DDA Chapter 15

[tink2020]

If anyone is ever looking to make a photo calendar, I have to recommend mypublisher for that, as well. I've been making my photobooks there for years, and - despite a little higher cost - am thrilled with them. I didn't expect anything less when I ordered this for our parents, but I was beyond impressed with the quality. It was $23 (not really any more than other sites, stores, etc in this case!) and is larger than some others, bound really well, and the print quality is phenomenal. Just thought I'd share! I'm pretty sure it's too late for Christmas (or at least pushing it!), but maybe for another occasion?

 

[tinknme]

Andrew got his braces, and by bedtime was in major pain. I gave him Motrin, and put some buy his fed so that if he woke up hurting (but after 12) that he should take it. I'm afraid it's going to be a distraction while they are reviewing today and tomorrow for midterms. That may have geen a tactical error on my part...

I got some presents boxed last night, and Randy put up the garland on my stairs. I must take some pictures tonight.

Here's my Dad's Christmas card this year:



Have a great day DDA!

Love the card! I hope Andrews braces do not bother him long

 

[KristineN]

Deb...my opinion...as a parent as from the perspective of Chair of the school board.

I think as others have said....much of this is preparation for middle school I see a big shift with Christoper as to what is expected and what is tolerated. Some of it at first I felt it was harsh...but I think preparedness is really important for these kids....and without it....upper grade levels are an even harder adjustment. Right now, if Jackie didn't have her name on a paper...it wold be discarded. There is no 2 ways about it. So in a way...maybe they are doing him a favor early. As a parent, I know it can be a bitter pill to swallow.

Whatever you do...if you have an issue, start with the teacher first. Then if you don't have a resolution to your issues, go to the principal. The biggest conflicts happen when you don't follow the chain of command.

Also, for your own mental health...take a step back. Often times I think as parents these things bother us more than they necessarily bother the children. Kids seem to shake things off much easier than we do.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

 

[tinknme]

Deb you have received some wonderful advice so I will just offer a

Elin sorry there was not a good turn out last night, I hope you still had fun.

Jen sorry to hear about your friend moving away.

Anne Marie sending lot's of your way for the sale of the house!

 

[my3princes]

Marci Great Card. I'm sorry about the braces issues. I remember those days well. Make sure he uses the wax to cover the brackets until he gets used to them as they will tear open his gums It will also hurt each time they tighten them Hopefully he adjusts quickly.


Thanks for the advice. I guess I should give a bit more info. Nick had this teacher for 6th grade. She did not have the no call policy or the zero for no name policy. I'm not sure that the 7th and 8th grade teachers have this policy. Nick has never mentioned it. Having the benefit of working in the office, I can attest that the parents are not misusing the phone policy. And I know for a fact that ALL of the other teachers answer their phones. The secretaries roll their eyes when talking about the 2 fifth grade teachers. The teachers usually send work home on Fridays, but this teacher tend to send things home in batches and not necessarily in a timely matter. She also has kids file papers in folders associated with a specific class (which I know now, but didn't then) so unless parents are going through each class folder they wouldn't have a clue, which is what happened in this case. Since I voiced my concerns she has sent home a parent letter to all parents encouraging us to go through all of their folders. Of course this means they need to carry more home adding to the weight of the backpack.

Hunter will have this same teacher next year so I need him to feel comfortable in the class as there aren't any other options, the teachers team teach and it is only those 2 teachers for the grade.

Those 2 teachers are using the online grading system, but they decided NOT to give parents access to it. Nick's teachers use the same system, but I can log in to check his grades anytime, which makes it easier to keep up. Last year when Nick had those teachers we had access to the grading system and I totally remember that they would be weeks behind updating grades so it really wasn't all that useful anyway.

 

[my3princes]

Deb...my opinion...as a parent as from the perspective of Chair of the school board.

I think as others have said....much of this is preparation for middle school I see a big shift with Christoper as to what is expected and what is tolerated. Some of it at first I felt it was harsh...but I think preparedness is really important for these kids....and without it....upper grade levels are an even harder adjustment. Right now, if Jackie didn't have her name on a paper...it wold be discarded. There is no 2 ways about it. So in a way...maybe they are doing him a favor early. As a parent, I know it can be a bitter pill to swallow.

Whatever you do...if you have an issue, start with the teacher first. Then if you don't have a resolution to your issues, go to the principal. The biggest conflicts happen when you don't follow the chain of command.

Also, for your own mental health...take a step back. Often times I think as parents these things bother us more than they necessarily bother the children. Kids seem to shake things off much easier than we do.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

I have stepped back, but now that I see how it is affecting Hunter it is time to step in. Between his headaches and his hatred of school these days it is impossible for me to sit by and watch. He has even become clingy at home which is not like him. We've addressed every avenue that we can and it seems to come back to these issues.

When I spoke to the teacher a few weeks ago regarding the assignment that Hunter didn't understand she told me at that time that Hunter had NEVER forgotten to write his name on a paper, but when the missing work slip came home on Friday she had made a comment that he had forgotten his name AGAIN, like it was an ongoing issue. I do know that it was his second offense, but the note sounded pretty snotty to me.

 

[PNO4TE]

Jen - I am sorry your best friend and his daughter are moving. I know you will miss them.

Marci - poor Andrew. I remember that braces "ache" vivdly.

Deb - You have gotten some good advice. I would say only one other thing. You might want to try approaching the teacher one-on-one again. This time you really have one issue to deal with, and that is the lack of communication, I think. If she is still unresponsive, or you are not happy with her reaction then I would take it higher. That protects Hunter from any repercussions; the administraiton would be aware, at that point, of your problems.

