Catholic Schools?

[EyelashExtensions]

My daughter currently attends a public school BUT I have ran in to a problem with the public school board. hp2 made me think of this and wanted to ask some people on here who might have children in a catholic school. From what I have heard the Catholic school board is more efficient and more equipped to help students with learning disabilities or who are struggling. I went to the Algoma Health Unit for a speech assessment and language assessment for my daughter. Their conclusion was she is just below average, her speech although lacking in some areas is average for her age and it more than likely going to correct itself by the time she is 7. Her problem areas in that aspect ar common problems. BUT when it comes to the language portion she is below average in two areas and they think she may have problems with reading and writing. They said they would only help her till October of this year(because they only help till a child is 4years 11 months) and after that it's up tp the school board to get her help. The public school board only has ONE person to help all the kids in the city, so if a school has a special ed class they can work with her throughout the school year on an occasional basis. Another BUT they won't help until she is in grade 4! Apparently the public school system isn't equipped to help or diagnose her until that grade. We already know she is having some difficulty, but by grade 4 she could be very much behind. I had a phone meeting with her teacher trying to get something set up for her when she returned to school in September, but there is nothing they can do for her. The teacher was nice enough to get her EA to work with her a few times a week, I work with her at home as well, but it's not going to put her where she needs to be. I was thinking of switching her to a Catholic school in hopes of getting her the help she needs. Anyone know how the catholic system works in that aspect?

[hp2]

we did think about it with what went on a christmas but the school my kids would have to attend in the catholic board is my moms school where she works.. so as much as its not a confilict it was and nothing against my mother.. but SHe likes where she is and I would not want her to have to change schools again if she had to to accomodate for my kids.. I Know she would but we worked out that problem at school so we are safe for now...


My mom Shakes her head at the ADSB.. as she worked for them YRS ago and sees the school where my kids go.... SHE just shakes her had as to things that go on..

[EyelashExtensions]

It is sooooo stupid that Algoma health unit doesn't help beyond the age they do and the public school system won't "officially" help till she's in grade 4. Now is the time to correct the problems, not when she is in grade 4 and expected to know how to read and write and so on.

[lynys]

we did think about it with what went on a christmas but the school my kids would have to attend in the catholic board is my moms school where she works.. so as much as its not a confilict it was and nothing against my mother.. but SHe likes where she is and I would not want her to have to change schools again if she had to to accomodate for my kids.. I Know she would but we worked out that problem at school so we are safe for now...


My mom Shakes her head at the ADSB.. as she worked for them YRS ago and sees the school where my kids go.... SHE just shakes her had as to things that go on..

Why is it a conflict with your mother working there? Is this board policy?

[Xzavia]

They didn't reccommend anyone you could call for this Lizzard?? My son (he's 12) went through pretty much the same thing, I got him on a waiting list for the speech therapist through the GHC, he finally got in there and they were able to diagnose him and what they felt his needs were, then there was a man that came into the school and helped him a couple times a week a few years ago now. He worked with him until he felt confident he was on the right track, just that little bit really helped him.

He would have been in grade 4 or 5 when they did this. Now....he's doing well (grade 7) never been held back a grade, not really high marks but he's doing well.

It's surprising nowadays how many kids send time with a remedial type teacher, back when I little I was centred out for being one of the two that needed help. That school has been great for getting my boys the extra help they needed/need.

[hp2]

Why is it a conflict with your mother working there? Is this board policy?

NO its not board policy Lynys.. but I know my kids.. and I know they would not stay focused as they know nana is there.. MY kids adore my mother...

[EyelashExtensions]

[QUOTE=XZAVIA;401260]They didn't reccommend anyone you could call for this Lizzard??"


Nope I talked to her teacher they told my they wouldn't help her till grade 4. Her teacher will get the EA to work with her in the meantime. You had someone help him through the Group Health? No one mentioned that to me. She has a Drs. appointment coming up soon maybe I'll ask him about that, he'll know. It's part of the reason why she has the Dr. appointment, cause everyone is telling me there isn't much they can be doing for her till later on. And I'm not waiting till she's older. I'm going to get it dealt with now one way or another.

[Xzavia]

If they say there's a waiting list, get on it!!! They told me it could be year or more for my son, it was about 5 months I think. Surprising how many people make appointments like that than cancel them.

