Here we go!

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Most of you know from FaceBook that DS starts high school at the Arts Magnet tomorrow. I hope he loves it. I hope he has an amazing year, and meets a ton of amazing people. I think he will.

I hope he does OK riding the bus. He has never ridden the bus to school before! I hope the lines in the cafeteria aren't too long, and I hope he has friends in his same lunch period.

I hope he can carry his books without falling over.

I think that is all I am worried about for now. Stay tuned.

 

[hematite153]

Good luck!

I actually think that seems like a relatively short list so far. So, if you can stick to it you might have a less stressful day than he does.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Good luck to DS!!! How exciting!!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Thanks!

He is REALLY excited. The only thing he is nervous about is being able to get his locker open. He practiced at orientation, but I will say it was hard to get the lock out of the latch. He is lucky - his locker is a top locker on the end of the row. Good location!

 

[C&G'sMama]

Good Luck to your son and to you mom. How exciting. I remember you anxiously awaiting "the letter". It's hard to believe summer is over for many and almost over for the rest of us. Happy School Year.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Good Luck to your son and to you mom. How exciting. I remember you anxiously awaiting "the letter". It's hard to believe summer is over for many and almost over for the rest of us. Happy School Year.

Thanks! Waiting for that acceptance letter was BRUTAL!

When do you guys go back?

 

[C&G'sMama]

Thanks! Waiting for that acceptance letter was BRUTAL!

When do you guys go back?

We go back September 8th (but they didn't get out 'til June 29th) at least next year they get out the 23rd. We're ready. DD is going into 5th which is unbelievable to me and DS into 2nd. I just can't believe how the time passes.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We go back September 8th (but they didn't get out 'til June 29th) at least next year they get out the 23rd. We're ready. DD is going into 5th which is unbelievable to me and DS into 2nd. I just can't believe how the time passes.

DS had a really good 5th grade year. Hopefully your DD will, too! 2nd grade was rough for us because that was the year we transitioned from private to public school. DS was sick 17 days. Luckily his immunity has built up since then! The time goes really fast. It seems like middle school didn't last long at all.

We used to get out before Memorial Day, which was awesome. But some of the districts were going back as early as the first week of August, so the state passed some legislation that NO district can go back before the 4th Monday in August. At first our district said they refused to run into June - something to do with the summer session for college? But anyway, now they run into June. I was all for giving up a few days at Thanksgiving or Spring Break, but I guess I was the only one!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Thanks!

He is REALLY excited. The only thing he is nervous about is being able to get his locker open. He practiced at orientation, but I will say it was hard to get the lock out of the latch. He is lucky - his locker is a top locker on the end of the row. Good location!

Lizzy can go to the school to try out her locker and find her way around on Wednesday from 10 to noon. I know she's worried about the locker. I'm more worried about how she'll go from her disorganized teacher last year to a rotating schedule this year. She'll have A/B/C days with rotating electives and then they also rotate the periods. She will NOT have a homeroom. They just go to whatever class they start with that week. And I'm worried about how she's going to make it on the bus at 6:50am. She's not a morning person. Also worried about how DH will handle all the change.

OH and she has a week long overnight field trip the last week of September. I haven't heard if they'll let me be an evening chaperone yet. I would have to be there from 7pm to 7am. It is about 35 miles from our house.

They go back the 7th. They get out 6/17 if we don't have any snow days.

Yikes they better get going on their summer homework packages!!!

 

[C&G'sMama]

DS was sick 17 days.

If our kids got sick that much we'd be in more trouble than we already are for taking them out for Disney. Fortunately there's no law about unexcused absences in New York. So we get a slap on the wrist every year from the school.

