Laura, I'm starting to be able to read your mind. I told Johanna at the meet last night that I thought April might be coming.
Good for you for arranging it with the school. I have not said one word to them yet. Figured I'll take care of that once the administration is back in after the Summer break. Not sure how they will react, but I'm going to ask for 2 weeks of independent study. If they won't grant it, well then he'll just be absent.
But we are women so we pick up on each other much quicker.

Long story short, it looked like April was going to be cut from her HS volleyball team. She was MVP of club team but current setter and coach are family friends and current setter's older sister was 4-yr setter and all-star. Turns out that HS coach wasn't playing April and she was getting frustrated. I foresaw some conflict early in summer season and was making preparations in case she was cut to cheer her up. Truth be told, I expected the school to say no. But Steve jumped the gun and told her what I was planning. LADIES? NEVER, EVER tell you DH's what your planning - they will spill.

Anyway, she got all excited about seeing Collin her fav beverage waiter and I didn't have the heart to tell her no.
Anywho, we worked out the situation, she spoke with coach and looks like he wants to keep her Hmmm, wonder if the Whittier College Coach telling him she wants to work personally with April had anything to do with that?

Fingers crossed for a chance to play college volleyball or a partial scholarship hopefully or at least some play time for college next year. So HS coach has told her that she's on the team but not to say anything or the other girls will want to know too. She was ready to politely quit. So that's why she ended up here, Steve opened his mouth too early.
OK, not all that. Megan - my oldest daughter suggested that it might be best to take her since I should not leave Andrew and April alone in the house together for a few weeks. Seeing as all adults are going to be home, I'm sure there will be a few parties going on while we are gone.
But in regards to the school. I was aware that one girl for the last 3 yrs has been going to Columbia for Xmas break and takes an extended leave. I asked her for advice and she suggest I don't ask, that I "inform" them of the leave of Absence. So, I did just that. I explained that due to a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, that was too cheap to pass up, she had a chance to go to some very holy places (Hey I didn't lie) I might have implied that she was going to see the Vatician (she's been there twice) and that she could be in daily contact with her teachers via e-mail. Also, that she would have a couple hours each morning to do her homework. Then I explained that when her Grandfarther passed away in March of 2009, we pulled her out for 8 days and other than depression, she maintained her 4.0 GPA w/o any long-term effects. I also told her that due to her involvement in sports, it would not affect her Campus Ministry obligations since sports already does that. So in essence, she really wasn't missing any more than the usual time. And since its so early in the year, I was confident she could make up any work. Then I compounded it by asking for a next day answer. We had a teacher's funeral that shut down the school for a few days. Anyway, long story short, Mrs D came to bat for us - she

us and got permission.
I, too, was going to just pull her but decided, since its her last year, I'd better play fair. Worked for me but this is a Private Catholic HS. And I'm overly involved with the school. And it doesn't help that I take pictures for the AD which just happens to be an asst counselor and baseball coach whom I give pictures too.

Sometimes, brown-nosing helps.
So that's my story, she wasn't going to go but is now and now I have to make sure that we get the waiter she wanted. Now how am I going to guarantee that? BTW, request already put in but have to get to the ship early to change that. LOL
Sorry so long, just wanted to relate how everything ended up aligning for us. I hope it does for you too!

(sending out angel wishes that things go well for you too)
Maybe promising HW or classwork being done will help? Or even e-mail contact with the teachers? That's what I did. One condition with us is that she MUST tell her teacher's beforehand and the counselor will tell them that this is an already approved LOA by both VP and Principal. They can't say anything about it. They won't be happy but heck, it's done. If T will take his books, maybe they can sit down together and do HW. I figure - she wants to play - she's gotta pay so she'll be carrying a packpack of heavy school books if they give the work before hand. Otherwise - she's SOL and has to do it after.