<p>Congrats, TheAnayst, on your husband’s new job!</p>
<p>So neat to see the new thread. Very forward-looking!</p>
<p>I have read all the posts and created a new Word doc “specs for lap top” – thank you!</p>
<p>I’ve also copied most of the advice from the “To Do List for Parents” thread. I never would have thought about, e.g., scanning son’s birth certificate, etc. and having him email it to himself for easy, remote access!</p>
<p>Um…what would I do w/out CC info??? :-)</p>
<p>One thing I’m going to do for son’s grad party – create a big poster-board w/little images of flags from all the schools his friends are going to. </p>
<p>I figure at some point we’ll make a list of things to buy for August – son is in a suite, so I have to figure how that all works (who buys the paper towel holder for the kitchenette? Do the roommates get in touch & split this stuff?).</p>
<p>eggmom- those are wonderful stories of alternatives to the stupid things kids sometimes do and put so much in jeopardy at the end of sr year! I’ll have to remember to mention these as examples of nice things the kids can do as a “prank”</p>
<p>I agree about the tool kit–Ikea sells a nice one, btw. Our tiny public HS PTC puts together a gift bag for each senior (for the senior party.) In it are a fleece blanket embroidered with the HS logo, tool kit, first aid kit, a 6 prong surge protector plug (we added this this year, as every dorm room lacks enough plugs for all the kids’ plugs, chargers etc.,) laminated instructions on how to do laundry, senior group photo and probably a starbucks one-drink gift card. We get group discounts for most items (or donations). Some people have gone a little over the top for this in the past–but all of these items have been proven winners, and the kids really use them. We don’t have many (any/) senior-related events, so we put our all into grad night. I think I have the laundry instructions if anyone wants them.</p>
<p>The new student web site is up and running but D is “too busy to deal with that right now!” One thing we did look at–they ask for the student’s cell phone # for campus-wide alerts/emergencies. Then they ask if you want your cell # published in the student directory. My initial reaction is no–she can give her # to people she meets, but doesn’t need it out there for one and all. I may be reacting to the murder at Wesleyan this week, where the killer had been harrassing the victim by phone and e-mail. What do you think?</p>
<p>chintzy, I have been thinking about the tragic Wesleyan murder. </p>
<p>With respect to harrassing emails and phone calls, there are partial technological fixes. [These don’t have to do with people of murderous intent, who may not be deterred technologically]. If someone is sending harrassing emails, it is not to hard to put them on a blacklist. Services like Cloudmark that one can add to Outlook also learn from what you block (Bayesian spam blockers). And, I’ve read about a phone service designed for people (like people leaving abusive relationships) that make it difficult for the abusive party to call the target. I’ve forgotten how they work, but in this era, we should probably be aware. </p>
<p>In the era in which bad things like the Wesleyan murder occur, I wonder if girls should publish their cell phone numbers ever. Somehow, perhaps irrationally, I am less nervous about boys, but my son wants to be able to answer the cell phone knowing it could only be someone to whom he gives the number – and thus whose call he wants to take. he’s been getting a telemarketing call on his cell phone and it makes him unhappy. So, I think I’d opt for not providing that information to the public.</p>
<p>At our high school they have a “Senior Skip Day”. Usually it gets around by word of mouth and so it comes as no big surprise! I haven’t seen any pranks in several years. </p>
<p>We are getting ready for our trip to D#2’s graduation from St. Lawrence on the 17th. And as we were bombarded with all kinds of stuff to buy-DVD, diploma frames, flowers from the local florist, I have decided to to send a donation to the SLU library & we will become “Friends”. A book will be purchased with a book plate with our D’s name and class year & our names. I thought this is certainly more lasting than flowers! The book may or may not be in our daughter’s field of study. The donation is also tax deductible, but I think we would do it without that feature.</p>
<p>I was thinking of sending D’s guidance counselor a gift for all her help this year in assisting D get into her #1 choice. She really worked hard for D, who was so worried she wouldn’t get in (being OOS) that she applied to 11 schools. I’d like to do something for the guidance counselor. Any ideas?</p>
