Parents of HS class of 2020

[PrincessBelle39]

I guess we fit in here also but being in Australia, DD will graduate in November of 2020.

 

[kinntj]

Update: My daughter rolled her ankle first week of Lacrosse practice 2 1/2 weeks ago and she can just put pressure on that foot now. She's glad to be rid of the crutches, but hates that healing is taking her quite awhile. She's working with the 3 sports trainers that the school hires to help her recover. She hurt it really bad. Now that she is off crutches, her coaches expect her to be at practices and games, but she doesn't have to participate. So she just watches for now.

My daughter has testing this week, so today she's taking her PSAT and will be released early. She has been studying up on her math, since she's rusty on Algebra since she had Geometry this year.
Her spring break was uneventful with laying on the couch with her foot up and using the Kahn academy site to study. Poor thing!

Welcome to the recent joiners! Good to see so many on here and having more to chat with when things start getting crazy.

 

[Monykalyn]

Update: My daughter rolled her ankle first week of Lacrosse practice 2 1/2 weeks ago and she can just put pressure on that foot now. She's glad to be rid of the crutches, but hates that healing is taking her quite awhile. She's working with the 3 sports trainers that the school hires to help her recover. She hurt it really bad. Now that she is off crutches, her coaches expect her to be at practices and games, but she doesn't have to participate. So she just watches for now.

My daughter has testing this week, so today she's taking her PSAT and will be released early. She has been studying up on her math, since she's rusty on Algebra since she had Geometry this year.
Her spring break was uneventful with laying on the couch with her foot up and using the Kahn academy site to study. Poor thing!

Welcome to the recent joiners! Good to see so many on here and having more to chat with when things start getting crazy.

ARgh-hope she is doing better soon!! OTOH-forced quiet/study time can only help right ?

Oldest kid talked me into going to a comic-con in a couple weeks-decided to take middle along with. I am a terrible parent as I will need to pull middle out of school a couple hours early on a Friday. She says there is no tests or anything planned on that day so should be ok. She went with her Science Olympiad team to state competition as an alternate. Team place 3rd-she had a ball.
She is taking Driver's ed this quarter. I don't think they looked at her birthdate closely as she won't even be able to get her permit for another year LOL! It is just the instructor part, no driving, so it probably doesn't matter.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I have a freshman DS. He's taking the PSAT this week also. He's a smart kid, but doesn't apply himself so he does struggle with grades. He's a life scout working on his eagle rank. He is in the process of picking out his eagle project. We hope he finishes Eagle rank by this time next year. He also just got his first job working at a local ice cream place.

He got his driving permit in the fall. Here they can take drivers training at 14 years and 8 months old. They can get their license on their 16 birthday. DS is a terrible driver! He really freaks me out. Lol. He never wants to drive so he's not getting enough practice. We have to practically force him to drive. If he doesn't get enough practice hours then he will have to wait to get his license. I'm ok with that. His birthday is in December so I'm not crazy about him getting his license when it's bad driving conditions anyway.

 

[Monykalyn]

So the kid got her grades 2 days ago. I was at a meeting and come home (late-like near bedtime) to find her in tears. All A's including the weighted classes (so a 5.0 average) yet she is crying because a lot of her friends are ranked in top 5 of class. She is 18...out of 449 kids. Are middle kids all like this? I wish 1/4th of her drive had been transferred to the youngest (who is a boy, although he too ended up with A's and B's with crackdown, and a C- in a midquarter report for social studies). Only has a week or so left of summer school PE (most marching band kids take this in summer as it frees up schedule).

Summer is going fast!!

 

[mom2rtk]

So the kid got her grades 2 days ago. I was at a meeting and come home (late-like near bedtime) to find her in tears. All A's including the weighted classes (so a 5.0 average) yet she is crying because a lot of her friends are ranked in top 5 of class. She is 18...out of 449 kids. Are middle kids all like this? I wish 1/4th of her drive had been transferred to the youngest (who is a boy, although he too ended up with A's and B's with crackdown, and a C- in a midquarter report for social studies). Only has a week or so left of summer school PE (most marching band kids take this in summer as it frees up schedule).

Summer is going fast!!

I'm surprised your school even tells them their rank. At our school, you have to be friendly with a teacher who will leak the information. It's sort of silly.

 

[Monykalyn]

I'm surprised your school even tells them their rank. At our school, you have to be friendly with a teacher who will leak the information. It's sort of silly.

THat is silly!
Yeah it is a line on the grade report. She really thought she would be 1 or 2 or 3. But she takes Band so I think that may have something to do with it-not weighted as heavily?

