2011 - 2012: Cross off another "school year"!

[ajasfolks2]

Yeah, I know.  There needed to be about 40 other options.

SO, if none fits, write your own and post it to the thread.

Also -- lessons learned?
What went REALLY well?

Near-disasters?


Add whatever you'd like . . .

Thanks!  ~e

[lakeswimr]

I love my son's school and his teacher this year was fantastic as a teacher.  There were some mistakes with food allergies but thankfully no reactions.  Some of the mistakes were big ones and were made by various staff members and difficulty with another parent.  Different school, working out the kinks this year.  I do like everyone there a lot and they do try hard.  We do have a 504.  I have not felt having a 504 added in addition to the IHCP has made any difference in things that is tangible.  I'm glad DS has it mostly for when DS goes to HS and college. 

If I describe the mistakes in detail I think if district people stumbled across this post they would know I was posting.  Suffice it to say that they were serious and multiple and various types of mistakes.  Thankfully things have been discussed and there is much less chance of mistakes happening in the coming years as a result and DS is aware of the mistakes and the need to be careful, too.

[YouKnowWho]

Learned a few things though overall we had good teachers.

The 100 days project was great for DS1 on the issue of having his own non-gluteny food to graph.  Not great was having a classroom full of gluteny goodness that other students were graphing.  I will fight for this next year because it added to his anxiety. 

Same old fight though with outside sources bringing in food between cupcake queens and the PTA.  I did learn that DS1 took what one might call a calculated risk in having Rita's ice (stuck with flavor he had previous, knew the ices were safe, etc).  And he chose not to take a risk with a snow cone because he had never had one before.  All in all, I was very happy with his decision making (even if he did break a rule).  I was not happy with DS2 (or his teachers frankly) because he did eat the snow cone and the Ritas without a thought on safety. 

Frankly I could have done without the million and one phone calls asking if it was safe for Ds2 to eat in regards to treats brought into the classroom.  No, nothing but food from home that is why I provided scads of safe treats.  However I was happy to receive a phone call regarding mushrooms on a salad that I sent in for DS2 (we aren't sure if he had reacted to them previously or false positive but he loves them now).  Especially given that I have morning brain and two kids with opposite allergies.

Next year I want to work on gluten and egg free products for classroom projects (preferably food free but I know that won't happen).  I have spoken with principal about better communication from the PTA about in school treats (and for my thanks the PTA president keeps calling me that B____ who brought on so much work for them because sending an email is so much work  ).  I don't have a snowballs chance of being room mom but I do want to communicate more with the teacher and less with room moms because I refuse to hear how good my child is with allergies and how he wouldn't mind being left out again.  If they are going to say that to me, I want to hear it from a person who can be held accountable.

[twinturbo]

Overall, I'd rate it a success. My 'problem' now is tangential yet imperative as ding dong DS1 ramped up on an insane accelerated learning curve the last year. Socially it's been great he grew really tight with his mates.

[CMdeux]

Hmmmm... mixed bag, but mostly it wasn't FA-related bad stuff.

So there's that. 


At the moment, I'm pretty much FUMING that the ridiculous (and completely unecessary) foot-dragging process of completing a RE-WRITE of my child's 504 plan led to us submitting to College Board very late (end of April) and they still haven't yet said yes or no to the application for accommodations on the PSAT in the fall.

School staffers all leave for the summer next week.  Apparently I was the only one who was capable of doing the math.  Well, our allergist was.  <sigh>  Seven to eight weeks.  Hmmm... yeah, thinking that submitting at the beginning of May isn't soon enough if you MUST hear back before the second week in June.   

DD is with a public school, has a 504 plan (obviously) and is also a virtual school student.  This means that day-to-day, there is no food risk.  Which is incredibly nice, really.  It also means that when there IS risk, it's all a "special event" which means a huge series of breaks in routine protocol all around.  Which is why she has that 504 plan. 

I can't even imagine the level of problems that we'd have if DD attended a B&M school.   

