Is kindergarten even mandatory where you live? Or did you need to register in K in order to get the scholarship? I hope it gets worked out easily!

NOOOOO. Where we live, many people have cameras, and judging by the comments on Nextdoor, there is the possibility of being shot :(

Yes, Informed Delivery. I've had it for a while and I like it.

You should have gotten at least one email from PayPal about the change-I got my first back in Feb I think: As a result of a new regulation issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, D.C. coming into effect on April 1, 2019, we are making some changes that will affect consumers who want to hold and use balance with PayPal. Beginning March 29, 2019, if you want to hold and use balance, in addition to verifying your identity with PayPal, you will need a balance account which will be linked to your current PayPal account. Detailed information about balance accounts (known as PayPal Cash and PayPal Cash Plus) can be found in the PayPal Cash and PayPal Cash Plus Terms and Conditions.

If he takes snacks on the airplane make sure some of them are peanut free. We've been told after boarding that because of a passenger w/allergies, to please not eat anything with peanuts.

I wouldn't get that backpack that you linked--I ordered the same one last Dec for a similar use (carryon plane trip for teen) and returned it right away because it was super flimsy/cheap.

Maybe Vertical Run? https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/383350.Vertical_Run

My boys participated in Science Olympiad for 2 years on their high school team. I think the prep time involved depends on how the team is run, the event(s) you are doing, and prior knowledge of the events. Mine spent winter break building things (so about 2 weeks--maybe 2 hours/day) and then another week or so rebuilding before the state completion, and I don't think they spent any time prepping for the other events they did. Their school team spent a fair amount of time testing students to place them in events they would be strong in, and for some events making a good 'team'. I know at certain other schools here the teams spend A LOT of time studying and prepping for events.

Oh my, look at the size of those paws! Adorable.

Congratulations!

Have you gotten any information from the IB program about submitting volunteer hours? Mine did IB (from homeschooling previously), and had to fill out a specific form (with a signature from a supervisor) for volunteer hours, and could start counting the hours the summer before 9th grade. Also, as they got older, they focused volunteer hours on their areas of interest, so it helped lead into a CAS project was a good fit .

bacon and Kodiak Cakes (either pancakes/waffles from a mix or frozen waffles)

No, not in our experience. Though everything after the first and second seats can seem arbitrary. I'm sure every orchestra is not the same though.

If she's a Finalist she would qualify for a full ride at Univ. of Central Florida (Benaquisto)

Both of my ds college freshman received a scholarship that covers tuition specifically, and then room/board/expenses. So I understand that the room/board/expenses part is taxable. My understanding is that they both have to file their own tax return, and will check the box 'can be claimed as a dependent'. But who enters the 1098-T info? The student or the parent? Who actually pays the tax on the taxable portion of the scholarship? When I did a trial tax return for ds using Turbotax, I entered the above, and there was $0 tax due. (He has no other income). Am I (parent) supposed to enter his 1098-T and pay the tax? I thought that his own tax return using Turbotax would have him pay the tax. I am so confused and I seem to read conflicting statements (or most likely I just don't understand).