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It's now August 8 and 8th grade orientation is on the 25th. We have received absolutely no information from the school about orientation. We have not received a calendar or anything telling us when school starts. I don't even know what time school starts. I managed to get some dates from the PTA's June newsletter that's posted online, but I have no information beyond that.
Am I freaking out needlessly or will my son end up getting totally lost at the big middle school?
For the record, my daughter attended this middle school 13 years ago, but she went from the public elementary. This is my first experience with transferring a kid from private school to public school.
Good gravy, Sandi!
First of all, your son will be fine.
Second, it sounds like the GATE program isn't for him. There wouldn't have been this many roadblocks if it were truly something he needed. The teachers would know.
I predict that coming from such a small school to a large one will be a refreshing change of pace for your son, who may have been feeling stifled by the lack of social opportunities.
8th grade is a blast - don't worry!
You have over two weeks before orientation. What else do you need before then? A flier telling you when to be where?
Here, drink this big glass of morning chardonnay.
First of all, your son will be fine.
Second, it sounds like the GATE program isn't for him. There wouldn't have been this many roadblocks if it were truly something he needed. The teachers would know.
I predict that coming from such a small school to a large one will be a refreshing change of pace for your son, who may have been feeling stifled by the lack of social opportunities.
8th grade is a blast - don't worry!
You have over two weeks before orientation. What else do you need before then? A flier telling you when to be where?
Here, drink this big glass of morning chardonnay.
Gee stay awake Larry you're driving!
That's because you always turn left at the stop signs.

First of all, your son will be fine.
Second, it sounds like the GATE program isn't for him. There wouldn't have been this many roadblocks if it were truly something he need..."
Actually, my only roadblock is an elderly office lady who shouldn't even have that job because she obviously hates it. I've honestly never encountered anyone quite like her in a position working with the public.
If my son wants to go to college, he absolutely needs to be in the GATE program now. Going to high school from private school, he could test into honors level course. Going from public school into high school, he needs to be in GATE. The GATE program in our middle school is really misnamed. It's actually the honors program and that's how kids track into the AP program at the high school. Our schools are so freakin' competitive. Students need at least a 4.2 GPA to get into the UC system. In some of the lower achieving schools, a 3.5 is sufficient to get into a UC. Now, I'm not saying that my son has to go to a UC. If he finishes high school and decides to go to a Cal State, community college, or a trade school, that's fine. I just want him to have the opportunity to go to a UC if he chooses to. To do that, he has to be tracked correctly now.

*thinks twice about getting in the trunk*
Why do you have to roll me up in that old rug?
Sandi, good luck to your son. I hope he does well in this program and is able to go to his college of choice.

My parents demanded straight A's, piano, and SATs and assumed college would just kind figure out of good scores. They had no idea what APs were, nor did they care much for my involvement in clubs. They didn't consider that sports and extracurriculars might factor in -- and they can make all the difference.
A 4.2?? Really? This depends on which UC he wants to attend, no? WOW, things have changed since my high school years. I mean, I knew it was getting more competitive, but I didn't know 4.2 was the minimum.

As for the topic: I'm not ready for the summer to end. I'm half-excited about some of my classes, but mostly, I dread taking the MCATs. Time is going by too quickly for me right now.


I attended private for grades 7-12, so I don't know much about the public high school and UC system agreement. There was a program, though, where if you were a senior with a strong enough standing, the UC system would guarantee entry into at least one of their schools, if that's what you mean?
UCLA is nearly as competitive as Cal these days, though. I know a surprising number of people from my year who made Berkeley but not LA.

I applied to Berkeley back in the day (heh), but not to LA. Guess it's not worth speculating the outcome...
I have to move out on the 14th (of September), by the way...
I hate college.

By the way, autuman is my favorite season.
Me too, Knarik. I love everything about the cliched "back to school" shebang, as well as the temperature, the smell of the air, and the feel of fall.

Same. Fall is maybe my favorite, but I also really like winter. And, as of this summer, I also really like summer. Each has its charm, I guess. : )
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I love the word "autumn", by the way, much more than "fall".