How is Your Freshman Doing Now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I posted back in late September or October my dd was very happy with her social life and her varsity sports team but had neglected to do much school work. She is still doing great socially and with sports and the academics are improving thanks to a lot of support from the school and an executive coach for her ADHD. High school academics are no joke at her school, we realized she had coasted through middle school on her charm and this is definitely not going to fly in high school.

I'd love to hear more about your coach. We have similar issues. We tried a couple and they didn't do anything useful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ours has been a disaster. A bunch of new kids coming into 9th, and I'm still not sure that the class has gelled. The schedule for my kid has been gruelling, and, as a 14-year-old boy, he simply lacks the maturity or executive functioning to take on the level of responsibility asked of him. There is a lot in the middle here that I won't go into for purposes of my kid's privacy, but the end of the story is that he's repeating 9th grade. Yes, my kid needs to take responsibility, but I don't think we would be where we are if my kid had been at a different school. Not sure what we are doing next year. I'm just trying to figure out the last two weeks of school. We might move to a small college town with good public schools and change our overall pace of life. Last kid, we have flexibility, and his well-being and my sanity are more important than being at the big name school he currently attends. At least for 9 more days, but I'm not county...

This sounds like a fantastic idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our 9th grader had a hard time until just after the new year. It got better socially. Academically, it has been fine. I noticed a few things from our experience that hopefully helps anyone starting 9th, especially at a new school or a 9-12. Doing a sport or getting involved deeply in something like drama, music, etc. from the beginning helps a lot (ours didn't). Know that dynamics will shift as the months go on throughout the year, although there seems to be less shifting around March/April. As a parent, volunteer, whether you work or not and anytime you can. If there are any events or meet-ups before school starts, go to them/do them.

I was just curious if you suggested this because it was helpful for your DD's social life? Or is it more just because you want to get to know the other parents better? I used to be very involved when DD was in elementary school but middle school I stopped. I haven't attended a single PTA meeting in high school. It's not that I wouldn't enjoy getting to know the other parents, but I have been busy with work. But if it helps my moderately shy DD get to know other kids better then I would try to be more involved.

[Anonymous]

9th has been fantastic for DS, who came from a K-8 he loved. Great new friends, good adjustment to HS workload.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ours has been a disaster. A bunch of new kids coming into 9th, and I'm still not sure that the class has gelled. The schedule for my kid has been gruelling, and, as a 14-year-old boy, he simply lacks the maturity or executive functioning to take on the level of responsibility asked of him. There is a lot in the middle here that I won't go into for purposes of my kid's privacy, but the end of the story is that he's repeating 9th grade. Yes, my kid needs to take responsibility, but I don't think we would be where we are if my kid had been at a different school. Not sure what we are doing next year. I'm just trying to figure out the last two weeks of school. We might move to a small college town with good public schools and change our overall pace of life. Last kid, we have flexibility, and his well-being and my sanity are more important than being at the big name school he currently attends. At least for 9 more days, but I'm not county...

I really like the idea of moving the family especially if he needs to repeat. We would do it if we could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ours has been a disaster. A bunch of new kids coming into 9th, and I'm still not sure that the class has gelled. The schedule for my kid has been gruelling, and, as a 14-year-old boy, he simply lacks the maturity or executive functioning to take on the level of responsibility asked of him. There is a lot in the middle here that I won't go into for purposes of my kid's privacy, but the end of the story is that he's repeating 9th grade. Yes, my kid needs to take responsibility, but I don't think we would be where we are if my kid had been at a different school. Not sure what we are doing next year. I'm just trying to figure out the last two weeks of school. We might move to a small college town with good public schools and change our overall pace of life. Last kid, we have flexibility, and his well-being and my sanity are more important than being at the big name school he currently attends. At least for 9 more days, but I'm not county...

Sorry, you are going through this. I am jealous that you can move. Our school has been okay. Big disappointment in not being able to make sports teams and school not having any real non-academic clubs (though the list they post is impressive). Work has been a struggle, we are happy to scrape by with C's in some classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9th has been fantastic for DS, who came from a K-8 he loved. Great new friends, good adjustment to HS workload.

Which K-8? Any regrets doing K-8?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours has been a disaster. A bunch of new kids coming into 9th, and I'm still not sure that the class has gelled. The schedule for my kid has been gruelling, and, as a 14-year-old boy, he simply lacks the maturity or executive functioning to take on the level of responsibility asked of him. There is a lot in the middle here that I won't go into for purposes of my kid's privacy, but the end of the story is that he's repeating 9th grade. Yes, my kid needs to take responsibility, but I don't think we would be where we are if my kid had been at a different school. Not sure what we are doing next year. I'm just trying to figure out the last two weeks of school. We might move to a small college town with good public schools and change our overall pace of life. Last kid, we have flexibility, and his well-being and my sanity are more important than being at the big name school he currently attends. At least for 9 more days, but I'm not county...

Sorry, you are going through this. I am jealous that you can move. Our school has been okay. Big disappointment in not being able to make sports teams and school not having any real non-academic clubs (though the list they post is impressive). Work has been a struggle, we are happy to scrape by with C's in some classes.

