Stalking DISers.... continue here

[Ragnrok23]

Kari- sorry to hear about your sister.

 

[karibritt01]

Thanks for the prayers. She started the new chemo today, so we will not know how she will handle it for a few days.

Renee... how dare you DIS when you should be doing Dana's homework! I'm only skipping out on ... and that can certainly wait!

I've been super busy this past week. I had to go to Girl Scout camp last weekend for leader training. Walked around the lake late one night with my co-leader. We walked by moonlight to save the flashlights, as it was a pretty bright night. Got back to our cabin, and saw a sign in the bathroom... Beware of the Alligator in the Pond! I won't be going THERE with my girls, since they are the perfect size for gator bait! Came home with a bacterial infection from the tap water they served. For LONG days of stomach cramps and diarrhea.

 

[SingingMom]

Thanks for the prayers. She started the new chemo today, so we will not know how she will handle it for a few days.

Renee... how dare you DIS when you should be doing Dana's homework! I'm only skipping out on ... and that can certainly wait!

I've been super busy this past week. I had to go to Girl Scout camp last weekend for leader training. Walked around the lake late one night with my co-leader. We walked by moonlight to save the flashlights, as it was a pretty bright night. Got back to our cabin, and saw a sign in the bathroom... Beware of the Alligator in the Pond! I won't be going THERE with my girls, since they are the perfect size for gator bait! Came home with a bacterial infection from the tap water they served. For LONG days of stomach cramps and diarrhea.

We went away to camp for 2 nights in Grade 5 - and I had the same reaction to the well water! I feel your pain, even after all these years!!!

This Latin paper is going to make me insane.... Dana has SO MUCH homework, and she has rehearsals EVERY NIGHT until 7pm for the show. At least it will be over soon! (May 1, 2, 3 performances)

How pesimistic am I?! I bought blister bandaids for Bob for our June trip! I just know he's going to have trouble AGAIN, even though we bought $145 spiffy sandals for him this year.

 

[karibritt01]

Wynn always has trouble with sandals. His best bet is a pair of well-broken in Reeboks. I do fine in either tennis shoes or my Crocs flops, but did get a top blister from the flops strap.

I am so jealous of everyone on the "final countdown" until their trip. I have 5+ months to go. Of course, since I haven't paid for it yet... 5 months is a good thing!

 

[SingingMom]

WENDY!!! ARE YOU BACK YET???? We are waiting for a report!!!!

 

[LizAgna]

Oh where, oh where is Wendy??

How has everyone else been? My work has been crazy lately...our office moved back to corporate last week so I have basically spent 2 weeks packing and then unpacking plus doing my job!! But I'm all settled into my new office with a week to spare before month-end!!

We have decided to send Amanda to private school next year so I turned in her application yesterday. In the public school where she goes the 6th grade has over 500 kids in it and the private school where we have enrolled her has 29 currently in the 6th grade. They will take up to 40 in the 7th grade so next year is going to be a big adjustment for her...a good one we hope! I don't want to start a debate of public vs private school but do any of your kids go to private school? If so has your experience been a good one? I think Dana does doesn't she, Renee?

 

[karibritt01]

My neices have both done private school through the 8th grade, then changed to public for high school. Their school has an excellent reputation for the lower grades, but the high school leaves a lot to be desired. We have always had very good experiences/teachers with the public school here, so I have never considered private. However... unless the junior high and high school make big improvements in the next few years... we may start looking. The high school they would go to has a a score of 60.1 on their yearly testing. They do have a new school slated for my area for the 2011 school year, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[SingingMom]

Oh where, oh where is Wendy??

How has everyone else been? My work has been crazy lately...our office moved back to corporate last week so I have basically spent 2 weeks packing and then unpacking plus doing my job!! But I'm all settled into my new office with a week to spare before month-end!!

