<p>Oh, and Happy Mothers Day to you all.</p>
<p>I can’t keep up with you people, so probably haven’t answered everything I would like. </p>
<p>89wahoo- I am with you in worrying about how hard our kids work. I don’t remember the last time DS was able to sit down with me just to watch a tv show; I think it was the end of March, which was Spring Break. I just give him lots of hugs and treats, and keep reminding him that this will end soon. We had it much easier, except for research papers, when we had to deal with the card catalogs and electric typewriters. I remember when I would forget, and keep typing, and go totally off the page, or leave no room for footnotes; it used to drive me crazy.</p>
<p>anniezz- sending well wishes to your D. Good for her for getting good grades with everything else she must be stressed about. I hope this all works out ok.</p>
<p>Longhaul- lol on your son’s conversation. They are so young, aren’t they?</p>
<p>tx5athome-great prom story. Very sweet and creative young man.</p>
<p>earthmother-interesting to hear about the prom in another country, thanks.</p>
<p>Walker1194-Ha, drinking heavily in the basement, I love it! </p>
<p>No plans for Mother’s Day; we usually go on a hike to the mountains, with a picnic lunch, but we’ll see how much homework/AP studying needs to be done.</p>
<p>DS thought the APUSH exam wasn’t bad at all, he said it was much easier than last year’s AP Euro, which then set him off to be worried about the curve.</p>
<p>Your children are a very talented and motivated group! Some of them actually want to learn over the summer? I couldn’t even get DS to sit in on a class when we were visiting colleges over Spring Break.</p>
<p>ok I think this is the list
AP Stats
AP Econ
AP LIT or English (don’t remember)
Neurobiology (already did AP Psych)
African Lit
Spanish 4
3 Varsity Sports</p>
<p>I don’t drink but I would still like access to the Bourbon Club … :)</p>
<p>Hope all the AP test takers did well !!!
Now on to Next Weeks round of tests…
AP Bio on Monday…
And we have to wait till JULY for results…(biting nails here :)</p>
<p>I love hearing all the prom stories!!!
Mine had to miss Prom to study for ACT…they had it the night before the test :(<br>
Hope everyone is relaxing and enjoying their weekend :)</p>
<p>I tried to get the kids to take a slightly less demanding senior schedule but they wouldn’t. AP Psych here is not a difficult class so that helps. It’s interesting to see the various sequencing of classes around the country. Here most kids take APUSH and AP Bio as sophomores. Most kids leave AP Psych for senior year as a “sluff” class. AP World here is the killer class. The teacher is amazing but you can expect at least 2 hours of homework each night for that class alone. Our school offers all of the available AP classes so it’s nice that the kids have a lot of choices.</p>
<p>DS said that the AP Euro test was, eh. Not hard but not easy either. He said one of the essays was kind of hard but the other two were pretty easy.</p>
<p>SteveMA…I agree it is very interesting to see the difference …
At D’s school the classes are very intense it’s private so the rigor is akin to College. More then 2/3 AP classes is killer if they do EC’s and Sports.<br>
From all that I read I this thread I think everyone out there has Super Kids… I don’t know how they do 5AP’s and EC’s and all.
We are blessed with these kids we all have!!!