[hp2]

Lizzard our dr got the ball going for us with our little one. Like xzavia said.. IF Theres a list get on it.. WE have been on it since sept!! and he told me approx 6 months.. he actually detected it with my son as we got a new dr this yr... and was worried about it.. and like you know we went through lots of testing in sept.

[Hidden Treasure]

My son is in SK in a Catholic School. He sees a speak therapist every Thursday afternoon. He was put on the waiting list in Sept. And started seeing her in January. He gets stuff sent home from her for us to practice at home.
Lizzard you should definetly put her name on the waiting list. They told me it could be up to six months wait but it wasn't long at all.

[goodasgold]

My children go to a Catholic school. My oldest never had to see a speech therapist, but there class has a dedicated EA due to one child being autistic. My youngest was in JK and the teacher thought we should see a speech therapist. We went and had two appointments through Algoma Health and they even went to the class and spoke with the teacher. He spoke quickly and had a tendency to cut off words. He has since outgrown this. His grade 1 teacher has asked that he see a Student Support worker, but since she would not tell me what for, I have refused it. I think there is support for kids who need it, but not sure if it's exactly what you are looking for. The EAs and Student Support workers will work one on one with children or in groups helping with school work or help them understand more appropriate school behaviour.

You could always call the catholic school in the area, meet with the principal and tell them what concerns you have and support you're looking for.

[Soundbear]

Read a book to her every night. Buy her books to read. Get her a library card.
And see what happens in a year. You'll probably be amazed.

[BlueSky]

And whatever you do, minimize exposure to TV or any kind of video or computer activity. It has been proven over and over again that TV for kids is not good for their brain development.

[EyelashExtensions]

Read a book to her every night. Buy her books to read. Get her a library card.
And see what happens in a year. You'll probably be amazed.

We read 5-10 books a day. It's not helping or it doesn't seem to be helping anyway. I don't push it on her, she brings them to me to read with her. She also has TAG which is a reading program for kids to do on their own. She is above average in other areas but below on language.

[EyelashExtensions]

They don`t want her in a `special ed`class just getting help on an occasional basis. I also wouldn`t worry about what other kids thought about her being in such a program. It`s there to help and elementary school is only a minimal part of her life. In the long run the program benefits would be more beneficial than the possible ridicule she might get. She already gets teased from kids in school so it`s not going to make much of a difference either way.

[Sweet Little Sister]

His grade 1 teacher has asked that he see a Student Support worker, but since she would not tell me what for, I have refused it.

did she give you a reason for not telling you what she thought he should be seeing a SSW for?

[mrsdigg]

We went through a similar situation with my son. For a number of years we (along with the teachers) suspected a learning disability as his only deficiencies were in language and he was very far behind. I, too, was frustrated with the not testing until grade 4 thing. All of the teachers (including good friends) told me to wait until grade 3 because for some kids it just comes together at that age. He continued to get extra help with the Primary Intervention teacher (I believe they have changed the name to Literacy Teacher) and we did a lot of work at home. I worked closely with his teachers on what to work on & got a lot of really good ideas. This year he is in Grade 3 and while he is still behind a lot of his classmates his improvement this year is unbelievable. He is gaining confidence and with that improvement. It seems like it all came together for him this year just like they told me. I think that sometimes we have to trust the primary teachers who have been doing this for a long time. My son would have been no further ahead than he is now just because he wasn't ready developmentally. I was fortunate that he is my youngest so I have known the teachers in the school for a long time which made it easier to trust their opinions. I would ask if your school has a primary intervention or literacy teacher available or if the SERT teacher has any thoughts on it. Ours has both and we are ADSB. Good Luck!

[goodasgold]

did she give you a reason for not telling you what she thought he should be seeing a SSW for?

Nope, she hasn't given any reason. I wrote a lengthy note to her asking her why he needed, what areas he needed to improve on, and a guideline/timeline. She completely ignores me during school functions. A couple months ago when the student support worker came to get some kids, she told my son that "your mom doesn't want you to see one, so you can't go." I can't wait for this year to be over.

I've had a couple of blowups with the school all to due with this teacher. My husband wants us to have a one on one meeting with her, but at this point I just don't want to deal with her. Never had this type of experience with a teacher before and I honestly hope when my daughter is in grade one, she doesn't teach it.

[someguy]

Call the Community Care Access Centre as they will help with problems such as these. Not 100% though but you may need the child's teacher to send them a referal or your child;s doctor.