Parents of the HS Class of 2011 - Original

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
16521

<p>Congrats on the proms, graduations, and all the other wonderful news and good weather for them!</p>

<p>We are still putting along. Seems like it will never end! Sunday was graduate recognition day at church. DS wanted to go, but was surprised when they invited everyone up on stage then handed them a mike to pass down the line so they could tell where graduating from (HS or college) major, and where they are going to college for the HS grads. DS was second to last and had the man next to him congratulate him and shake his hand when he announced his school (this man was just finishing up his MD training, so it was really exciting for DS to have the wonderful comments from him).</p>

<p>DS will turn 18 several weeks after graduation. I had briefly considered having him skip a grade, but knew it would be a bad move socially (no problem academically). So he started on time and is finishing on time. Not a sports star, so none of those worries! :wink: DS2 has LD issues and we kept him back a year, so he will be entering HS at 15 and graduating at 19.</p>

16522

<p>Thanks to mamom, aria2000, momjr, keylimepie and everyone else who I might have missed for the grad congrats for S and the HB for our 2 year old GS. It was very hot at the birthday party so we stayed inside but the party was great, GS was mostly oblivious to the party and gifts. He has a bowl of chips and sat eating them while his 3 year old cousin helped open all the birthday gifts. </p>

<p>Graduation was better than anticipated. For the first time in 4 years at the high school they had A/C in the gym! Never saw it used before and didn’t even think it existed there.</p>

<p>The entire ceremony was very well organized and lasted just under an hour including the procession and awarding of diplomas to 250 graduates. I have to give the school admin their due for the good planning and smooth execution of the entire process. The Sal and 3 Co-Vals each spoke but no more than 3 to 5 minutes. S’s speech came off without a hitch and was well received. His opening “joke” was that now we (the graduates) could become facebook friends with some of the teachers since we are no longer students.</p>

<p>At the end of the ceremony the kids all tossed their mortarboards and of course S had been planning in his mind to get his stuck up on the basketball apparatus or one of the beams in the gym ceiling. He succeeded! I am sure that will be the highlight of his graduation!</p>

<p>Congratulations to everyone else whose S or D graduated this weekend. Now all we need are the weather gods to smile on us this Friday as we have a large tent going up in the backyard for the graduation party.</p>

16523

<p>S turned 18 in January so he is right in the middle to the front of the pack age and size wise. DD (HS 2014) is a December baby so she waited to start school unti she was 5 1/2. I was 4, turning 5 when I started and I should have been held back a year. It can make a difference.</p>

16524

<p>Drat - slow Board response and double post (deleted)</p>

16525

<p>So insanely jealous of indoor a/c graduations with small(er) classes! We’re outside with a class of 700. The current forecast is 99 with late afternoon thunderstorms. OWM if you’re not too busy I could really use an adjustment to Friday’s weather!</p>

16526

<p>Just popping in to say hello. We are preparing to head out to DS graduation in a few hours and it is HOT. Of course it is being held inside in a non-air conditioned facility. I am almost tempted to wear capris for comfort be I will not. Hubby is forgoing the tie for a polo however. I hope I don’t cry too much!</p>

16527

<p>Looks like this past weekend’s events went well so far – keeping my fingers crossed on the ones we haven’t heard from!</p>

<p>Funny to read about all the heat and a/c issues: our ceremony was c- c- c- cold (in an unheated barn/auditorium thing). Principal said we probably all wished we had grad gowns for extra warmth. momofzach, hope it’s not too hot and everything goes great and you bring enough Kleenex!</p>

<p>On phone calls where kid starts with “I did something stupid…” yes, we should all tell our kids to just get straight to what they did without making it sound worse to start with. I still remember when my husband called to tell me he was at the hospital after a jump accident (during his Army days). I was so glad he called rather than someone else (event though this was probably an oversight rather than a plan!) because at least I knew right away that he was alive and able to speak. If someone else had called and started with “Your husband had a jump accident…” I might have hit the floor before they could clarify.</p>

<p>On age at graduation: My kids go to alternative charter schools where the serious sports kids are not going to go, so I’ve heard of this phenomenon of holding kids back to be better at athletics, but not seen it among my crowd. I remember a radio show (maybe Radio Lab or This American Life?) talking about how pro hockey players birth months are clustered more heavily in a few months. This is because the Canadian hockey season for kids has a certain cut-off date and the kids who are big for their year are more likely to do well and go on to become professionals – so I guess it really can make a difference!</p>

