Just home from the orientation at my son's high school where he'll start as a freshman next year. I was SO impressed! We're all very happy right now. :)

That's awesome! Did you meet all his teachers? :)

Aww, that's great! What a relief :) 

I'd love to hear how you're impressed. I mean that. My second is three years graduated and .... schools systems seems more shockingly inadequate even with so little time between then and now.

I am very happy to hear you say this. For you (and your husband) but especially for your son. :)

My high school years were some of the best of my life.

:-)

We spent 2 hours going from room to room in groups, being introduced to the programs. There were 10  changes. It is possible to leave hs with an associates degree! Pretty amazing!

Vid is going on the Bus Man track, per his choice. They really sound like they set these kids up to win and this includes the Art department. That gal in there will get a motivated kid into college. She said she was working on getting the 16th scholarship for one of her students this year.

The PE dept too. They used to have 13 teachers, they now have 3.5. He said kids were apathetic, lazy and I can't remember what else, but he was there to get them going so they can graduate, proud men and women.

I really was stunned at the opportunities available to my son. STUNNED.  He is geared to go for it as well. Quirk went with us and is going to try to get into this school as well.

Anyway, Vid is going into Business. He'd decided this some months ago and the guy who runs that department was really dynamic and ready to kick some ass! 

Vid is scared of course (Saturn) but also invigorated, never mind there were cheerleaders cheering all over the place. :)

Very, very impressed. If Vid does not achieve, he will only have himself to blame because there is no denying, the chance for an education is right there in front of him.

They also do all kinds of fundraising and offer travel and MANY exchange student programs in various departments.  They have cyber patrol club for kids to learn white hat hacking. Now the merit of all the bitching I did last year has paid off. Vid has the grades now to get into these programs...this was not the case a year ago.  Quirk was swept into the fervor.  MY husband told them to take their creativity and merge it with this..the coach said, saying what you're going to do and doing it are two different things. I told Vid to get in there and learn how to do these things (like build websites and desktop pub, etc) that will support his creativity. He sees how vast learning as of last night, as does Quirk, who desperately wants to go to this school, now and get on this winner track.  I came home and printed him the forms in Spanish @ 10 pm.  We're all excited!

AWESOME!!  :D  Sounds like this school is a winner and I hope Vid keeps his enthusiasm through the whole ride.

They started the associate's + diploma programs here the year after I graduated HS.  Man, was I livid!  *lol*

Awesome! I'm so excited for them! Knowledge is POWER!!!!!!!

Great stuff! Quirk and esp Vid are so lucky to have people like you taking interest and pushing while supporting them!

Now the merit of all the bitching I did last year has paid off. Vid has the grades now to get into these programs...this was not the case a year ago.  Quirk was swept into the fervor.  MY husband told them to take their creativity and merge it with this...

I just love this - hard work is never wasted. Very excited for them - so hope Quirk gets in too

WOW! It's possible to get an Associates! That's awesome!

:)

Here's something shocking: I left the school last night and for the first time in my life, realized that I had zero opportunity when I was in high school and I mean none. I was stupefied by this. It's just never occurred to me before and it has this affect:

If my son does not take advantage of the opportunities laid out in front of him, I will be pissed off beyond compare. He can drive into a ditch if he wants but he's certainly not going to find me feeling sorry for him. He's got the aptitude and he's got support both at school and at home so I really think he just get his ass in gear and make himself a life that he can be proud of.

I've thanked the excellent girls' Grammar school I went to for the opportunities it gave me all my life - I sure didn't get that intellectual push to succeed at home 

Once it's gone, it's gone. I'm sure Vid will make use of it to the full - he seems like that sort of kid / person. And I'm sure he wants your husband's respect as much as your approbation - that will be a very positive motivation for him ;)

I'm loving that my nephew has all this opportunity in front of him and wish him the best of luck as he starts this path through highschool.

WOW, thats so cool. I can't wait until my daughter goes to High School. I know she can't either. She too is a Saturn kid as well.

I love it when kids are excited about learning.

I'm thrilled for Vid!  I hope Quirk can get in.

GREAT NEWS!

My son graduated high school and got his Associates degree at the same time.  He had dreamed of going to University, but in the end it really wasn't necessary.  He's a software engineer and is able to support his (stay at home) wife and 2 children.

Wow, CArRiE, that's impressive. No debt, maaan.

Wow! That is amazing, CArRiE.

Thanks Elsa and Caroline- I'm a pretty proud Mom! ;-)

Duh!!!!!! :)

Wow, I can't believe you can get an associate's in high school!  That's awesome. 

Wow that's amazing. I think location has alot to do with programming. 

My daughter will have the choice of a couple of high schools in the area - one that is tough academic and fully French immersion, another that offers the International Baccalaureate program plus lots of international exchange or the third which offers French core (1/2 English 1/2 French) programming plus lots of international exchange.  Lots of choices!  But yea, this is Canada so French instruction is definitely an option for her - at least in my neighbourhood!

*sigh*

I'm jealous.

Our high schools here offer two levels of remedial classes for those working below-average, and not a damn thing for high achievers.  Five years of frustration and boredom.

--------------

Anyways, personal bitterness aside, I'm glad to hear after all the crap at the previous "special snowflake" school that this one looks to be a winner.  I hope he takes full advantage!

Korellyn, I am glad you remember that. Those kids are now going to Hit By A Brick.  They had the stated intention of "paying attention when they got to high school" and it must have been a sick feeling for kids like that when they heard of all these things they might be able to take advantage of if they only had the grades.

I am so glad I pulled my kid out that school. It was not the easiest thing I've ever done but it's evident today that it was the right thing to do. 

I told my son it would be like this. I don't think he's going to have a problem listening to his mom in the future.

My son is officially registered. It's very exciting for both of us - it's a great school! 

He's taking all honors classes, going on the Business track and taking Spanish. He alternative elective is competitive sports.  He's got Jupiter conjunct Mercury in Aries ya know...

Congrats! What an impressive sounding school!

PS I highly recommend student exchange if he's interested in travel. I went for my senior year, hands down one of the best things I have ever done in my life.

Wow! excellent--Go-Vid-Go!

Elsa beside Business Track, what were the other choices? Just curious.

He's taking the core classes.  Honors math, Honors language arts, Honors geography, Honors biology,

Then as electives (he gets 2), he is taking the Bus course (1st choice) Spanish (2nd choice) and Comp sports (3rd choice).

If he gets the Comp Sports, it is just 1 semester and he will fill in with drawing, second semester. You may recall, he's been cartooning since he was a tot so he has aptitude for this.

He was told he should have 3 years of foreign language to get into college so he's trying to get it out of the way.

The Bus track is going to take up his electives all through school but he is firmly committed. They have a marketing track and a management track. He is interested in both but going with Management which I think is smart because he's so Cardinal.

Some girl told him to take ROTC (she goes to the school now and is there and loves it).  My husband thinks it's a good idea too - for college.  He considered this but took the Spanish,  again to get it out of the way.

The ROTC travels once a month / out of state so it's pretty appealing.  The head of it (we met him) was in missiles (he had the patch) which means he's very high IQ.  It's AF ROTC. The AF Academy is in CO.  satori wanted to go there - how's that for a factoid?

I could see Vid being a professional artist (cartoonist) and doing his own managing and licensing and what not. He has the chart of a rich man, yanno? I am pretty sure he is going to be successful and perhaps to the extreme. 

And then kick ass on the side, for his Aries!

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited for Vid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's come a long way since his crappy grades, the end of next year. I do not regret one second of my intense bitching.:)

congrats!

yayy!! go vid!!!