Back To School Too Soon

This month's topic for the Yahoo! Motherboard is Back to School, a topic I've been forced to think about a lot earlier... and harder... than I'd like.

My daughter's new high school is breaking away with the rest of LAUSD and commencing the new school year on MONDAY.

This means that my poor daughter had the shortest summer break of her life (just about six weeks).

She's taking it all in stride.

I'm the one who's panicked.

After all, it's high school.

We attended the new school's freshman orientation yesterday. The data shared with us during the opening assembly was impressive...

...but my mood quickly deteriorated during the school tour portion of the event.

The students leading the tours were apologetic. They told us that the school was unprepared for the number of families that actually showed up: In past years, they said, they only ever filled half the bleachers in the gym.

Yesterday, it was standing room only.

At the end of the tour, the kids and parents had to stand in lines to (a) obtain the students' class schedules, (b) obtain their lockers, (c) fill out Title I forms and (d) purchase gym uniforms. This was pure chaos, as it was unclear which line was which and what was expected to be done first.

The two-hour planned event was closer to three.

I was also dismayed to hear reference of a student-parent handbook that we were supposed to have received in the mail. None of the families in our group could recall getting one. My guess is that it's on some LAUSD schedule and we will be receiving it AFTER our August 16 start date (but before September 13, when most of the rest of the district begins the school year).

My friend Henry managed to get his hands on one in the administration offices, and was kind enough to scan and email it to the rest of us. That's a good thing, because it contains forms that our kids are expected to bring filled out on Monday.

It also has includes a "Condom Availability Release Form," which explains that for public health reasons, condoms are available free to any student who wants them (and parents can opt out of the program).

Is it any wonder I'm feeling nostalgic for her first day of Kindergarten?

DISCLOSURE: This post has been edited since its original publication. I was not compensated to write this post.

Comments

[April McCaffery]

There's a definite theme building in the posts this month: those of us with older kids are definitely a little more jaded!

[Linda Schwartz]

OK -- now you have to move to Rocklin. People's heads here would explode if there was an opt-out condom distribution form in the schools. Around here, It's much better to pretend your kids aren't drinking, drugging, or doing anything else.

[Amy @ YodelingMamas]

Here's to hoping the rest of this school year is MUCH smoother. Look at it this way, they've set the bar low, so hopefully they'll just keep raising it!

[Kim]

Condom opt-out form?! Oy!

Is she going to get out of school a month earlier than the other schools?