Anonymous
Post 01/31/2023 21:19     Subject: Re:No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For incoming SSIMS parents: You may want to check the Bethesda Beat story from this week about SSIMS. If we could afford to pay for school, we would pull our child. After the shooting in the classroom, he is afraid to go to school each morning. He will only use the bathroom during gym and that is his second-to-last period. There are fights daily. The school is so run down and overcrowded. Kids curse at teachers, play with phones in class, run out of the classroom (or skip altogether) and there are no consequences. The teachers are fed up and feel unsafe. MCPS needs to do better.


When was there a shooting at SSIMS?


A student brought a BB gun to school and accidentally shot another student in the thigh.

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/7th-grader-shot-in-thigh-by-classmate-with-bb-gun-in-silver-spring-maryland/65-e231537c-2570-4705-be1b-3d82913b6bba
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2023 21:09     Subject: Re:No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is the direction of MCPS. HS "honors" is basically for below level, on level and slightly above level.

Some people in MCPS decided that the "regular" classes demographics didn't look good so shoved everyone into "honors". Tada.. achievement gap closed. NOT.

The same thing is now happening in MS.

Even if your kid decides to take AP classes in HS, they won't have been prepared by the MS, which is now solely focused on social/emotional learning.

It sucks.


THIS! It is a rude awakening when your kid gets into high school. In our last district, our kids were twice accelerated in math (Alg 1 in 6th grade) and twice accelerated in English. Got here and there was nothing other than the one grade level accelerated for math (AIM math in 6th, Alg in 7th). Really disappointing.


You should have stayed there. Some MCPS schools offer Algebra in 6th, some don't. AIM is pre-algebra.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2023 21:09     Subject: Re:No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:For incoming SSIMS parents: You may want to check the Bethesda Beat story from this week about SSIMS. If we could afford to pay for school, we would pull our child. After the shooting in the classroom, he is afraid to go to school each morning. He will only use the bathroom during gym and that is his second-to-last period. There are fights daily. The school is so run down and overcrowded. Kids curse at teachers, play with phones in class, run out of the classroom (or skip altogether) and there are no consequences. The teachers are fed up and feel unsafe. MCPS needs to do better.


When was there a shooting at SSIMS?
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2023 21:07     Subject: Re:No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is the direction of MCPS. HS "honors" is basically for below level, on level and slightly above level.

Some people in MCPS decided that the "regular" classes demographics didn't look good so shoved everyone into "honors". Tada.. achievement gap closed. NOT.

The same thing is now happening in MS.

Even if your kid decides to take AP classes in HS, they won't have been prepared by the MS, which is now solely focused on social/emotional learning.

It sucks.


THIS! It is a rude awakening when your kid gets into high school. In our last district, our kids were twice accelerated in math (Alg 1 in 6th grade) and twice accelerated in English. Got here and there was nothing other than the one grade level accelerated for math (AIM math in 6th, Alg in 7th). Really disappointing.


Algebra in 7th is accelerated two grade levels.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2023 20:50     Subject: Re:No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

For incoming SSIMS parents: You may want to check the Bethesda Beat story from this week about SSIMS. If we could afford to pay for school, we would pull our child. After the shooting in the classroom, he is afraid to go to school each morning. He will only use the bathroom during gym and that is his second-to-last period. There are fights daily. The school is so run down and overcrowded. Kids curse at teachers, play with phones in class, run out of the classroom (or skip altogether) and there are no consequences. The teachers are fed up and feel unsafe. MCPS needs to do better.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2023 20:44     Subject: No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.


But if you move from out of state, and your child has been in Gifted Ed since being tested in second grade, and the child in the 99th% on CogAT, Math, Science, and Reading MAPs, they will STILL fight with you about assigning your child to the AIM Math (even if they were in 6th grade math/Pre-Alg in fifth grade). And it was a no-go on the advanced Humanities, as we were told it was only for kids tested in MoCo and my child arrived too late. And yet there is plenty of room in that class. It is bonkers.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2023 20:37     Subject: Re:No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:This is the direction of MCPS. HS "honors" is basically for below level, on level and slightly above level.

Some people in MCPS decided that the "regular" classes demographics didn't look good so shoved everyone into "honors". Tada.. achievement gap closed. NOT.

The same thing is now happening in MS.

Even if your kid decides to take AP classes in HS, they won't have been prepared by the MS, which is now solely focused on social/emotional learning.

It sucks.


