High School Admissions Peril Part V

Today is the deadline to submit completed high school applications to the guidance counselors.

Kids waited anxiously outside unfamiliar buildings in unfamiliar neighborhoods in the cold, in a queue that started 90-minutes before the 7:30am arrival time.

Kids have sat through the SHSAT.

Kids survived the auditions and call back/look-agains at LaGuardia, Frank Sinatra, Talent Unlimited, Professional Performing Arts, Art & Design, Brooklyn High School of the Arts, Edward R. Murrow, etc.

Kids suffered through the assessment tests at places like Bard High School/Early College and Bard HSEC II, NEST+M.

Kids made it through the individual or small group interviews.

Kids wrote new essays (what has been your most challenging moment in your 13 years of sheltered, over-scheduled, helicoptered life on this planet?), sent their best old schoolwork, forwarded recommendations from their 6th and 7th grade teachers.

Kids and parents tracked package shipping numbers to confirm the delivery of "portfolios".

Kids expressed interest/skill in sports/science research/playing the oboe, bassoon, viola, sousaphone or some other attractive unusual underpopulated area of talent.

Kids jumped through the hoops, swung on trapezes, juggled chain saws, talked through dummies while drinking water, stood with each foot on the backs of two elephants and rode around the ring while overworked, underpaid, jaded, self-important strangers watched impassively and made notes that are neither accurate nor relevant yet will affect the next ten years of the kids' lives.

And parents had no control except to choose which 12 tortures through which to put their pre-teen children.

It's thrilling, it's exciting, it's interesting, it's important, it's a learning experience at a young age.

It's bull.

Other than scoring well–enough on the SHSAT, a fairly objective series of trick questions (read carefully!) and math problems of which no ordinary 8th grader has been exposed, how does one pick 25-60 promising artists out of 5,000 candidates? How can there only be 25-60 excellent dancers who've been dancing since they were three years old? Of all the flute players in NYC public schools, only five can play a high–E-flat clearly? Sing to match notes played on a piano?

Seventh-grade averages help narrow down the selection process (unless the 7th grade teachers decide this is the year to get tough and score hard to make everyone work harder), as do statewide ESL and math test scores, except everyone seems to score a "3" — a 625 gets in but a 623 does not?

Okay, use the absence and lateness records as ways to weed out the disaffected. Of course, there's no excuse for insomnia, 5 hours of homework until midnight, bad luck, bad transportation, bad home life or a contagious baby brother who takes his infected little fingers out of his mouth/nose/diaper to touch the remote control/door knobs/refrigerator/video game controller/older sibling's homework. Every week.

And then, after those filters, it's all up to the algorithms of a computer who takes into account children's ranking on the application, school's ranking of the candidates, and balances geography, middle school, race, sex ratios…

So a computer does it in the end.

It's all so arbitrary.

Parents and children list the schools that they can hold their nose in order to attend for four years, submit applications, and pray.

I pray everyone is happy with the outcomes.

In the meantime, until February or March, enjoy the last winter spent at your current middle school, for most of your classmates will be going to high schools spread across the City next year.

Why You Should Maybe See "The Road" but I Can't

The Road novel ruined my Christmas vacation.

But every American who does or will eventually vote, must read this book or, at last resort, see the film opening November 25.

Two years ago I received a copy of the novel as a Christmas present. My gift–giver and I only knew that it was an Oprah book and we loved The Poisonwood Bible and respect Toni Morrison and the other authors that she has recommended. (The books in her club are not fluff).

Had some quiet down time on vacation, so I figured I’d read the first few chapters and save the rest for my subway rides to work the following week.

I finished it in four hours, never taking a break, and probably holding my breath the whole time.

Upon finishing it, I cried. I felt changed.

I felt scared for my children.

I felt afraid for the world.

Cormac McCarthy’s depiction of what would happen if civilization suffered from (some unnamed) disaster was so detailed, so plausible, such a speaking-out-loud of what I, as a child of the cold war and no-nukes was too scared to think–through so fully, that it just devastated me.

