<p>Am I a slacker parent? I honestly don’t care if my kids (2 juniors, and D as a senior), skip any classes as long as they aren’t important days/sessions. This time of year, the school spends so much time doing silly, busy work, just to babysit the kids, I would rather they do something else. S2 is taking off tomorrow after his morning AP test in order to clean the car for prom. He will be missing a class in which he will have completed his final exam today. DD just came home after her morning AP class and was moaning about having to go back to school to watch a movie, intended just to entertain. I suggested we spend the afternoon together and have lunch instead.</p>
<p>I’m also trying to keep the panic at bay about DD going away in August. We’re pretty close…I’m really going to miss her. What makes it easier, is knowing how happy she is and all the excitement ahead of her. She is so ready for this!</p>
<p>I agree ksabbo, at least for my senior D. She is finished with AP Calc and it seems ridiculous for her to put face time in class, with nothing happening during the class. </p>
<p>She still has band for the next few weeks and there is a concert coming up. For proprieties sake I have called in to officially excuse her from her math class, although I don’t think there would be any consequences if I didn’t.</p>
<p>My freshman S is another story, there’s lots still happening for him and I know he wouldn’t skip his classes. I do see him watching his older sister, filing it away for future negotiations :)</p>
<p>We still have a month of classes yet after AP tests! The teachers continue teaching and the kids will have class finals coming up. If you miss seven days in grading period you fail…no matter what your grade is. Our kids are still slugging it out to see who will finish at the top of the academic heap! Hard to keep them focused at this point!</p>
<p>Son seems to be spending all of his time on Facebook and YouTube, much to the annoyance of his younger sisters who still have a whole lot of school work to do.</p>
<p>S didn’t bother to apply for a band scholarship. Grrr. I’m not sure he knows outside scholarships exist. </p>
<p>SLUMom - wow, just wow. I still remember some of my babysitters - do you suppose Viggo would remember you?</p>
<p>Puppy drama yesterday. Son got home and couldn’t find Ranger. Looked all through neighborhood and greenbelt behind our house. H came home early to help. S called me and I asked if he had checked under the deck. Yes, he’d even sprayed the deck with water. I told him to get a flashlight and really LOOK. And there was Ranger, happily playing in the mud.</p>
<p>I forced Son to apply for two - one that he’s likley to get and one that’s a long shot, but it’s a nice amount of money so it was worth the pain. There was another that he got the application for - it required more detail and more essays than any of his college apps, and was for a small amount. I didn’t have the heart to force him to do that one. Plus, I think you can kind of tell by the application (and from the prior winners )what some of the local scholarship committees are looking for…some are obviously looking for the kid with the most other awards and highest class rank…no need to spend time on those!</p>
<p>Re: slacker parents. Senior skip day will be Monday at D’s school. I say go for it but I don’t think that’s the accepted norm among my friends and their children. I’m sure D and I will be on the receiving end of a few tsk-tsk stares and comments</p>
<p>Our school has essentially formalized senior “ditch” day. Students sign up for it; and are told they either have to be there or in school. I assume this is to get state aid, since the organized “ditch” can be billed as a school sponsored activity.</p>
<p>Daughter doesn’t want to participate in the activity. She and her friends just want to skip altogether. But she thinks she should go to her first period math class to get the THREE attendance points (she is the top student in this calculus class, and the teacher loves her). I tell her: you can afford to miss THREE points! But she says every point counts … There is NO way she’s not getting an A in this class at the moment …</p>
<p>When does this senioritis/slacker syndrome set in? Maybe never with her…</p>
<p>The only break S2 gets is that he doesn’t have to take finals in classes where he also had AP exams. However, even though almost all the juniors too AP Lit, they do not get out of a final because it’s an IB class. Grr. The school system here is VERY strict about attendance and we have a month to go…</p>
<p>Seniors get out at the end of May, though, and everyone else gets out in mid-June.</p>
<p>Ok…I need some opinions here. D2 has been rehired for her summer job. She hardly makes any money but it is a job. Because of scholarships, expected and unexpected, she will have no costs for college. She doesn’t want to work this summer. I want her to work. She will have 6 weeks after graduation until she reports to college. She has received her summer workout schedule for her sport and it is grueling. H wants to allow her to NOT work her job since she has spending money saved and we will not be paying for school if she puts in the time on training (which she loves). I think a job teaches many life lessons. I’m losing this battle. What do you think???</p>
<p>We’re having nearly the same battle – except D does not have a job. She has applied; but nothing. The summer is short – about 6 weeks after graduation until we gear up for orientation and a week’s family vacation. </p>
<p>Personally, I think a job would be good for her; I don’t want her kicking around the house watching YouTube for six weeks or whatever she’s going to do instead. But, I suspect this will be the only/last summer when she doesn’t work – so, as long as she’s clear about that …</p>
<p>NM: IMHO, if she has worked previous summers…lessons learned. This is really the last time she will have the opportunity to have this much free time. Also, if she has a grueling workout schedule, she can use the down time to recover, take naps, etc. This is a real bonus for high achieving athletes. She could arrive on campus, well trained, and injury free, thus keeping her athletic $$$.</p>
<p>You might also allow the “no job” scenario, but make a deal with her that she will cook dinner 2-3 times per week instead.</p>
<p>NM, My 2 cents worth, I would say that since $$ is not needed for college plus she will have a grueliing training schedule and it’s only 6 weeks, let her off the hook for the job this summer. It sounds like she will be busy with training and not just lazing around the house doing nothing. I do like the idea of ‘alternative’ work around the house instead (cook dinner, etc.) so that it’s not completely a no work required summer!</p>
<p>My D on the other hand had better get in gear and get a job (needs $$ for college) plus she graduates a week from Saturday and won’t start college until mid September! Orientation is not until Aug and only 3 days long! She did work last summer but don’t think she’ll be able to get that job back unfortunately.</p>
<p>I suppose I need to find out when the last day of school is here and get it on my calendar. I know graduation is on June 6th and S says he is exempt from all of his exams. I don’t think he has any classes that week prior to graduation, since those days are for exams, but am not sure. It doesn’t require any action on my part either way, so hasn’t risen up to need to know status. He appears to be doing absolutely nothing in school–no papers, tests, reports, at least that he has mentioned other than that one AP Environmental Science exam that he cheerfully reports to have flunked completely. His advanced PE class played 18 holes of golf the other day, causing him to miss his other classes for what that is worth. He seems to be watching movies for the most part. That’s what you get with virtually no honors or APs.</p>
<p>He only gets an average of two days a week at his job making subs (which he loves) so will have a very easy summer. Almost all of his time seems to be spent playing basketball or watching basketball. His girlfriend is coming over tonight to watch basketball with him and when we asked him what he does at her house, he says he watches basketball. This girl is definitely going the extra mile, in my opinion.</p>
<p>I didn’t know senior ‘skip day’ was so widespread! </p>
<p>I told son ‘no way.’ He’s slept in so many times this spring that he’s on the razor’s edge with attendance (we seem to spend a lot of time on that edge, lately). Plus, there have been a few other behavioral (senioritis type) issues. We are letting him do 2 days at the shore after prom – much more than enough, imo. One year ago I never thought I’d let a kid go to the shore after prom!</p>
<p>Is anyone’s D or S doing the coed sleepover thing after prom - or otherwise? D has invited all of the single girls back to our house after after-prom. I’m sure a few boys will be here as well. H and I don’t want them sleeping over though.</p>