Although I don't understand why WDW isn't an excused absence

 

[starann]

Something tells me that he will do just fine! He has some spunk!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Lizzy can go to the school to try out her locker and find her way around on Wednesday from 10 to noon. I know she's worried about the locker. I'm more worried about how she'll go from her disorganized teacher last year to a rotating schedule this year. She'll have A/B/C days with rotating electives and then they also rotate the periods. She will NOT have a homeroom. They just go to whatever class they start with that week. And I'm worried about how she's going to make it on the bus at 6:50am. She's not a morning person. Also worried about how DH will handle all the change.

OH and she has a week long overnight field trip the last week of September. I haven't heard if they'll let me be an evening chaperone yet. I would have to be there from 7pm to 7am. It is about 35 miles from our house.

They go back the 7th. They get out 6/17 if we don't have any snow days.

Yikes they better get going on their summer homework packages!!!

Good luck to Lizzy!! I am still not sure DS understands the A/B scheduling. I tried to explain he has English and then lunch OR lunch and then English (depending on which lunch period he is assigned) EVERY day. The other classes alternate. He doesn't get it.
6:50 is brutal. School doesn't start until 8:55, but we have to factor in travel time in heavy traffic so the bus comes around 8.
A WEEK LONG field trip? Where are they going?

If our kids got sick that much we'd be in more trouble than we already are for taking them out for Disney. Fortunately there's no law about unexcused absences in New York. So we get a slap on the wrist every year from the school.

Although I don't understand why WDW isn't an excused absence

We had documentation of all of his absences - he was in the hospital part of the time, then he had chicken pox, it was a disaster. But the school never questioned it. When I took him out for 4 days for WDW in 4th grade the truancy board threatened to fine me $500 and charge me with a Class C misdemeanor.

Something tells me that he will do just fine! He has some spunk!

Thanks, Star. Yes, he does have spunk. But in the company of about 795 other kids I don't think he will feel quite so spunky.

 

[mikelan6]

I hope he can carry his books without falling over.

They still use books? I thought everyone used iPads or Netbooks nowadays!

 

[cmpdw4me]

Dear Friend, he'll be FINE! He's a big boy now Mom. He will get lost, they all do, his book bag will be too heavy, they all are. It's part of the process, their the low guys on the food chain now. I told DD the same thing. Your NOT alone, there is a whole class JUST like you, filled with kids feeling the SAME things you are. There is safety in numbers. They'll be fine. It's all apart of their HS experience. 4 years from now, when their the graduating class, they'll look back on this and laugh. I've been thru this twice now. Trust me when I say its' gonna FLY BY. I just want DD to have an awesome high school experience, enjoy the clubs, football games, friendships, new experiences...all of it. This is what shapes them into independant adults...we have to let go more, let them make choices and believe we've done a great job in preparing them for the world. Breathe, it gets easier.

C

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

They still use books? I thought everyone used iPads or Netbooks nowadays!

They use THICK books. It was all he could do to carry them to his locker at orientation. Luckily he won't have to carry all 4 at the same time. 3 on "A" days and 2 on "B" days. And hopefully they will be working on novels in English so he can carry the little paperback novel as opposed to the big old honking textbook.

Dear Friend, he'll be FINE! He's a big boy now Mom. He will get lost, they all do, his book bag will be too heavy, they all are. It's part of the process, their the low guys on the food chain now. I told DD the same thing. Your NOT alone, there is a whole class JUST like you, filled with kids feeling the SAME things you are. There is safety in numbers. They'll be fine. It's all apart of their HS experience. 4 years from now, when their the graduating class, they'll look back on this and laugh. I've been thru this twice now. Trust me when I say its' gonna FLY BY. I just want DD to have an awesome high school experience, enjoy the clubs, football games, friendships, new experiences...all of it. This is what shapes them into independant adults...we have to let go more, let them make choices and believe we've done a great job in preparing them for the world. Breathe, it gets easier.

C

Eh, he will absolutely get lost because the Theater classes are in one building and the academics are in another building. But he'll sort that out. He isn't really worried - he is excited and jittery. He said he woke up at 3 AM and never went back to sleep. He is going to be exhausted by 4:10 when they are dismissed for the day!

