<p>vicarious parent…the whole point i’m trying to make is to let your kids figure out alot of this on their own. I think they will be better for it…don’t cut them out, you just dont need to worry so much…they’ll make it</p>
<p>So, I noticed that the 2009 posts are catching up to ours, and I thought I’d latch onto one of their topics. What happens after the APs at your kids’ schools? I’m not sure what happens here because last year the only AP D had was AP Euro, and they still had to prep for the Global History regents. I’m sure the same will be true this year in APUSH, but she’s taking 3 other APs this year, and I’m curious to know what happens when the exams are finished. She said she isn’t sure. During senior year, I know some seniors use that time to work on their senior projects, but since D’s a junior, I’m not sure what goes on in those other AP classes - especially the ones made up primarily of seniors.</p>
<p>^^^at our school in APUSH, we do current events
AP Psych does a few field trips and does more abnormal psych stuff(not on test)
.AP Language and Comp-they read a book chosen by students, normally Catcher in the Rye or Speak
.AP Lit-watch movies of all the bookks they read
AP Gov-does current events
AP Calc and Stats both do “fun” applications of math</p>
<p>rocket6louise - I think the majority of us will let our kids make their own choices. I am one of those parents who pushed for early visits - not because I’m trying to take over my D’s college app process, but because I know she’s the type of person who will want to see the schools she’s applying to, and I know that in the fall of her senior year, there isn’t going to be time for visits (that’s when most of her friends are planning to do theirs, but she’s busier than most of them). The problem is, to a 16 year old, a year seems like forever, but parents realize how quickly that year goes by - and if those visits weren’t done when we did them, they weren’t going to get done. Belive me, in the end, I know she appreciated the visits - especially the most recent ones. </p>
<p>Oh, and I don’t think we worry so much as just enjoy having this place where we can vent to each other, so we don’t have to drive our kids or our families crazy. Sure, we worry sometimes, but I think most of our kids have things under control. </p>
<p>I wish you a lot of luck, and if you need advice or feel the need to vent, I guess you can feel free to come here too.</p>
<p>Thanks, rocket6louise. I think that in D’s AP Lang class, they might use that time after the AP to work on a potential college essay, but I’m not sure what else they’ll do since they’ll still have over a month of school left after the APs. My D said she thinks that in some of her classes, the seniors are excused after the AP exams to work on their senior projects, and then she isn’t sure what will be expected of her as she’s the only junior in one class, and one of two juniors in another.</p>
<p>I can’t say what happens after APs as my D is taking her first two this year… but the school says they do more than just teach to the test, so I assume they will continue to do work in these subjects, maybe with less homework, for the last couple weeks of May. We then have finals at the beginning of June so there isn’t a ton of time left.</p>
<p>the '09’ers are discussiong class rings. I don’t think our school has them, I have never heard of them, and usually they are something ordered and bestowed at the end of Jr year. I have my one from HS in a drawer I have no idea where my one from college is. I don’t think I would encourage purchasing a HS class ring unless there was larger than normal significance to it within the school community.</p>
<p>Discuss :D</p>
<p>At our HS, there’s a wide variation as to what happens in AP classes after the AP exams, since our school year runs to the third week of June. In AP Calc BC they have their final BEFORE the AP exam, so the rest of the time was spent learning about, building and firing off rockets from the athletic field. In AP Spanish Language, they did more reading from Spanish language newspapers and watched some films. In AP Euro History, they watched some historic films and did something else, I now forget what.</p>
<p>DS is wondering what will happen with his AP Physics C class this year, since he’s the only junior in a class of seniors. I guess he’s hoping he can sleep in, since it’s first period! I am hoping with AP English Language they will work on mock college essays. I think I heard for AP US History they do some mock historical trial.</p>
<p>jackie, I agree about not bothering with a HS class ring. Most kids will wear them through their senior year and that summer, but I can’t imagine them wearing a high school ring at college. Waste of money IMO. I would think a college ring would more likely be worn through college and afterward. My S looked at the brochure he brought home from HS and thought he wanted one, but I told him he would have to buy it. Since he is not working he doesn’t have money to spend on something fairly frivolous.</p>
<p>rocket6louise, It’s great that you are so independent and organized, and forward-thinking. Not all of our kids are. If we left them to all the college prep on their own, it might not happen on time, or be done as well and thoroughly as it should be, or at all. That does not mean that they are not ready for college and the responsibilities associated with handling themselves there. But many kids need a push and direction to get things done on time. Parents here want to help give their kids the best chance they have for a great education. That is not coddling in my book. It’s love and support, and my S for one appreciates it.</p>
<p>And the way to keep up our post count is only to address one topic per post. :)</p>
