Parents of the HS Class of 2013

Parents of Class of 20xx
1921

<p>My DS has 2 weeks left of classes before summer starts :slight_smile: He just received 2 awards for Outstanding Student in Academic Excellence for German II and World Civilizations and his varsity pin for Debate. Sports are over for the year-Thank Heavens!!!</p>

<p>He will be switching schools next year because his current school is closing-this has been a very traumatic event for DS, myself, and the entire school.</p>

<p>Next year he will be taking AP English Language, AP US Hstory, chemistry, Bible, ACT/SAT Prep, College Skills, Cooking (Who knew??), Body COnditioning, Precalculus and some other electives. He’s excited for next year and I’m beginning to panic since there’s so much to do for the Junior year
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1922

<p>Meda - I am sorry about everything you are going through. It just stinks. Even though your D likes the small environment it seems like it is not a great social fit. Most colleges are at least 2000 students from all walks of life so maybe the local public will prepare her in a different way. Just a thought given the crazy competitive environment she is currently in.</p>

1923

<p>Meda- We go to a public school in Southern California. #1 as far as dances go they are chaperoned by teachers and administrators. The district has a zero tolerance policy which means that if kids are caught drinking or under the influence of drugs they are immediately transferred to another school in the district for I think like 90 days. Also they have a breathalyzer (?) at the door. #2 Our school is one of the smallest public schools in Orange County (at about 1300 kids). But, that number includes all sorts of kids at all sorts of levels, so often there is only 1 or maybe 2 honors level/AP classes in each grade in each subject so you end up with the same group of kids all day, so it doesn’t SEEM like such a big school. So a public school of that size won’t seem as big as she thinks.</p>

1924

<p>To Medavinci: Adding to what t5athome said: I think I remember that you said that your D was interested in doing theatre at the public school. That is a great way to make friends at a new school. Or any other EC - sports, debate, etc. Once your D gets involved, the school won’t seem so big anymore. In fact, some ECs may have summer programs so your D can even meet kids before school starts.</p>

1925

<p>DD13 came home exhausted at 2:00 am from Model UN in NYC. Huge grin on her face. She had a GREAT time and met kids from all around the world. Awesome experience. Apparently her proposal never made it back from the printers for the final vote, but the moderators noticed her and her proposal. She did not received the coveted gavel, but she was called out for an “Honorable Mention”. She is thrilled. We are thrilled. This is our math and science girl who doesn’t feel comfortable with “smoozing”. Seems she’s go the skills after all and now she has the confidence. Life is good!</p>

1926

<p>I agree with everything everyone is saying here. There are some facts I can’t include about our local ps, which is why we left in 5th grade to begin with. I wish I could share, but it’s too personal. The same kids are in that high school. I did try and go out of district to the town next to us which is right around the corner, but rules are rules. If I could move to that town, it would be a no brainer because they have the best theater program in the state, and a TV and radio station. She did theater since she was 4, but her interest is waning as it won’t be her major; however, it was a great release for her mentally and physically. </p>

<p>If we did sell the house (in the market will be tough), we would not be able to afford to live in this area for sure. We’d have to go from a town to a city, and the city schools are not an option in this part of the state. The town schools are much better. </p>

<p>I am thinking of speaking to the Supt of schools in our town to explain the reasons we did leave public (other than it not being challenging enough at the time), and see if they could make an extenuating circumstance exception (most likely not considering that they might open themselves up to a lawsuit from other parents, and I wouldn’t want our personal info out there). We do get out in 3 weeks and the public school finishes the end of june, so we are hoping to go over and see if she can shadow a student in junior year to see if the courses are similar to what she has in sophomore year currently (it might be a good barometer for class selection). I know we had looked at another private school (also in our neighboring town 3 yrs ago because this commute was so unbearable; however, what they were learning in 8th grade, my daughter learned in 6th grade in math and science - that was all we got to look in on - they were using the exact same books). </p>

<p>My stress levels are through the roof, and I can’t have that with my medical issues. The other thought is to talk to the principal at the local public school, if we have no choice, and then have it noted she cannot be in the same classes as some individuals if this is our sole choice of schools. I just hate reopening old wounds, and these were very deep. </p>

<p>Thanks to everyone for some great SAT suggestions and I’m going to look into the xiggi method longhaul and the alabama schools as well. My d was cute and said, maybe I should just go to school in europe for the next 2 years since I am a citizen. It wouldn’t be a bad idea, but with all the fear of retaliation with bin Laden, I’d be petrified.</p>

