This year I have a 2nd grader, Ethan, a 4th grader, Avery, and a 6th grader, Emma. Ethan returned to Walker this year and feels a little alone, as his sister is no longer in the same school as he. I know he will thrive anywhere he his. He is my thinker and loves to know how things work. He is not afraid to tell you what he is thinking and why (something that is quite hard for most adult males). I love how his mind works and look forward to conversations in the future with him as his mind continues to mature.
Avery continues his dance training and academics at Northwest Florida Ballet Academie. I absolutely love this school and the opportunities they provide our surrounding community. He not only learns the art of dance everyday with his 4th grade academics, but also attends French classes, art classes and hands-on learning at the Science Center weekly. This year he continues the daily ballet training and has added on a hip-hop class. He will also try out this year for the Nutcracker production. I am so excited to see him perform on stage!
Our biggest change this year, as far as schools are concerned, is Emma. Emma is a 6th grader this year, which means Middle School! I felt in my heart I was at a crossroad with her. I knew I had to make a more drastic decision as far as where she attended school this year, not because of the school she was zoned for but because of who my little girl is and the potential I believe she has to become given the correct environment for her.
As many already know, Emma was diagnosed with ADHD- Inattentive type in 2009. Even as early as 2nd grade it was suggested by her teacher to have her tested. I resisted until I saw her reading grades decline, as she is an excellent reader. Her anger and frustration in herself also began to grow more and more. After several tests were given to her by a psychologist, the results showed a deficit in short term memory and other factors that pointed to her diagnosis. She has and continues to learn coping mechanisms to aide her, along with a low dosage of medication.
The medication has been a struggle. In part, finding the one that works best for her and convincing her she needs this to help her, not because she is "stupid", as she occasionally states. There were times last year in which I let her stop taking the medication for a few weeks because she begged me too. Unfortunately, her grades went from A, B & C's to C, D & F's when the medication was not given. As for now, we have found a medication that works well for her with the least amount of side effects (jitters, appetite suppressant) at the lowest dosage. She has not taken it all summer long and wanted to see if she could start the new school year out without taking it. After several different discussions, she is eager to see how she does without, but understands if her grades are not where they should be she will need the aide of medication.
Given Emma's diagnosis and the fact she is entering into those lovely puberty years filled with self-doubt, I felt I needed her to be where she was going to be given the attentiveness she needs to do her best, as she is so quite in the classroom setting she can easily fall through the cracks all the while the frustration and anger in herself mount until she reaches home and explodes all over us. I thought my only option would be to home school her, but did doubt in the "smoothness" of this. I am her mother and I have found I do not do well as her teacher, even tutor. I figured our best option was Okaloosa Online; a web-based school with her own set of teachers online and I signed her up for it. I would remain the Mommy and occasional helper and she was excited to try it out.
You know how things fall into place differently and, consequently, for the better even though you thought you had everything planned out just right? Thursday of last week, I signed Emma up for an art class online so she could get a feel for what the online school would be entail. She didn't enjoy it and she loves art. Yea, not a good sign. The day before that I found out because of her diagnosis and her 504 school plan, she is eligible for a scholarship (John McKay) to attend private school. The day before that I saw she had received her middle school class schedule, which meant she was still enrolled even though I had filled paperwork for her to be home schooled. AHHHH!! I had basically 2 days to talk to the "correct" people in administration to get her out of Okaloosa Online, withdraw her from middle school, sign her up for the scholarship, and get her enrolled in a private school, specifically Lakewood Christian. The obstacles: 1) busy time of the year for administrators and I'm sure my phone calls were the last on the list to return, 2) confirmation on the acceptance of the scholarship, which required administrative assistance, 3) no openings at Lakewood & 4) 504 plan lost in transit from elementary school to middle.
Wednesday and part of Thursday, I was a bit of a basket case. I had done everything I could do and I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with her by Monday. By the afternoon of Thursday, I let my worries go. I knew I had done what I could and what was meant to be would be. I knew she would not be attending the middle school and even though she was excited at the prospect of attending Lakewood Christian, I was also very open with her in that her academics would more than likely have to be done with Okaloosa Online at home.
Friday was a new day. Friday, I received a call from Lakewood Christian stating they had one opening for a 6th grader. I found out from a returned phone call she indeed is eligible for the scholarship, though since I signed her up late we would have to cover the first few monthly payments. I received another returned phone call stating she was taken out of the the Okaloosa Online system and yet another call stating there was a copy of her 504 plan I could pick up at the elementary school. I withdrew her from Davidson and went with her for an afternoon appointment to Lakewood.
We both immediately loved the environment and staff we met at this school. The principal was aware of her diagnosis and could finish my sentences in describing her. She emphasized her and her staff's goals in teaching children are geared toward the success of the overall CHILD not the success of where they should be or who they should be according to standards. The curriculum is online with Alpha and Omega and she gets a 22" Apple computer all to herself! She can work past her grade level if she posses the ability and desire. She has the aide of teachers to help her should she get "stuck" and is thrilled there is NO lunchroom (everyone brings a packed lunch), as she states the smell of a lunchroom is one of the worst parts of any school. She was excited to learn she would wear a uniform to school too! They were hesitant about starting her Monday because they wouldn't have a computer ordered and delivered in time. I confidently stated I would be dropping her off Monday equipped with my MacBook Pro and I had no problem with her sitting on the floor. Ha!
I dropped an excited confident little girl off this morning. I almost shed a tear for the opportunity she has here. My little girl will become a wonderful young adult thanks to this huge stepping stone in her path of life, in which I am so very grateful.
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