Meet the Teacher

Nick has really been enjoying going to school.

He wants to go every morning and is upset on the weekend when he finds out he doesn't get to go and see his friends.

I hear from Katheryn and some of the other kids how Nick is always surrounded by girls in the playground (which evens out, because Katheryn is always with the boys).

It is actually working out really well (socially) that Nick is in a split class. Because all of the grade 2s are friends with Katheryn. 

We had Meet the Teacher night tonight and one of the other parents told me how well Nick is doing in class. She told me how much her son talks about Nick and how excited her son was to have a new friend. It is funny, because he son is the little boy that Katheryn has been talking about since JK.

It was really nice to hear how well Nick has been doing in his new school.

For meet the teacher we got to visit the classrooms

And see some of their artwork

Katheryn is in a split class as well (2/3)

Katheryn really wanted me to take a picture of the inside of her desk

And we got to pick out which of the self portraits was Katheryn (I picked right)

Then we all went to to gym for assembly. It was really nice to see how much Nick is adjusting to his new school. 

I feel so much better about Nick being in school

Grade One and Two... First Day of School

The day arrived. The first day of school.

After getting all my thoughts and stresses out on 'paper' yesterday, and a good night sleep we were all ready for today!

Both the kids got up and were ready to go in the morning. The bags were packed, lunches were done, clothes picked out, new shoes all ready.

Katheryn was very specific about what she wanted for her hair style. And wanted me to take a picture so that she could show it off.

Katheryn was very excited to start school and see all of her friends. She couldn't wait to get on the bus and start grade 2!
She told me that I could take 3 pictures of her, but she only wanted to do one pose.

We weren't sure how the bus schedule will work with the kids. So Kyle and Katheryn went together to Katheryn's bus stop. He got  back to the house in time for Nick's bus, so there is enough time to get to both stops.

Nickolas is excited as well to start school. Not nervous a bit (or if he is, he isn't telling me). When Nick got up in the morning, he was happy that he was going to see his friends today. When I reminded him that he was going to his new school, he told "I know that, I am happy to  meet my new friends."

The bus driver called me yesterday to confirm pick-up time, and was there in time at our house. So there wasn't any delay in Nick going to school. Nick got in the bus and then was gone.

 I went into the school right after first recess to watch Nick's bathroom routine and offer any suggestions. Nick looked so happy there and everyone said he was doing well. I never got to see Katheryn (I didn't want to interrupt anyone too much).

When the kids came home. They said that they had a great time at school. Nick said he made lots of friends, and seems to be in class with all of Katheryn's friends. Katheryn is also in a split class of grade 2/3, which I am very happy about. I think she will do great in a split class.

Both of them are very happy to be back in school!

Getting Ready for School

So the big day is coming when Nick is starting his first day of school and joining his sister

We have done first day of school twice before (JK & SK), but it was sending Nick to a smaller school, with a lot of support. This is sending Nick to a larger school, with less support and with lots of friends and kids who already know him

We had our pre-school meeting this week to make sure that we have everything in place for Tuesday. We had the school Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Nurse, Special Education Teacher, Education Assistants, and Teachers. We went through how he transfers, and moves into his equipment, what equipment he actually has at school (standing frame, walker, school chair,  computer, canes, toilet supplies).

We showed Nick around his classroom and made sure he could get out the fire door (there is a step).

The classroom was set up so we knew where Nick was sitting and could see how he gets around the classroom.

We adjusted his school seat so that he is more supported. One of the things they had on every desk was erasers (which is on the latex list), but we checked and they are all latex free

 Nick was very nervous when we started. There were a lot of people that he didn't know, and he was the center of attention and we were all wanting him to do stuff. They wanted to see how he walks with his walker, so he walked around the room, sooo slowly and carefully. I had to laugh because I said he usually is much faster!
It took a while, but he did become more comfortable and he was soon racing around his classroom and telling everyone all about Ninja Turtles and different Avengers.

They  have a nurse coming in for the first little bit to teach the EA's about Nick's bathroom stuff. I am going to be going into the school on Tuesday to try to give them some pointers as well, all of those little stuff that works for Nick but isn't in any checklist.

Talking with the teacher we also talked about me sending in a pamphlet with some information about Nickolas to go to his fellow students (and parents). The teacher pamphlet is too detailed, and I wanted something with information about the equipment and also that the equipment is not a toy.

I wondered about putting my blog on it. I know from other families that it is findable, it isn't secret. So I thought it wouldn't hurt to have it on as a potential resource.

I just have to print off 30 copies of this for the first day of school. I also have a change of clothes, some gauze and tape (if the MACE leaks), a teachers guide to hydrocephalus, and a couple of the teacher handouts for the first day.

I'm hoping we are ready as ready as we can be for school on Tuesday!

Good Bye and Good Luck

Today was graduation day for Nickolas. Nick isn't returning to Campbell's School next year but is transitioning to his home school (with Katheryn) in September.

As long as the Elementary Teachers don't strike.

I have been preparing for this for a long time.

We have been so happy that Nick went to Campbell's for 2 years, to become more prepared and older and more experienced. I think that we all needed that.

But now graduation day has come.

And I think we are ready.

