<p>^it’s a good one, too – real heavy, cast iron – takes me two hands to lift it. But boy, when you’ve got to flatten a few people, it’s great. :)</p>
<p>I recommend culinary arts to anybody looking for that final class (story is in a post above . . . somewhere). Don’t care what colleges may or may not think of it. it’s practical, extremely useful, and for a kid with homework intensive other courses, the work’s done in class.</p>
<p>2014novamom: If your son takes AP economics online through Virtual Virginia, just wanted you to know that the teacher is excellent. My oldest son took AP micro and macro that way, and he loved it. My younger son (the '14) is thinking about an online class or two.</p>
<p>ordinarylives, what an interesting idea about kids taking culinary arts…
In addition to being one of the most essential skills to learn, it might even help a BOY with transcript jam packed with AP math and science classes to stand out.</p>
<p>Momreads, I think a virtual class at some point in high school is required for incoming freshmen now… at least in my NOVA county…
Thanks for the JMU replies. S14 likes “big”. I like “in-state”…
Culinary Arts is a neat idea. Then they can make dinner. We can consider when to borrow the cast iron frying pan for use on husbands, teachers, and children while drinking wine and eating chocolate. Sounds like a perfect cure for stressed-out moms…</p>
<p>If we can’t have green squares anymore on CC anymore, I wish they would at least give us a “like” button! Frying pans and chocolate…YES!</p>
<p>^ agreed. It seems like something they should have already.</p>
<p>I think they should be required materials for all parents of XX threads…chocolate, after 5 cocktails, hugs, and frying pans. ;)</p>
<p>…and yes, get us a ‘like’ button already!!</p>
<p>bi - definitely ‘like’ all of those!</p>
<p>DD’s school just cancelled for tomorrow! Very happy to have the break and not have to worry about her driving there and back tomorrow. However, I think I’ll nix her idea to go out to breakfast with all her hometown friends who also have the day off!</p>
<p>She’s heading back to school tonight to help with an accepted students night. I get to go run a rehearsal for the show I’m producing - should be fun with 25 middle/early high school kids who will be wired for the storm and school cancellations! They’re hard enough to keep quiet without all the distractions. The after 5 cocktails will have to wait until after 9 tonight!</p>
<p>Yay!! Snow day for akmom!!! Hope you can all sleep late (no breakfast to make, no rushing kids to school).</p>
<p>I’m jealous of your snow day! We’ve only had one snow so far this winter and it was over Christmas break so no missed days.</p>
<p>S’21 has been out of school sick since Tuesday. Apparently it’s the flu. 
</p>
<p>S’14 just came home and said his meeting with the band director went well, so that’s on his list of classes next year. I asked what else he was planning to take. 5 AP classes plus lab for Physics and this new jazz band class. WOW! I hope he’s not getting in over his head. He’s taking 3 AP classes this year and doing fine. I suggested maybe taking regular World History instead of AP. He seems to think the workload will be similar to this year. He was beaming, saying class rank will go up and just think about what his GPA would be! At least he’s thinking about those things!</p>
<p>I e-mailed GC earlier this week asking to meet with her about classes and college. “Sure … is next month ok?” haha I guess it is as long as his schedule is not due before then!</p>
<p>Report cards tomorrow although DD already told me all of her grades. I’m happy to report that she will be making first honors this marking period!!! The lowest grade you can have and get first honors is an 85. She got an 85 in AP History. Last marking period she missed first honors by one point. Of course I told her not to cut it so close next time. ;)</p>
<p>Someone mentioned taking Culinary. That was something DD was actually interested in possibly pursuing earlier in high school and the GC told her that it probably wouldn’t be possible. Since there is only one public high school in our city, it has to have a curriculum geared toward everyone. And since there are kids who know from Freshman year they want to go into culinary arts, they really can’t offer it as an elective for honors kids. It’s a course that builds each year on the prior year. </p>
<p>DD"s “fun” classes are photography and next year computer graphics. </p>
<p>As for AP Calc, I need to write a note to the GC telling her I’m aware that DD wants to change her selection. Since Parent/Teacher night is next Tuesday, I’ll give her until then to think about it and talk with the GC that night.</p>
<p>And Blue, thanks for the offer of the casting iron frying pan. I won’t be needing it today, but I’ll definitely keep it in mind. :)</p>
<p>I currently need the frying pan for the AP Comp teacher, who has given my kids an average of 5-6 hrs of hw every night this week, along with two major quizzes. My D was in tears after dinner, partly because she is so frustrated (bc the teacher keeps assigning all this work, but they have very few grades, so they have no idea how they are even really doing in the class), and partly because she was exhausted from the amount of hw she has had to do! I get that this is an AP class crammed into a single trimester, but this workload seems completely ridiculous.</p>
<p>Saturday’s ACT has been postponed here in Vermont. A notice on the school district’s site says they are working to schedule a make-up date, we don’t need to contact ACT, and once a make-up date is confirmed, the students will be notified by ACT via e-mail.</p>
<p>Collegefortwins, I was going to question all that hw until you wrote the AP class is in one trimester. DS’14 is also taking AP Comp Sci and never gets any hw, but his course encompasses the full school year. Why is the AP course only for one trimester?</p>
<p>beadymom – so sorry to hear S’21 is down with the flu – it’s nasty this year.</p>
<p>MomFullofQs – congrats for First Honors for your D! I think a special celebration is in order.</p>
<p>I finally figured out a way to reach out to S’s friend whose mom has Stage 3 ovarian cancer. It is so difficult to have him over for dinner (since I get home around 7 and our house is the kind where you step over things to get to the next room). S said his friend likes hockey, so I spent $$$$$$$ on great seats for the Rangers:Islanders game on Feb 14 (Valentine’s Day!) which is right before their break. Hopefully the King is in goal and smashes Tavares and all comers and it’s a wonderful boy-break from all the cancer yuck.</p>
<p>Classof2015: that’s a fantastic idea and so nice of you to find a way to get him a break of the reality he’s living with. And I’m sure his mom will be glad that he is having a fun time. (((hugs))) to you for being such a kind and generous person.</p>
<p>Aw – thank you – made my day. I am not that nice in real life (just ask my kids) 
but I appreciate the thought. :)</p>
<p>Hey! I’m not nice either! Where’s that frying pan?</p>
<p>student4ever, sorry, I used shorthand! 
It’s actually AP Language and Composition. I have NO idea why they do it in one tri…it’s the only AP course like that. Ridiculous! All of the other AP classes are at least 2 trimesters, and some are 3. All I know for certain is that it is sucking the life out of our family!!</p>