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Hi all,

I think I was gettting a little to big for my advocacy britches, I should have seen this coming.

As some of you may know, I approached the teacher at the beg. of December with some concerns about DD7's dispostion and developing bad attitude about school. I knew the district policy is any skip must be done by January of the school year. I basically told the teacher I thought she was misplaced in second.
The teacher went to bat for DD with the principal and they came out with a solution, not only for DD, but several others as well. Instead of being pulled out twice a week, they would be pulled out every day for a seperate LA and math program.
DD said she didn't want to skip, so I decided to go along with their plan, it seemed fair. They have gone for two weeks, and DD loves it.
We were at school tonight for a school funtion and DD's teacher approached me and told me that unfortunately, the enrichment teacher has a time conflict with a special project for the 5th graders and that they had to suspend DD's "special enrichment" for three weeks.
If I thought it would actually start back up, I wouldn't be so exasperated.
At this point, even if I wanted to begin the testing for the skip, it wouldn't be completed in time to meet the deadline.
I feel as if I am right back to square one.
Check.
Additionally, I called to get DD accepted in a higher grade writing workshop because she really wanted to participate and wasn't interested in the topics listed under her grade. The person in charge straight out said no and wouldn't accept results on grade equivalency on achievement test to make an exception. She was mildly hostile about it.
Not a good day.

I

Oh incog, I'm so sorry. I know that is very disappointing and I am sure you feel blind sided with the deadline coming up so fast. Since they gave you a 3 week time period do you think maybe they will actually start it back up? Somehow having a deadline makes it sound more like they're going to go back to it rather than some vague "oh we'll get back to it whenever we can". Maybe?????????

How irritating about the workshop!!! I don't understand the hostility but that is what I have met sometimes when advocating for my DS too. I don't get it at all.

I'm sorry but maybe keep the hope alive that they will start it back up in a few weeks.

We'll keep our fingers crossed that 3 weeks is really 3 weeks. I hope you have the date circled in red on your calendar?!

Thanks all for the support. I hope so too. Principal has given us misinformation before, so I'd like to say I'm cautiously optimistic, but, I don't know.
I'm somewhat concerned about DD because at the beginning of the year she was frustrated and teacher said, just wait, it'll get better. They were assessing all the kids, so things were slow moving. Things got a little better, but by November she was feeling very out of place again. I told her I was working on it and then presented the new program to her and she was very excited.
Even though she is trying to keep a chin up, it's clear she is extremely disappointed.
I think it's so wrong for them to make a promise like that to a little girl and then pull the plug. Even if they do set it back up when they said they are going to.......I think it was very short sighted of them not to plan for this a little better. If a conflict just came up, I don't know why the didn't forsee it. I also don't know why they can't do a little juggling and accomodate both programs. They broke trust with me and with her, it's unfortunate.
Thanks for listening to my vent and being so kind.

Incog

Well put. Can you share this (or something like it) with the principal? It's pretty persuasive! Especially the disappointed little girl and breaking trust parts.

I agree with Kriston -- tell your principal what you just told us! Poor kid.

How very frustrating for you, and for dd. I'm really surprised they can't do the 5th grade thing at a different time of day -- sounds shady to me.

Chin up, and keep us posted.

Thanks for the suggestion, I decided to send this e-mail to the teacher this morning. I will avoid speaking to principal for now.

Hi Mrs. Teacher,

Thank you for giving me a heads up about the situation
with the new enrichment program.
Thank you for aranging for them to do their projects
in class in place of math.
It's clear that you have put a lot of work and effort
into this program, it's also clear that you are a fine
teacher and go well above and beyond for all your
students.
I am somewhat disappointed that this scheduling
conflict couldn't be avoided, however, I would guess
that this is not your decision.
As I mentioned to principal, DD was
administered an above level achivement test, meaning
she keeps answering questions until she gets them
wrong and it measures which grade she is actually
funtioning at. She actually was so excited after the
test and keeps asking when she can take more tests.
She is currently able to work significantly above
grade level in all subjects, I'd be happy to show it
to you.

As you know DD is a great little girl with a great
attitude. I do feel badly that I presented this
opportunity as a solution to her frustration at school
and now it has stalled so abruptly. I am concerned
about the message this sends to her. Could you please
tell me the date it will re-start.

Again, I don't mean to sound ungrateful for all your
amazing efforts towards DD, and in fact, all the
kids in your class.

Please feel free to share this e-mail at your
discretion.

Sincerely,



All I can do at this point is attempt to keep them honest.
And, Mia, you expressed the bottom line as to why this bothers me so, it sounds a bit shady to me too.

I

Dottie,

Concerning the skip paperwork, it is our district process to put the child through a lengthy and arduous testing process. I have no doubt that DD would love the process, however, time is a consideration and if they started tomorrow, the process would not be completed by the end of the month.
Now it probably really is a coincidence about the timing of stalling of the new enrichment class for the kids. However, I've been given misinformation before, so I think it's natural to be a bit skeptical.
However, DD is still not inclined to skip, it will be interesting to see if she tolerates the "dreaded January review" season.
I've done what I can for now, I will keep an eye out and intervene again if it becomes necessary.

I

Hi Incog,
I was wondering if you should initiate the process for grade advancement despite the end of January deadline. It might impress upon them how serious you are about finding a permanent solution and could motivate them to solve the current scheduling conflict or at least to avoid them in the future.

Thanks for the suggestion, principal is aware DD doesn't want to skip, so I'm between a rock and a hard place. I asked her about it again, she still doesn't want to skip. I think she's intimidated at the thought of advancing, walking into a totally new classroom with new kids who know she is a "second grader". I know she feels she will be an outcast.

I