Yesterday, I posted on ATRW, a request for thoughts about whether to have my daughter attend 5th&6th grade at a different school in this post:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1824466/posts?page=68#68
With some clarifications here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1824466/posts?page=107#107
First of all, I want to thank all you who have given this some thought and responded up to this time. Being in sole custody, and dealing with a mom who seemingly obstructs just to obstruct at times, I find I have real trouble sometimes "seeing all sides" of the situation... since I only have one brain. And, though none of you know the full situation the way an involved spouse would, I trust your judgment much more than most of the people around me. I cherish your input.
Yesterday, I went over to the jr.high, for about an hour, that my daughter will be attending in 7th grade (I've definitely determined, now). That WILL be a major culture shock - for me as well as her. Spoke with a wishy washy guidance counselor who said, basically, "whatever you think is best will turn out fine"... not at all helpful, I'm afraid. As diplomatically as I could, I asked if there was someone else who would be good to speak with, and she shunted me off to the principal who had, fortunately, just stepped back into the building!
Wonderful conversation - someone who respected and encouraged the Christian aspect of our life. During the conversation, in fact rather early on, she said, "Well, I don't know your individual situation, and statistics being what they are, what I'm about to say may not apply, but studies have shown that the earlier children make these type of changes [of friends, etc.] the better things tend to go." BINGO... that was just the info I was needing to hear. I understand statistics, I told her, better than most people, working with analysis of fuzzy information daily ... and actually, there was probably not much point taking up more of her time.
We spoke for at least fifteen minutes after that, though. I really enjoyed the time she gave me. I hope she's as good a principal as she is a public point of contact. Seems really bright and concerned about the kids, but not mushy concerned and not real PC.
Took this to bed last night. Woke about 3AM remembering that conversation, in addition to several instances during the past year of my daughter trying to get us more involved in activities with children more near our home (all but one of her friends now live more than 20 miles away). She seems ripe for this now, in her mind at least.
Downshot: right now I'm definitely leaning toward having her go to the 5th/6th grade that feeds into that jr.high year rather than keeping her in the school that doesn't, despite this meaning two changes.
Comments still being solicited...
I'll be gone cookin' barbeque, steak, etc... for a school major fundraiser (auction) all of today. Y'all have a great time here.
Good Sunny Saturday Morning to everyone.
I am still at work. Aiming to be finished up today, but quite honestly, I can’t imagine it will happen. This is my 15th year here, and it seems to me they have too much paper that will need to be printed and distributed to be out of here by midnight. I do not have a good feeling as to whether or not the leadership will work us thru the night tonite, or send us home to sleep a bit.
I had to vacate my hotel room, so I may be sleeping in my car in the Capitol parking lot.
going into lurking mode.
Good Morning!
Semi-related: I know how you feel regarding having your daughter make friends in the neighborhood. My daughter attends a little Presbyterian school in downtown San diego, close to my work, but about 16 miles from our home. She has attended this school since she was about 3-1/2. Some of the girls there, she has known since that age, and they are all in the 8-9 age group now. So being that we get home around 530 every weekend for the past 5 years, she hasn't really gotten to know any of the kids in the 'hood.
On the one hand, the neighborhood school is maybe 1/4 mile from our house: we have to pass by it to leave the tract, I know the principal, good reputation. On the other hand, she has all her little friends at the school she now attends. But, at some point, she'll have to switch to the local district for high school. So I'll have to decide--do I pull her out when she starts junior high? Wait til HS? Sooner?