<p>D’s school seems pretty grade inflated so I suspect teachers do round up, at least in cases like that of mihcal’s or suzy’s D. My other daughters attended a high school where the gap between A- and A was a chasm and where the average gpa was in the B range. My oldest D’s senior class had all of 7 kids out of about 150 carrying a 4.0 gpa at the start of the year. At this new school, people talk about A- as if it’s a C. This seems really odd to me; A- is a good grade. I’m determined not to focus on it because (1) it will make me crazy too and (2) this girl puts too much pressure on herself as it is. What will be will be.</p>
<p>OhMomof 2, that makes no sense to me either and we seem to have the same system in place here.</p>
<p>D is done at last but she’s still not talking to us. Sigh. I hope she thaws when the sisters get here and she can vent to them about the horrible no good awful parents she has.</p>
<p>*D is done at last but she’s still not talking to us. Sigh. I hope she thaws when the sisters get here and she can vent to them about the horrible no good awful parents she has. *</p>
<p>I find that when they need a ride they become human again. ;)</p>
<p>D2 came home distraught because today’s Chem test didn’t go well, and because every single one of her classes assigned mountains of HW due the Tuesday after break. That’s how the teachers get around the district policy of no-HW-over-Winter-Break. They just assign it on the Thursday before break and make it due the second day back, and tell the kids “you can do it either before or after break.” </p>
<p>The poor kid is upstairs sobbing in her room. She is completely overwrought, behind on sleep, and really really needs a break. :(</p>
<p>mihcal1, hoping your D2 feels better soon and finds a way to manage those projects!</p>
<p>3girls3cats, we had some birthday angst too–one reason D was stressing about the Chem test was because it was on her birthday. I guess I’ve gotten so used to having to work hard even when it’s my birthday and having had loads of working birthdays already, I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a young person who still thinks that a birthday should be magical.</p>
<p>D did have a better day today, thank goodness–several friends gave her birthday gifts, nothing big, but they definitely showed that they were thinking of her and know what she likes. She asked several of them if they wanted to see The Hobbit so I’m taking a vanload of them for a pizza + movie afternoon at the mall tomorrow.</p>
<p>mihcal, hope your d. gets good rest and finishes all her homework. Sometimes I feel sorry for our kids. </p>
<p>crepes, how nice! My daughter’s b day fell in a day where there was no school this year. She was actually disappointed that there was no school. (It was a Monday.)</p>
<p>D15 got a ton of AP chem homework. But she didn’t get much of anything else, except for APUSH reading, mostly because the school was canceled unexpectedly due to weather change. I hope this doesn’t mean that they’ll get two tons of homework after the first day of school next year.</p>
<p>"That’s how the teachers get around the district policy of no-HW-over-Winter-Break. They just assign it on the Thursday before break and make it due the second day back, and tell the kids “you can do it either before or after break.” </p>
<p>You know, I’m a pretty big fan of teachers generally, but this is just plain mean. Who does that? mihcal, I hope she’s feeling better today too.</p>
<p>sunny congrats I think making Eagle scout is a phenomenal-you have two? Congratulations!</p>
<p>Sorry for all the stress. I think that is rotten about the homework-I would be all over that.</p>
<p>Our school rounds grades up or down for the report card but in the system they go out numerous decimal places for the GPA calculation. She got her 1st B last quarter-it was .02 points from being an A but it went on the report card as an 89-our report cards use numbers not letters.</p>
<p>She finished up today fighting a cold and exhausted-really ready for a nice vacation!</p>
<p>D2 seems happier tonight, facing 2 weeks of no school (even if there’s mountains of HW to do). I suspect a dose of homemade peppermint bark and a good night’s sleep will help, too.</p>
<p>herandhisMom – you asked whether D1’s B+ in AP Calc hurt her applications. She applied to 11 schools, including several with lottery-level acceptance rates. She was accepted at 9 and wait-listed at 2. Several schools made very attractive offers (e.g., half-tuition at a couple of privates, direct-admit to grad program, honors, special research opportunities). She turned all that down to become a regular schmo at UC Berkeley CoE, and is happy as a clam. All’s well that ends well, eh?</p>
