Adios 11th Grade

 Uggg...11th grade.  You haven't been kind to us. 

I had a list of concerns after Mila's freshman year that I brought up a meeting in the beginning weeks of 10th grade.  Meaningful inclusion just didn't seem to be a priority of the staff or in the school environment. I left meetings having to actually say "Tell me why my child and the students in your classroom aren't allowed to have lunch in the cafeteria?" and "Please remind me why your students aren't allowed to go to choir or to the greenhouse?"  and "I'm sorry, did you just say it's a waste of time to teach my child to read?!"  (Yes, all those words actually had to leave my mouth). 

Mila's anxiety increased through this year with a mounting list of concerns that weren't being addressed. The change in culture that I felt Mila and her classmates were worthy of wasn't going to happen on our watch and after a disturbing phone call from a teacher in a different classroom (followed by a STRONGLY worded letter to the school district) I was left with the only option of moving Mila mid school year. 

Mila moved to a smaller high school across town with a strong inclusion philosophy and a team eager to develop a general education curriculum to make up for the lost time and lack of skills at the previous school. I openly shared attachment and trauma concerns, and the new team seem graciously prepared to welcome Mila into their fold.  

It took some time, but by the end of the school year, Mila was happily part of the Falcon family, already making great strides in areas that I hadn't seen any growth in 4 years.  It was a bitter sweet ending to her junior year of high school. I hated that we had wasted 2 & 1/2 years at a school that did not respect their students academic or emotional health, let alone their dignity.  I had trusted people within a system that was supposed to protect and educate my child and they did neither.  I am thankful that truth had come to light when it did and a safe alternative was made quickly available.  I'm even more thankful that Mila is now thriving in a program that will help her through the last 2 & 1/2 years of high school and transition into an adaptive college program.  So we move forward with hope and expectation of a stellar 12th & 13th year!

Sixth Grade--That's a Wrap!

I'll admit, I was terrified for the start of middle school for Isaac.  Middle school is the WORST for typical kiddos--I truly remember crying every day of 6th, 7th & 8th grade; it was a nightmare!--I could not even wrap my brain around what these years would be like for a functionally non verbal, chromosomally enhanced student.  Add that it would be an entirely new school, without any of Isaac's previous classmates, AND with the new house, we would be commuting from out of district nearly 30min each direction to attend this school.  Elementary years were one battle after the other; my expectations for middle school were so. very. low. 

Let it be known...I was wrong!  Middle school has been AWESOME!!

As an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program, the school curriculum focuses on nonlinear learning with a global emphasis.  Um, yes, thank you!  And the principal is passionate about the arts. Amazing!  And the culture of the staff is total inclusion of all students. *mind blown*. In fact, during our school tour, walking by the 'special ed' classroom, I asked where all the students were.  Perhaps they were on a fieldtrip, or...?  No, Ms. White, the students only drop their backpacks off here. They are all in the general ed classes with supports if needed.  WHAT?!?!  I literal stopped the tour as I didn't need to see anything else.  Lets sign on the dotted line. Isaac will be attending here. 

(Also...it's pronounced Mrs. Hugh Jackman. Jack-man, not White). 

Isaac jumped right in with his ASL fluent para and a team that was more than willing to learn all they needed to support their first student with Down syndrome.  Social studies, dance, math, theater, art, language arts-he did it all with full expectation to turn in his modified work just like everyone else.  He thrived in group projects. Developed power points and presented in front of his classmates (including a solo project on the history of ballet!). Built a replica of the Tacoma Narrows bridge and jump another grade level in his reading.  He ate lunch with a bunch of 8th grade boys every day so he could play basketball with them at recess and made a host of truly good friends, including a neurotypical child that boldly calls Isaac their BEST friend. <3     (they text and facetime after school--it's the best!) 

Winter drama showcase:

Cultural dance showcase: Dragon Dance

Homework:

Spring musical-Beauty & the Beast. Isaac was "the baker" in the opening scene and spoke all his lines clearly from memory: Good morning Belle, where are you off to? That's nice. Marie, the baquettes! Hurry up!  He added a "chop! chop!" for emphasis ;) 

100% in his performance & participation of the Disney Movie Mashup!

One of my favorite parts of the year was reading through his notebooks at the end of the quarter:

hahaha!  Seems I need to do a better job of explaining what an emergency is!

All of these experiences were coupled with some solid social & emotional growth (thank you for not biting us in the butt adolescence!) so at the end of the year when Isaac and just a few others from the entire school were honored for their character and success through the year, it made total sense to me. <3 

Somehow my terrorized middle school heart healed in watching my son have such an amazing school year.  <3 

Thank you 6th grade!  Isaac is already counting down the days to 7th grade and all the new adventures he is going to have then.  <3