Critique my letter declining son's "invitiation" to Summer School (long)

[mom2boys]

Before anyone flames me, a little background...
DS is 12 & in the 6th grade. He recieived an "invitiation" to Summer School for Language Arts. He has dyslexia and an auditory processing delay. He still managed honor roll 2 of his 3 terms in middle school this year. Last term he received a "B' in Language Arts. He worked hard for that "B". Summer school is a review of the 6th grade curriculum. I want a letter in his "permanent record" indicating why he won't be accepting their kind "invitiation". I don't want them to think we don't value their input or that we are just t0o lazy to get him to summer school. The Speech Pathologist agreed the letter is a good idea. So here is what I have so far:

Dear Ms. Faith and Mr. Butts,
We are in receipt of my son, Our Boy’s, “invitation” to Summer School for Language Arts. We do not disagree that Our Boy would benefit from reviewing and maintaining the skills he learned in sixth grade Language Arts. We do understand the importance of him maintaining his skills. Our Boy has made great strides this year despite the obstacles he faces with his learning language disability and his auditory processing delay.
Unfortunately, Our Boy will be unable to meet the attendance requirements as set forth in the Summer School Information Sheet. Our family vacation is scheduled from June 24th through July 8th. We will be traveling throughout the Southwest United States. Our Boy will have the opportunity to visit many historic and geographic sites including the Grand Canyon and Mesa Verde. The Native Americans’ challenges and successes will tie nicely with the 6th grade Language Arts curriculum. Our Boy will be keeping a journal of his travels.
Our Boy will also be attending Boy Scout Camp the week of July 17th. The merit badges he will be working towards will challenge him personally. He will challenge his skills with Canoeing, Camping, Wilderness Survival, Orienteering, Rifle, Fire Safety and First Aide. These merit badges require much more than rowing a canoe, firing a rifle or pitching a tent. Our Boy will utilize critical thinking skills by safely planning and executing each of these activities. He will be required to anticipate and learn how to respond to the common dangers encountered in each of these activities. He will gain self-confidence and self-reliance. Academically oriented merit badges he will work towards this summer include Space Exploration, Electricity and Citizenship in the Community.
We plan to work with Our Boy at home to help him retain his current language arts skill level. I have spoken with Our Boy’s Language Arts teacher, Mrs. SJ and with his Speech/Language Pathologist, Mrs. R. Both of been provided suggestions on how we can keep Our Boy on track academically without Summer School. Mrs. R is providing supplemental materials/activities for Our Boy. He will read throughout the summer. Additionally, our entire family will continue to follow Lewis and Clark’s expedition by reading their journals aloud. We discuss the explorers’ daily entries together.
I am confident that Our Boy will be prepared for 7th grade in the fall. Between the supplemental materials/activities and Our Boy’s life experiences this summer, Our Boy will not only maintain his current skills, he will acquire many new valuable life experiences and life skills.
Sincerely,
Mom & Pop

Critique away!

ETA: There are paragraphes and spacing in the actual letter - just tried to consolidate here in the interest of space.

 

[Beth76]

I don't understand why this is necessary. Why do you need a reason for him not to attend and why does it need to be in writitng and in his file? As for the letter, at the very least you need paragraphs.

 

[mom23boys]

No flaming here, but I also agree with the above poster. If it is recommended and not required why do you need to send them an explanation.

My DS (1st grade) also was recommended for summer school. He will not be going, long story but the class he is in now is so distruptive that I chose to get him a tutor instead. I told the principle and she was fine with it.

BTW your vacation looks like alot of fun. Hope you have a great time.

 

[jenks0718]

I don't understand why this is necessary. Why do you need a reason for him not to attend and why does it need to be in writitng and in his file? As for the letter, at the very least you need paragraphs.

I learned a long time ago that everything should be in writing. I think it is a very good idea. I also think the letter is great. I do see that the OP has paragraphs just not spacing. I think she was asking about her CONTENT.

 

[buzzlady]

Way too much information/detail.

 

[diznygirl]

Can't you just get away with "although we agree with the premise of reinforcing the learned skills, my son will be unable to attend due to already planned family committments."

I always read letters justifying vacations as just a lot of fluff. Sure, there will be some educational opportunities. But, honestly, it's mainly for fun! Not flaming you - just saying that a long-winded explanation really isn't needed. Just keep it simple and have fun this summer.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

I think the OP is trying to cover her butt if the school comes back next year and tries to pull stuff regarding her son because he did not go to summer school. The school could just say "well we don't know why he wans't there but if he was there xyz".

OP, I think it's a good letter and I think the detail is good. You recognize that your son does need work during the summer and mentioned that you have gotten direction how to help your son. You also explained how summer school will not benifit your son by laying out the learning he will experience this summer.

 

[KirstenB]

I'm not sure that you need to justify your decision with a letter. But if you feel you do, your letter comes off as being defensive. You mentioned your child made good grades. Therefore you have nothing to be defensive about.

Another point, if I were the recipient of this letter, I wouldn't get a warm/fuzzy feeling from it. Maybe there's a lot of history there that we don't know about. However, the school is just doing their job in making summer school recommendations. By going into a long, drawn out explanation of your planned activities, it's like you're telling the school that your itinerary is superior to their curriculum. Maybe it is, but I sure wouldn't throw it in their face.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I also think that presenting a letter is a good idea. If something is important, and you want to make sure it is understood, and available for everyone to see (not hearsay thru the proverbial grapevine) then, yes, put it in writing.