<p>I don’t think class rings are a big thing in these parts. Being SoCal, neither are letter jackets, who needs them in the heat? Athletes usually get nice hoodies with silk screened images of the sport they are in. Our water polo team has a neat one, with a Centaur poised to fire the ball.</p>
<p>The seniors seem to have a lot of activities in the weeks that run up to graduation. Students must of course be qualified (e.g. no discipline or academic issues.) It’s common for seniors in the SoCal area to have their day at Disneyland. There’s also a BBQ, an ice cream social, the grad night casino night bash, and a few others.</p>
<p>It also seems to be common for friends or relatives to give small gifts to graduating seniors as the get ready for the line up to march to their places: small stuffed animals, balloons, flowers, small necklaces.</p>
<p>This being SoCal with a large Latino population, there will be about a dozen each of Garcias, Rodriguezes, Sanchezes, etc. making the walk. Some of the spectators get rather raucous, which I don’t like. Save it for the end.</p>
<p>Rocket6louise:</p>
<p>Applying for college these days is absolutely more complex than in the days when I ran the gauntlet. The biggest change is the amount of testing the students go through. Making sure my S is aware of the test schedules and how it fits in with his other activities is a pretty minimal thing for me to do. He still gets to decide which dates he wants.</p>
<p>It would be awful if he couldn’t apply to a certain college because there was no time left to, say, take a subject test. That would just be unnecessary punishment, in my view. Here is CA, there are set classes students must take to qualify for admission to the UCs. My S handles this with his GC. However, as parents, the HS requires us to sign off on the student’s requested schedule of classes, so we have a chat about the pros and cons of various options. I thought he was not going to take AP Euro sophomore year and said nothing one way or the other, since he did his own research talking to students. But in the end, he decided he wanted to. Again, his choice.</p>
<p>I think of my role as more like the backstop behind the catcher in the baseball game.</p>
<p>LIMOM or anyone else who has the answers to the Dec ACT test, can you do me a favor. D is looking over them now and has a question about science question #4. She and I both think the answer should be G but the answer sheet says it is F.</p>
<p>we don’t have letterman jackets either (sorry for the gender specific name, that’s what I remember them being called) but my D got a “letter” like one you would see on such a jacket/sweater with a pin for the specific sport. Subsequent “letters” have received another pin. I think that is neat and can build up a nice collection, but I haven’t seen the kids wearing them on a jacket/sweater.</p>
<p>Most of the sports teams do purchase some clothing. Usually initiated by the captains, they are ordered at the beginning of the season and sometimes don’t come until the season is over or nearly over. Luckily, my kids do tend to play the same sports for multiple years. I will buy some of the items, but they can buy the next hoodies and t shirts if they want them, their closets are already full of these.</p>
<p>we have storage bags filled with all the sweatshirts/sweatpants/t-shirts ordered over the years…all sizes; all with our town name and the sport played…</p>
<p>We should try to predict when the '09 thread will overhaul us. It has to happen sometime, given all the anxiety of waiting for decisions, making the decisions, graduation activities, launching activities. They’ll rightfully leave us in the dust. And come around September or so, we will rise from that dust bowl like a phoenix.</p>
<p>I spoke to some School Board members at Casino Night about the axing of AP science and math classes. There’s some backtracking, talking about how at this stage each school site is just making proposals as to how to implement budget cuts. Are they just testing the waters to see who’s gored ox will squeal more? I am not chagrined at all to say that it bothers me to see that special ed classes are protected by law, that ROP (occupational) classes are funded by the county so no big savings there, but literally all the AP classes could just be wiped out. That is, unless we concerned parents make our views know.</p>
<p>question 12 on that science section is also giving us grief.</p>
<p>you know FAP, I thought there was probably a similar thread by '08 parents and I was curious when it died, but I couldn’t find it. Does anyone want to search for it? I searched on “parents 2008” title only.</p>
<p>FindAPlace, does your school have a PTA or parent listserv? PTA should be all over this one, including allying with other high schools in your district who may be facing the same problem.</p>
<p>Letters to the editor, school board, country council (if they approve the school budget), etc. are good. If anyone has a connection to a journalist who covers local issues, that can be a way to get some outside folks asking questions.</p>
<p>FAP we have similar problems with budget battles. Usually it is the sports used to scare the parents into turning out and protesting the cuts. Sad to say, I don’t think people would care as much if APs were dropped.</p>
<p>I’m glad there is a little back tracking happening, and I’m especially glad the students are organizing as well on the facebook group. Good luck to you and them.</p>
<p>All good suggestions, CountingDown, thank you. I just, personally, feel a need to tread a little more lightly. I have supported the school district, will be the Executive VP our our local Ed Foundation come June and have told school board members I will be the campaign treasurer for a parcel tax campaign if that goes forward. So it doesn’t suit to have me be seen as bashing them. So I’ll be playing the inside game but will make sure to pass on these other techniques and ideas for those in different positions than I’m in.</p>