SFS Seniors house party?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few days ago my DC told me of a house party that his class was planning on throwing, renting a house in "a secluded, forest-y area" for an entire weekend. Between then and now I received an email from the principal of the upper school strongly discouraging me from letting my son attend this party (including a reminder that the "School will report serious disciplinary decisions to colleges")--and now I have so many questions. First, I do agree that on a drinking/drugs/sex level this party sounds like a very bad idea, but a) is it really? and b) is it really within the school's jurisdiction to try to interfere? Second, to me it seems as though Sidwell (the senior class, beyond that I don't really know) is spiraling out of control. With everything from behavior at sporting events to underage drinking citations and parties with the police getting involved (not to mention the even more recent tragic news of on-campus sexual assault), I have become legitimately worried for my DC's well-being and the well-being of the rest of his classmates. I get that senior year (especially this semester) is supposed to be fun, but where do these kids draw the line?

If one of those kids leaves the party intoxicated, drives and kills himself and others, you'd be having a hissy fit and threatening to sue the school for not intervening as they knew this type of party was going to take place.

Sidwell is not spiraling out of control. Teens everywhere, from Landon to Holton to St. Albans and others, are dealing with this teen rite of social passage. I say kudos to Sidwell for stepping in and expressing their concerns and threatening disciplinary action. Nip it in the bud (as Barney Fife would say) NOW rather than later. It could be YOUR child that is innocently in the way of some intoxicated teen.

+1

A great philosopher. And you can't go wrong with "Just say no," either.

[Anonymous]

It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how!

[Anonymous]

FYI - if you r child either now or in college is at a party with a raid/sweep and they have NOT been drinking, they need to request a breathalyzer. That will clear them immediately - this is the advice given to my child's college freshman class by the head of their campus PD and the Metro DC police Dept.

[Anonymous]

Can we get back to parents being parents....

Kids rent a house, we all know what house is for (alcohol, drugs, sex.) Principal says do not go. Why in the world would anyone still allow their kids to go??

I don't care if is considered rite of passage. If the school already knows about it, 99.9% chance the police will be there on the first night and bust up the whole thing.

Just because they are 18 does not give them this right. They are underage and still living under your roof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This would never happen at GDS.

The school would sponsor the party.

[Anonymous]

I agree that kids need opportunities to make their own, hopefully good, decisions, but this isn't one. Parents are right to forbid activities which are highly likely to have bad outcomes, especially for kids still in high school. And good for the school to alert parents and support them in setting limits!

[Anonymous]

No, it'd be held at a board member's house, attended by lots of kids, and the only person disciplined would be an AA boy who touched a drunk white girl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that kids need opportunities to make their own, hopefully good, decisions, but this isn't one. Parents are right to forbid activities which are highly likely to have bad outcomes, especially for kids still in high school. And good for the school to alert parents and support them in setting limits!

How about the school does one better and kicks the parents out that are signing on the dotted line and inviting everyone to the under-age fiesta.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I agree that an 18 year old is responsible for their actions (some kids at the party will be 17). Police intervention will sweep up everyone including those who are 'innocent.' I would discourage my kid an err on the side of caution.

IMO, it isn't wise to force your kid to skip. If after a discussion, they realize it might be unwise, then great. But precluding attendance may foster animosity.

Are you a parent? Unless you are handing out allowance, most decisions foster animosity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous. No one says no to their kids. Is Malia going? I doubt it.[/quote wrote:

House. Secluded forest-y area.

Camp David?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous. No one says no to their kids. Is Malia going? I doubt it.[/quote wrote:

House. Secluded forest-y area.

Camp David?!

That might be a hard one to say no to!

[Anonymous]

I don't even understand OP's post. You're troubled because Sidwell is actually being proactive in trying to safeguard its students?! Thank goodness the school has stepped in! Especially since clearly there are parents out there who can't be bothered to. And if parents really are signing on the dotted line, I guess they missed last night's school program regarding host liability for underage drinking parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't even understand OP's post. You're troubled because Sidwell is actually being proactive in trying to safeguard its students?! Thank goodness the school has stepped in! Especially since clearly there are parents out there who can't be bothered to. And if parents really are signing on the dotted line, I guess they missed last night's school program regarding host liability for underage drinking parties.

What did it talk about? Our school desperately needs this for the parents who continue to host parties.

[Anonymous]

OP with a clarification. Apparently (again, according to DC) the parents refused to rent a house under their name so their 18 y/o was/is going to sign it under his.

[Anonymous]

I have recently heard of a few upcoming student parties being cancelled by the parents at different schools.

I think that with all of the recent attention and concern (not just locally, but in society and the media generally) about underage drinking, DUIs, legal liability, sex without consent - often under the influence of alcohol, and the use and sale of drugs, that kids, but especially parents and the schools are exercising particular caution.