<p>PSAT prep class?! My S would blow a gasket if anyone suggested such a thing.</p>
<p>The voice over work sounds VERY cool!</p>
<p>Back to School night last night – 2 new teachers this year (new to S & to the school) – I think 1 will be very tough (grade wise & to understand). It was after 9 pm by the time I got to him & he sounded like he was a Red Bull-a-holic – spoke quick, quick-witted, Yikes!</p>
<p>1 “old” teacher S has had for a few years in a row now. Her first comment was “No one gets an A the 1st quarter. Some of the kids have taken this as a challenge.” Went home to find my kid took it as an excuse to not try for the A.</p>
<p>All and all – I think his schedule is going to be tough. It will be good for him academically, but expect that unweighted freshamn 3.78 GPA to look more like a solid B student by year end.</p>
<p>Longhaul - my D would take that to also mean no need to aim for the A. We still have 2 weeks until back to school nights but I’m excited because I can actually go to D’13s this year! Last year D’10 was at a different HS and they were the same night so DH went to D13 and I went to D10. She’s more excited about her classes this year though which is good although she’s not loving art so may try and switch that, we’ll see. I actually see her doing homework though regularly so that is already a step better than last year when we saw it, just not so frequently! :)</p>
<p>I can’t believe some of you are only beginning school! It seems like we have been in the full swing of things for a while now. Endless driving, all so it seems ;)</p>
<p>I am going to write a few (or more) nice words about my DS’13 today, as today was the day he has really amazed me. Or maybe it has been over the last few weeks
Anyway, I do not know if you remember that his school is a good 35 miles from home, in another city, and practically all of his after school activities happen there.
Last year I still did not see/believe that he has it all under control. He did achieve 4.0 and took 2 AP test at the end of his freshman year, but I did not see him study a lot, he was always busy doing everything else. This year is totally different . He has a very heavy course load (4 AP classes at the school plus a college class with lab) , lot’s of heavy reading (AP Bio and APUSH), many after school activities, and he seems to be in a total control! After many years of just carrying a planner he has finally started using one. I can’t believe this, because deep inside I have always thought that this kid just totally lacks any organisational skills. He is proving me wrong.
We still have occasional “jumps” at each other due to short temper on both sides, but overall I believe that I can trust him. He talks openly about a lot of things. I do not know if he tells me everything, and I do not believe he should, but we are able to talk about drugs, girls, the pain of trying to fit in etc.
Today was one of those amazing moments that has just opened my eyes as to how mature and responsible he is becoming. The day has started at 5:30 A.M., as we have a carpool to crew. Today was my turn, so we stopped for coffee, picked up two friends and went to the canal. After almost 3 hours of practice we got back home (40 miles one way:) ), DS has showered and went to help during our church carnival. He was face painting and he did a most fabulous job even though he has never done it before. But like I have said many times before, sometimes he truly amazes me. Then it was time to get ready for ARML meeting, another 40 miles one way. He went in a carpool, I stayed home .
After the ARML practice he is going to hang out with some friends for the zombie games tonight (are your kids playing it?), then he will spend the night on the couch at his friends house (we DO know the parents) so he does not have to drive those 40 miles again tomorrow morning for the 3 hour conditioning session with crew. But what was amazing was the fact that he took some notebooks and a book saying that he has to study to be ready for Monday! My heart skipped and my jaw dropped when I heard that. Was it really my son talking to me? Yes it was!
