Parents of the HS Class of 2011 - Original

Parents Forum Class of 20xx Community
13001

<p>"emilybee, very jealous that your district graduates the seniors 6 weeks early. Especially since the end of our school year is in late June.</p>

<p>Boychild is at a private school. Public school district keep everyone until late June.</p>

<p>No homework except for in his college physics class (labs reports) and he says he does them in study hall. </p>

<p>Novelisto, in NYS public schools cannot open until after Labor Day - it’s in the teacher’s contracts, so school has to go until late June here. </p>

<p>Boychild is going to have an extremely long summer. Freshman orientation doesn’t start until sometime in Sept.</p>

13002

<p>Classof2015, hundreds of dollars for graduation ceremonies? :eek: D1 will get a new dress and shoes, and we’ll go out for a fancy dinner the weekend after. OK, I suppose the fancy dinner might be some $$$. She’s not interested in having a party, though I’ve suggested it. Maybe we can talk her into having people over for swimming and movies and pizza. The local pizza places are engaged in a long-running battle for the biggest pizza, with 36" being the current king of the mountain. You just get two of those puppies and you’re set. </p>

<p>We are in SoCal, so I thought there would be Grad Nite at Disneyland, but I’ve seen no mention of it for D1’s school. I remember thinking back when I went on my own grad night that it would be fun to chaperone for my own (hypothetical at the time) kids. No lines!</p>

13003

<p>

D just found out that her boyfriend has a track meet on the day of the prom - a couple of hours away. She thinks they might not be going to prom after all. :frowning: She doesn’t want to go without him, and would rather go to his track meet instead. It’s kind of sad, but she did go to prom last year with ex-BF, and she went to winter formal with this BF just a couple of months ago. Those formal dances are all so similar.</p>

<p>Not too much senioritis here, although I don’t think she’s putting forth enough effort into her homework. She’s ready for school to be over but is still concerned about grades. She also has a big senior project due next month. Her school only offers a few AP classes, and she is currently taking two of them. After the AP exams, I don’t think those classes have any more work to do. But her other classes will go until the beginning of June.</p>

13004

<p>I just received a text message from D that she has a serious disease - senioritis! It made me laugh. She is ready for the ‘fun’ everyone talks about that is supposed to happen when you are a senior. She thinks it will start to be fun after May 9 - she will be off the SS Indecision and AP tests will be over.</p>

<p>D’s graduation isn’t until June 18, not sure what happens in the AP classes after the tests. </p>

<p>I believe she is going to prom, has the dress, shoes etc - and if she doesn’t have a date she will still go. Usually the following Monday is Senior Skip Day but if you are an athlete (she is) you can’t skip, which really takes some of the fun out of it.</p>

<p>Boy, when I was in school any chance we had to skip school, we did!</p>

13005

<p>Hi everybody,</p>

<p>I haven’t posted since last Wednesday when my S heard back from schools. It’s been busy since in a number of ways. I’ll write more in a future post, particularly after I take the time to read the last several pages. For now, let me just say that post March 30, both he and I completely crashed. It was as if we had held on to nervous energy for so long and finally we physically fell apart. </p>

<p>Also, the other side of decision day didn’t play out as I thought/imagined it would. I expected if we heard the news he wanted that it would be complete exhilaration and easy – decision made – but it wasn’t for various reasons. I’ve learned since that this stuff is so psychologically complicated. When you’ve been deferred from a school that was your obvious first choice but accepted early to others, particularly another where your GF and best friend are headed, and you’ve had enough time to fall in love with it and other schools you’ve been accepted to, it’s hard to give up the attributes that you really love. In other words, it’s hard to let go of other wonderful schools, even if you still consider another your best fit.</p>

<p>In fact, we so didn’t think that he was going to be accepted to Brown after his ED deferral that we had already booked his admitted students trip to WashU for last Thurs/Fri because he’d used vacation days (his preference) and to Chicago for next Thurs/Fri. He immediately recognized that we needed to cancel WashU right having hearing his news but took some time to decide whether to cancel Chicago. Although giving up WashU’s gorgeous, pristine campus and amazing student services and advising was really tough. </p>

