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Post by beanbuddymom on May 23, 2016 13:42:55 GMT
I am extremely annoyed with the secrecy that my DD high school has with regard to just about everything. It's not on the website, handbook, pulling teeth to get information.
You name it, it's just a big secret.
Prom, yearbook, homecoming, national honor society, anything to do with any of those topics you would imagine would be or should be listed/posted somewhere - no. It's all a big secret. How does one get nominated for homecoming? No idea. How is voting conducted? No idea. How do you join or submit pics for yearbook? No idea. Prom details? No idea. Not posted anywhere and you have to ask 80 million people to find out any answers, and my DD will be a junior next year and I still don't know these answers.
I just emailed my DD guidance counselor to ask what the requirements/criteria were for National Honor Society application. She said DD would get a letter next year after the first report card and that letter would detail all the requirements of application.
I was like ? You can't tell me the requirements/criteria NOW? No, she would receive a letter of invitation to apply, and that letter would post the list of things she would need to apply.
You see how crazy this is - ? My neighbor told me when her son applied he had to scramble to fulfill some of the requirements. She didn't remember all of them so she wasn't any help (her son graduated 8 years ago and things may have changed). But basically IF she gets asked by a secret group of teachers, then she will need to go through that list of requirements and make sure she has all of them.
I just don't know how it is legal for them NOT to have them posted - I thought the National Honor Society according to their website I thought I read that the requirements had to be posted somewhere. And it's INSANE to me that the guidance department is not in charge of nor does she have the list of requirements.
I hate this school so much sometimes especially with regard to communication.
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Post by mom on May 23, 2016 13:46:04 GMT
Maybe try to find out who the teacher advisor is and then talk with them?
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Post by beanbuddymom on May 23, 2016 13:50:52 GMT
Maybe try to find out who the teacher advisor is and then talk with them? I did find out who she is today but she is gone and may be out for the rest of the year, there is a long term sub taking her place. I find it annoying this type of thing isn't something the GUIDANCE Dept is not privvy to, the people who are advising my daughter on what courses to take, etc. |
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,774 
Location: Kentucky
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Post by Kerri W on May 23, 2016 13:54:33 GMT
Prom, yearbook, homecoming, national honor society, anything to do with any of those topics you would imagine would be or should be listed/posted somewhere - no. It's all a big secret. How does one get nominated for homecoming? No idea. How is voting conducted? No idea. How do you join or submit pics for yearbook? No idea. Prom details? No idea. Not posted anywhere and you have to ask 80 million people to find out any answers, and my DD will be a junior next year and I still don't know these answers. None of those things are posted on my school district's site or sites of any of the districts around us. Honestly, I would never expect them to be. Often they are student led activities that change from year to year. It has always been my experience other students nominate the homecoming court, there's a vote taken and those with the most votes make up the court. Another vote taken for Queen, etc. Yearbook for us is a class. It seems as if the advisor changes every 2-3 years. Here are the NHS guidelines. I guess I don't see it as much as a secret as something that your DD should be checking into, not you. |
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Post by mom on May 23, 2016 13:56:32 GMT
Maybe try to find out who the teacher advisor is and then talk with them? I did find out who she is today but she is gone and may be out for the rest of the year, there is a long term sub taking her place. I find it annoying this type of thing isn't something the GUIDANCE Dept is not privvy to, the people who are advising my daughter on what courses to take, etc. According to the NHS website, it will be based on her having 3.0 GPA, volunteer service in her community, leadership and her character. I am almost certain no certain classes are required. |
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Post by myshelly on May 23, 2016 13:58:06 GMT
This post is bizarre to me.
I don't know of any school that has that kind of info on their website.
Those are all things that by HS your daughter should be worrying about, not you.
Why do you need info on homecoming court and voting? Why would any parent need that info?
There's no info on prom because hers isn't planned yet.
There's no info on submitting yearbook pics because that's not a thing. You don't submit pictures here.
Calm down.
You don't actually *need* any of the information you're freaking out about.
So weird.