Busy bees that they all are… :)</p>
<p>Wherenext here, dual credit classes are college classes that are held on the high school campus. If the kids take college classes on the college campus, then they are PSEO and they have to transport themselves.</p>
<p>Walker if my mother was coming for even 3 DAYS I too would be drinking in the closet, basement, roof . . . It appears that youre happy about it though, so have a great 3 weeks with Mom!</p>
<p>Wrldtravlr lol about card catalogs and typewriters! I went through a lot of those little whiteout strip things!</p>
<p>Like SteveMA, I too was wondering about the course sequences . . . . can your kids choose any class from the catalog in any year, or are they restricted? Here, Freshman and Sophomore schedules are pretty much the same for everyone except one elective, then Junior and Seniors have a bit more flexibility (must be a Senior to take AP Lit and AP Chem though.) ie, they all take Physical Sci and World Hist as frosh, then Bio and American History as Soph, etc.</p>
<p>S said AP Euro was about the same as APUSH. He was very pleased with the DBQ and one essay, but one essay he said he didnt have as much info for so he felt he was being redundant. He said taking AP Art History helped with one of the essays. </p>
<p>Oh, S decided to do the STEM summer program the confirmation was mailed yesterday. No real surprise there.</p>
<p>Ama308–our kids’ classes are very rigorous as well. We have over 80% of our kids pass their AP’s with 4’s and 5’s so they are learning stuff in the classes. The World teacher has about 80% of her kids get 5’s on the test. The kids get plenty of homework, just not 2+ hours each night for each class.</p>
<p>MommyDearest13–in our school the 9th and 10th grade schedules don’t offer a lot of flexibility either. They have required courses to take and have 2 periods of electives, mostly taken up by a foreign language and music (band, choir, etc.). The level at which they take those required courses is up to the student though. They do have to apply for the AP/Honor’s classes as freshmen though. Junior and senior year are more open for choices but most kids automatically take science, math, social, English, etc.-again the level at which they take those classes varies. They have choices of classes as well as juniors and seniors. They have several different English classes they can take but they have to take a full year of English. Same with the social classes-they can take a variety of classes but they have to have a full year of those classes.</p>
<p>Hi All. Just checking in. You people sure write A LOT in 3 days! ha ha </p>
<p>I am totally amazed by most of your kids’ schedules! Step-D attends a very good private school but she hasn’t taken more than 2 AP classes per year. We purposely scheduled all of her super demanding classes for this year. Senior year will be academically challenging for her but NOTHING like what you guys are posting! I am in a group of people whom have SUPER KIDS! ha ha Ah well, maybe we are doing it wrong, but we wanted her to have plenty of time to be a Senior next year and to enjoy her life. She’ll get all of her applications in by early October and then we’ll see where the chips fall. Then again, she’s not shooting for any Ivies so maybe we’re just not ‘where your kids are’ in this process? At any rate, I have had my mouth hanging open for 3-4 pages as I look at these next year schedules! You all have some talented offspring!! 
</p>
<p>Step-D concurs with all of the APUSH test takers. She thought the test was easy and she felt good about it. Let’s hope! </p>
<p>I can’t begin to remember all that has transpired in the last 3 days of posting but…Step-D’s school ‘made’ them Seniors last week (Senior privileges kicked in, etc.) and you all are very right. It’s a Bourbon in the Closet (or Basement!) moment. Save a seat for me at the bar Walker, I’ll be a frequent visitor!! </p>
<p>Step-D is done in 3 days. Congrats to all Lucky 13’ers finishing up this month as well. Senior Year is now upon us!</p>
<p>Good morning Lucky 13’ers!</p>
<p>I just dropped DD off for a softball game - 3 RBIs yesterday, so hoping for similar results today. She’s done no prep for SAT/ACT in June - I’m at the point where I’m starting not to care if she picks up the book - what will be, will be. Her March scores are fine, but it would help if she could bring up that CR 30 points or so, or do well on the ACT. </p>
<p>wherenext, DS is at Oxford. He asked me junior year in hs if he could go there, and I told him that if he got in he could go. Who knew he was serious? He’s doing well though - he seems to have discovered those places called libraries.</p>
<p>DD’s high school doesn’t have any dual enrollment classes - they barely offer many APs.