 

[kinntj]

ARgh-hope she is doing better soon!! OTOH-forced quiet/study time can only help right ?

Oldest kid talked me into going to a comic-con in a couple weeks-decided to take middle along with. I am a terrible parent as I will need to pull middle out of school a couple hours early on a Friday. She says there is no tests or anything planned on that day so should be ok. She went with her Science Olympiad team to state competition as an alternate. Team place 3rd-she had a ball.
She is taking Driver's ed this quarter. I don't think they looked at her birthdate closely as she won't even be able to get her permit for another year LOL! It is just the instructor part, no driving, so it probably doesn't matter.

She is doing fine, but it took her at the end of this quarter to take her running test. All that matters is that she beat her time from the beginning of the class and she got her Gatorade from the teacher. Kids... She was able to study, but she still didn't do well on her reading section of the PSAT. It took her too long, so this summer she is practicing that part of the test through those practice books.
How wonderful to be a part of the Olympiad team even as an alternate. Great experience to watch as well as participate in. I hope that driver's training class went well.

 

[kinntj]

So the kid got her grades 2 days ago. I was at a meeting and come home (late-like near bedtime) to find her in tears. All A's including the weighted classes (so a 5.0 average) yet she is crying because a lot of her friends are ranked in top 5 of class. She is 18...out of 449 kids. Are middle kids all like this? I wish 1/4th of her drive had been transferred to the youngest (who is a boy, although he too ended up with A's and B's with crackdown, and a C- in a midquarter report for social studies). Only has a week or so left of summer school PE (most marching band kids take this in summer as it frees up schedule).

Summer is going fast!!

So sorry that she's disappointed in her ranking. Is she trying to get into a top 3 school or a competitive degree program? If her grades are top notch than I wouldn't worry about that so much than have her focus on being exceptional at one thing. What is her focus and love? If she plays band does she excel at that instrument? What I have learned about top colleges is that they want the Exceptional, not the well rounded like so many parents tell their kids to be. Your daughter needs to find that one thing, be it a hobby and excel at it. Jack of all trades and master of none is not what they want. As you can tell I've been reading quite a bit of information on what top college admissions personnel seek in applicants and want to read in their essays. My daughter doesn't want to go to Harvard, but does want to go to Univ. of Mich which is quite competitive to some degree. I've been telling her to focus on that hobby, academic (science), sport, instrument that challenges her and she tries hard to master it. That is what sets your daughter apart from her friends or classmates.

I hope I helped a bit, but it is tough for these high achievers to not be where they want to, but band might help her out in the end. That's nice the school offers summer classes for PE. That would be a good one to do then. Summer is really going fast. Try to enjoy it as much as you can.

 

[Monykalyn]

So sorry that she's disappointed in her ranking. Is she trying to get into a top 3 school or a competitive degree program? If her grades are top notch than I wouldn't worry about that so much than have her focus on being exceptional at one thing. What is her focus and love? If she plays band does she excel at that instrument? What I have learned about top colleges is that they want the Exceptional, not the well rounded like so many parents tell their kids to be. Your daughter needs to find that one thing, be it a hobby and excel at it. Jack of all trades and master of none is not what they want. As you can tell I've been reading quite a bit of information on what top college admissions personnel seek in applicants and want to read in their essays. My daughter doesn't want to go to Harvard, but does want to go to Univ. of Mich which is quite competitive to some degree. I've been telling her to focus on that hobby, academic (science), sport, instrument that challenges her and she tries hard to master it. That is what sets your daughter apart from her friends or classmates.

I hope I helped a bit, but it is tough for these high achievers to not be where they want to, but band might help her out in the end. That's nice the school offers summer classes for PE. That would be a good one to do then. Summer is really going fast. Try to enjoy it as much as you can.

Thank you! She is just very hard on herself. She doesn't really have a focus yet, but she did sign up for about every club available and learned she cannot do it all-so she did cut the clubs down to French and Pay It Forward. She is in band and likes it alot. Her real love, though, is writing. She has several books and ongoing stories on Wattpad under a pseudonym, one book that won an award they give out, and another that was ranked in top 10 for awhile. She spends alot of her spare time writing on her laptop.

Yes I love that they offer PE in summer-her HS is on the block program-they have only 4 classes per quarter/semester-classes are longer M-Th with each day a different block class ends 30 minutes early called "chief time" (their mascot are chiefs). The 30 minutes is for catching up on homework, getting with teachers for questions on assignments etc. If you have no absences the day before or infractions and are a 2nd semester freshman or more then you may "travel"-basically free time to do the previous mentioned or just hang out in commons area. On Fri they start school 30 min later due to no "chief time' that day. Anyway long explanation to say that while my oldest and now this daughter love the block classes it doesn't allow for a whole lot of freedom in scheduling interest classes, especially as marching band/concert band take up whole block each semester.