We have decided to send Amanda to private school next year so I turned in her application yesterday. In the public school where she goes the 6th grade has over 500 kids in it and the private school where we have enrolled her has 29 currently in the 6th grade. They will take up to 40 in the 7th grade so next year is going to be a big adjustment for her...a good one we hope! I don't want to start a debate of public vs private school but do any of your kids go to private school? If so has your experience been a good one? I think Dana does doesn't she, Renee?

Yes, Dana has always gone to private (parochial) school. There are very fancy "private" schools in our area, but she attends the diocese's Catholic schools. She went to our parish school from Kindergarten to Grade 8 and now is at one of the diocese's Catholic high schools.

Every parent has to make the decision that is right for their own child and their family. Our public schools in town are very good - but we feel they are too big. The EXTREMELY smart children or the children with learning disabilities tend to thrive in our overcrowded public school system. The rest of the students are just numbers and float through.

The other thing that was a personal decision for us is that we are not ones for "political correctness" to be pushed down our throats. When a town's demographic is predominately Christian and can't sing Christmas carols in a school winter concert because it "might offend someone", that just makes me NUTS. Instead of including different religions songs and cultures, they tend to ban things. (When I taught music in the Catholic school, I taught our kids different hymns and songs from other religions.)

Dana is THRIVING at the Catholic HS. She just got her report card yesterday for the 3rd marking period - and received "First Honors". For a kid that has to WORK for everything (academics do not come easily for her), we are SO PROUD of her accomplishment. And, the Catholic school grading system is much harder than the public school here. A 70 is a "C" in our public schools - at Dana's school, under 70 is an "F".

Dana's last year class was very small - good for one-on-one instruction, but hard if the social aspect isn't great. She struggled a bit with that, since she is very outgoing and bubbly, and the other girls in her class were very, well, the only way I can say it, boring. lol This year in high school she has met new people and is LOVING every minute of it. The Performing Arts Club has been loads of fun for her - "Anything Goes" opens next Thursday.

Part of our decision to send her to Catholic school was because of religion being taught (they actually are allowed to talk about GOD in school, imagine that! ). All I can say is that private school has been the "right decision" for us. You have to do what is best for your child. good luck!

 

[LizAgna]

My neices have both done private school through the 8th grade, then changed to public for high school. Their school has an excellent reputation for the lower grades, but the high school leaves a lot to be desired. We have always had very good experiences/teachers with the public school here, so I have never considered private. However... unless the junior high and high school make big improvements in the next few years... we may start looking. The high school they would go to has a a score of 60.1 on their yearly testing. They do have a new school slated for my area for the 2011 school year, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

The public schools there sound like our area. The elementary and intermediate (4th & 5th) schools have been great! But the middle and high schools are a different story.

Yes, Dana has always gone to private (parochial) school. There are very fancy "private" schools in our area, but she attends the diocese's Catholic schools. She went to our parish school from Kindergarten to Grade 8 and now is at one of the diocese's Catholic high schools.

Every parent has to make the decision that is right for their own child and their family. Our public schools in town are very good - but we feel they are too big. The EXTREMELY smart children or the children with learning disabilities tend to thrive in our overcrowded public school system. The rest of the students are just numbers and float through.

The other thing that was a personal decision for us is that we are not ones for "political correctness" to be pushed down our throats. When a town's demographic is predominately Christian and can't sing Christmas carols in a school winter concert because it "might offend someone", that just makes me NUTS. Instead of including different religions songs and cultures, they tend to ban things. (When I taught music in the Catholic school, I taught our kids different hymns and songs from other religions.)

Dana is THRIVING at the Catholic HS. She just got her report card yesterday for the 3rd marking period - and received "First Honors". For a kid that has to WORK for everything (academics do not come easily for her), we are SO PROUD of her accomplishment. And, the Catholic school grading system is much harder than the public school here. A 70 is a "C" in our public schools - at Dana's school, under 70 is an "F".

Dana's last year class was very small - good for one-on-one instruction, but hard if the social aspect isn't great. She struggled a bit with that, since she is very outgoing and bubbly, and the other girls in her class were very, well, the only way I can say it, boring. lol This year in high school she has met new people and is LOVING every minute of it. The Performing Arts Club has been loads of fun for her - "Anything Goes" opens next Thursday.

