Well I've been browsing this bb occasionally for a few years now...and the time has finally come. I'm enrolling my PA son in kinder tomorrow morning.
As advised by several on this bb, I tried to initiate contact with the school in January (already feeling like I was "late") to notify them my ds would be attending this fall. I literally never got through the secretary. Tehy simply do NOT speak with kindergarten parents until after enrollment begins in April is what I was told repeatedly.
I should have pushed that more, but I didn't. I had my 2nd ds by c-section on Feb 6th (had some preeclampsia and amniotic fluid level problems before delivery...ltos of extra appointments) and so dealing with the school easily fell by the wayside. Completely my fault, but since I've been dreading it and was otherwise occupied, it was easy to put it off.
I spoke to the Asst. Principal FINALLY today. I've called twice this week (am enrolling tomorrow so figured i'd track her down in person if I had to tomorrow). And I quote "We have lots of students in school with peanut allergy and we are used to dealing with it." She then went on to explain how the epi pens are kept in the nurses office RED FLAG #1. How the only person trained to use them is the "Health Assistant" (nurse is only there on Fridays) RED FLAG #2. And how we can iron out a lot of these details in August when they assign classrooms and teachers to the students RED FLAG #3.
I did make it clear I want this all settled before school is out in mid-June. I let the other stuff slide as we are meeting (the pricipal, asst. principal, and myself) on Tues morning and can begin to address all of the issues.
I will go that day armed with a letter from our allergist validating the allergy and how serious it is. I have not decided whether or not to pursue a 504. I asked if they had any in place for the students with food allergy and she was completely baffled as to why we would need one. Great.
It's half day kinder and they do not go to the cafeteria at all. They have snack in the classroom. I'd convinced myself (prior to our phone conversation) that we could do this in a more informal manner. We will move summer '07 (dh is military) and I thought we could get through this year before pursuing a 504 or any kind of formal plan.
After my conversation today, I'm wondering what to do. When I go in on Tuesday, where in the world do I begin? The doctor's letter is very succinct and lays the ground work for all of the requests we will be making.
I do NOT want this to be an adversarial relationship, but I have to keep Matthew safe, period. How do I finesse this...where do I begin and do I blurt out the dreaded "504 plan" words in that first meeting?
I'm so new to all of this and I've even read the thread about 504 plans and the myths behind not seeking one. I keep thinking that is for kdis who are in school full day and eat in the cafeteria. I keep trying to convince myself we're half day and it's much less complicated.
But I can alredy tell they don't get it. This is so long and more of a vent than anything else. Any advice as to where to begin, what my objective should be, etc.. for Tuesday is appreciated. Please help!
Maddy
Mommy to Matthew
I sounds like you are starting it just fine. I would be focus on the snack issue, having an epi with your child, and using pb or nuts in the classroom. Since you are only 1/2 day, I tend to also see it as less complicated. The cafeteria is a whole other issue.
This will give you an opportunity to get your feet wet with schools and 504 and be ready for that 07 move.
Here's a queer question from a Canadian. Does a 504 Plan travel with your child from school to school or do you have to "trail blaze" and do the 504 Plan thing each time you move?
Here, in Ontario, I've had to work with each new school my son has gone to.
I'm thinking if the 504 Plan travels with your child, that I would start right away with one, in school, from day one, regardless of the fact that he'll only be going half days this year.
I still find it sad that after all these years (my son is in his 7th year of school), we (and probably the school administration) still see our requests to keep our children safe as coming across as adversarial, no matter how quietly we make our requests. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img]
Sorry, was no help at all, but did need to ask that.
Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
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"That was Polanski. Nicholson got his nose cut."
csc,
Like you, we must address this at each new school he attends. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img] Fortunately We will only move 2 more times (MAYBE 3) before my dh retires.
Matt's Mommy, thank-you for your answer, especially since you're the one in need of advice. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Okay, since you'll be moving, do you want to go through the 504 Plan process for a half day for one year only to go through it again the following year?
In going through the process the first time, would it prepare you for when your child is in school full days? You can see how it works and what needs to be ironed out when you go to the next school? So, it might be a *good* thing to do?
Now, an IEP in America, does it follow your child from school to school?
I rather get the impression, although I would have to check (my son does have an IEP although I don't understand it right now), that his IEP follows him from school to school no matter what, but I could be mistaken. And his IEP is not PA related (I don't know if IEP's can be PA related).
I am sorry. It doesn't seem as though I am being helpful at all. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img]
Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
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"That was Polanski. Nicholson got his nose cut."
I sounds like you are starting it just fine. I would be focus on the snack issue, having an epi with your child, and using pb or nuts in the classroom. Since you are only 1/2 day, I tend to also see it as less complicated. The cafeteria is a whole other issue.
This will give you an opportunity to get your feet wet with schools and 504 and be ready for that 07 move.
Here's a queer question from a Canadian. Does a 504 Plan travel with your child from school to school or do you have to "trail blaze" and do the 504 Plan thing each time you move?
Here, in Ontario, I've had to work with each new school my son has gone to.
I'm thinking if the 504 Plan travels with your child, that I would start right away with one, in school, from day one, regardless of the fact that he'll only be going half days this year.
I still find it sad that after all these years (my son is in his 7th year of school), we (and probably the school administration) still see our requests to keep our children safe as coming across as adversarial, no matter how quietly we make our requests. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img]
Sorry, was no help at all, but did need to ask that.
Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
------------------
"That was Polanski. Nicholson got his nose cut."
csc,
Like you, we must address this at each new school he attends. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img] Fortunately We will only move 2 more times (MAYBE 3) before my dh retires.
Matt's Mommy, thank-you for your answer, especially since you're the one in need of advice. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Okay, since you'll be moving, do you want to go through the 504 Plan process for a half day for one year only to go through it again the following year?
In going through the process the first time, would it prepare you for when your child is in school full days? You can see how it works and what needs to be ironed out when you go to the next school? So, it might be a *good* thing to do?
Now, an IEP in America, does it follow your child from school to school?
I rather get the impression, although I would have to check (my son does have an IEP although I don't understand it right now), that his IEP follows him from school to school no matter what, but I could be mistaken. And his IEP is not PA related (I don't know if IEP's can be PA related).
I am sorry. It doesn't seem as though I am being helpful at all. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img]
Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
------------------
"That was Polanski. Nicholson got his nose cut."