Ok, done with the rant
Of course I still worry about tonight, as I know they will be in cars full of teenagers for those zombie games, but I am so happy to see my kid thinking like an adult!</p>
<p>Forgot to add something about PSAT. We have a book, so I am going to ask him to go through it on the way to/from school if he has time. No formal studying, no formal prep, but getting familiar with the format, the questions.</p>
<p>Congrats Kelowna! It’s always nice to see our kids step up the plate. I’m sure he’s going to have a great year. I have a hard enough time with 7:30 AM practices in the summer for track - not sure I could handle the 5:30AM get up call for crew on a weekend! Good luck to Kelownason!!!</p>
<p>Kelowna – Amazing! Both the schedule your family keeps and seeing the organization/maturity. You should be proud!</p>
<p>I don’t see it here – so jealous and just hoping my son will “get it” someday. He is younger than his classmates (14, Dec birthday), so I’m holding out hope it is an age thing.</p>
<p>Good morning CC folks! My D has 2 weeks down and Back to School Night is this evening. I’m looking forward to seeing my D’s teachers and hearing about her classes. I already know she has spent the last two weekends working diligently on AP World assignments and she loves her English teacher! English has never been her favorite class (math/science kid), but I am seeing her get excited about her writing. Oh what a difference a fun and engaging teacher can make! On the sports front, D scored her first varsity goal in the first field hockey game! She was not even sure she would get any playing time as she is a sophomore and they were playing a very competitive rival, but she did and made the most of it:) We were all very excited and she got a line in the local newspaper as well. Right now, she is living her high school dream!</p>
<p>Kelowna, I agree with Longhaul. The schedule you and your S keep is amazing. Best wishes to you both!</p>
<p>Good morning CC class of '13 ** I have just read the last week of this thread and thought I’d join. </p>
<p>I have a DD class of '10 settled into college and a DS that is class of '13. It is comforting to read that I am not the only one trying to stave off the college circus for this one a little longer. </p>
<p>DS will take a somewhat different path to college than DD did, this will be an adjustment for me. DS is a committed golfer, school is second on his list of prioritities, while we are trying to shift this, little result so far. </p>
<p>DS takes mostly Pre-AP classes and can easily earn A’s with little effort (great memory)…but, alas, studying is not top of mind for him and he is usually rewarded with a combination of A’s and B’s. Happy to report that 3 weeks into school his grades are holding at A’s for now. He did win his first UIL tournament however. </p>
<p>The PSAT study package came home yesterday but I think I am going to let him take the test cold to get a baseline perspective. </p>
<p>Glad to hear from some that glimmers of maturity are starting to show.</p>
<p>Good to see another TX mom. My S sounds similar to yours, except instead of golf, it’s acting. He’s at a performing arts magnet which eats up most of his time, plus voice, dance and piano classes outside of school. But, my theory is that with specialized kids it is OK to focus on what is actually going to get them into the college of their choice. For my kids (the older one is a theatre kid too) - their college auditions count for a lot more than grades at many of their top schools. I don’t want S to totally ignore grades but he’s doing fine “coasting” in most of his classes and working his behind off on his craft. I know that my attitude kind of goes against the grain of many parents, but I try to only fight the battles I can win.</p>
<p>kelowna - I was relieved when D13 opted not to continue with crew after 8th grade. D10 rowed for 4 years and I myself am a former rower. I was SO EXCITED to drive to my last regatta at our “local” but not close course (we have another one closer but it can’t accomadate large regattas) - the funny part was that regatta got cancelled 1/2 way through the day due to wind so I still had to drive back again on a following weekend, LOL! But I love the sport and was so worn out so I can understand what it is like on top of everything else!</p>
<p>He is feeling pressured by a project but also paralyzed. He wants to conceive the absolutely perfect project and execute it just so. This really isn’t like him in most things, but this is one of those English projects where you have to do an accompanying piece of artwork, and he keeps bemoaning the fact that he’s not artistic so he throws up his hands. But part of the grading rubric is teacher-perceived effort, so he can’t just do something dumb. Spiral, spiral, spiral. Last night, I helped him come up with a more “conceptual” idea, instead of attempting a painting of the Trojan War. :rolleyes: He actually liked the idea and started it last night, but he’s feeling pressure to get it done now. It’s due tomorrow. And just now I casually asked what he had decided to write his other paper about (he told me about it last week), and he had forgotten all about it, and it’s due tomorrow, too. Thanskfully, it’s more of a one-page creative writing project, and he should be able to spit that out easily.</p>
