[-]Hollingworth Science camp parents - read your post. Fascinating. If you don't mind - what is he cost of the camp? Thanks
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It is 2200 for the month of July. It is a great camp. Yes, it is tough to get into, but for a few hours of pain, your dc can go there for the next 4 or 5 summers. And it is completely untrue and unfair to say they get a kick out of it. We've done the waiting overnight thing twice now for 2 dc and we've found them to be extremely nice and respectful.
[ Reply | Options ]I agree w/you. The admin. does not get a kick out of it. There are just more dc than the camp can accommodate, and this being NYC, the line waiting becomes another endurance trial. That said, the camp is a wonderful learning experience for dc and worth some hours of parental discomfort.
[ Reply | Options ]NP: Former Hollingworth Preschool parent here. There are much better ways they could handle the science camp sign-up that would avoid having people line up at 3am and they know it. Lisa likes it.
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but then it would be entirely chance whether your kid gets in or not. At least this way, the parent has some control over the process.
[ Reply | Options ]NNP: The process is basically only fair now to people who read UB. Normal people would show up shortly before the stated time, not at 4am. Therefore, they have no chance. It's BS.
[ Reply | Options ]actually, the Hollingworth people were the ones who first warned me that I would have to show up early. They wouldn't tell me how early, but I took it upon myself to figure it out via a UB search. I feel bad for the parents who didn't know, but there's always next year. I noticed that the two parents who arrived at 8 pm the night before were parents who showed up too late the previous year.
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Sorry, this is summer camp, anyone who is interested and able to apply within a reasonable time frame should have a shot at getting a spot for their child. It isn't a question of who is the absolutely freakiest parent who can get there 2 days before and sleep out.
[ Reply | Options ]I think you should be able to apply for summer camp in March frankly. It's New York, there are a lot of people. As a parent of kids who go there I liked knowing that I had some control about them getting in. It is an amazing camp for kids who enjoy science and I'm determined to find the money for it as long as my kids want to go there. At least you don't have to wait in line every year and they do try to make it nicer with food etc.
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np: either the lottery will suck or lining up will suck. I think it's better to let parents who really want their kids to attend to be able to do what it takes to get them in, i.e. stand in line for hours. There's a large degree of self-selection here -- kids who come from families where the parents are extremely motivated and involved and want the best for their kids. Not saying that parents who don't line up aren't like that, but the ones who do are definitely like that.
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You are one of those parents who would have to stand there 36 hours in advance if necessary, right? A lottery would put a stop to your competitiveness. How about the folks that don't have the time to stand in line like that? They are not supposed to have a shot for their children?
[ Reply | Options ]it's not competitiveness, but you're entitled to view it in the most negative light possible. It's a bunch of parents who are willing to stand in line for their kids. What's wrong with that? And we weren't in line for 36 hrs. More like 5 hrs and it was in the early morning hrs, so it's not as though most of us has other things to do (other than sleep).
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I think it's great that the parents are willing to do this, once, for their kids. It's more fair, IMO, than a lottery, which is dumb luck. Can't phone this one in. Parents aren't freaky, or not more than any other place in NYC, for sure - but it does select for families for whom this will be a longtime, valuable experience and they know it.
[ Reply | Options ]I live in NYC and think this is ridiculous. A lot of the popular summer camps fill up early (Oct-Nov-Dec). I know when I called Riverdale in Feb to get a spot for my dc that year, I was told they had been filled up in November for his age group. So the next year, I knew better and signed him up in October. Point is, why does H-worth have this line up thing? Why can't they just accept apps (in the mail) starting on X date (with an earlier date for returning campers) and then when an age group fills up, it fills up. But the middle of the night thing is just plain idiotic.
[ Reply | Options ]Hollingworth camp only has 30 spots or so for kindergarteners and they fill up in a matter of minutes, not days or weeks. And there are very few spots (1-2) for older grades. So it would be really difficult to accept apps via mail. Admission would then be left up to the efficiency, or lack thereof, of the mail service. You would have people wanting to hand delivery their apps to make sure they get in early enough, and then you'd end up with the same problem. The main issue here is the high demand for very few openings.
