Freshmen Orientation at High School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is customary that if you go with your child, your child will be identified for the next four years as "That kid whose mommy went to orientation."

Lol.

There was a poor kid who attended my kid's freshman orientation whose parents (mom & dad) PLUS 2 younger siblings (young elementary and older elementary) attended as well.

Dad asked a lot of questions. Mom beamed and tried talking to other 9th graders to find kids who lived close and might have shared interests. Older elementary sibling was chatty and tried to act cute and impress the teenagers. Little sibling was cute, but still.

The poor kid (according to my kid) looked like he wanted to melt into the floor.

My kid ended up moving through several classes with the family, so mom kept trying to strike up conversations with him. "Hey look Junior, here is Larlo again. Let's sit here. Larlo, what activities are you doing? Hey Junior, Larlo has your same history class. Larlo, why don't you exchange numbers so you two can hang out before school starts."

The poor poor kid! He was the only kid in all of freshman orientation with a parent there. My son said the teachers kept trying to encourage his parents to leave but they just were not picking up what was going on.

He had no noticeable special needs, and according to my son never showed any signs of being special needs, aspergers or social difficulties the entire year. He was just a little shy and quiet, but otherwise just a regular, nice kid. However, 3 years later he is still known as the kid who brought his parents and siblings to freshman orientation.


Don't be that parent OP.

Let your kid navigate freshman orientation on his own. It will be better for him, and also let the teachers do what they prepared to do (which is not interacting with parents)

Seems really odd that you would know all of these specifics/exact conversations that happened if you weren’t there. Seems like way too much detail. Little sibling was cute? Mom was “beaming”? Your son really told you that? I’ve raised four boys and I have a hard time imagining a 14 year old boy saying stuff like that.

Something is off here. Sounds like this is a situation that happened only in your mind.

Or maybe I changed details

So you're admitting to lying?

No.

Story is true.

Ages, genders and number of siblings brought along might be different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is customary that if you go with your child, your child will be identified for the next four years as "That kid whose mommy went to orientation."

Lol.

There was a poor kid who attended my kid's freshman orientation whose parents (mom & dad) PLUS 2 younger siblings (young elementary and older elementary) attended as well.

Dad asked a lot of questions. Mom beamed and tried talking to other 9th graders to find kids who lived close and might have shared interests. Older elementary sibling was chatty and tried to act cute and impress the teenagers. Little sibling was cute, but still.

The poor kid (according to my kid) looked like he wanted to melt into the floor.

My kid ended up moving through several classes with the family, so mom kept trying to strike up conversations with him. "Hey look Junior, here is Larlo again. Let's sit here. Larlo, what activities are you doing? Hey Junior, Larlo has your same history class. Larlo, why don't you exchange numbers so you two can hang out before school starts."

The poor poor kid! He was the only kid in all of freshman orientation with a parent there. My son said the teachers kept trying to encourage his parents to leave but they just were not picking up what was going on.

He had no noticeable special needs, and according to my son never showed any signs of being special needs, aspergers or social difficulties the entire year. He was just a little shy and quiet, but otherwise just a regular, nice kid. However, 3 years later he is still known as the kid who brought his parents and siblings to freshman orientation.


Don't be that parent OP.

Let your kid navigate freshman orientation on his own. It will be better for him, and also let the teachers do what they prepared to do (which is not interacting with parents)

Seems really odd that you would know all of these specifics/exact conversations that happened if you weren’t there. Seems like way too much detail. Little sibling was cute? Mom was “beaming”? Your son really told you that? I’ve raised four boys and I have a hard time imagining a 14 year old boy saying stuff like that.

Something is off here. Sounds like this is a situation that happened only in your mind.

Or maybe I changed details

So you're admitting to lying?

No.

Story is true.

Ages, genders and number of siblings brought along might be different.

You are very strange.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mclean HS has freshmen orientation on 08/24 @1:30pm until 3pm I think. After that, they will have Mclean HS day from 3-6pm on the football field followed by the football game @7pm.

My kid will go to the freshmen orientation by himself. I'll meet him @3:30pm for the Mclean HS day at the football field. I do NOT want to go with my kid to the orientation. He is at HS now, not ES or MS. Save him from embarrassment.

I agree.

Parents need to stop and think about how their high school students are now young adults who are close to living on their own.

If you show up to freshmen orientation with your kid and notice that no other parents are walking in (or just one or two) then don't go in with your kid. Send them in on their own. They will figure it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mclean HS has freshmen orientation on 08/24 @1:30pm until 3pm I think. After that, they will have Mclean HS day from 3-6pm on the football field followed by the football game @7pm.