 

[C&G'sMama]

We had documentation of all of his absences - he was in the hospital part of the time, then he had chicken pox, it was a disaster. But the school never questioned it. When I took him out for 4 days for WDW in 4th grade the truancy board threatened to fine me $500 and charge me with a Class C misdemeanor.

I've heard they can do that in TX and possibly other states. We'd be in big trouble as for the last 2 years the kids have each had 13 to 15 unexcused absences (most of them for travelling). We get a letter saying how a child can't learn if they're not in school and we send a letter back explaining how much more our children learn while traveling and how much their class mates learn from the shared experiences. The teachers love us, (the dean, not so much).

Yeah, we've pretty much decided if New York ever goes that way, we'll definitely home school (it is something we have always serisously considered anyway, we just take it year by year)

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I've heard they can do that in TX and possibly other states. We'd be in big trouble as for the last 2 years the kids have each had 13 to 15 unexcused absences (most of them for travelling). We get a letter saying how a child can't learn if they're not in school and we send a letter back explaining how much more our children learn while traveling and how much their class mates learn from the shared experiences. The teachers love us, (the dean, not so much).

Yeah, we've pretty much decided if New York ever goes that way, we'll definitely home school (it is something we have always serisously considered anyway, we just take it year by year)

You know, it's not like he was out selling drugs on the street corner. Our attorney laughed when I told her about the letter. There was a news story about kids who had missed like 45 days and the parents didn't care, or didn't know, or whatever. I would think the district's efforts would be better spent on THOSE parents. DS made up the work he missed those 4 days. It wasn't a big deal.

 

[zeitzeuge]

I know when we asked him at dinner our last time out, he was really excited about school, so I'm sure he'll do great. There's always so much new to learn and get use to. He'll be fine.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I know when we asked him at dinner our last time out, he was really excited about school, so I'm sure he'll do great. There's always so much new to learn and get use to. He'll be fine.

You should have seen him working out his wardrobe for the week. He was BEYOND excited. Nothing like being out of a uniform for the first time since Kindergarten to put some spring in your step!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Good luck to Lizzy!! I am still not sure DS understands the A/B scheduling. I tried to explain he has English and then lunch OR lunch and then English (depending on which lunch period he is assigned) EVERY day. The other classes alternate. He doesn't get it.
6:50 is brutal. School doesn't start until 8:55, but we have to factor in travel time in heavy traffic so the bus comes around 8.
A WEEK LONG field trip? Where are they going?



We had documentation of all of his absences - he was in the hospital part of the time, then he had chicken pox, it was a disaster. But the school never questioned it. When I took him out for 4 days for WDW in 4th grade the truancy board threatened to fine me $500 and charge me with a Class C misdemeanor.

School starts at 7:30 and she'll be out at 2pm. We could probably leave the house at 7:15 and make it on time if I drove her but I won't be telling her that. She's not a morning person so she won't be able to eat before leaving the house. They do have a 10 minute break at 9:10 so can eat something quick then. Then lunch is around 11. I'm sure she'll get used to it.

Her supply list was crazy this year. It would have been $100 at Staples but I had a $9 rewards check and 20% off coupon so it was "only" about $80. She needed four 1 1/2" binders-they get pricey over 1". Plus pocket dividers-Staples on had one version of those and they were $4.50 each. How will she fit four 1 1/2" binders in her backpack? AND after I bought all the stuff I checked out the 7th & 8th grade supply list and in those 2 years only 1 class needs anything more than a 1" binder.

Emma missed a bunch of school all in one semester this year. 7 or 8 days with pneumonia and then 6 days for her birthday trip plus a few other sick days. We got a state mandated truancy letter but when we called the school they said not to worry about it. Since they've switched to the new "performanced based report card system" so she was still all 2's-at grade level.



How's your weather? Is it really 105? It is in the 60's here. Feels like summer is over.

Hope DS had a great day today!!!