Part of our decision to send her to Catholic school was because of religion being taught (they actually are allowed to talk about GOD in school, imagine that! ). All I can say is that private school has been the "right decision" for us. You have to do what is best for your child. good luck!

We agree on so many things!! In the middle school, where she is this year, the only kids that get attention are like you said the extremely smart, those with learning disabilities and 2 more groups in our mix...the discipline problems and the large group of migrant workers in our area. Amanda does not fit in any of those categories and we feel like she is being "lost in the system"...not the best kid in the class, not the worst kid in the class just floating through. So we really think a smaller environment will be much better for her.

Plus, the school that she will be going to is a Christian school so she will also be getting the religious education that is not taught in the public schools. We have been fortunate in the schools that she has gone to that religion is not banned, it's not prominent though. Both her 4th & 5th grade choir teacher and her 6th grade band director had true Christmas songs in the Christmas programs!!

She went to this school for pre-school and kindergarten and we know there are still some girls that were in her class before there so she won't be going in to a completely new environment. There are also a couple of girls from our church that go there, they are just not in her grade. I haven't told her yet that there are only 5 boys in the 6th grade currently...maybe more will enroll and be there for the 7th grade. And I have already emailed the coach about the girls' sports programs that they have. She thinks that she wants to play volleyball and basketball. Her K4 teacher is now the band director...they don't have a marching band yet but they do play at the football games. We really think she is going to have fun there!!

 

[SingingMom]

We agree on so many things!! In the middle school, where she is this year, the only kids that get attention are like you said the extremely smart, those with learning disabilities and 2 more groups in our mix...the discipline problems and the large group of migrant workers in our area. Amanda does not fit in any of those categories and we feel like she is being "lost in the system"...not the best kid in the class, not the worst kid in the class just floating through. So we really think a smaller environment will be much better for her.

. I haven't told her yet that there are only 5 boys in the 6th grade currently...maybe more will enroll and be there for the 7th grade. And I have already emailed the coach about the girls' sports programs that they have. She thinks that she wants to play volleyball and basketball. Her K4 teacher is now the band director...they don't have a marching band yet but they do play at the football games. We really think she is going to have fun there!!

Smaller environment for the average and above average student is, in my opinion, the best situation. I also like that the entire administration knows each kid by name. I think that is wonderful at a high school level. (the VP of Advancement told me that if she is having a bad day, all she needs is to see Dana in the hallway, and her mood picks up. lol She said, "that girl is ALWAYS so happy and friendly! she ALWAYS says hello and waves!" Made me feel good to hear that.)

Dana only had 3 boys in her 8th grade class. They were like "cousins" - they looked out for each other. Joey watched out for Dana for years!

The only down side of private school is sometimes they don't have all the activities (like you were saying - the marching band) but it sounds like there are things to keep Amanda interested and involved. That's what is important. Good luck to all of you. Hope it works out well!

 

[LizAgna]

Thanks Renee!!

 

[1andrea]

Kari,
I am so Sorry to hear about your Sister.

 

[Scillalee]

keri-sorry to hear about your sister.......

Hope everyone is doing well. Sorry been away for so long but you know, working, living and keeping up with rags is a second full time job so not a lot of time to sit here and surf like he does!

We broke down and told the girls, yea I wish it was still a secret but I like the fact they know, I can talk about it with them, and read up on the parks and rides. Lexi is only 43 inches tall, so she is looking up height requirements in her guide and can look at the page find "40 inches" and say "I CAN RIDE THIS ONE," or see 44 inches and say "I NEED ONE MORE INCH BY AUGUST."

I made countdown calenders with them last week with disney stcikers, markers and etc, everynight they have been crossing out one day and letting me know it's only 119 more days and that is SOOOOOOOOO close!

Well I'll say bye for now, Rags just went to bed it's 11:17PM and now I can control the tv, and be the night owl I am!

Have a Magical day tomorrow!!!!!

