D22 had her first day last Thursday, new school in a new state. It's going well so far all things considered. She likes all her teachers, doesn't really have any friends yet, but is slowly building "acquaintances". I think it will be a good school for her, and is a much better school than the one her older sister, D18 attended ( :-h nice to see you here @vistajay and other fellow '18ers). Bonus is, she can walk to school! I used to do the long drive thing, did it for 13 years in fact, but I don't think I'm going to miss it. )
S22 got his schedule. He got all the classes he wanted but I’m not happy with one of his teachers. D17 had her and thought she was a really poor teacher. I’m trying to figure out how to diplomatically ask S22’s guidance counselor if he can be put in another section.
Have been reading this thread from the beginning but officially adding myself today as it was D22's first day of school. I feel like an old hat with a D15 and a S18, but my youngest is so different from the first 2 its like starting over. While she is my most academically motivated kid, she is also my shyest so sports, clubs and extracurriculars will be minimal. But with having 2 siblings ahead of her, she is very familiar with the whole process, from putting your best foot forward, to tours, to application deadlines. Looking forward to the next 4 years with all of you!
@NolaCAR Same with my daughter. She got all the classes she wanted. Today is her second day but she already complained that her math teacher doesn't know math. We are not allowed to switch sections at all unless there is a major conflict, e.g., two classes scheduled on same period, missing required class, etc.
It's time to start the high school process all over with my youngest now that my D15 is in her last year of college and my D18 has been dropped off at college (I am still adjusting to that one). My D22 is completely different from her two older sisters, still academically gifted, just geared differently. While they were both STEM kids, she is my humanities kid and loves English and History. Hopefully, since this is not my first go around, this time will be a little smoother than the first two. The last one did seem to go a lot easier than the first one. She has been in school a week and a half and was able to successfully get her schedule changed by moving her math class from the last period of the day to the second period of the day. We did let her take a study hall this year so that she could acclimate herself this year, but plan on none after this year. Here's to a great freshman year!!
@hopewhite25 I am also on the starting all over camp. My dd14 graduated in June and is already gainfully employed with grad school plans in a year or two. My oldest was very academic, with a couple of light extracurricular activities that were unique. My dd22 is also academic but is involved in several time demanding mainstream extracurricular endeavors.
D22 got her schedule this week along with a phone call that she was accepted into her school’s version of student government as a class rep. School starts Wednesday. She has a few nerves but nothing too extreme. Hopefully it will be a great year!
S22 is on day 3 of school. He his very happy with his schedule and with his teachers. He has one teacher his older sister (D19) had serious issues with, so we'll see how THAT works out. S22 is so very different from D19 that I hope the teacher will see and appreciate the differences.
Today S22 did ask how honors classes work with GPAs. Evidently someone at school told him the only way a student gets a GPA bump is if they take all honors classes. I had to set the record straight on that error, and also reassure him he does not have to take "all" honors classes, or "all" AP classes, etc. He plans to take four years of orchestra and there is no GPA bump for arts classes (or foreign languages, for that matter, except for AP courses).
Anyone have recommendations for what I and S22 should be doing freshman year of HS to prepare for college? Or maybe a book or other source that gives a timeline of what to do when? (I found 2 online but the reviews said they were outdated.) I wasn’t entirely happy with how D17’s college search went, so I want to be more prepared this time.
@NolaCAR I think at this point I would say to first make sure you & your son are both aware of things like graduation requirements and what a few colleges require or recommend for admission (because sometimes they don’t match exactly and it’s helpful just to see it printed somewhere).
Then make sure your child is taking a tough but fair for him courseload. It’s good to be challenged but not overwhelmed, to have to work for grades but still have time for extra curriculars.
I’ve suggested to my d22 that she try different clubs. If she joins a team type club/sport, it’s a commitment for the year, but some clubs can just be one and done meetings if she doesn’t like them. This is the best year IMO for them to branch out a little to find things that interest them and that they might want to continue and delve into more later in high school... or even just figuring out what they don’t like can be helpful.
I think it’s important (if they haven’t already done this in middle school) that they develop the habit of really studying and working to learn and for grades. Even if they are geniuses and taking the hardest course load available but it’s still easy for them, IMO it can hurt them down the road if they haven’t developed good study and work skills. Additionally, related to that, is that they should be connecting with teachers. They should be asking questions about essays or labs or homework problems. It’s important for a few reasons. Aside from obviously helping them learn some more information, it can help them connect with the teachers who someday might write LORs, it’s good practice for future meetings with college professors during office hours, and it helps develop some of that important study and work habits thing.
@NolaCAR Make sure you are aware how your HS handles psat testing and take advantage of that if you can. Our HS offers free psat testing for freshman, sophomores, and juniors. NMSQT can open some doors depending on results.
First 3 days of high school done for my d22. So far, so good. She takes her time getting the lay of the land though, so we will need a couple of more weeks to really know what she thinks of it.
She is now the treasurer of the class of 22. I think she likes having an activity very different from anything her sister has done.
I hope everyone else is having a smooth transition to 9th grade.
We're now a couple weeks in to the freshman year. One of the bigger adjustments: after school sport. S22 is doing cross country. School ends at 2:20, practice starts at 3:05. Practice runs a couple hours. This is a big new commitment of time, and it means some of his favorite activities from middle school fall by the wayside a bit. Because he then has to do his homework.
