<p>I don’t know how S’s HS does it - in fact, I don’t know if they do it at all. For D’s school (which was a different one that also didn’t rank), the kids who were in the top 10% of the class had the option to write essays from which the two best were chosen to be read at graduation. The student who was actually at the top of the class didn’t even take that option, but received the prize for “best all-around scholar” at graduation. </p>
<p>More and more high schools seem to be doing away with valedictorians in the traditional sense, since there have been so many conflicts over it.</p>
<p>Booklady – Interesting. Our students are also invited to write a graduation speech, then they try out before a committee of teachers that chooses the two best ones. But I think anyone can try out, not just the top students, (although they are the ones who do).
We also do not have a val, but there is an award for best academics, as well as a few other bests such as dance, etc. It really irked me that a dance award was put on equal status as the academic award. And these were just presented at an assembly during the day at school, not an evening assembly when parents could attend, nor at graduation.</p>
<p>LIMOM – aaahhh… How nice it must be to have your kids attend a school that actually cares that the students are accepted to great colleges, and has the time and resources to help them achieve that success.</p>
<p>My life has come to a grinding halt: My cell phone has been missing for 14 hours. I just called the store where I was sure I left it, and it’s not there. %&*#$!!!</p>
<p>At our HS, the val has the option to speak at the grad night ceremonies. (It’s done at night since it’s outdoors on the football field in late June, so they’d roast otherwise. The ones who can get charbroiled are the 8th grade middle school students (and parents/guests watching) who get promoted on the same day, so they take the field around 10 am. Makes for only one set up of stage and chairs but it can be hot.)</p>
<p>If the val passes on speaking, then a teacher committee will select among the sals. However, they do provide other speaking opportunities for some of the sals, should they desire. Sals can speak at the Community Scholarships Awards Night, the Honors Awards Night, the Sports Awards Night, during the morning bulletin reading at school the two weeks before graduation, etc. I think it’s neat, kind of spreads the honor around a bit.</p>
<p>YDS - good luck at finding your phone. That’s an awful feeling, isn’t it?</p>
<p>BengalMom - I think we’re very lucky with the schools in our district, and I have no complaints. I think the administrators really want to do the right thing - though they aren’t always sure what that is…lol.</p>
<p>FindAPlace – that’s great that many students get to be highlighted at your school. You have a lot of award ceremonies!</p>
<p>Youdon’tsay – good luck with the phone. It would be a pain to have to cancel it and get a new one. Maybe it will magically appear. I would be lost without my cell, it’s my lifeline to my kids (as much for my benefit as theirs, for peace of mind).</p>
<p>LIMOM – I was looking at Stony Brook’s website the other day after someone mentioned it. Do the SUNY’s get any appreciable number of students from OOS?</p>
<p>I think SUNYs are a great value for OOS. I would be shocked if they didn’t get a lot of applicants. Stony Brook is a fairly good Tech leaning school. I was hoping D would consider it. Looks like a safety based on the numbers.</p>
<p>D of a good friend (here in PA) is at SUNY Binghamton and having a wonderful time. She hasn’t felt at all strange being from OOS. The College Board website says that Binghamton is 14% OOS and Stony Brook is 10%.</p>
<p>mythmom, I didn’t mean to imply that Stony Brook was one-dimensional. I know it has a lot of good departments. I was just commenting on D’s interests.</p>
<p>Thanks, jackie. S has the day off from school today (teacher in-service or something), and is out with friends. He promises to be home at a reasonable hour to get a good night’s sleep. And I’m getting up early tomorrow to make him a real breakfast!</p>
<p>S2 and GF are sitting in the kitchen making hamentaschen (a little late, I know, but they are SOOOO good!). Playing with dough is good decompression and stress-busting before the SAT tomorrow. </p>
<p>I’ve been away for a few days and you guys have certainly moved fast - I’ve got a lot of catching up to do - in the meantime while i read a few hundred posts, good luck to all you test takers tomorrow!!!</p>
<p>S took his first solo drive to school today. However, to keep stress at a minimum for test day tomorrow, I will make his breakfast and do the driving. Luckily for us, the test location is less than a ten minute drive away. He’s also familiar with it from prior SAT (for CTY) and SAT II. </p>
<p>He came back from yesterday’s swim meet and said he felt like crap before the meet but once he hit the water, felt better and then did his best so far this season. He then proceeded to cough and sneeze. So I think to myself, “Oh please, let’s keep the germs away before SAT day!” This morning he looked quite chipper and not a sniffle to be heard.</p>
<p>Congratulations to your son on his Eagle Scout - I know I am a few days late - but that is a huge achievement and one that will literally last a life time.</p>
I just called the store where I was sure I left it, and it’s not there. %&*#$!!!</p>
I would be lost without my cell, it’s my lifeline to my kids (as much for my benefit as theirs, for peace of mind).</p>