The book pulled all the situations and scenarios and images that I kept in the back in the farthest corner of my head, under locks and keys.

Oh-no-he-didn't! Yes, McCarthy went there.

THIS IS NOT A DISASTER ADVENTURE NOVEL. Maybe the film will be, but the novel is an intense story of a father and his son who love and care for each other through most extreme circumstances. There is a fleeting story of a wife/mother’s-love, albeit obviously expanded in the movie so that there can be a significant female character cast with an A-list actress (Charlize Theron).

But this is, beyond the tragedies, a heart-warming story of father of son. McCarthy has put on a human face, pulls you in, walks along the road with the main characters, makes it deep. Makes you care.

Makes you think.

It’s depressing as hell.

When the 2008 Presidential race kicked into full gear, I prayed and wished that every candidate would read The Road. I wished that every American citizen of voting age read the book before Election Day. All terrorists. It would have changed the world–view of some of them.

I hoped Oprah gave the Obamas a copy. Maybe they have read it.

[Deep sigh here]

I never thought anyone would be able to make a movie version of this novel.

That’s not entirely true.

I never wanted a movie version to be made.

In spite of my wanting everyone to read the novel, I wanted to protect everyone from not reading the novel. A film version would be too much. I didn't want to dredge up those raw fears again, that I had worked hard to fight back into the farthest corner of my mind, and put back under locks and keys.

I wouldn't want to subject my children to it. It would make them feel less safe in the world.

But you and your older teens should.

Now, to the film, which happens to open not only when the weather begins mimic the climate in the novel, it’s also sadistically–near to the holidays.

As with every person who is disappointed by the movie version of a favorite novel (Eragon the movie is so horrible that all copies should be burned and remade; Eragon the book is a revelation), of course there are doubts about making The Road. The casting of the main male character (no characters have proper names in the novel) — Viggo Mortensen — is perfect. The son is played by Kodi Smit-McPhee. A tough part. Other cast members include Guy Pearce and Robert Duvall (bless him; Duvall is one of the most brilliant actors ever). The director, John Hillcoat and adapter of the screenplay, Joe Penhall, are from Australia and the the U.K., respectively, and not well–known in the U.S.

I hope the filmmakers haven't just exploited the titillating and sensational aspects of the story and forsaken its heart, its never–ending senses of love and hope.

In spite of my struggle with two conflicting emotions/opinions (should or shouldn’t), logic prevails and I recommend everyone take a journey on some version of The Road.

But you most likely not see me there again.

LaGuardia HS of the Arts Dance Audition Info

Here’s the deal on the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts dance audition process, as told by the head of the dance department to a friend of mine:

BRING: bring Pens for writing the essay. Please bring drink and food because people who are auditioning for multiple talents will be there all day.

Wear: Leotard, tights, ballet slippers. Boys wear close–fitting tees and dance tights or tight sweatpants — they need to see the line of your leg and body. No baggy clothes.

Important – Strategy: Go to Music/Vocals first because they take the least amount of time. Arrive a 8am sharp and get them over–with. Do Dance and/or Drama last; it’s a longer process. Art is definitely at least two hours because of the drawing–from–memory assignment. Those auditioning for more than two studios may need to come back.

Audition: Dance Students go upstairs in groups of 20’s or 25’s to fill out forms, write a short essay. Students take a mini ballet class and then a mini modern class. Once done, DO NOT LEAVE. Wait to receive a paper with instructions from the head of the dance department.

Scoring: They have specific quantifiers and standards and they are looking at body alignment, technique and performance. ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THIN. She said that those who become professional ballet dancers after graduation will be thin, but Broadway and modern, etc dancers do not have to be thin.

They are looking for passion for movement, flexibility and strength. She said call her if one wants more details on the quantifiers and standards.

Experience: They take children with no experience; however they could reject some children who have been studying dance since they were 3 years–old IF they have had bad training. They can teach those who know nothing but they can't un-teach and re-train those who learned all wrong. Too late. They're not impressed by experience. And forget anyone put on pointe before the age of 11.5 years old. Bones were not developed.

