Anonymous wrote:We got a letter today that there is going to be a new HGC added at Piney Branch. But no letter about whether DC got in.

Wow! That would be much closer to us then the other centers! I wonder what that means for the results - more students let in? Only PBES students or from neighboring schools? How was this not mentioned until now? The wait just got harder.

Anonymous wrote:Did the letter indicate if this is going to be like the pilot programs at Stonegate and Matsunaga, with a home-school-only HGC program?

It did mention those other schools. Nothing about whether it was home-school only.

Did the letter indicate if this is going to be like the pilot programs at Stonegate and Matsunaga, with a home-school-only HGC program?

Anonymous wrote:We got a letter today that there is going to be a new HGC added at Piney Branch. But no letter about whether DC got in.

LOL!

Sorry but that's a little funny. It's like taunting is that there's another center but no word on your kid. Nice.

We got a letter today that there is going to be a new HGC added at Piney Branch. But no letter about whether DC got in.

I see that Clearspring has rescheduled their open house to Monday, April 3 (used to be March 29). The MCPS HGC webpage still says letter will be mailed March 24 (today).

Any updates if the results are being mailed out today or is there a delay?

I think the delay is not only because of the snow, but also because of some of the other changes with the field test and new centers, but I could be wrong.

Definitely agree the Open House is nice, but doesn't usually give you a lot of new information.


I'm pretty sure nothing was mailed today.

Nothing, but they did say letter may not go out before Friday so it may be early next week before anybody finds out.

Any news yet?

Anonymous wrote:There's really nothing magical about these open houses. They separate parents and children. Children get a 5th Grader led tour, and Q&A with some 5th Graders. Parents get to see the 4th Grade Teachers, and have a tour (including walk through of a 4th Grade class), presentation, and Q&A with the principal and teachers.

Decisions shouldn't rest on the open house, unless you are somehow concerned about the physical plant of the school building. Ask your contacts, instead.

+1 We didn't learn anything we didn't already know. It was mainly to help DC, who was having anxiety about leaving friends at the home school, but became excited about the academics after the OH.

Anonymous wrote:There's really nothing magical about these open houses. They separate parents and children. Children get a 5th Grader led tour, and Q&A with some 5th Graders. Parents get to see the 4th Grade Teachers, and have a tour (including walk through of a 4th Grade class), presentation, and Q&A with the principal and teachers.

Decisions shouldn't rest on the open house, unless you are somehow concerned about the physical plant of the school building. Ask your contacts, instead.

Our dd got in to Barnsley off the wait list at the very last minute before 4th grade -- like, no more than a week before. We called the school, and we were able to set up a meeting with the principal -- he was fantastic about showing us around, answering our questions and my daughter's questions, etc. Even though she didn't get to go to the open house or meet the teachers and current students ahead of time, being able to see the school and talk to the principal was very helpful in allaying her concerns. I agree that the open house shouldn't be a make or break part of the decision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Between March 24 - March 29. The snow storm mid-week will significantly delay the whole process of mailing and delivery of post.

Seriously? Did no one read my post???? THIS!!!

I read it, but it makes no sense why 1 day off of school for snow would delay mailing by 7 days. With the blizzard it made sense because there was no school for over a week. Since you seem so prescient, can you explain?

Anonymous wrote:There's really nothing magical about these open houses. They separate parents and children. Children get a 5th Grader led tour, and Q&A with some 5th Graders. Parents get to see the 4th Grade Teachers, and have a tour (including walk through of a 4th Grade class), presentation, and Q&A with the principal and teachers.

Decisions shouldn't rest on the open house, unless you are somehow concerned about the physical plant of the school building. Ask your contacts, instead.

Depends on the school. I had a kid at Oak View and the kids and parents were in the open house and tour together. Saw both 4th and 5th grade classrooms. Also had another child go to Pine Crest. At Pine Crest the Open house is for parents only. They schedule tours for the kids (without parents) on a different day and AFTER the acceptance is due to the county.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Between March 24 - March 29. The snow storm mid-week will significantly delay the whole process of mailing and delivery of post.

Seriously? Did no one read my post???? THIS!!!