Grab your popcorn and a comfy seat because this is going to be a bit of a long one. I haven't written a blog for a while so we have some catching up to do. So we all know about Callum and the ins and outs of what I went through last year. We are starting a repeat. It wasn't as bad until yesterday but still it is going to be a total repeat of last year.
He is now in year 2 and had a fantastic start to the year. It couldn't have been better. Something over the last few days has happened. I'm not sure what and I'm not sure why but I now have a 7 year old home suspended from school. He has no idea why he isn't allowed back at school and was quite upset when I told him he couldn't go. Yet apparently he knows fully what is expected of him at school. This is going to be a bit of a rant so if you don't want to read me bitching stop now.....
Tuesday I got a phone call. He had walked out of the classroom and locked himself in the boys toilets. Noone knew why and he wouldn't speak to anyone. So he was brought home. Later that evening he finally after many hours of me asking the same thing over and over again he told me. He was having trouble writing his letters and was upset he couldn't do it so he walked out and tried to hide (this is his coping mechanism and now I really wish it was just back to hiding under the desk like he used to). He was really upset. He needs more work with his fine motor skills so I am currently trying to get him in to see an Occupational Therapist.
Yesterday I get a phone call. All I got simply was can you come up and get him now. Not saying what he had done or if he was ok. Hubby was already near the school so he went and got him. Please take note here that any form of work that involves fine motor skills (eg writing and drawing) can be a trigger for him to start acting out. His school knows this. So Pat brings him home and informs me that he had been suspended. He raised his fist at a teacher aide and the deputy principal (didn't hit anyone just raised it in frustration) then tried to lock himself in a room in the office because he was getting frustrated with colouring in (fine motor).
Here is a few bits from the 3 page letter that got sent home that has given me more of an incentive to make some changes.
1. Callum has been advised to contact (deputy principal) on (phone number) to arrange an interview to assist his successful re-entry to school. Last time I checked he is 7 how the hell is he going to arrange an appointment he doesn't even understand that he is being suspended.
2. In making my decision, I have considered that you have been made aware of expectations in the schools Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students. Yeah not too sure about that one I just asked him and he doesn't know what "expectations" means.
3. Whilst in the Principal's office you demonstrated unsafe behaviours by open and slamming windows, pushing chairs over and tearing labels off the filing cabinet. Labels really??? paper cut?
There are a few other things in there that sound ridiculous but can't be bothered writing. I'm half tempted to scan the letter and you can all read it for yourself.
I am in no way saying that he is an angel. I'm his mother, I know he isn't an angel. But they need to work out a better support plan for him so it isn't such an explosion when his work gets too much for him. Once again this year, I didn't know what class he was going to be in until a couple of days before, and had no idea where his classroom was, or who his teacher is. HOW CAN I ATTEMPT TO TRANSITION MY CHILD???
Hence the reason for change. I need someone who knows the strategies to guide him through the hard stuff. He is an awesome reader but his writing skills are seriously lacking. We are still at the not being able to play in the playground stage so he isn't building his social skills anywhere near as much as what he should. Basically he needs support that can "figure him out" so to speak. Apparently his support at the school he is at will drop a lot once he finishes grade 3. Is he cured?
Tomorrow we have an interview with a new school. It is out of our catchment area for schooling but I'm going to try my darn hardest to try and get him in there. The specialist school I want to send him to doesn't have any spots until term 4 for him. I have gotten a referral for a child psychologist to help him work through how he deals with frustration. I'm tempted to also ring DSQ but the probability of them being as useless as last time is highly probable. Lots of empty promises.
Next week will be better I'm determined.... Well it better be or I will surely be ripping my hair out!!!
