Senior free periods - APS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At W&L they call it a Flex period and a lot of seniors do it, including my own. My kid is taking 5 AP/IB, one regular elective, and a Flex. When they sign up the parents have to sign a form approving it. You can request an am Flex or a pm Flex. In our case, my son did a PM flex because I wanted him using that time to study for his other classes, not just sleep in every other day. Also, my son plays a sport so it gives him time every other day to work on homework instead of going directly to practice/game. I'm sure if you're aiming for Ivies or other top schools, it's not advised, but my kid is not.

Doesn't seem to be a thing at WHS. Neither of my kids or their counselors have ever mentioned or suggested it, even senior year when one was struggling to fill-up their schedule.

WHS has AP Consult. It’s pass-fail, so it isn’t a completely free period. It is as an AP study hall.

But that is only available to students taking an AP class. It's not the same as a free period that anyone can include in their schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My senior has a free period too, but like PP, already has 7 classes. They just got into their top choice college which is not Ivy level, but very selective.

Your point?

I think the PPP was responding to a previous comment that taking a free period could negatively affect acceptance to university.

[Anonymous]

If you kid is hoping for UVA, Michigan, etc., will the free period make the student took bad?

[Anonymous]

At Wakefield, a “flex period” is an option. It’s just a free period at the start or end of the day.

I know of one WHS senior doing an independent study this year. It’s possible just not common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Wakefield, a “flex period” is an option. It’s just a free period at the start or end of the day.

I know of one WHS senior doing an independent study this year. It’s possible just not common.

Then the questions are: how on earth did they know a Flex period is available? and how on earth were they able to get an independent study?
When my senior was looking to fill their schedule, working with the counselor and even the director of counseling and the case manager, all we got was "no" with the independent study and nobody ever, ever, ever suggested they could just take a flex period.

[Anonymous]

I’ve never heard of a “case manager”. Are you talking about a case carrier for a Special Education student?

APS has Independent Study listed as one way to provide services to Gifted students. The class that the WHS student doing an Independent Study on this year is offered at WL & Yorktown but not Wakefield. That could have factored into this student being allowed to do an IS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My senior has a free period too, but like PP, already has 7 classes. They just got into their top choice college which is not Ivy level, but very selective.

Your point?

It was a response to the question about impact on college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Wakefield, a “flex period” is an option. It’s just a free period at the start or end of the day.

I know of one WHS senior doing an independent study this year. It’s possible just not common.

Then the questions are: how on earth did they know a Flex period is available? and how on earth were they able to get an independent study?
When my senior was looking to fill their schedule, working with the counselor and even the director of counseling and the case manager, all we got was "no" with the independent study and nobody ever, ever, ever suggested they could just take a flex period.

Are you sure it's not on your Course Request Form? That's how you request it at WL. It's only on the form for juniors and seniors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My senior has a free period too, but like PP, already has 7 classes. They just got into their top choice college which is not Ivy level, but very selective.

Your point?

It was a response to the question about impact on college admissions.

My kid isn't looking at Ivy level schools, but plenty are in the top 25. They have had friends who had the flex period this year and in the past, but are being told that it is a bad idea given how many students are applying everywhere now. My kid is definitely disappointed b/c they had been looking forward to flex, but they also understand the reasoning behind the guidance not to have one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Wakefield, a “flex period” is an option. It’s just a free period at the start or end of the day.

I know of one WHS senior doing an independent study this year. It’s possible just not common.

Then the questions are: how on earth did they know a Flex period is available? and how on earth were they able to get an independent study?
When my senior was looking to fill their schedule, working with the counselor and even the director of counseling and the case manager, all we got was "no" with the independent study and nobody ever, ever, ever suggested they could just take a flex period.

Are you sure it's not on your Course Request Form? That's how you request it at WL. It's only on the form for juniors and seniors.

I've never seen a flex period on the request form. Not sure about independent study; but when one of my kids inquired, it was flatly denied as not possible.