<p>I would like my kid to be busy just to be competitive with the others in the school! However, things don’t always work the way the parents want.</p>
<p>It is an interesting topic of conversation. As I mentioned before, D is taking 3 classes at our local CC this summer. She has the highest grade in all classes she takes and sets up the curve. One student in one of her classes came to professor yesterday and said that it is unfair to others to set up a curve based on her performance, since she does not have a life and all she does it studying. Her learning habits are not unusual in our school environment, but I guess this is something that those kids are not used to. She told the professor, that the kid might be right, since she does not have to go to work and study and the same time as some of those kids have to. Her only job is to study so she is trying to do it well.</p>
<p>My D16 is not studying all day, but her summer free time is limited nonetheless. Sports activities (she’s out of the house many days before 6 AM), volunteer gigs, a camp. She does spend evenings on SAT prep and instrument practice though. My D13 works most days, but has much more free time than her sister. I think it’s a personality thing. My 10 year old…well, I anticipate her high school summers to be chockful of hanging out with friends (such a social butterfly, lol)</p>
<p>With my D it’s not so much spending the summer studying as going off to do “activities”
Here’s her summer:
May 30th last day of school
June 6-11 Outdoor Journey Camp (Girl Scout pilot program)
June 11-19 Girl Scout High Adventure Team Backpacking trip to CO
June 21-26 Girl Scout trip to New Orleans
July 5 - July 25 Counselor in Training program Level Two GS Camp in MA
July 25-Aug 2 hanging with friends in MA
July 30 college visit MIT
Aug 2-3 95th Anniversary party camp out at Girl Scout Camp in MA
Aug 3- 13 Girl Scout Destination trip to Morocco
Aug 14 Begin weekly PSAT/SAT tutoring
Aug 15 restart weekly music lessons
Aug 16 volunteer at wildflower center
Aug 17 restart ensemble practice
Aug 21 PSAT/SAT tutoring
Aug 22 music lesson
Aug 25 first day of school</p>
<p>Basically she’ll have been away from home from June 6 until Aug 13 except a few brief pit stops to do laundry.
I’ll fly up and meet her in MA to take her to the MIT visit, drive her to camp for the anniversary party and then to NY to make sure she makes her flight to Morocco so at least I’ll get to see her for a few days.</p>
<p>Between Aug 14-25 she needs to complete her summer assignments, get in her doctor/dentist/hair appointment and do back to school shopping, oh and her orchestra teacher expects her to have her UIL/regional pieces <em>memorized</em> by the first week of school <so not="" going="" to="" happen!=""> These are all activities that she really wants to do (other than the PSAT/SAT tutor - that was all me) so she gets to be with friends but it’s certainly not a laid back, care free summer.</so></p>
<p>Music directors really enjoy those “memorise this by Thursday!” moments, don’t they? </p>
<p>@3scoutsmom – That is a truly exciting and enriching summer! Morocco? Not exactly the destination I might have guessed for a Girl Scout trip. And, as an avid backpacker, I’ll bet that the trip to Colorado was pretty spectacular. </p>
<p>You’ll have to report on the MIT trip. I know that I would benefit if ‘trip reports’ to campuses were put on this thread, even for schools that are not on S16’s radar. With S14 I was struck by the fact that on these visits the schools have the opportunity to present themselves in the best light possible, and some do a really good job of it and some do a really poor job of it. I think that piece (the competence and professionalism of the admissions office) may be some sort of reflection on the administration of school, and of course the specifics of what both the kid and the parents liked and didn’t liked is also, at least to me, interesting.</p>
<p>Finally, where do you guys live?</p>
<p>@AsleepAtTheWheel we live in Central Texas, I actually hope D16 crosses MIT off the list after the visit I really can’t see her in the city, if it weren’t for the rental car rules I’d make <em>her</em> drive 8-> I’ll be sure to post a report when we get back.</p>
<p>Here’s the info on the Morocco trip
<a href=“http://theatsteam.com/destinations/exotic-morocco-a-whole-new-world.html”>http://theatsteam.com/destinations/exotic-morocco-a-whole-new-world.html</a>
Since you’re into backpacking you might find it interesting. </p>
<p>I don’t think most people realize the opportunities available to older girls in Girl Scouts. The summer before last I took a group of 14 and 15 year old Girl Scouts to Ghana for a gathering of scouts from around the world. It was a great experience. We camped on the beach under coconut palms and not only did they meet various African scouts and guides but they made friends with some Italian Girl Guides and German Boy Scouts.</p>