[hezzier]

So far, things have gone well.  We had one incident where the reading specialist gave kids a couple pieces of kettle corn, DS should not have eaten it, but he did.  I brought it to the nurses attention and she dealt with the teacher. 

I'm guessing that we are one of the families with a tighter comfort zone.  Our school serves birthday cake in the cafeteria once a month for kids with a birthday in that month...I am whole heartedly against this practice but have been told it's not going away, but they did get some magnetic school bookmarks made up for the kids that couldn't or didn't want cake.

It will be interesting when things start up in August to see if the same nurse is back.  She told me she was trying out a new job this summer.  If she does come back, it's still only for one more year since her youngest is going into 5th with DD.

My goal for this upcoming school year is to get some non-designated epis for our school, but hopefully the whole district.

[notnutty]

We had many changes this year.  DS started middle school in 5th grade.  I think 5th grade is too early for middle school anyway, but that is how it is set up in our district.

DS quit sitting at the peanut-free table in October.  It was a hard adjustment for me to make and really pushed my comfort zone, but the social impact on DS was just too hard.  He was sitting alone several days a week.  This situation led to problems with his teacher feeling that DS was not advocating for himself because he didn't beg ask other students to join him.

Nothing like being "weird" food allergy kid. 

We had many teachers who handed out food freely.  It mostly was safe for DS, but it annoyed me beyond belief how much our school relies on food for rewards despite a wellness policy.  DS has a very tight comfort zone and did not accept or eat the treats.

We also had FACS- (home ec) this year.  That teacher was good about sending labels home with DS for me to approve before they began cooking, but this also pushed my comfort zone.

Overall I consider the year a success from a FA standpoint because we did not have any reactions!!!! (however academically we struggled with a very young teacher who insisted to be an expert at LD's and accommodations.  )

ETA:  I forgot we skipped the field trip to the MLB game last month.  It was a disappointment for DS, but just not worth the risk. 

[eragon]

we have still weeks to go until we finish school. am finding it hard to adjust to the idea that two of my kids have allergies now.

am worn out with everything going on this year.

[twinturbo]

Does anyone have what they consider a great school system? I don't even mean academically or FA-related, just effective and professional administration. I ask because what I've been hearing from sources I consider very credible and not terribly susceptible to embellishment tell me absolute horror stories about the local districts that made me clutch my pearls in shock. And the latest round was supposedly one of the better districts.

[eragon]

you need to add another click button on the top list,
'was leaving sch suggested by the school as a option'?

or
'did the sch outrightly ask you to withdraw your child from school'?


and for new starters at school

'did the school accept your childs entry, but only if epi pens stayed at home '?

these things happen.

leaving and home school was suggested as an option. bearing in mind its his gcse exam year, and authority home schooling is a hour a  day if you are lucky.  So most of this school year have sent him to school, and often he has been sent home.

any fairly decent grades my son makes will be fantastic bearing in mind he has been ill and off school for so long.  its sad , when we know he has the potential for good grades, and works hard when he is well. I wont be disapppointed with any of his gcse grades, as its not his fault at all.

[Scout]

 
We had an amazing year....love our school and am very happy with our Teacher for next year....that is if all the pta mom's kids dont also end up in there...they are my friends but I prefer dd in another class..

**I may have found out why I hve it so good....a trusted confidant at the school told me last week that the principal tells everyone "make Mrs. C Happy"
She thinks I am going to sue the scchool and have grounds.....lol.....and that I know more than the other parents about the situation......(thanks to all of you)

I think its just because I am not afraid to speak my peace to her....calmly....and I have told her a few key phrases...

whatever works.......all the 4th grade teachers wanted dd, her grades are amazing this year and she is treated with Love and kindness at school.....so far so good...

****It probably helps that we live in a bubble type neighborhood where some parents have a TON of money and several have sued the school for such silly things.....they are afriad of someone who may have reasons.....ugh