Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion The ultimate brag thread

Grinity
Congratulations! I bet in some ways it seems just like yesterday when your ds started school, and on the other hand it seems a long time ago because of all the hard work, challenges, success, and changes along the way.

barb

Haven't posted in this thread since it was started way back when... DS was in first. (Now he's just completed 3rd... My how time flies).

This year our PS situation really turned a corner. Starting in the second marking period DS(then)7 was switched to take 6th grade pre algebra for first period in the Middle School. For second marking period he did great and then each marking period after his average kept going up (despite missing a FULL month for state testing).

At the end of the year he got an achievement award for ... the highest overall average in the class. (He tied with one other student).

Lots of bumps along the way but this year ended on a VERY positive note.

JB

DS14 finally returned from his first year of boarding school (9th grade sub-two) and his goal was to maintain a GPA over 95% so that he could get the highest honor roll level.

He did it! He got a 96.5 GPA in his classes for the final trimester, which is heavily influenced by finals. Last year he could barely bring himself to study 3 hours total for finals. This year he set up 'on-line flashcards' 2 weeks in advance to learn vocab words for the English final, and worked though 5 pages of Physics problems to prepare for this Physics test. He got an 100% on his Physics test - the teacher had to introduce a curve to help out the rest of the class.

His may seem like a strange brag for a YS kid, but with his ADD getting the level of focus and and perspective-taking to get in the high 90s really says a lot about his work ethic, his willingness to follow the teachers' lead, and his engagement with the material. When he was young, I expected learning to be fun, but now he has matured into a kid who can do the job, fun or not. (as long as it's a little bit fun! Which it is!)

Plus he learned how to run a couple of miles for fun and and fitness, and he discovered that he enjoys casual basketball games. He's looking forward to trying out for the basketball team next year, and one the teachers is supporting him to start a 'Settler's of Catan' playing club, since it was quite popular this year after DS introduced it. His best friend at school wrote in his yearbook that DS was the person who taught him the most this year. Aww.

And the school facilitated his participation in service programs. They sponsor a Special Olympics, and set him and his best friend up to do weekly play-vists with a local 4 year old with special needs.

I'm bragging about my son, my son's school, my DH for following my lead, and ME - for finding the school and being willing to send DS there - SuperBrag!

Grinity

I haven't ever posted in this thread...but I am super proud of dd14 for designing a mural and painting at her school this past semester. She also led the team who painted it, which at times was only two people.

My daughter is a musician as well as an artist, thus the music theme. The idea came from a sketch she did for another assignment in art. Her art teacher liked it and told her to expand upon it.

Hope it's okay to link to a picture file here. music mural