<p>DS signed a FERPA release, so I could request his grades from the school if I wanted to, but I don’t have any idea how I could do that online. He has shared them with us anyway–got the request for grades from our auto carrier for the “good student discount” so he logged in to his school account and found that they’d been posted and printed them off. He hadn’t been sure about his macroecon grade (was a 78 last he knew and he did end up with a C+) but was confident about his other classes and did end up with 2 As and 1 A- for those.</p>
<p>He’s never been very communicative about grades, and during his K-12 years we had many frustrating discussions about how he could possibly be surprised by his grades at the end of a term, so while I’ve been trying to be hands-off and let him manage his school life himself I’ve been nervous when the answer to “how are your classes going?” is always “fine.” So far, it looks like DH was right: “Don’t panic. He will hit his stride when he gets to college.” I told DS that, and he said, “Yeah, I know; I’ve heard him say that. He was actually right for once! I didn’t like high school. I like college!”</p>
<p>siemom-S told us his grades and I also have online access to his academic summary report. Before finals he knew he just needed to have Cs to make As for the semester. The only course he has a B is the UGS which he chose Astronomy. Last night we talked about his semester and he was hard on himself for choosing that class and wished that he had chosen an easy one. I asked what was the reason that he chose Astronomy. He said he thought it would compliment his major and found it interesting. I was very pleased with his answer and told him that he did the right thing for choosing the course even though he did not like the final grade.</p>
<p>Sending my best wishes to Avonmom’s upcoming surgery. Enjoy reading everyone’s homecoming and school reports!</p>
<p>Thanks mathmomvt, ohiomom24, momjr – I appreciate the support and ideas.</p>
<p>Emilybee – usually we’re on the same page – did not understand when you said: “You can tell her you won’t fund her spring break but I don’t see how you can stop her from going.” I guess in my mind, if she doesn’t have money to pay for a flight, she can’t go anywhere.</p>
<p>I think what I’m going to do is a) ask what happened (she told me once, but it was a very rushed call), b) what can she do to avoid it happening again, and c) if there’s a time management skills course she can take. Plus she doesn’t have to be a year round athlete. It helped her get off the WL, but they’re not going to kick her out if she only does Track, not XC. She might lose some favor with the coach, but she’s there to learn, not run.</p>
<p>Maybe it is good to get the bad grade out of the way, right up front. There’s so much they have to handle – being away from home, doing laundry, not getting enough sleep. Friends, freedom, frats – too many distractions!</p>
<p>Class, friend(s) with car drive to beach resort town. D kicks in $10 for gas. 12+ kids share hotel room. D kicks in $20. Kids by junk food at market to subsist on. D kicks in another $20. Boys buy her drinks. </p>
<p>I’m sure she can come up with $50 to go on spring break without your help.</p>
<p>Having an excellent weekend. Three trips to the grocery store this week & five loads of laundry, but who cares. S & I went holiday shopping today & then lunch. So much fun. He slept until 5 PM yesterday & he is napping now. Long exam week. Hopefully he can get on more of a normal schedule as I am a light sleeper. Also, our front doorknob is broken so he has to be let in whenever he comes home if he isn’t able to take one of the garage door openers. This visit is so much different than Thanksgiving for some reason. He looked much older this time, of course the not shaving during exam week contributed to that. He is in great spirits, I think the relief of the semester being over is tremendous. He absolutely loves everything about his school as well. If it wasn’t for those darn classes, or maybe the assignments & exams…</p>
<p>Actually cooking dinner tonite, we’ll see how that goes. I’m not too happy with the cookies I made yesterday. I misplaced my fave recipe & found something online. I’m not sure our tree is going to make it through the week. This year instead of one of the chains we went to the local tree farm, you know “buy local” and it is shedding like crazy. It was already cut, but wonder if they cut it early during the warm spell. There was a slight miscommunication about filling the water for 2 days, so that hasn’t helped but I think it will have to come down as soon as D leaves on the 28th.</p>
<p>emilybee – aaah! that makes sense (or $ense!). Thank you</p>
<p>I have to postpone our little back to Jesus talk about grades. She has a friend from school here visiting for a few days. I offered to make dinner but I think they’d rather go out. Nice girl. As D explained, knowing college friends for 2 weeks is like you’ve known them all your life.</p>
<p>Coffee’s on! We are less than a week til Christmas! </p>
<p>Is my kid the last one getting home? She gets on a plane on Wednesday and will fly to her aunt’s house near Chicago. We will drive over there late Thursday after work for me and school for S’16. We’ll bring her home on Christmas eve, Saturday.</p>
<p>We still don’t have all of the grades in yet, the one she is most worried about had the final last Tuesday. How long does it take to get grades up?</p>
<p>Thanks for the coffee! Your DD may be one of the last bajamm! I’m sure you are looking forward to it!</p>
<p>I guess everyone is running around getting ready for the holidays and enjoying those students who are home! I’ve got a bunch of errands to run. Got the tree up (finally) yesterday and everyone enjoyed decorating it. Now I have to wrap presents! :eek:</p>
<p>Morning all. D and little bro made cookies last night. Dog sits at her feet whenever D is sitting or lying down. D drove little bro to school today so she could visit some of her teachers and younger teammates. D will practice over break with her old club team (only doing club at school, but loves the sport). All is well. </p>
