Got DH to take the kids to get their school supplies (from the supply list given out) yesterday. Cost $182 for everything - except they didn't get backpacks yet.

My son plays Tuba and we only have to rent that from the school for $20.00/year.

But the girl...........................she plays trumpet. She really got in to it last year. Very involved with All-Region and All-State competitions, and did exceptionally well at summer Band Camp. There were a total of 10 bands and over 122 trumpet players from beginner to advanced. She had only completed her second year and placed 8th chair in First Band which was exceptional. (Basically, she placed 8th out of 122, most of whom were much more advanced than she was).

Soooooooooooo, since she has decided to be serious with this and to stick with Band, we went out and, gulp, bought her a trumpet today. We had been using a loaner from a local group that helps kids who want to be in band but can't afford instruments. When she started, we couldn't afford a trumpet. This one was $1800. GASP, but we can justify it by using her Social security money and knowing that she can use this trumpet for years and years to come. It is so much better quality and the tone is just beautiful. ALso, we are hoping she may qualify for a band scholarship for college when the time comes. She was soooooo good about having to use a (basically) charity horn even though all the other trumpet players had their own. She has NEVER once complained about it. She did tell us today that she was a little embarrassed once last year when all the kids who had school issued instruments had to stand up and she was the only one in her section and the other kids said stuff to her. This is a Bach trumpet. It is beautiful and she is absolutely on cloud 9.

Here is a pic: Trumpet

DH will recover in a couple of weeks, I think. The chest pain wasn't too severe.

They also supplied Nitroglycerin and a defibrillator at a nominal charge.

Sounds like she deserved the nifty trumpet although I CAN understand DH's "'condition" upon paying the bill for it. With so much talent though she really deserved it as long as you can now afford it.

Like you say, DH will recovery ina few weeks probably.

LOL. Actually, I paid for it. DH was sitting on a piano bench behind us with his head in his hands.

1,800 dollars



DH

Wow... that's a lot of money I hope for you that she really is serious about it

Btw the pic doesnt' work...

WOW RR, I hope she'll have fun with it and you enjoy listening to hoursand hoursof practice

You can try this link for the pic

I hope she is too. That durn link worked yesterday - I tested it. Wonder what the deal is?

Here is another link: Trumpet

Yeppers, that's it. Thanks, Sophie.

yikes - I used to be disappointed that my daughter wasn't interested in band since her school has won countless competitions over the years and is always appearing in major parades.....but after seeing how much that trumpet cost -- I think I've changed my mind! I haven't even been able to get her class ring paid for, and that's stressed me to the max.

Glad you could get it for her RR.

Yep, definitely expensive. Hopefully, worth it in the long run. I just thank God that we don't have to buy a tuba too.

We checked one store that had a rent to purchase plan that was only about $30.00 a month, but DH wanted to just go ahead and pay for it since we could right now. It does have a 5 year warranty, a year of free repair with loaner while in the shop, and we get 20% off any accessories we buy for the next 5 years at that music shop. They gave us 30% off on the mute and cleaning pack we bought at the same time. Those were only about $10.00 apiece, though.

I remember when I got my class ring for High School. My dad had to hock his to pay for mine. Didn't know that until years later.

What is a class ring ?

Class rings used to be something you could purchase for your senior year (2th grade) of high school. It could depict specialty areas (such as band, cheerleading, sports, etc) or just have a plain band with the school initials on it.

Class Rings

When I was in High School (way back before dirt was discovered) a plain jane ring cost about $65. Mine was over a hundred because I had a band insignia on it. Am afraid to find out what they cost now, LOL.

ETA: Now, I think just about anyone in any grade can get a class ring if they want to.

School is a good place.Like me ,I had lots of special memories there

High School is which year of school? You can wear rings to classes?

In our China ,You can wear rings to classes!

The teachers won't say sth any more.Because some students are

National minority

LOL, I must be getting tired (wonder why, it's only 2:10am here) I typed 2 instead of 12.

High School in the US is usually considered to be 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. Different cities break it down differently now.

You may have divisions of Elementary (Kindergarten through 6th); Jr. High (7th through 9th) and High School (10th through 12th) That's how it was when I was in school.

Where we currently live, we have Elementary (K through 4th), Intermediate School (5th and 6th); Middle School (7th and 8th); Jr. High (9th and 10th) and High School (11th and 12th).

Some cities combine any of the above to meet their population needs. It is not consistent state to state or even city to city within a state.

Kids can wear jewelry to classes as long as it is not gang related and is not a distraction.

Oh we do not have all that here. Year 1 to 13 and the two major exams are the Ordinary Level (O/L's) and Advance Level (A/L). Of course term tests are held (1st, 2nd and 3rd term). O/L's in year 11 and A/L in year 13.

No jewellery can be worn, not even colour hairpins and colour hair bands (except black). No nail polish, no lipstick, kids can't even grow their nails. I remember we used to be checked by the prefects after the interval and if anyone got caught with long nails, they were immediately trimmed.

Boys schools have their own rules. In my son's school, anyone with fancy hair cuts get their hair trimmed by the prefects. Anyone with hair too short (where you can see the scalp), get shoe polish rubbed on their heads Talk about strict rules here

We had two class rings, one on the 6th grade and the other one on the 9th, our rings just look a bit different over here (not quite as flashy or colorful), here's few examples: http://www.kolumbus.fi/kultaseppa/tuotteet...ukset_sivu1.htm
usually there's engraved information about when the reunition is (time and date).

Our schools have fairly strict dress codes: length of shorts/dresses; none of those real baggy, hangy down pants a lot of the boys wear; no midriff shirts, no "underwear" wannabes as outerwear; no spaghetti strap tops (even under another shirt); no swear words on cloting; no bandanas or hats. They will be sent home to change if the principal feels any clothing is against the dress code or inappropriate.

My girls have special permission to wear hats at recess or when outside because of a medical condition they both have. We had to get letters from their pediatrician for them to be able to wear the hats.

Same here about the dress code thingy. We have uniforms for every school, no dresses over knee level, two plaids (some are ok with one plaid) if long hair, white shoes for girls, black for boys and so on. I see on the TV, American schools where teenages wear all kinds of clothes (some not really suitable for school and make up and stuff), are they like that because of the TV thingies or do some schools allow kids to wear all kinds of clothes?

Woah sounds very strickt!

Most schools here are very easy going, we have just a few private schools and those I'm not sure of

I'll see if I can find an old school class photo to show how it's usually over here

Here also there are International Schools, different syllabus and so on. They have uniforms too, but I do not think they are all that strict about the length and all that goes with it....

Each school within each school district here can make their own dress code decisions. My kids can wear blue jeans, shorts, skorts, dresses, etc as long as they fall within the guidelines of length, bagginess, etc. I don't think there are any restrictions on shoes except they aren't supposed to wear those shoes with the built in roller skates. The schools in our district do not have uniforms. A couple of years ago, there was a vote as to whether or not my kid's elementary school would go to uniforms, but the majority voted no. I personally, think it's a pretty good idea. The theory being that kids will be nicer to each other if all wear the same type clothing - no divisions because of ability to buy expensive clothes or whatever. I am not aware of any restrictions on make-up as long as it is not distracting. Even that goth nonsense is allowed as long as it is not a problem. No one is doing goth in any of my kids schools right now, but the other middle school in town is having a lot of kids dressing that way. Yuk. I don't know of any restrictions on hair except that they can't wear the bandanas or hats, or anything that is gang associated.