Yesterday my daughter brought home a green piece of paper. Typically these notes are telling us about the latest fundraising event or special project she’ll be doing at school. Not this time. This time, the note apologized for the late notice but there would be an emergency meeting the following evening and it was important that we attend. Instantly I had a bad feeling in my gut. I had a suspicion that my daughter’s school was closing.
My husband and I talked about the need for us to attend the meeting. I would have to leave work early, he would have to reschedule a meeting he already committed to and we’d have to get a sitter because kids were discouraged from coming. In his typical fashion, he called the school to see if he could find out any information. Nope. The principal was not a liberty to say anything and yes, it was very important we attend.
When we got to the meeting there were whispers and murmuring. You could see the angst on the faces of the parents. Our suspicions were confirmed. Her school was being closed. The Arch Diocese could no longer continue to subsidize our children’s education. With a projected deficit for the year of over 600K, they could not continue to support a school who’s enrollment numbers continued to fall.
As we were being told this information by Sister M. (I’m not stating her full name for her own privacy), something happened that caught me totally off guard. My eyes started filling with tears, my nose started running and within a matter of seconds those tears began to roll down my cheeks. I had to excuse myself and leave the hall where we were meeting. I walked up a few flights of stairs and sat on the steps that lead to my daughter’s classroom and wept.
At first I was unsure why I was even crying. My closest friends will tell you, I’m not an emotional person. I don’t cry at weddings and typically I’m the one telling someone else not to cry. It was an odd feeling to not only be crying but to do so in a public place. My daughter had only attended the school for four months so we weren’t as invested financially or emotionally as other parents. Heck, I’m not even Catholic and only agreed to her attending parochial school because of the low student-teacher ratios, organic meals and sound curriculum.
But as I gathered my composure and walked back into that room, I realized why I was so upset. For a solid month, my daughter cried every time I dropped her off at school. She would ask when were going back to our “old” house. She didn’t have much interaction with other kids and kept to herself. Then one day that changed. She came home from school and told me about Leo, her new best friend. The next morning I dropped her off at school and she ran into the arms of her ESD (extended school day) aid and gave her a big hug. Later that week, when I asked her how was school, she beamed from ear-to-ear and said, “FUN! I’m learning things.”
She had become comfortable with her school and felt like she belonged. For a child who has celebrated every birthday living in a different state, she’s endured a lot. Some of the change has been positive but unfortunately, there has been a fair share of negative as well.
So in five months, she’ll endure another change as her school will close on June 30th. Tomorrow we begin the daunting task of trying to find her a new school that offers a summer program, has room for her in the fall and has ESD in the morning and afternoon. But more importantly we have to find a school that is going to love her as much as her current school does. THAT will be our greatest challenge.
About Sarah
Sarah is a healthcare administrator, mother of one spunky 6-year old daughter and a travel blogger living in Wichita, Kansas. Join her as she tackles life in the midwest one to-do list at a time.
Twitter:
says:
Crossing fingers with you that you are lead to the perfect school for your precious daughter. Maybe you will even be able to follow Leo to another school? Hoping your search goes well and you are able to find the perfect new school that she will love… and that will love her back just as much.
Thanks Staci. We’ve had such good luck with schools for my daughter. She’s attended 3 in her lifetime and each time, there has always been that one special teacher who has latched onto her as much as she did to them.
Twitter:
says:
I can’t imagine how emotional it truly would be. Some change is good for children but I totally understand at how daunting the thought would be of presenting another change so soon. Hang in there, I am sure it will all work out for the best!
I just feel like it’s been so much change at once for her. Crossing my fingers that she adjusts well.
I am so sorry you are all having to go through this! Hopefully something will pop up and hopefully she can stay with some of her friends to make the transition easier for her! Hugs to you all!
Thanks Leila! I’m planning on talking with the parents of her friends and finding out what their plans are. I’m just hoping they have room for them at the other schools.
Twitter:
says:
Having just gone through the transition of moving my child to a new school, I understand the stressful position you’ve been put in. I hope you can find something that works for all your needs AND is an appropriate place for your child! Good luck with that!
Marianne
Sandling All Day
Thanks Marianne! It’s never fun but we always get through it.
You would think that the school would stay open until at least the end of the school year. I am hoping that you can get her into a school which is perfect for both her (first) and your family.
Oh, they are going to (I may not have made that clear in my post). We already have appointments scheduled to tour other schools in our area. Hoping they work out!
I am so sorry that your daughter found a school “home” where she could finally open up to only loose it. I wish you and your husband luck and agree with Lelia that hopefully she can transfer with some of her friends!
My husband and I joked that we have to move her to where ever Leo goes!
Twitter:
says:
I almost cried while reading this. I was thinking about my son’s school – he’s attended the same school since he was four months old. Schools – and the teachers – play such a large role in our children’s lives. As parents, it is important that we know our children feel safe while away from us. I hope you’re able to find another wonderful school for her (maybe with Leo!). Best of luck in your search.
Something even better is on the horizon for you guys! A place she will love will come your way!
Twitter:
says:
What horrible news. I would be devastated if Jasmine’s school closed. I’m sure things will work out for the best.
Twitter:
says:
Oh no! We came really close to dealing with that, but at the last minute they decided not to close my son’s school. Still, it’s up in the air. They may close next year, they may not. It’s a pain not knowing.
I think that would be even worse than what we’re dealing with. I don’t like dealing with unknowns! Crossing my fingers for you that it doesn’t happen.
I’m sorry to hear this. I hope you are able to find a new school that she enjoys just as much from the start as she does this one now.
Twitter:
says:
I’m so sorry this is happening to you and your family! I hope the change is good and maybe some of her friends will be going to the new school too! Please keep us posted!
Twitter:
says:
I am so, so sorry Sarah
You know we’re here for you if you need anything! Your daughter is so resilient and will excel wherever her journey takes her.
How stressful for both her and you. I hope she will settle in quickly at her new school, you may be surprised by how resilient she is!
Oh poor B! Change can be a challenge for kids especially when she’s had a few things going on lately. I hope you can find some place you like as much.
That is so sad. I can’t believe that it has to happen like that. And how about new place? My son transitions horrbly
I’m so sorry to hear that
Finding a place where our children are safe, happy, and nurtured can be a challenge, and then needing to remove your child from such a place can be heart-breaking. I hope you’re able to find a place she loves!
So sorry to hear this. I am hoping you find another school just as good. Change can be so hard, especially multiple time. =(
Twitter:
says:
That must be so stressful for both of you. Our kids have always gone to public school and we’ve always lived in the same small, rural town so thankfully we have never gone through this. Praying you find an amazing alternative.
That is so hard to deal with. I wouldn’t know what to do. We all love the kids schools, so changing would be so hard to do. Good luck and I hope for an easy transition.
Twitter:
says:
that must be SO hard. HUGS to you and your daughter.
Twitter:
says:
How sad. I hope that you can find a school that she loves just as much as this one. How old is she? I might have missed that somewhere.
Dawn
Twitter:
says:
Aww, that’s so sad. Maybe you can find some parents at the new school that she can play with over the summer so she has some friends when she goes there.
Bummer.
Keep your head up, mama. Something will come around. Did they not provide you with a list of alternatives?
Twitter:
says:
I totally get why you cried..and poor thing for moving around so much. She will do great, and is there a way to find out where Leo is going?