My kid will go to the freshmen orientation by himself. I'll meet him @3:30pm for the Mclean HS day at the football field. I do NOT want to go with my kid to the orientation. He is at HS now, not ES or MS. Save him from embarrassment.

I agree.

Parents need to stop and think about how their high school students are now young adults who are close to living on their own.

If you show up to freshmen orientation with your kid and notice that no other parents are walking in (or just one or two) then don't go in with your kid. Send them in on their own. They will figure it out.

There’s a HUGE difference between a 14 year-old high school freshman and an 18 year-old college freshman. There’s a reason why 18 year-olds can vote, while 14 year-olds are still kids who aren’t allowed to drive or hold a job yet. If you don’t want to parent your freshman (who, at 14, is still a minor) go right ahead. You sound mentally unhinged if you’re still hung up on the fact that a kid’s parents attended HS orientation. The transition from MS to HS is a big one and I would expect most parents (who actually CARE about their kid) to show up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mclean HS has freshmen orientation on 08/24 @1:30pm until 3pm I think. After that, they will have Mclean HS day from 3-6pm on the football field followed by the football game @7pm.

My kid will go to the freshmen orientation by himself. I'll meet him @3:30pm for the Mclean HS day at the football field. I do NOT want to go with my kid to the orientation. He is at HS now, not ES or MS. Save him from embarrassment.

I agree.

Parents need to stop and think about how their high school students are now young adults who are close to living on their own.

If you show up to freshmen orientation with your kid and notice that no other parents are walking in (or just one or two) then don't go in with your kid. Send them in on their own. They will figure it out.

There’s a HUGE difference between a 14 year-old high school freshman and an 18 year-old college freshman. There’s a reason why 18 year-olds can vote, while 14 year-olds are still kids who aren’t allowed to drive or hold a job yet. If you don’t want to parent your freshman (who, at 14, is still a minor) go right ahead. You sound mentally unhinged if you’re still hung up on the fact that a kid’s parents attended HS orientation. The transition from MS to HS is a big one and I would expect most parents (who actually CARE about their kid) to show up.

Your freshman can't handle walking through his class schedule by himself or attending a short assembly with 500 other freshmen who manage to navigate the event without their parents?

When is old enough to have a little independence, if not freshmen orientation?

We aren't talking about when the parents come in and pay for things, or the open house/parent orientation when the parents meet the teacher.

This thread is about freshmen orientation when the 9th graders get to walk through their schedules and meet their classmates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mclean HS has freshmen orientation on 08/24 @1:30pm until 3pm I think. After that, they will have Mclean HS day from 3-6pm on the football field followed by the football game @7pm.

My kid will go to the freshmen orientation by himself. I'll meet him @3:30pm for the Mclean HS day at the football field. I do NOT want to go with my kid to the orientation. He is at HS now, not ES or MS. Save him from embarrassment.

I agree.

Parents need to stop and think about how their high school students are now young adults who are close to living on their own.

If you show up to freshmen orientation with your kid and notice that no other parents are walking in (or just one or two) then don't go in with your kid. Send them in on their own. They will figure it out.

There’s a HUGE difference between a 14 year-old high school freshman and an 18 year-old college freshman. There’s a reason why 18 year-olds can vote, while 14 year-olds are still kids who aren’t allowed to drive or hold a job yet. If you don’t want to parent your freshman (who, at 14, is still a minor) go right ahead. You sound mentally unhinged if you’re still hung up on the fact that a kid’s parents attended HS orientation. The transition from MS to HS is a big one and I would expect most parents (who actually CARE about their kid) to show up.

A really important part of parenting is figuring out when to start letting go....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mclean HS has freshmen orientation on 08/24 @1:30pm until 3pm I think. After that, they will have Mclean HS day from 3-6pm on the football field followed by the football game @7pm.

My kid will go to the freshmen orientation by himself. I'll meet him @3:30pm for the Mclean HS day at the football field. I do NOT want to go with my kid to the orientation. He is at HS now, not ES or MS. Save him from embarrassment.

I agree.

Parents need to stop and think about how their high school students are now young adults who are close to living on their own.

If you show up to freshmen orientation with your kid and notice that no other parents are walking in (or just one or two) then don't go in with your kid. Send them in on their own. They will figure it out.

There’s a HUGE difference between a 14 year-old high school freshman and an 18 year-old college freshman. There’s a reason why 18 year-olds can vote, while 14 year-olds are still kids who aren’t allowed to drive or hold a job yet. If you don’t want to parent your freshman (who, at 14, is still a minor) go right ahead. You sound mentally unhinged if you’re still hung up on the fact that a kid’s parents attended HS orientation. The transition from MS to HS is a big one and I would expect most parents (who actually CARE about their kid) to show up.

