My state is looking into later HS start times. Problem is that some kids cannot get up that early due to health or family issues, and with rotating schedules, you can’t start late.
We have the K-6 start at 8:30 am, 7 & 8 at 8 am, and 9 - 12 at 7:30 am. Ridiculous.
Our district has similar schedule as @rhandco, our K-6 starts between 8:20 to 9am (couple elementary starts at 9:10am). Middle school starts at 8am, HS starts at 7:40 for 1st period, 6:40 for zero period. I was told it’s because of bus schedule…We can’t leave young children (K-6) at home and go to work, so most family need to work late (if job allows) or pay for morning daycare or find other solutions. I’m so grateful that my boss understand my situation and give me flexible schedule. But still, I wish we can switch schedule between K-6 and 9-12. I read study about our high schoolers will do better if start school a little late, but our district hasn’t catch up with this theory yet… @2014novamom so lucky!
My D opted to switch high schools this year & now must take the public bus & then walk about a mile to get to her new school. She is out the door a few minutes after 6:00 AM. And my DH, who is a high school teacher, leaves at about the same time. Me? I work in an office & stroll in around 9 AM. It doesn’t seem fair…
My son feels his locker is light-years from his daily orbit and completely inconvenient to visit even once a day. He is carrying his entire schoolday’s worth of binders and textbooks and supplies all day every day, in his backpack. My protests fall on deaf ears. Either he slips a disc or develops muscles like an offensive tackle. Too soon to say.
My job is 100% attendance (teaching), so my husband covers for me when he needs to. Good he has some flexibility in that regard.
There is a serious lack of use of lockers in the high school my son goes to. The middle schoolers all use their lockers, but once they get the high school, it is mostly one floor (instead of three) so the lockers tend to be inconvenient.
S hasn’t been assigned his locker yet, but last year he mapped his day around locker stops. I think the school bases locker assignment on the location of the class immediately before lunch, so I think every kid can make a switch part way through the day.
It’s just the first week of school, but he’ll already be missing classes tomorrow as the drumline is travelling to the away (out of state) football game. They leave just before lunch and get home at around 4 am the next morning. I am guessing I’m the one who will get to make that pick up.
Eep. 4 AM.
Two thumbs up for our principle! Historically our school offered the PSAT on a Saturday to anyone who signed up. Juniors were strongly encouraged to register for the PSAT, Sophomores that wanted to go for NM or were taking the SAT early were also encouraged to take the PSAT for practice. This year, because of the College Board’s new rules, the school can only offer the PSAT on Wednesday so they decided to limit it to juniors only.
My sophomore son had planned to take the PSAT this year both for practice for the PSAT Junior year and because he’s signed up to take the new SAT in March. My 8th grade homeschooled son had planned to take the PSAT for the required testing for his high school application.
I managed to sign the older son up before they posted the Junior only rules but younger son got flagged and ‘wait listed.’ The AP in charge of testing said,“sorry no, the PSAT is for 11th grade only.” I wrote a letter of appeal to the principle explaining the situation and the next morning both boys were registered for the test. I love a principle that gets that some kids don’t fit the mold! I also think it’s a dumb idea to restrict the PSAT to Juniors only.
At our high school they offer PSAT testing to both Freshman and Sophomores as well as Juniors. They also hosted a practice test of the new PSAT this summer. I don’t understand what the reasoning would be behind restricting it. Makes no sense to me!
@IDtoTX I agree! My guess is they are trying to get all the sophomores to take the new PSAT 10 this spring. Schools choose a date between Feb. 22 and March 4, 2016 for the PSAT 10 but DS will be taking the SAT on March 5th. He won’t have scores back from the PSAT before he takes the SAT unless he take the OCT PSAT. Just glad the school is not giving me grief over this!
My S18 will take the old SAT in November just in case. I want him to at least try it.
@rhandco that was my thought too but DS strongly objected, he only wants to focus on the new SAT. I have learned to pick my battles…
“This year, because of the College Board’s new rules, the school can only offer the PSAT on Wednesday so they decided to limit it to juniors only.”
What is this rule? At my D’s school, anybody who wanted to take the PSAT could do so. Is CB mandating a Wednesday test??
Yes CB is mandating the Wednesday only testing.
Space may have something to do with our school’s choice to limit the PSAT to Juniors. When they offered Saturday testing they could use the whole school but on a Wednesday they will only be able to use the cafeteria.
Again I’m glade the school is being reasonable with exceptions. Given that there is currently only one practice PSAT out there I’ll bet many sophomore will want to take the PSAT this year.
Has anyone gotten the PSAT practice booklets yet this year? They should be available soon.
Man, I really hope my D’s school doesn’t try to limit the test to only juniors. Thank you for the info
I don’t think D will do any prep for this year’s PSAT.
PSAT has been on Wednesday only here for many years. Our school district gives it free to sophomores and then to juniors for a nominal fee.
My DD is going to focus on the new SAT. She may take it at the end of sophomore year because fall of Jr. year is a heavy sport season. Races are on Saturday mornings. I will encourage her to take it again in January Jr. year if she needs to.
The PSAT is always on Wednesdays here. 2018 son is looking forward to the challenge again.
and the PSAT saga continues … after getting written permission for my sons (current 10th grader that’s taking the SAT in March and 8th grader that needs the PSAT for the school’s required application because he’s always been homeschooled) they now say it was a “misunderstanding” and that for some reason they thought both my sons were 11th graders?? and now neither will be allowed to take the PSAT!!!
Seriously this is crazy! Now I have to pull the 10th grader out of school for the morning and take them both to another school district for the test. I’m still waiting on their reply about if they will consider this and excused absence or not. I’m very frustrated that they changed their mind at this late date!