(Frank Sinatra HS of the Arts only takes those with at least a year of experience and knowledge of basic terminology.)

Return Visit: they don't call it “call backs” because it’s not for narrowing down prospects. At the end of the first audition, kids may get a paper from the dance head telling them to come back in a couple of weeks. The call backs are for when they could not decide. A child will be admitted even if they only do the first group audition. Don’t read any more into whether or not one is asked to return or not.

Return Audition: will have a more extensive and demanding ballet and then modern class. You will then do a 1–minute solo using whatever techniques you do best: even karate, gymnastics, ethnic, pointe, hip-hop. They are looking for musicality. BRING YOUR MUSIC CD; no dancing without music. The solo will be done in front of three or five faculty plus the other students in the group. The scorers could stop you half–way so PUT YOUR BEST MOVES IN THE FIRST 30 SECONDS!

Note to Hip–Hop dancers: are asked if they are aware they will only learn ballet and modern in the school and that there is no jazz or hip–hop. They are asked if they are okay with that.

Do not Bring: photos, resumes, recommendations. They will be tossed without looking at.

Parents: Leave the students at the theater. Parents can go up to one of the cafeterias for PTA bake sale and chatting with PTA members. Go shopping. Go to an early movie (if auditioning for more than one studio). Go out for a meal.

Results: 85 will be accepted for 60 seats; 60–66 will likely enroll. No waiting list. Out–of–towners auditioned in the summer. Tours only after acceptance.

Second Chances: One can audition again in the 9th grade, or switch from another studio for 10th grade if already in LaGuardia. She said the other schools (ie Sinatra, Talent Unlimited) can enroll kids at any time.

If NOT Accepted: 1,500 audition for dance. The department head can give out names of other schools to which to apply once decisions are made.

SCHOOL LIFE

WARNING: she stressed that no one should audition if they are not really interested in their talent, for they will get discouraged by sophomore year. It’s that intense. The goal of the school is to turn out dancers/musicians/artists ready for professional career or Juilliard. Only 1/3 go on to academic colleges to be doctors, lawyers, business, engineers; the rest move onto conservatories or arts colleges.

So if you don't really love your art, and love it every day, don't audition for LaGuardia — and Frank Sinatra HS, for that matter.

Freshman Life: Arrive at 8:10am. They take one academic class followed by four periods of talent. Lunch is next (approx 12:30pm). The rest of the day is academics. School ends at 3:50pm. Freshman year is the toughest because there are so many academic requirements. It’s in the academic classes where they get to meet other types of students (and boys, since only 20% of dancers will likely be boys, not that the other talents are any better).

Dance Freshman are split into two groups and take ballet based on experience in a placement test. That’s why newbies are admitted even though they don’t know the terminology. All teachers have/had danced professionally themselves for at least six years.

AP/Honors Classes: The dance head was annoyed that because of the City budget cuts, the talent departments were cut but the academics were saved. (I wonder if all the talent heads have this peculiar twisted thinking). So LaGuardia is still offering all the AP classes. There is also the DaVinci Honors program for excellent students.

Dancers will learn: ballet, modern, tap, choreography, pointe, nutrition, career management.

Performing Opportunities: as a Conservatory school, no dance performances until the Junior year’s choreography course showcase. Then there is the Senior Showcase in February and the Graduates concert. Otherwise, they are there to study dance, not waste time in rehearsals. “If you want to perform, go somewhere else,” she said.

Summer Assignments: every student MUST take summer courses, somewhere, either at their neighborhood dance school or in the City. The dance head can help arrange for free summer courses through Paul Taylor, NYC Dance Alliances, ABT and Ballet Hispanico based on financial aid status.

Outside Dance Classes: Freshman should NOT take outside weekday dance classes. The academics are too rigorous. They can take weekend classes during the school year, as long as grades don’t suffer.

(According to the Frank Sinatra dance head, students are encouraged to take outside classes if they want to really become professional dancers. Just two hours in-school is not enough.)

That’s it!

