Parents of the HS Class of 2013

Parents of Class of 20xx
1561

<p>Guess I’ll post an update as well. S’13 is always busy - so I can’t really say one week is worse than another. Last week, he was rehearsing 4 shows at once. But two of them (show choir and sophomore show) were finished by Saturday. Now he just has UIL (our statewide EC governor) One Act play competition and Varsity Choir competion. Tonight he has to go to the School Board meeting to receive recognition for making All State choir. I wanted him to blow it off, but his choir teacher is insisting. His HS had the highest number of All State choir members in the state (I believe) so it is very good publicity for the school, etc. Good publicity = more funds. </p>

<p>D’10 is home for Spring Break. So far, she’s just slept and watched TV. She has an interview for a summer internship on thursday - so we’re going shopping for a new interview outfit tomorrow. Fun!</p>

<p>S’13 is considering summer school for US History - just to get it out of the way. We’re going to talk with GC about it after Spring Break. 7:30am - 1pm for 4 weeks. Yuck!</p>

1562

<p>That’s it?! 4 weeks for 5 hours a day…force feed AM History…poor kid. It’s enough to kill any love of history! One wonders if they would do better just watching a series of mini-series from PBS. I just saw an old one called something like “Searching for Lincoln”…I learned more in that about Abe than in any of my history classes and it challenged many of my assumptions/beliefs about him. Has anyone seen the “John Adams” series based on the recent biography? Is it worth getting from netflix?</p>

<p>If you were going to get/force your tenth grader to watch just one history miniseries…which would you choose and why? </p>

<p>I rented Roots a few years ago and had forgotten some of the pretty challenging scenes (for a 13 year old) but it gave her a good start for understanding how to view history from the point of view of the people who are so often forgotten or portrayed as passive watchers of history in their text books… …slaves, workers, women. </p>

<p>So that was a good one…any other ones? any ones that seemed to get your kids excited about history? </p>

<p>D and I are still slogging our way slowly through the Lost series but I wouldn’t mind breaking it up with something more educational.</p>

1563

<p>Did you watch America : The Story of US on the History Channel? It didn’t get very in depth, but it was very entertaining. Who knew that African Americans were vital to the whaling industry in the 1800s?</p>

1564

<p>We watched Roots this Christmas. :)</p>

<p>Bragging on ds2, who is on a roll. He’s applying to be an intern in our congressman’s office. He is a little late getting started so the aide said today to send it ASAP, so he’s knocking it out tonight. Plus, he’s applying for a program in D.C. this summer. He is going to be SO good to go come college app time!</p>

1565

<p>UGGHH - Every time my husband and I make some strides financially, we hit a speed bump. Our dear state has a proposed budget which cuts over 53% of state funding to Pitt, Penn State and Temple. Just when I thought we might find a way to afford Pitt it is out of reach again. I think we can kiss those nice Pitt merit packages good-bye.</p>

<p>Our directional universities ( PASSHE) are pretty high compared most states. Keeping our fingers crossed that in 2 years we can at least afford a directional university.</p>

<p>Of course we all know education was going to be hit in this budget, but I didn’t expect the proposed cuts to be so deep. Can’t wait to see what the final budget looks like. I really need to move to VA before my younger kids hit high school.</p>

1566

<p>My FIL passed away yesterday. He had just begun the radiation treatment on Monday. We think he had a stroke. Funny- his recent cancer diagnosis was an incurable form of cancer, but yet his death still seems so sudden since it was not a direct result of the cancer. My kids seem to be taking the news better than I am.</p>

1567

<p>Longhaul–my condolences to you. Even though people may realize that this meant he avoided a lot of suffering from incurable cancer, it is a loss for your family, and you have my sympathies.</p>

1568

<p>(((hugs))) to you, Longhaul. I’m so sorry.</p>

1569

<p>I am so sorry for your loss, Longhaul. May he rest peacefully.</p>

1570

<p>Longhaul: I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family.</p>

1571

<p>I’m sorry for your loss Longhaul.</p>

1572

<p>Sorry for your loss Longhaul.</p>

1573

<p>Longhaul, I am sorry for you and your family’s loss.</p>

1574

<p>Oh Longhaul! I’m so sorry for your family’s loss.</p>

1575

<p>I as so sorry for your loss Longhaul. Sending you and your family warm thoughts and strength to see you through this time of sadness.</p>

