<p>Delurking and actually joining cc to say hi. Should be an interesting journey. </p>
<p>S16 is our oldest. He’s currently choosing between two private HS and waiting to see what his public options are. Each school has a slightly different vibe and different strengths/weaknesses. He’s very math-y, so knowing him, he’ll want to go to whichever school has the best teacher in the classes he shadows.</p>
<p>Well, we finally have a decision on the high school. S has decided on a boarding school far far away from home 
Excited for his opportunities, but miserable that he’s going to be away so far. Sweet kid said that if I was that upset, he didn’t have to go 
</p>
<p>Haven’t done the boarding school route, so don’t know how hands-on I need to be with him. With D, I was on these boards regularly, researching and suggesting schools, following up with all the ideas etc. I have a feeling I won’t be doing as much with him. Did meet with the director for college placement at his school and they seem to have a very streamlined process - get them to take the SAT/ACT before the end of the junior year, have their recommendations in line etc etc. We’ll see how this goes…should be an interesting ride these next four years…</p>
<p>Welcome pie squared!</p>
<p>arisamp- sending you hugs, I know it will be hard to let him go.</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone has or is planning to visit colleges with their 2016er. Or if anyone did this for their older children at this stage? If so, how did it go? Did it seem like something your child wanted to do?</p>
<p>I am considering visiting with D2016 this summer. I’m hoping this will excite her, but I am also afraid it might leave her feeling overwhelmed. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated, thanks.</p>
<p>
Thanks semilucky. It is difficult, very difficult.</p>
<p>College visits right now might be too premature. But perhaps you don’t have to do an official visit/tour. You could wander around campus - help her get a feel for how things are at these campuses. Might help narrow down if she likes a big school vs a small school, urban or rural etc.</p>
<p>We visited campuses with D starting in sophomore year. She was at college campuses playing sports - so we figured we’d combine those tournaments with college visits. Most of the early colleges we visited just gave her a feel - they didn’t make the cut when it came to applications. S was with us on all those visits - so he’s had a jump start on all of this! He was the most attentive kid on those tours and can still tell you the trivia they passed on!</p>
<p>Hi Parents of 2016 kids!!</p>
<p>My youngest if one of these kids … she’ll be going to the public HS like her big sister (who will be a senior next year). We researched IB HS’s near us (we actually have 2 close to us) but we decided to keep her at the same HS that her friends are attending, plus I think the AP program will be a better fit for her. She’s been at the K-8 for nine years and she is ready for a new challenge. She’s actually been going to the HS for the last 2 years to take Honors Algebra I and Honors Geometry. The HS buses her back to the K-8 after her 1st morning class of math. She’s well versed on the HS kids and feels pretty comfortable around them … all her friends are pretty nervous though. </p>
<p>We are going through the college process now with our 2013 daughter so we will have learned a lot for our 2016 kid. </p>
<p>I’m sure we’ll be talking throughout the next four years. Good luck to all!!</p>
<p>I’d forgotten about this thread! Thanks for bringing back up.</p>
<p>DD (8th gr) just took her first (of hopefully not too many) SATs this weekend. Did it in case she wants to CTY or similar. Also for comfort level since 8th grade scores won’t show anywhere. She fussed when I told her she should do it but did fine in the end. She’s doing Honors Geometry (getting bussed to HS for 1st period) so that helped. Said it wasn’t too hard (other than the essay which she hates just like big brother). I dropped her off at the wrong end of a large HS building so she wandered a bit, came and told me she couldn’t find it, we wandered quite a bit among literally hundreds of Music festival kids that were all over the school, then finally found it at the other end. Then I had to go back and tell her where her dad would pick her up (no cellphone at SAT), then I had to go back and give her the eraser she’d left in the car 
so by then she was thoroughly mortified aside from being the only 8th grader at the test.</p>
<p>Also trying to arrange a meeting at HS to do her schedule for next year. We only have 6 periods at HS (teachers union contract) so it gets tough trying to fit in all the classes in addition to required Health classes, technical arts, performance art etc etc. The State has fortunately started some online classes that include some AP classes that are not offered at the school (Biology anyone?) so I think we will try to sign up for some of those. </p>
<p>Despite being one of the top students and taking all the top classes offered at HS, DS was significantly behind his cohort in Math/science when he started college. He did fine because he’s strong in those fields but I want to give DD a better start.</p>
<p>Enough ranting.</p>
<p>Hi IHS76 - both my daughters took the SAT Saturday as well. My Junior daughter took it for the first time and my youngest (8th grader) took it for the 2nd time. She took it as a 7th grader and now as an 8th grader. It’s definitely a great experience and she’s grateful to have taken it twice. She did well as a 7th grader. My youngest is attending CTY’s Intro to Biomedical Science at LMU (Los Angeles) this summer and she is very excited. When I asked my Jr in HS daughter if it would have been a benefit to her if she had taken it twice already and she said “absolutely, a big advantage.”</p>