And you are absolutely right in having a well rounded student to be competitive! Volunteer activities, leadership in a club or honor society. When grades/ACT etc are close or the same those extra's set them apart.
It's just hard to watch her feel she fell short when she really didn't. She wants that Valedictorian title. And summer is FLYING by!!

She is doing fine, but it took her at the end of this quarter to take her running test. All that matters is that she beat her time from the beginning of the class and she got her Gatorade from the teacher. Kids... She was able to study, but she still didn't do well on her reading section of the PSAT. It took her too long, so this summer she is practicing that part of the test through those practice books.

Practice and yes, those practice books are great! Often it is a pacing issue that has to be worked through. I think mine can take her "free" ACT starting sophomore year.

 

[kinntj]

Thank you! She is just very hard on herself. She doesn't really have a focus yet, but she did sign up for about every club available and learned she cannot do it all-so she did cut the clubs down to French and Pay It Forward. She is in band and likes it alot. Her real love, though, is writing. She has several books and ongoing stories on Wattpad under a pseudonym, one book that won an award they give out, and another that was ranked in top 10 for awhile. She spends alot of her spare time writing on her laptop.

Yes I love that they offer PE in summer-her HS is on the block program-they have only 4 classes per quarter/semester-classes are longer M-Th with each day a different block class ends 30 minutes early called "chief time" (their mascot are chiefs). The 30 minutes is for catching up on homework, getting with teachers for questions on assignments etc. If you have no absences the day before or infractions and are a 2nd semester freshman or more then you may "travel"-basically free time to do the previous mentioned or just hang out in commons area. On Fri they start school 30 min later due to no "chief time' that day. Anyway long explanation to say that while my oldest and now this daughter love the block classes it doesn't allow for a whole lot of freedom in scheduling interest classes, especially as marching band/concert band take up whole block each semester.

And you are absolutely right in having a well rounded student to be competitive! Volunteer activities, leadership in a club or honor society. When grades/ACT etc are close or the same those extra's set them apart.
It's just hard to watch her feel she fell short when she really didn't. She wants that Valedictorian title. And summer is FLYING by!!

Practice and yes, those practice books are great! Often it is a pacing issue that has to be worked through. I think mine can take her "free" ACT starting sophomore year.

So writing is her thing. Fantastic! Sounds like she's on her way. My daughter has friends that are ranked higher than her and she's use to it. They challenge her enough to push herself, but they get excellent grades without trying it seems. She has to work so hard for hers and it frustrates her. We have block too and we also have Pride; which is like your chief time. I've heard my DD's friends talk about band taking up quite a bit of time and space on the schedule, but they love it and it's the only thing that makes school fun. They love camp and the bonding it brings. My DD quit band after 6th grade so she could focus on Lacrosse conditioning year round. Sounds like we'll have a "fun" 3 years left of high school.

 

[Minnie824]

Just found this! DD15 is class of 2020...already finished drivers ed and looking forward to her license in the fall. ugh! I've told her to start thinking of colleges, her idea so far is 'somewhere warm' and no snow as we have at home in the winter. Definitely need to start looking for some scholarships as well. Can't believe its only 3 more years!

 

[Monykalyn]

Sounds like we'll have a "fun" 3 years left of high school.

and Busy!! OMG sports and band take up a ton of time. Mine also does swim...and that is one intense season. She will miss a week of practice with our thanksgiving trip but I am hoping the pool at our resort (offsite) will be quiet enough that she can get her laps in.

Can't believe its only 3 more years!

And as I found out with my oldest it flies! Next summer will be thinking about college visits, ACT/SAT etc. Before you know it you will be talking graduation caps/announcements/parties. Seriously. Only 56 days til school starts again!

 

[Monykalyn]

We have block too and we also have Pride; which is like your chief time

I love this system and wished I had it in school!!

 

[Minnie824]

Time for Sophomore year already! DD starts back next week. The summer went by so fast.

 

[Vicki926]

Crazy fast! We don't start until Sept. 7th. Haven't even gotten schedules yet.
My son switched from a Marketing class(was taking it just to fulfill a business class requirement) to AP Human Geo, but waited until June to finally talk to his guidance counselor, so she told him he could switch, but that was going to switch his Drivers Ed from 1st marking period to 3rd marking period.

