Kindergarten orientation and IEP meeting

Today was big day! It started with Kindergarten orientation. I’ll admit up front that I cried as soon as we walked it the building. It was so big and this is such a huge step for Oksana. We knew that they would be separating the parents and students at some point so Larry took the day off to come with me to help her while I went to parent meetings. We were so surprised when they said they had a para available to be with her so we could both go to the meetings! I was a bit nervous when I left her to go to parent orientation. While the parents heard from the principal, nurse, and PTO, the kids were meeting with their teacher, touring the building, and practicing the lunch routine with a snack. We were finished before they were so we had a chance to sign up for parent teacher conferences and ask her teacher any questions we had. When they came back she was all smiles and the para said she did fantastic! She absolutely loved it!

After a quick trip home for lunch we sent the kids off with my mom and set out for our first IEP meeting. We could not have been happier with our experience! Everyone was very excited about getting to know Oksana. Many of them had been there during orientation and had made an effort to find us so they could meet her or kept an eye on her while she was separated from us. They reported back to us how great she did! We were thrilled with how interested they were in her and with their interest in her history. We talked about OT, PT, Speech, what her day would look like, riding the bus (which we decided against), etc. The one big surprise of the day is that we made the decision to send her full day. All along we had intended to start her off 1/2 day and re evaluate that decision after Christmas. I was the first one to say on the way out of K orientation that I was shocked at how great she did and really thought she would be bummed to leave early when all the other kids are staying. As a team we discussed many different options for the length of her school day. In the end we all agreed that she would go full day and that, especially at the beginning of the year, if anyone feels she needs to go home for any reason they will call me. Larry and I both feel good about this decision and we are so excited for her! So as of right now she will be in the regular classroom with a full time aid. Throughout the next couple of weeks she will be having a number of evaluations done and then we will meet again as a time to finalize the amount of therapies received and whether or not she will need any special ed services, adaptive PE, etc.

I really truly believe that Oksana will thrive at this school. I am excited for her to start school for many reasons. Besides the obvious social and educational benefits, I am also excited to have some focused time schooling my boys. Last year we were adjusting to having Oksana in the middle of our schooling and next year Anya will be here with us, so this is my chance to really enjoy my time with them and make the most of our school year. It will be so strange not having her around, and it’s going to be a big adjustment, but it will be good for all of us!