<p>My daughters’ friends all graduated (or will graduate) at 17 or 18. A few skipped grades, most often in middle school. My middle daughter will be at least 19 because we held her back in 4/5 – she is high functioning autistic and needed to be more prepared academically and socially for middle school. I know a few other kids held back for similar reasons, but the school is generally not in favor of it. We may have her do an extra year in high school as well, depending on how things go at the time. We just want to maximize her potential to be successful, especially given her challenges. I think it’s very individual to each kid whether skipping or holding back will be good for them.</p>

16528

<p>D has now joined the ranks of high school graduates; their ceremony was in the school auditorium - air-conditioned, comfy seats … but lots of complaints b/c the size of the venue meant that graduates could get no more than 3 tickets. I am happy to trade off comfort and convenience for the possibility of additional guests - I don’t know how much my relatives would have enjoyed hearing almost 600 names called off and the usual somewhat canned speeches. I was glad I was able to see D and her friends cross the stage, but I think the post-ceremony family party will be the best way for our relatives to celebrate with us. </p>

<p>I found myself really savoring the moments yesterday. I’ve tried to do that throughout the last month as the “lasts” started, but yesterday was the “last last”, and bittersweet in a lot of ways. D’s high school experience was such a positive one (with the usual ups and downs) and really ended on a high note, beyond anything I would have foreseen. This is rather embarassing, but D stayed a bit after the ceremony (to help take down the stage set - she just can’t leave her crew behind …) and asked me to take her stuff home. I deliberately strolled around a bit with her honor cord over my shoulders, holding her scholar trophy, wanting to hold onto those last moments…and I did savor them. I will not have this experience with S (class of 2013) who at the moment I am hoping finishes enough overdue work so he doesn’t fail more than one class, which made it especially poignant. D came home after the post-graduation lock-in at 5:30 this morning. I anticipate waking her up for dinner when I get home!</p>

16529

<p>Such an odd feeling …
can anyone else relate…</p>

<p>our newly minted grad has no school work this summer…</p>

<p>For years (even back in elementary school) kiddo has either had summer computer games (logic/math/comprehension) that were to be done, summer reading, summer projects, summer vocabulary etc etc…for lit/history etc
and last summer closed with the beginnings of essays/apps on top of the summer reading for lit/history etc</p>

<p>While kiddo has a busy summer ahead now, it doesn’t include test prep/apps/essays and summer reading…
It feels weird To Me…since that’s all done and behind us. </p>

<p>Kiddo has already emailed the JPEG for the school ID, done the requisite forms
and now until freshman move-in/orientation there isn’t much to be done—class shopping period and meeting with the advisors will handle the course selections…
My/DH’s roles in this have in many ways finished/closed the chapter.</p>

<p>Kiddo cleaned out shelves or literature from the last 4 years of hs, and lots of AP study guides from the top shelf of the closet. The lit books went to our younger kiddo and the AP test prep books will go in the recycling bin.
I am not trying to move kiddo out of the house–yet the junk drawers and piles of this and that need to be sorted a bit.
Happy to have kiddo keep the “good stuff”/memory makers and would be happy to see the older shoes/clothes etc that aren’t being worn to be donated.</p>

16530

<p>Well folks, I guess it is time for me to sign off from here. CC has been a great source of information over the past 18 months, and this thread has been a particular source of support and camaraderie this spring, when absolutely nobody I knew was as caught up and stressed out about the process as I/we. But I have other agendas I must pursue and the time spent here is proving to be a distraction. So while I may swing through from time to time, I suspect my posting days are drawing to a close.</p>

<p>As a final bit of news, graduation went off without a hitch, no big parties, no prom to worry about. S2 goes to Washington D.C. later in the month to be recognized for a scholarship, and we will dutifully tag along. But he will not return with us because he has been selected to participate in a funded study tour in China that will have pre-trip seminars in DC and then head directly to Beijing. Then home for a week before heading on a wilderness river trip in the Yukon; home a week, and then off to school. So our time with him around the house is rapidly drawing to a close.</p>

<p>As is my time with you. To you all, I wish dry eyes and warm memories and your children, I wish them all compasses with two needles–one bearing toward the horizon and one to home.</p>

