Chels is planning to work this year for the first time since the summer job went so well. She'll have to work probably friday night, saturday (day or evening whatever they give her), sunday afternoon/evening (no mornings cuz of church) and she has to close one school night per week so I told them Mondays so that'd be 5-midnight.

I am concerned to say the least since she was struggling with her grades last year without having a job. lol. I already told her point blank that if her first school progress report shows c's or lower (ok, 1 or 2 c's i can live with but not four c's - she's got four classes) she'll have to quit.

She's also considering the voc tech cosmetology program since she doesn't want to go to college (yes, she's quite sure and I told her she can change her mind but I don't see that happening). That would start in January and I told her if she does that she for sure MUST quit cuz I can't see that she can work, do highschool AND cosmetology classes. She can work in the summer based on her classes for cosmetology (it runs last semester junior year, summer, all of senior year and then summer again).

How do you guys do it?

Yes. My oldest son worked in the community college bookstore and his grades never changed.
My second sone worked a lot of hours and his grades dropped, but he was never really interested in school to begin with. Twice we made him stop due to his grades, and later he was allowed to go back.
I think you are doing the right thing with letting her try and then setting the "rules" for this. I do have a question, though. If she goes to the tech program, it is during the school day, right? So why can't she still work after that?

actually I just got off the phone with them. The program actually starts next summer so she can work this school year - 20 hours a week . The deal is that she has to 'close' one school night which means she's out til midnight on a school night , but only once a week.

The tech program is full time / 40 hours a week in the summer - so working will depend on that schedule. I'm guessing we'll treat it just like school and she can work 20 hours/week while going to the program in the summer.
The senior year of highschool they go to school 8-12, then voc tech 1-6pm.

I honestly can't see her studyign for highschool classes, studying for cosmetology classes AND working 20 hours a week her senior year so we'll probably have her stop and just do school and the program. Then she finished the course that summer after hs graduation and has to take all the boards to get certified.

I just know that Chelseys grades ddropped last year when she had band practice, church awana (she was a class leader in training) ,and youth ministry. how would she possibly keep her grades up AND pass the voc tech classes AND work? lol

I just don't see it happening. But I guess we'll see how she does with junior year classes and working and take it from there. I need her to see that this voc course IS COLLEGE for her. It will take precedance over everything else. I will be spending $5000 we don't have to get her there (which is of course a whole lot cheaper then college, but still we don't have 5K laying around in a bank account).

So I guess I'll just need to see how this year goes, get her registered to start in May with the cosmetology program and see how serious she really will get.

Alexis did and does, but she consistently had terrific grades so we allowed it. Any slippage in grades that would have been the first thing to go. She also did soccer up until junior year when she got an injury.

She works now while going to college because she has to.

Mine doesn't. He is involved with a music program that meets 15-25 hours a week outside of school, depending on the season. He also can't work in summer. He's been on tour for nearly a month.

I see what you mean, Barb, about hours. The cosmetology classes would make for a long day! Maybe she could work weekends somewhere to pick up a few $$? I was thinking about the votech programs we have here that are part of the school day - same hours. My niece just graduated from Metro Tech with a program in the medical field, but I don't know much about it.
My son went to high school and them to community college on the weekends for welding, and worked around that. When his grades dipped to beyond my comfort level, work was the first thing to go.
I think being busy is good for older kids if they have ambition because it is good to work towards a goal and to learn how to manage time (and not to mention money!). But, some are just not good jugglers or aren't ready. I am not sure my son was.