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[-]Nightingale: that is or is not considered tt? Can anyone w/direct experience tell me about it from the point of view of a parent?
14 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]NBS is a solid school, and I know many, many great families there. This board doesn't believe it is "tt", which is fine I guess, but you really need to focus on fit.
[ Reply | Options ]Can you describe anything about the culture of the school. Our PSD described it as a bit precious and with some of the finishing school atmosphere. Accurate at all?
[ Reply | Options ]np: we are not there but i hear it is pretty traditional, structure and rule oriented.
[ Reply | Options ]The lower school is fairly traditional but I would not describe it as precious in any way. There are all sorts of girls and families there. The kids are encouraged to try all sorts of things academically. The structure comes from the school stressing each girls' organization and working on skills to help each on achieve.
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The education is not as good as the other girls schools but that does not mean it is not a great school if that makes sense. NBS appeals to a certain type of family and dd so go in with an open mind and remember you can't go wrong with any of these schools really. GL
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i'm sure it's a good school academically but when we toured it the parent guide proudly pointed out that the girls are required to carry their books a certain way (against their chest, not hanging from their arms), with their identical pencil cases on top. 'nuff said as far as we were concerned.
[ Reply | Options ]funny. when we had our group Q & A with the HOS, she mentioned how it she thought it was so important that they teach the girls how to sew on buttons and set a proper table.
[ Reply | Options ]As a parent of two children there - one in lower school and one in upper - these are crazy comments. I can not see Ms. H. saying anything about sewing as a skill that does anything except help small motor development in the very young, the books thing is nuts - look around during school. People should look for themselves!
[ Reply | Options ]NP: As an NBS parent I think the "setting a proper table' comment has suffered a bit of the "telephone" game. Its actually an exercise in planning and stategy. Setting a dinner table is a simple, everyday task that very young students - boys or girls - can do to learn how to make a plan or set a strategy....for example do we set each setting at once or all the plates, then the forks etc. NBS seems to stress the why and how of things and IMO teaches the students to ananlyze and understand why and how things are done...and that's the beginning of critical thinking and innovation.
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I know several girls there in high school (kids of friends) and I am always impressed with how poised, smart and nice they are. They are serious about school. I get the feeling they get a TON of homework, testing etc. It sounds like a bit of a grind to me, but they all seem to like it and are very good students as well as social, interesting girls. Has definitely impressed me from afar.
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[-]Claremont Prep - please give me your feedback on the school. What do you know about it? Would you send your DB there??? TIA
16 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]We started recently and have been very happy and feel secure there. It's a little big for us (5 kindergarten classes of 16 kids), but maybe just because we are coming from a different preschool. It has the benefits of a large school through (great afterschool program, great facilities, great extras (DC is doing half year of French twice a week, music program has them singing hard stuff (DC demonstrated warm up vocal scales they do and last week told me the song they are singing is hard and my DC has taken private music lessons for almost 2 years)), etc. Most importantly, I feel that if there were ever any issues (behavior, academic, etc), they would be there in a second to do what it takes to solve this problem. All the heads of the sch...
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only in K but seems like they have it in hand. Heard from a mom with a 1st and 3rd grader that they have weekly spelling tests. In K math they are learning place value (up to 100), coin values and equivalencies, skip counting, measuring with unifix cubes, general stuff that they prob do at all other privates I would think. They are learning about various parts of a narrative (I can't remember details too well...think it was something about how to give details in different ways, POV, things like that). Also do journals (standard I assume everywhere), handwriting without tears, etc. Also go library (a kind of big one) once a week and do swimming once a week and PE twice a week. I'm sure I'm not doing justice to teachers' efforts, but th...
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I don't get it. Dc is in kindergarten and has been taking private music lessons for almost 2 years? What does that mean?
[ Reply | Options ]My dc also just started in K and so far I am so impressed with the school. I really have a hard time imagining what more he might be getting at a "TT." His teachers are amazing-- better even than at his fancy preschool-- and the parents seem really nice. I like the headmaster very much and agree about the overall professionalism. I think the school has managed to hire very good people who really know what they're doing. It's well organized. The kids in ds' class seem nice, bright. Haven't seen any behavior issues so far. Ds loves it and we're really pleased. I would suggest checking it out if you're interested and don't give too much weight to what you read here. I haven't come across any unhappy parents there yet.