16531

<p>UT, I hope you post from time to time. It has been a pleasure reading your posts. I know I cut back drastically on posting with my second admissions round (it kept the stress down on what has been an unbelievably stressful process this time) but it is a treat to pop in from time to time.</p>

<p>fogfog, yes, it is a weird feeling–but such a nice one!</p>

16532

<p>My D is all registered for her freshman classes! :D</p>

<p>She’s taking Biology + Lab, Intro to Exercise Science, Spanish, Psychology, and College Colloquium. It’s going to be a busy, but fun start!</p>

<p>When do your kids register? I know when my son went to college, he had an orientation and registration in early June, also (but we had to fly out there. My D’s class registration was done over the phone in about 10 minutes). I think some schools do it all the week before classes begin. I like Willamette’s way of doing it - registration in early summer, with orientation a few days before classes start.</p>

16533

<p>We have a graduate! Many thanks to OWM and anyone else who worked weather magic and gave us a beautiful rain-free day. It was really a lovely ceremony, full of tradition, and a nice tribute to the end of their high school years. My son’s speech, which he would not share with us ahead of time, was very funny – expressing gratitude to the folks at Chipotle for their contribution to the class’ social skills, decision making skills, etc. </p>

<p>Today, he was up bright and early (much to his dismay) and off to the first day of his summer internship. </p>

<p>As for age, he turned 18 in April. The guidance dept. recommended that he skip 4th grade, but we decided against that because we were concerned about the social aspects of it. We just didn’t see a lot of benefit to it and wondered what would happen if 4th grade work came too easily. It was not our goal to move him along too rapidly. Time with them passes too quickly as it is – I wanted all the time with him that I could get. </p>

<p>S3 has a July birthday and, though it’s not uncommon in our district for boys with summer birthdays to wait a year to start school, we chose to send him on time. He is one of the youngest in his class, but has always kept up academically and socially, so I think it was the right choice for him. He’ll be the last of his group to learn to drive, but he’ll just have to deal with it.</p>

16534

<p>Congratulations to all the recent grads!</p>

<p>UT: hope we will still see you here from time to time. I have always enjoyed your posts and your insights into the process.</p>

<p>Re: age, D just made the “5 yers old by Sept. 1” cutoff for kindergarten so will turn 18 in late August. This has never been a problem for her, and her private school graduating class has girls ranging from 16-20. And I have to assume the late driver’s license stigma rolled right over her - she just got her permit this morning! S’14, on the other hand, has a March birthday which should put him right in the middle of the pack but in his private kindergarten, he was almost the youngest student. Lots of boys turned 7 before first grade began. But we live in Boston, so are subject to the Eastern Massachusetts uber-competitiveness described above both in terms of academics and sports.</p>

16535

<p>I meant to mention earlier this weekend… during DD’s graduation on Saturday, two girls, life-long friends, were selected by the senior class as “Best Duet” of the year and sang during the ceremony. They chose the Lady Antebellum song, “Never Alone” and there was absolutely not a dry eye in the house. For those who are not familiar with the lyrics, here is a sample:</p>

<p>"May the angels protect you, trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when it’s time to go home
So when hard times have found you and your fears surround you
Wrap my love around you, you’re never alone</p>

<p>Never alone, never alone
I’ll be in every beat of your heart when you face the unknown
Wherever you fly, this isn’t goodbye
My love will follow you, stay with you, baby, you’re never alone"</p>

<p>Like I said, not a dry eye…</p>

16536

<p>^^^ What a great choice. In contrast, D’s junior class has taken a Michael Jackson song and turned it to a rap song, with the seniors expected to sing the chorus. :rolleyes: It just keeps on getting better and better.</p>

16537

<p>My daughter graduated several weeks ago and turned 17 the last day of May. She was the youngest in her class because she skipped 2nd grade. She has always been able to keep up as far as grades are concerned. She graduated 2nd out of 340. I think every thing was fine on the social scene also. She is a competitive twirler and making feature twirler at her high school when she was 12 years old helped her make lots of friends. The hardest issue with age was only being able to drive as a senior.</p>

<p>The last everything was really hard at our house. She is our only child so we only have to go through it once, but I think that may make it harder. I must admit I cried when she twirled for the last time with her high school band at the concert and I cried as she was making her speech at graduation.</p>

