It hasn't been the best year for Nicholas as far as schooling goes. We started him at Elmgrove and he didn't like it (even though he had his best friend in his class). We sent him back to Mornington and he was so much happier unfortunately it wasn't financially viable and so after term one we talked to Nicholas about giving Elmgrove another go.
Term two started off rocky and we still could sense he wasn't happy. Parent teacher interviews came and we soon noticed the consequences of our decision to send him back. He had fallen behind in maths now the bottom of the class (from the top at Mornington). Reading level dropped from 20 to 18. Dave expressed his concerns to the teacher and they both agreed to disagree with each others opinion. I asked about the lack of homework and apparently other parents had mentioned that also. Therefore starting in term 3 homework would be on the agenda.
Term 3 started and we signed Nicholas up to Number Works to help him out with his maths. A homework book came home and for awhile things seem to be okay. One day I was rung to go and pick Nicholas up from school he was sick. I went to the school he was in the sick bay crying his eyes out. I took him home and it was like a miracle had happen between school and home he was better again. The next morning when it was time to go to school he became sick again so he stayed home again the same the next day. So I asked him what was wrong he couldn't /wouldn't tell me. I asked the teacher about bullies and she said that was a problem in Nicholas class but that some of the boys give as good as they get. Horrified with that remark I could somehow understand where Nicholas was coming from and why he never played with any of the boys in his class. He mainly played with Ben two classes above him. I would take Nicholas to school and we would say prays to ask Heavenly Father to help and protect Nicholas whilst at school. Each day I would pick him up and he would tell me his tummy feels better when school is over.
Finally we get a brief report home from the teacher outlining the term. It read along the lines of him being a better friend without being angry and improvement on listening skills and he had reduced telling tales. So we went on holiday thinking our son was unfriendly, angry, disruptive and a tattle tale. As Dave and I pondered on this report we couldn't believe a teacher could be so negative. When we arrived home from our holiday I was at Amiee and noticed Jareds profile book curious I looked and blow me down the same report was in his profile book. My personal opinion of this is that Nicholas's teacher had summed up her class as a whole and wrote one report photocopied it and slapped it into every ones profile book. Whatever happened to individuality. When I told Dave he was not impressed and insisted we withdraw him asap.
The hunt was on for a new school we only had two options Silverstream or St Mary's. Our neighbour just down from us has a son the same age as Nicholas and he goes to St Mary's. I couldn't help but wonder if this school would suite Nicholas as both Stacey and Ben went to St Francis Xavier and both enjoyed their time there. Then the whole religion thing could be a hurdle but Dave said we will jump those hurdles when/if they pop up.
I went to St Mary's to check it out and was most impressed with everything. The Principal was so inviting and he showed me around the whole school. Just like Mornington Principal he knew his pupil in every class we went into from NE to Form 2 he knew them by name as he picked pupils out to show me things they were doing. I still haven't met the principal at Elmgrove the only person I could talk too most days was the receptionist she was amazing and definitely holds that school together.
Next step was to bring Nicholas for a tour and he totally liked the school and every classroom made him feel very welcomed. Nicholas was keen to sign up. Our next hurdle was to meet Father Dooley he came to our home and we talked about the nuts and bolts including our different religions and we decided that we all wanted what was best for Nicholas and Father Dooley gave us the thumbs up.
So two weeks into term 4 Nicholas started at St Mary's and he hasn't looked back. He is so happy and instead of I don't want to go to school to hurry mum we'll be late for prayers. He has been at St Mary's two weeks now and already his reading has gone from 18 to 22. We went to Number Works and Naiom asked us whats happened to Nicholas he has changed he is flying through his activities. We explained what we had done and told us it certainly shows.
In conclusion I decided that different strokes for different folks and although Elmgrove has some great qualities some schools suites some children, and some that don't. May the next years at St Mary's be happy ones for us as a family.
St Mary's Boy
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