Advertisement A: It sounds like a great opportunity for all of you to share family time and explore schools. Other families have made these kinds of requests and been able to work with the teachers to complete assignments and take finals ahead of time. The best way to find out if your teen’s school will work with you is to contact the principal.
You might propose that this be educational by having the kids research the areas and schools you will visit. Most high school guidance offices can provide you with a guide and questions to ask when doing a campus visit. The time you spend with your teens on vacation will create valuable family memories, so enjoy — they will leave home soon enough.
Q: Our daughter is graduating from high school this year and we are planning a party. She wants us to allow her friends to drink beer because she says all the other parents are allowing it. I have asked some of her friend’s parents, and it is true that some of them will be allowing the kids to have beer, but they will take their car keys and have them all stay over by camping in the back yard. My husband and I are sitting on the fence with this one so we would appreciate your input.
A: I am aware of parents providing alcohol at graduation parties using the method you described — but it is still underage drinking. You have no guarantee that one or more of those kids won’t leave the party. It’s one thing for you to allow your daughter to have a drink with you at home, but it’s another to give other people’s teens alcohol without their parents’ approval. You would legally be responsible if something happened. I say tell your daughter you cannot be responsible for other teens. The camping party sounds like fun. It could still be a part of the graduation party plan — minus the alcohol. And with some brainstorming the three of you might be able to come up with activities that would make it memorable.
Q: My son is a senior who is letting his school work go down hill and I am afraid he will damage his plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the fall. He tells me that it doesn’t matter because he is already accepted and they won’t see his final grades. Is this true?
A: No, as a matter of fact, all colleges require a final transcript of grades to be sent out after the school year ends. If you have him look at the letter of acceptance, it will say something about acceptance being conditional upon successful completion of the senior year. I have had students lose their acceptance because they let the “senior slide” affect their final grades. If the letter does not state this, call the admissions office and ask — or better yet have him call.
Colleen O’Reilly Wiemerslage is a teacher, counselor, writer and parent of two adult children. E-mail her with questions wiemerslage@aol.com.
