School Year Equivalent
Feb 13th 2008, 12:16 am
#31
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Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,043
Re: School Year Equivalent
I don't think we changed for 'gym' in primary school back in the UK. Only put on our plimsolls!
This thread has certainly been encouraging for me. Recently I had been hearing a lot about how the US is worse than the UK for schools on here and I was concerned because a big motivation for me not going back to the UK is the schools. Here we can easily get our 4 year old into an excellent school. Doing the same in the UK isn't as easy with the way the system overinflates property prices near better schools. And all I ever hear about the UK education system is how bad it is.
This thread has certainly been encouraging for me. Recently I had been hearing a lot about how the US is worse than the UK for schools on here and I was concerned because a big motivation for me not going back to the UK is the schools. Here we can easily get our 4 year old into an excellent school. Doing the same in the UK isn't as easy with the way the system overinflates property prices near better schools. And all I ever hear about the UK education system is how bad it is.
My husband was a teacher in the UK before we moved, and he really likes the schools here.
My daughter does a bit of gym in school, but absolutely loads of sports after school and at the weekend, run by Community Services and the YMCA. There are lots of specialist summer camps if you really want to push them in a certain direction but I don't think I have the next Tiger Woods or Serena Williams in my family so I don't know if we'll bother with those
Feb 13th 2008, 2:17 am
#32
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Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,176
Re: School Year Equivalent
Summer camps aren't cheap either, but it's what parents do to punt the kids away as they don't have the time off to do anything over summer....there's a few around maine that aren't that bad, especially in the lakes area though, and being a camp councillor if they are teens is a good thing to have on the resume...
Feb 13th 2008, 4:08 am
#33
Who?
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Stepford
Posts: 3,098
Re: School Year Equivalent
www.valpo.k12.in.us/ - 9k
If so, this link will give you information about the local state schools.
Feb 13th 2008, 5:17 am
#34
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Posts: 826
Re: School Year Equivalent
Yeah summer camp... now there's a thing!
This is our first summer here and so I'm rather unaccustomed to this summer camp frenzy thats going on. Apparently all of my daughters school friends are already booked into 8 week long sports camps and suchlike and I feel a bit pressured into making a decision about my daughter.
Now if she begged and pleaded - or even showed a mild interest in doing something like that then I probably would consider it for a few weeks - I mean, lets face it, the summer hols are quite long over here - but she doesn't, she is downright disgusted at the idea of having to go to ANOTHER school during her precious summer holidays!
And secondy, the cost! I couldn't believe it. My daughters best friend is enrolled into a sports camp for 8 weeks and its costing her parents over $3500!
And I looked into the possibility of sending my daughter for only 2 weeks and it was still over $1500! That's just too much to spend on a bit of entertainment to pass the time over the summer IMO!
Now I realise that some mums work and would otherwise have to pay childminders so maybe the cost is comparable, but for me, not working I would far rather keep my daughter home (and particularly not spend a fortune on something my daughter would hate from the first day) and then go out on lots of mother/daughter outings around Chicago and the surrounding areas. I'm sure I'd still be hardpushed to spend anywhere near the amount that summer camps cost!
This is our first summer here and so I'm rather unaccustomed to this summer camp frenzy thats going on. Apparently all of my daughters school friends are already booked into 8 week long sports camps and suchlike and I feel a bit pressured into making a decision about my daughter.
Now if she begged and pleaded - or even showed a mild interest in doing something like that then I probably would consider it for a few weeks - I mean, lets face it, the summer hols are quite long over here - but she doesn't, she is downright disgusted at the idea of having to go to ANOTHER school during her precious summer holidays!
And secondy, the cost! I couldn't believe it. My daughters best friend is enrolled into a sports camp for 8 weeks and its costing her parents over $3500!
And I looked into the possibility of sending my daughter for only 2 weeks and it was still over $1500! That's just too much to spend on a bit of entertainment to pass the time over the summer IMO! Now I realise that some mums work and would otherwise have to pay childminders so maybe the cost is comparable, but for me, not working I would far rather keep my daughter home (and particularly not spend a fortune on something my daughter would hate from the first day) and then go out on lots of mother/daughter outings around Chicago and the surrounding areas. I'm sure I'd still be hardpushed to spend anywhere near the amount that summer camps cost!
Feb 13th 2008, 5:25 am
#35
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,110
Re: School Year Equivalent
Yeah summer camp... now there's a thing!
This is our first summer here and so I'm rather unaccustomed to this summer camp frenzy thats going on. Apparently all of my daughters school friends are already booked into 8 week long sports camps and suchlike and I feel a bit pressured into making a decision about my daughter.
