<p>Haven’t been on CC much but now that DD is settled at UofMich for her first year, I’m trying to help DS with his high school issues. Schedule for his junior year right now is
PE
AP Econ
AP Chem
AP Bio
AP Language
AP Calc</p>
<p>He is very upset as he is unable to fit in Spanish 3 and thinks this will hurt his chances at some of the more elite colleges. If he drops AP Chem, he could get the spanish course but his old counselor felt dual enrollment would be easier for him if he was taking both math and science classes while on campus.</p>
<p>DD is just about finished her summer work. She has to read a little more of “The Hot Zone” for Environmental Science - and she is actually interested in the book. She likes that kind of stuff (Ebola, etc.) and I’m hoping that will keep her motivated for this AP. I knew that AP Bio or Chem weren’t for her. She’s a theatre kid with a passion for the environment (and animals).</p>
<p>School starts Thursday and she has given up marching band and cheerleading this year. I was fine with the cheerleading (because she really wasn’t that into it), but I had mixed feelings about MB. We love the kids, the FB games and the competitions, but it sucked up a lot of her time, so I was worried that she would struggle with her AP clases. So, I guess things worked out for the best. </p>
<p>She has two applications in for jobs and will try for her permit in a couple of weeks.</p>
<p>Sounds as if most of your kids are doing well as they start their junior years.</p>
<p>A word of advice: Do not spend all kinds of money on college information books. On the surface, they may be nice to own, but spend time reading the school’s website. All these stats and facts and figures, well, they do not tell anyone the whole story. If my oldest son had stuck to the rankings from various publications (which, of course, are designed to make money), he would have never taken a National Merit offer to an OOS school that he loves. He would be graduating in debt and would not have had the opportunities that he has had (he just won more scholarship money a week ago). Ask questions. Spend time on CC. In the past, I have PM’ed parents about their children’s experiences at their schools. We got a wealth of information from those parents.</p>
<p>That said, Son '14 has settled into his routine for this semester. Had a foot/leg problem in cross country. Got treatment from the trainer (who is just awesome). Bought a new pair of shoes, and there are days that he is logging 10 miles in practice. As for classes, I cannot remember seeing him this happy. He has lots of work with three APs, but when I ask if it’s too much, he says no way and he’s learning a lot. Up next is registering for the ACT in October. He’ll also take the PSAT at school.</p>
<p>S’14 just said the magic words this morning for the first time: “I’ll drive.”</p>
<p>He had taken his written test (for learner’s permit) twice and failed. So bummed – he said “I’m just not good at tests.” Not a good mindset before junior year. So H took him back there yesterday for the third time, and he passed! So happy!</p>
<p>Congratulations! I was hoping that my S would go take his test for his learners permit before he left for China so that he would start the clock ( it takes at least 6 months to get a license) but he did not get around to it. Oh well, now he will be at least 18 before he has a full license.</p>
<p>Husb and I listened to The Hot Zone as an audio many years ago. It started a bit slow and then kept us on the edge of out seats. Hope your d likes it as much as we did.</p>
<p>Husb and I took a look at school scedules yesterday and found that a few schools that s is looking at will be in session while S is home from boarding school. I wonder how many schools other families are planning to try an see while in session?</p>
<p>Kakamom, my oldest ('12) just finished the IB Diploma and now Ive got another about to start in earnest (class of '14). She’s not very enthusiastic, I have to say, after having seen all the work her sister put in!</p>
<p>I have a class of '15 DD too - she will not be attempting the full IB diploma … The confines of the IB requirements are a sticking point with her. She a much more freer spirit than her older sister.</p>
<p>This sort of happened to my S’14 as well. His English teacher recommended him for honors rather than AP, but it turns out that honors didn’t fit his schedule, so they put him in AP anyhow. I emailed his English teacher briefly and she said he should be fine if he puts in the work. First 2 grades on summer homework were a 95 and a 67 (ugh!). It could be a long semester… He thought he had done good work on the project he got a 67 on, so I told him he needs to go see the teacher and learn where her expectations differed from his. Honestly, I think he can handle it too, but he has a tendency to try to do the minimum on projects he isn’t that interested in.</p>
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<p>I asked for a clothing allowance in 7th grade and got it, and did fine with it. Early on my parents asked me to show them a plan in advance of the things I thought I would need and what I expected to have to pay for them. After a while they could see that I was fine, so they loosened up a bit. I think I had to still keep an accounting on paper of where the money went (since it was intended for clothes and not unrestricted spending money). </p>
<p>I think it’s a fantastic idea to have kids practice budgeting like that in high school, and especially since he asked, I think he wants to show you how responsible he can be with the money. And if he blows through it all on day 1, that’s a good lesson with natural consequences that aren’t too harsh. If he has trouble, you could require him to do an advance budget in order to get the cash the next month.</p>
<p>When S’14 left for boarding school 2 years ago, I go him a paypal student debit card. Then I set up an automatic monthly transfer and sat down with him and outlined what I would pay for and what he had to manage from his account. One could put the money in daily or weekly. What I like about it is:
the transfers are automatic
if the money isn’t there, he can’t spend it
if he wants something that I normally pay for, I can transfer the money in easily from any computer, even my smart phone.
