Tuesday was a day of milestones for my two oldest. We got a call at about 5 o’clock that Sarah’s glasses were ready for pickup. I immediately stopped making dinner, left Nick in charge of the other kids, and we both hopped in the car to pick them up. When we walked in the store approximately 9 minutes after the guy called, he was pretty surprised. I guess most people aren’t so excited to pick up their glasses! 🙂
Doesn’t she look so cute in them?
And so much older, too!
We hurried back so I could leave again with Nicholas for the orientation meeting at his (hopefully) new school. He has been taking extra lessons all school year to help prepare him for the big test in May, and this meeting was to help show off the school, explain a bit how it works, and answer questions kids and their parents might have. In order to go to a university in Switzerland, you first have to graduate from what they call Gymnasium, or Kantonschule. In order to get in to Gymi, you first have to take a grueling hours long test in German and math. So pretty much his entire future will be decided with this test he takes at 12 years of age. You do have the chance to take the test again if you fail it the first time, but only after attending two years of Sekundarschule. And then you are also tested in French, as well.
The meeting was very interesting and informative. We learned that there were several required courses for the first two years, and they include Latin. Nicholas was excited about that. Also, you have to maintain a certain grade point average the first two years, or you are automatically kicked out of the school. Yikes! And they have an aviary and several aquariums in the school. Pretty fun.
The whole thing only took a little over an hour, including taking questions from the audience, and then we could go home. Our favorite question of the night? “Are there are any special classes or programs for gifted children?” The moderator paused a moment and then said, “No.” Because, of course, the entire SCHOOL is pretty much for extra intelligent children. They wouldn’t get in, or stay in, if they weren’t.
We have already told our kids, though, that as much as we would like for them to attend Gymi, it isn’t the end of the world if they don’t. They will all be attending college in America (easier to find LDS spouses there) and can attend junior college first, if they need to, to get accepted. We want them to achieve their highest potential, but not get ulcers attempting it.