Now if she begged and pleaded - or even showed a mild interest in doing something like that then I probably would consider it for a few weeks - I mean, lets face it, the summer hols are quite long over here - but she doesn't, she is downright disgusted at the idea of having to go to ANOTHER school during her precious summer holidays!
And secondy, the cost! I couldn't believe it. My daughters best friend is enrolled into a sports camp for 8 weeks and its costing her parents over $3500! And I looked into the possibility of sending my daughter for only 2 weeks and it was still over $1500! That's just too much to spend on a bit of entertainment to pass the time over the summer IMO!
Now I realise that some mums work and would otherwise have to pay childminders so maybe the cost is comparable, but for me, not working I would far rather keep my daughter home (and particularly not spend a fortune on something my daughter would hate from the first day) and then go out on lots of mother/daughter outings around Chicago and the surrounding areas. I'm sure I'd still be hardpushed to spend anywhere near the amount that summer camps cost!
This is our first summer here and so I'm rather unaccustomed to this summer camp frenzy thats going on. Apparently all of my daughters school friends are already booked into 8 week long sports camps and suchlike and I feel a bit pressured into making a decision about my daughter.
Now if she begged and pleaded - or even showed a mild interest in doing something like that then I probably would consider it for a few weeks - I mean, lets face it, the summer hols are quite long over here - but she doesn't, she is downright disgusted at the idea of having to go to ANOTHER school during her precious summer holidays!
And secondy, the cost! I couldn't believe it. My daughters best friend is enrolled into a sports camp for 8 weeks and its costing her parents over $3500!
And I looked into the possibility of sending my daughter for only 2 weeks and it was still over $1500! That's just too much to spend on a bit of entertainment to pass the time over the summer IMO! Now I realise that some mums work and would otherwise have to pay childminders so maybe the cost is comparable, but for me, not working I would far rather keep my daughter home (and particularly not spend a fortune on something my daughter would hate from the first day) and then go out on lots of mother/daughter outings around Chicago and the surrounding areas. I'm sure I'd still be hardpushed to spend anywhere near the amount that summer camps cost!
Feb 13th 2008, 6:51 am
#36
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Posts: 826
Re: School Year Equivalent
My daughter was 11 when we came to the US. She never went to camp...although all her friends did. She was never short of things to do though and I used to love taking her out for lunch followed by a movie...taking a trip into NYC...days in the pool. Happy days...she's all grown up now...make the most of the time you spend with her while you can.
Ah well... I for one, am looking forward to a long, hot (probably too hot for me - I'm never happy!
) summer spent doing whatever we please and going wherever the fancy takes us!
Feb 13th 2008, 6:51 am
#37
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 148
Re: School Year Equivalent
My daughter was 11 when we came to the US. She never went to camp...although all her friends did. She was never short of things to do though and I used to love taking her out for lunch followed by a movie...taking a trip into NYC...days in the pool. Happy days...she's all grown up now...make the most of the time you spend with her while you can.
Two ladies out on the town all summer in Chicago, can easily exceed $1500 on themselves.
Feb 13th 2008, 6:59 am
#38
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Re: School Year Equivalent
Feb 13th 2008, 7:08 am
#39
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Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: School Year Equivalent
Yeah summer camp... now there's a thing!
This is our first summer here and so I'm rather unaccustomed to this summer camp frenzy thats going on. Apparently all of my daughters school friends are already booked into 8 week long sports camps and suchlike and I feel a bit pressured into making a decision about my daughter.
Now if she begged and pleaded - or even showed a mild interest in doing something like that then I probably would consider it for a few weeks - I mean, lets face it, the summer hols are quite long over here - but she doesn't, she is downright disgusted at the idea of having to go to ANOTHER school during her precious summer holidays!
And secondy, the cost! I couldn't believe it. My daughters best friend is enrolled into a sports camp for 8 weeks and its costing her parents over $3500! And I looked into the possibility of sending my daughter for only 2 weeks and it was still over $1500! That's just too much to spend on a bit of entertainment to pass the time over the summer IMO!
Now I realise that some mums work and would otherwise have to pay childminders so maybe the cost is comparable, but for me, not working I would far rather keep my daughter home (and particularly not spend a fortune on something my daughter would hate from the first day) and then go out on lots of mother/daughter outings around Chicago and the surrounding areas. I'm sure I'd still be hardpushed to spend anywhere near the amount that summer camps cost!
This is our first summer here and so I'm rather unaccustomed to this summer camp frenzy thats going on. Apparently all of my daughters school friends are already booked into 8 week long sports camps and suchlike and I feel a bit pressured into making a decision about my daughter.
