@carolinamom “Just curious, are most of your kids attending orientation prior to move in day?”
Not only does he have a two day orientation in late July but the parents have a separate orientation. He’s also going to a two day retreat, “Hokie Camp” right before move in. He picks up his computer and registers for classes at orientation. Then he has a month until school starts. :((
We have a mid June graduation so he hasn’t received any gifts yet. Since he enjoys hiking and we have a connection to one particular National Park and is a member of the class of 2016 I got him this pack from REI. The Osprey Kestrel National Park Service Pack. With my rewards it cost me less than a $100:
That’s awesome, @Waiting2exhale . Love smart kids in groups!
@carolinamom2boys S had the option of a couple of different orientation dates, but since he had to sign up for classes at orientation and this is a large state school (so some classes get filled really fast), he went for the first one. Most of the other kids who attended are from out of state, since in-state high schools haven’t ended yet. And honestly, we misread the attendance dates when he signed up, or he’d’ve waited two more weeks. But at least he got the classes he wanted.
That’s how ours works too. We have different dates to choose from for orientation from June to July, then they also have a retreat right before school starts and move in( he won’t be attending because it conflicts with my youngest son’s beginning of school and logistically it won’t be feasible) and then move in in August.
I have a 1 day orientation in July before move in in late August. I have some friends whose orientation is this weekend- crazy considering we are still in school
D16 has an orientation week that she will attend. There is an option to stay off campus but I think a huge part of it is to stay on campus and bond with the other students. It starts mid-August and after it ends then the other students move in and classes start.
D16 chose to do the 2 day orientation reserved for internationals and students who live far away that is right before move in day. I wish she was doing an earlier one because of the class choosing thing but she in heading into computer engineering and they are usually very accommodating with engineers because the schedule is so tight. Because the school has a lot of people who live close by, she really wanted the chance to connect with others who aren’t from the area. She is also doing a week long optional wilderness orientation in the middle of summer. She isn’t a very wildernessie kid but it gets her a required PE credit and involves zip-lining so she is all in.
Congrats @carolinamom2boys! I have to say the flask/toga sheet comment cracked me up. S’s orientation is in a couple weeks. He should get his schedule, etc. I think they have separate freshman welcome activities right around move in time.
This might be a little late for some of you, but did you know there is a “Graduation” Mad Libs? I ordered it for D and it should arrive today, just in time for the seniors to meet on the beach for “senior sunset”. The ones previewed on Amazon were pretty amusing. Might be fun for a grad party.
Today is the last full day of class for the seniors. They have school all next week, but there are assemblies, a couple of finals, check out and Friday is nothing but a couple of hours of grad rehearsal. So today is feeling more like the last day of school for them.
@MuggleMom your D is going to have great stories when she gets to college. “Her people” are all probably all having similar experiences. They can all have a good laugh while trying to one-up each other on the who has the best smile and nod story. Then, they can get down to the business of having a cutting-edge educational experience with brilliant, high-energy faculty and working collaboratively to make the world a better place.
My advice: buy her some sunglasses so 1) she can roll eyes without being caught & 2) because her future’s so bright she’s gotta wear shades. B-)
I suspect that no one had the internal experience of their DC16’s graduation I did this week. Not a happy one for me. Much cognitive dissonance. I checked with DD16 and our two commencement guests and they reported the ceremony and experience was lovely. I…well, let’s just say I had Luther, my Anger Translator, transmitting into my earpiece the entire time. (Know Luther? Check YouTube for last year’s Obama White House Correspondents Dinner.)
Just some highlights…
How can a senior class of 14 in a school that reportedly celebrates and accommodates diversity manage to exclude (freeze out) at least two, maybe three, of its members?
How can a small school designed to address learning differences embrace a senior class that sniggers out loud at the graduating male student with the flat affect (perhaps Aspie) during the ceremony and in the graduation video presentation?
How can all these seniors literally be called “kind” by announcers and claim for themselves in videos to have become “inclusive” when their actions are so intolerant and almost bullying?
How come staff and faculty at this institution can’t or don’t or won’t see this? Even when it’s broached as a problem and a failure of the mission?
There’s a circle of hell for each.
Yes, I’m a momma-bear and my kid is better than me for her gracious approach of taking what you can use and leaving the rest. Maybe I will get there too. In time.
Me, I’m now working through my feelings in an attempt to leave it behind and move on. Living well is the best revenge, they say.
Over and out!
(If you can’t relate to this, thank your twinkling lucky stars.)
Well, today is our day. DS is at graduation practice now. We’ll head back early evening for the actual ceremony. Parking may be a mess & I am hoping the rain will let up. Please.
@dyiu13 I was near tears reading about your experience. I know saying that I’m sorry that you had to witness or experience that is pretty meaningless. I feel for the student and I feel for the next generation if that’s what those students are really like. I’ve had plenty of experience with special needs students, all over the spectrum and sometimes it feels physically painful to me when people don’t even make an effort to treat them as the human beings that they are.
@dyiu13 I am SO sorry that your family’s happy occasion was marred by a bunch of intolerant, disrespectful and hateful people . There is no excuse for it. You are far better person than me .
@dyiu13 that sounds pretty awful! When D was in 5th grade at a school with 3 programs, one for those on the spectrum, the moms who put together the moving up ceremony “forgot” to include the special needs kids at all. The teachers of those kids raised heck and made the moms (of all moms of high-achieving kids) rework the entire thing to include students from all three programs. It was very deliberate, and one of many reasons we left that program. I feel for the kids in your D’s school. I hope that someone says something so that it won’t happen again.
@dyiu13 I am sorry the special event was spoiled for you.
I agree that you should let someone know.
At least your DD was not too negatively affected by the events.
We have registration/orientation next week. Then a few days at move in with various activities to get the kids acclimated. S wasn’t interested in the overnight registration options since they were later than his time slot. Has anyone looked through the course catalog at their kid’s choices? Some gen eds look interesting.
I’m feeling accomplished today. I started Dorm Mountain. Really, just a few pebbles so far. Started the toothpaste/shampoo/deodorant/toiletries pile. I love checking things off the list. S doesn’t care about the mundane things like these, but will get involved in choosing bedding and clothes to bring.
@dyiu13 - it is particularly upsetting to hear someone lauded for exactly the opposite of what you know them to be! My DS16 was bullied by kids who considered him to be “acting gay” when he was in middle school. When a teacher became complicit, we took him out and sent him to public school (which was by the way a phenomenal decision on every possible level, I’m pleased to report, hopefully not attracting the evil eye in the three hours left before graduation ha ha ha).
But anyway, I told another mother in the class, “we’re taking him out, but that is not going to solve the problem,” thinking it was obvious that I meant that the bad eggs were still left behind and would find a new target as long as they weren’t being taught a social/emotional anti-bullying curriculum. Ho ho, but she answered cluelessly, “oh, you’re right; he might get picked on at his new school, too!” A couple years later that mother told me that the class had “really coalesced and become a great community” [after so many kids left??]. And I have seen the school’s newsletter talking about how important it is always to treat people kindly and respectfully.