1. If your son has a disability, does he have an IEP. If so, then this should be one of the first things addressed in the letter. This should definately be documented in your childs IEP file. In my estimation, it is entirely inappropriate for the school to request for a child on an IEP to attend Summer School. These children work twice as hard as other children just to keep up. All breaks are very necessary!

to the previous poster: Nope, I would not expect a warm fuzzy feeling. I am very sure that the OP did not get any kind of warm fuzzy feeling when she received a letter 'requesting' that her son, who has a LD, and who has made good grades, spend his summer at school.

Our school actually offers a special program for special needs kids. But, this is, of course, entirely optional, and is offered as a benefit. It is not just 'summer school'. It is an enrichment type program, with lots of fun activities.

2. I agree, use concise paragraphs and appropriate spacing. (Which I am sure you are doing in your actual letter) I understand that in this post it was all kind of 'together'

3. I also agree 'Way to much information'. You will completely 'lose' the reader, and your most important points, halfway thru the letter. Remember the old adage, success is in the editing. What is sometimes more important than what you leave in is what hits the cutting room floor.

Keep concise and to-the-point!!! The school does NOT need a rundown of every single plan you have for the summer. To mention these plans in a sentence or two is more than sufficient.

I hope this helps!!!

Enjoy your summer!

 

[Jennasis]

You have some grammatical/syntax problems in there, but as far as content...to be honest...it comes off as being defensive. The letter should be short and sweet. All it needs to say is that your son is unable to attend due to previous summer vacation plans, but you thank them for the invitation and you will continue to bolster his education over the summer. There is a specific word or phrase I am searching for to describe the feeling I got from your letter and it is escaping me at the moment...but it isn't a warm fuzzy/what a terrific concerned mom feeling.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I just wanted to note: I just edited my post above to address the 'warm fuzzy' issue.

quote:
to the previous poster: Nope, I would not expect a warm fuzzy feeling. I am very sure that the OP did not get any kind of warm fuzzy feeling when she received a letter 'requesting' that her son, who has a LD, and who has made good grades, spend his summer at school.

 

[ChristmasElf]

If the Speech Pathologist thinks it is a good idea to write the letter, then just write the letter. It certainly wouldn't hurt if the school goes ahead and puts it in your sons file.
Your son cannot attend Summer School as your family has other plans and commitments. Period. No discussion. Don't worry about what to write. Just decline and be done with it.

Have a great time on your trip. School will be there next year where your son will have more opportunities to learn new things.

 

[damo]

Is the letter supposed to be serious? If it is, it certainly doesn't come off as such. The repetitive "Our Boy" part really makes it sound as if the whole letter is tongue in cheek. If sarcasm was the intent, you succeeded.

Editted to add: Oh, so sorry, you are probably just inserting your son's name here. In that case, it sounds fine.

Excuse my stupidity.

 

[Jennasis]

Wishing: I believe her son was "invited" to summer school. His presence was not "requested".

It all depends on what she hopes to accomplish this letter AND who exactly will recieve and read it.

damo: I too though the same thing. The "Our Boy" was pretty odd. After reading the other names in the letter I just assumed she was subbing "Our Boy" for her son's name for the sake of anonymity on the DIS.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am assuming that the OP is just inserting 'our boy' as she does not want to use her childs name on a public chat board.

 

[Marseeya]

While I don't believe it's too defensive, I just don't see the reason for it in the first place. I'm with those who think you don't need the elaborate explanation. Just a simple, "sorry, we have other commitments" would suffice for me.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

As you stated, ESY is designed to prevent a regression of skills so that the kids start back in the fall at the same level the ended in the spring. Nearly every child I know with a documented Learning Disability is recommended for ESY. As with your child, it has nothing to do with grades or performance. It is a just a recommendation based on the presence of a Disability.

If you feel confident that you can keep him on par at home, there is no reason to spell it out in a letter. I'm not very clear on what documents are contained in a "permanent file," but I'm not sure this would be anyway? Personally, I always just checked the box saying "No, will not be attending" on the form and then I got together with my son's reading Tutor and we came up with a summer reading list. My son also kept a small journal where he would summarize the books he had read, but every kid in the school did that.

So - I don't see any harm in writing the letter. But your tone comes off as sounding kind of offended. And really, none of the teachers really need to know, nor do they really care about, your complete summer vacation plans.

 

[damo]

I am assuming that the OP is just inserting 'our boy' as she does not want to use her childs name on a public chat board.

I realized that a few minutes after I posted. Sorry about that!

 

[Wishing on a star]

They can call it an 'invitation', or whatever they want.

But, it is a request.

Unless they sent this letter out to the parents of every single student at the school, it is a request, sent directly to the OP, regarding her son.

As the mother of a child with an LD, I have to say that would also feel compelled to 'RSVP' to any invitiation of this kind.

 

[Jennasis]

Wishing: Speaking of defensive...sheesh! Whatever. You seem have a problem with schools in general. They can do no right from what I've seen of your posts.