Even being prepared as a parent can leave you unprepared

As our boys filed into their 2nd grade classrooms, I stood outside of the room with a couple other moms.  The talk turned to middle school, how, I have no recollection, but turn it did.  At the time, the middle school we're districted to was in the midst of dealing with some really rotten disciplinary issues and kids were leaving the school in droves.  Even though we knew the decision was years off, Bill and I talked a whole lot about where we would send the boys when the time came.  We knew that unless changes were made, we would be sending our kids to a middle school out of district.

Our main concern with the possibility of transferring out of district was the knowledge that what we did for the first 2, we would want to follow suit with the other 3 kids.  When you transfer to another district, you never know if your transfer will be honored year after year or if you'll get kicked out so that kids living in the district have first priority.  The last thing we wanted to do was transfer to a new school and be told a couple years down the road that we would have to return to the school that was within the district we lived.  Although I survived going to middle school and high school after having friends to go different schools, if it was something we could avoid for the boys, we certainly wanted to.

As chance would have it, the middle school ousted the interim principal and got a new principal who was all about cleaning house, getting rid of the teachers who weren't at the school for the right reasons, and solving the disciplinary problems.  Things started turning around at the school, and within the following 2 years, the school definitely cleaned up its act.  Faculty at the boys' elementary school were beginning to hear that the school was worth recommending again and when the name of the school was brought up in conversation, it no longer brought about groans and 'oh, you do not want your kid going there'.  Well, there are always naysayers, but the reputation of the school had improved measurably.

We wanted to know more about the school, so we went to the 5th grade parent night at the middle school when the boys were in 4th grade, and again when they were in 5th grade.  We met the band director, met the principal and were beginning to feel more comfortable with the notion of sending them to the school.  Let's be honest, with 5 kids, the knowledge that the kids could be picked up at the end of our road by the bus each day was a big factor in the plus column as well.  It was a go, we'd give the school a try.

However, no matter how much planning, talking and deciding we did ahead of time could have prepared us for how quickly we realized the school is just not the right place for our boys to be.  The school hosted a 'meet the teacher night' last Thursday and as we exited the building after it was over, Bill and I turned to each other and almost at the same moment said 'this is not the right place, we need to figure out annother option'.  We actually liked most of their teachers, but there were too many things that didn't add up to what we feel our kids need from their middle school career. 

I could be typing all night to tell of the phone calls made and people we talked to so I'll attempt the short version!  After talking to the district that we wanted to transfer into and learning that once we get in on transfer they would try to keep us in the district, we decided that the right school for the boys to be at was one about 15 minutes away, one that would require drop off and pick up every day, one that houses all the grade levels in one area with classrooms and lockers within sight, no running to classes necessary, and most importantly, one that holds band class EVERY DAY!  None of this every other day one week and only 2 days the next week business!  Upon walking into the school, it immediately felt inviting, comfortable-home!!  We left with smiles plastered on our faces!  SO excited.  They will now go to school with fellow boy scouts too.

G and J are a bit sad about leaving their friends behind, but after hearing all we had to tell them about the new school and the opportunities it would provide -Spanish 1 that carries high school credit, advanced/AP math class that carry high school credit, a wonderful variety of electives to choose from and band class every day- they understand the reason for needing to move and are good to go.  Such troopers they are!  I know the instant they walk into the new school they will feel just as excited about it as we are.

Tomorrow we'll go and have the paperwork signed by the Principal from the school they are at now in the morning, the boys will attend school, we'll run the paperwork over to the new school, and by Tuesday morning, they'll be in their new school and hopefully be on the receiving end of friendly conversation from new friends.

As parents of 2 terrific 6th graders, we hope and pray we have made the right decision in moving them.  The saying 'rely on your gut instincts' has truly been what we have lived by these past few days and what we sure hope will lead our boys to success in their school career for many, many years to come.  Looks like we might need a second first day of school picture!  The other bonus?  No special dress code either!