THIS! It is a rude awakening when your kid gets into high school. In our last district, our kids were twice accelerated in math (Alg 1 in 6th grade) and twice accelerated in English. Got here and there was nothing other than the one grade level accelerated for math (AIM math in 6th, Alg in 7th). Really disappointing.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2023 19:09     Subject: Re:No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:Incoming SSIMS parent here. I emailed about math placement and was told that they haven't yet received the recommendations from AEI (Accelerated and Enriched Instruction office) - they expect this by the end of February. I assume this also means that central office recommendations for HIGH are TBD. I suggest checking back in a month if you haven't heard anything.


Thank you for the update!
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2023 16:31     Subject: Re:No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Incoming SSIMS parent here. I emailed about math placement and was told that they haven't yet received the recommendations from AEI (Accelerated and Enriched Instruction office) - they expect this by the end of February. I assume this also means that central office recommendations for HIGH are TBD. I suggest checking back in a month if you haven't heard anything.
Anonymous
Post 01/30/2023 21:01     Subject: No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.


Not at some middle schools, where they only offer HIGH...


That is incorrect. Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities (HIGH) is only for students identified by central office as needing enrichment. Historical Inquiry in Global Studies is offered for those who are on-level in all schools. Earlier, people said that SSIMS was offering everyone HIGH, and then that was corrected--everyone there is offered Historical Inquiry in Global Studies unless identified for HIGH by central office.


I believe Pyle has every 6th grader take HIGH.


TPMS too


I’m a current TPMS parent and this wasn’t the case for my child. Did it change? When? How do you know?


It is the only 6th grade history class listed for next year... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cPvRfOVoFEuc5xA961BcQYNzRPS37Vky/view


I would definitely pull AEI into this. It's supposed to be a central-office placement class. Offering it to everyone definitely goes against that.
Anonymous
Post 01/30/2023 09:48     Subject: No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.


Not at some middle schools, where they only offer HIGH...


That is incorrect. Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities (HIGH) is only for students identified by central office as needing enrichment. Historical Inquiry in Global Studies is offered for those who are on-level in all schools. Earlier, people said that SSIMS was offering everyone HIGH, and then that was corrected--everyone there is offered Historical Inquiry in Global Studies unless identified for HIGH by central office.


I believe Pyle has every 6th grader take HIGH.


TPMS too


I’m a current TPMS parent and this wasn’t the case for my child. Did it change? When? How do you know?


It is the only 6th grade history class listed for next year... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cPvRfOVoFEuc5xA961BcQYNzRPS37Vky/view
Anonymous
Post 01/30/2023 09:32     Subject: No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.


Not at some middle schools, where they only offer HIGH...


That is incorrect. Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities (HIGH) is only for students identified by central office as needing enrichment. Historical Inquiry in Global Studies is offered for those who are on-level in all schools. Earlier, people said that SSIMS was offering everyone HIGH, and then that was corrected--everyone there is offered Historical Inquiry in Global Studies unless identified for HIGH by central office.


I believe Pyle has every 6th grader take HIGH.


TPMS too


I’m a current TPMS parent and this wasn’t the case for my child. Did it change? When? How do you know?


I'm also a TPMS magnet parent and no clue about whether this class is restricted but it is wonderful class that is challenging so I have no complaints.
Anonymous
Post 01/30/2023 09:20     Subject: No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.


Not at some middle schools, where they only offer HIGH...


That is incorrect. Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities (HIGH) is only for students identified by central office as needing enrichment. Historical Inquiry in Global Studies is offered for those who are on-level in all schools. Earlier, people said that SSIMS was offering everyone HIGH, and then that was corrected--everyone there is offered Historical Inquiry in Global Studies unless identified for HIGH by central office.


I believe Pyle has every 6th grader take HIGH.


TPMS too


I’m a current TPMS parent and this wasn’t the case for my child. Did it change? When? How do you know?
Anonymous
Post 01/30/2023 09:17     Subject: No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.


Not at some middle schools, where they only offer HIGH...


That is incorrect. Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities (HIGH) is only for students identified by central office as needing enrichment. Historical Inquiry in Global Studies is offered for those who are on-level in all schools. Earlier, people said that SSIMS was offering everyone HIGH, and then that was corrected--everyone there is offered Historical Inquiry in Global Studies unless identified for HIGH by central office.


I believe Pyle has every 6th grader take HIGH.


TPMS too


Same with Cabin John. (Which also has no more AIM.)
Anonymous
Post 01/30/2023 09:05     Subject: No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.


Not at some middle schools, where they only offer HIGH...


That is incorrect. Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities (HIGH) is only for students identified by central office as needing enrichment. Historical Inquiry in Global Studies is offered for those who are on-level in all schools. Earlier, people said that SSIMS was offering everyone HIGH, and then that was corrected--everyone there is offered Historical Inquiry in Global Studies unless identified for HIGH by central office.


I believe Pyle has every 6th grader take HIGH.


TPMS too