Mark & I had a meeting at the High School yesterday, we had to take the big fella with us (we didn't bother to get a baby sitter) and since he is suspended he had to sit in the car and do his work. I am so grateful that Mark was able to come. In fact I know we would not have discussed as much in this meeting if he had not been there. We talked about all sorts of strategies to help him. Even to the point where we all agreed that we should NOT concentrate on his academic side of schooling but rather on the social skills side of things. Mark told the school that he would rather the big fella was able to have good life skills and be able to get along with others as an adult. That he doesn't need to go on to university, even if we would like him to, but he needs the skills to survive out in the big wide world. Let's face it, if you cannot get along with people in the 'real' world you will be very isolated and possibly friendless.
The acting deputy principal said that he will talk with ALL of the big fella's teachers and explain to them that he doesn't need to do all of his work and that he is to be assessed differently now. I also said that I know the big fella is a very capable student and he is able to cope with the academic side of things and that if they wish to send home work to make up for what he isn't doing or wont do in class that I can help him out that way.
Most importantly Mark said is this High School the right place for him? Do you cater for children with Aspergers? To which the deputy principal said .. As far as the education department is concerned yes we are able to cater for the children but to be honest I don't think we are. The school will revisit with ALL the teachers what Aspergers is and that they need to take that into consideration.
Finally we also spoke about the possibility of looking for a different education setting. To perhaps send him to Berry Street (although I am no longer sure that this is the name of the annex or not). From what I understand Berry Street caters for children like the big fella. The school explained that they had another student who was very similar to him because he also had Aspergers. That this student started Year 9 there this year and he is a much happier child.
I have my concerns about this, yes I know the big fella is a special needs child and I don't know if I want him to go to Berry Street unless it is absolutely necessary. I would much prefer that he stay in a mainstream school. However, if a mainstream school isn't what he can cope with and succeed in then we really have no other choice but to seriously consider transferring him to a school setting in which he can thrive!
We did have a great talk and we all agreed when we left, the deputy principal, the middle-school years coordinator, Mark & I , that we felt like we have achieved something and that we now have a plan or something to aim for.
Now we just need to get the big fella back to school and to get him to co-operate while he is there!!
The acting deputy principal said that he will talk with ALL of the big fella's teachers and explain to them that he doesn't need to do all of his work and that he is to be assessed differently now. I also said that I know the big fella is a very capable student and he is able to cope with the academic side of things and that if they wish to send home work to make up for what he isn't doing or wont do in class that I can help him out that way.
Most importantly Mark said is this High School the right place for him? Do you cater for children with Aspergers? To which the deputy principal said .. As far as the education department is concerned yes we are able to cater for the children but to be honest I don't think we are. The school will revisit with ALL the teachers what Aspergers is and that they need to take that into consideration.
Finally we also spoke about the possibility of looking for a different education setting. To perhaps send him to Berry Street (although I am no longer sure that this is the name of the annex or not). From what I understand Berry Street caters for children like the big fella. The school explained that they had another student who was very similar to him because he also had Aspergers. That this student started Year 9 there this year and he is a much happier child.
I have my concerns about this, yes I know the big fella is a special needs child and I don't know if I want him to go to Berry Street unless it is absolutely necessary. I would much prefer that he stay in a mainstream school. However, if a mainstream school isn't what he can cope with and succeed in then we really have no other choice but to seriously consider transferring him to a school setting in which he can thrive!
We did have a great talk and we all agreed when we left, the deputy principal, the middle-school years coordinator, Mark & I , that we felt like we have achieved something and that we now have a plan or something to aim for.
Now we just need to get the big fella back to school and to get him to co-operate while he is there!!
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