<p>D2’s HS sends the books home w/ students at beginning of year to stay. They do not have to bring them to school daily unless specifically requested. They have classroom sets in the classrooms for most subjects anyway. It is a well thought out plan for an urban HS so that the kids don’t have to lug 30lb backpacks to & from school on the bus /train.</p>
<p>S’s school changed last year to an online bookstore, which is supposed to guarantee that all books will be delivered before the opening of school. Last year it worked, but I have been disappointed this year with things trickling in late. Also, the prices they pay for buying books back at the end of the year is insulting. Next year, I think I will be shopping around a lot more!</p>
<p>Our hs got a grant, so this year all the students got netbooks with Verizon service. I’m thinking ebooks might be a possibility next year. D’11 has one for her anatomy class at college. She really hates it, though.</p>
<p>I took 2014 Son to a meeting for those interested in Rotary Youth Exchange last night. I think we were both discouraged that there were 16 interested teens at the meeting but only 4 definite spots for them. I guess it is to my son’s advantage that he was one of 3 males but we were counting on RYE being a back up choice for some free programs next year. Now I’m not so sure…</p>
<p>Apollo - What is Rotary Youth Exchange? I’m not familiar with that.</p>
<p>RYE is a high school international exchange program through the Rotary service club. It compares to AFS or YFU in that it provides a year study abroad with host families but it costs a fraction of the amount of another exchange program because there is no paid staff, just volunteers and Rotarians who want to promote world peace.</p>
<p>Sounds cool Apollo6! What a great opportunity.</p>
<p>That does sound cool. I am familiar with AFS from my own HS days , but hadn’t heard of RYE.</p>
<p>The daughter of a friend is on this program in India this year (for her it is a gap year): [Kennedy-Lugar</a> Youth Exchange and Study (YES Abroad) Program](<a href=“http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/yesabroad.html]Kennedy-Lugar”>http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/yesabroad.html) It is VERY competitive, but is free for the participants. I am aware of another government program focused on less-commonly-taught languages, NSLI for Youth: [Home</a> Page](<a href=“http://www.nsliforyouth.org/]Home”>http://www.nsliforyouth.org/) Also very competitive, my older son applied but was not chosen for this one. Also free for the participants.</p>
<p>NSLIY and YES are actually my son’s first choices. He made it to semi-finalist for a NSLYI summer program last year but did not get chosen. He did get to do a StarTalk Chinese course at a university this summer so we hope he will make the final cut for NSLYI this year. RYE was supposed to be his back up plan. That’s why we were worried that there were so few spots this year. Another program is CBYX to Germany but I don’t think he’ll apply for that one because he is more interested in Asia and the middle east than Europe.</p>
<p>Wow, great information about study abroad programs! D would love to go abroad, but has settled on the idea of waiting until college. The NSLI summer program might interest her though, I’ll have to show it to her after she wakes up! (Homecoming dance last night!)</p>
<p>I do have a question for those that are looking at a full year abroad: How is testing handled? Especially the PSAT since only the one taken during the junior year can be used for National Merit?</p>
<p>re. Testing abroad, I think the best bet would be to get in touch with an American school near where you are studying. My older daughter took an AP exam while she was studying abroad. I’m sure you could do the PSAT and SAT as well.
re. NSLIY summer programs - The competition was VERY difficult last year. You really need a good essay including a convincing argument for why you want to study the language. It seemed like most of the summer spots went to rising seniors and rising college freshman.</p>
<p>I feel uncomfortable sending my girls to another country for a semester or 2 so we brought the exchange student to us! We went through AFS and had a girl who I now consider my other daughter, from Hong Kong stay with us for 10 months last year. It was an amazing experience and would HIGHLY recommend it. It didn’t cost anything for us other than the extra money for food and elecricity. lol.</p>
<p>Our next door neighbors participate in an exchange program (they are hosts). I don’t know that much about it but they have done it for several years so they must really like it. Our kids are serious homebodies so I don’t think it would appeal to them. S14 is looking forward to applying to our state Governor’s school this summer. It is one month residential. The competition to be selected is pretty stiff, and he stands a better chance next year, but he wants to give it a shot this year. We really support the idea that A) the admission process is valuable and good for him to do even if he isn’t selected. He has to write essays and ask for recommendations (good practice!), and B) the process of experiencing and learning to deal with rejection in a healthy way before college applications is a valuable thing. We think he has as good a shot as anyone, however if he isn’t selected the process of applying and being rejected has value as well. Perhaps an odd thought process, but this is our third time down this road…your perspective changes slightly.</p>
<p>I hope everyone’s kids are settling into a routine fairly well, kinks are being worked out without too much fuss, and the year looks bright. I can hope, can’t I? :D</p>
<p>Cheers!!</p>
<p>blueiguana: My oldest son spent a month at our state’s governor’s school for math, science and technology. He met some awesome kids, and he continues to keep in touch with them. The experience was a good way to prepare him for going away for college (he’s 850 miles from home), as he did not have Mom to do his laundry or prepare meals. I am hoping that his kid brother ('14) wants a summer experience away from home, because I do believe it can help with the transition to college life. </p>
<p>My older son, since going to college two years ago, has studied in or visited 11 countries – thanks to four separate study abroad programs.</p>
<p>^ The kids from our school that have participated universally have excellent experiences just as your son. S11 wasn’t nearly as adventurous. I had to really encourage him to apply to another summer program that was two weeks residential when he was rising Jr. It was competitive, however not as competitive as Governor’s school. He was very anxious going, but had an amazing time. I wholly agree with you that the experience of going away prior to college, living in a common dorm-style environment, being semi independent, gives them incentive that they can do it and takes that anxiety off the table when it’s their turn to leave for school. I know for S11 it was a big help.</p>
<p>Hosting an exchange student is a great idea! If you host through Rotary you usually “share” your student with a couple other families so you only have to host for about 3 or 4 months. That can be an easier commitment. I wish our state had a governor’s school summer program. My older daughter took a class through Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development for 3 weeks and really enjoyed it. 2014 son did a month at Concordia Language Villages earning high school credit for Spanish. He loved it. Last summer he did a 3 week StarTalk Chinese program on a college campus and enjoyed that, too. We’ll see what next summer holds. I am excited because his September ACT scores were posted this morning and he now qualifies for a completely free summer program at Ole Miss - courses for college credit as well as room and board for a month or even two if he wanted to stay all summer. Getting him to study really helped. His science score went up 8 points!</p>
<p>WAY TO GO APOLLO-SON :D</p>
<p>Big congratulations to your son Apollo!!! That’s a wonderful accomplishment and sounds like an amazing program!! Lots of fun things for ApolloSon to look forward to!!!</p>
<p>Blue - that application process sounds like a great “training ground” for what is to come in two years. I have to see if there is a similar program here in our state for our D14.</p>
<p>Question re: self study for AP. S is taking physics this year. His school only offers AP classes in math (he is in BC Calc) and FL, but ‘many kids self-study’ for the tests. Given his math level, I think he could do it (D took BC Calc and AP physics the same year and did fine), but the physics so far is really a history of science class and no math past Algebra II is assumed. Is prepping for the AP worth the time? He is already up til midnight most nights with a heavy course load, and I don’t want to take away from his grades/sleep by pushing AP study. On the other hand, the top kids from his school do take the APs, and I get the sense he is considered among the stronger kids academically. My D stressed out so much in HS; my S is more laid back and I don’t want to bring back stress into the household, but I also want him to have some great opportunities like his sister when it comes to college. I am torn. Looking forward to your wisdom.</p>