Mom, my desk is messy!

Well folks, it is time for the next chapter in our ongoing series... "how ridiculous can our schools be". We won't go into closing schools to save money...and then busing kids to schools miles away (anyone look at gas prices) or RELAXING the class size restrictions because they are no longer convenient, or cutting school budgets by impossible amounts.....

Today, lets go back to basics. My son is in 5th grade, he has worked very hard to get on the honor role, he is an A/B student. For various reasons he did make it first quarter (his effort in Art & Math needed improvement), or second(effort again). So he worked his tail off this past quarter and when we went online to check his report card he had all A's and one B. He had all 1's in effort. (1 being satisfactory, 2- needs improvement and 3-unsatisfactory)

In the "Personal Development" Section there are 2 possibilities, S-Satisfactory, and I-Needs Improvement. He has all S's with the exception of "work is organized and neat." Where he got an I.

He came home on Monday with the hard copy of the report card. He was in tears, carrying on because he did not make Honor Roll. So upon closer inspection I see the requirements on the back. You cannot have an "I" in anything on the Personal Development side and make Honor Roll. OK, I think that is reasonable. EXCEPT, you can have a C and a needs improvement in EFFORT in your regular grades and make it. Are you kidding me???
My son was upset because his friend who rides the bus with him had a C and a 2 in effort and he made it. So I did what you would expect and spoke to his teacher to ask what he could do and to also express the fact that this system is ridiculous.

First let me say I really like his teacher, I must share with you why he got an I-needs improvement and his all A, one B report card did not make the honor role.....because his desk is messy. Yes, his desk is messy. SO, my friends in case I lost you earlier, let me sum it up for you.

In our school system, you can get a C and exhibit BELOW AVERAGE EFFORT and make the Honor Role. You can get all A's and one B. Exhibit Satisfactory Effort, but you may not make the Honor Role because your DESK IS MESSY.

Am I the only one out there that finds this to be beyond assinine?

Get Ready for Summer Vacation

It may not seem like it but summer break is just around the corner. The Volusia County Junior Lifeguard Program is a good way to keep your 9-15 year old busy for at least a week.

The information on the link above is a bit confusing, I called and spoke to a very helpful representative who said singups actually don't start til May 5th. Your child must go to one of the tryouts listed prior to signing up, this ensures they can meet the swimming requirements. Once they attend a tryout and get cleared they can sign up at the Beach Street location in Daytona Beach. They are offering the programs in Daytona, Ormond and New Smyrna Beach during different weeks this summer.

Snappy

These are my kids.....actually these are my brother's(who is also known as Mountain Man) dogs. But this is how my kids are acting today, the last day of spring break. Like two very large boxers that have been trapped in the house all winter. Back to school tomorrow and not a moment too soon!

Cooking is Overrated

I went to a Pampered Chef party today, have you ever been to one of these? The hostess and the Pampered Chef Rep cook up some great treats, show you some great kitchen gadgets and you buy lots of things to help you on the road to being a gourmet cook.

Welllll, being a gourmet cook is quite expensive.....knives $70.00, that is for one, the skillet I would love to have is over $200.00. I was able to score some little corn cob knob things, you know the ones, kids love to stick them in the ears of corn so they don't burn their fingers....anyway those were $3.50. NO threat of those turning me into a gourmet and and since fresh corn on the cob happens to be the ONLY vegetable my daughter will eat,these are a must have item.

At the end of the day, this party helped me on the road to self-realization, I still hate to cook, my kitchen is still a disaster, and I would still rather eat out than cook any day. All in all it was a successful day...

Amazing

Shamu is as amazing as ever, if you live here at the beach and can spend a day or a couple days at SeaWorld, you should do it. The Residence Inn at Sea World has some great packages including the new Aquatica Water Park. March & April are nice relatively uncrowded months to go. The Beachline makes the trip easy from the beach and it is great fun!