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Frustrated with Humble ISD and my G-kid's school

Frustrated with Humble ISD and my G-kid's school

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by: Chrisinkingwood Active Indicator LED Icon 8 OP 
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 9:41am  
My granddaughter who lives nearby in Atascocita completed Kindergarten last year at Oak's Elementary. Her teachers told her parents that they felt she was very bright and might be a candidate to skip 1st grade. She's the youngest of 5 kids and very competitive so I think she has just excelled so far at school, she reads as well or better than her sister who will be in 3rd this year. The school told my daughter in law that someone would be contacting them to schedule a test in July.  Well no one ever called so she started leaving messages for the counselor at the school for the last 2 weeks, I went by a couple of times and no one was even there. On Friday I left a message for the counselor as well as the Assistant Principle. So, today I get a call back from the Principle's secretary apologizing for the mix up. Apparently we were given the wrong information, we were supposed to go to a webpage at the HISD office and do an online registration for the test and the test was only given 4 times in July, every Thursday morning during the month! She said she was trying to find out if the school could administer the test at their campus for my granddaughter and another child who is in the same boat. She apologized profusely and said there it might be that it's just not possible (legally) to do the test now and at the school but she would try. She also said that in the past the test given is the 3rd grade STARR test and the child has to pass with a score of 80 or higher in math, reading, social studies and science. Well if I had known that I would have downloaded past versions of that test and been working with her all summer!  And she said that the counselor's last day was June 5th and she isn't due back  until later this week so that's why no one ever returned our calls. Silly and frustrating. I think if I was raising a family all over again I would seriously consider home schooling them, the public schools have so much bureaucracy! 4951
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RogueHippEE Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 9:58am  
I would go above the school and contact the district office.  It might not do any good at this point, but it does not hurt to try.  I finally gave up and my dd now goes to the school my husband works at.  I don't have to put up with as much crap as I did before. 4951
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buffaloglenn Active Indicator LED Icon 11
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 10:03am  
My granddaughter who lives nearby in Atascocita completed Kindergarten last year at Oak's Elementary. Her teachers told her parents that they felt she was very bright and might be a candidate to skip 1st grade. She's the youngest of 5 kids and very competitive so I think she has just excelled so far at school, she reads as well or better than her sister who will be in 3rd this year. The school told my daughter in law that someone would be contacting them to schedule a test in July.  Well no one ever called so she started leaving messages for the counselor at the school for the last 2 weeks, I went by a couple of times and no one was even there. On Friday I left a message for the counselor as well as the Assistant Principle. So, today I get a call back from the Principle's secretary apologizing for the mix up. Apparently we were given the wrong information, we were supposed to go to a webpage at the HISD office and do an online registration for the test and the test was only given 4 times in July, every Thursday morning during the month! She said she was trying to find out if the school could administer the test at their campus for my granddaughter and another child who is in the same boat. She apologized profusely and said there it might be that it's just not possible (legally) to do the test now and at the school but she would try. She also said that in the past the test given is the 3rd grade STARR test and the child has to pass with a score of 80 or higher in math, reading, social studies and science. Well if I had known that I would have downloaded past versions of that test and been working with her all summer!  And she said that the counselor's last day was June 5th and she isn't due back  until later this week so that's why no one ever returned our calls. Silly and frustrating. I think if I was raising a family all over again I would seriously consider home schooling them, the public schools have so much bureaucracy!
 
@Chrisinkingwood: I agree with part of your last statement, concerning the bureaucracy.  No way I would ever consider home schooling my kids.  Any large district has the same bureaucracy though.  I went to Houston ISD for all 13 years prior to college and the same type of bureaucracy existed then, as well as the fact that you are literally one of a million students they have (not a million but you get the idea).  Their goal is not to cater to you.  The approach we take is, if there is something you are interested in, keep asking questions and essentially be a gnat until you figure it out.  It is frustrating, but in some ways that prepares kids for real life.  Emoticon
4951
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donnatella Active Indicator LED Icon 13 Forum Moderator
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 10:11am  
When it comes to schools, I would not wait for a call back, no matter what the issue.  Unfortunately, persistent calling on your part, or even an in-person trip to the school is the only way to get on the counselor or assistant principle's calendar or radar. I agree with the statement above "essentially be a gnat" until you get someone to address your issue. I'm sorry she didn't get the testing she needed, but if it's any consolation, my son entered kindergarten coming out of Montessori and really could have gone right into 1st grade.  We strongly considered it, but were advised against it.  It would have put him the youngest of his peers and in later years, the last to reach certain milestones (such as license, driving, getting a car, etc.)  In the early grades it doesn't matter much but it makes a big difference once they reach high school. 4951
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magnoliamam Active Indicator LED Icon 7
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 10:58am  
as a 16 year old high school graduate....my parents let them "skip" me from 1st grade to 3rd on top of me starting a bit early at a parochial school.........it's not a good idea to "move kids up" for the most part.......it affects girls and boys very significantly as they enter high school (puberty, dating, driving, etc.) and it affects them the rest of their lives .....not in a positive way.......I know of what I speak.....I've lived it......I'm still living it.....turns out you do major things in your life much too early and then one day, much too early, you have "outlived" yourself....been there, done that and don't know what is left to do..... 4951
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imadrummer2k Active Indicator LED Icon 3
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 11:13am  
Kindergarten seems a little early to already be deciding to skip grades. What's the hurry?  4951
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fcabanski Active Indicator LED Icon 16
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 2:57pm  
Bureaucracy isn't the worst thing about public schools. 4951
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taramay Active Indicator LED Icon 14
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 3:07pm  
I'm sure it's frustrating to you. But isn't all of this your kids responsibility? And not yours, as the grandparent? I'm surprised the school talked with you at all about it, to be honest. Unless you are a legal guardian of the child.
 