<p>On top of this, he and we had sadness for his GF’s denials and for me, there are posters on this thread for whom I’ve felt my cage rattled. There’s also a CC kid, probably my favorite kid poster, who didn’t fare as well as he hoped, and I felt so badly for him, almost as if he were my own kid. He’s been accepted to amazing schools but not the ones he wanted most. So, while I haven’t spent the last week on the computer much-- I’ve been talking to my son a lot (he was on spring break) teasing out his thoughts re: colleges and whether he wanted to attend school w/ the GF, etc. – the time I have spent on CC I’ve exchanged PMs and emails w/ some posters of this thread, and I’ve tried to help out the CC kid by introducing him to people I know at the colleges that have accepted him in the hopes that he’ll gather the info he needs to make an informed decision. Honestly, I’m fairly wiped out by all this. Going to work this week has actually been my refuge b/c it takes my mind off this stuff. </p>

<p>So, in the next few days I hope to catch up on this thread and begin adding my voice again to our exchange. In the meantime, I wish all of you and your kids a happy, satisfying closure to this leg of a our long, winding journey.</p>

13006

<p>RenaissancaMom: I hear you. D is off to Chicago tomorrow and to Yale next week, but probably won’t visit Bowdoin or Brown at all despite those being her two top schools going into decisions. Williams’ early write moved it from a Hail Mary to a top choice, so I think she is down to 3. Maybe 4. Depending on how these visits go, there may be a trip to Stanford at the end of the month.</p>

<p>SlitheyTove: D wanted to take public transportation to/from the prom last year, but the school wouldn’t let her. I thought it was a great idea.</p>

13007

<p>Congrats on OneGirlsMom’s daughter for Carleton, mamom’s son for Marquette, Pepper’s son and momofboston’s daughter for Northeastern, seattle_mom’s daughter for Willamette (know I know how to pronounce it!), and amandak’s son on playing Carnegie Hall! (And sorry for any I left out!) Good luck to the rest of those still along with my own daughter on the SS Indecision.</p>

<p>@keylimepie, my daughter went alone to an admitted student’s day (no choice) and said that everyone else had parents along!</p>

<p>@rom, thanks for that post from “our future” about blooming where planted.</p>

<p>@mamom, my daughter would act with extreme prejudice against any younger siblings who put Twilight posters in her room – she has a t-shirt that says “Team Van Helsing” above a dagger dripping sparkly blood!</p>

<p>@kinderny, wow, our daughters are in very similar positions. She knocked all but two choices off due to programs or finances. Down to our local, CU-Boulder or Hampshire, if they can offer a bit more aid. She also loved the “groovy” poster-map.</p>

<p>Her boyfriend got turned down everywhere he applied and is applying late to CU. She’s trying not to let that color her decision. We’ve already put down a desposit at CU, so she can get into their Residential Academic Program. Between RAP and Honors, she could take almost all her first and second year classes in small classes rather than 500 student lecture halls (which she finds quite frightening!)</p>

<p>On invites: we’re doing all electronic.</p>

<p>On prom: daughter has assembled her “dress.” I can’t wait to see all the pictures on Shutterfly. And to those whose kids aren’t going: I went, but my date and I both agreed that it was silly and we left after fifteen minutes. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea.</p>

13008

<p>School runs into the beginning of June here. D so far is very much on board with the classes, the homework, quizzes etc. No signs of senioritis - but there may be some when the weather improves! Spring sport season officially kicks off today - so she was all excited about that. Hasn’t put any thought into the music exam she’s supposed to take in June - her teacher on the other hand is freaking out :frowning: We sat D down last night and told her that this month, she has two priorities (in addition to getting off the SS Indecision) - (1) to study for AP exams and (2) to study for the music exam. So, am I the only bad mean mommy? :)</p>

<p>Quick question for those knowledgeable about the FAFSA. I know we won’t qualify for need based aid - but one of the schools my H talked to asked us to file the FAFSA anyway. I tried the quick FAFSA4caster on the website - plugged in the numbers - our EFC is through the roof (no surprise there!). But it also included into the calculations, 1500$ for workstudy and 5000$ for stafford loans. Are those available to folks like us, who don’t really qualify for need based aid (where EFC is greater than COA)? While we are planning to pay for D’s education, asking her to take a stafford loan might not be a bad idea if one is available - gives her some skin in the game so to speak.</p>

13009

<p>Forgot to add a note about the prom: D has her dress. Need to still shop for shoes/accessories etc. A few friends are getting together and booking a limo to take them to the prom and back. Most of the girls don’t have dates - and might not find dates before prom :slight_smile: As far as they are concerned, they are fine with it - they think they will have more fun this way! Last year, at junior prom, most of these girls had dates - and if you believed all they said, they spent a large amount of time commiserating with each other :slight_smile: D was the lucky one who had a date she got along really well with!</p>

