Parents of the HS Class of 2026

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
2910

S26 is in full summer mode. Lots of swimming at friends’ houses, lots of going out with friends and coming home late and soccer practice. And he is “talking to” a girl. Now that the ACT is over, it is even harder to get him to think about college. He finally signed up for the college board awards that were sent out a month ago yesterday. But this is his last week with his friends this summer before we start travelling, so I want him to enjoy that.

Next week him and I will go and attend the soccer club world cup and watch his favorite team play, from there we will go straight to regionals for him to play himself. Soccer has been ruling our summers for the last few years, I’m glad I enjoy the sport :grin:

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2911

Full summer break here. The kids are feral, sleeping til late afternoon, eating whatever. (And by kids, they are 21, 18, 18 – so it’s not like I’m chasing children, lol.)

My S25 just got his schedule for the fall, will attend freshman orientation next week, and things are pretty much on track to start college. He’s going to a medium-sized rolling admissions school about 1.5 hours from us, which is perfect. He’s a student that will need a lot of supports in college, and this seems like it will be a great situation. Fingers crossed. He’s currently deciding whether he wants to do the optional program where he moves into his dorm a week early and does activities that help him acclimate to the campus and college life. It’s supposed to be a ton of fun (and fairly inexpensive, considering it includes all meals) – but he’d have to move in on August 3, which is really early. So he’s waffling.

No luck getting S26 to do any college application prep yet, lol. But good news – she’s going up to Miami of Ohio for a week-long summer program in July, and she agreed to fly by herself. I know that doesn’t seem a big deal, but she’s an anxious kid, and she’s never flown alone before, much less to an airport she’s never been to, and then to a program where she doesn’t know anyone. So this is huge. Otherwise it’s an 8-hour drive for us, or if I flew with her, it’d be like an additional $800. So pretty happy to save both time and money!

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2912

C26 has 2 more days of art camp work left, then we leave on Sunday to take them down to SLO for the architecture workshop. They are getting increasingly nervous about spending 4 weeks away from home, but from the mailings we’ve been getting from the workshop organizers it seems they are well used to the students being nervous and I guess will make them very busy to deal with it. I really like the idea of the “practice” college part, everything from the studio to the dorms before they get to the real thing. The house is certainly going to feel empty though!

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2913

Summer is here!

D26 is frantically getting her essays together for her admissions pre-reads for recruitment. Hoping she is actually trying and not just going through the motions. Fingers crossed that some offers materialize and she can commit and be done!

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2914

Ugh- D26 doesn’t;t finish school until June 25th!!! It is so late this year. She has three days of finals this week, is off today for Juneteenth and then has finals Friday and Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday and wastes and I may let her just be done. They are not doing a thing in school and we are probably the last district in the state still in school!

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2915

Wow, that is late! When does school start again in the fall?

2916

The Tuesday before Labor Day. They had a weird year with unforeseen school closures that required days to make up. Would have finished this past Tuesday originally.

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2917

My D26 is busy working as a day camp counselor this summer and really likes the job. I have been trying to convince her to ask for one week off so she can attend a training camp for her fall sport (she’s a 1m diver for her school’s varsity swim team) and tour a nearby college. But she is adamant that she does not want to take a week off work. She likes the money and says it’s fun.

On the college front, her summer English assignment is to get a draft common app essay done. They started brainstorming ideas and outlining/writing this spring in AP Lang after the AP test was done. During that time, D reworked a personal narrative she previously wrote in freshman English. She is on the fence about it and was thinking of starting over this summer with a totally new topic. To date, she does not seem to have a better topic or the motivation to write something new. The existing essay will work fine. I’ve read it – it is neutral at worst, and maybe even a slight plus.

On the topic of summer homework, do your kids have it? Mine have always had summer assignments in high school, although pushback from parents has resulted in a reduction. This summer she only has English and AP Calc homework.

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2918

No, partly on principle ( no homework over any vacations) but also because they don’t get their schedules until the day before school starts.

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2919

No summer HW here. However, at the end of each school year, the English dept always publishes their list of highly recommended books to read over the summer. We made D26 do that one time back in 5th or 6th grade and the book that was selected was so miserable to read that it totally killed D26’s love of reading…to the point where only in the past few weeks has she expressed any desire to do any reading just for fun.

Every year, the English dept claims that assignments at the start of the school year will be based on the summer reading book. But every year, nothing comes of it. So we don’t bother and it’s turned out ok.