Now if she begged and pleaded - or even showed a mild interest in doing something like that then I probably would consider it for a few weeks - I mean, lets face it, the summer hols are quite long over here - but she doesn't, she is downright disgusted at the idea of having to go to ANOTHER school during her precious summer holidays!
And secondy, the cost! I couldn't believe it. My daughters best friend is enrolled into a sports camp for 8 weeks and its costing her parents over $3500!
And I looked into the possibility of sending my daughter for only 2 weeks and it was still over $1500! That's just too much to spend on a bit of entertainment to pass the time over the summer IMO! Now I realise that some mums work and would otherwise have to pay childminders so maybe the cost is comparable, but for me, not working I would far rather keep my daughter home (and particularly not spend a fortune on something my daughter would hate from the first day) and then go out on lots of mother/daughter outings around Chicago and the surrounding areas. I'm sure I'd still be hardpushed to spend anywhere near the amount that summer camps cost!
I think you made the right decision!
Feb 13th 2008, 7:11 am
#40
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Lake County IL
Posts: 1,953
Re: School Year Equivalent
That would last about two hours in American Girl Place...I bet they even have a camp (they've found a way to extort money in every other possible way). I am dreading the day my 4 year old discovers what that place is. Luckily she's more into Dr Seuss and computers than dollies. But you never know...
I always wanted to go to camp when I was a kid (watched way too many American tv shows!). The nearest I got was being sent to my grandma's house for the summer!
I always wanted to go to camp when I was a kid (watched way too many American tv shows!). The nearest I got was being sent to my grandma's house for the summer!
Feb 13th 2008, 7:18 am
#41
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 148
Re: School Year Equivalent
I fully intend to JG. It's just that the Americans don't seem to understand that summer camp seems quite alien to us Brits... and when speaking to my daughters friends mum I felt like I was being naughty by not putting her name forward for camp. Ridiculous isn't it?
Ah well... I for one, am looking forward to a long, hot (probably too hot for me - I'm never happy!) summer spent doing whatever we please and going wherever the fancy takes us!
Ah well... I for one, am looking forward to a long, hot (probably too hot for me - I'm never happy!
) summer spent doing whatever we please and going wherever the fancy takes us!
If I may suggest.... just a day trip from Chicago.http://www.catsupbottle.com/
http://www.horseradishfestival.com/
Feb 13th 2008, 7:29 am
#42
Who?
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Stepford
Posts: 3,098
Re: School Year Equivalent
Nearly every child going is going to be accompanied by a parent and I'm not going because I feel she is old enough at 13(nearly) to go alone. I'm surprised we haven't been put on the "At risk" list.....I am apparantly way past naughty in the eyes of the other parents!
We don't do summer camp...too expensive and I enjoy being with my children and exploring and doing stuff.
Feb 13th 2008, 7:30 am
#43
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Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,043
Re: School Year Equivalent
Summer camps aren't cheap either, but it's what parents do to punt the kids away as they don't have the time off to do anything over summer....there's a few around maine that aren't that bad, especially in the lakes area though, and being a camp councillor if they are teens is a good thing to have on the resume...
The camps we did were between $75 and $100 a week so not really breaking the bank - I might not be saying that when all three are going though
I would love to send them to a proper week-long camp up in the lakes when they are older. I'd have loved it when I was a kid.
Feb 13th 2008, 7:35 am
#44
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Posts: 826
Re: School Year Equivalent
That would last about two hours in American Girl Place...I bet they even have a camp (they've found a way to extort money in every other possible way). I am dreading the day my 4 year old discovers what that place is. Luckily she's more into Dr Seuss and computers than dollies. But you never know...
I always wanted to go to camp when I was a kid (watched way too many American tv shows!). The nearest I got was being sent to my grandma's house for the summer!
I always wanted to go to camp when I was a kid (watched way too many American tv shows!). The nearest I got was being sent to my grandma's house for the summer!
If I may suggest.... just a day trip from Chicago.http://www.catsupbottle.com/
http://www.horseradishfestival.com/
Wow! You must lead a really interesting life Lord Knows! A horseradish festival! .... Well if we get really stuck at a loose end....
Feb 13th 2008, 9:28 am
#45
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 148
Re: School Year Equivalent
I'm not familiar with American Girl Place. Is it some massive girly store or something? And is it in central Chicago? Just wondering, so I can make plans NOT to go anywhere near it!
Wow! You must lead a really interesting life Lord Knows! A horseradish festival! .... Well if we get really stuck at a loose end....
Its the little things that give flavor to ones journey. 
