ok - I need to bounce an idea off you all. I will be enrolling Jake & Karina in Kolbe.... DH likes the idea of an actual diploma from someone other than me - which is fine - I like the idea as well. Alexis however is 13 (turns 14 in September) Technically she's in 7th grade now..... But looking at her work - and what her course load would be next year - she could easily be in 9th. I see no reason for her NOT to be. Currently - she is taking a High School level Spanish, she's almost done with 7th grade math and will move easily into and through 8th grade math - if she even needs it by looking at how she's doing, she's almost done with Physical Science and will be moving into Biology - see where I'm going? Only thing she struggles with (but is progressing fast). In public school we held her back a year because she wasn't "getting" stuff - but I think she's caught up to where she was. Since we are planning on the whole transcript thing I was debating just enrolling her in 9th grade - otherwise I wouldn't enroll her (since it costs $$) Make sense??
I plan on using a diploma program when we get there. I will most likely keep the kids in the grades they "belong". I don't want to graduate them too early, mostly because of the maturity that they need to go off to college. I don't want them to decide they are going away to school and then not be ready to really be there. We don't have community college options for them to stay home and build that maturity while attending. We do have full fledged University options (3 of them in a decent driving distance) but again even if they lived at home, would they really be ready to attend classes at one of them. I keep trying to figure out what I'm going to do with Rylee and Reagan come high school. If they do all their content subjects all the way through, and Rylee graduates a year before Reagan, what will he do his last year for them and will Rylee feel she missed out on the option to explore science and social studies of her own interest?
I agree with the allowing them to mature and not graduate too early. But ultimately the decision is yours. You know your children best.
My dd will be 14 in 9th grade so it sounds like you guys have an early cut-off (past her Sept. b-day) and you held her back at some point so she is 7th grade but doing work that would put her capable of starting 9th grade. 14 is typical age for 9th grade and September is early in the school year so she would be 14 almost the entire year. So if you think she is capable of doing the work, I would put her in 9th grade and give yourself a pat on the back for getting her to this point in school and catching her up.
See I think she is caught up in all but math - but she's right at the edge and by the end of the summer she will be there. For Kolbe's standard diploma she doesn't need to take all Kolbe courses so we can still work on where we are. We did hold her back 1 year because she wasn't making it in 1st grade and since we moved it wasn't as if anyone would actually KNOW she was held back Then I pulled her after that as we pulled her brother because he was having serious test taking issues. Still debating - but will probably do it - she gets more time to complete stuff so that is fine. It helps we don't NEED to use their text books - but some we will use. Karina (17) asked today about finishing early - so once I see her transcript from public school I'll go from there.... talked to a friend who said the 3 years of Theology could easily be done for her to finish early which would be good - Theology might be all she needs to finish taking (but I'm not telling her that) She turns 18 THIS May so it's tough for her... it would've been a little easier ----- well that's a WHOLE other story Jake (15 - 16 next month) wants to be done when he turns 18 - so I can work on that and it shouldn't be a problem. So by February 2015 he wants to be finished with school That would technically be 1/2 way through his traditional Senior year and he is already wanting to just work manual labor and such. Alexis - well I'll see what happens with her.... but she is doing all the 9th grade stuff next year so why the heck not - and I like the diploma thing - it sounds better all the time.
"I will be enrolling Jake & Karina in Kolbe.... DH likes the idea of an actual diploma from someone other than me - which is fine - I like the idea as well." I was wondering what you consider an actual diploma? Kolbe is not regionally accredited. It is accredited by the National Association of Private Catholic and Independant Schools. Is your family catholic?
Yes we are Catholic so that's not an issue. It's from an accredited private Catholic school - aka "not mom" so that sits better with my husband if that makes sense?
I'm keeping everyone at school/age level. My husband will agree with you husband on the diploma thing. Me with my wonderful filing system it might be best for someone else give out the diploma. In ME there was a service where you take everything in and they plug the work into the right spots and there's your transcript. I am sure there are similar services there. I say if okay with the 9th level work go for it. In PS High school they have lower math for those who struggle, at least they did back when I was in high school.
Here in PA, we have several options for accredited diploma programs, I have already chosen the one I want to go with (Erie). We are still resposible for doing most of the paperwork, but they keep a copy too and issue the diploma. They offer 3 "levels" of diplomas which I like and it's not expensive. Yes, I can issue my own diploma, but I feel better going this route... just like I like living in a highly regulated state, it keeps me accountable.
I would usually go with the "stay at grade level" thing and have until this point. So here is the debate - she MIGHT actually go to public school for 9th grade - at that time it would mainly just be her at home. IF she did all 9th grade work in 8th grade... they would only accept 3 classes for high school credit. So why bother with the rest? She's already doing Spanish I which will count towards high school and then Spanish II next year - again for high school. That leaves me with 1 other class for high school credit unless I enrolled her as a 9th grader. Now I COULD have her "repeat" 9th grade - but again - why? She does better school work at home - and I hope she sees that one day. The only reason she WANTS to go to public school is the social aspect. It's the same with Jake - but I think after going over some ideas with him - he's ok at home. I need to debate it out with DH - and see what he thinks. I'm 99% sure he wants the diploma from someone other than me which is fine and like you - my filing isn't the best. Of course he did laugh last night when I said I have Jake's transcript and the kid didn't get straight A's. He actually asked me why I didn't give him straight A's - and I looked at him and said he didn't earn A's.... he looked a little shocked I gave my son a B!!
We had our oldest skip 8th grade also. It has worked (for the most part) for him. He knew that he was looking at lots more years of school (he starts med school this fall) so he was happy to skip a year.
I don't know IF she will go back to public school - that's the kicker. I really don't WANT her to go back - it was NOT a good experience for any of my kids. There is also another issue I haven't brought up & won't in the open areas here - but it would not be a safe environment for her. I may not spend the $$ on her and wait and see where we go with this and spend the extra $15 later to enroll her if we go that route and keep her home. Her class schedule will be Algebra I, Biology, English/Lit, American History, Spanish II, Music, Religion, & PE/Health. See how it's all high school level?
That does all seem like high school level. Would she be more willing to stay home if she was skipping a grade? That might be the key you need to keep her from wanting to go to PS.
I think it might make a difference - especially with the bullies she was facing in PS still in 9th - and the fact of her being about to do a couple more things.... including working a little later once she's 14 I have no problem getting her a work permit
I don't even know how to get a work permit...I know that is coming soon from Garrett. I didn't work in school so I have no clue.
I was a lot easier when I was a kid! For the kids now, I have to go get the paper at the local high school.... the employer needs to sign off their "intent to hire" then I need to take it BACK to the high school and sign it in front of them showing that I understand and accept the fact they are hiring my kid. THEN it gets mailed off to the state and some official thing is mailed back at some point. Jake turns 16 Feb 25th and his official work permit will not be back until after he no longer needs it (ages 14-15 need a permit).... the whole process is just silly. Seriously - when I was in high school - I went to the secretary.... asked for a work permit.... and one was handed to me..... I mean how many people abused the system for them to go through this type of hassle.
Wonder if they don't need one anymore at 16 here. I will have to look at it. Garrett is saving to buy a car to fix up for when he turns 16, so far he is just helping people here on the mountain, but there aren't many and there is only so much you can do for people. I'm sure it won't be long before he is begging us to get a job at some slop factory.. errr fast food place.