<p>Because my 8th grader is strong in math, we are already talking about taking the SAT II subject test in Math II after her freshman year. By then, she will have taken Honors Algebra I & II and Honors Geometry. Since she will likely need 3 strong SAT II tests, let’s give this one a try early and see how she does. I’m learning from my Jr. in HS daughter that saving all these tests for the Jr/Sr year is very stressful and difficult, especially when you factor in finals, AP tests, SAT, Prom, etc… Plus, most of the Math II test is from these classes so the material will be fresh in her mind and if she doesn’t do as well she doesn’t have to submit it to schools.</p>
<p>CatnPhx - From what I know, you need precalc to do well in Math II.</p>
<p>Texaspg - yes, I hear there is some precalc but I guess the question is how much … I need to do some more research. The kids do get some precalc in Alg 2 but I don’t know if it will be enough for the Math II test. Also, I plan on buying the Barrons Math II book and that should give us a good idea of how much precalc there is. </p>
<p>Thanks for the note, Tex.</p>
<p>So those who have been thru this before, how ideally would you spread out testing? S will need to take SAT again (did CTY/TIP in 7th) in 10th grade for dual enrollment for math starting in 11th.</p>
<p>Math II should come after pre-calc (that’s when trig is covered in our district)? Any other tips? I like the idea of spreading testing out when appropriate. Luckily, our son is an excellent standardized test-taker, so he doesn’t mind so much.</p>
<p>Just chiming in to say hello! I have 3 older kids (D2004 graduated from Washington & Jefferson in 2008, and my S2012 and D2012 are attending University of Maryland College Park in the fall), and my youngest daughter is HS Class of 2016. :D</p>
<p>She was accepted into a selective public high school with a magnet science/tech program, and I know the school is right up her alley because her older brother is about to graduate from it in a couple of weeks. She’s involved in volleyball, voice, and drama at the moment, but we’ll see what happens next!</p>
<p>Good to meet you all & I look forward to reading here over the next few years.</p>
<p>hi everyone,</p>
<p>Stepping out from the shadows too. Like JenPam, I have a D2012 and D2016 too. D2012 is attending the University of Maryland at College Park this fall as well.</p>
<p>D2016 is finishing eighth grade and will be attending an 8th grade promotion ceremony at her middle school in a few weeks. She took the ACT earlier this year, but instead of going to CTY, will be in summer school taking Honors Geometry. </p>
<p>I never had a promotion ceremony from junior high when I was my daughter’s age. What about your 8th graders - is your middle school doing anything to celebrate completion of middle school?</p>
<p>I’m here too. My dd2012 will start at Bryn Mawr next fall just as my dd2016 starts High School. (I’ve got a dd2020 entering 5th grade too.) I’m glad I’ve gone through the application and selection process once already.</p>
<p>The class of 2016 will change schools next year but there is no offical graduation. I don’t think it is a big deal to move from 8th to 9th grade. They do have a Achievement Awards Ceremony but you are only invited if you are receiving a award. And they give many different awards. It is a nice event, the kids get dressed up and parents are invited.
Cookies are served.</p>
<p>DS is always working me for money and what he should be rewarded for…this gives me an idea of the next thing he will plan.</p>
<p>My 8th grader will have a big graduation ceremony. She goes to a K-8th school, so the kids have been together for 9 years. The ceremony takes place at a megachurch nearby, and the kids all have caps and gowns, etc. It’s a very special evening event. I love the bonds my kids formed at that school.</p>
<p>Hi there, I also have a D who will be a 2016 HS grad. She will be attending the Chicago Academy for the Arts, as did her brother, who is graduating this month also. She’s my writer (S is the musician) and we think the conservatory arts high school will be as great an experience for her as it was for her brother, who will be attending Lawrence University in the fall.</p>
<p>Both of our children are Montessori kids. The Montessori school does a very nice graduation ceremony, but like someone above, these kids have been together a long time (in some cases since a Parent-Infant class when they were babies) and are scattering to many different high schools. There’s not quite 40 students in my D’s class, and they have a nice tradition of sharing memories of each other, which leaves everyone quite emotional. I’m sorry to be leaving the school, but eager to see how my D takes on the challenges of high school.</p>
<p>Your kids did Montessori through middle school? That’s so cool! Our school stops at 6th grade although the 6th grade has no students this year due to the middle school pull of other schools.</p>
<p>It’s pretty unusual to find Montessori schools that go past 6th grade (9-12), partly because they don’t mesh well with the American high school system–that “middle school” segment of Montessori should be 12-15, which would put them into American high school as sophomores. There are 3 Montessori schools in Chicago that go to 8th grade, and one other Montessori school I heard of in Seattle that completes the 12-15 sequence. The Chicago Montessori community is also planning a Montessori high school, slated to open in Fall 2013, that will be a welcome addition to the high school choices in the city. </p>
<p>We’re firm believers in Montessori education. It’s been great for both of our kids.</p>
<p>Love Montessori. D16 attended Montessori schools from Pre-K through 5th grade.</p>
<p>Back to changing the HS schedule. Marched in her first parade–won the drum major position for 8th grade and now wants to be in marching band. Sigh. She plays oboe, but would be pit percussion or color guard. Current drum major will be a senior.</p>
<p>bumping up to say HI!</p>
<p>I have an S that will be entering 9th grade, though it is still in the middle school here. I also have a D '11, who will be a sophomore at Tulane this fall.</p>
<p>S is a lot different than D and the classroom planning and college search will be vastly different. S has an IEP and struggles in social situations. So, while I have already gone down this path once, the path is starting to diverge and go in a different direction and I will have to relearn things.</p>