"Report Card Day" and AHA!

Yesterday was report card day at school.  All three of my girls did well!  They had such a rough start at the beginning. Because of Hurricane Katrina, they started school three weeks late, and had to get used to a new school, a culture shock (90% of the student body is Latino, and they come from a city that was 90% African-American), and a new system of learning.  But as I said before, the teachers and the school system have an attitude of excellence, and my kids soon got with the program. 

My oldest daughter made some great strides, but she is still falling behind.  Her teacher is afraid that if the school system doesn't go through with the motion to place her in a special program where she can catch up, she may fail this year.  I already know that Nicolette is behind, so I am doing everything in my power to make sure she is placed.  The problem is the school nurse.  She has to send the paperwork through, but hasn't done it, telling the teacher that "she doesn't want to discriminate because my daughter is from New Orleans."  That's foolishness, because for one, she has my consent to go through with it.  I think with her, it's two things.  The first thing is that she and Nicolette had gotten close when Nicolette was having problems adjusting at the school.  The second thing is that, in those "let-me-confide-in-you" moments, she told me that she has a child that is a lot like my daughter.  Well, maybe she doesn't want to come to grips with the fact that her child is a little slow.  But Nicolette is not HER child, she's MINE.  I already know my daughter's behind.  I'm not ashamed of it, and neither is Nicolette.  If this program is going to help Nicolette like they say it will, then I want her in the program.

From what I understand, this program will do pretty much what the private school system that I sent Nicolette to in New Orleans did.  They will teach her each subject at the level she is in until she catches up. I gave Nicolette's teacher my home number and my cell phone number.  I would hate to have to go over there and make a scene.  But for some reason, that's the only language some people understand, and I'm not above doing it if it means that Nicolette will receive the help she needs.

This morning, I had to pay the fees for the after school program and Nicolette's upcoming field trip.  It was bathroom time for my five year-old's class when I walked in the building.  Her teacher, Ms. Lewis, pulled me over to the side and asked me to go into the bathroom to see what Angela was doing.  I walked in there, and Angela was hanging from a shelf on the wall!  When she saw me, she FLEW into one of the bathroom stalls!  I had her to hurry out of the restroom, because she and three of her friends were holding the class up!  Sometimes, it's good (and sometimes FUN) to unexpectedly show up at your child's school!