<p>@3scoutsmom I am so glad your daughter is still this active in Girl Scouting! My D '11 did a destination trip to the cabana at the World Center in Mexico. It was the only international trip she was able to fit it, and she had a wonderful time. She worked as a counselor at a Girl Scout camp for two summers and earned her Gold Award. </p>
<p>There are lots of opportunities for girls to grow and learn. I am glad your D is taking advantage of them.</p>
<p>@3scoutsmom where is she going to do her weekly PSAT tutoring at?</p>
<p>@bajamm congratulations to your D11 for earning her Gold Award! My D16 has her project approved but I can only hope she actually completes it before it’s too late. She also plans to work as a camp counselor after she graduates. </p>
<p>@Mysonsdad we are using a local company <a href=“http://www.morethanateacher.com”>www.morethanateacher.com</a> They are great! D16 took their PSAT/SAT class and scored 2150 on her first try at the SAT. They get the difference between a kid trying to go from 1500 up to 1800 vs the kid that is going from 2000 to 2200+ or better and have a pretty impressive record for the number of National Merit semi-finalists they have worked with. If D can do very well on the PSAT then I don’t really care if she retakes the SAT or not but her current plan is to retake the SAT in January.</p>
<p>Could some of you post your proposed standardised testing plans-- which ones and when? I feel like we are simultaneously on track and way behind.</p>
<p>Our GCs recommend all juniors take PSAT. Most also took as sophomores. PLAN test also taken as sophomores. Test prep offered both at lunch time (topics posted in advance) and on (Saturdays Feb to Apr) during the school year. All take ACT on 4/12/15. Some will take earlier as well. SAT scheduling is more self directed. Some, but not many, take each test twice. </p>
<p>10th grade PSAT (Oct), PLAN-pre ACT (Nov), SAT (March), AP exams (May), Math 2 SAT2 (May)</p>
<p>11th grade PSAT (Oct), SAT second time (Jan), ACT (April) required by school, AP exams (May) Chem and Physics SAT2 (May)</p>
<p>12th AP exams (May)</p>
<p>We picked January for the second attempt at the SAT because this is after heavy prepping for the 11th grade PSAT for National Merit and allows for study over Christmas Break but D may opt not to retake the SAT if she dose well on her 11th grade PSAT. If she knocks MIT off her college lists she won’t be taking the SAT2 tests in 11th grade. </p>
<p>My kid’s schools have been so lax on testing and college prep that she’s taking her first test, PSAT, in Oct. Then first ACT in Dec. First SAT in Jan. Yeah, pretty screwed. No AP planned. Maybe CLEPs just for the hell of it in spring 2016. — They forgot PLAN. No test prep at school or through school. Sigh. </p>
<p>Soph. Year PSAT
Junior. Oct SAT to warm up for oct. PSAT
JUNIOR Dec. ACT. April ACT. MAY. - ap tests
School never offered this class plan. Smh</p>
<p>Just to be clear, the only testing the school arranged was the PLAN and the ACT - these are paid for by the school and taken during the school day. All other tests the student signs up for and pays on their own. Our school also doesn’t do any prep classes for testing. </p>
<p>9th- PSAT in Oct
10th- PSAT in Oct, APHG in May, ACT in June
11th- SAT2 Math 2 in Oct, PSAT in Oct, ACT in Dec, 3-5 APs in May, 1 more SAT2 in June
12th- hopefully none</p>
<p>I may have son take the ACT a 3rd time in spring of 11th or fall of 12th but we are hoping to have all testing done before senior year starts. He wants to be able to apply ED.</p>
<p>@Dragonflygraden PSAT 3 times but no plans for the SAT??</p>
<p>Our school doesn’t do PLAN. Never heard about PSAT when my D12 was a junior. Probably wasn’t too relevant for her but it definitely is for the boy. He’s been taking ACT since 6th grade thru a talent search and we just kept up with it in high school just for the heck of it… or to torment him…? Couldn’t get him to take the PSAT last Oct (because why should he “when it doesn’t count”?) so prepping for that is our current battle. He’ll probably take ACT in Feb or April, SAT in spring only if his PSAT is high. I think he’ll only have 2 AP tests in May and I hope maybe Spanish CLEP in June. The school just started providing ACT prep recently but testing is our responsibility.</p>
<p>@3scoutsmom
We are on the East Coast so they push the PSAT. He took it in 9th as a practice and did so-so. He took it in 10th since the school paid for it and did better but still so-so. For 11th he might as well take it although I very much doubt he’ll make the cut offs for National Merit. He says he likes the ACT style better then the PSAT/SAT. I want him to try a few SAT practice tests this year before he dismisses the SAT altogether. His sister (c/o 2013) liked the ACT better also. </p>