We all want to give our kids their best shot in life via a good education. Their education determines where we buy our homes, what jobs we take to pay for school, how we save our money for when they go to college and so many more decisions. And in the end, we hope to foster their love for learning so they grow up, go to college, get a good job and become successful.
UCP Charter School, The Experts for Children with Special Needs. This is where we chose to send Holly and Jack. Special needs. Today's mainstream thought on special needs is integration, putting the special needs child into a general education setting to encourage their highest potential functioning. Putting a typical child into a special needs classroom? Yes, Holly chose to be just that kid and we supported her decision. After all, doesn't Holly have special needs too? Don't all children?
UCP was a perfect fit for Jack. Small classroom ratios allowing for extra attention for the medications that he needs to take during the day, extra one on one time to help him with some of his learning delays, the ability to get therapy for his fine motor skills during school hours and a staff who is trained to deal with his seizures. Yes, perfect. Jack had a great year with wonderful teachers who not just taught him, they loved him. Finding ways to get him to eat, easing his fears of transition with a safety plan, calming a nervous Mom when seizures occurred. Even a day when I received a call that he was found unresponsive during nap time and an ambulance was called, they handled amazingly and he was always in great caring hands.
Holly has attended therapy every week for two years. Morgan has attended occupational therapy every week since she was 2 weeks old. Typical girls growing up in a not so typical household. As normal as we strive to be, Holly endures a lot as well. Small classroom ratios, teachers who understand our family and can comfort her when her brother is sick or in the hospital and a one stop drop for Mom, perfect.
What we didn't expect was the compassion that came from Holly attending school here. Yes, she may be the only child in her class without an IEP, but she has special needs. Not only did Holly pass Kindergarten with flying colors but she learned that everyone is different and that different is okay. She has a friend in a wheelchair, one who eats with a feeding tube and one who doesn't speak. Holly has learned to feed another child with a feeding tube, learned to understand someones feelings without using words, learned what brings joy to someone who can't smile on the outside. She's learned to think outside of the box, making a valentine bracelet of bells for a boy who cannot read or enjoy a card or candy. An unexpected gift from a school. Gifts that will transform who she becomes and that she will carry with her for the rest of her life. We are so proud of our Holly Cakes and can't wait to see the great things she will do with these gifts.
UCP Charter School, The Experts for Children with Special Needs. This is where we chose to send Holly and Jack. Special needs. Today's mainstream thought on special needs is integration, putting the special needs child into a general education setting to encourage their highest potential functioning. Putting a typical child into a special needs classroom? Yes, Holly chose to be just that kid and we supported her decision. After all, doesn't Holly have special needs too? Don't all children?
UCP was a perfect fit for Jack. Small classroom ratios allowing for extra attention for the medications that he needs to take during the day, extra one on one time to help him with some of his learning delays, the ability to get therapy for his fine motor skills during school hours and a staff who is trained to deal with his seizures. Yes, perfect. Jack had a great year with wonderful teachers who not just taught him, they loved him. Finding ways to get him to eat, easing his fears of transition with a safety plan, calming a nervous Mom when seizures occurred. Even a day when I received a call that he was found unresponsive during nap time and an ambulance was called, they handled amazingly and he was always in great caring hands.
Holly has attended therapy every week for two years. Morgan has attended occupational therapy every week since she was 2 weeks old. Typical girls growing up in a not so typical household. As normal as we strive to be, Holly endures a lot as well. Small classroom ratios, teachers who understand our family and can comfort her when her brother is sick or in the hospital and a one stop drop for Mom, perfect.
What we didn't expect was the compassion that came from Holly attending school here. Yes, she may be the only child in her class without an IEP, but she has special needs. Not only did Holly pass Kindergarten with flying colors but she learned that everyone is different and that different is okay. She has a friend in a wheelchair, one who eats with a feeding tube and one who doesn't speak. Holly has learned to feed another child with a feeding tube, learned to understand someones feelings without using words, learned what brings joy to someone who can't smile on the outside. She's learned to think outside of the box, making a valentine bracelet of bells for a boy who cannot read or enjoy a card or candy. An unexpected gift from a school. Gifts that will transform who she becomes and that she will carry with her for the rest of her life. We are so proud of our Holly Cakes and can't wait to see the great things she will do with these gifts.
ive been sitting here in front of my computerow for about 10 minutes trying to figure out what to write. typing, deleting. typing, deleting. my loss of words befuttle me. i guess i have so much to say, that i dont know where to begin is all... y'all inspire me. everyday. holly, you little cakes you. you've already done so much good in your life. God has you little one, you are the apple of His eye. dana, when you were a little girl trying to imagine how your life would turn out, did you ever imagine that you'd have such an insight to the world? we both have true, real life angels in our lives. active, seen and unseen. i know that i am blessed to be able to say, "that's my sister, look at all that she has accomplished!" i am blessed to be able to say "that's my family, look at how perfectly imperfect!" i am very proud to be blessed with y'all. love you, thinking bout you everyday, praying for you even more.
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