HiCap Parent Council
Meeting
January 10, 2023
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Hybrid: In-person & Zoom
Amity Updates
1.
Zoom
meetings for new dual qualifiers set
·
January
24 @ 5 pm for 1st grade students
·
January
31 @ 5 pm for 2nd-5th grade qualifiers
·
Separate
because often different sets of questions based on age
·
Max
300 attendees, but usually not a problem
·
Will
be recorded so people can watch later
·
Discussion
about Council providing a slide with website and rep contact information
·
Do
not notify parents at schools about the meetings to avoid people from joining a
meeting they were not supposed to -- not dual qualified, especially 1st
grade session only.
2.
Family
notification week of January 16 by email only
3.
February
18 is date we are asking for highly capable decisions
4.
Makeup
Testing
·
Already
been rolling out. About half way thru.
·
Not
advertising makeup dates or listing them online.
·
Goal
is all make-ups by end of January
Council
Questions / Updates
5.
EAP
Open Houses
·
It
has been several years since schools had open houses, but was appreciated by
students, especially for more anxious students
·
High
value
·
Goals
are meeting peers, teachers, seeing school/classroom, learning about clubs and
other after-school options, seeing playground
·
Too
late for it to be part of decision, but could be part of transition. And can
always opt out if not happy after the open house.
·
Would
be nice if could be done prior to decision.
·
How
to handle if some teachers choose not to participate. Plus concerns about
parents coming to foreign classrooms given security and covid concerns.
·
Amity
– During the day would be almost impossible just based on transportation
requirements. Becomes an equity issue. Plus the idea of providing EAP tours but
not for other programs will create tension, including among non-EAP parents at
EAP schools. Principals would likely say no to the disruption. Would support
having conversation about having open houses in spring, after hours. Don’t want
teachers to feel like they have to answer oodles of questions from EAP parents.
·
Many
more schools host EAP so far fewer kids have to switch schools unlike the old
days, where most kids had to switch schools because there were only 2-3 EAP
schools.
·
After
school hours: invite teachers to stay, ask older kids to volunteer, invite PTA.
6.
High
School Math
·
No
plans at Bothell for triple-jump math kids.
·
Multi-variable
calculus at North Creek this year because there are enough students, but other
high schools will start next fall.
·
Course
catalogs for all high schools are not online yet, so unknown whether other
schools are offering advanced math options.
·
There
is a Calculus IV course, which is different than Differential Equations.
·
Inconsistency
among high schools about description, pre-requisites of Calc III, including
titling III vs 3.
7.
Algebra
·
Council
should provide guidance/feedback to families about Algebra registration for EAP
kids transitioning to middle school.
·
Amity
would like to see the draft and then consider how it could be delivered
logistically.
·
College
requires 4 years of math
·
District
knows that 8th graders in algebra are more likely to struggle than 6th
graders
·
If
a student does not love math, taking algebra in 6th grade puts them
on trajectory to advanced math classes in high school, which may be something
they want. Hard to leave that track without repeating a math class.
·
Amity
suggests EAP teachers explain to parents why they recommend for/against Algebra
for a particular student.
·
Kenmore
and Timbercrest are piloting a model of targeting all 8th graders
for Algebra, which may require re-adjusting for EAP. Would be a systemic change
that begins in elementary. Pre-algebra I and II in 6th and 7th.
·
We
should make middle school counselors aware of paths thru high schools.
8.
Schedule
for February meeting
·
Consider
inviting curriculum and racial equity departments from District
·
Who
at district should we talk to that can actually implement changes? We have met
with principals, regional superintendents, etc. to no avail.
·
Wednesday,
February 8th from 5-7 pm.
·
Ruby
Bridges principal will be invited, but would probably prefer daytime meeting.
·
Suggestion
of a separate meeting with high school reps and district about course catalog
about high school math options.
·
Meeting
or just find out the status of the math options?
Discussion Topic – Austina De Bonte’s EAP
Transition Survey Research
9.
Parent anticipatory worries were fairly low. Had some
concerns about transitioning schools and socially, but not academically.
10.
No statistical difference in parents who are satisfied
initially vs later among elementary grade, but there was some difference among
middle school students
11.
For most kids, by the first 2 weeks, they have
transitioned well.
12.
Slightly more than half of kids had to change schools
13.
Similar results to previous HiCap surveys
14.
70% did no test preparation
15.
20% of kids moving into district moved in with the
intent to do HiCap
Council
Questions / Updates II
16.
Casual
meetup for Neurodiverse and 2E Families at The Hangar in Kenmore. New NSD
Facebook group.
17.
WA
State Hi-Cap Parent Group Leader Meeting
·
5:30
pm on 1/10
·
Carson, Austina and Lynn plan to attend
meeting tonight. Myriam will attend unless someone else wants to. Limited to 4
per district.
Ongoing
Questions / Concerns
18.
Insurance
for events – via email from Kung-Pern Wang
·
Has
several parents willing to donate money
·
Some
parents want to be sure 100% of money is used for the insurance, not just
general donations.
·
Some
have concerns about in-person fundraising due to covid
·
Suggestion
of using GoFundMe, which enables people to see donation progress.
