Malcolm finally going to new school
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| Fri, 01-27-2006 - 8:18am |
Well, the BOE finally approved the change (sheer paperwork issues, everything takes 2xs longer than promised...) and we are taking one more week for him to say his goodbyes at his current school, also give the BOE a week to change bus route. He is so ready to go, eager beaver, excited about the computer lab, the new gym, the new kids (a few of whom he knows from before and other settings.)
For those who don't know, Malcolm (age 8, PDD-NOS) has spent last year and a half at ASD private school (paid for by NYC BOE because of lack of appropriate programming in public schools) and has made so much progress socially and emotionally that we decided to move him to another special ed private school (same deal with BOE) with far more challenging academics and more verbal, socially interactive kids. This was not an easy decision, as his current school has wonderful RDI programming and he has been big man on campus, leader of the pack socially ... but the real issue for us was that Malcolm is so advanced academically that he has been spinning his wheels there and is getting bored and even sloppy with his schoolwork. Also, he needs more challenge socially now, thanks to the progress he made while there.
Change is always hard, so we are anticipating a somewhat tumultuous few weeks or even next month, even though he is waking up every morning all excited about the new school and antsy about waiting...
Just an update, I'll let you know how it is all going.
yours,
Sara
ilovemalcolm

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Wow, what an exciting time! It really sounds like, in spite of the lack of services in the public school system, you really have amazing opportunities for Malcolm where you live. It's really wonderful to hear how well he's doing -- how with the right supports, our children can thrive.
I'm sure that the transition itself will be challenging, but it does sound like this move is going to be wonderful for Malcolm. Good luck, and keep us posted on how he does!
Jennifer
Hi,
Just wanted to wish you luck with the big change.
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Hi Sara!
I'm glad everything has worked out! I'm sure Malcolm is real excited too! That will sure help with him starting a new school. That's nice that he'll already know some of the kids there too. Let us know how things are going with Malcolm once he's in the new school.
michelle
What a wonderful thing to come back and see.
I am really glad for you and Malcolm. Hopefully the transition won't be too tough and he will be doing wonderfully again in no time.
Congrats. That is wonderful! Glad it finally worked out.
Renee
Good luck to you and Malcolm. Keep us posted.
Teresa
Sara,
I'm so glad things are now a go. It's also very encouraging that Malcolm is so excited and antsy to get moved and into his new school. I hope everything goes smoothly and w/o too much upheaval in his home world as well.
Betsy
Dear Jennifer,
Yes, there are opportunities, but only a handfull and Malcolm has lucked into almost all of them! Just to clarify, it's not that there are "actually" no services in the public school system, it's that the whole system is so chaotic and completely poorly supervised that what is already so difficult and challenging, educating our children alongside their peers, regularly becomes a complete nightmare with overcrowded classrooms, complete lack of classrooms period, services that never show up for months or longer once alloted, lack of actual personnel, misplaced files, routine sudden moving around of teachers, etc. I hear these stories from teachers I know in the system and routinely from the horrified parents who have managed somehow to secure a spot in a private school after escaping where the public schools wanted their child.
My mother-in-law was a grade school teacher here in NYC Public Schools and she says special ed has always been like this and was 40 years ago. We are watching Mayor Bloomburg and Chancellor Joel Klein's reforms closely and they say they are tackling special ed this year, but it is hard to know what they can actually accomplish!
We have walked under a lucky star with Malcolm, who got into one of the very best therapeutic pre-school programs because of a sudden opening just as he was dx'ed, no waiting -- and has continued to be accepted into every program we have wanted him in ever since, free of charge. This is amazing because there are so few private schools, so few spots open in the schools and so MANY needy children. Malcolm just got into new school ahead of almost 400 kids his age on waiting list, he was the only appropriate one for the spot, mostly because of stupid rules and regs, don't ask...
This is NOT the story for most people we know here, most have had to fight hard to even find any place for their children and pay out of pocket and fight to get reimbursed, etc. And many of these people are very low income, I don't know how they do it except with loans, etc. Many homeschool.
Malcolm's first pre-school actually ran a program while he was there to teach parents how to work the system, prepare for IEP meetings, offered advice on who to call, where to go, kept on top of all the programs available and whether or not they were good ones for our kids. It was the very best networking jumpstart ever. I am eternally grateful --- in fact, I need to write a profusive thank-you note and send them current photos of Malcolm right now!
yours,
Sara
ilovemalcom
Sara,
Good luck to Malcolm on his new school! It's great that he is so excited. And you deserve a big pat on the back for all your hard work!
I always find it interesting (or maybe I mean disappointing), that there is so much variation between the services for special needs kids throughout the country. State to state, or within a state, school district to school district, each may be great in one area, and fall short in another. As a parent, it is difficult to know what to do. DH and I have asked ourselves.. should we consider moving? To another schoool district or another state? Is that even feasible? (it's really not). You mention the problems in NYC schools, with overcrowding and lack of appropriate services. I live in a rural county in PA, and our problems are schools and teachers that are sometimes a few years behind in their understanding of the Autism spectrum, HFA, Aspergers and PDD.
Just a few random observations.. Anyway, thanks for sharing your great news!
Kate
RENEE!!!!!
Hey there, I've missed you, and I do hope you are feeling a little better. I have been sending you warm thoughts, delicious cyber wine and choclates, the non-caloric kind, and hoping you were at least getting a little r & r. How is the new job going? Mikey? The rest of the gang? I have been thinking how rough this past year has been for you on so many fronts, and how very tired you must, must be. Of course, getting up the new website is such a COOL thing you and Candace did, but lots of work, right? Everything is always SO MUCH WORK!!!
Anyways, I am so happy to hear from you. Malcolm actually starts new school a week from Monday, this will be the goodbye party week. I need a vacation myself now big time, maybe I can steal away 2 or 3 days once he's in new school and been there at last a month, so we know he's settled!
Anyways, glad you're back,
Sara
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