How is your SJC freshman doing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought my very social son would be connected, but that doesn't seem to be the case. He never hangs out with any friends from school and the non-academic clubs appear to only be real on paper.

I have seen this statement about the non-academic clubs before maybe from this poster or another one. Can someone please give some examples of these clubs that are not active? Also, any speculation as to why? Not enough interested students? No staff leadership? Are SJC staff required to oversee a club or paid extra if they do?

My understanding is that there is not enough teachers who will sponsor clubs that aren't academic. There is also an issue of space because the school rents out the fields.

This is understandable but why offer them in the first place if they may not happen? My child signed up for 3 clubs. 2 athletic, 1 academic. The academic and one of the athletic clubs happened. Crickets on the other.

My kids are in a number of clubs including robotics and non-academic clubs. One club, which met last year, did not meet this year because the senior who led it graduated last year and no one could lead it this year. So sometimes it’s offered but it depends on the kids and who is motivated to maintain the club. One of my kids and their friends started a non-academic club and have maintained it and have mentored younger students to take it over once they graduate.

Isn't Robotics an academic club run by the biology teacher? She has been terrible so no way would my DC join despite loving robotics. What non-academic clubs are happening? Would love to know.

It’s a club that anyone can join and it’s run by a different teacher.

[Anonymous]

Long commutes are not good. It's made our time at SJC less appealing each year. A 20 minute commute to HS is the max that is reasonable unless it is a special situation. Don't believe me? Ask AI:
Impact on Academic Performance: Research indicates that long commutes can negatively affect students' academic performance. A study by the University of Toronto found that students with longer commutes tend to have lower grades and less time for homework and studying .

Health and Well-being: Long commutes can lead to increased stress and fatigue, which can affect students' physical and mental health. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine published a study showing that longer commutes are associated with higher levels of stress, less time for physical activity, and poorer sleep quality .

Social and Extracurricular Activities: Extended travel times can limit students' participation in social and extracurricular activities. This is crucial for their social development and overall school experience. A study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that students with shorter commutes are more likely to participate in after-school activities, which are important for their social skills and personal growth .

Attendance and Punctuality: Longer commutes are linked to higher absenteeism and tardiness. A study in the Journal of Educational Research showed that students with lengthy commutes are more likely to miss school or arrive late, which can disrupt their learning process and lead to lower academic achievement .

Considering these points, it's clear that long commutes can have several detrimental effects on students' lives, making it worth seeking schools closer to home whenever possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It has been a rough year for us as well. Your child is not the only one struggling.
DC math teacher sent out something to the kids telling them to stop lying to their parents about failing so there must be more than one...
The tests are way to much. It seems to just be a test of memorization skills more than anything. The projects kept my poor test taking kid afloat.
Your kid will figure it out. Don't stress. Also, maybe get a tutor for subjects that they are struggling in.

This is OP and I do agree in regards to the tests. Its too much, for my kid anyway. Hopefully it will get easier with maturity and study skills. I can see how this will pay off in college but I also want my child to get into one! Test performance has varied. Some A's, some F's and everything in between. Exams are likely to follow the same pattern despite studying which is nerve wracking.

OP, I have had two boys go though SJC, having earlier attended MCPS. I agree there is an adjustment, but based on all of the posts here and my experience, I would encourage you to meet with the school counselors and to schedule your child for some evaluations to see if there could be anything going on health wise that is impacting your son. My son once started falling behind and we belatedly learned he could not see the instructional materials and needed glasses! Others needed tutoring support for executive functioning. Please be aware that St. John’s will NOT get easier after freshman year. It really is NOT too much (I just posted in another thread re GPAs about how my son struggled through SJCHS but graduated college with high honors).

As a resource, I highly recommend Thinking Organized, located near the Friendship Heights metro. They have many educational tutors who are very experienced with helping kids learn better study skills. Rhona Gordon is the owner of the firm and is fabulous.

Good luck to you and your child.

[Anonymous]

My freshman did fine. Came from public and while there were one or two missed homework assignments as part of the adjustment was definitely not drowning. I definitely went to the teacher meetings and asked where there were some bumps which helped. But, I agree with others that you might want to reach out to the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP and coming from public. Its the studying that is the problem. Staying on top of tasks is fine, but the amount of studying for tests is pushing my kid over the edge. I definitely think that better focus in class would be helpful and it certainly is a difference between what was expected in middle vs hs. I don't think ADHD is in play but I guess it could be executive functioning. Not sure. It does seem like a lot to me too though. And regular classes. Not scholars or benilde.

OP if your child is struggling under the weight of regular classes in 9th, now is the time to talk to teachers, counselor, and really work on study skills. You’ll either fine out that study skills/executive functioning are the problem (possibly undiagnosed ADHD) or that the school is not a good fit. As someone else indicated, IT WILL NOT get easier. Yes there is an adjustment period to HS but schools account for this 9th grade and have more grace then. Not to mention over the course of the year the students themselves start to feel like they are getting the hang of things. If your kid is feeling in edge still at this point now is the time to help.