1576

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<p>Actually, cancer is one of the causes of emboli, which can travel to your lungs or brain and cause PE or stroke.</p>

<p>On a different note - add U. of Chicago, Brown, U. of Delaware to the list of early offenders.
Next week is going to be full of math competitions. Three of them to be exact. Plus regular homework and workload. I am actually glad I am not in my kid shoes, sometimes I don’t know how he can handle it. He is brilliant and does not need my help in doing well, but I still worry…it seems overwhelming…so I just resort to cooking nutritious meals ;)</p>

1577

<p>Ahhh, it’s finally Spring Break here! D’10 has been home since last Sat, and S’13 finished classes today. He’s got a AP World History project to work on, and a novel to read, but nothing else - no school, no performances, no ECs. He heads to DC on Wednesday to visit his sister for 5 days. They’ve spent all this past week planning activities and which of her classes he should visit. So far, I think the zoo for a visit with the pandas and a trip to Georgetown Cupcakes are on the list! Wish I was going too! But H and I are going to enjoy a nice little staycation here at home.</p>

1578

<p>I haven’t posted in quite awhile, but I am wondering if I am the only mom that hopes her kid will finish h.s.? My DD is very smart, but has ADD inattentive type which is a tremendous problem. She took the PSAT and the ACT Plan test this year and did extremely well on all parts except math, which was very low(19 on ACT Plan, can’t remember PSAT). With her super low math score, she is projected to score a 23-27 on her ACT. She has resisted an ADD coach so far, but will be evaluated at Sylvan to begin math tutoring next week. Hopefully, that will help She is on a 504 plan, which helps a little bit, but she has such a big problem with organization and getting work in on time. Everything is such a struggle. In reality I know she will finish, but sometimes she has so little focus and motivation that and it drives us both nuts!</p>

<p>I am thinking that she will finish h.s. with probably a 3.3-3.6 gpa, solid coursework with probably three APs, six years of band, two years of theater, and probably not much work experience. With her ADD she just can’t have too much on her plate or the whole thing topples over. </p>

<p>She acts excited about college, but I worry that she won’t have the emotional maturity and skills to be successful. She also needs to be able to advocate for herself, which has not come yet. I want her at a small LAC out of state, and I am surprised that even with her low test scores that she has been getting info from some of the schools that look interesting…Coe, Cornell College, Hendrix. We’ll see how this year ends, and next year begins, before we seriously think about her options. We might go to Sophomore Days at one of the state schools about three hours away, but I really don’t want her there since it is so big. But, it might be good to go just to keep her eyes on the prize…I have considered the local CC as a start, but DH would rather her across the country so that she can learn to take care of herself. I don’t think it works that way exactly, LOL! </p>

<p>I hope I don’t sound too harsh, we want the best for her of course. I look at her and see so much potential and want so much for her. Sometimes, though, I wonder if she will be living with me forever…</p>

<p>Thanks for letting me vent.</p>

1579

<p>midwestmom</p>

<p>I’m right there with you. My inattentive ADD kids do push my sanity. My DS13 is working with an ADD coach, but it is slow progress. He also chose a busy schedule of academics and one very time consuming EC. We argue more than ever before. I like your choice of Cornell College - my son is very interested in Colorado for the 1 course at a time (and the outdoor experiences). My ADD inattentive daughter is only in elementary school and it is very difficult. Her grades are all over the place. Tutoring did not seem to help her. My middle child balances us all out so we stay sane.</p>

<p>I want to thank all for the prayers and good thoughts for my family. We are over the initial shock and taking care of the busy work of cleaning, finding proper attire, etc. Keeping busy is definitely helping.</p>

1580

<p>It always amazes me how many people here have similar stories. DD13 is ADD (inattentive) too. However, she has had extrodinary relief from her meds. For her, there are every limited side affects and it helps her tremendously. In 3rd and 4th grade she had the most wonderful support teacher who said it was his job to teach her to read well AND do well in life. He gave her wonderful skills that she implements even today. Her support teachers in 5th and 6th grade also taught her how to approach test taking so that it was easier for her and keep herself organized in school. She is also very driven and is her own worst critic. My only issue is that I wish she would us some of those organizational skills on the clothes in her room! Now that is a disaster!</p>