<p>peggy, you are a goddess … you went to parent-teacher conferences in the spring of senior year?! I guess I must have senioritis along with my D, because I … who ALWAYS has faithfully attended everything at school … skipped spring conferences.</p>
<p>I have a pretty good case of seniorities, but I think its ok to a certain extent. I worked my butt off the past 12 years. I got into my top choice ( I’m heading off to UPenn this fall) and I feel that slacking off is my reward. I mean, I’m not encouraging people to start failing their courses but I do believe its ok to sort of loosen the chord and just accept 80s as being a decent grade. Before seniorities I would study pretty hard for a test and end up getting a 100 or at least among the 3 top scores in the class. But now I barely study ( basically I’m only studying for my math tests) and I pull off 80s. I didn’t study for my IB physics mock and yet I was able to score A-. And in other classes I just stopped going, I work on homework during other periods, sleep through some lectures…and whatever…I know this is going to end as soon as I graduate…as soon as I get to college its back to the books…</p>
<p>Not sure whether to be encouraged by this thread, or scared. S. did work a little harder after reading the NY times article mentioned above, but he just spent the whole weekend doing NO homework and NO studying for the AP’s that are starting this week. I am worried that his admission to a small LAC might be rescinded.</p>
<p>The kids just can’t seem to get the energy that last semester. It’s nail biting to the parents, I know. The only comfort is that if the student has been doing well up to this point, it is rare that it’ll be a problem. All of our highschools just send the year end grades which are an average of the entire year, not broken into quarters of semesters or showing exam results. So a drop has to be precipitous for the college to take reneging action. And the trend tends to be universal, so a slight drop is common.</p>
<p>I am more worried about the shenanigans and rule breaking with prom and grad parties on the way, along with senior pranks and skips. Someone always seems to go too far, and gets busted. THAT could cause a timeout situation or even a rescinding of acceptance depending on the seriousness of the transgression.</p>
<p>Eh. I’m definitely slumping here, but I have a good handle on all my grades and am not currently posting anything lower than an A-, so as long as I ride out these next couple of weeks, I should be fine. I can’t speak for everyone, of course, but personally, I’m just plain tired. This was not helped by the fact that I missed a lot of April school because of college visits (I still have a take home Physics test that everyone else turned in, like, 2 weeks ago Monday) that were not particularly relaxing. So, I wouldn’t say that I deserve to take it easy, but I’m not going to be particularly apolegetic, either! :)</p>
<p>I was a bit suprised to hear from my S that our HS froze the grades and ranks of seniors 6 weeks before the end of the year (we have 3 6-week periods a semester). So, all he has to worry about are the AP tests the next two weeks. After that, he can take a break while participating in all the pre-grad activities.</p>
<p>I’m in IB exams already… I didn’t study for my phrsics or english paper , and I still kicked ass haha… I have my math paper 1 and 2 this week… I’m pretty much screwed, but once you give in to the idea of failure it makes it that much easier to sleep hahaha,…to hell with IB</p>
<p>So, if they freeze the kids grades at the end of third quarter, do they learn anything in fourth quarter in their non-AP classes? Seems kind of unfair to kids that are making a last ditch effort to pull up their grades. BTW are you at Clemens?</p>
<p>Boy, I’d love it if my son’s hs froze things now. I really wish he could take it easier for the rest of the year, but it’s only a few weeks. His hs requires a yearlong project studying some subject or learning a new skill or doing a new activity. They have to find a consultant in the community, spend a certain number of hours and do a presentation the 3rd week in May. The intention was to keep students engaged during their senior year and I think it works really well. I’ve seen some amazing projects. My son directed the spring play–I’ve never seen him work so hard on anything.</p>
<p>My youngest S is very busy studying for 4 AP’s and that’s keeping him on track. Says he’s motivated by the chance to win credits towards a semester off of college and skipping a few introductory courses to place into higher level classes as a freshman.</p>