13010

<p>Senioritis.</p>

<p>My D has a strange variant. She is really done with her school, has not liked it for some time, and is so relieved that it is almost over. Yet she puts as much stress on herself to do a great job on papers and tests, as she always has. With the breaks, she has only 18 days left, but who’s counting? Oh, yeah: she is. Then it’s senior project, which should be a good experience, and graduation. I doubt she’ll attend prom.</p>

<p>Sometimes I feel like I stepped onto a roller coaster when I conceived her and all I can do is go along for the ride. I know; that Parenthood movie seems more like genius every day.</p>

13011

<p>Slithey – believe me – I’m in the wrong town, financially, now more than ever. The whole graduation thing is a cherished tradition. There’s no dissent allowed. </p>

<p>In 7th grade, the kids go to Colonial Wmsburg. When one parent objected purely on the basis of reasonableness (there are other colonial sites they could visit that are closer and thus cheaper), the response was, “but it’s a tradition.” As if that closed the subject.</p>

<p>I’m going to start saving now for S’s graduation…</p>

13012

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<p>Now I’m hearing Tevye’s voice in my head. :slight_smile: Though he certainly wasn’t talking about visiting Colonial Wiliamsburg. :wink: How funny would that be, a fiddler on a roof in Colonial Wiliamsburg? </p>

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13013

<p>I think WS is need-based but I am not sure.</p>

<p>The $5,500 loan (oops I mean AID) we are not going to accept-interest accrues on it as soon as you receive the funds, I don’t think we would get a deduction on it, and the rate is lousy-other than that it’s a sweet deal. He’ll pay his share-just not that way.</p>

<p>Prom-anyone who has seen my boy on Shutterfly could answer that question!</p>

<p>Sorry to hear senioritis had afflicted our bunch in such numbers but at least I know he’s not alone.</p>

<p>The incentive to avoid exams by having an A in every quarter is a good motivation here as well-too bad he got his first B ever (we chatted about this a few weeks ago and he couldn’t raise in back to an A) in Chem 2 so he will have to take the final-he ended up with 89.??? it was not rounded up-missed by 100th’s of a point. </p>

<p>Graduation here is mid June.</p>

13014

<p>mamom:

</p>

<p>I keep asking the same thing. 2 AP classes and 3 IB classes here. Plus TAG Language Arts where the entire fourth quarter is the writing and production of a 15-minute movie. That’s the only thing I see him working on!</p>

<p>Still, I keep checking his grades online and all is fine. Hmmm.</p>

<p>Only 13 more days of school before AP/IB testing since we have four days off for our spring break around Easter. Last day of school is May 19–and on the last two days, all the seniors really do is practice the graduation ceremony and sign yearbooks!</p>

<p>This coming Monday, our son and his roommate will log into the University of Missouri dorm selection portal (ROAR–Residents’ Online Access to Roams) and hope to get their suite-style room in the Math & Science Living Group. We’ll see how that goes. I heard it crashed last year!</p>

<p>On Good Friday, we’re going to Mizzou to meet with the Vice Chancellor of Research who is an alumnus of our local high school. Trying to think of an appropriate school-related gift to take him as thanks for taking an interest in the local students. The rest of the day, we’ll just let our son and two of his friends wander around campus and “pretend” they are already in college. Admitted students get Gold Cards to stop in the bookstore for a free t-shirt and at the offices of the different schools/colleges for other “goodies.” Plus a free lunch in any dining hall.</p>

<p>Does anyone else have a Senior Service Day? It’s a tradition here. First Friday in May, seniors can volunteer to do community projects all morning, then have lunch and then be dismissed for the day. Usually about 300 of the 400 students volunteer and parents tag along as chaperones. I had a great time with our older son and his friends and a looking forward to it again.</p>

<p>I am trying to enjoy each and every day!</p>

13015

<p>My D also has senioritis. She was having some trouble with one of her APs all year but squeaked by with a B+ this term so I can’t complain. She plays a spring sport and seems to be just having fun with it. She wants to be on a winning team but is definitely not taking it too seriously as compared to other years. Graduation is the first week in June and graduation night is an all night lock-in party at our HS. </p>

