<p>LINYMOM-saw Priscilla with “the girlfriends” and loved it. Went to the City today to see Book of Mormon. I’m in the minority when I say it was a little disappointing in the first Act (not to be confused with ACTs) after all the hype but I loved it by the end. (Still, it’s no Les Miz). D2 said SATs were hard and she probably did not go up since May’s. I say, “IT’S OVER!!!”</p>
<p>Oh yeah. Book of Mormon. Need to put that on my list. DH wanted to see Jesus Christ Superstar so we are going next week. i don’t see a show for a year and then twice in one week.</p>
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<p>YES. This would be the best part.</p>
<p>BTW - There’s a new thread on the Parents board about “surly HS juniors.” I’m not going to dwell on that, but it is nice to know that I am not alone in dealing with this. Definitely more fun hanging out here - it’s way more positive!</p>
<p>Good luck to all of your kids who tested today. All your talk about Broadway is making me homesick. There definitely comes a time with testing that it is what it is and its tome to move on, but sometimes kids are happily surprised. Even if just one score increases it is a plus for schools that superscore.</p>
<p>Armed with a boatload of meds (recent colitis diagnosis), and feeling reasonably well and filled with excitement S2 is off on his 4hr drive to his URJ camp that he will be e a counselor at for the summer. I’m so happy that he has his new student conference at college for a couple of days in a few weeks so we have an excuse to see him then. For now no tears but a good bit of worry and thankfulness that he is able to go. This is the first year we aren’t taking him. Its a long drive but I’m kind of missing it.</p>
<p>Your son’s camp is starting already?</p>
<p>My daughter has to report for staff week next Monday. We’ll have her home for 5 nights before she leaves. We’ll also have her here for a night when she comes back to town for freshman orientation in July…and a little less than a week in August between camp and move-in at college.</p>
<p>I do a lot of online market research surveys, and lately I’ve been wondering when I should stop saying I have four people in my household!</p>
<p>If I have the schedule right counselor training is this week and camp begins next week. S has friends getting to training late because they haven’t gone through graduation yet! Our schedule is similar to yours with the caveat of getting wisdom teeth pulled between end of camp and start of college. For online market research, we’re still paying for both kids who are not here and still buying essentials they need so as long as that happens I guess they are still part of the household, they are a huge part of the budget!</p>
<p>Spectrum!</p>
<p>Hope your S2 did okay with the 4 hour drive to his camp. My S1 has been home for 3 weeks already and I am spending a small fortune in groceries all of a sudden! Yikes…cannot believe what he’s eating…and he’s not heavy, just hungry! ;)</p>
<p>Deskpotato:</p>
<p>I just signed up for one of those survery companies a few weeks ago and I have yet to be the right demographic they’re looking for, oh well! Not gonna get rich off of these comanies, that’s for sure! :)</p>
<p>Btw: My S2 decided to skip the Chem SATII yesterday and took the World History one instead. He has a much better shot of a higher score this way. Looks like most of the colleges he’ll be applying to won’t need the scores submitted, but he likes the practice anyway. Helps with quizzes and tests. Looks like the ACT will be the way to go for him.</p>
<p>Thanks Chocchip he made it just fine. That is all I know though very bad reception and few replies to my texts, I’ll take that as a good thing. Enjoy the those healthy teen boy appetites, where do they put it?</p>
<p>SAT’s over. :)</p>
<p>ACT’s Saturday. :/</p>
<p>Finals next week. :(</p>
<p>Summer! :)</p>
<p>Shulamit,
We travel to Israel every year or two for long stays, rent apartments and find guides for specific sites. With kids at various ages, now late teens and 20s, we have found that independence works better for us. I do know a superb tour group that does custom tours. If you want to know more, including some suggestions for day trips and activities, PM me.</p>
<p>Yesterday was the one year anniversary of the disappearance of Lauren Spierer - a student at Indiana University. We followed the story pretty closely last year - as Indiana University is always an option for a Jewish “B” student - and because the IU Hillel was very active in the search - and simply because it has been a story that touches every parent.</p>
<p>So - a year later - and not much has changed. We have had so many blessings of late - I’m just taking a moment to reflect on the sorrow and grief of this family.</p>