DS’ school was on the campus of a local cc, so he had quite a few, and he took a few classes on his own time. He actually graduated with 60 credits, that would have transferred to our state U. It was tempting.</p>
<p>Wherenext, KET’s Latin courses are very good - too good for S11. He had to finish that way in order to graduate with our state’s high school honor’s diploma because his Latin teacher retired and wasn’t replaced. He didn’t realize that the Latin course that he had aced for the first two years of high school was such a poor caliber that he struggled in KET Latin 2. To me, it looked like an excellent, if demanding, online Latin course. [KET</a> Distance Learning Overview - HOMEPAGE - Welcome!](<a href=“http://www.dl.ket.org/]KET”>http://www.dl.ket.org/)</p>
<p>Walker, hope you get a discount from your analyst. </p>
<p>My D’13’s schedule will be similar to this year because her school only has the IB diploma. She just completed SL French and had previously completed HL psychology. Next year she will have HL English, Spanish, Music and History and SL math and environmental systems. She says she is aiming for a 40/44. I think that is a bit much. I don’t see any grades except at the end of the semesters so I will be interested to see her next grade report. She’ll be home in 12 days!</p>
<p>Walker ~ I love that it’s such a big crowd you had to move to the basement! I can bring the snacks!</p>
<p>MommyDearest13 ~ so happy your S made his decision, I hope he has a great experience!</p>
<p>Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Just found out that my S nominated me for a Mother’s Day make-over and won. I get a hair-cut and color, makeup, massage, pedi and mani. Not sure what he said on the essay, hopefully that I deserved it and not that I desperately needed it, though that would be true:)</p>
<p>momma: Wow! Enjoy your make-over!!</p>
<p>Basement: Count me in! When S3 goes we will be empty-nesters!! (as long as either of the other two don’t come back!! LOL). I don’t know if I like rum or bourbon, so maybe I will bring a bottle of Chardonnay. And maybe some cupcakes.</p>
<p>MDMom: Good luck to your son today. Update, although the meet is at our school, it is actually being hosted by another school in our district who shares our stadium. So if you don’t like the parking lot guys or the snack bar people, they are our cross-town rivals and we don’t like them either!! Actually probably you should bring a lunch to be safe.</p>
<p>Congradts mommaof5…I’m sure you Deserve it…not need it
I can’t even imagine my D taking the time to write something…
I hope you Feel truely Honored…</p>
<p>HAPPY MOTHERS DAY EVERYONE !!!</p>
<p>TX5: Thank you and I will!!! Jr is VERY excited to run today…so the butterflies have kicked in (for me). So I will be way to nervous to eat anything, although I may sneak a bit of “something” to drink before he races ;)</p>
<p>Mommaof5: Woo-Hoo!! Congrats to you and love that it was your S that nominated you. You have raised a good boy there :)</p>
<p>Walker: I am in CA (not sure where you are…) so if needed, we can plan on taking over our backyard if the group continues to grow. Pool, spa, outdoor room with multiple TV’s, fridge, ice machine, etc… (although I did like the sound of the basement ) Figure we can enjoy some sun during the winter months so we don’t end up as white as a ghost. Remember, there will be plenty of family pictures taken next May/June for graduation ;)</p>
<p>MDMom1314…A fully stocked backyard in So Calif…I’m in… :)</p>
<p>Congradts to all the summer program acceptances!!! </p>
<p>Mine is Very lucky to be going on a school trip to Mongolia to tutor kids and learn about protecting the natural resources there. Both China and Russia want their natural gas… I think this will be Very Eye opening. Especially for her first trip abroad…The country’s main diet is meat and dairy…she’s a vegan…I’m hoping she returns with a better understanding and appreciation for our Wonderful Country…and how Lucky we are to have Choices…
I think I will see PeaceCorp in her future after this…</p>
<p>I can’t decide whether I would rather hide in a basement/closet for a year or just blow it off in sunny SoCal! Regardless, I’ll bring the green chile con queso and the margaritas.</p>
<p>Our school is a large public. The district did away with all honors classes except those leading to APs a couple years ago. Ie, they only have honors math classes before calculus and honors English in 9 and 10 with AP in 11 and 12. So there are no honors options in upper grades, only regular and AP. It’s particularly bad that there are no honors science courses, so a second year in anything must be AP. IMO, it puts a lot of kids into AP who aren’t really ready and sets up an unhealthy competition for who can collect the most AP’s</p>
<p>89Wahoo- No, definitely did not work this hard and was not as stressed in HS. I did well grades wise but nothing exceptional. I think I took one AP class and an Honors class or two. I applied to one college, got in and went. I took no exams my senior year at all (no exams is you had an A in the class.) No SAT prep class or studying. VERY different world for these kids and feel badly for them. I know my D has liked HS but has felt much more stressed by it than I did b/c college has been on her radar throughout her entire college experience.</p>
<p>Anniezz- Sorry to hear that your D is not doing well medically. I’m not sure what’s going on there but I hope she can be made well soon.</p>
<p>My D found the APUSH test challenging. I think she was surprised by it. Hopefully she got a 4. </p>
<p>TX5- Very sweet idea for your S’s “promposal.” :-)</p>
<p>Jazz- Hope your APUSH went as well as you hoped. Your assessment sounds similar to what my d said. Good luck!</p>
<p>Walker- ROFL over the password being ‘bourbon.’ That’s hysterical!
