DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1349
Reg: 02-20-08
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12-07-11 10:00 AM - Post#143077
I have a senior and we are now in the process of PURCHASING their cap and gown. $45 + $10 Shipping and handling (when Balfour does not even ship them). Included in the ordering form is a series of packages to order graduation announcements (when did this become popular?), souvenir tassel, shirts, hoodies, charms, discounted class rings, senioritis wrist bracelet, sweat pants, tumblers and whole host of other 2012 paraphernalia - AKA Made in China Crapola.
But wait! There is more! Not only do I get to be solicited to buy this crapola, my Senior is required to be removed from AP Calculus before end of term exam prep to get a 30 minute infomercial from Balfour on how good their crapola is and how they can order it. So instead of learning calculus, my kiddo gets to be read verbatim the same printed materials (for those students that are seniors and cannot read yet) and as a bonus if you order right now - the Balfour flunkie will tell you all about his selection of prom dates and the long term implications of choosing the right prom date.
Well at least they got to use the new PAC, so the seats were comfortable.
That's an education alright. An education in selling out.
Edited by DrivinTooFast on 12-07-11 11:07 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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V-Girl
enthusiast
Posts: 2707
Loc: Allen, TX, US
Reg: 07-12-01
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12-07-11 01:05 PM - Post#143084
In response to DrivinTooFast
I had graduation announcements in 1993 so they have been around a few years. As for the rest, that would annoy me.
Crazy doesn't even begin to cover it. 
Will work for shoes!  |
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vrs
enthusiast
Posts: 2632
Loc: Allen, Texas
Reg: 04-20-00
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12-07-11 02:13 PM - Post#143088
In response to V-Girl
Almost 40 years ago, I purchased my cap and gown and I had graduation announcements.
Like Veronica, no clue on the rest.
 Veronica, I was cleaning out the secretary the other day and came across a box of stationery. The top sheet was one where I started to write a note and messed up and saved the sheet (to use for a grocery list or something I guess)
ANYWAY, the salutation was "Dear Veronica and ?" with a  around the "?" so it must have been for your baby shower. How cool is that? And I guess I need to clean the drawers more often!!!!
| Blessed be the cracked, for they let in the light. |
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Tallenette75
newbie
Posts: 6
Reg: 01-06-11
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12-07-11 02:15 PM - Post#143089
In response to DrivinTooFast
I hope that you feel better after your little rant. Balfour doesn't require anyone to purchase anything except the cap & gown. Of course, if your student would prefer to not attend or participate in the graduation ceremony at all, that is certainly on option. I guess you never had an assembly as your high school. AHS only has about one a year. Sorry it inconvenienced your student. Isn't life terrible? Judging from my personal life & those around me, you've got it pretty good. So count your blessings. We don't care about your petty gripes. Most people are just happy to be able to feed & cloth their families.
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jogo
enthusiast
Posts: 1321
Reg: 08-31-05
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12-07-11 03:13 PM - Post#143090
In response to DrivinTooFast
Your child is a SENIOR and this is your first experience with Balfour?? Did she get a letter jacket, class ring, yearbook, etc - there was an assembly at some point in her high school experience about some of those products too! Between LifeTouch and Balfour, I've spent quite alot of money for school related "wants" for my kids over the years (all of which were my choice to purchase - not required by the school in any way at all).
I graduated from high school over 30 years ago and we had graduation announcements way back then too - those are nothing new at all!
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1349
Reg: 02-20-08
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12-07-11 03:43 PM - Post#143094
In response to jogo
Perhaps you missed the irony of pulling kids out of an educational class for a sales pitch about buying graduation "stuff".
I want my kids in class learning, expanding their minds, gaining the tools to compete in a global marketplace. Not listening to an infomercial reading printed materials to them.
Of course I have the option of either purchasing or not purchasing merchandise, but I cannot justify pulling kids out of class for a sales pitch. Send out an email, put it in the school newspaper or announcements, but treat classtime and teaching time with value not to be fluttered away at the whim of Balfour. Heck, if it was put on facebook the entire senior class would be notified in less then 10 seconds.
Edited by DrivinTooFast on 12-07-11 03:45 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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jogo
enthusiast
Posts: 1321
Reg: 08-31-05
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12-07-11 04:27 PM - Post#143099
In response to DrivinTooFast
Perhaps if you were responsible for making sure 1300-something (not sure of the 2012 class size) kids were informed about graduation announcements and proper attire, you'd view the Balfour assembly differently. I'm sure the AHS administration deals with "but I didn't know I had to buy a cap and gown" every spring. I don't have any problem with them having an assembly to make sure the kids are informed. Your child has been pulled out of educational classes many, many times throughout the years for non-educational things. Some parents, like myself, are annoyed that educational classes are canceled for football game pep rallies but I've accepted that is part of high school.
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Tough 75002
enthusiast
Posts: 721
Reg: 11-17-04
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12-07-11 05:23 PM - Post#143104
In response to jogo
I wish the school would have just posted an announcement on the Graduation link on the website.
It would have saved me the hysterical call from my knuckle head this morning "Mom, I forgot to tell you but I needed money."
Crazy
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mom27girls
enthusiast
Posts: 601
Reg: 03-28-08
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12-08-11 10:55 AM - Post#143118
In response to Tough 75002
There is a Graduation link??????
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Tough 75002
enthusiast
Posts: 721
Reg: 11-17-04
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12-08-11 11:05 AM - Post#143119
In response to mom27girls
http://www.allenisd.org/domain/1990
Here you go.