Which would mean he wouldn't have his permit long enough to get his license in September of 2018 when he turns 17. Soooo..I need the schedules out, so he can go plead his case and try and get switched back to 1st mp drivers ed.

Other than that, he's busy with football practice 6 days a week and eating me out of house and home.

 

[Monykalyn]

School started Wednesday here. Band practice last night, game tonight, optional swim practice Sunday night (which she wants to do of course). And DS is on 2 soccer teams with practices Tue/Thur/Sunday and games on Saturday.
Fall is going to fly by!

 

[dreamer17555]

I just found this thread. I have a 15 yo DD who started her sophomore year last week. She attends a residential arts high school about 40 mins away. (So I get her home most weekends). She is a ballet major but is also interested in psychology. Her school is set up differently than most as it is part of a college campus. She only gets 4 academic classes per year plus her ballet classes (which are graded and include ballet, pointe, character, and contemporary). Plus and minus is it makes the whole applying to college thing tricky (but the school seems to have an impressive track record); yet on the other hand by the time she goes away from college she will be a pro at self care. (Cat actually moved away from home in 8th grade for a Ballet Conservatory for a year before being accepted into this school. So she will have lived away from home 5 years before college). She also has the privilege of extremely small class sizes (her biology class last year had under 10) and professors teaching some of her classes.

Still it's hard. The environment is amazing but tough and the hours can be long and I miss having her home everyday.

BTW does anyone else start getting mildly anxious anytime they read College Confidential? My daughter school does not weight GPA nor does it have a class rank (I know!!!). She is looking at her 4.0 and feeling rather concerned and then it rubs off on me.

 

[Monykalyn]

I just found this thread. I have a 15 yo DD who started her sophomore year last week. She attends a residential arts high school about 40 mins away. (So I get her home most weekends). She is a ballet major but is also interested in psychology. Her school is set up differently than most as it is part of a college campus. She only gets 4 academic classes per year plus her ballet classes (which are graded and include ballet, pointe, character, and contemporary). Plus and minus is it makes the whole applying to college thing tricky (but the school seems to have an impressive track record); yet on the other hand by the time she goes away from college she will be a pro at self care. (Cat actually moved away from home in 8th grade for a Ballet Conservatory for a year before being accepted into this school. So she will have lived away from home 5 years before college). She also has the privilege of extremely small class sizes (her biology class last year had under 10) and professors teaching some of her classes.

Still it's hard. The environment is amazing but tough and the hours can be long and I miss having her home everyday.

BTW does anyone else start getting mildly anxious anytime they read College Confidential? My daughter school does not weight GPA nor does it have a class rank (I know!!!). She is looking at her 4.0 and feeling rather concerned and then it rubs off on me.

That sounds like a really neat and unique school-I'd bet that experience will keep her quite competitive with any weighted GPA! Not to mention her essays will show a maturity most kids that age won't have and that will come through as well. Seems schools want grades, yes, but also unique students who can handle the change-something your DD will experience with!

 

[sk!mom]

I just found this thread. I have a 15 yo DD who started her sophomore year last week. She attends a residential arts high school about 40 mins away. (So I get her home most weekends). She is a ballet major but is also interested in psychology. Her school is set up differently than most as it is part of a college campus. She only gets 4 academic classes per year plus her ballet classes (which are graded and include ballet, pointe, character, and contemporary). Plus and minus is it makes the whole applying to college thing tricky (but the school seems to have an impressive track record); yet on the other hand by the time she goes away from college she will be a pro at self care. (Cat actually moved away from home in 8th grade for a Ballet Conservatory for a year before being accepted into this school. So she will have lived away from home 5 years before college). She also has the privilege of extremely small class sizes (her biology class last year had under 10) and professors teaching some of her classes.

Still it's hard. The environment is amazing but tough and the hours can be long and I miss having her home everyday.

BTW does anyone else start getting mildly anxious anytime they read College Confidential? My daughter school does not weight GPA nor does it have a class rank (I know!!!). She is looking at her 4.0 and feeling rather concerned and then it rubs off on me.

My DD21 also studied ballet seriously but didn't leave home. She didn't pursue it after high school but Three of her friends are pursuing ballet rather than college. They have spent the past 2-3 years as students at dance conservatories or trainees at various companies. Does DD plan to take that path or go right into college?

The biggest factor in college acceptance is ACT/SAT score especially without class ranking or a weighted GPA. As long as your DD does very well on the ACT/SAT, I would think that her unique high school experience and clear focus and excelling at ballet would set her apart.

That said, in my state ranking does come into play as the top 10% are guaranteed admittance to all state public universities (top 7% for the Flag Ship.)