<p>[Help</a> us find Lauren | findLauren.com](<a href=“http://findlauren.com/]Help”>http://findlauren.com/)</p>
<p>RVM, it’s such a sad situation. My heart breaks for the Spier family. Let’s all be thankful for our wonderful children.</p>
<p>RVM-You are so right. We think of her often and what those poor parents must be going through every single day. NY news covered it in one sentence yesterday. In the aftermath of the Etan Patz arrest (and who knows if that arrest was valid) , we just hope these parents get some peace soon.</p>
<p>Just want to pass on that my D and I attended the CTCL traveling college fair when it was in Maryland last month.</p>
<p>I’m not necessarily recommending any or all of the ‘Change Live’ schools (though we will consider a few of them) but I thought they did a very nice job.</p>
<p>There was a half-hour presentation advising parents and students to lessen the anxiety level of the college search and admission process. They quoted a couple of statistics (since forgotten, sorry) about the very large number of students who get into their top college choices.</p>
<p>The rest of the session time was devoted to typical stop-by-a-table-and-ask-questions. I was impressed that each table we visited was staffed by (at least) the school’s actual director of admissions. (Admittedly this is a slow time of the year for them and a good time for them to get away.)</p>
<p>No one school jumped out at us. It was mostly to try and get my D acclimated early to the college search process. This was really our first small step. Much more, I’m sure to come.</p>
<p>One thing I did learn, though, through a one-on-one Q&A with the CTCL rep, is that there is no on-going “accrediting” going on with the CTCL organization. The original schools are permanent members. It is more of an advocacy and advice organization as opposed to an educational standards organization. I did not know that.</p>
<p>For my fellow HS Class of 2013 parents, who are not looking forward to the actual college application process with their DD/DS, I want to share a major victory (victories) we had yesterday.</p>
<p>With literally five days left of classes in junior year, DS finally got an assignment in English that he thinks is valuable: drafting an essay for the common app (and it’s due Thurs.) Woo hoo! Someone besides me is telling him to do it (victory #1). Granted he complained that (a) “we are taught all year not to write in the first person and now, for the most important thing we have to write, it has to be in the first person” and (b) “I have no idea what to write.”</p>
<p>Fortunately, we had an opportunity to sit together for about 45 minutes without outside interruptions (doctor waiting room) and chat about concepts. The school has its own booklet with prompts, suggestions, etc. DS drew a complete blank so we started chatting about things that were important to him, with me asking some questions and also pointing out some things that I think are unique about him that could be the kernel of an interesting essay.</p>
<p>Well, one thing I said actually resonated him. He smiled (priceless = victory #2). Realized that he could do something with it. Had an interesting beginning that he could then extrapolate to other parts of who he is (and showcase some of his strengths). Came home and whipped through (for him) about half the essay; he is on a roll.</p>
<p>The best part (besides that a draft will be done this week!) is that he said it was easy (victory #3!). He had a huge “aha” moment. College essay are not monsters. They aren’t going to be graded. They are just about you.</p>
<p>I tried to look online at what will be required in any supplements he will have to do for the common app for the colleges he will apply to. Couldn’t access all of them this early, but so far, I didn’t see too many additional essays. Nothing that he can’t come up with something.</p>
<p>Wow. I’m feeling so much better about this. And, even more important, so is DS (victory #4).</p>
<p>LINYMOM–So happy for you! I want some of that!</p>
<p>Congrats on those victories, Linymom! I think that getting started is the hardest part for most kids.</p>
<p>LINYMOM- I loved reading this so much! I was just grinning! Very happy for you and may we all be lucky enough to have moments such as these. YAY!</p>
<p>Thank you, everyone! I just wanted you all to remember that it might not be as bad as you think and you never know when your kid will turn a corner!</p>
<p>Linymom - Just what I needed to read as I anticipate the end of school next week for my Junior, and the upcoming summer of college apps. Smart teacher to “help” by assigning the draft - a little “push” to get the kids started. Did the teacher use the current common ap question? Lucky you that your S responded so well, and that he was willing to accept your subtle help!!</p>