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Post by mom on May 23, 2016 14:00:36 GMT
Prom, yearbook, homecoming, national honor society, anything to do with any of those topics you would imagine would be or should be listed/posted somewhere - no. It's all a big secret. How does one get nominated for homecoming? No idea. How is voting conducted? No idea. How do you join or submit pics for yearbook? No idea. Prom details? No idea. Not posted anywhere and you have to ask 80 million people to find out any answers, and my DD will be a junior next year and I still don't know these answers. None of those things are posted on my school district's site or sites of any of the districts around us. Honestly, I would never expect them to be. Often they are student led activities that change from year to year. It has always been my experience other students nominate the homecoming court, there's a vote taken and those with the most votes make up the court. Another vote taken for Queen, etc. Yearbook for us is a class. It seems as if the advisor changes every 2-3 years. Here are the NHS guidelines. I guess I don't see it as much as a secret as something that your DD should be checking into, not you. Agree, completely. I dont think it is a secret even though the details are not on my schools webpage or handbook. Many of these things are either teacher voted on (homecoming) or student led (our Prom was completely student led). I suspect that if/when you need to know these details, they will be telling you. Once my son was a Junior, I was included in all the Prom details because it concerned him. I heard nothing before mid semester of his Junior year. |
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Post by cindyupnorth on May 23, 2016 14:07:20 GMT
I will validate you, and say it is NOT weird. Most of that info would be on our yearly school calendar that comes out the beginning of the school yr. All that stuff would be set before that. I think each school has different standards and different ways of doing things. Here, homecoming is NOT teacher generated, but the kids. Yearbook is an ECA. Sounds like your child isn't very involved in the school? I would recommend they get more involved, and ask the kids involved in it, ie yearbook. The only thing they would have to scramble for HS would be the volunteer hours.
It's not a crime to be an involved parent, nor ask questions. Just don't be obnoxious about it..ha.
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,774
Location: Kentucky
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Post by Kerri W on May 23, 2016 14:07:37 GMT
I did find out who she is today but she is gone and may be out for the rest of the year, there is a long term sub taking her place. I find it annoying this type of thing isn't something the GUIDANCE Dept is not privvy to, the people who are advising my daughter on what courses to take, etc. According to the NHS website, it will be based on her having 3.0 GPA, volunteer service in her community, leadership and her character. I am almost certain no certain classes are required. Well...I guess this is where *I* personally would give a little grace. The advisor is out and there's a longterm sub. Something not in the school's control. It's a super busy time of year for the guidance office. AND this is information you don't really need to know. It really seems as if you have other issues with the school, perhaps completely justified, that are affecting this experience. |
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Post by beanbuddymom on May 23, 2016 14:36:06 GMT
Thank you I have no intention of being obnoxious about asking about any of that and I just posted a nice email inquiring about the NHS requirements in case it was something over the summer she needed to obtain or fulfill, etc.
I don't care if someone thinks my post is "STRANGE" because I think information should be easier to find. I stand by my original statement that I don't see it as a big deal that any of that stuff shouldn't be information that is free for everyone to see - just because I"m asking as a parent doesn't mean a student might not want to have that information on the school website. They might want to know where prom is, how much it costs, why should they have to hunt down and ask a teacher about it, why shouldn't that information be available?
I'm not only asking for myself but for people in general - parents, students - maybe the secondary parent that doesn't get all the information from the primary parent. This is information that students are NOT given and they have to ask around like it's the eighties or something before websites and media that allows for websites to have that information. My sense of frustration is after two years of asking for details from my daughter about an event and her saying "I don't know' and then her spending unnecessary time asking around for information that could be easily accessible on a website.
I appreciate your responses directing me to the NHS website, I have that information, which is helpful, but as many other schools have on THEIR particular websites, each school has their own specific criteria, and that would be helpful to have. I would think it would help students strive toward a goal if it was available like that.
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Post by myshelly on May 23, 2016 14:38:18 GMT
High School Helicopter.
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Post by cindyupnorth on May 23, 2016 14:42:40 GMT
WOW. That's just judgy! I've asked this before, but you never answer. how OLD are your kids? and how would you even know any of this since you homeschool?? |
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Post by sunnyd on May 23, 2016 14:44:53 GMT
I just googled my kid's HS and NHS & they do have info posted. I also think NHS is share-worthy info for students & parents. |
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JustTricia
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,835
Location: Indianapolis
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Post by JustTricia on May 23, 2016 14:49:38 GMT
I understand asking about the NHS requirements and agree it would be helpful if it was available.
The Homecoming or Prom voting is more than likely discussed in school since that is where the voting takes place.
Info about where Prom is, when it is, and how much it costs probably is sent in an email to Junior and Senior parents. As your daughter is a Sophomore maybe you'll get that info next year. While the planning *may* have already started, I wouldn't expect any info before Feb or Mar of next year.
If you are concerned that the calendar isn't on the website so you don't even know WHEN Homecoming is, for example, that I understand and think the dates should be there since football schedules are already in place for next year.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,657
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on May 23, 2016 14:50:02 GMT
NHS should have their information posted. Our school is terrible about communication too. They've gotten much better over the last few years, but I feel your pain when it's hard to get just basic information.