<p>D has decided to go to prom, thinks she has date and is wearing a short and very funky dress. Surprisingly sophisticated, she looks like an adult in it, not a HS girl anymore. Unlike her long dress last year, she claims that she can wear this year’s dress again if she has to dress up to go out in Boston…I appreciate the fact that she is trying to be fiscally responsible. She said that in junior year everyone wanted to go with a boyfriend or someone they were involved with. This year, people are more concerned about who they are going to hang with after prom than prom itself, so many kids going with friends as their dates… love that there is no pressure and that they seem to be just rolling with it.</p>

<p>Good luck to all on the SS Indecision!</p>

13016

<p>Yes, Pepper, the phrase “arm candy” does come to mind!</p>

<p>RenMom - thanks for stopping in. You are so kind to care so actively for those kids who need support. Good luck to your S - he has a complicated choice. </p>

<p>Good luck to everyone here - I can see on the horizon a day when just about everyone (except maybe not some of our waitlist candidates - which my D still says she wants to be but hasn’t done the paperwork yet) can finally make our summer plans, put our car decals on … and start worrying about the fall!</p>

<p>My D has a kind of funny situation about Prom. She went with Jr friends when she was a sophomore and was bored to death. Last year she went to a concert with a GF, despite the fact that she was dating someone (he had tickets to a film festival long in advance). So prom was the last thing on her mind as she started Senior year.</p>

<p>This year the great Junior guy she’s dating happens to really want to go - not only that, he’s likely going to be on Prom Court, and she has realized has a really good chance of being voted King! She says that will be SO embarrassing! But she’s starting to get a little excited about dressing up, especially since we found the great dress on her audition trip to NY (double duty for Concerto Concert and Prom).</p>

<p>Thank goodness she already has shoes, doesn’t want a fancy hairdo, doesn’t need special undergarments or jewelry. Those can all run way more than the dress!</p>

<p>She’ll be done with exams and all 6/1, with graduation on 6/5. They do projects after AP exams, so May will be fairly low stress academically except for the one non-AP she’s taking (not being a 4.0 she’ll be happy taking a pretty easy B there). She has a ton of things going on, though, including a youth musical she is asst directing/choreographing, several end-of-year concerts, and rehearsing for a play that runs the weekend after graduation. Senior trip to a waterpark resort is Thurs 6/2 - paid for by class funds mostly. She’s looking forward to it.</p>

<p>Japanese D has been saying all year that she DOES NOT want to go home! Yesterday she got her class assignments for next year (she’ll be a senior there), and is so disappointed. We’re afraid we’ll have to take her kicking and screaming to the airport - sometime in late June, the date unspecified as yet. She’s happy, though, that she is a senior at our HS and can go on the waterpark day! Her big campaign now with her GC is to get all of her exams switched to the Senior exam period and be done on the 1st instead of the 8th (she takes a mixture of classes - freshman lit, junior US history, etc.). I’m hoping to do a little traveling around the area with her when school gets out, maybe with college D who will be lazing about, presumably, before starting one of the summer internships she’s hoping to get.</p>

13017

<p>I think that most of my daughter’s teachers has thrown in the towel, even in the AP classes. She has not had much homework recently. We still have Spring Break the week before Easter. Seniors in our county finish classes and graduate a month before the rest of the students. My daughter has been looking forward to this for year. She finishes classes on May 27th, and graduation is May 31. The following Saturday most of the seniors head to the beach for Senior Week.</p>

<p>My daughter will go to the prom with her BF. She is in a coed social group, so people will pair up with friends if they need dates. I do think that it’s a great option for kids to just go in a group if they don’t have a date. Our PTA runs a big After Prom Party at a local movie theater which is a lot of work for the parents, but helps keep the kids safe. Last year I discovered that I can still pull an all-nighter with enough caffeine.</p>

13018

<p>D has finished her math placement exams. Last night she registered for orientation and chose her freshman seminar class. It’s getting way too real.</p>

13019

<p>It is definitely looking real. I am looking at booking a flight for D1 to come home for Thanksgiving. :eek:</p>

<p>Our original plan was to save money and let her go to family friends, or to find another safe haven for the holiday. But I have miles about to expire, and there are actually flights available. And there are aging grandparents on our side of the country. And I am really, really good at rationalizing. :)</p>

13020

<p>Good day y’all,</p>

<p>I have been reading along but no time to post.</p>

<p>Only a week ago…time flies and all will be well :)</p>

<p>Ren~If you are talking of S~then yes what a shocker :(</p>