Seriously? So the 99.9% of parents who don’t show up don’t care about their kids and have already stopped parenting...but that ONE family who showed up...they’re the only ones who care about their child and parent him? Ok...

[Anonymous]

My son went to his freshman orientation on a school bus with his friends from the neighborhood. It would have been a little odd for mom to come along.

He generally didn't want us around at the pre-school year open houses either. I think we went to the gym to get the PE uniform (you can order these online now), and had to drop off a check for the orchestra uniform, but our son didn't want us walking around with him!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mclean HS has freshmen orientation on 08/24 @1:30pm until 3pm I think. After that, they will have Mclean HS day from 3-6pm on the football field followed by the football game @7pm.

My kid will go to the freshmen orientation by himself. I'll meet him @3:30pm for the Mclean HS day at the football field. I do NOT want to go with my kid to the orientation. He is at HS now, not ES or MS. Save him from embarrassment.

I agree.

Parents need to stop and think about how their high school students are now young adults who are close to living on their own.

If you show up to freshmen orientation with your kid and notice that no other parents are walking in (or just one or two) then don't go in with your kid. Send them in on their own. They will figure it out.

There’s a HUGE difference between a 14 year-old high school freshman and an 18 year-old college freshman. There’s a reason why 18 year-olds can vote, while 14 year-olds are still kids who aren’t allowed to drive or hold a job yet. If you don’t want to parent your freshman (who, at 14, is still a minor) go right ahead. You sound mentally unhinged if you’re still hung up on the fact that a kid’s parents attended HS orientation. The transition from MS to HS is a big one and I would expect most parents (who actually CARE about their kid) to show up.

A really important part of parenting is figuring out when to start letting go....

I agree wholeheartedly, but 14 is still young. A HS sophomore? Fine, go pick up your schedule and meet your teachers on your own. As a parent of a new HS student, I would want to see/hear for myself. HS is a totally different ballgame than MS, with a lot more at stake since grades will actually matter. Also, the kid whose parents attended orientation may have a SN that you know nothing about. It’s not like you can always look at someone and tell. Mind your own business.

[Anonymous]

HS teacher here and DO NOT go! Please!

Orientation is for them to go to each of their classes and meet their teachers, get lists of any supplies we may want them to have, and the syllabi for the classes. Plus meet their fellow students and learn about clubs & activities. My focus on that day is 100% for the new kids; you'll have your turn for my focus in a few weeks at BTS night.

Or, if you 100% insist on going for some odd reason, DO NOT take a seat in the classroom. Seats are for the students in that class, not parents. Please stand quietly in the back of the classroom. I know it's an exciting time and this may be your first kid in high school, but freshmen orientation is NOT your day and questions should be saved for either the parent portion (if your school does that) or email.

Whatever you do, do NOT bring a younger sibling. It's not fair to your kid or your kid's fellow classmates to have to have their time interrupted by crying or excited little kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mclean HS has freshmen orientation on 08/24 @1:30pm until 3pm I think. After that, they will have Mclean HS day from 3-6pm on the football field followed by the football game @7pm.

My kid will go to the freshmen orientation by himself. I'll meet him @3:30pm for the Mclean HS day at the football field. I do NOT want to go with my kid to the orientation. He is at HS now, not ES or MS. Save him from embarrassment.

I agree.

Parents need to stop and think about how their high school students are now young adults who are close to living on their own.

If you show up to freshmen orientation with your kid and notice that no other parents are walking in (or just one or two) then don't go in with your kid. Send them in on their own. They will figure it out.

There’s a HUGE difference between a 14 year-old high school freshman and an 18 year-old college freshman. There’s a reason why 18 year-olds can vote, while 14 year-olds are still kids who aren’t allowed to drive or hold a job yet. If you don’t want to parent your freshman (who, at 14, is still a minor) go right ahead. You sound mentally unhinged if you’re still hung up on the fact that a kid’s parents attended HS orientation. The transition from MS to HS is a big one and I would expect most parents (who actually CARE about their kid) to show up.

A really important part of parenting is figuring out when to start letting go....

I agree wholeheartedly, but 14 is still young. A HS sophomore? Fine, go pick up your schedule and meet your teachers on your own. As a parent of a new HS student, I would want to see/hear for myself. HS is a totally different ballgame than MS, with a lot more at stake since grades will actually matter. Also, the kid whose parents attended orientation may have a SN that you know nothing about. It’s not like you can always look at someone and tell. Mind your own business.

Okay, you must be trolling at this point.