<p>It’s the first time i’ve really seen him take charge of his study/time management against the calendar and think long-term. No scaffolding from parents whatsoever, except he asked us if we thought his study plan sounded good, and suddenly he’s studying downstairs near the kitchen! It’s all note review, no computer. I haven’t seen kitchen-table homework for many years, kinda sweet. </p>
<p>I like that he’s intrinsically motivated, too. Having figured out "all’ he needs is a 3 he’s set a study goal of 4 or 5 “so he knows the material forever.” He has nobody to impress except himself.</p>
<p>BUT, yes I have senioritis. I’m grouchy about distractions, like other kids calling on weeknights for movies. I don’t want to discuss all the calendar-juggling any more, so he’s in charge of his days. Maybe that’s why I’m extra-proud he’s studying so well for these last AP exams. He sometimes declines the movies, although when he accepts I suppose he’ll always have that built-in justifier: he’s majoring in film at college 
so it’s all “research…” </p>
<p>It feels like the end of a 25-year run. Next year, no more October Parent-teacher conferences; i can hardly tell you how happy that makes me, after 22 years like that.</p>
<p>senioritis SUX. all my friends said that i would be the only one of them NOT to get it…and i have a horrible case of it!!! really they should make the last semester of high school get credit for like community service or something. cuz i can’t do homework anymore. :(</p>
<p>missybear, you’re not crazy, there are serious educators saying that the entire senior year of American high schools should be restructured with hands-on application into the communities and capstone projects/performances. "nuff’s enough, right? I’m with you.</p>
<p>No more open-houses? No more parent-teacher conferences? I can feel that freedom is in the air!!! :)</p>
<p>Karen Colleges - Actually, I guess the seniors knew all along that their grades and ranks were frozen at this point, so they knew that the last 6 weeks were their last chance. (We have 6 6-week periods, 3 each in a semester.) I’m sure the attitudes of the kids are all over the map. Mine is working most in his A.P. classes, but he enjoys his other classes and is still motivated to put forth a good effort. </p>
<p>No - we’re not in Clemens. We’re zoned to Lamar Consolidated.</p>
<p>Our school does rank in October (!) I believe. Basically your senior year doesn’t affect it at all, possibly first marking period grades. I see more of my son’s friends coming to play ping pong and wii after school, but they’ve all got lots of APs on their plates. Most of the AP courses pretty much go on vacation for the rest of May and June. Though AP Econ has to prepare them for the “Gov” part of the NY Regents government requirements.</p>
<p>Does everyone share the experience that once a kid has prepared for the AP’s, the NY Regents will be a cakewalk/ snap/ no-brainer…</p>
<p>Our HS allows seniors who have an A- average in a class for the whole year to exempt the final exam. That has been enough motivation to keep S working. Although since April break I think the teachers have developed senioritis - or just know better than to try to give any large papers/projects at this point!</p>
<p>my school district did away with all midterms and final exams… so i’d like to know how those kids are fairing once they get to them in college. I don’t think my sister has senioritis, however she seems to really love her classes and enjoys doing the work in them… which is strange to say, haha.</p>
<p>US History Regents was a no brainer after Regents. I gather World is too. (Older son didn’t do that, but younger one will.) I’d image Physics is easy after Physics B. </p>
<p>I remember way back when I was a senior they didn’t give exams to seniors with Bs or better. My French teacher gave me a B, but it was a present, she just didn’t want to write an exam just for me I’m sure. When I came back the following year for a visit after a year in France she was amazed at how I could finally speak French. I’d been hopeless.</p>
<p>I’m an IB Diploma Candidate, and I kind of think the administration thinks that we will have a series of horrible psychotic breakdowns during our exam period. If I have a morning exam (usually 9 A.M. to ~11), they tell us to “take a long lunch” and come back to school at 2. If I have an afternoon exam (1 P.M. - ~3), they tell us to “take a relaxation break,” so we get out of class at 11:30 and don’t have to go back to school for the last hour and a half. Essentially, I am really not even attending school anymore because I have an IB or AP test every single day.</p>
<p>It’s pretty nice, though, because we spend a lot of leisure time lying poolside with smoothies while we should be “studying.”</p>