 

[Tammi67]

nope... I was singing. Not one child showed up at the library tonight. The whole staff was shocked. It is usually packed!

I don't think it was advertised well. But of course that may be because I wasn't around last week to see/hear the advertising.

 

[PNO4TE]

I don't think it was advertised well. But of course that may be because I wasn't around last week to see/hear the advertising.

That is possible, but they advertised the same way they always do. Who knows why no one came last night? But, we still had fun! We headed to Kybecca afterward and sang a song there to the one other table eating at that time.

 

[Tammi67]

Here's my Dad's Christmas card this year:

Have a great day DDA!

Very nice card, Marci. that Andrew's pain subsides quickly.

 

[my3princes]

I plan to take time this weekend to thoroughly talk this out with Hunter. I don't want to talk to the teacher yet as I don't want it to be worse on Hunter. If we agree that there are concerns that need to be addressed then I will talk to the teacher before the break. That way she will have 2 weeks to digest it without having the kids around. Maybe Hunter and I can come up with an at home plan that can circumvent the issues I just hate to see him in pain and I hate the fact that my one child that has absolutely loved school and everything about it, now hates it and doesn't want to go.

 

[Tammi67]

Deb...my opinion...as a parent as from the perspective of Chair of the school board.

I think as others have said....much of this is preparation for middle school I see a big shift with Christoper as to what is expected and what is tolerated. Some of it at first I felt it was harsh...but I think preparedness is really important for these kids....and without it....upper grade levels are an even harder adjustment. Right now, if Jackie didn't have her name on a paper...it wold be discarded. There is no 2 ways about it. So in a way...maybe they are doing him a favor early. As a parent, I know it can be a bitter pill to swallow.

Whatever you do...if you have an issue, start with the teacher first. Then if you don't have a resolution to your issues, go to the principal. The biggest conflicts happen when you don't follow the chain of command.

Also, for your own mental health...take a step back. Often times I think as parents these things bother us more than they necessarily bother the children. Kids seem to shake things off much easier than we do.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

You say things so well, Kristine.

 

[KristineN]

I agree

Jen - I am sorry your best friend and his daughter are moving. I know you will miss them.

Marci - poor Andrew. I remember that braces "ache" vivdly.

Deb - You have gotten some good advice. I would say only one other thing. You might want to try approaching the teacher one-on-one again. This time you really have one issue to deal with, and that is the lack of communication, I think. If she is still unresponsive, or you are not happy with her reaction then I would take it higher. That protects Hunter from any repercussions; the administraiton would be aware, at that point, of your problems.

 

[Tammi67]

Deb - Just out of curiosity.....what kind of things would you or other parents need to get in touch with a child about during the school day? I still don't understand this and am just looking for some enlightenment.

Also, for you all with older students and heavy backpacks, have you considered, or are the even permissible in your schools, the rolling backpacks?

 

[KristineN]

As crazy as this sounds....I swear some of this stuff is hormonal with the kids...Jonathan is 20 now....but I am telling you at that 12-13 age he took things much more to heart...there was a time frame where he hated school...and he was just more emotional. There are so many changes going on....and I know what you mean about seeing your kid in pain. And I don't want you to think I am brushing anything off....but just trying to tell you that often these things just seem to resolve themselves.

Hang in there

I plan to take time this weekend to thoroughly talk this out with Hunter. I don't want to talk to the teacher yet as I don't want it to be worse on Hunter. If we agree that there are concerns that need to be addressed then I will talk to the teacher before the break. That way she will have 2 weeks to digest it without having the kids around. Maybe Hunter and I can come up with an at home plan that can circumvent the issues I just hate to see him in pain and I hate the fact that my one child that has absolutely loved school and everything about it, now hates it and doesn't want to go.

 

[KristineN]

our school will only allow calls to the office....and they also prefer email.

I have had to call to tell them to go home with a certain kid if I get tied up at work....

Deb - Just out of curiosity.....what kind of things would you or other parents need to get in touch with a child about during the school day? I still don't understand this and am just looking for some enlightenment.

Also, for you all with older students and heavy backpacks, have you considered, or are the even permissible in your schools, the rolling backpacks?

 

[my3princes]

Deb - Just out of curiosity.....what kind of things would you or other parents need to get in touch with a child about during the school day? I still don't understand this and am just looking for some enlightenment.

Also, for you all with older students and heavy backpacks, have you considered, or are the even permissible in your schools, the rolling backpacks?

There are times with my crazy schedule that I need the kids to know that someone else will be picking them up or that they need to take the bus. Occassionally emergencies happen, that sort of thing.

We've tried the rolling backpacks, but they are much heavier to start with and don't work well in the winter weather, things drag in the snow and mud and everything gets really gross.

 

[KristineN]

Deb....I agree with you on the backpacks.....yesterday Kirsten told us "my spine will be bent soon" she is so tiny for her age...I have no clue how she does it

 

[Tammi67]

There are times with my crazy schedule that I need the kids to know that someone else will be picking them up or that they need to take the bus. Occassionally emergencies happen, that sort of thing.

But is this something that one needs to talk to the child about? I just call the office and let them know that my kids need to do this or that. Then they get the message to the child. Our school doesn't let the child do anything without a phone call from the parent, so as long as the administration knows, that is really all that is needed. Then they will issue a bus pass to the student to do something else. I might be in the minority here, but as long as someone from the office tells Hunter that his mom called and he needs to do this, that should suffice. I do agree, however with your concerns about the homework. I hope you can have open communication with his teacher and come to some sort of resolution so that the problems don't continue.

 

[Tammi67]

We've tried the rolling backpacks, but they are much heavier to start with and don't work well in the winter weather, things drag in the snow and mud and everything gets really gross.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the snow issue you all have up there.