<p>Both our local HS and the public boarding school my D attends requires 1/2-1 year of fine arts. But our local HS has an excellent music program and superb visual arts program. D’s school is excellent in many ways, but the music program is not one of them. Ironically, kids at our local HS are required to take PE every semester but one (unless they are varsity athletes and required to take a study hall) so there’s much less room to take music and art (or academics, that’s the trade-off). At D’s school they can take 8 classes, and are only required to take 2 semesters of PE.</p>
<p>Visits-- D has tried to take a class whenever she can, and those have been very helpful. While she does that, I lurk, take a tour, info session, or whatever I can. We’ve gotten something out of every visit (even if it’s a sense of the general dullness of the place!) If time is short though I would avoid the tour in favor of a visit to the department you hope to join. </p>
<p>Our public HS has great music and art programs-- music sometimes feels like its own separate schools. D is artsy anyway and has taken one or two music electives every semester. There’s a kind of energy and joy she gets out of it that puts a bounce in her step and seems to translate to greater confidence through the whole school day. The principal said that he thinks the arts programming has a huge effect on the general mood and I agree.</p>
<p>I think our HS requires one year of fine arts and gym every year unless you play 2 varsity sports. DS12 has taken an art class every year b/c he really likes it. Next year will be AP Art, but for him it is a fun class. A lot of work, but fun.</p>
<p>I just lurked at the 2015 acceptance thread, so many good news there. I kind of feel like once April comes around then it’s our kids turn up to bat, kind of scary.</p>
<p>Okay, what do you think? Is it essential that a school librarian write grammatically correct sentences or phrases on a PowerPoint that he shows students during a presentation? I think it is. I also think it is an embarrassment to my department if he sends poorly written emails to teachers. Am I being too picky? The teacher’s union is making my life hell.</p>
<p>I would consider it unprofessional if the school librarian used poor grammer…and if I were department chair I would be embarassed. Seems basic to me.</p>
<p>Apollo - Yes, it is essential. It should be essential for all the teachers who are educating our children. I am a teacher and I would also find this embarrassing. Every teacher is a reflection of your school. If he in not confident in his writing abilities, he should be seeking editing help from a peer. </p>
<p>Now, the spelling/grammar mistakes I make when I post on CC definitely don’t count against me as a teacher. I usually see the mistakes, but it’s usually after the editing time has expired. 
Sometimes I just type too fast for my own good.</p>
<p>Apollo6- yes it should be required :)</p>
<p>I find many things teachers seem to “get away with”. I am no fan of tenure. I think what I am most frustrated with is the limited avenues to report “areas of missed opportunity”. I feel compelled not to engage for fear of risking bad grades at the high school level. I have been a strong believer that there should be end of course report cards for students and parents to reflect on the course.</p>
<p>Apollo6 - </p>
<p>Yes, good grammar and good writing in general should be expected from professionals in education. We see poor writing all the time from teachers and administrators. That being said - I don’t know anything else about your librarian. If he is energetically engaged with the kids, helpful, encouraging students to use the library to is fullest, knowledgeable about books and other resources in the library, I’d worry less about the grammar and be thankful the librarian isn’t a dud. I’d take a little sloppy on power points over lazy/unengaged any day.</p>
<p>Okay, I just got to work and took another look at my post…which I obviously wrote too fast. 