I know I'd be **** if the school talked with anyone other than my husband or I about our children. 4951
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fcabanski Active Indicator LED Icon 16
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 3:20pm  
Good point. 4951
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lola Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 3:26pm  
as a 16 year old high school graduate....my parents let them "skip" me from 1st grade to 3rd on top of me starting a bit early at a parochial school.........it's not a good idea to "move kids up" for the most part.......it affects girls and boys very significantly as they enter high school (puberty, dating, driving, etc.) and it affects them the rest of their lives .....not in a positive way.......I know of what I speak.....I've lived it......I'm still living it.....turns out you do major things in your life much too early and then one day, much too early, you have "outlived" yourself....been there, done that and don't know what is left to do.....
 
@magnoliamam: What do you mean what is left to do?  You've got a lot to offer! Volunteer somewhere.  Learn something new. Can you foster a dog?  Seriously, you sound like you need to be needed.  YOU ARE!!
4951
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soxs mom Active Indicator LED Icon 3
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 4:57pm  
Honestly, what's wrong with being a little "smarter" in the age appropriate grade?  Life is hard enough with a few punches here and there..I think having something she excells with would be better for her than moving up a grade and becoming suddenly average.  My experience is that by 3rd grade a lot of kids have evened out anyway, a lot of early bloomers slow down a bit and late bloomers catch up!  IMO social maturity is just as important as academic maturity anyway. If a kid skips a grade then they are suddenly just one of many working at that level, nothing special about that..and they are often not as mature. Even little things like being a bit smaller than the other kids can have a self esteem impact. Why be in a hurry? Just let her be a bright, happy, well adjusted kid.  My kids did fine in school and beyond but I never thought skipping a grade would get them anywhere further in life. I have never bought into the they will be stifled or bored business either. Every teacher I know is perfectly capable of enriching and teaching to different levels, they do it all the time.   Sometimes the whole skipping grades stuff is more for parental bragging rights than the benefit to the child when all are being perfectly honest. JMO. 4951
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Annie Active Indicator LED Icon 18
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 5:05pm  
Why be in a hurry? Just let her be a bright, happy, well adjusted kid.
 
@soxs mom:
 
Agreed. With a summer birthday, I was always one of the youngest in my classes. I am glad that my parents decided not to make that youngest by more than a year. 4951
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Bloom Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 8:54pm  
I agree that it is not always in the best interest of the child to skip a grade. Much better to be at the top of the class than to end up mediocre or have social issues because of being too young to handle peer pressure. High School students have all kinds of options, such as early college, dual credits, etc., if they have the desire to move ahead when they are mature enough to accept that responsibility. Better to give an extra year of childhood than an extra year of adult-hood! 4951
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soxs mom Active Indicator LED Icon 3
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 10:14pm  
Better to give an extra year of childhood than an extra year of adult-hood!
 
@Bloom: I love this! So true.
4951
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Chrisinkingwood Active Indicator LED Icon 8 OP 
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 10:18pm  
I'm sure it's frustrating to you. But isn't all of this your kids responsibility? And not yours, as the grandparent? I'm surprised the school talked with you at all about it, to be honest. Unless you are a legal guardian of the child.
 
I know I'd be **** if the school talked with anyone other than my husband or I about our children.
 
@taramay: I am on all the name lists for the kids at school. Mom works in the Galleria and dad works in Sugarland. The office staff once joked that they know me more than the parents. Yes, we can talk about responsibility or whatever but my daughter in law left several messages before asking me if I could lend a hand. I don't fault her for that, she has a very hectic job and while it would be nice if she could just quit and be a stay at home mom, the economics won't allow it with 5 kids these days.
4951
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Chrisinkingwood Active Indicator LED Icon 8 OP 
~ 8 years ago   Aug 3, '15 10:24pm  
Interesting.... Several of you think it is wrong for a child to move a head, but why do we have grade levels at all? Just easy? I think a kid should move a head if they indicate they can. Yes I can agree that sometimes the maturity level is not good enough for a child to do that. I don't think this is the case at all. She has a late December birthday so she is sort of in the middle of the school year. She is much more advanced than most of the kids she was in KG with, at least by what the teacher told us and she was the one who suggested advanced placement in the first place. Interestingly, her father was moved up a grade, I think he skipped second or third. Maybe it;s an inherited thing, some kids inherit a certain intellectual level. Feel like I am getting kind of attacked here. Wish I could delete the whole thread. 4951
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