 

[LizAgna]

Hey Scilla, it's good to hear from you! I know the girls are excited. How did you tell them about the trip? Maybe Lexi can grow another inch by August. If she's close try getting her some tennis shoes with thick soles. We got Alyssa some white ones from Target that made her about a 1/2 inch taller so she was able to ride the 40" rides last summer.

 

[Scillalee]

Hey Scilla, it's good to hear from you! I know the girls are excited. How did you tell them about the trip? Maybe Lexi can grow another inch by August. If she's close try getting her some tennis shoes with thick soles. We got Alyssa some white ones from Target that made her about a 1/2 inch taller so she was able to ride the 40" rides last summer.

Well we had them sleep over last week and ordered Chinese food. Rags opened his fortune cookie and it said "Share the happiness with someone today" so........

I wrote a poem a long time ago and had it on magical message letterhead I got from Disney. I hid that under the couch cushions. Anyhow make a long story short I gave them a clue where to find something from me and tony, they found the letter, read it and well Lexi didn't get it at first, taht was because she was too busy dancing infront of my video camera .....then they found the luggage and etc, and that is when it really hit them. They spent the rest of the night watching the Disney planning video and looking at the Kids' guide to Disney book I bought for them.......

Scilla

 

[LizAgna]

Well we had them sleep over last week and ordered Chinese food. Rags opened his fortune cookie and it said "Share the happiness with someone today" so........

I wrote a poem a long time ago and had it on magical message letterhead I got from Disney. I hid that under the couch cushions. Anyhow make a long story short I gave them a clue where to find something from me and tony, they found the letter, read it and well Lexi didn't get it at first, taht was because she was too busy dancing infront of my video camera .....then they found the luggage and etc, and that is when it really hit them. They spent the rest of the night watching the Disney planning video and looking at the Kids' guide to Disney book I bought for them.......

Scilla

That sounds like so much fun! I know they were excited!!

 

[mandy200587]

To explain why I disappeared, things are changing in my life. I've started realizing more and more who my true friends and who are friends with me when it's okay with them. I'm moving sooner than I planned probably, which means I'll be doing a lot of moving in May and be officially moved after June vacation. I'm just growing up a lot more than I have. I joined here when I was 19 and now I'm 21. A lot has changed in my life since then.

I'll be around but not as much.

 

[SingingMom]

Scilla - Sounds like the girls are going to love the trip! As much as surprises are fun, it is so great to have the excitment of planning together!

Mandy - "growing" is always good - but sometimes it can hurt a little along the way. People come in and out of your life at different points and for different reasons. Learn from everyone you meet. Good luck with your future and your dreams.

Wendy - ARE YOU BACK YET?????!!!!!

 

[mandy200587]

Scilla - Sounds like the girls are going to love the trip! As much as surprises are fun, it is so great to have the excitment of planning together!

Mandy - "growing" is always good - but sometimes it can hurt a little along the way. People come in and out of your life at different points and for different reasons. Learn from everyone you meet. Good luck with your future and your dreams.

Wendy - ARE YOU BACK YET?????!!!!!

some of the growing has heart, the past few weeks have been hard on me and I've just been going to class and coming home. I haven't been the chipper me I usually am just because I'm so well annoyed with people at school I thought were friends and finding out they weren't, it hurts.

 

[karibritt01]

They say people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. If for a reason, then once that need is met, they disappear. If for a season, they are better friends, but will fade away after a while. The ones for a lifetime are the ones who stick by you no matter what. Sounds Like your college friends were there for a season. As that time in your life ends, those friends have done their duty, and will move on. It's meant to be. Your lifetime people are still there for you. Other friends are just around the corner.

I'm feeling rather Confuscious-like tonight... I should probably go to bed!

Scilla - we bought Avery some princess tennis shoes from Wal-Mart that had a 1 inch heel so she could ride. People around DIS will flame you for it, but she was so happy getting to ride everything. I bumped into Rags on another thread today. Be fore-warned... he is praying the water rides are turned up when you go!