In the past, NHS in our school was run by this one teacher who ran it like her own personal fiefdom. Kids would meet the standards and still not get in and she held all the information like it was nuclear codes. The principal finally wrested it away from her. It was nuts.
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Post by beanbuddymom on May 23, 2016 14:50:20 GMT
I just googled my kid's HS and NHS & they do have info posted. I also think NHS is share-worthy info for students & parents. Thank you! |
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Post by anxiousmom on May 23, 2016 14:55:31 GMT
I just checked, the NHS information is available on our school website including eligibility information, what is expected after you have been accepted into membership and who the advisers are.
In my experience at the school my kids attended, prom and year book are student led. Prom court is by vote, including King/Queen. I don't know who counts the vote, but my guess is the students and overseen by the faculty adviser. Yearbook is a class, again student led but with a faculty adviser.
No harm in asking, but since it isn't a make it or break it school related thing, it would be a great place to let kids figure out information on their own. At our school, there are a couple of days of year that there are booths set up that have information about all the school clubs and committees. I bet your school does something similar and would be a perfect starting place for your daughter.
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Post by beanbuddymom on May 23, 2016 14:58:46 GMT
Kind of preachy for a homeschooler. That's pretty rich considering your kids don't even attend a high school to judge me on how I am. And I stand by wanting better communication, I won't apologize for wanting it and I'm sorry to hear you feel the need to stoop to communicate in such a grade school manner by calling me names. |
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Post by beanbuddymom on May 23, 2016 15:00:53 GMT
I understand asking about the NHS requirements and agree it would be helpful if it was available. The Homecoming or Prom voting is more than likely discussed in school since that is where the voting takes place. Info about where Prom is, when it is, and how much it costs probably is sent in an email to Junior and Senior parents. As your daughter is a Sophomore maybe you'll get that info next year. While the planning *may* have already started, I wouldn't expect any info before Feb or Mar of next year. If you are concerned that the calendar isn't on the website so you don't even know WHEN Homecoming is, for example, that I understand and think the dates should be there since football schedules are already in place for next year. Thank you! |
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Belle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,309
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Post by Belle on May 23, 2016 15:02:06 GMT
My son is in middle school so they do not have a homecoming court or anything like that. NHS stuff is posted on the school website and with requirements for entry and dates of meetings/induction ceremony/end of year party etc.
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,067
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Post by luckyexwife on May 23, 2016 15:04:28 GMT
I have no idea of your circumstances, or time availability, but I thought I would throw this out there.
A friend of mine with kids in high school in a neighboring District had the same issues that you're having. She could never find information on the website, and communication was severely lacking. She put together a detailed email for the principal asking questions and wondering if there was any way she could help. She found out that due to budget cuts, they didn't have anyone who had the time to be able to update the website in a timely manner. She worked with the principal and volunteered, and now she spends about three to four hours a week keeping the website updated for the school. She has a dedicated Gmail address that the teachers can send any information they want on the website to her, and she has a policy of what day it needs to be submitted to get on the website that week. Perhaps this is something you could look into a, or you could ask around to other parents to see if anyone has the knowledge of websites to be able to help the school in this way.
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Post by bc2ca on May 23, 2016 15:07:28 GMT
Prom, yearbook, homecoming, national honor society, anything to do with any of those topics you would imagine would be or should be listed/posted somewhere - no. It's all a big secret. How does one get nominated for homecoming? No idea. How is voting conducted? No idea. How do you join or submit pics for yearbook? No idea. Prom details? No idea. Not posted anywhere and you have to ask 80 million people to find out any answers, and my DD will be a junior next year and I still don't know these answers. I just emailed my DD guidance counselor to ask what the requirements/criteria were for National Honor Society application. She said DD would get a letter next year after the first report card and that letter would detail all the requirements of application. I was like ? You can't tell me the requirements/criteria NOW? No, she would receive a letter of invitation to apply, and that letter would post the list of things she would need to apply.