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2.5 years there. Pulled our son out. There is a culture of Bullying at that school that can no longer be ignored. 80+ families left last year. Parents were promised 2 teachers in each classroom, now it's a shared assistant without telling the families ahead of time. It's a mess, and the headmaster is professional schmoozer who is only interested in getting families to donate. He is not a problem solver, and clearly leans in the favor of the wealthiest families.
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[-]Did KTSS jack up their prices? $60?! Anyone have last years and want to sell it?
37 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]I'll put mine on Ebay buy-it-now this Saturday (I have to dig it out way to busy this week- I'm done with it kid got into citywide hope it works for you.
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nah, you shouldn't let them do that btw - as the K children are not given pencils or anything on test day - really important that they listen and point and not get used to holding a crayon pencil or something - they are not going to be allowed to fill in the ovals - and you don't want them to anyway.
[ Reply | Options ]are you sure? i was told (and I was shocked) that some testers ask the K children if they'd like to mark the answers themselves.
[ Reply | Options ]let me answer it this way, I'm sure that is how it is supposed to be (with incoming K students - it says that in the DOE OLSAT Handout you get when you sign up - flip through it ) and I'm sure that is what happened with my son - OTOH, I also heard (on this board not IRL) that some did not have the same experience and they were using it for grounds for appeal. There is much about this process that is just luck - we were fortunate to get a very experienced teacher who had my son engaged and telling stories as they walked away; I watched another child crying as they went down the hall for testing - that could not have gone well.
[ Reply | Options ]My dd had to bubble and I appealed and won based on that. She had poor fine motor skills and was a bubbling perfectionist - took her an hour and 20 min and she came out looking like she had just done a tour of duty. None of the other kids on that site had to bubble (parents were asking as they came out). THe DOE actually did investigate it - I believe they spoke to the tester and verified.
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The year our kid took the OLSAT, there was a lot of conflicting information circulating about whether the child actually had to bubble. So I did have my kid practice bubbling just in case. I think in the actual test, she did not have to bubble.
[ Reply | Options ]The practice test given out with this year's registration has the instructions tell the kid to bubble in the answer. If a pre-k student can't do that simple thing, maybe he shouldn't be wasting anyone's time taking the OLSAT test.
[ Reply | Options ]4 year olds, especially boys, don't have great find motor skills. You're right that the practice test says to have the children mark the test, however the page right before the practice test has a not for parents of Pre-K children that says they won't have to bubble in but "must be able to clearly indicate with a pencil their answer". I'm not sure what that means -- circling, pointing..?
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get the bright kids one for $30 more. better questions and quality. BTW not affliated with the company and really hate tutoring companies.
[ Reply | Options ]There they are again, spamming away. Their new tag line is that they "hate tutoring companies" to make them look more credible.
[ Reply | Options ]Y- no one can believe anything that's said about bright kids. Too bad really. But they did it to themselves.
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Anyone who has actually tried the Bright Kids book, please chime in. I want to purchase it, but don't want to waste money if it's crap. I ordered KTSS already, but my son goes through these things so quickly, I'd like to get something else to give him more practice. Anyone? Anyone?
[ Reply | Options ]I bought Bright Kids and I'm not impressed. In fact, for some of the questions I think my dc answered correctly and the book is wrong.
[ Reply | Options ]For example, Mark under picture (not 'the' picture) of the animal in between the other two animals that roar. My dc selected the picture of a monkey in between a lion and a tiger. The book says the answers is a lion in between a zebra and a giraffe. IMO, "the other two animals that roar" would have to be the lion and tiger. Roar, not roars, is correct for multiple animals it would be describing the other two animals, not the one in the middle.
[ Reply | Options ]actually i received the book and they included a correction letter in mine. I work for random house -and you have no idea how common this is. I compeleted two sections and it was great practice for my son.