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2920

My D26 is volunteering at two hospitals (one shift a week each) and was just hired for a restaurant host job. She is taking a virtual summer course (to fulfill a high school requirement that won’t fit into next year’s schedule). She also has an essay bootcamp this week and a weekly SAT course beginning on 6/30 (she is scheduled to take both the August and September tests). She also has summer work to do for her senior year AP classes. It sounds like too much as I type this, but I will be encouraging her to go out with friends whenever the opportunity arises. And, of course, sleepovers and movie nights! We are on vacation next week with extended family which should be a lot of fun!

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2921

Mine won’t get her actual schedule (teacher, class period) until August either – but they know which classes they are registered for in the spring after they do course selection with their counselor. Summer homework is issued by the department, not individual teachers.

At least the English homework for rising seniors (draft a common app essay) is something that would have to be done anyway!

But I fall into the camp that prefers no homework over any breaks – plenty of time for year round working as an adult!

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2922

Yeah, our school’s philosophy is that the students have a large amount of stress as it is so it is a policy that no homework is prescribed over vacations to give students a proper break. I don’t remember this from D19’s days (in fact they used to have their 1st semester finals just after winter break back then) so it may be something that was developed as part of the “Challenge Success”implementation.

Students don’t know which classes they are in until they get their schedules. All apart from math (recommended/approved by math teacher) and required courses earlier in high school (eg English 1 has no alternatives) have to have alternatives listed when they request courses. So far C26 has always got what they asked for, though.

The common app essay draft was done in all junior year English classes during the second semester of junior year.

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2923

S26 is supposed to read a book for AP Lit. But, he might not have AP Lit until second semester. The book is not enticing enough for him to want to read twice so he waiting to see his schedule before starting it. Schedules are released a few days before school starts. Fortunately he is a fast reader.

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2924

D26 has summer HW.

I am not a fan of this- but it only applies to accelerated classes and AP courses. Since these are technically optional courses- I guess it is just part of what you volunteer to sign up for.

Luckily none of it looks too time consuming so trying not to get upset about it :wink:

One of her classes that has summer work is AP 2D Art and Design. D26 is spending a month in Ireland doing an art program- so she is pretty confident that she can use what she is already going to be doing to finish of the majority of this one.
The AP Lit and Math class work seems pretty simple, so she plans on waiting until the end of summer to worry with those.

She applied to her first college yesterday- that felt really crazy. Makes things feel more real and sudden. (was one of her backup/safety schools that opens applications crazy early!)

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2925

D26 has some reading she’s supposed to do, I think that’s about it.

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2926

I’m so very jealous of your kids who don’t have summer homework! My D26 is a slow reader, she both reads while concurrently listening on audiobook, so it takes awhile to get through anything. She has the following due before Aug 15:

AP Bio: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, with a 1 page paper
AP Lit: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, with completed study guide
AP French: Banana Girl - a French graphic novel, with 3 paragraph summaries of each section
AP Gov: Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein, with a paper and quiz the first day of class

Thank goodness no homework in AP Calc!

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2927

The only summer homework D26’s school assigns is reading for English, plus an associated assignment. She’ll be in AP Lit, and she has to read 1984 (Orwell) and Player Piano (Vonnegut).

Which is fine, but the annotation requirement and other associated stuff seems really nitpicky and taxing this year – my kid enjoys reading, but I feel like this sucks all the joy out of it. I mean, look at this:

AP Literature Summer Reading Assignments 2025-2026
for Class of 2026 (from 11th Grade Honors or AP Seminar)

Annotations and written work due on the first day of class: Thursday, August 14, 2025

You will read 1984 by George Orwell AND Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut. You must read each book carefully, annotating each book as you read. Annotations should show close reading of the novel and include commentary as well as underling/circling, etc.

Part I: ANNOTATING THE TEXT—As you are reading, you should also annotate the text in your book.
Annotating the text is a powerful strategy to comprehend literature; it will not only help you actively read, it will also aid in your discussion participation and literary analysis skills.

ANNOTATION GUIDE

Inside front cover: Keep a character list with a small space for character summary and page references for key scenes, moments of character development, etc.
Inside back cover: Make note of your thoughts about themes, allusions, imagery, motifs, key scenes, etc. List page numbers/references as you read.

Chapter Summaries: Make sure to summarize the chapters either at the beginning of each chapter or the end. This should be a 3 or 4 sentence summary of the plot in that chapter.

Underline: As you read, underline, or highlight, anything that strikes you as memorable or significant. When you mark something in the text, you should also write something in the margin to remind yourself why you marked it in the first place.

