Wednesday 23 May 2012

What??? I said?

When I saw on the school's newsletter that admission applications close on the 22nd of June this year. Yes, it has been made a whole lot earlier than it used to be. In addition, grade R is part of the Primary school next year and forms the first formal year of education. This means that I have to enroll my boys into grade R now! And at the Primary school, not the Pre Primary who I have talked to about my boys, especially Mr L before.

So on Friday I popped in at the Pre Primary and had a chat to the headmistress there. It transpires that I need to do a whole lot of homework and get a whole lot of reports for Mr L. (For those not aware he has Sensory Integration disorder - or Sensory processing disorder). He is behind in some fields of development and apparently at this stage ahead in others, but he does not have what I would like to call a "non neurotipical" profile - I hate the word normal. What the hec is normal? What is a fact is that he has made huge progress in the last year. But it also means that although our OT and his teacher and the headmistress of the pre primary all are of the opinion that he should go to a main stream school, the governing body of the shool has the right to refuse him entry. So I need to get the supporting "evidence" that he is indeed suitable for the school. The Pre primary principal is prepared to go to the headmaster of the Primary school and have a discussion to allow him without even having to refer it to the governing body. For that I am so grateful.

But, this all means a scramble to the OT for a new updated report, asking his teacher for an updated report and getting a developmental psychologist report if the OT thinks we should. A lot to get done in just a month. But I know that if we can get this done, and if we can indeed get him grade 1 ready next year, I can have my twins in the same school and grade successfully. As our OT always says, that is our big goal. The rest will follow. Maybe with more attention and therapy, but it will follow. We also have to move the two of them into separate classes next year so that they can both establish their own friends and place in the class.

So we are pushing ahead getting everything done, and then it's a question of holding thumbs and praying that this all works out. What I do know is that he loves these books at the moment - and he is doing so well sitting, concentrating, drawing. Starting to lift his wings and fly. Hope, yes, hope. There's that word again, My word for 2012.

18 comments:

  1. Those books are lovely - Kiara had a few and also enjoyed them.

    I will admit school stuff makes me anxious but the only way is to just do it. God luck :)

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  2. I have never thought about parents who is in similar position that you and your husband, how this move of enrollment date to an earlier date, can have such a big influence on you all. I get what you say here and I wish you all good luck. I am sure everything will work out.

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  3. Much hope indeed! :) Love hearing your clear and calmly determined plans for progress.

    Peace and love, Sweet Cat!

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  4. Leane is also going to be in Grade R next year and I simply can't believe she is getting to be such a big girl already. So glad that little L is doing well.

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  5. It seems like a whole lot to be done. You will get there!
    He is doing so well!

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  6. I like what Karen said! I watched my sister grow from a very difficult childhood and in time, with caring people helping her, she made it!

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  7. I'm so sorry to hear that that news was sprung on you so unexpectedly...but I'm glad to hear it sounds like your current administration will help you as best they can.

    Godspeed in getting everything together in the next month, Cat!

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  8. I haven't even considered pre-school/grade R options yet. I have a feeling we'll wait an extra year. We are seeing our Neuro on 18 June again so we'll probably have this conversation then.
    Good luck!
    Am sure it will all work out fine.
    x

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    1. Our OT reckons that two years in grade R is better than waiting to go to R later. It also offers you the time to maybe catch up more.

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  9. Good luck! Hope it al goes as planned

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  10. Good luck!

    I have sort of picked the school where I want to eventually put Nicola, but they refuse to let me get on to the waiting list a few years early. ;-) Now I stalk their website every few weeks or so to see what they're up to and if there's anything I need to be aware of. I saw that the enrolment date for next year was moved forward quite drastically...you'd think something like this would be better published?

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  11. I hope it all goes to plan for your boys. As neither of my twins knew anyone at kindergarten and being new to town we wanted them in the same class. Goodluck x

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    1. It is policy in South Africa to split twins - if you can in grade R (year they turn 6) or at latest in grade 1 (year they turn 7)

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  12. Cat, will you get to decide right away if they will repeat R? I am new to the South Africa schooling systems... is it similar to UK?

    I just got my boys enrolled in a new Pre-K program here in California called Transitional Kindergarten. Our cutoff for Kindergarten in this state is rolling back to eventually be age 5 by September 1. For this next year it is still Nov 1 so we have the choice to keep them out of K and instead enroll them in Transitional K. We are fortunate that our local school district is offering it. Should be a good fit for both boys and further prepare them for Kindergarten when the time comes the following year. We are planning to keep them together in the same classroom this first year and see how it goes!

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    1. Although the boys are very late in the school year (here the rule states that children start grade R in the year they turn 6 and grade 1 in the year they turn 7), you can only keep a child back in grade R if there is sufficient reasons - thus supported by and OT report and the school. So we will only get to that hurdle next year. The fact is that without a doubt C will be ready so it's the twin thing - you know? WOndering if you are still possinly blogging somewhere? Mail me!

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    2. Maybe I need to add that our school year runs from January to December and not mid year like yours and form what I understand ours is a lot the same than the UK.

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  13. p.s. it sounds like L is doing wonderfully!!

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So what's on your mind?