Parents of the HS Class of 2009 (Part 1)

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
4601

<h1>theorymom - I haven’t been on the computer for a few days, and I just saw your posts wondering about accommodations available for writing disabilities. My S has dysgraphia (with all the supporting documentation). He gets the following accommodations at WPI: note taker, extra time on tests (150%), use of computer for all written assignments, can record lectures, and copies of lecture notes ahead of time (when available). He hasn’t actually requested a note taker, as he is recording the lectures.</h1>

<p>The people in the DSO have been very helpful. In fact, he has bi-weekly “academic coaching” meetings with Dale Snyder, and has found that to be helpful with time management.</p>

<p>At the beginning of the term, he met with each professor, and discussed his disability and his accommodations. They were all very supportive.</p>

<p>I would really encourage you to pursue the diagnosis. I think you will find WPI to be very supportive. I was pleasantly surprised.</p>

4602

<p>When we lived in England I remember talking to a friend whose children went off to BS at ~ 12. She said when she was growing up the sentiment was that raising stewards of “the Empire” was not something that should be left to parents!!
There was a little boy in my Ds class - he was actually Lord Somethingorother - going to BS at the tender age of 8!<br>
Seems to work for a lot of people stateside as well, though.</p>

4603

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<p>I’m sort of surprised that it hasn’t caught on as a “thing to do” down here. I don’t think that even the elite/wealthy/well-educated here in Texas are willing to give up high school football!</p>

4604

<p>Texas Football - I have seen the stadium near Odessa. Amazing. Friday Night Lights and all that. I have the Panther T-shirt.</p>

4605

<p>thanks for that info Dragon Lady!</p>

4606

<p>My younger brother has dysgraphia. When he was little, long before computers, we actually had one. Mostly it was a fancy typewriter, but it was a huge help to him. And actually, he went to boarding school as a freshman mostly because “in those days” there weren’t many accommodations in the local schools… we only had catholic school as private. Anyway… it was the small classrooms, personal attention and yes some technology that made it the best option. He is one brilliant guy and life had been so completley frustrating for him prior to that.</p>

<p>Anyway… I went to boarding school but the school I went to would not be a good fit for my D. My father’s side all went to boarding school, including my cousins. My FIL went to boarding school starting at 12 and refused to ever send his children despite my SIL really really wanting to go. They all attended private day schools. I never would have given it a thought for my oldest D or my son except as a PG year if that would have been a fit (and I have to admit that I would have hated to miss all his sports as well), but with D it’d make us empty nesters and so getting away for long weekends to watch her play her sport would be easier done. Still this is just the beginning of a conversation and I think we’ll at least get the information. I think we also have to delve deeper into why she wants to go exactly. The quality of her current school is really quite stellar so… I am definitely not jumping on this particular wagon, yet. Since she is coming with us to S’s this weekend and there’s quite a long car ride involved, so we’ll see how the conversation evolves.</p>

4607

<p>missypie - Exactly!</p>

4608

<p>I had a wonderful time in DC this past weekend, visiting both S3 at American University and my newly married S1 and his wife who live in DC as well.</p>

<p>S3 seems almost too well-adjusted to college life. He and his roommate have become good friends and travel in the same crowd. His group of friends is eclectic and includes kids from all over the US and some international students as well. All sorts of majors and interests are represented so they certainly have wide ranging conversations.</p>

<p>The group seems VERY social but academically focused as well–they all seemed aware of each other’s tests, papers, projects etc. They encourage each other to study and do well, they seem like they have good influence on each other.</p>

<p>They were very honest about the partying and drinking – I was surprised at how honest they were. I wish S did not take part, but he does, although he has made clear that it’s always academics and other activities first. He is on a club soccer team and an intramural team and is playing on an ultimate frisbee team as well. He doesn’t do well academically unless he gets a lot of physical activity as well, so I am glad he has stayed involved in sports. He has gone to a good number of frat parties and parties with the club soccer team and had a good time. He will probably go through rush this spring and will make a decision about whether he wants to join a fraternity then.</p>

<p>'Grades so far are ok–he’s struggling for a B in Spanish (he took Latin in high school) because he is moderately dyslexic and as he can’t spell well in English, it’s even harder for him in Spanish . His professor was amused by his backward q’s on an in-class quiz. He does fine on the oral work.</p>