Your mother is coming for three weeks? THREE WEEKS??? OMG. Do you get along well with her? I could not deal with that in a million years. I’ve got my Mom trained, finally, to around a 5 day visit. But then again, she is a challenging personality…
I’m so sorry to hear of your D’s BFF losing her mother. That is such a tragedy and it has a life long effect. Bless her darling heart. And LOVE Hairspray. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Senior pictures- I think the cap and gown ones are done this summer, using a specific company. We’ll probably also use a photographer for some fun, candid type shots that show off D’s personality.</p>
<p>Next year’s APs are AP Physics, AP Calc AB, AP Gov and AP Lit. She also taking Western Civ (required), and I think Robotics and Speech/Debate. It’s a heavy senior schedule and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about it. I think she will do fine but I don’t think she’ll be all A’s like she has been this year. I will definitely be encouraging her to get applications in ASAP senior year. </p>
<p>Oh Wahoo, I have a youngest son who is similar. He’s only 10yo though so I am still happily residing in Fantasy Land that things will get better…</p>
<p>I raise my glass to The Bourbon Basement! I’m not much of a drinker but by May of next year I might be a full fledged Alchie! I’ll bring my Margaritaville margarita maker and some strawberry mixer and whipped cream.</p>
<p>Dad- That is a very heavy schedule! Wow. And thank you for the Happy Mother’s Day.</p>
<p>Laurendog - I keep tying Laurengod by accident. lol! My kid is for sure not a super kid. She took one AP class as a Sophomore but took two AP tests that year at the teacher’s recommendation for all the kids in that class. This year she also took only 1 AP. That seems to be the norm (or even the high norm) for her parochial school. I am worried for her for next year b/c I think 4 APs is excessive for her. And like you, we aren’t shooting for Ivies either. We’re looking for schools that my kid can get some merit money for. </p>
<p>Mommaof5- OMG! That is so sweet. I love it. Congratulations and ENJOY!</p>
<p>Hey, did you all know that the basement has magical qualities? All foods, once transported downstairs, become calorie free! So pass those cupcakes… I’ll have three!</p>
<p>Tx5athome, I had to laugh about the cross town rivals. After two kids in HS, there are just some other high schools that really grate on you. In our area, there was a high school mom who always brought a cow bell to the games. Sorry to offend any cow bell lovers, but that got old really fast. (But for cross country, there was a mom from that same high school that brought her Bernese Mountain Dogs, so I liked that. :)</p>
<p>Congrats to all the fun summer activities. Learning about STEM careers, learning about other cultures, fostering independence. It all sounds great.</p>
<p>Marching band parents are usually a very congenial bunch, but I’ve experienced a couple I would like to wrap a sousaphone around with the bell being a good place for a head!</p>