4021 Whispering Pine Loop
Reno, NV 89519

My son transferred into the SWAS accelerated program in 4th grade. My expectations were low, but not low enough.For my first back to school night, they had a Christian comedian open. I have NEVER been to a back to school night that had an opener (other than a principal giving general directions) and it was very strange. During 4th grade, my son absolutely loved his teacher, but despite being in the accelerated program, he hardly learned anything. There was a child in his class who was violent and would destroy other children's Halloween costumes, attack other kids in the class, throw computers at the wall, and cuss out other children. The parents were continually told this was being managed but when we rolled over into 5th grade, the kid was still there.The teacher for 5th grade spent the majority of the parent's night talking about himself and the extensive education he had. The parents left not really understanding anything but that this man had multiple degrees. I would only find out after my son left that this particular teacher gave him a nickname that he called my son behind his back to the other kids. I was wondering why my son didn't feel comfortable asking this man for help and now I know why. He was belittled and quite frankly bullied by a teacher. His SWAS teacher. Stay FAR away from the SWAS program. They will preach about how much training they have had and all of these theoretical things that sound nice and they will NOT practice. My son had a 504 with the SWAS teacher and he seemed so incredibly sad during the meeting because he did not want to provide accommodations. Sure enough... my son's accommodations were not followed. Now that my son is in middle school, it is becoming apparent how little work he did in SWAS. I feel like keeping him on the main path would have been far better. He spent two years not writing anything and now that he is in the middle school magnet program he is behind. The last 3 months of elementary school they had the kids work on a big science project and nothing else. During set up, the same teacher who called my son nicknames told me how hard his job was and how much he couldn't wait for summer because he was so burnt out and exhausted. I didn't know at that time he was calling my son names behind his back. I am speechless that a teacher would be the one inciting bullying especially at a program that is supposed to celebrate gifted students. Do not come to CRES and stay away from SWAS