We started an allowance at age 5, I think, for ‘toys’ so I could get out of Kmart without a crying fit over every Lego Bionicle and Nintendo DS game. I was willing to buy art supplies and athletic equipment the rest came from his stash. As my brother says, it’s totally different when the kid has ‘skin in the game.’</p>
<p>S’s whole Junior class goes to Israel for 10 weeks and he’s leaving this evening. I’m so nervous/excited. I know that he’ll change quite a bit, and likely become much more mature (according to the teachers) but I moderately fearful of the unknown, even if it’s good unknown.</p>
<p>I remember when he came home from daycare, singing a song I had never heard before! I guess it takes a village, but it’s unsettling.</p>
<p>ParentSparkle - That’s quite a Junior Class Trip! What an opportunity for them all.</p>
<p>D14 started school yesterday. Her schedule worked out well, except for the AP World History class with 40 students! I’m hoping the teacher gives them a good taste of the challenge of the course, so the students who aren’t there for the right reason drop down to another World History course.</p>
<p>KaMaMom: Might your child be able to take the test where the competition is being held? We did that one time and ds had to miss part of one game, but it was that or miss the whole competition. </p>
<p>Sounds like your other options are Dec 1 or the fall of senior year, which is less than ideal.</p>
<p>KaMaMom: I don’t know what type of competitions you are referring to, but my DS12 had an ARML competition conflict and the school was able to provide an alternate date for the SAT. Are the competitions at all related to school? If they are I would suggest speaking to school administration.</p>
<p>The CC at our school basically said to me that the toughest part of junior year is finding time to schedule everything! Definitely a year of tough choices. Our school has a weekend of bonding set up for juniors the same date as the February ACT. I pointed out that there are only 3 dates though June of 2013 to take the test. It’s going to be the year of tough choices–for kids and parents.</p>
<p>KaMaMom – we had the same issue with D’11 (XC and track meets) but there enough juniors that coach knew she’d be late to some meets. No flexibility on your coach’s part?</p>
<p>thanks mathmomvt and ParentSparkle about $ budgeting ideas – yes, I think he could handle it – I might start out with “here’s your money for the week” before I give him a larger sum for the month. </p>
<p>I remember having a clothing allowance when I was young – I was probably the only 7th grader buying vintage clothing at church sales. Cashmere sweaters for $2. Then I’d blow $8 on Love’s Baby Soft perfume. And a pair of Candy’s.</p>
<p>On SATs…I do know that it has to be a religous conflict.
Our k1 ('11) had to miss an extracurricular event for SATs.
Sigh
I guess I need to look at spring for K2…('14) It is coming quickly isn’t it.</p>
<p>The school GCs had a mandatory mtg with the kids and there was a form to complete…
K2 left the “colleges” section blank.
Although there are two “on the list” as potentials…we have a preliminary spring trip to see about 8 more…and K2 didn’t know what to write.</p>
<p>Thankfully the GC was our K1’s Jr yr GC and so she sent me an email. She is lovely and I wish she was in the college GC office instead of a Jr yr academic advisor.</p>
<p>Hope everyone is well. I am going to go back a few pages and catch up with you all.</p>
<p>Cheers.</p>
<p>hahaha Class I just saw that…Love’s Baby Soft…
I remember that— and there was a series of fragrances called things like Rain, etc… maybe BonneBell?</p>