[ Reply | Options ]I didn't get a letter with mine. I really don't think having some adults take the test after the book is put together to see if its correct is all that difficult. even if I "have no idea how common this is" the people who are publishing and selling the book should, its part of their business. If its so common they should have looked for errors and had them corrected or even sent a letter to everyone who ordered it.
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I liked the book. The non-verbal visuals are great. I also like the instructions. i reviewed the book. i think that was the only error. that seems like a printing error-it happens in every book(there were 2 confusing ones in KTSS as well-the spicy pizza one one answer was wrong). The math questions are right on as well. The instructions are good. the quetsion about the snake and the cages are very similar to the last OLSAT math question my son had with the horses and the saddles. 200+ questions. i think it was the best one out there (i have them all -call me crazy if you will)
[ Reply | Options ]I'm just curious - why did you think BK was better than Junior Test Prep because that looked pretty good to me as well.
[ Reply | Options ]- this question does not get answered - but if you think about it they really should be about the same thing
[ Reply | Options ]not sure. it is a website with a bunch of books to resell and unclear who wrote the book or what makes it credible. no reserach, no kids to get through. At least BK is a tutoring company who has children who can pilot the book-they can test the questions over and over. The teachers can write startegies and they paid a bunch of experts to help write the book including former consultants form pearson. KTSS and BK should be better because of the contributors and amount of research that went into the production of the books. Also, BK is coming out with a sample test I was able to get a free copy as i agreed to contribue and comment and be a part of the focus group. i like the approach frankly.
[ Reply | Options ]Totally agree. I worked with proprietary information before, and I know that this sounds fishy. Anyone working for Pearson with actual access to the test would have to sign a huge non-disclosure agreement once they left. That test is very well guarded, and it's fine to speculate, but I doubt anyone working for BrightKids actually has a copy of it.
[ Reply | Options ]I am sure they have a copy of the tests and more. Also many consultants from companies like pearson are freelancers. As a lawyer, i know that non-competes for frrelancers do not hold up in court as it is very hard to proove that they gave information to a company. many ways aroung this ladies. I am pretty sure they had enough connections to get access to what they needed. Also OLSAT has been around a while in other states, so may not be hard as you think. also many techers, professors get it for research purposes.
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KTSS is not the OLSAT...i dont know who is bashing this company bright city (who knows on UB) but i have the book and actually our school teaher who reveiwed it recommended it and she administers the OLSAT. i can not imagine anyone reading through this book who knows anything about the OLSAT not loving it.
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Argh! I don't have any idea when you posted this, but if you're still watching, please email me at mariweb@hotmail.com. Thanks!
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[-]Other than at Dalton, does it matter who interviews you? Think I've read here that it makes no difference at Collegiate. What about Riverdale? How do you think they decide who meets with DOA and who meets with assts?
11 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]I always figured that when you meet w/DOA, there must be something on the app that stands out slightly...even at the schools where it really doesn't matter if you meet with the DOA or not.
[ Reply | Options ]I kind of agree - I think for the majority it's random, but it's certainly not a bad thing if the DOA interviews you whereas who knows if not....
[ Reply | Options ]I think it's probably random to a certain point. I mean, there MUST be candidates who look slightly more appealing on paper, so why wouldn't the DOA meet with them? It just seems logical. I can't imagine they just put everyone in a pile and divvy them up. But maybe they do! I'm just hypothesizing.
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I have a pretty high-profile job, and we've interviewed w/DOAs at all of the places except Dalton, which is funny, b/c that's the one place I thought would care. :) That said, I figured that my job probably got us the DOA interview in that it stood out on the app, but other than that, the rest of the package still has to be really desirable to get an accept.
[ Reply | Options ]I think it matters everywhere. Not to say it is determinative at all, but it matters.
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[-]Any Riverdale parents (or friends of Riverdale parents) on? We love the school and think we have a decent shot at K. My only concern is what I've read here about the parent body, but I'm taking that w/grain of salt. Anyone willing to give an unbiased assessment of the parents there? We're a very laid-back UWS family - Jewish but not jappy at all.
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Thx. We know 2 fams who are not at all the description that people describe here but I wasn't sure if they were the anomaly.