High School Admissions Peril Part IV

It Begins.
Some of you may have already conducted interviews (Beacon) or have taken assessment tests (Bard), but the Peril really doesn't start until November 7 and 8.


The Specialized High School Admission Test (SHSAT) takes place this weekend for students without accommodations. Until early December, 28,000 hopeful students will vie for approximately 5,000 seats in eight different schools in the boroughs.


Also, thousands of artful-leaning students begin vying for 600 spots at LaGuardia HS this weekend (who're the rocket scientists that scheduled these two events the same weekend?)


Good luck.


Remember, just do your best, and rank your favorite schools with the highest–required cutoff score as your first choice on the sheet, even if that isn't your real first choice. And be sure to end your list with a school that has the lowest cutoff score, even if you're not interested in it.


There are two reasons for this strategy. 


First look at the approximate cutoff scores of the October 2008 test:

          Stuyvesant - 563
          Bronx Science - 515
          American Studies at Lehman College - 502
          Queens Sciences - 502
          Math, Science and Engineering at City College - 498

          Brooklyn Tech - 487<

          Staten Island Tech - 485

          Brooklyn Latin - 475

Let's say if, in 2008, because you're hesitant about traveling to Manhattan or because you're pessimistic about not scoring high enough, you put Brooklyn Tech first, then Stuyvesant second. The results came in and your score was 569.

Do you know where you would be admitted?

Brooklyn Tech.

Suppose you realized the commute to Stuy wasn't so bad, or you're so pleasantly surprised about how well you did, do you think you can call the DOE and get switched into Stuy, your 2nd choice?


Nope.


This is why the accepted strategy is to put the school requiring the highest score first. All the schools have rigorous, impressive curricula, but you should always aim high.

Second Reason:

It is becoming widely known that students who are accepted to SHSAT schools and LaGuardia hear about not only their specialized high school choice, but also learn which non-specialized school has accepted them.


How this works – specialized high schools send out letters in February. There's a deadline to accept the offer, but it's before the other schools send their notices, which is usually late March. Can't make a decision unless one knows all the offers on the table, can you?


Thusly, those students who are accepted to a specialized HS also receive notices from the other schools in February — a month ahead of everyone else. It is not clear if these students are getting special treatment or if the majority of decisions are made by February, but only SHSAT-takers/LaGuardia auditioners learn the results earlier.

A perk for doing well-enough on that test/audition.

Either way, rank the high ones highest and stick a low one at the bottom of the list. Please note that Brooklyn Latin is an excellent school; it's the reputation of the neighborhood (Bushwick) that keeps some families away.

The whole HS selection process does not seem fair or logical. Perhaps because there are just not enough really good schools that can turn out really good, smart kids. Not enough seats in good schools. So the current New York City HS selection situation is NOT a Great Idea.

Election Day — Exercise Is Good For You

Kids, we all know from the year 2000 election that it's important to get out to vote, no matter what.

Every vote does count.

Considering that even up to 1965, around when most of your parents were born, there were Americans who were prevented from voting, you'd think that every person would line up at 6am at the polling place to make sure their voice is heard.

Voter tampering and intimidation still occurs; it did not end in the 60's.

Sometimes, we Americans get complacent and assume the "other guy" will vote the way we want. Well, whenever there is a close election, they are proved wrong.

Primaries count, also, for whoever wins the primary will be on the final ballot in November. Someone who did not vote in the primary will step into the voting booth on Election Day and say, "how did these people get on the ballot? I don't like him/her!"

Well, those candidates got on the ballot because a small number of people came out to the primary election exercised their right to vote.

So, in case you didn't know, today's Election Day. If you're of age and registered, go out and exercise your precious right to vote. Exercise is good for you.

Walk into that booth thinking of the countries that restrict women — yes, in this day.

Think of countries where violence and intimidation prevents certain ethnicities — yes in this day; see Afghanistan and Iraq for the most recent examples.

Think of the parts of our very own country where there are still accusations of people being told lies to stop them from voting: if their utility bill was not paid, or the district was redrawn and the voting location moved across town, or the date was changed (!), or the machines don't work, or their picture will be taken when they enter/exit… lots of overt and covert shenanigans still occur in the U.S.

