Yes, you were 15 or 16 and a junior in high school.

We're talking 10 or 11 year olds flying half way around the world. To go on a 3 cities in 12 days tourist jaunt.

An 8th grader, who spends 3 years raising money, yes. A 5th grader who spends 9 months, no.

Anonymous wrote:12:47, you really think this trip is "once in a lifetime?"

Isn't the purpose of sending your child to a Mandarin immersion program so they could live and work in China someday?

I expect my child will go to China someday, but I don't appreciate being told with whom and when.

I'm not 12:47, but you're kidding, right? How is a class trip in 5th grade not a "once in a lifetime" opportunity?

My junior year of high school I came on a Close-Up trip to Washington, DC for a week. It had a tremendous impact on me, so much so that 20 years later I moved here, and now I can visit the all the important spots anytime I want.

Guess what? That 1-week trip during my impressionable years was a defining once-a-lifetime opportunity. I find it easy to believe that a trip to China (or Belize, or Moscow, or Amsterdam...) would have a profound impact on a young person's life, their interest in studying another language, their perspective on other cultures, and even on their ultimate choice in a career.

If you're so sure you're taking your child to China some day, that's wonderful. Your child might be lucky despite having you as a parent. In the meantime, what is wrong with you that you object to the idea of a group of students raising the money to go to China - Oh! Oh my! - even if they didn't ask your permission?

12:47, you really think this trip is "once in a lifetime?"

Isn't the purpose of sending your child to a Mandarin immersion program so they could live and work in China someday?

I expect my child will go to China someday, but I don't appreciate being told with whom and when.

Anonymous wrote:I think the DCI will get off to a very rocky start, as the number of students from feeder elementaries is very low. There is a "herd" mentatlity, in that families want to know their student will be in a MS with other strong and prepared students. Given the choice between a brand new DCI with at least 1/3 random lottery entrants, and Latin, Deal, Basis, I think many students will begin entering those other schools, starting with YY 5th graders (there were only 32 4th this year). Fewer remain, more leave. EL Hayes and Cap City and Washington Latin examples show it take about 6 yrs, then maybe folks stay.

The difference is, that in order to get an IB Diploma (obviously more prestigious than a list of AP classes) you have to go all the way through 12th.

No reward unless you finish = just joining because you can't find a better option? = let's not waste each other's time and resources.

The IB Diploma is a game-changing carrot. I'm really interested to see how it works out.

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, what do public school parents spend on a vacation each year?

Our entire family vacation budget is around $3K. Do people who send their kids to public schools really spend $3,500 per person on vacations?

Nope. But we will this year for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our kid to go to China to reinforce all that he's been focusing on for the past 4 years. We're giving up most birthday and holiday presents, and "extras" to make this happen, including a family vacation and some home projects next year. We're alerting family members that our son's goal is to go to China, so in lieu of presents the typical "givers" can donate instead. We're looking at having a big yard sale and some lemonade stands to raise money. Allowance has been stopped to go to the fund instead.
We're also going to work with the school to help with fundraising so that all kids whose parents are willing to participate can go too.

This is how it's done in the real world, people.

Signed, Crab Who Got Out of the Bucket and Will Try to Help Others Out as Long as They Don't Try to Pull Her Back In

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, what do public school parents spend on a vacation each year?

Our entire family vacation budget is around $3K. Do people who send their kids to public schools really spend $3,500 per person on vacations?

We do. That's why we send DC to public.

Just curious, what do public school parents spend on a vacation each year?

Our entire family vacation budget is around $3K. Do people who send their kids to public schools really spend $3,500 per person on vacations?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, I'd really like to tell it directly to the principal's face, but she's mean and vindictive and I'm afraid she'll take it out on my kid.

+1. Sadly, it is true.

honey, the only thing true is the crabs in a bucket analogy. give it up.

Anonymous wrote:This is just the principal pushing for this because her son will get to go and she will be one of the 2 chaperones. It is ideal for her, really. Unfortunately, everyone in the community was going with the assumption that it would be in 8th grade as it had been announced in prior years. Then it was announced for this year. She is pushing the fundraising very hard, but it is ludicrous to the think that anyone can fundraise that much money for a school trip in that short of time. Presuming they fall short on their goal of fully funding all 35 kids, I'm curious how it'll be decided who will get the money they raise. Is if for kids who can't afford to go at all? Kids who may be able to contribute some but not all of the cost? Merit based?

The FARM kids should get funded. Everyone else should pay their own freight including chaperones. I'm sure YY could find parent volunteers willing to do this. Don't see why the principal who makes over a 100k should be subsidized at all. The trip should be over the summer not during the school yr.

It's normal for private schools to have trips to foreign countries but parents pay for their kid to go. Will be interesting whether YY can raise the money.

Anonymous wrote:No, I'd really like to tell it directly to the principal's face, but she's mean and vindictive and I'm afraid she'll take it out on my kid.

+1. Sadly, it is true.

Anonymous wrote:No, I'd really like to tell it directly to the principal's face, but she's mean and vindictive and I'm afraid she'll take it out on my kid.

hahahahahaha!!! crab in a bucket!!!!

No, I'd really like to tell it directly to the principal's face, but she's mean and vindictive and I'm afraid she'll take it out on my kid.

so typical of the "crabs in the bucket" (this is THE perfect analogy, PP!) mentality here: whine on an anonymous forum, report what you've "overheard", never offer anything constructive, never actually do anything, certainly don't offer to help or be supportive. Is this really how you want to spend your time??

I overheard some parents talking about it. A couple of them are solidly middle class, but still stressing about the cost.

A rising 5th grade parent who is taking the lead on fundraising asked for ideas at the June PA meeting and on the PA list serve.

$100k is a lot to earn by next May. The YY auction generally earns $50k or $60k and that is a huge effort. Looking to raising 2 auctions worth of funding in 9 months.