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Tallenette75
newbie
Posts: 6
Reg: 01-06-11
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12-08-11 01:24 PM - Post#143128
In response to Tough 75002
Not every parent or student has outside access to the internet. Most do, but not all. Can't exactly go around & ask each individual student of their parents have access. More & more can't afford the internet at home. Your student missed part of one class. That is not a big deal. The teachers were well aware of the assembly for over a month. 1 hour should not make or break a student's semester grade. If it does, there are much more important issues that an assembly. Part of the learning experience in high school is about life & dealing with different situations. We may not like something, but as adults we have to deal with it anyway. High school is where we start developing those skills. People have to learn to deal with adverse situations with proper attitudes. Things are bad enough already, let at least try to show our kids the "right" way to behave & handle different situations.
The public at large has no idea how much Balfour does and has done for the students, teachers & staff of AllenISD. They help with so many necessary things that students are unable to pay for and many "extras" that help out. Our Balfour rep even handles play by play at the football games. They are part of our community. That is usually how things work in the South & in Texas in particular. If that doesn't work for anyone, they are welcome to find an institution or town where things are run differently. But they will probably need to leave the state. Thanks for putting up with my rant. I'm just tired of everyone complaining without checking why things are the way they are.
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1349
Reg: 02-20-08
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12-08-11 02:50 PM - Post#143130
In response to Tallenette75
Any other companies out there willing to buy some time with students? Coke? Pepsi? Fritolay??
Believe me, Balfour gets plenty out of their AHS relationship.
Clearly, Tallenette75 has a different value on classtime then I do. My kids are in school to learn not be infomercialed. If this was St. Mark's or Hockaday how do you think those parents would react to an infomercial? If you treat classtime as if it is free then it is worthless.
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1349
Reg: 02-20-08
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12-08-11 03:05 PM - Post#143131
In response to mom27girls
There is a Graduation link??????
http://www.allenisd.org/domain/1990
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V-Girl
enthusiast
Posts: 2707
Loc: Allen, TX, US
Reg: 07-12-01
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12-08-11 03:18 PM - Post#143132
In response to vrs
Veronica, I was cleaning out the secretary the other day and came across a box of stationery. The top sheet was one where I started to write a note and messed up and saved the sheet (to use for a grocery list or something I guess)
ANYWAY, the salutation was "Dear Veronica and ?" with a around the "?" so it must have been for your baby shower. How cool is that? And I guess I need to clean the drawers more often!!!!
I have a pic of us singing karaoke in front of the youth group. ha ha!
Crazy doesn't even begin to cover it.
Will work for shoes! |
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Tallenette75
newbie
Posts: 6
Reg: 01-06-11
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12-08-11 04:23 PM - Post#143135
In response to DrivinTooFast
Wake up. We have had or currently have contracts with Dr. Pepper, Coke, Nike & many, many others. That is the only way some districts survive with all the budget cuts inflicted by Gov Perry & his coharts. At least we never carried Channel 1, the infommercial network that had a little bit of news & a whole lot of candy commercials. In the old days, businesses in the community donated to the schools. Now, with big comglomerates, we have to go corporate. Local businesses have very little leeway as to how much they can help out.
By the way, I love education & love to learn. Unfortunately, Common Sense 101 is not offered at the high school level or the college level. We could all use it at some point. I surely don't agree with everything AISD does, but I do know that their heart is in the right place. This is about helping to turn out good solid citizens who can and will make a difference in the world. That is not all learned in the classroom. It takes balance.
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1349
Reg: 02-20-08
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12-08-11 09:39 PM - Post#143156
In response to Tallenette75
Corporates can put all the posters, drink machines, and athletic shoe deals they want. They can put billboards all over the side of every school bus (and why don't they?). They can plaster the sidelines of the new stadium with logos, put naming rights to the coin flip for all I care. Heck, juicy could even sponsor the teacher's backside cheek to cheek.
I take offense when corporations reduce the precious amount of classtime our students have. Tic-Tock-Tic-Tock - this generation is walking out to a globally competitive marketplace and nobody in that world cares about your senioritis wristband.
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Tallenette75
newbie
Posts: 6
Reg: 01-06-11
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12-09-11 10:46 AM - Post#143217
In response to DrivinTooFast
Let's just agree to disagree & move on. There are more important things than this. Happy Holidays!
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 8759
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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12-09-11 06:13 PM - Post#143254
In response to Tallenette75
I purchased my son's cap and gown, announcements and name cards online through Balfour. As the order was processed, there was a statement that I had to click on that stated something like "The $10 is a processing and handling fee, not a shipping/postage fee." It was much easier than having to fill out the paperwork. And, on the paperwork, it does say that the $10 was for processing and handling. If you purchased it after the shipment date, they will charge a separate/additional shipping fee to have it sent directly to your home.
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socks4a
newbie
Posts: 11
Reg: 09-23-04
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12-11-11 10:38 PM - Post#143305
In response to denisew
Denise, could you tell me the the web address that you used to order the cap, gown and graduation announcements? When I go to Balfour.com the only items I see to order is the yearbook and class rings.
thank you
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socks4a
newbie
Posts: 11
Reg: 09-23-04
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01-11-12 06:50 PM - Post#144176
In response to socks4a
Never mind. I figured it out.
Edited by socks4a on 01-11-12 07:12 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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