[ Reply | Options ]Riverdale parent here- totally laided back family too and new to the area last year. We heard the same scary things, but we were so impressed with academics and campus so we made it our very first choice, despite the rumors. Well it turns out that it couldn't be more opposite. We couldn't be happier- with school, faculty and parent/student body! We LOVE the school and feel so fortunate to have our DC there. Good luck and hope to see you there in the fall!
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Riverdale parent here - we've really enjoyed the company of many of the parents we've met and have been surprised by the diversity of careers and personalities and the number of new friends we've made. Please feel free to ignore all the negative rhetoric you see here; it's all from people who probably have nothing to do with Riverdale and like spreading rumors.
[ Reply | Options ]riverdale parents, what % of the school do you think is jewish? doesn't matter to me but just interested.
[ Reply | Options ]Honestly, on the one hand it has that rep. On the other year, I keep meeting parents of young kids there who are completely great - intelligent, funny, decent and very self-aware. Makes me reconsider, and my kids are all set anyway.
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[-]How about Packer and Poly? Any parents with dcs at either of those schools?
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[-]Can anyone explain to me why it is that Mandell School has such over the top branding? The kids in our neighborhood who go there even have outerwear with the school on it. I saw a stroller go by the other day and it was tricked out like a Mandell ad on wheels. We're talking Mandell branded bag like a diaper bag.
45 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]It has a bad reputation in some cirles, so maybe there's a need to overcompensate?
[ Reply | Options ]Mandell parent here. The kids uniforms include coats because they go to CP to play. The school sells sweatshirts, bags, etc with the logo on it, as most schools do. Perhaps the parent you saw with the "tricked out" stroller is happy with the school and chose to buy some things with the logo. Not to sound defensive, but it does seem like you're looking to start a post trashing the school.
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give it a rest. if you don't like the school, don't send your dc there, but don't make inane comments to disparage the school. what do you care what the dcs there where?
[ Reply | Options ]You find this so odd? This is the woman who did Nursery University -- the propaganda machine for Mandell.
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NP and ITTTAAA. They probably actually have a pr firm and a branding strategy. I have noticed this too and my dc goes to a private and it is nothing like the parade of green on W.96th in the morning.
[ Reply | Options ]Alright, I am a very happy Mandell parent and I've been resisting jumping in here but now I have to. There is no "PR firm" or "branding strategy." There is a uniform, which has nothing to do with the fact that it's not a 5013c. The uniform does include coats and jackets, and while some of it is green, it also includes khaki, white, and yellow. Take a walk down any of the uniform school blocks during drop off or pick up and it will appear to be a "parade" of whatever the uniform happens to be. As a previous poster said, if you don't like the school, don't send your dc there, but don't post unfounded BS about a school, about which you know nothing.
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[-]bookmom/playing librarian here. Anyone need any book recs? Tell what you enjoy reading and we'll give new suggestion. Or for your kids (give gender,age,fave books).
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girl, 5, ready to be read good chapter books - but probl too young for Secret Garden, etc? Other than Ramona the Pest, what is there?
[ Reply | Options ]Try Mrs Piggle Wiggle, The BFG by Dahl, Mr. Popper's Penguins. And have you read her My Father's Dragon series yet? If you both have stamina, try The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, too.
[ Reply | Options ]np--Rumer Godden has small chapter books that are well-written. My dd loved Mouse House and The Story of Holly and Ivy. The latter is a Christmas story. There are also the Jenny and the Cat Club books by Esther Averill. Also, don't leave picture books behind at this age. There are wonderful books (William Steig's Brave Irene; Helga's Dowry by Tomie De Paola, and Elsie Piddock Skips in her Sleep by Eleanor Farjeon have great heroines, for example.)
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6yo boy, interested in the darker side of life but hasn't been exposed to much mainstream media, trying to find gentle ways to introduce him to scarier things, not even close to ready for HP
[ Reply | Options ]I'm going to repaeat a few suggestions from above: My Father's Dragon is a good start for fantasy..not too heavy and try Dick King Smith's The Waterhorse. Dahl has a wicked sens eof absurdity..like a naugthy school boy. The BFG is one of my favorites by him. And if you haven't tried it yet, how about CXharlotte's Web. These are all books for you to read together.