<p>Here’s my question: Do you have your kids adhere to a strict bedtime? I always have. I just don’t agree with the concept of letting kids stay up until all hours “doing homework” when most of that extra time is really spent texting, IM’ing, on FB. Anyway, he would like to stay up later and thinks that would be the end of his HS woes. I’m doubtful. His current bedtime gives him 8.5 hours sleep. WDYT?</p>
<p>We’ve gotten lax with the bedtimes, especially since D1 was a senior last year; she had stamina & no matter how early we started the “going to bed” process, it was still 11pm. D2 does not have the same stamina and she likes her sleep. We’ve been shooting for a 10pm bedtime, but realized that this year homework is heavy. We’ve been checking on her periodically during the evening to make sure she’s moving things along & I did put my foot down the night she was video studying at 11:30pm. And really, it’s about me; I won’t go to sleep until she’s in bed and I need my rest :)</p>
<p>BTW, when D1 was home this weekend & I was filling her in on D2s homework load, she looked at me and said “I know everyone says that junior year is the hardest, but looking back my sophomore year was the worst.” Hmmmm.</p>
<p>P.S. Your son & my D have the same feeling about artistic projects; they may be separated at birth.</p>
<p>My DD13 is a night owl. It’s her natural body clock and there is really nothing we can do to change it about her (believe me we have tried!). She has to get up and be prepared for school. The bus leaves at 7:05am. She does well in school and participates in many after school activities. Most nights she is up in her room doing homework (and texting and FBing and whatever). She is however, pretty good at monitoring herself. She usually is in bed ready to sleep around 11. Some nights it is later. Much later. I go to bed when I go to bed and she goes to sleep when she goes to sleep. I no longer monitor her sleeping time. That’s up to her. </p>
<p>DS12 for the most part is asleep by 10:30pm. He needs his sleep and he knows it. However, I don’t monitor his sleeping habits either. </p>
<p>The way I look at it is that I have 2 and 3 years to get my kids ready to go to bed, get up, have clean clothes and do well in school without anyone’s help. I’m half way there and so are they. I think it is a good thing.</p>
<p>The reason I’m so strict about the bedtime is that there is a macho mentality at his school where kids brag about how little sleep they get. “I was up until 3 a.m. last night. Woe is me” blah blah blah. I simply don’t think it’s healthy.</p>
<p>However, geogirl, something you wrote struck me. Ds2 always has been very good about monitoring his sleep. Even as a toddler we’d ask “Where’s ds3?” and we’d find him asleep in his bed. He’d just had enough and at night even he’d announce “I’m going to bed now.” I’ll think about this some more. Thanks.</p>
<p>ETA: RobD, at our school junior year is considered the killer, but his English teacher on BTS night said he thinks sophomore is more difficult. Hmmm.</p>
<p>FYI, I just went into the office where he’s working on his creative writing paper. He was playing FIFA soccer. :rolleyes: Hard to have a lot of compassion.</p>
<p>YDS: Junior year has the reputation for being the killer; sophomores are only allowed 1AP (Euro) except in certain, special cases so junior year comes along with 4+ APs/IBs (and IB kicks in for real) and it kicks a lot of kids posteriors. But D1 says looking back that sophomore year is a bigger adjustment. I guess once you get that first one out of the way, you have an idea of what to expect and can back off if it seems overwhelming.</p>
<p>S’13 is a very strange kid. He does homework right when he gets home (whenever that is, depending on ECs) but he likes to do his reading late at night, in bed, after everyone else is asleep. So, around 11:00 he heads to his room (DH and I are in bed at 10:30) and he reads until he falls asleep - assigned reading first, fun reading after. I have no idea what time he actually falls asleep, but he wakes up fine at 8am. </p>
<p>Question: Does anyone else hate booster club meetings? And I’m an officer. But tonight was a general meeting and our president just goes on and on and on. Parents started leaving after 1 1/2 hrs!! I support the kids, but sometimes the parents just get in the way. This is my 5th yr on the booster club board and I’ve about had it.</p>
<p>I wish my kids could sleep until 8 AM! The bus comes at 6:40, and while my S can get up at 6:25 and make it, D’13 is up at 5:30. There’s no way to get 8 hours of sleep regularly, especially when the bus from games isn’t back until after 10:00 some nights.</p>
<p>I had 3 booster club meetings in a week. (2 sports and one chorus). The beginning of the year is always crazy, but it settles down.</p>
<p>Oh and congrats to your D, blueshoe. Mine has scored one varsity goal this season also, very exciting for them.</p>