Nick has grown so much, gained so much confidence

I am sad to leave the school. The experiences that Nick has gained in such a supportive environment is fantastic!
A Halloween Parade, meeting the Panam/Parapan mascot, golfing, hockey, meeting hockey players, and going to the zoo are just some of the activities that they have done over the last year

Nick also has therapy during school hours. In types of classes.
Like the Wild Wheelers is a class every week where the kids go around in their wheelchairs (inside and outside) and learn wheelchair skills, computer skills, yoga classes

This is their playground.

And of course one of the best thing about the school is being with kids who are just like him

With a team of people who are with him and supporting him every day.

But now the day has come, and I think that Nick is ready.
He will miss the school and his friends and teachers (and school bus driver). The school is small so he knows everyone, they know him. He gets around without a problem, the classes are small and he is the same as everyone else.

But his new school will be a change, he is still excited for it. He is excited to be at school with Katheryn and he already has some friends who are excited for him to be at school with them (all different ages).

Nick i s definitely going to miss his teacher. Mrs. Meyers has been his teacher since his first day at school last year. We are all going to miss her!

But this guy is ready for Grade 1!

As well, I got creative this year and we made our own Thank you gifts for his teachers, EAs, bus driver and OT and PT.
A mint plant

A picture for the bus

And some nail polish (ninja turtle colours)

School Transition

Our 2 years at Campbell's Children's School is coming to a close.
I am so incredibly thankful that we were able to have our time at Campbell's with the support and therapies and inclusion.
Nick is not the kid with the disability and the wheelchair and other equipment in the class. The one that is different. Nick is the same as all of his other classmates, there are many classmates with equipment and wheelchairs or walkers. They have a group called Wild Wheelers every week!

His class only has 10 kids, 1 teacher and 2 EA's. So there is a lot of support.
And I don't have a lot of concern when Nick is in school.

So we had a transition meeting with Campbell's and Nick's home school.
The school board, CCAC (which is community nursing), the principal of the new school and the special education teacher (called a SERT) where there to learn about Nickolas and his needs. Nick's therapists (speech, physio and occupational) as well as his class teacher were there to tell everyone about Nick's needs and experiences.

I was ready with my updated pamphlet for everyone. And printed out enough copies for everyone to have.

School Pamphlet - 2015 - Confident

And then everyone had an opportunity to talk. It was good for us to learn where Nick is as well.

I had my whole binder all ready and prepared, and also had resources from the spina bifida and hydrocephalus association for educators. 

Speech therapy will not be a problem, he will be discharged from them in June (as he ages out) and she doesn't think he needs to continue. Which is good, because the waiting list is 2 years (so that means 2 years without therapy, unless we pay for it privately).

We talked about his needs for the classroom, and what kind of equipment he will have. That is all OT, so we will have an OT assessment and recommendations. Nick will have his computer and his walker that will go to the school. He also uses a stander, which we don't have at home, so I'm not sure if this is his or not for school or just a loaner.

Nick will need enough room to move around the room.

The SERT teacher and principal also needed to know about what kind of help he would need. This is for EA requests. The EAs are part of the school and not assigned to any individual child. Morning, recesses, lunch and home time would all be times he would need extra help getting shoes/boots on and ready to go outside. Transferring between stander he will definitely need help, but I don't think he will need help to get in and out of his wheelchair to walker.

It's hard, because we want to plan for needs he will have for the school year. And like a lot of stuff when you are applying for government things you want to be harshly realistic. There is a lot of support that he currently gets at Campbell's and we need to remember that he will now be 1 kid in 30, instead of currently 1 in 10 (with 2 EAs), but all of those 10 have special needs.

It is so hard to know what we don't know.

I'm worried that we are missing stuff (and even now I can't remember half of the things that we talked about) so we are trying to have another organization (Resources for Exceptional Children) come to school meetings to help to support us and help us with the system. I'm hoping that at an upcoming PA Day for Nick we can go to the new school and explore a bit. Nick already knows their yard (including the accessibility issues with the yard) from Katheryn's Sparks nights.

I think there is going to be an OT assessment to try to address some of the issues; like only one independently accessible exit, and one other door but a pretty inaccessible yard door, which has a ramp with a step up and a door that opens over the ramp. They will also look at the classroom and other (?bathroom) issues we might come across.

I am so glad that we have Campbell's because they pretty much are able to talk to all of the issues and Kyle and I were just there for the ride. And they will continue to be there for a resource for us and the school as needed.

Both Nick and Katheryn are excited to be together next year!

School Time!

Katheryn is all ready for real school now! Grade one!

She started last week (and still enjoys going), which is always a good sign.

 

She gets to sit at a real desk (surrounded by boys), and her favorite parts of the day are recess, gym class,  and the library. She has all of her friends in the class with her and she likes her teacher.

I've been trying to ask how school is going without asking the same questions every day.
What was your favorite thing you did today?
Did you have fun?
What was your favorite thing you learned today?
Who did you play with?

Nick's first day of school was today.
His second (and final) year at Campbell's Children's School for senior Kindergarten

Nick had a great day at school. Some of his friends were still there (including a little girl he talked about all year) and some new friends, including Alejandra that we've known for a couple of years (and who also has spina bifida).

Nick wanted to have a Ninja Turtle picture. So this is Nick with his nun-chucks

Nick is just jumping right back into school-mode. He is in the same class, same teachers, EA's he knows, same bus.

Back to school has been great so far!