As others have said, both our HSs had Yearbook and ASB as elective classes. At our schools you had to apply to be in the class and it was very much student driven as to theme, content, etc. Prom and Homecoming are ASB activities and information might be on the events section of the school website when the activity is happening, but there is nothing there now. Until the incoming class starts working on the event, especially Prom, there is no information released. I'm pretty sure we only got details when tickets went on sale. If they are volunteer extra-curricular activities at your school, your DD may need to sign up at the beginning of next school year during club week. Our school does have NHS information on the website, but it really is just the application form which is no guarantee of acceptance. Included sections are: - Name/Grade/GPA
- Co-curricular Activities - school clubs/teams/musical groups with major accomplishments in each
- Service/Community Activities with adult supervisor verification in writing
- Leadership Positions - elected or appointed
- Work Experience, Recognition and Awards
- AP and Honors Classes
- Personal Statement (max 100 words) - can explain any deficiencies above or strengths you will bring to the organization
- Signatures (student and parent)
There shouldn't be a scramble to fulfill any of the above requirements, except perhaps to get adult verification of community volunteer work. To be considered for NHS, your child needs to be actively involved in school and the community as well as meeting the academic standards (ours is weighted GPA 3.5). The committee reviewing the applications is probably made up of school administrators, teachers and possibly PTA and will not be made public. |
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Post by peasapie on May 23, 2016 15:07:47 GMT
I just looked at the website for our local high school. I didn't see that info there, either.
My kids are both past college age now, but I don't remember there ever being any sort of announcement about those things. One day my son came home with a packet/invitation for NHS and he had to fill out some paperwork. That's all I know. As far as prom, I heard about it after the fact.
Maybe your daughter could go in to guidance to ask?
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Post by cade387 on May 23, 2016 15:15:13 GMT
For us NHS was invitation only, so there was no applying.
The other things like prom and yearbook were run by the student council and yearbook staff - all run by students who aren't even elected for next year at this point.
It is weird for a parent to be wondering these things IMO. Your daughter should care and if she doesn't care to get you info more than "I don't know" then why is posting on a message board going to be helpful? She obviously doesn't seem interested in joining herself so why push her?
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Country Ham
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,313
Jun 25, 2014 19:32:08 GMT
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Post by Country Ham on May 23, 2016 15:16:54 GMT
I am extremely annoyed with the secrecy that my DD high school has with regard to just about everything. It's not on the website, handbook, pulling teeth to get information. You name it, it's just a big secret. Prom, yearbook, homecoming, national honor society, anything to do with any of those topics you would imagine would be or should be listed/posted somewhere - no. It's all a big secret. How does one get nominated for homecoming? No idea. How is voting conducted? No idea. How do you join or submit pics for yearbook? No idea. Prom details? No idea. Not posted anywhere and you have to ask 80 million people to find out any answers, and my DD will be a junior next year and I still don't know these answers. I just emailed my DD guidance counselor to ask what the requirements/criteria were for National Honor Society application. She said DD would get a letter next year after the first report card and that letter would detail all the requirements of application. I was like ? You can't tell me the requirements/criteria NOW? No, she would receive a letter of invitation to apply, and that letter would post the list of things she would need to apply. You see how crazy this is - ? My neighbor told me when her son applied he had to scramble to fulfill some of the requirements. She didn't remember all of them so she wasn't any help (her son graduated 8 years ago and things may have changed). But basically IF she gets asked by a secret group of teachers, then she will need to go through that list of requirements and make sure she has all of them. I just don't know how it is legal for them NOT to have them posted - I thought the National Honor Society according to their website I thought I read that the requirements had to be posted somewhere. And it's INSANE to me that the guidance department is not in charge of nor does she have the list of requirements. I hate this school so much sometimes especially with regard to communication. At our school homecoming nominations are done through groups. So the FBLA has their own nomination in their way, same with FFA etc. Same with voting for various homecoming queens/kings. Each group votes for their own. Prom details. Proms are over for this year, what kind of details do you need a year in advance. Your daughter will be a Jr next year and will get the info in due time. She will not miss her jr prom I bet. I assume national honor society is similar to our BETA club? Sounds right. Based on the first progress report we got a notice saying son would be invited into Jr Beta if he maintained his GPA and with that invitation we got the requirements. So many volunteer hours etc. Did we scramble to get those first 10 hours in before the BETA trip that fall, sure, like every other kid in BETA. The school doesn't tell you ahead of time. Legal requirements for a club? Really these are clubs our kids can decline joining. Those honor groups have financial requirements too. THere are teacher advisors for all these clubs. They are not school requirements. eta: yearbook? It's also a student run thing. The only submissions we ever required was baby pictures for seniors. The rest are taken by yearbook photographers or submitted by teachers. The senior teachers clearly inform parents about submissions when they are required not a year in advance. |
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Post by beanbuddymom on May 23, 2016 15:21:13 GMT
Prom, yearbook, homecoming, national honor society, anything to do with any of those topics you would imagine would be or should be listed/posted somewhere - no. It's all a big secret. How does one get nominated for homecoming? No idea. How is voting conducted? No idea. How do you join or submit pics for yearbook? No idea. Prom details? No idea. Not posted anywhere and you have to ask 80 million people to find out any answers, and my DD will be a junior next year and I still don't know these answers. I just emailed my DD guidance counselor to ask what the requirements/criteria were for National Honor Society application. She said DD would get a letter next year after the first report card and that letter would detail all the requirements of application. I was like ? You can't tell me the requirements/criteria NOW? No, she would receive a letter of invitation to apply, and that letter would post the list of things she would need to apply.
