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.

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.

^ I am sorry your child has had a rough year too. Its not easy to watch them struggle.

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.

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.

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.

OP - to add sometime more concrete to what others have said about executive functioning, tools, and study skills -- it's important to learn how to do work day to day (between tests) and to organize materials throughout the year in a way that helps make studying for an assessment easier. (others mentioned outlining, for example)

From what I can tell, I don't think you said whether your DC is successful on the tests - just that they feel swamped.

It could be they are swamped because they are starting almost from scratch or pulling together random papers when they study for a test versus, turning back to organized outlines, summaries of key topics, etc. In the past, they probably had time to just start from scratch or go by memory. They need to learn study skills - these can vary by class and by person (on what method works well). There are supports for learning these skills so perhaps you should either see if the school offers this (office hours during the year) or get an outside weekly support.

In the meantime - I recommend your DC reach out to current teachers that know them as a student and have conversations about their challenges as well as discuss how they study and whether the teacher has advice to take into sophomore year.

Anonymous wrote:All I can say is SJC prepares the kids really well for college. My son struggled sophomore year but then got it together and went on to graduate from college magna cum laude.

OP I was just coming here to say this. Mine all struggled adjusting to their freshman year at SJC. All of them found college easier (and went to highly approved DCUM colleges). Junior year seems to be when it clicks for a lot of them.

Anonymous wrote:OP - I’m sorry your son is struggling. My son also just finished his freshman year, we came from public, he isn’t in Benilde or scholars. I was terrified he’d be behind but has adjusted well. We haven’t had any of the issues you mention. I think for us it’s his long commute (morning bus ride is almost 2 hours; afternoon it’s a little more than an hour) and he does a lot of his studying/homework on the bus. He does a little at home, but not much.

When he has a lot of work, he often stays at school to get it done, he says it’s easier to focus at school since the Wi-Fi is so bad, he isn’t distracted by his phone. I work in the city so pick him up on my way home those days.

I’m not sure any of that is helpful but I’m sorry it’s been so tough. Sending love from one SJC house to another!

Three hours of commuting per day for a HS student is insane.

Anonymous wrote:OP - I’m sorry your son is struggling. My son also just finished his freshman year, we came from public, he isn’t in Benilde or scholars. I was terrified he’d be behind but has adjusted well. We haven’t had any of the issues you mention. I think for us it’s his long commute (morning bus ride is almost 2 hours; afternoon it’s a little more than an hour) and he does a lot of his studying/homework on the bus. He does a little at home, but not much.

When he has a lot of work, he often stays at school to get it done, he says it’s easier to focus at school since the Wi-Fi is so bad, he isn’t distracted by his phone. I work in the city so pick him up on my way home those days.

I’m not sure any of that is helpful but I’m sorry it’s been so tough. Sending love from one SJC house to another!

My kid will also have a long commute. Would you be willing to share a little more about impact? Is he really tired by the end of the day? Not able to do non-school extracurriculars? Or since he's getting homework done on the bus, does that mean home time does allow for non-school ECs, getting to bed at a reasonable time? Thanks in advance!

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?

OP - I’m sorry your son is struggling. My son also just finished his freshman year, we came from public, he isn’t in Benilde or scholars. I was terrified he’d be behind but has adjusted well. We haven’t had any of the issues you mention. I think for us it’s his long commute (morning bus ride is almost 2 hours; afternoon it’s a little more than an hour) and he does a lot of his studying/homework on the bus. He does a little at home, but not much.

When he has a lot of work, he often stays at school to get it done, he says it’s easier to focus at school since the Wi-Fi is so bad, he isn’t distracted by his phone. I work in the city so pick him up on my way home those days.

I’m not sure any of that is helpful but I’m sorry it’s been so tough. Sending love from one SJC house to another!

All I can say is SJC prepares the kids really well for college. My son struggled sophomore year but then got it together and went on to graduate from college magna cum laude.

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.

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.