"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."
~William Shakespeare
Last night was the Junior High graduation ceremony for Ab’s school. There were a whole four, yes four-8th grade graduates, all girls! They were part of Ab’s combined 7th/8th grade class at Carden, which is a "private" school with about 120 students in Kindergarten through 8th grades. Carden is a wonderful school, with loving teachers who hug the kids. Each morning they have an assembly where all students gather together to greet the teachers and parents with a hearty handshake. After the Pledge of Allegiance, they say the Carden Prayer and then the weekly standard...which is often something like...Recognize the achievements of others!
Ab was "promoted" into the 8th grade class. She received several awards (see photo) from her teacher, who will have her in class again in the fall. The teacher selects a quote for each child and she chose "The secret to getting ahead is getting started." That quote will make a lot more sense to the reader a little further into this entry. Of special importance was her Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Creative Expression. Mrs. Mattern stated that Ab really new how to express herself in writing, poetry and art! Ab also received an award for Outstanding Participation in Music, and in Computers, for meeting her typing challenge goal of 31 words per minute! I am really amazed by that skill at twelve years old. But, some of the 8th graders were typing over 60 wpm! Wow!
The teacher really got to know the 7th graders this year and she’ll have them for their last year too. There has to be some advantages to that. I sure hope she’s found a better way to deal with my Abigail for next year, since she gave her a failing mark in literature. She assured me she has "a plan" for the new year. I was kind of shocked that Ab got such a bad grade, because we expect and normally get pretty good contact from the teacher, except for in this situation. I had no idea that she was failing anything. She is so very intelligent, wonderfully artistic and she has excellent writing skills. But, she’s also terribly unorganized, easily distractible and she is a pretty amazing procrastinator!
At only 12 and a half, she’s young for 7th grade. She attended a private kindergarten at age 4, because she was "ready" according to her teacher. As a result, she’s younger than any of the other kids in her grade. That sometimes shows in her level of maturity and her ability to complete assignments and stay on task. Also, last year she was tested and diagnosed with ADD and takes medication for that problem. Her teachers are supposed to assist her as best they can, since the behavior is not willful! But, in private school, they can sometimes take the attitude that they don’t have to "put up" with that kind of kid, when they have a majority of super-students. I was kind of sad to hear all the accomplishments of the graduates, knowing that Ab may never live up to the likes of some of the same types in her current class. Maybe by next Fall she will have matured a bit more. I hope so.
Ab was very sad to see her older classmates and friends leaving for public high school adventures. Ab desperately wants to attend the high school in our town, but we’re not so sure it would be in her best interest. Especially considering that Bubba really started going downhill when he started high school here. This town has a serious problem with teen drug/alcohol abuse and very little in the way of constructive activities for the kids. But, there are not any private high schools here and I can’t do home schooling, while I work full-time. Papa certainly isn’t up to taking on home schooling for her either. Tonight she was in tears, after overhearing my conversation with another mother about the possibility of car-pooling our kids to Christian high school in a town about 45 miles away from here.
I am hoping for a much better year for Abbie in 8th grade. This year was pretty stressful for her with her brother’s drug use and his running away and Papa’s illness, surgeries and frequent hospitalizations.
All that, on top of having to cope with life as a "teen" in general.
Carden Prayer
Father in Heaven, to Thee we pray, Asking Thy help, day by day. In all we say, in all we do, Make us kind and generous too.
Make us eager in our work today, Make us joyous in our play. Help us always to follow Thy rule, Father in Heaven, Bless our School.
Amen
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We have alot in common with our daughters. Meagan is very immature, always has been. Middle school was a nightmare for Meagan, by and far her worst years both socially and academically. But I can tell you that she, in the last eighteen months, has come along way in maturity and academics; we are actually seeing some 'want to' in her, something she seemed to lack. Not everyone matures in the same time frame, but it will come for your Ab as well.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I work for our high school. Teen drug and alcohol usage is a concern everywhere, even in private academys. It is so sad, the only thing we as parents can do is keep the dialogue open, give our kids a firm understanding that this type of behavior is unacceptableand why, and lastly, give them every outlet of activity possible to keep them busy! Have faith it will work out. No 2 kids are the same, so just because one veered off the path doesn't mean the other will follow. Boy, parenting ain't easy, is it?????
I'm impressed with you little school. Despite the problems she is having, she nteed a lot of positive feedback and rewards from her teacher. Maybe the teacher just didn't want to dwell on a negative (her failing grade in literature?)
ReplyDeleteKristi is right about drug problems not being limited to public schools...but I think if I were in your position, and I had the means to keep my daughter in private schools for her High School years, I would probably do it. But, I don't have any kids, so I don't know that my advice is worth an awful lot! (LOL) Lisa :-]