You mention feeling overwhelmed... here on the forums you've found a treasure trove of resources and experiences to read and benefit from. It can be a helpful cure for feeling overwhelmed. You are not alone.
It's only week 5 of K... counsellor... behavioural
From what you've posted, it sounds like you may possibly be located outside of the United States of America, therefore your educational system and laws governing it may vary from those in the USA. There is an
international forum, in case posting there may be of help for any local specifics.
I hate conflict, and it felt like the school thought I was making a fuss over nothing and that DS is just fine.
Some of this may depend upon the approach taken. There are many advocacy books, and links to advocacy information which are frequently shared on the forums. They may be easily found with a search of the archives.
I don't know much about scores from gifted tests
The child's tester is often the best source of information and interpretation of your child's scores. Much can also be learned from reading the information provided free to the public on a test publisher's website. There are discussions about this also found in the forum archives.
I don't know if DS would be considered HG or just gifted.
Some would say this does not matter when the focus is on having your child's needs met. That said, it may sometimes be helpful to use MG, HG, EG, PG as an indication of how far from the norm and how rare an intelligence profile is. Hoagies Gifted Education Page includes
this page.
I don't know if the school has other students similar to DS in their academic ability
Due to student privacy laws parents would not be privy to this information, however students often observe and develop a sense of how bright the other students are.
I worry that they are not going to give him enough challenge and he won't learn study skills, he will be bored, and he will develop behavioural problems.
You may want to begin researching other academic learning environments or education options which may exist in your area. Meanwhile know that challenge, study skills, and behavioral skills may all be worked on at home. Many families do this. Discussion, bibliotherapy, and specific programs are a few possibilities. Families continue to research and advocate for the school to provide meaningful learning during the many hours a child must spent at school each day.
They did mention the possibility of subject acceleration at a later date, but it is not possible now due to social and emotional immaturity.
Sometimes when a child receives an academic challenge worthy of their potential, their behavior improves (if their misbehavior was related to a lack of learning new material, boredom, repetition).
We wanted to have a shadow to support the teacher in the classroom, but the school is hesitant.
You may wish to research acceleration and also what specific services the shadow would provide, and the impact of these items upon your child's learning.
I would ask someone to tell me it gets easier, but from what I have read here it doesn't.
The journey can become easier in many ways. Intensity, if you have an intense child, may not disappear but a parent's ability to understand, coach, and guide the intensity may make the journey easier for all. Advocacy and negotiating skills can improve resulting in more positive outcomes and less of a sense of conflict. It gets easier after much, much research and reading.
