<p>Longhaul, the math progression in the public school system where you live would have me very frustrated as well. Our very large public school system requires algebra for all in the eighth grade. Most ninth graders begin high school in geometry with advanced students in algebra II. Some very advanced ninth graders are enrolled in precalc. Not starting algebra until the tenth grade is shocking and very, very sad for the children in your district:(</p>
<p>Well, my D’s date with the SAT is only one week away. She told me one day last week that she dreamed she had taken the SAT and had not done well. I reassured her that she would be fine and that she had been doing well on practice tests. I sure hope the practice tests are a better indicator of her performance than her dream! Her brother also came home for spring break yesterday with a nasty cold and now she’s concerned she’s going to contract his illness just in time for the SAT. I’ve got him on cold medication and am spending my time spraying Lysol on shared surfaces just for good measure. She almost took his hand off when he went to reach for a chip in her bag today! lol</p>
<p>Longhaul, I am sorry to hear that. Of course you are challenging this decision? I suspect the money could be found if a fuss is made. Did they eliminate football or basketball teams?
Will the district, if they take this action, be in compliance with state guidelines? They wouldn’t in my state. You might want to talk to someone at the state level and get some feedback.</p>
<p>My daughter is a junior in an International Baccalaureate program. Are there any other parents whose children are doing this program? She is in boarding school and the school doesn’t always communicate well with parents. Therefore,I am sometime confused and hate to constantly call the school with questions. I would love to be able to get feedback from other parents.</p>
<p>Longhaul, sound like the school is going to leave your students with very little math options. Given that it is such a core subject I would be concerned as well.</p>
<p>Also a week - out from the SAT here. Is anyone as nervous as I am? I feel like I’M taking the test on Saturday - ha. </p>
<p>Also a reminder. Anyone whom feels like it’s a good idea for son or daughter to take the ACT - - - this Friday (March 9th) is the deadline to sign up for the April 14th test. </p>
<p>Since most schools will accept either the SAT or ACT, we think D’s taking the ACT is a good idea to see how the scores come in. We aren’t going to send the scores anywhere (despite the offer a ‘free’ score report) until we see how the scores come in. (true for the SAT as well.)</p>
<p>We decided that D is going to take the SAT on Saturday. Nothing to lose. I am nervous for her. We signed D up for both tests for the same reason, she took her ACT in February. We aren’t sending scores anywhere, not even to the high school since they are reported on the transcript. It is interesting to see the difference in these tests as she prepares for them. I wonder if D may end up with a higher score if her CR, W, and M stay about what they did on the ACT. She is doing much better in her essay writing this time around, I think.</p>
<p>I have two kids in the IB program at the top public HS in the state. I think I have become quite knowledgeable about the subject over the years. You can PM me or we can chat here - however, I have my long periods off this forum, I think it scares me now ;-)</p>
<p>Longhaul - I can’t believe this. My math oriented kid took Algebra 2 in 7th grade, my non-math oriented kid took Algebra 2 in 8th grade (along with Geometry, and yes, she is really not math oriented). While I strongly believe that for college admissions it probably won’t matter - it will matter hugely for their success in college. What are your plans? Because I am sure you are planning something!</p>
<p>Sate Champion in DECA! Going to a national competition which this year takes place (luckily) in our state, so no need to spend big bucks!!! (can you tell I am happy?)</p>
<p>Still waiting to hear back from RSI but we are expecting a denial (they take like 50 kids from US). DS is emailing professors at the state flagship for some science internships this summer and through next year. But honestly, all he worries about right now is some new camera device the school just purchased and he immediately brought to the house (IB Film teacher must REALLY trust this boy!). It is supposed to make camera movements pretty cool. Will wait and see… tons of math competitions this month but this is not anything DS cares about any more, unfortunately…
He is really into movie making and has won several state competitions. Can we turn this into a hook for top college admission?</p>
<p>DS has really grown. He is not a boy anymore. He is a young man. He cares about the way he looks, he dresses way more carefully, trying to find his own style. No GF, but he doesn’t stress about it now like he used as a freshman. He plainly stated to me one day, that the sole reason he does not have a GF is his lack of time. </p>
<p>He is questioning going to church with us every Sunday. He rebels against it. But when he goes he wants to be a reader or an altar boy. Go figure…</p>
<p>Summer plans? Hopefully some lab work at the university, finishing many required HS courses through private means (AKA packets), maybe a trip to visit some childless friends of ours in Washington D.C. and some air time (DS is actively pursuing a pilots licence), and those college essays. They are freaking me out! Everything about college admission freaks me out now! Can we please move back to 6th grade???</p>
<p>No testing here for a while. Well, not quite true. All juniors in TN take the ACT without writing in school on March 20th. We’re waiting until after our Spring Break trip to see what happens with the “list” to see if she should test again. I may suggest a fall ACT with writing again after some serious prep for the math & science. But really that would only be to help at 1 or 2 schools on her list. If they drop off, then I don’t think she needs to bother. But SAT II’s probably need to be taken in May. </p>
