How does one flunk 5th grade?

[FirstLight]

22. The Principal just called

Last edited Fri Mar 8, 2013, 05:44 PM - Edit history (1)

...mind you, this is the first phone call all year, and he knows us well enough to talk to me...

so he says the rerason for our meeting was to go over the kids 'slipping' and that its a real cause for concern, etc.

so i told him all of the above...that this was a shit trimester, because I myself was down with my illness for an entire month, that my girl was dealing with continued bullying, and the teacher blew off her requests for a math tutor, and that my son is really good at flying under the radar until the shit hits the fan...

I also said that i need to ask for SUPPORT, please lets use all the resources available, because I am a single mom and can't do this all by myself...and COMMUNICATE with me please...don't call me 'in front of the firing squad' the week before report cards. If this is THAT urgent I should have heard more than a whisper over a month ago.
I admitted that in moving forward I can be more on the ball. we both agreed the kids need to be more self motivated and start setting goals...he even said that he wants them to start that *now* because he seems them both in AP classes in upper grades.
He also agreed to discuss assessments for them both. I told him I knew he has resources, so let's USE them.
I think he was actually surprised when I told him about my daughter's blindness and cyst in her brain - so I think that made an impression. I also shared that my oldest wasn't diagnosed till after high school and that we struggled thru his entire teen years...
He says he is going to talk to the 'team' including the kids, and see what the next steps are and supposedly let me know from there. I told him I can't help if I don't know what's going on, and the kids are REALLY good at saying "It's fine..."

7 minute phone conversation.
Let's hope it works
I am grateful for you guys and your thoughts, and the fact I could rant here and get my thoughts straight before that call came! whew!