preparing for school

We now interrupt our vacation stories for a little rant about returning to school in 2 days...

As previously stated, I know Ladybug goes to a good school.  I know that academically it is superior to most of the schools in the area.  I know they focus on education.  I know every parent who sends their children there loves it -- well, except those who quietly enroll them in year round schools or private schools.  I know!

But I still don't like the school.  I have tried.  I don't.  So the school rants start now.

When I arrived home from vacation on Sunday night I was greeted with a postcard that stated that Ladybug's first grade teacher would be Ms. P.  I immediately got on the school website and looked her up.  Only, ummmm, there was no Ms. P.  teaching first grade.  I checked the other grades to see if there was a mistake.  There was no Ms. P. in the school.  So that meant either it was an error or she was a brand spanking new teacher.

I decided not to panic.  There was a "meet the teacher" night and I would connect with her then.  Whoever she may be.  And I wanted to let her know that I was going to be requesting to go through the IEP process.  I was not going to have another year like last year with Ladybug going down hill.

Tonight was the "meet the teacher" night.  I built it up to Ladybug.  I thought about it all day.  I wanted to come off as a concerned and involved parent but not a psychotic, neurotic, PITA type of parent.  As we walked down the long first and second grade hallway I hoped I sounded the right way.  I turned into her classroom and discovered a few things.

1. The teacher was not there.  She is a new hire and is going through some last minute orientation stuff so could not be there.  UGH!
2.In her place to greet us to first grade was the school counselor.  You know... The counselor who told me that my child is perfectly normal and does not need therapy.  The counselor who told me that there is no need for an IEP.  The counselor who told me it was all in my head.  The counselor who refused to talk to Ladybug's therapist.  The counselor who told me that if I just took a parenting class everything would be fine.  The counselor who thought she could teach me the complicated dynamics of play therapy in 6 easy to learn sessions.  I basically told her nothing.
3. I read the classroom roster and discovered that Ladybug has been separated from not one, not two, but ALL of her friends.  I guess she is developing my king of luck.
4. She is in a classroom with 8 boys of about 25 students.  8!  My boy focused girl who much prefers male friends over female friends ...

Please let this year be better than last year.  Please!

Mean Mama