<p>And not to freak y’all out but…today is the last day of the 3rd marking period here. Tomorrow is officially the first day of the last marking period of junior year :)</p>
<p>RobD - not the end of the marking period here, yet. But being the end anywhere is a little unsettling.</p>
<p>Kelowna - I would be with you on the back to 6th grade idea, except my younger son is in 6th grade and Middle School kids are mean as snakes to each other. I cringe when I hear the stories at dinner. I like being a HS parent better. Perhaps we could just go back to 9th grade?</p>
<p>You want to freak yourself out? Check in on the HS class of 2012 thread. Those people are really stressed out.</p>
<p>^^^And that will be us this time next year Venting here, so our kids don’t know we’re freaking out just as much as they are. Maybe we should start sharing our stress relief strategies now…</p>
<p>Meant to mention that we’re visiting D1’s school on Thursday for D2’s official tour. Hoping that it goes well as it will end up being D2’s ultimate all-around safety, but I think it could be a good fit as well. It will be her first time to meet with a professor & sit in on a class. Which will prep her for the epic 5 school spring break “how many modes of transportation can we use in one week?” trip ;)</p>
<p>Wow, RobD, our 4th quarter doesn’t begin until April 10! No school visits planned here until late summer. Swarthmore has a junior visit day in May, but it is the day after our prom, so I doubt D will go if she goes to prom! (Maybe she won’t go to prom this year.)</p>
<p>RobD-same here, 2 days of finals and Monday starts the beginning of the end of their junior year, yikes. We will be doing a tour or two over spring break, Truman for sure, not sure about others right now.</p>
<p>I had a mini blow up with my son this morning about missing/late homework. With increased nagging and monitoring from me, he’s brought most of his Cs up to As. But it’s not fun for either of us. Of course when I asked if he’s rather I leave him alone about his homework, he said yes!! I told him to think long and hard about that decision and to show some maturity because he knows what would happen if I didn’t say another word about any of his assignments. He changed his mind. He said I could ask about his assignments and give him reminders but that I couldn’t check Moodle myself. That was the problem before. He was always forgetting something or starting it and forgetting to finish it. Without my nagging it will go back to bringing failing grades up to Cs.</p>
<p>I got him iStudiez which is a homework management app for his iPod and his Mac but he isn’t consistent with using it even though he said it helps when he does remember. I’ve bought him books on time management and goal setting that he is resistant to read because “the ideas just don’t click”. I’m doubting that he will be ready to go away to college next year. And even if he manages to mature a great deal between now and graduation, his grades (if left on his own to manage) are going to severly limit his options. I hate having that discussion with him because I feel like he thinks I don’t believe in him when it’s just the opposite. And I don’t want him thinking his future is doomed because he has to go to community college or commute from home. But I think that would be a better option than his going to a school where he’s likely to fall between the cracks. </p>
<p>I’ve been looking into schools that have EOP/AOP programs which are programs to support disadvantaged students academically and socially. But as low income as I am, my income isn’t low enough for most of the programs. It seems like the really good ones are at the more selective schools and really look at income in combination with 1st gen and minority status. You need to meet all the criterea. I think that I’ll try anyway though and maybe see if I can get his counselor on board to help. The other option is schools that have mandatory and intensive support for students on academic probation. I hate to already have that in my head, but I’m just being realistic.</p>
<p>reeinaz-have you taken him on any campus tours yet? If not, pick one that you think he will like and go. I know that helped motivate our unmotivated child. He got excited about living on campus and all the “stuff” to do there and was a bit better about doing things on his own and lest resistant to our reminders.</p>
<p>I have also learned that you can use all of the apps, books, planners you want but if the system doesn’t work for your child, it doesn’t work at all. Finally DS just started putting all of his assignments into his text books vs a folder and that helped a lot.</p>
<p>Oh, and we had him take a picture with his cell phone of the assignment board in class so he had that. It was easy to do and more often than not he remembered. A lot of other kids did the same so the teachers started suggesting that to everyone.</p>
<p>SteveMA That’s just it. He is so wanting to go to college. He thinks that’s when he’ll come into is own and I agree with him. But I tell him all the time that he can also take an alternate path to a career. We have excellent vocational programs in the ares. But he insists he wants to go to a 4 year school and get the traditional college experience.
He’s had school programming at one of our local colleges for the past 2 years. So college shouldn’t be some abstract idea to him at this point. Nonetheless, we are starting vists this month. Luckily we live in Philly so you can’t spit without hitting a college. Maybe official tours will make a difference. Who knows.</p>
<p>reeinaz-how is the guidance counselor at your school? Maybe he/she could have a talk with your son about his plans/goals and put it in black and white that C’s are going to cut it.</p>
Venting here, so our kids don’t know we’re freaking out just as much as they are. Maybe we should start sharing our stress relief strategies now…</p>
We’ll have to miss that one.</p>