There is no way a parent of a 9th grader is so socially unaware that she would go to freshmen orientation, see that she is the only parent there, walk around with her kid, then get upset when posters say she needs to land the helicopter.

Nice trolling PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS teacher here and DO NOT go! Please!

Orientation is for them to go to each of their classes and meet their teachers, get lists of any supplies we may want them to have, and the syllabi for the classes. Plus meet their fellow students and learn about clubs & activities. My focus on that day is 100% for the new kids; you'll have your turn for my focus in a few weeks at BTS night.

Or, if you 100% insist on going for some odd reason, DO NOT take a seat in the classroom. Seats are for the students in that class, not parents. Please stand quietly in the back of the classroom. I know it's an exciting time and this may be your first kid in high school, but freshmen orientation is NOT your day and questions should be saved for either the parent portion (if your school does that) or email.

Whatever you do, do NOT bring a younger sibling. It's not fair to your kid or your kid's fellow classmates to have to have their time interrupted by crying or excited little kids.

+1. The McLean set up is pretty good. Orientation for the freshmen and transfers students is earlier in the day. The afternoon session is open to anyone who wants to learn more about school activities or see what food trucks showed up. There's some opportunity for parents of new students to meet some teachers and administrators, but BTS night is a few weeks later. If there were a student with special needs, I'm sure the administration would be happy to meet with the family before schools starts or early in the school year - just not during the general orientation session.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS teacher here and DO NOT go! Please!

Orientation is for them to go to each of their classes and meet their teachers, get lists of any supplies we may want them to have, and the syllabi for the classes. Plus meet their fellow students and learn about clubs & activities. My focus on that day is 100% for the new kids; you'll have your turn for my focus in a few weeks at BTS night.

Or, if you 100% insist on going for some odd reason, DO NOT take a seat in the classroom. Seats are for the students in that class, not parents. Please stand quietly in the back of the classroom. I know it's an exciting time and this may be your first kid in high school, but freshmen orientation is NOT your day and questions should be saved for either the parent portion (if your school does that) or email.

Whatever you do, do NOT bring a younger sibling. It's not fair to your kid or your kid's fellow classmates to have to have their time interrupted by crying or excited little kids.

Okay. If this is how freshman orientation works, then the information sent home and/or posted on the school’s website needs to explicitly state that orientation is for students only and that parental attendance is not desired. Don’t assume that parents of incoming freshman know “the drill”. I’m not a “helicopter” parent, but I’m an involved parent who expects the school to keep me informed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS teacher here and DO NOT go! Please!

Orientation is for them to go to each of their classes and meet their teachers, get lists of any supplies we may want them to have, and the syllabi for the classes. Plus meet their fellow students and learn about clubs & activities. My focus on that day is 100% for the new kids; you'll have your turn for my focus in a few weeks at BTS night.

Or, if you 100% insist on going for some odd reason, DO NOT take a seat in the classroom. Seats are for the students in that class, not parents. Please stand quietly in the back of the classroom. I know it's an exciting time and this may be your first kid in high school, but freshmen orientation is NOT your day and questions should be saved for either the parent portion (if your school does that) or email.

Whatever you do, do NOT bring a younger sibling. It's not fair to your kid or your kid's fellow classmates to have to have their time interrupted by crying or excited little kids.

Okay. If this is how freshman orientation works, then the information sent home and/or posted on the school’s website needs to explicitly state that orientation is for students only and that parental attendance is not desired. Don’t assume that parents of incoming freshman know “the drill”. I’m not a “helicopter” parent, but I’m an involved parent who expects the school to keep me informed.

The schools do.

Are your kids still in elementary? If so, when they get to middle school on, orientation is for the students and back to school night is for the parents.

There is usually also some event right before school starts, where you get your kid's schedule and pay for everything. That event is for parents and is NOT called freshman orientation. There are no teachers staffing classrooms at this event. Any teachers who are there are in the common areas handing out schedules, collecting money for things, etc.

[Anonymous]

eh, we arrived in a new town about a week before school started. Our rental house was not ready for us so we had to get a crappy hotel room in another county. I was in the process of selling a house in a another state, trying to get the mess with the rental house straightened out, trying to figure out what we were going to do if the rental house did fall through, all while dealing with open houses for my kids in brand new schools, in brand new school districts. To top it off, my husband was out of state overseeing the movers at our former home.

I had to drive 30 minutes to get to my son's freshman event and I brought my very well behaved younger son with us (I wasn't about to leave him alone in that hotel room). My youngest came with me into the parents' meeting. Ideally that wouldn't have happened but sometimes life is not ideal and we just gotta roll with it folks.