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2.3 yo girl, totally digs Bartholemew (sp?) and the Oobleck, Where the Sidewalk Ends, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, Yertle the Turtle. We've also done Blueberries for Sal so many times she's bored.
[ Reply | Options ]op: lots of classics! Try The Rain Came Down, The Dragon Machine, Bats at the Beach (and Bats at the Library), The Reluctant Dragon,The Gardner, Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Slater(fun rhymes and letter sounds and great before starting pre-school) and of course, Caps for Sale
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6 yo liked Harry Potter (1&2), Chronicles of Narnia, Little House series, Wrinkle in Time. Did not love Pippi Longstocking. Is interested in Ella Enchanted, Little Princess, loves Bow to the Moon and Trumpet of the Swan. What else? TIA!
[ Reply | Options ]The Ordinary Princess by MM Kaye, All of a Kind Family by Sidney Taylor, Betsy Tacy By Lovelace, Igraine the Brave and if you have good stamina for a much longer book Dragon Rider (both by Funke)
[ Reply | Options ]Thank you!! I heard about Percy and Olympian? Is that a good book? Dc reads independently but likes longer books now and is into fantasy. Or about animals in fiction.
[ Reply | Options ]OP This book works much better for an older kid as it deal with middle school issues. I bet she would love Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, but again. pretty long and complicated Other fun fantasy that is still age appropriate: Indian in the Cupboard, Tales of Deperaux, Eddie Eager's books (starting with Half Magic). I'll re-emphasize Sisters Grimm Series. And consider Gregor the Overlander.
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OP: a few ideas for you. If you were intrigued by "circus" life, Geek Love is a classic, but a bit freaky about a family where the parents intentionally create children to be in the Freak show. If you prefer historical fiction , try Loving Frank....about Frank Lloyd Wright and his Mistress, from her perspective. For an interesting outlier..a bit Dickensian, but much easier to read, try The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti
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Rec. for me. I love Phillip Roth - especially Everyman, American Pastoral. Would like something along those lines...
[ Reply | Options ]op: I love Roth also. My personal fave is THe Plot Against America (not typical Roth, I know), followed closely by American Pastoral. Have you read any Richard Russo? I rec. Bridge of Sighs. Great family saga. YOu might also consider The Story of Edgart Sawtelle. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this books (desite being an Oprah pick). Updike is a natural choice for you as well. If you haven't read his Witches of Eastwick, do so. Nothing like the silly movie it inspired.
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[-]What ID did you bring with you to the OLSAT site? Did they want a proof of address then, or just when you register at a school?
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[-]picky eater advice! 17 mo dd has become the pickiest eater. one thing she will eat is applegate farms nitrate free, antibiotic free turkey breast. how bad is this is? dinner tonite: turkey and blueberries!
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[-]DD taking ERB next week. Anyone know where the Manhattan testing site is? lost address
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[-]Have you ever met some parents, and thought hope my dc never becomes friends with their kids? I've met quite a few and think it's sad that I came to the conclusion within minutes of meeting them ... some people are just plain WEIRD
17 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]this year ds and I have been on the same page. all the kids he has mentioned liking seem to have parents that I like. I guess the apples are not falling far from the trees.
[ Reply | Options ]There is so far only one mom who I do not care for in my dc's class. Our children play together often at school. My thought is to kill her with kindness. I don't want to be her friend, but she does not have to know that, especially if our children get along well.
[ Reply | Options ]So we're new to the school this year, and one mom asked me who I was - I told her I was ds' mom. She said Girl or boy? I said Boy - she said "Oh - my daughter only knows girls". Sheesh. Who says that? I mean it doesn't matter what sex your dc is, he/she should be able to recognize that there is an addition to their class.
[ Reply | Options ]That could have been me. I think she's just apologizing for not knowing who you are because her dd doesn't ever talk about kids of the opposite sex, and maybe you just didn't register at that moment. I've done that and then felt REALLY badly afterwards because it was at dropoff and I wasn't caffeinated....
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[-]This process is killing me. I am so unbelievably stressed out that dc will not have a good kindergarten to attend in the fall. and we have 4 more months of worrying before we know. Every time we talk aobu the process, I feel like throwing up.