<p>Starbucks, Barnes & Noble gift card? Is person a home owner & a big gardener? Gift certificate to a local nursery, perhaps? Chocolate person or no?</p>
<p>The best senior prank ever done at our high school was when all the kids left alarm clocks in their lockers and set them to go off at the same time on a morning when they were away for a celebration senior breakfast. Needless to say it kept the janitor running everywhere and the school was not amused but I think it’s pretty funny.</p>
<p>We’ve had at least 3 senior skip days already this year. Never dreadfully well organized and mostly the kids get notes from their parents to cover the absences.</p>
<p>Late to the AP Lit recap but what my D said is that she felt good about the multi choice, wrote one great & one good essay and sort of tanked the third essay. Their APLit teacher really pushed the poetry and when Henry the 8th showed up and not a “poet” it sort of threw them for a loop. She did her best and is comfortable with Willy Shakespeare’s style and works so who knows. Her sister reported similar impressions. Love the alarm clock prank…may suggest that!</p>
<p>Counting Down I am sure your S2 did well on APLit and am not surprised that Calc was less of a worry for him. The opposite was true for my D. She is just hoping for a 3 in Calc.</p>
<p>Oh my, I saw my old bedspread from Syracuse upstairs in our barn the other day, covering something up (with some holes in it) An Indian type cotton thing with lots of paisley & RED (my favorite color) and yellow-I think it came from Pier One-Yes, they had Pier One way back then. I had forgotten all about it!</p>
<p>I’m feeling stunned to have a cap and gown in the house. Our school colors are red and black; the red is a deep red, almost crimson. The gowns are bright “Balfour” red. 600 of them all together is going to be really obnoxious.</p>
<p>d’s last day of high school today~gulp, was already a little emotional for her and me, but also had to deal with concerning situation with d’s classmate. </p>
<p>this young man had expressed interest in d but she explained that she has bf, he became somewhat stuck on her, and on one occasion had an outburst of anger at her at school. I reported this to gc at the time as a heads up. Well yesterday this young man told d, via text, that he had made a suicide attempt - overdosing with medication, and was released from hospital yesterday~still expressing suicidal thoughts. He was planning to be at school today, (last day of classes). I was glad d told me about it and I planned to go in and inform the principal of our concern~didn’t know if he was receiving the care he needed and it was clear from his texts that he was focusing on wanting my d’s attention. </p>
<p>Last night he texted again talking about wanting to die~ “how would you feel if I died?” and this morning texted that he had been to school, but left and was returning. I learned this is a young man whose family has a gun in the home, (which the family uses to shoot birds) needless to say I became quite concerned that he might be despondent. This concerned me as few years ago a young man at another school near us had killed a teacher after leaving last day of classes and returning with a gun. Also, my niece is a junior at Wesleyan and was in the same dorm as the bright lovely young woman who was killed Wednesday. Needless to say this was influencing my level of concern…and I felt “on alert”</p>
<p>I called gc, and quickly went to the school ~ we met with the principal who brought in police, security etc. Thank goodness the principal was already aware of the kid’s history, he too became concerned and he put some plans in place / took some precautions. I hope this young man is okay and gets the kind of care he needs~ the principal has a great way with the kids and I hope this boy feels the concern. I felt bad my d had to be afraid to go to her last pep rally today but she did stay at school once she saw that the principal was equally concerned and took action.</p>
<p>Oh, wow, lindz, I’m so sorry your family is having to deal with this. I hope the young man gets the help he needs. Thank goodness for an administration and police department who take security concerns to heart. </p>
<p>On a much lighter note, my college freshman son informs me that Shout Color Catcher sheets and Downy Wrinkle Release spray are necessities. A fan and fiberbed are right up there too.</p>