<p>I think I will also cry when she moves into the dorm and when I first see her perform with UGA’s marching band. I hope the age does not become an issue in college. Hopefully others with young college age students can chime in on this issue. It is so exciting watching her prepare for this next stage of her life. She mentioned yesterday that after this fall she might not live at home any more except for summer breaks. I had to go sit down and let that sink in. It was a little scary.</p>

<p>Is everyone else pushing your children to do something meaningful this summer? We are not and I feel a little guilty. We are enjoying reading, doing crafty things, and spending alot of time in the pool. She has competed at the national twirling competition every summer since she was 8 except for last summer. She went to GHP and studied physics all summer. She has 15 national titles and I just wanted her to be a kid and enjoy this summer.</p>

<p>I don’t think I am ready to leave this thread yet. I am not a big poster, but I read it everyday and am so thankful for each of you. I have learned so many things that have helped us in this process, and when we have a problem it is comforting to know that others have been there and made it through. Sorry for the rambling post but I have been doing a lot of soul searching in my quiet time at the pool</p>

16538

<p>UT–what a sweet post, made me a little teary (but then a LOT does that to me nowadays!) hope to see you swing by time to time
I’ve noticed the thread dwindling a bit but much too soon for me to leave–D1 won’t graduate til Friday night…
–and it’s nice to see any college/dorm prep that’s going on this summer also…</p>

16539

<p>Momjr, I got a little nervous for you when reading her words, “Mom, I did something stupid,” (picturing the same things as you). Big sigh of relief to read it was just keys locked in car. Sounds like she handled it just fine.</p>

<p>Keylime, sorry about the flu/food poisoning episode. :eek:<br>
Glad he’s feeling better, and CONGRATS on Graduation! </p>

<p>Missypie, love the COL adjustment for your D’s grad gift from her grandparents!</p>

<p>Blue, that forecast does not sound promising. Even if the storms hold off, they’ll be dropping like flies from the heat. I didn’t realize how lucky we were last weekend in a beautiful air conditioned church and just 125 grads. (I do NOT take heat well.) I’m pulling for you! TAKE WATER!</p>

<p>Momofzach, hope your ceremony went off without a hitch. Did you cry a lot? Congrats on joining us “on the other side.”</p>

<p>Cooker, what a lovely image I have of you taking a last stroll around the school, post-ceremony, wearing your D’s honor cord and carrying her trophy. That’s beautiful. Congratulations! </p>

<p>UT, we will miss you! Thank you for your beautiful “compass blessing” for our children, and the same to yours! I hope you will stop by from time to time next fall and let us know how things are going for you and yours. Thanks for being part of this wonderful support and friendship community these recent months. Very best wishes!</p>

<p>Ohiomom, congratulations! Glad the ceremony was great, and it sounds like your son gave a wonderful and entertaining speech. :)</p>

<p>Proudmom, that duet must’ve been lovely and very moving!</p>

<p>Kimdawg, it depends on what you mean by “meaningful.” My D continues her voice and piano lessons through summer, has the lead in a big musical, and tutors a younger friend in French 3 times a week, which is volunteer “work.” This is the sister of my D’s good friend who died in january, and though the family is immensely grateful and wants to pay her, she explained to his parents and sister that she really would like to do this in his memory and not for pay. They understood and graciously accepted her request not to be paid.</p>

<p>So no paying job, but her dedication and hard work over the past …well, 12 years, really … earned her darned near full tuition in academic and music scholarships at her #1 choice college. I view that as a compelling financial contribution to her own education (and the family finances), so I’m very encouraging of her getting some R+R this summer. Like your D, she loves to read, do craft projects and the like…I want her to have a low-stress, high-enjoyment summer before kicking off in high gear mid-August.</p>

16540

<p>I’ve been away for several days and there is no way I will catch up on everything so I just want to say Congrats to all the recent grads!!!</p>

<p>D will attend orientation this Thurs-Fri and that will include registration. </p>

<p>On the age thing: D1 has an Oct bday so she was always older than everyone. She enjoyed getting her license and driving before everyone else. D3 has a Sept birthday and also went to private school for K and 1st. So she is the younger than everyone. So I am experiencing both sides. Don’t know how its going to play out with D3 as she is just finishing 5th grade. So far it hasn’t been an issue socially or academically.</p>