<p>On the flip side, I had a $200 trip to Target, D is keeping school hours (late to bed late to rise, except today), the bathroom is a MESS, and the third car is on empty.</p>
<p>ldinct - my inlaws will be in a hotel this year due to some issues with stairs (guest room not on main level). The hotel will be one of our gifts to them for Christmas. Should lower stress for all involved. I need some time with only my kids too!</p>
<p>bajamm - hope S16 feels better</p>
<p>lefty - my D also had some Calc stress this term; despite a AP BC 5 and 800 SATII, she found CalcIII a challenge and got her first B. Teacher and TA were not great and both had significant English language issues. Seems to be a fairly common theme; glad it’s over… </p>
<p>AK - love the beach comment! So true!</p>
<p>D tells us her grades, but we do not have official access. Will probably insist on access for little bro in 4 years. I think if we are paying, we have a right to know.</p>
<p>Avon - you and your wife continue to be in my prayers. </p>
<p>My apologies if I missed anyone. Enjoy your kids!</p>
<p>Just caught up on the reading (after being gone all day in NYC seeing Hugh Jackman with D- GREAT show.) It is great having her home and seeing her so relaxed. </p>
<p>On Friday (after sleeping 15 hours due to lack of sleep during Finals Week) she went to her local doctor with a host of issues. Dr. was appalled at the care she had gotten at college medical center- misdiagnosis, drug prescriptions that conflicted with D’s known allergies (e.g. steroid inhaler with a caffeine derivative), overmedicating when combined with existing daily meds. Turns out D not only lost 15 lbs. at school this semester due to issues with the food, she grew two inches, too, since September. Dr. not only signed the letter to get D in allergen free housing next year (one with a kitchen so she can control the processing/preservative levels in her food), she also gave D her home phone number to call her with questions and to consult when medical issues arise. Turns out the asthma D had developed brought her O2 levels much too low. D was on top of things though and made good decisions according to the Dr. They are going to follow up this week to make sure she has turned the corner.</p>
<p>These are all bumps in the road but certainly support D’s not feeling well since early November, making the end of the semester difficult. We won’t see D’s grades, and know she will be reworking 4 papers for one class, but D thinks she did really well in the other classes. I have made clear to her that I expect her to try and that if she cannot get credit in her classes, then she will have to come home and go to CC or a SUNY and live at home as we cannot afford extra years at such an expensive school, and Hampshire’s credits don’t transfer easily to meet requirements in other programs. She is so happy at this school- one that we really were unsure about initially- that we don’t think it will be an issue. But we have had the discussion so she knows where she stands.</p>
<p>Gosh, what a trouper! I bet she’ll make it work.</p>
<p>D has 3 more finals - an exam, a project to turn in, and a presentation that combines her 3 Acting classes. So she’s very much in the thick of things still. I’m just sending her lots of moral support. </p>
<p>I’m a little worried about grades, only because the scholarship hangs over her head. But at this point all I’m thinking is - as we say in quilting - “Done is good!”</p>
<p>I haven’t been on the board in a while and you all have been quite busy. Glad to hear that most of the kiddos have made it home and finished their 1st semester. The last month was quite eventful for us. D tore her ACL mid November and spent the last month hobbling around on crutches. Not fun! She had surgery to repair it last week and we are on the road to recovery now. I know her password so I can check grades but she told me anyway. So far its all As and Bs but she is waiting for one professor to post grades. I am pleased with those grades considering what she has had to deal with.</p>
<p>Gamom: It sounds like your D had a rough semester. It must have been a real challenge to get around campus. I’m glad to hear that she’s recovering.</p>
<p>Kinder: It sounds like your D had a lot to deal with also. I hope things are easier next semester.</p>
<p>Just back from check up with DS, and he’s lost 12 lbs! Says he eats a lot at school, but I know he skips meals when he doesn’t feel like the hike to the cafeteria and makes snacks for himself. He’s not a big guy so the weight loss is big on him. Fortunately, cookies/muffins/treats will help but am planning on figuring out better meals for him to make himself when he doesn’t want to go to caf.</p>
<p>Thanks for all responses to grade question. I know his grades aren’t in yet so think I’ll hold a bit and then ask. I do know that some summer programs he’s interested in require a 3.0 so I can get that info. Am glad on one hand that grades aren’t big part of our conversation but also don’t want to be caught unawares - and want to make sure he’s taking full advantage of this opportunity we are providing for him.</p>
<p>Son just got his grades - 3.86 GPA! We’re very pleased. </p>
<p>On my home from work today I heard that old Steve Miller song, “Time keeps on slipping (slipping) in to the future”. That’s a perfect description of life right now.</p>
<p>kathiep - super news! Congratulations!
kinderny/gamomof3 - what a tough way to start the college experience! Hopefully, your kids will have an easier semester in the spring.</p>
<p>D has her last final tonight. She will be here tomorrow! Can’t wait!! She is planning on a marathon baking session on Thursday and on Friday, has several of her friends (high school) over for a xmas party. Will be so nice to see all these girls again…last year, when they did the same party, it was a lot of “this is the last time we’ll be together…” etc etc.</p>