The new high school here is twice the size of their CA one. Eliza and Madi have all their after-lunch classes together: Guitar Theory, Pre-AP English, and Pre-AP World History. They're on the school tennis team after school (which is only 2 days a week so far, but they still earn PE credit for doing it). Eliza tried out for orchestra and though she hasn't played the violin too much for the past few years, she was thrilled to make the top orchestra. (Thanks to her fabulous private teacher in Germany! The orchestra leader here said to Eliza, "I can tell that you're a little rusty, but your technique and tone are great.") Madi is playing trumpet in concert band. The marching band here is a huge commitment (9 hours a day in the 100 degree heat during August) so Eliza and Madi decided not to do marching band. Madi is taking Child Development and loving it. Eliza is on the School Newspaper Staff and is writing her first article, about the swim team.
Isaac gets to drive our Family Car (found at CarMaxx). They go to seminary every morning from 6-6:50 (the church is about 6 minutes away), then they come home until school (which is from 8:50-4:15).
No accidents yet... but I'm always a little nervous....
Isaac has been swamped with homework -- he has so many classes, he doesn't even get a lunch hour. He will try to test out of World Geography (a freshman class required for graduation) because he has no room in his schedule to take it. He also has to test out of Algebra 1, since we can't "prove" that he took it in German school. (So... he's in Calculus BC and got 800 on the SAT math section, but they still require him to take Algebra 1? Frustrating.) He is taking AP Calculus BC, Physics, English, Speech/Debate, Digital Media (he has to take a computer class, and a speech class, to graduate), Choir, AP Music Theory, and Jazz Band (he's pianist). The Jazz Band is planning to perform at Carnegie Hall this year. The music programs here are incredible. Isaac is also finally taking private piano lessons from a very good piano teacher; she pushes him hard and has Master's Classes, regular recitals, and has her students participate in competitions at the University of Texas. Isaac also works a few shifts at the ice cream shop each week, so we'll see how long he can keep up this busy schedule. The parents here told me that all the kids who graduate from this school and go to BYU say that BYU is much easier than this high school. So this will be a good year for learning to work hard and preparing for college! The grading here is on a 5-point-scale, so Isaac has no chance of being valedictorian with his 4.35 g.p.a. here. He won't even be in the top 10. (But he's fine with that; he just wants to get into BYU.) GPA's aren't decided by the letter grades, either; the actual percentage in the class is what matters! We have a friend here who's a junior, she has straight A's and she's taken every honors class possible in high school, and she's ranked 7th in her class. (In CA, if you have straight A's, you can be tied for first in your class even if you don't take every Honors class.) I've been amazed by how competitive Texas is, in all areas! Isaac already took the SAT (and scored an impressive 2380), then he takes the ACT next week and applies to BYU in a few months. I still can't believe this is his last year at home with us... 17 years have sure flown by!
The new high school here is twice the size of their CA one. Eliza and Madi have all their after-lunch classes together: Guitar Theory, Pre-AP English, and Pre-AP World History. They're on the school tennis team after school (which is only 2 days a week so far, but they still earn PE credit for doing it). Eliza tried out for orchestra and though she hasn't played the violin too much for the past few years, she was thrilled to make the top orchestra. (Thanks to her fabulous private teacher in Germany! The orchestra leader here said to Eliza, "I can tell that you're a little rusty, but your technique and tone are great.") Madi is playing trumpet in concert band. The marching band here is a huge commitment (9 hours a day in the 100 degree heat during August) so Eliza and Madi decided not to do marching band. Madi is taking Child Development and loving it. Eliza is on the School Newspaper Staff and is writing her first article, about the swim team.
Isaac gets to drive our Family Car (found at CarMaxx). They go to seminary every morning from 6-6:50 (the church is about 6 minutes away), then they come home until school (which is from 8:50-4:15).
No accidents yet... but I'm always a little nervous....
Isaac has been swamped with homework -- he has so many classes, he doesn't even get a lunch hour. He will try to test out of World Geography (a freshman class required for graduation) because he has no room in his schedule to take it. He also has to test out of Algebra 1, since we can't "prove" that he took it in German school. (So... he's in Calculus BC and got 800 on the SAT math section, but they still require him to take Algebra 1? Frustrating.) He is taking AP Calculus BC, Physics, English, Speech/Debate, Digital Media (he has to take a computer class, and a speech class, to graduate), Choir, AP Music Theory, and Jazz Band (he's pianist). The Jazz Band is planning to perform at Carnegie Hall this year. The music programs here are incredible. Isaac is also finally taking private piano lessons from a very good piano teacher; she pushes him hard and has Master's Classes, regular recitals, and has her students participate in competitions at the University of Texas. Isaac also works a few shifts at the ice cream shop each week, so we'll see how long he can keep up this busy schedule. The parents here told me that all the kids who graduate from this school and go to BYU say that BYU is much easier than this high school. So this will be a good year for learning to work hard and preparing for college! The grading here is on a 5-point-scale, so Isaac has no chance of being valedictorian with his 4.35 g.p.a. here. He won't even be in the top 10. (But he's fine with that; he just wants to get into BYU.) GPA's aren't decided by the letter grades, either; the actual percentage in the class is what matters! We have a friend here who's a junior, she has straight A's and she's taken every honors class possible in high school, and she's ranked 7th in her class. (In CA, if you have straight A's, you can be tied for first in your class even if you don't take every Honors class.) I've been amazed by how competitive Texas is, in all areas! Isaac already took the SAT (and scored an impressive 2380), then he takes the ACT next week and applies to BYU in a few months. I still can't believe this is his last year at home with us... 17 years have sure flown by! 
2 comments:
They have grown up so fast! Remember when you came to BYU and the twins were wriggling all over the place but couldn't sit up while Larsen could sit up but that was it so he just sat and watched them? I can't believe how it has all gone by so quickly!
Maybe Eliza can follow in Aunt Katherine's footsteps on the school paper and ruffle some feathers.
And working at an ice cream shop gives you life skills. I'm still able to impress people with my yogurt-dispensing technique whenever I find a self-serve machine :)
Post a Comment