I'm forming a new motto: "Vote. If people want to prevent you from doing it, then it must be important. Vote."

And kids, register as soon as you turn 18. Pre-fill out your voter registration forms and mail them to arrive the day after your birthday. It's your right.

Haunted Houses Last Week

Ah, Halloween nears… there is nothing more fun than a good haunted house!

Touted as the "#1 Haunted House in America" by AOL is the Nightmares group. These guys put on a great show every year, but while 99% of people attending the 2009 Nightmare: Vampires house in its new NoHo/Village location will be very, very scared and pleased, I had a problem with it.

The theme is vampires.

Yawn.

As you know, I'm still plodding my way through Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1), and I am at a loss in the young adult section of bookstores — who's greenlighting the publishing of all these teen vampire novels?

So, basically, you can say that the vampire genre has drained the life of out me. But I've digressed a little.

Nightmare: Vampires is scary fun for brave ones 14 and older. You'll see an interesting, creepy too–short exhibit of vampire history throughout the world as well as tour through rooms of bloody vignettes. I was about to describe some, but that would be unfair.

Parental Discretion Advised: in the dark, obscured by strobe lights, with his back to us, is a vampire simulating, well, uh, self–pleasure. It should go over most heads of any teen who is not practicing that… art. As yet. But when the actor is not doing that, he's very scary effective. There is another vignette of bloody dancing girls teasing the crowd behind glass with a label of "succubus"; if the teen knows the meaning of the word, then forget about it going over his head. 

As for blood and violence — it's a vampire theme, stupid; faces are covered in blood — there's even a bathtub full of blood! If seeing red liquid simulating blood is not your thing, don't go. If you're into seeing the wit in a good scare, go — it'll be fun!

I like witty haunted houses, but not blood, so I much preferred 2008's Nightmare: Dreams Come True, where all the scenarios were more creepy instead of relying on bloody. Much more visceral and cerebral.

Nightmare: Vampires

NOHO Event Center

623 Broadway at Houston

(enter on Mercer Street)

Tickets: $30 in advance; $35 at the box office

Sign up online to get earlybird discounts next year.

Another great house is at CUNY's New York City College of Technology's Haunted Hotel: Gravesend Inn. Created by Theatreworks, the school's resident theater group, is very imaginative and worth the trek down to the edge of DUMBO. Been around for 10 years. The best haunted house is really in Brooklyn!

City Tech's Haunted Hotel: Gravesend Inn

Voorhees Theatre in the Voorhees Building

186 Jay Street

(north of Tillary Street — it's worth it to cross Tillary)

$6 adults/ $4 students (with ID)

Outside of the boroughs, these are my "one of these days" houses I plan to see:

Six Flags Fright Fest:  how corny could it be? I gotta drive down to Jersey next year.

Long Island Fright Fest: three different houses on one property? Cool!

Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary in PA: well, it gets great reviews nationally. I wonder if it's worth the drive on a dank fall day…

The only thing keeping you away, other than not having enough time or nerve, would be an empty wallet.

Middle School Choice Mayhem Part I

The District 15 Community Education Council is having their annual Principals’ Forum this Thursday, October 15th at 7:00pm.

Principals from all the middle schools in the district are guaranteed to come and give presentations; they only send representatives when there are unavoidable conflicts.

Parents of 5th graders can use this opportunity to narrow down the number of schools on their lists. This is a very important meeting and a good way for 4th grade parents to start their middle school search in this very competitive district full of a nice variety of great choices.

I strongly recommend all school searches to start the year BEFORE applications are due (i.e. 4th grade for middle school; 7th grade for high school).

CEC District 15 Principals’ Forum
Thursday, October 15
7:00–9:00pm

Location:
PS 295/MS 443 New Voices
330 18th Street (between 6th & 7th avenues)

Call 718 935-4267 if you need more information.

Summer Reading – A Great Idea, Regardless

It’s been a month since school began. I wonder… how many teachers actually discussed, collected and graded the book reports done for the Summer reading assignments?