<p>^mihcal1-Awesome D! What a great choice to be an engineer student at Cal!</p>
<p>Pepper-Both my boys are Eagle Scouts. S1 achieved the Eagle rank HS sophomore year; S2 has finished all his requirements for sometime. He passed the last step, the board of review this Monday to earn the rank. Both kids have enjoyed the journey of scouting but S2 has definitely much more passion for it. It has been a very tough semester for S2. Achieving the Eagle really helps to boost his morale.</p>
<p>Going out of town for the weekend. Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday!</p>
<p>@mihcal1, yes awesome D! So one B+ does not really hurt her chances. That’s what I thought. I was trying to tell my D. that when she was too nervous about grades. So far so good. But in case a B happens, it’s not the end of the world. </p>
<p>@Sunnydayfun and Pepper - Eagle Scouts are really impressive! You must be proud of your sons.</p>
<p>Thank Goodness. S does not have much homework this winter break!!! Just a little bit of WHAP and honors English. He is thrilled because he gets to relax, enjoy his older brother and get extra bass practice in!!</p>
<p>I wish you all the very happiest of holidays!</p>
<p>hi all-- just discovered this thread on CC and thought I’d jump in before the new year. D2 is much more artistic and creative than D1 (hs class of 2014), who is way more competitive and driven. for example: this break, D1 has been cramming for the January SAT almost constantly (I keep trying to get her to take breaks, but she’s very stubborn at times); D2 has been watching back-to-back episodes of Downton Abbey. D1 is almost obsessive about everything college-related, but I’m worried about D2. On one hand, sophomore year is a time to explore and learn (she’s only 14, for goodness’ sake!) and I don’t want to push her, but she goes to a very competitive all-girls school with about 60 girls/grade where everyone is very involved in extracurriculars, leadership, etc. I don’t want to hurt her now by not letting her do what she wants to develop her own sense of self, but at the same time I don’t want to hurt her irreversibly later. Any suggestions or parenting tips? I never had these issues with D1, who seems to be more self-motivated. Whenever I try to talk to D2 she kind of zones out and never seems to focus on what I’m saying… </p>
<p>On a completely different note, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday (with or without snow-- we got a few snowfalls but the snow didn’t stick). Can’t wait to talk with you all in the new year-- 2013, can you believe it?!</p>
<p>Hi doctormom!! Welcome to a wonderful group! What are your D2’s interests, and what are the things she is involved with at school now? It would help to know in order to make coherent comments to your post. She is a young sophomore, to be sure at only 14!</p>
<p>S is really enjoying his break and getting in some good practice time with his bass. He still has a whole week left of vacation! Tomorrow will be a little sad for S as S1 begins the trek back to college in CA.</p>
<p>Kids, especially when you have more than one, are a great reminder to that we as parents don’t influence our kids as much as we think. My two are night and day in terms of academics, music, personality…their college processes will be very different I am sure (S is already in college, my D is the '15).</p>
<p>Welcome doctormom! I have a DD graduating this year and DS who’s a sophomore and their personalities sound a lot like your two D’s. Although DD really never obsessed with college or studied for the SAT or ACT like your D, she is a natural joiner and wants to be a leader of every group she is in. She likes to be in charge! On the other hand, DS does just as well academically but is involved in very few extracurriculars because it just isn’t his nature. I think he (and your D2) will be fine blazing their own path but I’m also not above occasionally quizzing him about his desires for college either. I usually get a lackluster “maybe” in response :)</p>
<p>Happy New Year to everyone.
The fireworks have been going off since 3pm, fortunately our dog does not care, unlike some we have had in the past.
First New Year without DD, she is at a friends and will come home sometime tomorrow.</p>
She is a young sophomore, to be sure at only 14!</p>