mstang67chic
Going Green
We had what is probably our final case conference meeting with the school and we all agreed. difficult child will graduate whether he likes it or not.
Before today, his schedule had been modified as: attends classes 1,2 and 3rd period. Volunteers at the Salvation Army from 11:30-2:00 and then attends night school from 3-6 M-Th.
At the start of this year, difficult child needed 6 credits to graduate. He has already passed the state test that is required for graduation...just needed those credits. Going into the meeting, we knew difficult child wasn't passing at least half of his classes so we weren't sure what was going to happen. But...everyone there wants to see him graduate but is torn about what to do. This is his THIRD attempt at graduating, he's been given chance after chance, accomodation after accomodation and his teachers have bent over backwards for this kid. He's been the one not holding up his end of things.
After much discussion and soul searching (some of which without difficult child in the room) it was decided that he is done with the high school proper. He is basically suspended from "regular" school indefinately. However, he will still be attending night school and will do so for as long as it takes to pass his classes. The hinky part in all of this is what kind of stuck in the craw of most of us. Because he's so close, because he's passed the state required test and because we are all determined he's going to get his diploma even if he hates it (because we think he's self sabatoging partly out of fear of the future), his work will basically consist of not so much doing all of the normally assigned work as showing he has a basic grasp of the main concept of each class. HE doesn't know this but that's what it amounts to. Prove to us you understand at least this much and you get the credit. Hopefully this shouldn't take more than a week or two at the most. He was also told that he is welcome to continue going to night school for the rest of the year if he wanted. He could help the teachers or even help some of the other kids, it was up to him. His main Special Education teacher won't be at night school (she was only there a couple of nights a week anyway) because of maternity leave but the teachers that will be there are ones he likes.
Additionally, one of the staff (I'm not quite sure what her position actually is...I think possibly a school social worker) will be working with him on finding a paying job, getting his juvenile Medicaid transferred (or rather the state insurance he's on) to adult coverage, and living arrangment options. (YAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) When asked what he wanted for living arrangments he said a small apartment so this lady and difficult child will be looking into various options, most likely in the area of semi-independant. She will be picking difficult child up first thing tomorrow morning to start all of this. (Tomorrow is the last day of school before break starts)
So....with any luck, by mid January I (hope, don't jinx, knock on wood, throw salt over my shoulder) should have a high school grad on my hands!!!!!!!! That's something else. difficult child was informed by myself and basically everyone in the room that he WILL be attending the graduation ceremony and he WILL be walking across that stage even if I have to duct tape his butt to a dolley and push him across myself. I was also given permission to bring air horns to the ceremony and I plan on buying a case.
Next summer, I'm thinking mid June, there will be one HUGE party 'round these here parts. Everyone who has EVER worked with difficult child in this school district/county will be invited in addition to the usual friends and family. Additionally....all of YOU will be invited also. If anyone is close enough to come, please do! Like I said, I don't want to jinx so details will be posted later as will a notification of (fingers crossed) when he gets his credits.
Keep your fingers crossed, rattle some beads and stock up on those chicken livers folks!
Before today, his schedule had been modified as: attends classes 1,2 and 3rd period. Volunteers at the Salvation Army from 11:30-2:00 and then attends night school from 3-6 M-Th.
At the start of this year, difficult child needed 6 credits to graduate. He has already passed the state test that is required for graduation...just needed those credits. Going into the meeting, we knew difficult child wasn't passing at least half of his classes so we weren't sure what was going to happen. But...everyone there wants to see him graduate but is torn about what to do. This is his THIRD attempt at graduating, he's been given chance after chance, accomodation after accomodation and his teachers have bent over backwards for this kid. He's been the one not holding up his end of things.
After much discussion and soul searching (some of which without difficult child in the room) it was decided that he is done with the high school proper. He is basically suspended from "regular" school indefinately. However, he will still be attending night school and will do so for as long as it takes to pass his classes. The hinky part in all of this is what kind of stuck in the craw of most of us. Because he's so close, because he's passed the state required test and because we are all determined he's going to get his diploma even if he hates it (because we think he's self sabatoging partly out of fear of the future), his work will basically consist of not so much doing all of the normally assigned work as showing he has a basic grasp of the main concept of each class. HE doesn't know this but that's what it amounts to. Prove to us you understand at least this much and you get the credit. Hopefully this shouldn't take more than a week or two at the most. He was also told that he is welcome to continue going to night school for the rest of the year if he wanted. He could help the teachers or even help some of the other kids, it was up to him. His main Special Education teacher won't be at night school (she was only there a couple of nights a week anyway) because of maternity leave but the teachers that will be there are ones he likes.
Additionally, one of the staff (I'm not quite sure what her position actually is...I think possibly a school social worker) will be working with him on finding a paying job, getting his juvenile Medicaid transferred (or rather the state insurance he's on) to adult coverage, and living arrangment options. (YAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) When asked what he wanted for living arrangments he said a small apartment so this lady and difficult child will be looking into various options, most likely in the area of semi-independant. She will be picking difficult child up first thing tomorrow morning to start all of this. (Tomorrow is the last day of school before break starts)
So....with any luck, by mid January I (hope, don't jinx, knock on wood, throw salt over my shoulder) should have a high school grad on my hands!!!!!!!! That's something else. difficult child was informed by myself and basically everyone in the room that he WILL be attending the graduation ceremony and he WILL be walking across that stage even if I have to duct tape his butt to a dolley and push him across myself. I was also given permission to bring air horns to the ceremony and I plan on buying a case.
Next summer, I'm thinking mid June, there will be one HUGE party 'round these here parts. Everyone who has EVER worked with difficult child in this school district/county will be invited in addition to the usual friends and family. Additionally....all of YOU will be invited also. If anyone is close enough to come, please do! Like I said, I don't want to jinx so details will be posted later as will a notification of (fingers crossed) when he gets his credits.
Keep your fingers crossed, rattle some beads and stock up on those chicken livers folks!