In the end doesn’t matter whether the teachers glanced at the work; there is nothing better than being able to read without distraction. It shouldn’t be looked at like a chore; haven’t kids noticed that adults make a point of reading over the Summer, too?

Perhaps adults were reading the latest of Robert Ludlum’s Bourne Series, now continued by Eric Van Lustbader in The Bourne Deception, or maybe they go the obvious route and read Colm Tóibín’s Brooklyn: A Novel.

I’d really be impressed to hear if anyone read the posthumously–published The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrunby J.R.R. Tolkien. I may pick that one up; Tolkien created such great characters and worlds. Any teen ready to tackle Tolkien should start with The Hobbit. That’s the real beginning of The Lord of the RingsTrilogy. Must read The Hobbit first.

So, adults do assign themselves Summer Reading. I once assigned myself to read all of Edward Albee, Tennessee Williams and Eugene O'Neill’s plays.

What’s very telling are the books that new students entering new schools are required to read. Those schools are definitely trying to send a message, set a tone and a level of expectation. They also may be trying to impress the new parents — and the parents certainly did throw the titles around at barbecues in attempts to impress those attending other schools. I’ve been asking around, and here are some titles assigned for incoming students in the summer of 2009:

Bard High School: The Autobiography of Malcolm Xand Dreams from My Father, Barack Obama

Beacon HS: Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourtand Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood, Oliver Sacks

Bishop Kearney HS: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain and a choice of:

Cry, The Beloved Country, Alan Paton

Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Avi

Brooklyn Friends Upper School:  Annie John: A Novel, Jamaica Kincaid  and The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger

Brooklyn Technical High School: one fiction and one non–fiction from the following:

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith

Childhood's End, Arthur C. Clarke

Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card

City of the Beasts, Isabel Allende

Dawn (Xenogenesis, Bk. 1), Octavia Butler

Summer of My German Soldier, Bette Greene

Bound Feet & Western Dress, Pang-Mei Chang

Gifted Hands, Ben Carson

It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life, Lance Armstrong

The Color of Water, James McBride

Longitude, Dava Sobel

Paperboy: Confessions of a Future Engineer, Henry Petrowski

Edward R. Murrow High School: Death Be Not Proud, John J. Gunther

Frederick Douglas Academy MS:  Escape From Slavery, Frederick Douglas and Boy: Tales of Childhood, Roald Dahl

Frederick Douglas Academy HS:   Autobiography of Frederick Douglas

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck

LaGuardia HS of the Arts:  The Assistant, Bernard Malamud

Leon Goldstein HS:  Feed, M.T. Anderson

The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini

Mark Twain MS: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain

Midwood HS:  Be More Chill, Ned Vizzini

The River King, Alice Hoffman

Millenium HS:  two of the following:

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, Julia Alvarez

Durable Goods: A Novel, Elizabeth Berg

Farewell to Manzanar, Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

Annie John: A Novel, Jamaica Kincaid

A Separate Peace, John Knowles

Nectar in a Sieve, Kamala Markandaya

The Color of Water, James McBride

Bone, Fae Myenne Ng

Cry, The Beloved Country, Alan Paton

My Name Is Asher Lev, Chaim Potok

Prep, Curtis Sittenfeld

MS 51:  includes

Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson

Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo

Crash, Jerry Spinelli

The Dream Keeper and Other Poems, Langston Hughes

Flat Stanley, Jeff Brown

New York Harbor HS:  D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths 

Packer Upper School:  1984, George Orwell

Poly Prep Upper School:  The Tempest, William Shakespeare  plus either:

Lord of the Flies, William Golding

The Woman Warrior, Maxine Hong Kingston

Stuyvesant HS:  Microbe Hunters, Paul de Kruif

Xaverian HS:  The Shack, William P. Young 

While children would prefer to play (and sleep) during the summer, there is nothing more luxurious and satisfying than reading a good book that changes your life forever. Some of the titles listed above are certainly worth taking the time — teens and adults–alike.

Thusly, just suggesting we read these books is A Great Idea!