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Sometimes Changes is Good; Little Man received Awards!

Many of you remember the issues that my Little Man (10) had in school earlier in this year, and the madness that ensured with his first IEP meeting.  Hubby and I had a difficult decision to make: fight the school for the Little Man’s accommodations, and support—or—change schools where they have an awesome autism program and plenty of support.  We were unsure, but we decided to change school basically because the Tot was going to start school (3K autism class) in that school, and because the Little Man was so miserable that he was begged to switch schools. 

What a difference a school and its staff can make!

I attended the Little Man’s end of the year awards ceremony today after receiving a notice from his school that he was receiving an award. Neither him, nor I had any idea what award he was receiving. With my mother’s help, we toted the Tot, and the baby to the school to see the him receive his award. (Thankfully she was able to take an impatient Tot outside on their playground—more on that later)

I am proud to announce that not only did Little Man receive an award, he receive THREE AWARDS!  I was floored, and thrilled, to see how happy my son has become, and how proud he is of himself.  This is something we were NOT seeing earlier in the year (before switching schools), and something I honestly didn’t expect to see. 

 

Writing Award

writing award 2 “Look, Mom, just like yours! Now, you HAVE to publish my book!” 

I wrote about the Little Man’s new interest in writing books here, and he is still on a roll.  He wrote a murder mystery police story a few weeks ago (I may need to limit his Bones, and Castle watching because he put the victims in mailboxes—yikes!). The Little Man loves watching police shows so I suppose that is where he found his ideas. What I didn’t know was that he took his story to school and read it to his class. (Same is true with his Sonic stories that I posted a few weeks ago.) Today, he proudly went up on stage and received his writing award, which I am told I must hand in my office next to my book award.  (Going out to buy him a frame today!)  I am so proud of him!

Writing Award 3

 

  Matty & Ms. Z 

 

Thanks Ms. Z!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading Award

million words 3

 

 

A kid after my own heart! 

This award was for reading over ONE MILLION WORDS during this school year.  He spent most of his year reading the Harry Potter books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A-B HONOR ROLL!

honor roll 2 Talking about a shock!  This Honor Roll surprised me, and the Little Man. Would you believe that he was the last one up on stage because he insisted that he could not get that award because he got a “C” on his last report card?

When I told him to go up and get his award, he meandered, and walked toward the stage, several times turning around and coming back toward me. He finally went up there when they announced there was one more student they were waiting for and encourage him to head up front.

He didn’t realize that one “C” wouldn’t bring his average grades for the year down that far, and he still made the Honor Roll.  It was interesting to watch how sure he was of himself walking up to the stage for his Writing Award and Million Words Award, but hesitant to accept an award he was unsure he had earned.  That is his over-developed sense of justice in action.

 

Little Man finished up his school year very happy, and is actually looking forward to the two weeks of Extended School year that will start in two weeks.  His love of school and learning has been rekindled, and for that, I cannot thank the staff that has worked with him at Lester Elementary School enough!  Thank you all for your hard work and dedication. I hope you all know how you touch the lives of our children; your influences (both good or bad) will stay with them for years to come.

Jeannie Davide-Rivera

Jeannie is an award-winning author, the Answers.com Autism Category Expert, contributes to Autism Parenting Magazine, and the Thinking Person's Guide to Autism. She lives in New York with her husband and four sons, on the autism spectrum.

One Comment:

  1. I’m so happy for your family! So glad you switched schools!

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