Happy Endings

Ashley is pictured to the right with her teacher, Mrs. Artis.

Only one more week of school left, at least for all my children but Ashley, and overall it has been a good year for everyone. Chip has begun his planning for senior year and beyond. He’s evaluating colleges, taking the SAT and ACT, and doing very, very well with all his AP courses. Corey, as I mentioned a couple of months ago, has finally pulled his grades up to honor roll level – a huge, huge accomplishment for him. He has his summer filled with a performing arts camp and volunteer time at our local library. Jessica is doing ok, although her move from one high school to another mid-year did cause some consternation (more for me than her). She has some excellent transition support services being put into place, and is well on her way to the future she envisions for herself. And Ashley will just move from her regular school year to her ESY (Extended School Year) services. But, it has been an excellent year for her also.

One of the biggest contributors to Ashley’s success in school is consistency and high expectations. Amy, Ashley’s aide both at school and home, provides both of those things, and the result has been monumental strides for Ashley both last school year and this one that is ending. In addition, Ashley’s teacher this year ‘got it’. She understood that Ashley was capable of academic work, not just the life skills most school staff tried to push her towards. Unfortunately, that teacher is leaving at the end of this year, and the new teacher may not be so quick to see Ash’s potential. But the good news is that the current teacher made sure that Ashley’s IEP is academic in nature, and that IEP will follow Ashley into next school year.

Another good thing is that Amy will provide Ashley’s ESY services. So with the consistency of an excellent intervener like Amy, Ashley will be poised for more success next school year. The challenge will then be convincing the new staff of that potential. But, I do feel better about Ashley’s upcoming 8th grade school year than I have about any other school year in the past.

So a big THANK YOU to Amy and Mrs. Artis. You both support Ashley in all her academic pursuits, and you do so with love, understanding and respect. No parent could want anymore!