What makes a moment significant in the text? That’s up to you as a reader/interpreter/thinker. If you are stuck, consider moments that
 reveal a truth about a character, the theme of the novel, or life in general.
 indicate a major change in the character, tone, plot, etc.
 demonstrate the writer’s craft (consider major literary devices).
 strike a chord in you or grab your attention, for whatever reason.

Circle Vocabulary: Circle 4 words per chapter that are unfamiliar to you or that strike you as unusual. Look up words that seem essential to an understanding of the meaning or the sense of the author. Write a synonym in the margin next to the circled word.

Questions: Actively engage the text by writing at least 1-2 open-ended questions for each chapter of the book.

Part II: READING QUESTIONS
Your responses to these questions should
 be well-written and “formal.” In other words, your answers should not read like a journal entry but instead should be full-sentence responses that use elevated vocabulary, correct grammar, and a formal tone.
 be headed, typed, and double-spaced.
 be approximately ¾ of a page in length
 include at least one quote from the novel for support.
 Be COMPLETELY original to you. Any kind of AI/ChatGPT usage on this assignment will constitute an honor violation.

1984 by George Orwell

  1. Throughout the novel, the Party uses Newspeak to control its members. Do you think it is possible to control people by adding or subtracting certain words from a language? Do words have importance to you personally? Explain your answer.

  2. There are various examples throughout the novel of the Party changing history or entirely wiping out people’s memories. Why do they do this? Why should historical facts and memories be important and valuable to you?

  3. How does the Party use fear to manipulate its members? How do people feel knowing Big Brother is always watching them? How do you feel knowing God is watching you? Is it a fearful feeling or a comforting one? How do God’s methods of working in your life differ from Big Brother’s influence in the lives of Party members?

  4. Take one of the Party slogans (War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength) from 1984 and explain how it is meant to affect the people of Oceania. Then explain how it is similar to something specific you see happening in our culture today.

  5. [SPOILER] Towards the end of the novel, O’Brien asks Winston: “Do you believe in God, Winston?” “No.” “Then what is it, this principle that will defeat us?” “I don’t know. The spirit of Man.” Is the “Spirit of Man” enough to defeat the Party? Why or why not? Is the “Spirit of Man” enough for you to overcome obstacles in your own life? Why or why not?

  6. What, in your opinion, are the worst parts of the world created in 1984? Would God allow a world like the one in 1984 to exist, or would He step in and overthrow such a culture? Would living in a world like the one in 1984 change your beliefs? Explain your answer.

Annotations and written work due on the first day of class: Thursday, August 14, 2025

Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut

  1. The title Player Piano symbolizes automation and a lack of human control. How does Vonnegut reinforce this symbolism throughout the novel? Identify 2-3 specific scenes during which Paul Proteus struggles with feeling like a “player piano” himself. You should have at least one quotation to support your explanation of Vonnegut’s usage of this symbol. Have you ever felt like you were just going through the motions in life? Give personal examples!

  2. Vonnegut satirizes industrialization and automation, particularly through the elite engineers in Ilium. How does the novel’s depiction of the corporate and military leaders (e.g., Kroner, Shepherd, and Dr. Halyard) highlight the dangers of a society run by technocrats? You should provide 2-3 specific textual examples. Do you think today’s reliance on technology has made life better or worse? Where do you see similar power structures in the modern world?

  3. Player Piano explores the impact of automation on human purpose. What examples from the novel show how people have been made obsolete by machines? Consider characters like the Reeks and Wrecks or those in the Reconstruction and Reclamation Corps. Incorporate at least one quotation into your response. Do you believe work is essential for happiness, or could a world without jobs be fulfilling?

  4. Player Piano has been compared to Brave New World and1984, but its focus is more on technology than government control. Consider the role of propaganda, surveillance, and social engineering in Player Piano. Do you think for us today that our modern concerns or fears are more focused on technological or governmental control? Or perhaps something else our society fears? Explain your answer with specific examples from recent history/culture/your own experience.

  5. Vonnegut’s writing balances humor with deep criticism. Consider moments like the Shah’s confused but insightful questions or the absurdity of the machines that replace bartenders. How does humor make his message more effective? Cite specific examples and quote Vonnegut to support your point. Do you think humor is an effective way to address serious issues? Have you ever used humor to cope with a difficult situation?

Annotations and written work due on the first day of class: Thursday, August 14, 2025

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2928

(I am encouraging her to read both books on her Kindle just to absorb them, then go back and do all the work. She’s grumbling because it’s more work, but I really think she’ll get more out of them that way. Nothing takes you out of a story like stopping to circle or underline or jot something down. Reading is one of my very favorite things, and I would HATE doing this.)

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2929

Summer reading assignment and most AP classes have summer work.

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