26 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]You need to step back and take a breather. YOu are suffering some serious anxiety about something that is (a) out of your control and (b) in the scope of life, not that important. You might want to consider some anti-anxiety medication. This level of tension will be transmitted to your dc and is not good.
[ Reply | Options ]I was you last year. But I swear to you, things worked out for virtually every family that I know. I can think of only one case where a child had to attend an unacceptable local school--and that was because his mother failed to return the paperwork at a great school where he was accepted. Things will be OK :)
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I *really* don't mean this is a snarky way: try to find some perspective. You're talking about kindergarten. I know that you've been fed the line that if you don't get into a good kindergarten, you'll get into a crappy grade school, and then a crappy HS, only to end up in a bad college, ultimately with no career worth mentioning. Now look at reality. Look at people around you, even those you consider to be successful. Do you really see people whose success was dictated by their kindergarden? Ask yourself if you really believe that the mold is that strict and unyielding?
[ Reply | Options ]ITA. I went to public school all the way and still ended up with a career many envy. Relax and enjoy life with your dc.
[ Reply | Options ]np. This is actually not about the kid getting into a good school. This is about the parent who wants to be associated with a good school from the parent's point of view. You re correct that K does not matter at all in the big picture but it matters in regards to stats, bragging rates, pride, etc. Btw, I don't subscribe to that thinking.
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I absolutely agree. It's KINDERGARTEN. You're stressed? What about the mom who just got laid off and is panicking about how to feed her kids. The guy who needs a lung transplant but whose insurance won't get it? You need to get a grip and some perspective.
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Some very level heads prevailing here... thanks for the good advice all. I think I am on the opposite end of the scale - not that I have a cavalier attitude exactly but I know that we've done everything that we can to our best ability and now we're just going to wait until Feb. The only time I get a hint of stress is when I read posts like this and wonder "man - SHOULD I be more anxiety-stricken? do these people know something I don't?" Like the poster above, I don't equate DC getting into our FC as her one and only chance at happiness. Worst case scenario, we will send her to public and if it's a totally heinous experience, we'll apply again next year. Not ideal, but not such a horrible scenario either.
[ Reply | Options ]NP: I also feel fairly relaxed about process, though it's a lot to manage. But I have to say the responses that "it's only kindergarten" are idiotic. Of course she's not worrying just about the kindergarten, it's that it's a chance to find a K-12 school for your dc and your family. I agree it's not parallel to getting laid off or feeding one's children, but nor is it finding a school for one yr. Perspective means seeing the thing for what it is, not exaggerating it, but not diminishing it either. To OP, I hope you feel some more calmness, GL!
[ Reply | Options ]My feeling exactly. I was told by mom in my school "you will be so anxiety-ridden every time you see the mailman in February." What a crock! I figure that we did all we can do and that's that. Public school will be the default and if that turns out to be terrible, we will fix it. No point in worrying about this at all!!
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OP here--I know that kindergraten will not determine the future of my dc. i am a public school alum who went to ivy(hyp--since this board seems to care ), so know it can be done, and that ivy is not be all, end all. however, given some challenges my dc faces (gifted in some areas, needs help in others), I know both that we'll have a hard time getting into a school, and also that public will not work for us. dc needs a small class with caring teachers, or will have an unhappy experience. this is not about putting dc on a path to Harvard, but about finding a place where dc will strive. and, so, I am worried.
[ Reply | Options ]It's really stressful, but I would try to avoid getting fixated on one school. Last year things did not go well for us, we ended up at a school we didn't even look at initially and amazingly, it is fantastic. I feel like we got really lucky in the end, through no skills or strategies of our own. It seems to work out for most people in the end, and even when it doesn't (like in our case) sometimes in the end it does.
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[-]are most of the crazy college admissions moms strivers who didn't go to those "top" schools? despite the fact that i went to "hyp" and had a good experience there, i am so totally not worried about this for dc's. they will be who they will be! and given how young they are, i have no idea whether they will have the academic horsepower or desire to succeed at one of those "desired" colleges. rant over
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