<p>Congrats geogirl1. My d’s school did Model UN last November down at Princeton. They didn’t have any prep at all. It’s a club not a class and they were on their own to figure it out. They had fun, and were up to all hours of the night, but were clueless. She was on the economics council for Rwanda, and they literally were told 2 nights before leaving to write a paper. Unreal. She met a lot of kids and maybe next year (wherever she is) they will have actual training before they go - I know a lot of schools have an actual Model UN class that meets regularly or clubs that meet at least 3 times a week. I belong to the UNA up here which was founded by an incredible woman who was Eleanor Roosevelt’s personal assistant. When I was a child, and we visited the UN on a field trip in 7th grade, I wanted to work for the UN as a translator. Things turned out differently, but I must say that for the past 20 years working on the committees here and doing some great stuff has been fun. My d has been attending meetings with me since she was 3, and she was very involved in several activities. Perhaps she should enter the UN’s high school essay contest if she enjoys Model UN! Let me know if you need more info.</p>

1927

<p>Obviously there is a lot going on that we don’t understand Medavinci. I wish your DD the best of luck. Unfortunately, we can’t always provide our kids with “the best” environment. Sometimes they have to learn to thrive under difficult circumstances. You and your DD are going through difficult times and I just hope that it turns out well for both of you. Good luck. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help.</p>

<p>Model UN here is a club, not a class. They only meet 2x per month. They don’t even get assigned their country till mid year. It requires the kids to do alot of research on their own and in teams. They do it though. What my kids have found is that you have to have a base line knowledge of the country, but then it really is about your ability to assimilate new information, build concensus in a large group (most groups are 250 kids) and basically work the room. It’s more about pulling a group together and working your ideas. It’s leadership and public speaking. It’s also a lot of fun. Both kids are very, very happy. Worth all the time they put into it!</p>

1928

<p>Just subscribing
my son will be a graduate in 2013, sophomore this year. More later
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1929

<p>Welcome to zoemakes5. Hope you find CC as helpful as I have.</p>

1930

<p>My D has received the usual letters and emails from schools but recently got a letter and email from NYU. I was a little surprised to get mail from NYU, didn’t think they’d need to send out letters.
Does anyone know if NYU is in the habit of mass mailings?
Nowadays, I guess they all are!</p>

1931

<p>^^My S got one yesterday.</p>

1932

<p>DS got one, too.</p>

1933

<p>My kid didn’t get one! Waaaahhh :frowning: :slight_smile: :)</p>

1934

<p>Well, not to rub it in, ree, but we’re going to a college roadshow event tonight for Brown, et al, with HUNDREDS of our closest friends. Very exclusive. :rolleyes: :D</p>

1935

<p>S got the NYU email. Not sure if he received a snail mail as well - those go straight into the garbage. He’s vaguely interested in NYU, so we may actually respond. He also sent back the postcard from Oberlin to get more info. I would say that S’s college interest has gone from nonexistent to marginal. His voice teacher is talking about taking S to New York to have him sing for some teachers there (friends and old voice teachers of S’s teacher) so I’m sure that will raise his interest another notch.</p>

1936

<p>Now joining the HS Class of 2013/College Class of 2017! Good luck to everyone on this journey.
D is winding down on sophmore year - getting ready for finals. I will have to go back and read through this thread to catch up. Joined CC for older daughter (senior) who is off to TX in the fall. Can’t believe we are going through the process again! D (class of 2013) is much more interested in the college search then older d was and I have a feeling I will be visiting a lot of colleges this summer and next year.</p>

1937

<p>Welcome, susan! Where in Texas?</p>

1938

<p>Thanks. D will be attending University of Dallas (in Irving).</p>

1939

<p>My niece graduated from there last year, and my goddaughter got her master’s from there. Hope she loves it!</p>

1940

<p>Well D just got her stuff to pick classes for next year with only 1 week left in the year. Don’t know why they were so slow this year but it’s been frustrating. They go on the block schedule where they have 4 classes in the fall and then 4 different classes in the spring. She’s picked out Precalc, AP Calc AB, AP Lang/Comp, Chem honors, AP USH, Spanish I and II, and Film as Lit (which includes so much writing that few sign up for it and it usually gets cancelled). She has Soc/Psych for an alternate choice. She’s hoping to major in math and go to a more selective school. Too hard, not hard enough?</p>