As others have said, both our HSs had Yearbook and ASB as elective classes. At our schools you had to apply to be in the class and it was very much student driven as to theme, content, etc. Prom and Homecoming are ASB activities and information might be on the events section of the school website when the activity is happening, but there is nothing there now. Until the incoming class starts working on the event, especially Prom, there is no information released. I'm pretty sure we only got details when tickets went on sale. If they are volunteer extra-curricular activities at your school, your DD may need to sign up at the beginning of next school year during club week. Our school does have NHS information on the website, but it really is just the application form which is no guarantee of acceptance. Included sections are: - Name/Grade/GPA
- Co-curricular Activities - school clubs/teams/musical groups with major accomplishments in each
- Service/Community Activities with adult supervisor verification in writing
- Leadership Positions - elected or appointed
- Work Experience, Recognition and Awards
- AP and Honors Classes
- Personal Statement (max 100 words) - can explain any deficiencies above or strengths you will bring to the organization
- Signatures (student and parent)
There shouldn't be a scramble to fulfill any of the above requirements, except perhaps to get adult verification of community volunteer work. To be considered for NHS, your child needs to be actively involved in school and the community as well as meeting the academic standards (ours is weighted GPA 3.5). The committee reviewing the applications is probably made up of school administrators, teachers and possibly PTA and will not be made public. Ok thank you! She has all the requirements so that's a blessing there. I think it was the community service that my friend's son had to scramble to do so glad she has that done, thank you! |
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on May 23, 2016 15:22:51 GMT
I find our school doesn't post as much information as I would like. I sometimes go to the websites of other schools in our district. Some of the others do a much better job with communication, and they tend to do things in similar ways.
It does come across as secretive to me as well when I can't find anything. My DD was asked to try out for an academic competition team (and subsequently made the team), and I can't find any information. There is an informational meeting for parents in August, but knowing things like whether there will be travel, what fees might be involved, etc. would be handy to know as I plan for next school year and as she commits to other activities. I truly think the teachers just aren't thinking that far ahead. I had no clue this team existed until she was asked to try out, and we look at her school's website together on occasion.
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Post by utmr on May 23, 2016 15:30:27 GMT
NHS seems to vary by school. At our school (large, urban, 3,500 students, traditional high performing), NHS opens applications in the spring. The application is several pages and requires teacher/advisor signatures for every activity listed, plus a recommendation, which takes some time and effort to collect. Students have to prove they meet the gpa requirement to even receive the application. Only about 75 students are picked each year. The actual selection criteria seems to be a bit of a black box, with preference to leaders, athletes, etc.
Nothing wrong with making it hard to get into, but it's frustrating when other schools or districts have looser requirements. My brother's child, Perfect Polly, lives in a small town where the only requirement is a minimum gpa and then automatic acceptance. My parents repeatedly criticize DD for not getting in. Urgh.
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Post by beanbuddymom on May 23, 2016 15:31:04 GMT
For us NHS was invitation only, so there was no applying. The other things like prom and yearbook were run by the student council and yearbook staff - all run by students who aren't even elected for next year at this point. It is weird for a parent to be wondering these things IMO. Your daughter should care and if she doesn't care to get you info more than "I don't know" then why is posting on a message board going to be helpful? She obviously doesn't seem interested in joining herself so why push her? I wasn't asking so she could join those groups, it was the information about prom so if as a parent you want to attend grand march and take pictures you won't be an uninformed person knowing what time it starts. That kind of things that kids don't think are important until they are walking out the door asking if you will be coming to grand march and you have no idea - stuff like that. You don't only attend as a Junior either, as long as your date is a Jr you can be a Freshman or Sophomore so these types of things come up when you have kids and they get asked to stuff like that. It's just nice to know stuff and not have to call around and ask to get information about a school sanctioned event that they expect parents to be involved with. So no it's not weird wanting to know things. It's weird if you're 12 but if you're an informed adult and like to read things and be informed it's nice to know stuff. |
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Post by myshelly on May 23, 2016 15:35:57 GMT
Look at it this way -
Is it fair for your daughter to get the list of requirements and work on them all summer when everyone else gets them in the fall and has to do them then?
And please explain why on earth you need to know the procedure for voting for homecoming court.
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