We went to the high school for the parents (and kids) of 8th graders. Short talk by the principle, then over to the gym to meet teachers and find out stuff about the various programs/pathways (and requirements) the boys will be doing for the next 4 years.

The boys will turn in their class requests next week. For a school of 1400 students, the high school offers quite a variety of programs -- and each of our boys are heading off in a different direction.

Alex is already biting at the bit to be done with middle school and start HS! All want to try out for the HS tennis team, and a two of them want to go out for track this year, and we'll see if that will carry over to HS.

If the rest of the teenage years go as well as this first year, that will be wonderful...but not counting on it! I got a great compliment at a potluck at a friend's house last week. I met a woman who did the hearing testing at the boys' middle school a few weeks ago. She remembered the boys (three students with the same last name), and she said that out of all the students she tested, my boys were the only ones who thanked her after the testing.

And some great news...Calder who has had a hearing processing delay problem since birth had a appointment at the audiologist last week. The hearing processing delay has resolved itself and is no longer an issue (this happens to about 50% of kids diagnosed with it). And this will be his last year of needing speech therapy.

Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
3-31-97 @ 28.5 weeks

Awesome news about Calder's hearing. That's terrific! And how nice it is to get compliments about your boys - what fine young men they are.

We're on the same parallel lives, Vaughn. My boys are entering high school in the fall, too. Each of my boys are taking a different track and can't wait to be done with junior high.

Congrats on making good progress with the school registration process. So many choices!

Sharon
14 year old b/b/b + 17 year old son

What a nice compliment on your boys! That is a reflection of all your hard work. This is an exciting time for them. Great news on Calder!

My boys are in 10th grade, and I can honestly say that high school has been great.

Heather, BBBB (two identical, two fraternal) 28 1/2 weeks, now age 18!

Thanks to both of you!

Perhaps the "Thank you" stuff comes from me being in the habit (and meaning it) of saying "thanks" to the boys when they do something for me -- even if I asked them to do it.

Isn't it amazing how different (yet in some ways the same) our kids can be, even tho they were born at the same time and raised the same?!

Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
3-31-97 @ 28.5 weeks

Great news about the hearing test!!

One small piece of advice for you as you help your kids with their class choices.

Make sure that they are not only taking the required classes that their district says they need to graduate, but also look at the colleges they want to attend. With my oldest, we looked ahead at the requirements for the college and he took everything he needed.

So I figured that when 2 of the other boys wanted to attend the same college, that we knew exactly what they had to take in high school. Well, WRONG! In just 2 years time they added in an Art class. So when my kids got to college they ended up having to take an Art class and pay for it. Had they taken it in high school, it would have been free.

They all had their foreign language requirements luckily.

mom to:
Ryan 32 The Lawyer
Jason 30 The Chief Meteorologist
Chris 30 The College Student
Tim 30 The college grad

I love hearing their versions of their childhood memories!!

I agree with Kathy. Keep up-to-date with all the changing college requirements. Based on our current visits to colleges for my oldest son, they have each said that incoming requirements will be changing.

I met yearly with the guidance counselor for my oldest son. Each year, we would go over his class selections for the next year. Keep in mind your child's strengths and weaknesses. Look at your school's graduation requirements, which may vary significantly from college-prep requirements.

I've already met with the counselor for a review of my triplet's class selections for their freshman year. It's much more complicated than I remember when I went to high school!

Sharon
14 year old b/b/b + 17 year old son