I am happy Jake has a job at the Tae Kwon Do place - it's a good place for him to work - AND learn that he doesn't know everything and even though your "boss" is in your age group you still have to listen
We don't have any Karate places here.. breaks my heart because I want them all in it and can't afford to drive to another town in and pay for the lessons for them. We don't have much of anything besides slop joints for kids (or "unskilled workers") here.
Yes, that makes sense. I struggled with the accredited diploma issue too. We are also a catholic family. However you stated that you wanted to go with the Kolbe standard diploma. The standard diploma requirements are IMHO "light". What are you childrens plans after high school? Are they interested in going on to college? If so you might want to check out the college admission requirements for any of the colleges they may be interested in attending. Here colleges expect to see the following on a high schoolers transcript. * 4 years of English * Algebra I, or Applied Mathmatics I & II, or Integrated Mathmeatics I * Algebra II or Integrated Mathemetics II * 2 additional years of Math - Geometry, Applied Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Advance Math Pre Calculus, Calculus, AP Calculus AB, Advanced Math Functions and Statistics, Probablility and Statistics, Discrete Mathematics, Applied Mathematics III, Integrated Mathmatics III or Algebra III * Biology I or Biology II * Chemistry I or Chemistry II * 2 additional years of Science - Earth Science, Physical Science, Environmental Science, Integrated Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Physics, Physics II, Physics for Technology I or II, AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism, AP Physics C: Mechanics, Anatomy & Physiology, or both Agriscience I & II * American History * Civics and Free Enterprise (combined), Civics (1 year), or AP Government and Politics: United States * 2 additional years of History - World History, Western Civilization, World Geography, European History, or History of Religion * 2 years of the same foriegn langauge * 1 year of Fine Arts - Music, Dance, Theatre, Studio Art, Visual Art, Speech A total of 19 credits of "Core Curriculum" * 2 years of Physical Education & Health * 3 years of electives A total of 24 credits. Ultimately, I decided not to go the accredited diploma route. My two oldest are both currently attending college on Louisiana TOPS scholarships.
All of that looks impressive on paper. However after teaching Cathechism for the last 15 years at our chuch, I can tell you that those classes are really dumbed down IMHO. I can't see how any public schooled high schooler who has been thru Calculus & Chemistry would need to to take college remedials, but it happens every day here. It's sad that most of the kids in my 11th grade Confirmation class have trouble with reading and reading comprehension!
If you enrolled in 9th grade Kolbe altogether, would you want to put her in 10th at ps? Also if you don't do this year as enrolled with Kolbe with 9th grade courses (just not enrolled), would they put those credits on her transcript should she stay home for high school?
I know that the standard diploma is light and personally I would never think about it However - my 17 year old came to this country when she was 10/11 years old and into a bad situation. She was thrown into school not knowing English at all - school is NOT her strong suit - she's smart... but more common sense than books. She may go to community college to see what she wants to do and how she wants to proceed. Jake just wants to get on with life - 15 years old and knows everything He's more hands-on trade service type. I have come to face the fact that I am not raising any scholars - but kids with dreams and ideas. All are hard workers - but not book learners. Both will also have more credits on their transcript than the standard diploma - but not enough of the "required" ones for the Magna. Funny thing is - I have the $$ put away for Jake and Alexis to go to college.... all of it through the 524 plan.... Alexis was to go to cosmetology school and do hair (I swore that would wear off - but apparently it hasn't).... Jake wants to go to a trade school.... now we have Karina and she wants to be a translator for ASL and/or Spanish - but she's not 100%... I'm not sure WHAT I'm going to do with Alexis right now - I left her off the "admissions" page. Alexis will just keep working and doing what she does She's good at that - LOL. I'll figure her out later - there isn't a rush.
True story-my sister could have went to college on full ride scholarship graduating at 17. She always loved to do hair and makeup. She got married and had some kids. She went to cosmetology school about 6 years ago or so. She has a booth at a salon and is self-employed making pretty good money. So if you do it certain ways it is a pretty good career. Just discourage from going to the quickee cut places that pay by the hour. A booth at a salon where you set your own prices seems to be the way to go.
She's practicing braids now Christmas gift was a creepy long haired head.... I really hate it when it is left in rooms.... My friend and I are trying to encourage her to do make up as well.... do wedding parties.... that sort of thing.
Dana, do you have a vocational or trade school option there for high school? Here we have one that is shared by 7 districts that offers students to spend half the day in their "shop" and half in academics. One of the shops we have is cosmetology and they are licenced and all at the end of high school. They can then go on to a beauty school if they decide they want a teachers licence, but they can get a job in a salon with the licence from high school.
yes we do - which would be a reason for Alexis to go to PS - you can't go during school hours unless you are a public school student. When we STARTED homeschooling - you used to be able to go part time and do the vo-tech school as well... that was always our plan - but a few years ago they took that option away
It may be because the trade school is gaining in popularity. People are in a rage here because our VoTech school is talking of doing a lottery to get in. It's kind of sad because some kids who do to finances have no chance of going to college and this may be their only hope of a good living (they have some great things like HVAC and electricity and electronics and nursing), may not get in. Kids who have worked hard to keep their grades up may not get in either when kids who are failing might. Ours is an all day school, AM shop is for 9th and 10th graders while the upper classmen are in academics, then they switch at lunch time. I went for nursing.
Our kids go 1 day regular high school... next day - bused to the Votech. Also - a lot of the programs now at Vo-tech are college classes - if you can't pass the exam, you don't get to go. We are a HUGE county - and 1 vo-tech school - it's very competitive. My oldest got in for nursing which was a TOUGH class - and then the college she decided to go to didn't take ANY of her credits <ugh>
Oh my gosh, that sucks!!! I wouldn't encourage her to go then, for sure. See what she thinks about getting ahead, graduating a year early then going to school for what she wants. Make it sound all sparkly and shiny and see what happens.
