Exhibit A: Ariella, a very intelligent girl
Exhibit B: The letter.
We received this letter last week. Ariella came home with it from school. It is from the Henrietta Szold Institute, and the topic is "An Invitation to the Test for Phase 2 for Acceptance into the Special Enrichment Program for Gifted and Talented Students." (Very loosely translated from the Hebrew.)
My first reaction to this was, "Whoo-hoo! My kid sure are real smart!" I mean, we've known this for a while, but it's always nice to hear it again.
The letter goes on to discuss this test. Where and when it will be held. How long it lasts (an hour to an hour and a half - sheesh. Like the mini-SATs or something. Will she have to complete analogies?) How important it is to show up for the test since you cannot take it on a different day. You must do everything in your power to come! (Um, okay, just calm down, now.) What to bring and what not to bring. A very long section discussing what will be on the test itself, and that there is no need to study (phew.)
Then we're told that at the end of the school year, we will get a letter letting us know whether our child has been accepted or not accepted to this "program." And if you don't intend to send your child to the program, well then, don't bother showing up for the test.
Following that is a whole complicated paragraph about parents of twins, in a situation where both of whom (the twins, not the parents) have been invited to participate, but be warned that that one might be accepted and one not.
Finally, it ends with a phone number - but only to be used in case of emergency ("Help! I forgot which side of the pencil to use!") and not, in any way, shape or form, to be used to find out any sort of information about this test or program. God forbid. We like our parents to be in the dark.
So I had a few questions about this:
1. HUH????? Who are you people? (No letter of explanation arrived. Just instructions.)
2. And what do you want with my daughter?
3. Phase Two??? When the hell was Phase One????? (And yes, there were that many question marks in my head.)
4. What is this "program?" How do I know if I want to be a part of it? Does it involve shlepping out at 6:30 PM with two tired, cranky boys in tow, to pick Ariella up from a chug, which is located at 123 Ends of the Earth, No Place to Park, Modiin, 71720? Because I'm already doing that this year, for another chug she's in for smart kids. And let me tell you, there's little they can say that is going to make me repeat this daring feat of parenthood next year.
I was able to glean a few bits of information from Ariella. Apparently, Phase One happened in school at the beginning of the year, and the kids who did really well were invited to partake in Phase Two. Still...I'd like to know more about this "program" and this "institute" before I take her to this "test."
So, please, Ms. Szold. Throw me some scraps here. Whatever you got, I'll take it.
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10 comments:
If she does well does she get to start the Modiin chapter of Junior Hadassah?
All kids do it in kita gimel, and if they pass the main test they get an enrichment program sometime. In my area it was instead of school on Friday mornings. My son went and enjoyed it very much - they did science, logic riddles, law, basic html programming. He enjoyed it very much. Only the very very top brainy kids get it. The year my son went he didn't pass the exam, but there weren't enough kids who passed the exam so they asked the school to recommend others. My brightest child (and she is very bright) didn't pass.
Momz, if there's something to be in charge of, Ariella is THERE!
Anonymous - thanks for the info! So you think it's k'dai?
from what i've understood from mommies of kids much, much, much older than ours (whove been through acceptances into exclusive high school programs, army, etc) anything that can prove your kid is better than another one will help you. it'll help you get into a better high school, which will help you get into a better army program (or sherut leumi? does what you do in s.l. matter as much as what you did in the army?) and everyone knows all the advantages you can get from an advanced place in the army. basically, if i was going to worry about my kid making enough money to live on, i'd start....NOW.
luckily, im trying not to be the type so much.
My daughter is in the program now, and she really enjoys it. The courses they offer are very interesting, and she probably wouldn't have the same opportunity within the framework of her regular school.
You can call me to discuss if you want.
so all signs are pointing to yes, it seems. off to the test we go, then!
Wow! You must be so proud of Ariella. I would not be surprised if she was running the institute in 20 years. Did you know that there is a street with the name Szold in Baltimore?
feel i have to respond to bethami, and not just to brag,people like to believe that, and maybe it was true once, but my son was accepted into the pilots course and he went to the regional (azori) schools and did not do any special programs. (he did volunteer for mada, but that is something else)
gila i would call the school and get more information, more for the technical side of driving etc.
good luck!
GO FOR IT ARIELLA! (& THEREFORE YOU, GILS)
RISA IS CORRECT ABOUT THE STREET (BETWEEN BONNIE & MARNAT), THE REASON IS THAT H.S. WAS A BALTIMOREAN!
EXTREMELY ACTIVE ZIONIST, FOUNDED HADASSAH.
CHECK HER OUT ON WIKIPEDIA.
f/e I'm glad to hear you say that - good to know the future of our other children does not rest in the hands of Henrietta Szold.
AND DADZ - OF COURSE I KNOW ABOUT THE STREET. BUT IT'S A KIND OF DINKY ONE, NO?
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