Hard to Believe

I'm finding it hard to believe that school starts tomorrow.

Probably because Scott didn't get out of school until June 24th. That means his summer vacation this year will be just short of 2 months.

I'm also finding it hard to believe that my baby will be a senior this year. A senior. Which means he will be graduating, and my years of having kids in public school will be over. Forever.

It's going to be a bittersweet sort of year.

11th Grade "Bonding" Trip

Today Scott went on a field trip. Excuse me - I mean he went on a "bonding" trip. The whole 11th grade was invited. Bear in mind, the whole 11th grade consists of about 40 kids. That's right - 40. About 25 of them chose to go. And where did they go?

White water rafting.

That's right. Scott went white water rafting for a field trip. I guess they figured that trying to keep your raft from capsizing would be a good way to bond with your fellow classmates.

Scott loved it! They made them all jump in the water, and he did say that it was freezing. The cold that takes your breath away when you jump in. But he had a great time. They rafted through some rapids, which he thought was great.

I'm not sure any field trip in an American school can compare with this one.

Glad We're Not Paying

Scott started school on Wednesday. He is attending the American School of Milan. It seems like a good school, and will definitely be a different experience for him.

All I have to say is that I'm glad Robert's company is paying and not us.

Here's the cost:

Registration - 1200 euros

Admission - 4500 euros

Tuition - 16890 euros

Building fund - 2000 euros

Bus transportation - 1950 euros

Technology fund - 1900 euros

Grand total for a year at the school - 28440 euros!

Bear in mind, that is the price in euros. Using today's exchange rate, the price in US dollars would be $36657.89!

As I said before, I'm glad we're not paying!

Finally...Almost

As many of you know, I have been hassling with our high school here since the end of May. I have been trying to get Scott accepted to the American School of Milan, and that requires having his school records from here sent. Does that seem difficult to you? Well apparently it was difficult for Scott's counselor. I can't tell you how many times I called her (and usually talked to her machine) or went down to the school to see her (although she often wasn't there). Last week, after not being able to talk to her yet again, I went in and talked to the principal. I decided it was time to pull out the big guns.

And it apparently worked! I found out today Scott was conditionally accepted to the American School of Milan!

Conditionally? That's where the "almost" comes in. Apparently, ASM has still not recieved Scott's Math and English Admittance tests. The tests the high school administered to him on June 22nd. But didn't bother to send with the rest of his records...

Sigh. Time to call Scott's counselor again. Hopefully for the last time.

Homework Vent

Scott came home Friday with an assignment for English.  He was to type, word for word, the conversations held on 6 pages of the book "A Tale of Two Cities".  Then he had to type what he thought the main character was thinking.  

Tell me the point of making every student in the class spend time typing the dialogue already in the book!  Please tell me - because I don't get it!  If the teacher wanted them to analyze the dialogue, why didn't she just provide it for them?  Do these kids not have enough to do?  I hadn't realized he had signed up for an "Intro to Keyboarding" class (although they would never use Dickens to practice typing).

Oh, and this assignment made Friday?  Was due today (Monday).  Scott had Band after school on Friday, then a Band meeting in the evening.  He left at 6:30 on Saturday morning for a Band competition and didn't get back until 6:30 Sunday evening.  He mentioned the contest to the teacher, but she already knew and wasn't concerned.  That's nice.

Can we say late night for Scott?  And Mom - staying up to be supportive.