This is one of the bigger adjustments he's having to make. What I like about it as a parent is that he needs to start managing his time better. He has less slack in his daily schedule, so he must be smart about getting things done. This is a big change from the middle school days. It's bumpy now, but it's a process worth going through here at the outset.
My d22 was a bit nervous about starting high school which was understandable going from the smallest school with around 40 kids on her grade to a class of over 500 kids and a small school to a really big school etc. She has adapted well. she was able to switch from an art class she didn't want 2nd semester to a web and app dev class. She doesn't like her math teacher even though she enjoys math. she likes the rotating daily schedule. she is doing gymnastics this winter and is on a high school figure skating team. She also joined the film club and key club. right now she has a bad cold and is a bit miserable
Went to open house yesterday and say most of d’s teachers. She described them all pretty accurately. Disappointingly for me, her English teacher isn’t likely to be one d will connect with very well. The teacher is all about drama club and encouraging athletes to participate in drama club as the teacher herself was an athlete as a kid. She talked about that stuff quite a bit.... my kids are pretty much the opposite of athletes and like most nonathletes, tend to feel that athletes already get quite enough attention and accolades in our school. No need to make them feel any extra special, from my kids’ POV.
Otherwise, she’s got a lot of great teachers. Especially those in science and math who were the most personable and humorous.
S22 is finishing up week 3 of 9th and so far, so good. He is doing marching band and I'm not sure he'll continue after this year. He likes it okay, but he doesn't love it. We'll see. He's also on the robotics team and loves it. That's his main focus for ecs. He is giving a few other clubs a try as well and also bowling. He wants to try these new things and see what he likes. I am glad he's joining, but hope he's not too busy. Once band ends, it should help a bit, I think.
Classes seem to be fine. He knows a few kids in each class. Not too much homework, except in APUSH.
Ugh... so I think I dropped the ball, and didn't train my child enough time management skills to juggle multiple honors classes. I guess it's better to learn it now, rather than when she's off to college fending for herself.
Now is a great time @Ready5etGo ! It’s not too late and it’s probably just late enough to make a bigger impression so she doesn’t forget it.
My d22 is typically pretty good with time management and responsibility but she forgot about an assignment last week. I feel like it was a good thing because she is extra careful and not so arrogant about remembering now.
@Luanne My daughter is also in marching band, but she is absolutely loving it. She was in a robotics team for the last two years, but she dropped it this year. She enjoyed the competitions, but it was mostly a social outlet for her. There is no way she could have done both at the same time considering the time commitment required for each of them.
@InfoQuestMom Fortunately, marching band is twice a week at night and robotics is just once now and they do not conflict. Marching band will end by the end of October and robotics doesn't pick up until after kick-off in January. So it's doable for now. We'll see how it plays out when the other clubs get into gear too.
He went to a meeting for Model UN this week and thought it was very interesting. A new cyber security club is starting soon and he's interested in that too.
Replies to: Parents of the HS Class of 2022
Today S22 did ask how honors classes work with GPAs. Evidently someone at school told him the only way a student gets a GPA bump is if they take all honors classes. I had to set the record straight on that error, and also reassure him he does not have to take "all" honors classes, or "all" AP classes, etc. He plans to take four years of orchestra and there is no GPA bump for arts classes (or foreign languages, for that matter, except for AP courses).
Then make sure your child is taking a tough but fair for him courseload. It’s good to be challenged but not overwhelmed, to have to work for grades but still have time for extra curriculars.
I’ve suggested to my d22 that she try different clubs. If she joins a team type club/sport, it’s a commitment for the year, but some clubs can just be one and done meetings if she doesn’t like them. This is the best year IMO for them to branch out a little to find things that interest them and that they might want to continue and delve into more later in high school... or even just figuring out what they don’t like can be helpful.
I think it’s important (if they haven’t already done this in middle school) that they develop the habit of really studying and working to learn and for grades. Even if they are geniuses and taking the hardest course load available but it’s still easy for them, IMO it can hurt them down the road if they haven’t developed good study and work skills. Additionally, related to that, is that they should be connecting with teachers. They should be asking questions about essays or labs or homework problems. It’s important for a few reasons. Aside from obviously helping them learn some more information, it can help them connect with the teachers who someday might write LORs, it’s good practice for future meetings with college professors during office hours, and it helps develop some of that important study and work habits thing.
That’s all I can think of offhand.
She is now the treasurer of the class of 22. I think she likes having an activity very different from anything her sister has done.
I hope everyone else is having a smooth transition to 9th grade.
This is one of the bigger adjustments he's having to make. What I like about it as a parent is that he needs to start managing his time better. He has less slack in his daily schedule, so he must be smart about getting things done. This is a big change from the middle school days. It's bumpy now, but it's a process worth going through here at the outset.
Otherwise, she’s got a lot of great teachers. Especially those in science and math who were the most personable and humorous.
Classes seem to be fine. He knows a few kids in each class. Not too much homework, except in APUSH.
My d22 is typically pretty good with time management and responsibility but she forgot about an assignment last week. I feel like it was a good thing because she is extra careful and not so arrogant about remembering now.
He went to a meeting for Model UN this week and thought it was very interesting. A new cyber security club is starting soon and he's interested in that too.