<p>He’s on the A-B border in Calc 221–he’s not a math wiz but he took the harder Calc class (he could have taken 211) for the challenge. No grades at all yet in his other classes.</p>

<p>He’s not really happy with these grades but I think as he adjusts to college-level demands things will improve for him.</p>

<p>We did lots of good restaurants in DC (Founding Farmers, Meiwah and Zeytania; and S3 treated H and me to burgers and shakes at zBurger!) but the best meal of all was Shabbat dinner at the home of S1 and my DIL. They worked very hard to make a lovely dinner, including challah and apple cake from scratch. They used some of their wedding gifts, including breaking out their china for the first time. I was very touched by the effort they went to for us. </p>

<p>What a feeling it was to see S1 at the head of his own table making the blessings, etc.! He and my DIL are more observant than H and I are so they make more than just the perfunctory blessings–it was very nice. S1 really enjoyed one of those kiddush sets where you pour the wine from the larger blessed goblet into a contraption that distributes the wine into the smaller individual goblets. Does anyone know the name for this?</p>

<p>All in all, a wonderful weekend!</p>

4609

<p>Wow, boysx3, you must have an incredible feeling of “well, we must have done *something *right…”</p>

4610

<p>boysx3—what a wonderful visit. how nice to peek into the future and hear about your newly married son. you have much to be proud of and to enjoy!</p>

4611

<p>WHat a fabulous visit and report, boysx3.
You deserve to be very proud. Please accept my heartfelt pat on the back for a job well-done!</p>

4612

<p>oh, boysx3, what a wonderful report! just what we all hope for. Your Shabbat dinner sounds lovely. I’m sure there is a Hebrew name for those wine dispensers, but all I could some up with was “Shabbat Wine Fountain”, like this: [Shabbat</a> Wine Fountain - Jewisheart.com](<a href=“http://www.jewisheart.com/index.asp?mode=ItemDetail&item=1207&category=93]Shabbat”>http://www.jewisheart.com/index.asp?mode=ItemDetail&item=1207&category=93)</p>

4613

<h1>tm - another thought on getting accommodations: WPI will send the application to an outside expert who determines what accommodations are appropriate. I sent in my S’s paperwork over the summer, and it took many weeks until we heard back. So, even if you get the tests completed between A & B terms, he might not be able to get the accommodations until well into B term. Presumably the backlog of applications will not be as big as it was before the start of the current school year, but I just wanted you to be aware of the potential delay.</h1>

<p>Thinking of you, and wishing you the best.</p>

4614

<p>PRJ,</p>

<p>Thank you for finding just the right thing! I wasn’t quite sure of even what to search under.</p>

<p>S1 got a kick out of using it. I admit to being a bit nervous when he first started to pour the wine…I had mental images of a real mess!</p>

<p>It is a wonderful feeling to see your children maturing and finding their way in life. All 3 of my boys are so different from one another --which is how I like it-- I look forward to seeing what paths each will take. Somehow his becoming more religious and marrying a young woman from a religious family did not surprise me. But I do wonder what paths the other 2 will find…</p>

<p>I really enjoy reading the stories of all of our children on this thread, both of their triumphs and their struggles. It’s what makes this so riveting.</p>

4615

<p>My poor guy has the flu :frowning: according to Student Health Services
He sounds horrid</p>

4616

<p>Thanks DL. I was not thinking we would get anything going until probably D term. Testing will begin this recess and continue over winter recess. Paperwork will probably not be finalized through WPI intil after C term. I’ve advised S not to take anything writing intensive until next year. We’ll see how it goes. Right now it seems to be hard knocks time for him. Maybe a good thing - to get it all over with…</p>

4617

<p>…or maybe I am just meant to worry about him for the rest of my life…</p>

4618

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<p>Oh, I’m so sorry. Will his roommate bring him food?</p>

4619

<p>I’m in the middle of making a big pot of chicken soup…H is coming down with something. I wish I could send some…</p>

<p>Is there a Hillel on campus? A lot of them have a chicken soup service for sick students. You call, and they deliver to the student for a small fee.</p>

4620

<p>He said his roommates are helping him out, but I don’t think he is hungry</p>