DS and HS

[powellrj]

In our schools boys golf is a spring sport, so if that is what you are use to, you are really confused! Girls golf is a fall sport because DD is playing now.

For those of you who have really good school websites, consider yourselves lucky, because many of us lack those. I know in both school systems my kids have attended the websites have been behind the times. In our old school they even had power school where parents were suppose to be able to check grades and attendance. The only problem was it wasn't required so many teachers never updated it and it was never updated from the attendance office. What a waste of a good program.

Our new school doesn't even have the fall sports calendar up yet! I just now checked and it only shows spring sports!

 

[powellrj]

I just find it hard to believe that the school would not have any information anywhere about this--at 8th grade orientation, in the newspaper, on the website, no one visiting the middle schools, etc. If this is really the case, perhaps volunteering to get the word out, manage the website, etc. would be helpful.

Our school didn't. The only way we knew was when we went to register for classes and they had a golf sign-up sheet. She had really wanted to play volleyball, but you had to attend summer conditioning and we didn't even know they offered volleyball until it was too late.

Like I said in a earlier post, if you have a good communication system in your schools, consider yourselves lucky because not all school do.

 

[golfgal]

Our school didn't. The only way we knew was when we went to register for classes and they had a golf sign-up sheet. She had really wanted to play volleyball, but you had to attend summer conditioning and we didn't even know they offered volleyball until it was too late.

Like I said in a earlier post, if you have a good communication system in your schools, consider yourselves lucky because not all school do.

It's not that I don't believe YOU I guess I am just mystified that a school would not have better communications. I just know how our school does it and all the schools we have been associated with. The coaches start visiting the middle schools in Feb for ALL the sports, not just fall sports. The band directors have try outs for marching band in Feb for incoming freshman. Some coaches are talking to kids in 6th grade already just to get an idea of future interest. Heck, I think the cross country coach knows every kids that is even THINKING about MAYBE running from kindergarten up (ok, not really but the guy has a memory like you won't believe and knows every kid in the middle school program).

There have been emails, stories in the paper, mailings sent home, you name it, to get the kids ready to start (Monday in MN for fall sports). There is even a spot on our class registration forms to mark if you are interested in a sport or activity and those are done in Jan/Feb.

I wish golf was a fall sport here-the courses are in better shape--but both boys and girls golf are spring sports here.

 

[tiggerlover]

I would call the athletic director or golf coach directly and see if he can try out anyway. If he's good, the coach will not want to turn away a potential player.

I did and he was very nice, however, he said it wouldn't be fair to let DS in since the team had already been chosen and they were already playing together.

 

[tiggerlover]

DS is an incoming freshman as well and I can tell you that for our school district, they don't send this info home, but it is posted at the middle schools. They do this for 2 reasons. The first one - the cost of sending home notices for every student, on every activity would not be cost effective. The second one - they are of the stance that by middle school, the kids should be learning to take responsibility to make sure they have and/or get any information that they need. They don't feel that mommy and daddy should be the ones holding Jr's hand - if he/she wants to be in something, they need to me the ones to make sure they cross their T's and dot their I's and get the info.

For us with the school stance on it being the kids responsibility, I knew I would need to ride DS on getting the marching band paperwork. I knew info he didn't because of the history I have with marching band, so I knew that sign ups were April/May. I kept telling DS to make sure he got the paperwork from his band director. DS, in his normal way, kept forgetting. Finally, I told him that if this is something he wants to do, he had better get the form home by X day or we wouldn't sign him up if he brought the paperwork home after that day. It got home that night.

The last band concert of the year was May 18th. We noticed that there was a HUGE posting of all the activities for the following year that were based on try-outs. It gave the dates of try-outs and if there was an info meeting, that was noted as well. There was one thing I was suprised that DD didn't tryout for. When I asked her about it, she said it wasn't something that she really wanted to do.

I can understand about the cost of sending a flier in the mail, and I agree they should have said something at the end of 8th grade, but that wasn't the case. DS was so looking forward to being on the golf team, that isn't something he would have missed.

 

[mamacatnv]

I did and he was very nice, however, he said it wouldn't be fair to let DS in since the team had already been chosen and they were already playing together.

OP I'm sorry, that does stink. I think a chat with the athletic director regarding this policy is in order. You may learn that there were notices posted at the middle school and somehow your son missed them.

Otherwise if the information is not out there for all students to see then the team was selected with bias and that is not right to your incoming Freshman. Is it possible that golf is only for Jr's and above?

My DS attended a HS with horrible communication. We had a Principal who did not give a rats butt about athletics and made her disdain well known. I became actively involved in Boosters and that kept me well informed. Golfgals schools are darn near perfect, just ask her, however IMO from talking to DIS parents and friends from all over the country, Golfgals excellent in every catagory schools are not the norm.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I understand what you're saying. Trust me, I'm quite anal about researching things in advance I've been checking out the HS for over 4 years now. They do have a website, but the tryouts weren't listed. Plus, I never even thought that 8th graders could actually tryout for things before actually getting to high school. I thought that you did those things once you get there. An e-mail, flyer sent home or something on the website would have helped a lot

You don't know what you don't know.

Well now you know. If you want "in" the burden is on you. While I don't like it, it is how it is. They do put the burden on the students to make sure they are getting the info. They don't come and hunt you down.

Prepare yourself.

For example I have an 8th grader now and I know what I have to find out for my dd this yr., for next yr because I have a college sophomore. BTDT

She is not going for sports but a weighted English class for 9th grade and I am asking NOW.

 

[golfgal]

I did and he was very nice, however, he said it wouldn't be fair to let DS in since the team had already been chosen and they were already playing together.

So how did everyone else know it started early?