Parents of the HS Class of 2015

[suzy100]

mihcal1, my D's school has just 6 periods a day as well. My D has had to take summer classes (A social studies class last summer, and PE this coming summer) as well as an online class (she's taking health online right now, on top of her regular schedule) so that she can fit in other classes. It's kind of a pain, but we are grateful that at least they offer alternative ways to knock out some core classes.

[PinotNoir]

You're right suzy100 - our school won't accept credits from online or other sources, and not many things are offered in the summer. I thin it's just PE and remedial classes.

[Gibson1514]

Can you get a PE credit for varsity sports? Both my d's earned a PE credit that way- and marching band qualified. D1 also took AP Econ on line ( GA virtual) as she couldn't fit the class into her schedule. We had to pay for it since she was already enrolled in 8 classes. But considering she received college credit hrs the $300 was well spent.

[suzy100]

Gibson, her school does offer PE credit for varsity sports and band, but my kiddo is an orchestra/choir kid who plays rec sports so no credit help there. I guess the PE classes offered in the summer are kind of fun though. They go on canoe trips, etc., so I don't think it will be too much of a burden for her.

[PinotNoir]

suzy & Gibson - our HS gives one PE credit for the top show choir. Somehow that cracks me up, but it's what S is banking on. He has three years to make it, so he knows he may end up in summer gym with a bunch of obnoxious freshmen if he never gets into the top choir.

And to make it even funnier, it's a new policy. My senior spent two years wrestling and never got PE credit for it - they didn't give it for any sports of activities just two years ago. 16 hours of grueling practice every week plus matches and he still had to take PE, while S'15 is probably going to get credit for doing jazz hands in a sparkly tux.

Please don't anyone take offense - I'm a musician and love kids being in music, and I fully enjoy the choir performances. It just strikes us funny in this house!

[ohiobassmom]

Don't get me started on the PE waiver....at my kid's school it has to be 2 "fully funded school sports" in one year to get credit. She plays volleyball (school sport) and Lacrosse (school but not fully funded so considered "club" - doesn't count), plus club volleyball (not in school). In spring she spends 20-30 hours a week doing the two sports, neither of which count.

She can't have a study hall at all next year for Health and Wellness, and last year had to give up a semester study hall for PE.

But...she can take H&W in summer, for $300. Bummer is,she already does v-ball conditioning every day in summer - but that doesn't count either. Argggh!

[PinotNoir]

And to rub salt in the wound, my older son (college sophomore) went to a brand new charter school his freshman year and they didn't really have a good plan in place for PE. He got his two PE credits for keeping a log book of his independent physical activities. Yeah, right.

[suzy100]

S'15 is probably going to get credit for doing jazz hands in a sparkly tux. *snort*

ohiobassmom, that would make me crazy.

[Threesdad]

Hello All: A friend from CA (D is a '12 who will be attending school back East in the fall) suggested I take a peak at this site. I've been reading for about a month & this is my 1st post.

D '15 will be compiling her schedule by month's end. Her school does block scheduling as do many others. While we'll be meeting her her advisor in about 10 days (the faculty has completed their recommendations for next year already), it appears the schedule will look something like this:
Algebra II (H)
Spanish II (H)
Chemistry
English II
History II - Revolutions
Gym/Health - required even as she is a 2 sport athlete
Fine Arts perhaps sculpture or photography

It nice to read what other parents experiences have been and what the fride may look like going forward.

[suzy100]

Welcome Threesdad!

[ohiobassmom]

suzy that was Pinot's S, but it does kinda make me crazy still

[Threesdad]

Thank you !

[suzy100]

No, I did mean you ohiobassmom - that it would make me crazy that my daughter participated in so many sports activities but still didn't get the PE waiver! Some day I will figure out how to properly quote here. The part about Pinot's S actually made me giggle.

[ohiobassmom]

Oh cool, I got it. My S - not a big athlete - actually got a partial waiver for "Personal Fitness" - out of school sport activities that had to be signed off on by a coach/trainer/whatever. My D couldn't do that either because the school sport couldn't count and it had to be 2 different activities.

one more time....ARGGGHHHHH!

[mihcal1]

My friend who teaches piano at a conservatory and helps run the local Certificate of Merit program told me that the theory they teach for Piano Level 8 is roughly comparable to the AP Music Theory exam. So, just for kicks, I had D2015 do a practice exam out of the College Board book ... and just taking the exam cold she's close to a passing score. She says the vocab is a little different, and she had to guess on some of the questions. But she thinks that with just a little studying (to line-up the vocab) she should be able to clinch a passing score.

So if anyone has kids doing CoM Piano at that level, have them look at AP Music Theory materials. I ordered the College Board book from Amazon, but you can also look at the CB AP Music Theory course website. It might be an easy way to pick up some college credit.