We Gotta Know Wednesday

So, progress reports came out yesterday for Nicole. She is doing great in her new school - all A's and B's except for a 78 in Chemistry. She has the rest of the 6 weeks to bring it up and it might be the very first time she gets all A's and B's in high school. Math and science have been struggles for her. The new school allows her to move at her own pace and she loves that. I do, too.

I've created a monster with the Colonel, but now Wendy and I are obsessed with what he's doing.

We've been keeping track of how often he leaves the office. We know he "pretends" to go to the restroom and is really going on smoke breaks. It's only 8:44am (he got here at 8am, which, by the way, is really early for him) and he's left the office twice. We'll keep you posted throughout the day.

Now, for something completely unrelated: our water. I know, I know, the water has been a sore subject in the office, but we finally got a water dispenser... clean, spring water. Well, yesterday, while getting some for coffee, I noticed there was a wire right over the hole where the water empties into the dispenser. A plastic-coated wire - like a telephone or electrical wire. Just about a 6 inch piece lying over the hole. Creepy.

I called the water guy, Charlie, and tell him this. He says to me, "You didn't see it when you put the new bottle on?" I tell him that I didn't, and he asks, "Why not?" My response was something to the effect of I didn't realize I had to inspect bottles of PURE SPRING WATER for electrical wires and is this something we should be doing??? Of course, all I can think of is who touched the wire?!?

Charlie has already been here and left. He drained the machine, took the wired bottle, and replaced it with one that was fully inspected before insertion.

This place has a water curse.

Oh, and Melissa B., if you're reading this, I am mailing your print today!

Acceptance

The charter school accepted Nicole - wooohooo!

We had to go through an interview process. It was a bit grueling for her, but it was a good experience.

Afterwards, we got to tour the new school. It took about 4 minutes - it's THAT small. I love it.

There is no time between classes like in the big schools. You walk out of one door into another. The classes are so small. There are two school sessions - mornings, which are 7:00am - 11:45am and 10:30am - 3:00pm - the last two classes of the first session overlap with the first two classes of the second session. Since Nicole will be in the second session, her first two classes should be the largest - possible 12 - 15 kids per class. After that, class size dwindles to 8 or less.

I am SO ready for this! I hope she thrives here.

Gotta' go to her current school today to withdraw her. It's kind of sad in a way. I wish she were a kid who could handle the bigger school - with a big prom, football games, clubs, and activities, but my child is too social for her own good and cannot handle peer pressure as well as we would like.

We're certain this is due to the circumstances of her background. If we could undo what happened to her prior to our adoption, I would move heaven and earth to make that happen - it colors the filters of her life - her choices, her feeling, her expectations.

We need emotional Windex.

But, but, but... we move forward. We pray. We do all we can to create new options and new filters.

More as we go!

Chartered

Well, I think we're moving Miss Priss to a new school. We have an interview with a very, very small charter school in our area. My darling daughter has been attending a BIG high school of over 4000 students.

As many of you know, we adopted Nicole on her 14th birthday (she'll be 17 soon). The town she came from had a population of 900. This has been a big adjustment. She has done well until this year and things (including attitude, friend choices, etc...) have just not gone as well as they should.

The charter school has an enrollement of 10th - 12th of approximately 180. Class sizes will be 12 - 14 students. Doesn't that sound better? She's actually excited, but I am not sure she realizes what a big change this will be, BUT....her parents think it will be really GOOD for her.

So, please pray, send good vibes, cross your fingers, do the hokey pokey that the interview goes well today, because if it does, she could potentially start at the new school MONDAY!