Sounds like we may be at the same school. Ok year for us too. Definitely not great and maybe not even good. Grades not as good as they should be either which is frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Big 3. DC has found some nice friends and the teachers overall are pretty good but the school lives up to its very bad reputation of having families who are slimy in their approaches to competition for colleges.

It's not a healthy environment and they have seen a lot of calculating families who try to do things to knock out or neutralize competition even starting in 9th. I don't want to get into specifics because it might out the school but it's consistent with what people write on this board and in the national media.

Sidwell. The first line gave it away, honey. GDS and NCS/STA don’t have that degree of sliminess, just good ‘ol fashioned jockeying for advantage. Strategic donations.Trying to buy your kid extracurriculars. Paying for private college counselors at $100,000 a pop. None of this really works but hope springs eternal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9th has been fantastic for DS, who came from a K-8 he loved. Great new friends, good adjustment to HS workload.

Exactly this for DD. Very happy—we were worried it could take some time for her to find friends but she settled right in.

[Anonymous]

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9th has been fantastic for DS, who came from a K-8 he loved. Great new friends, good adjustment to HS workload.

Which K-8? Any regrets doing K-8?

No regrets at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours has been a disaster. A bunch of new kids coming into 9th, and I'm still not sure that the class has gelled. The schedule for my kid has been gruelling, and, as a 14-year-old boy, he simply lacks the maturity or executive functioning to take on the level of responsibility asked of him. There is a lot in the middle here that I won't go into for purposes of my kid's privacy, but the end of the story is that he's repeating 9th grade. Yes, my kid needs to take responsibility, but I don't think we would be where we are if my kid had been at a different school. Not sure what we are doing next year. I'm just trying to figure out the last two weeks of school. We might move to a small college town with good public schools and change our overall pace of life. Last kid, we have flexibility, and his well-being and my sanity are more important than being at the big name school he currently attends. At least for 9 more days, but I'm not county...

Sorry, you are going through this. I am jealous that you can move. Our school has been okay. Big disappointment in not being able to make sports teams and school not having any real non-academic clubs (though the list they post is impressive). Work has been a struggle, we are happy to scrape by with C's in some classes.

Sounds like we may be at the same school. Ok year for us too. Definitely not great and maybe not even good. Grades not as good as they should be either which is frustrating.

Is this an all boys school? We may be there as well. There is definitely no grade inflation here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our 9th grader had a hard time until just after the new year. It got better socially. Academically, it has been fine. I noticed a few things from our experience that hopefully helps anyone starting 9th, especially at a new school or a 9-12. Doing a sport or getting involved deeply in something like drama, music, etc. from the beginning helps a lot (ours didn't). Know that dynamics will shift as the months go on throughout the year, although there seems to be less shifting around March/April. As a parent, volunteer, whether you work or not and anytime you can. If there are any events or meet-ups before school starts, go to them/do them.

I was just curious if you suggested this because it was helpful for your DD's social life? Or is it more just because you want to get to know the other parents better? I used to be very involved when DD was in elementary school but middle school I stopped. I haven't attended a single PTA meeting in high school. It's not that I wouldn't enjoy getting to know the other parents, but I have been busy with work. But if it helps my moderately shy DD get to know other kids better then I would try to be more involved.

If your child is shy, they might not know who to approach. By volunteering once or twice, you can see/hear on your own to make suggestions. So being in the environment can help facilitate. Also getting to know other parents can just give you a better sense of who’s around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours has been a disaster. A bunch of new kids coming into 9th, and I'm still not sure that the class has gelled. The schedule for my kid has been gruelling, and, as a 14-year-old boy, he simply lacks the maturity or executive functioning to take on the level of responsibility asked of him. There is a lot in the middle here that I won't go into for purposes of my kid's privacy, but the end of the story is that he's repeating 9th grade. Yes, my kid needs to take responsibility, but I don't think we would be where we are if my kid had been at a different school. Not sure what we are doing next year. I'm just trying to figure out the last two weeks of school. We might move to a small college town with good public schools and change our overall pace of life. Last kid, we have flexibility, and his well-being and my sanity are more important than being at the big name school he currently attends. At least for 9 more days, but I'm not county...

Sorry, you are going through this. I am jealous that you can move. Our school has been okay. Big disappointment in not being able to make sports teams and school not having any real non-academic clubs (though the list they post is impressive). Work has been a struggle, we are happy to scrape by with C's in some classes.

Sounds like we may be at the same school. Ok year for us too. Definitely not great and maybe not even good. Grades not as good as they should be either which is frustrating.

Is this an all boys school? We may be there as well. There is definitely no grade inflation here.

Same. Disastrous, disappointing and concerning year for us as well at an all-boy’s school. We have been here since lower school, so thought we’d be okay. No grade inflation. It’s been Cs and Ds, with one or two As and Bs for an inattentive-ADD/EF kid who earned mostly As and Bs before. DS is not sporty but is tall and strong, so we had hoped he might be brought along by a coach who might have seen some potential. School had been somewhat supportive, but clearly is losing patience. We are afraid he’s been pigeon-holed. Now, we are just trying to get through finals and will reassess after grades come in.