Is this college or kindergarten?

     Getting Scarlett into the elementary school we wanted felt more like we were trying to get her into college rather than getting her into Kindergarten.  And for any parents going through this process I encourage you to stay strong and stick to what you believe is the best for your child.  I, like most parents new I needed to research Scarletts options when in came to the "perfect school" for her.  A lot of concerns came into play when making our initial decision and her bleeding disorder was top on the list.   We knew we wanted a school...
- that was small
- had a safe playground 

- that challenged her, while providing safe boundaries

- that was close to either my husband or I (preferably both) in case of a medical emergency ...... AND

- that was supportive in our decision makings where Scarlett's safety was concerned  
We knew we had to try and get her into schools in our neighboring town because they were smaller.  Unfortunately I had heard K-registration was somewhat of a nightmare in that town (because it's common for other parents to transfer their child to a different school than their neighborhood school due to specific preferences).  I was also coming from out of town and had a child that was considered special needs....... which didn't make us a favorite coming in.  

By the time Kindegarten Registration rolled around we had decided on 3 schools that we really liked......2 schools that were directly between my husband at home and me at work, and one very close to my work.  Now, I would hope (and from what I've heard), what I experienced was not the norm of an average American trying to enroll their child in Kindergarten.  Because I was trying to get Scarlett into schools other than her neighborhood school........every time we registered for a new school in a new district we had to jump through a lot of hoops.  Most school districts asked that we get released from our neighborhood district ( which took 4-6 weeks, consisted of a lot of paperwork and explaining her disorder) and usually meant me having to take off work to drive around from school to school and district office to district office before we were even officially on any "list"......
The first day of registration........I contacted school #1: after describing my situation, the secretary very rudely said she didn't think the school was a good fit for us, but that they could put her on the list, .........that was full. I didnt like the way this school treated our situation and chose to not even register her at that school.  By day 2, already feeling a little defeated, I visited school #2: woohoo, a total shoe in.  This school was 2 blocks from where I worked and happened to be one that didn't have lots of children on their list.  They immediately put her on the list, assuming of course my daughter got released from her neighborhood school.  By day 3, feeling much more confident, I visited school #3: this school was a year round school that had an interesting option during recess which allowed the children different options ( like sewing, gardening, Zumba, etc) so they didn't have to be out on the school yard.  I instantly asked to get put on the list after hearing more about the recess renaissance program.  I was # 28 on the list......and they were accepting 26!  I would have to wait it out!

So waiting is what we did........winter ended, spring began, still no word from school #3, which was now our 1st choice.  By May, I started getting nervous.....so I checked in with both schools.  School #2, accepted her, but still no change from school,#3.  They wouldn't be able to let us know until the end of June, which was 2 weeks before school started.  This made me really nervous, to the point that I went into crazy mode and tried to contact several more schools.  What if she didn't get into the school I wanted?  School #4: had more than 50 children on its waiting list.......School #5: 24 children on their waiting list....... And School #6: met with me and then proceeded to tell me she was too much of a liability to bring into their district.  

All of these different scenarios made me very nervous for what was to come in our future.  We knew enrolling Scarlett in elementary school would be challenging and that we would probably have to fight for her rights through out her education, but we never would've guessed it would be such work to even get her into a school.  But fate eventually stepped in.........and a week in a half before school started Scarlett got into the school of our choice!  Ever since her enrollment the school and I have worked together and taken every step possible to protect Scarlett while providing her with the experiences she needs to grow up feeling like she wasn't robbed of her childhood.  Almost every day consists of reminders of making safe choices as I kiss her goodbye and my heart still skips a beat every time the school calls to inform me of an injury....... But I wouldn't change it for the world.  My daughter loves her school and I feel confident we picked the safest school for her!

Written by,

Kari Peepe

©KariPeepe/atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com
http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com

For more of my blog entries about our life in elementary school check out:

• Scarlett's 504 plan-Kinder: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/06/section-504-to-play-no-more.html
• Scarlett's Kinder year comes to a close: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/05/ode-to-teenager.html
• Scarlett's first week of 1st grade: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/07/scarletts-first-week-of-1st-grade.html
• A trip to the ER and Scarlett's 1st CATscan -1st grade: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-trip-to-er-and-scarletts-first-cat.html
• A Family Camp for Bleeders gave Scarlett the courage to make changes at school-1st grade: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-piece-i-wrote-for-hfa-s-infusing-love_17.html
• 2nd grade, We've got it made: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2015/09/2nd-grade-weve-got-it-made.html