Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Our Program

Questions about applying? See the Application FAQ.

Is it possible for my child to do both sessions?

    Yes!!

What do the grades mean that are listed beside each class? Does K-6 mean that all of these ages are together in the classroom?

1. No, that is simply the range for which the class is offered. In other words, kids going into these grades may enroll for this class. Most typically, children are grouped in double grade groupings, i.e. 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and 5th and 6th in the actual class. There may be some exceptions to this depending on enrollment, i.e., a drama class containing 3 grades.
   

Who are Summer Wonders teachers?

1. Summer Wonders teachers come from all over Austin. Some are from private schools, some from public, and some just specialize in an area or are professionals in a specific field, i.e. chess, movie music production, and film. Many of the staff have Master’s degrees and every year we have had at least one Ph. D. Teachers are selected because they are excited about working with this population, flexible, aren’t intimidated by a child who knows more that they do and are creative themselves. They recognize that they are there to foster individual discovery and empower a child to be active in their own learning. We believe that we have amazing teachers who love coming back year after year.
   

Who are Summer Wonders students?

1. We have students from every public school district in the Austin area and most private schools. Over the years, children from New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Washington, Virginia, Louisiana, and Arizona have attended as well as kids from Korea and Japan, and Mexico. We believe that our diversity is outstanding and thus enriches any child’s individual experience.
   

How early can I drop my child off in the morning?

1. We accept children as early as 8:30 AM into our Game Room for supervised play. There is no charge for this service.
   

What is the difference between the morning program and the afternoon?

1. In the morning period, the child and parent pick the classes, while in the afternoon, the theme is already selected by the staff. We try to pick themes that are fun, but can also be taught using a multidisciplinary approach with lots of hands-on activities, similar to the philosophy we use in choosing and developing our morning classes. The afternoon tends to be a little more active and informal than the morning. In order, it includes time for lunch, a choice of either outdoor or indoor free play and the theme experience. For children who find it difficult to connect with peers in their regular school, the afternoon provides an additional wonderful opportunity to socially interact with more children of like minds. During lunch we have noticed how often children of mixed grades interact and an overall relaxed atmosphere of interchange. The afternoon can provide a child a greater chance for social validation and an opportunity to experiment socially in a way that may be unique in their lives.
   

Can I do only the afternoon session?

1. No, your child may take the afternoon session in addition to the morning session for a full day experience, but afternoon sessions cannot be taken separately. Summer Wonders is a program designed to meet the intellectual, emotional, and social needs of gifted children. Our goal is to create a well-rounded experience for your child. Research on gifted children supports the importance of allowing children to explore areas of passion - thus the significance of the morning choices.
   

What is your average class size?

1. We try for around 15 in a class for most grades, and fewer for kindergarten aged classes. We limit the Little Wonders class to 12. Our minimum is 6 kids because we believe that part of the value of the experience we offer comes in the form of the social interaction between kids who are passionate about the same subjects.
   

Thank you for your interest in Summer Wonders. More questions? Email summerwonders@austingifted.org.

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