High School - Yikes!

My twins scheduled for their freshman high school classes this week. Noooooo! Didn't they just go to preschool last week? Actually it was pretty interesting to look over their class options with them. Should they take foreign language this year or next? German or Spanish? Advanced algegra or advanced English or both? Apply for the engineering college track or stick with the usual? Art or keyboarding? Oh, decisions, decisions....

I don't recall involving my parents with freshman scheduling, but I'm glad my kids asked me to help look over their selections and give some input. I learned that besides the usual back-to-school items and school fees, I need to be prepared for some additional expenses. Like the $15 lab fee for advanced science and $10 art supply fee. Like the computer insurance should DS get accepted to the engineering track. Like the flash drives they will both need for advanced English. Like the $150 sports fee should DS sign up for swim team or bowling team or tennis or a combination thereof!

And this is only 9th grade. I shudder to think about the cost of driver's education in 10th grade. I took Driver's Ed in school; my kids will have to go to an outside agency, and the last cost I heard was $220 per student! And I don't even want to think about what will happen to my insurance. Let's not forget class rings and Homecoming outfits, fundraisers and Prom, senior pictures and graduation invitations. Applications to colleges and ACT fees.....The next 4 years will go by so quickly. Hopefully by planning now and starting a savings fund for high school expenses, we can enjoy the time and focus on learning, not on worrying about finances.