful for the student to attend orientation?

BTW why do people us DD DC and other shorthand when referring to heir children and what do the acronyms mean?

The orientation is more for the parents because feeder school parents need to decide whether to switch to a center school or not. During the presentation, kids may stay in one room and play with teachers. Not a big deal.

Thanks to both of you.

So if I am already zoned o an AAP center school and have no choice in where to send my kid. Is it still worth going if we have never gone before?

BTW, what does DC and DD mean?

We got to a center school and it was full of kids. Teachers talk, they have a student panel, and then the kids go off with some teachers for a tour and the parents stay to ask questions of the administration and teachers. I find it's mostly geared for people who are choosing between the center and staying at their base school. My older kids went but I felt it was a waste of their time. I have a K and if that child gets into AAP in a few years I won't go to the orientation. If you are coming from another school I think it is worth it to get a sense of the school and clearly the child is involved in this decision (by at least being informed of it) since you may change schools. Either way, with the child or without, is fine. It doesn't change your acceptance.

Only parents attended at our center school last year

On the letter we received, it specifically said that for the orientation at my base school, parents and children are welcome. However for the orientation at the center, only parents are welcome.

Anonymous wrote:So how important is it for the student to attend the AAP orientation. My wife and I can be there but my kid has a game that evening and my kid doesn't want to miss his game to go to orientation if he doesn't have to. We already attend the AAP center so he knows his way around, etc. Is it really useful for the student to attend orientation?

BTW why do people us DD DC and other shorthand when referring to heir children and what do the acronyms mean?

The orientation is more for the parents because feeder school parents need to decide whether to switch to a center school or not. During the presentation, kids may stay in one room and play with teachers. Not a big deal.

So how important is it for the student to attend the AAP orientation. My wife and I can be there but my kid has a game that evening and my kid doesn't want to miss his game to go to orientation if he doesn't have to. We already attend the AAP center so he knows his way around, etc. Is it really useful for the student to attend orientation?

BTW why do people us DD DC and other shorthand when referring to heir children and what do the acronyms mean?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is a current 3rd grader who got an "eligible" letter. We know my child wants to stay at the base school for Level IV. (And DC has a sibling who is also in Level IV at the same school, so we're familiar with the program, building, teachers, etc.)
I still plan to attend the orientation at base school, but I recognize that it's probably aimed more at current 3rd graders and their parents. The invitation says it's for parents and students, but there will probably only be a few from DC's grade in attendance, as I can't imagine those already in AAP will be there. Should DC come with me?

I have the same situation. Parent of newly eligible third grader. We’re already at a center school, so it’s not like the school is new. I’m thinking I might prefer one on one time with the AART to see how best to transition my kid into AAP after most of the classmates have been in it for a year already.

Nothing to add here PP, except thanks for responding and congratulations! We had a pretty happy kid today--mostly elated about the reunion with friends in the full-time program! Good luck with the transition!

Same to you! DC practically screamed when I delivered the news yesterday. I know there’s lots of snark on here about pushy parents, but DC is the one who wanted to give it another shot this year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is a current 3rd grader who got an "eligible" letter. We know my child wants to stay at the base school for Level IV. (And DC has a sibling who is also in Level IV at the same school, so we're familiar with the program, building, teachers, etc.)
I still plan to attend the orientation at base school, but I recognize that it's probably aimed more at current 3rd graders and their parents. The invitation says it's for parents and students, but there will probably only be a few from DC's grade in attendance, as I can't imagine those already in AAP will be there. Should DC come with me?

I have the same situation. Parent of newly eligible third grader. We’re already at a center school, so it’s not like the school is new. I’m thinking I might prefer one on one time with the AART to see how best to transition my kid into AAP after most of the classmates have been in it for a year already.

Nothing to add here PP, except thanks for responding and congratulations! We had a pretty happy kid today--mostly elated about the reunion with friends in the full-time program! Good luck with the transition!

Anonymous wrote:My DC is a current 3rd grader who got an "eligible" letter. We know my child wants to stay at the base school for Level IV. (And DC has a sibling who is also in Level IV at the same school, so we're familiar with the program, building, teachers, etc.)
I still plan to attend the orientation at base school, but I recognize that it's probably aimed more at current 3rd graders and their parents. The invitation says it's for parents and students, but there will probably only be a few from DC's grade in attendance, as I can't imagine those already in AAP will be there. Should DC come with me?

I have the same situation. Parent of newly eligible third grader. We’re already at a center school, so it’s not like the school is new. I’m thinking I might prefer one on one time with the AART to see how best to transition my kid into AAP after most of the classmates have been in it for a year already.

My DC is a current 3rd grader who got an "eligible" letter. We know my child wants to stay at the base school for Level IV. (And DC has a sibling who is also in Level IV at the same school, so we're familiar with the program, building, teachers, etc.)
I still plan to attend the orientation at base school, but I recognize that it's probably aimed more at current 3rd graders and their parents. The invitation says it's for parents and students, but there will probably only be a few from DC's grade in attendance, as I can't imagine those already in AAP will be there. Should DC come with me?

Last year, both our base school (that offers local level IV) and the center school invited the kids to come to the orientation. During the presentation at one, they had the kids go off in the other room together to do an activity with each other and meet the teacher that they will likely have next year. Or, at least to meet the teacher(s) currently teaching the AAP class in their grade level for next fall. During the presentation at the other school, they took the kids out only after they first listened to student testimonials from other students who had chosen to move from their base school to the center. They spoke to why it was a good decision for them. Each provided a nice opportunity for my DC to see who would be there and who was considering going to center or staying at base, but it felt as if they were delivering competitive sales pitches. I couldn't figure out why they cared? Do they get more money per pupil if my kid chooses their school?

I have a DC in 5th grade AAP at a center school. I plan to attend with DC#2 who was just accepted. At DC#1's orientation, the kids went off with some AAP teachers and had their own orientation in a classroom while the parents stayed behind for a parent presentation. It's an opportunity for DC#2 to meet teachers she may not know very well and to learn about what the program will mean for her. She know her sister is in AAP, but that doesn't directly translate to what it means for her.