…that should be “If his is not…” It’s a little funny that I made a mistake on a post about writing skills, isn’t it? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>LOL BUBC - I’m the queen of typos! I can’t seem to get the timing down on the shift key, so I miss capitalization often. And my apostrophes end up after the letter they’re supposed to be in front of - another timing issue.</p>
<p>Apollo6 - Agreed. Correct grammar and punctuation is very important in school faculty communications. Principals ought to intigate systems by which each written communication is proofread by a colleague. It is just amazing what benefits can be achieved with a pair of fresh eyes. It is disheartening to the parents when they see repeated errors in the letters and emails from the teachers to whom they send their children to be educated.</p>
<p>I think there is a world of difference between posting on CC, typos, grammer errors and all, and writing professional documents. </p>
<p>Cherryhillmom–I completely agree that students/parents should be able to give feedback…after the grades are finalized. I am so frustrated with one of D’s teachers (yes, the teacher who has yet to return the last two tests or grade the semester final). D is afraid to say anything, a lot of the grade in this class is very subjective. I’m calling the IB advisor after the grades are posted, we have a good relationship and she needs to be aware of the problem. There are other teachers that are doing an excellent job, I’d love the reminder to report that as well.</p>
<p>PN - Thanks for helping me feel okay about my typos!</p>
<p>Okay, I’m home and not rushing. Did anyone notice I goofed earlier when I was pointing out my mistake and trying to fix it. Jeesh. I think I’ll quit while I’m behind.</p>
<p>My S came home with his course selection for next year. He’s considering 4 APs. Funny that we were just talking about the arts on this thread, he’s actually considering taking strings again. I’m not sure it’s very likely, but I would love it if he did.</p>
<p>Uh oh. I type fast, I don’t have spell check on this laptop, and there are words that I just plain misspell b/c no matter how many times I look them up, it doesn’t stick. You guys are raising the bar way too high for me! I’ll try harder, but no promises…</p>
<p>If you all could see what my posts look like before I edit you’d laugh yourselves silly. But I can be a perfectionist at times, so I edit compulsively. Which is why it takes me so long to write a post that I’m often way late to the conversation. And I still make mistakes. Pretty sure my brain isn’t wired for this lightning-paced age…</p>
<p>Hi all 2012’s!! Wanted to just touch base again… it’s been awhile since I have posted. Just returned from taking my DS to a school he will be attending for a semester in Vermont. It was so sad to say good-bye and leave him but he was so indescribably happy that it made it all worth it. The school is an amazing place in every way. He will be attending with 45 other Juniors from all over the US. There is no cell service and VERY limited internet usage. They will take their classes and work on the farm everyday. </p>
<p>My DS absolutely LOVED Vermont. We visited UVM and he loved everything about it. It totally surprised me because he has always said he wanted a small LAC. I guess he changed his tune a little. I have to say I was VERY impressed with it too. It is gorgeous… and this is the middle of Winter. Friendly, happy, healthy, down to earth kids. They even had a Ben and Jerry’s on campus.</p>
<p>We visited Dartmouth too, and that was, of course, amazing. But I have to say… my S said he would be just as happy at UVM. That’s good because his chance are slim to none of getting in to Dartmouth. It was soooo beautiful and we had a great tour guide who obviously loved the school. My S loved the D-plan, all the traditions, and the fabulous outdoor club facilities. It seemed like a great school if you wanted to have a lot of fun mixed in with your academics. </p>
<p>Overall it was a great trip and so happy to get to spend some quality alone time with my 16 year old son… PRICELESS</p>
<p>5boys, It sounds like you had a great time with your son! I appreciate those moments much more now that I realize how fleeting my time is with my growing children.</p>
<p>Thanks, all, for the support regarding my co-librarian. I wish I could say he was a reader and that he brought kids into our library. Instead, he is a basketball coach who goofs around with technology. I was a much happier person before my friend quit and I became department chair. I do NOT have time to proofread everything he writes. I don’t know how I am going to handle this.</p>
<p>good to “see” you again, 5boys! You’ve got me sold on the Mountain School - I’m keeping it in mind for my 8th grader when he gets older! I look forward to hearing your reports on it all semester.</p>
<p>So, I guess S couldn’t remember the email account we set up for colleges when he took the PSAT so he put mine down. Why? Because he didn’t want to get a bunch of college spam on HIS email. LOL - I’ve been recruited by 6 colleges already! i heard the colleges just got PSAT info today or yesterday so it was funny to see the spam start up right on cue.</p>
<p>The great ice storm has started - we can hear the frozen rain falling on the house. it sounds kind of cool. We are expecting a snow day tomorrow - we’ve got the board games ready, gourmet hot chocolate, and unbeknownst to my kids, I have a few practical things to get done with them tomorrow too.</p>