We received our letter from the school district yesterday, and I am happy to say that we got one of our choices. Not the most popular, not the closest, but a good school--one with an involved parent group, a lot of diversity, and a very nice inclusion teacher (who I've met). I think we can work with it.
Compared to the majority of the general ed population, we made out like bandits. We've been reading The SF K Files, started by a smart and witty woman named Kate to chronicle her experience applying to kindergarten. She applied to seven schools and didn't get a single one on her list. When I went to sleep last night, her update post had 161 comments. I just checked again: 243. There's a lot to say about public education in San Francisco. It's odd--being in the "special needs" category paradoxically worked to our advantage this time. Go figure.
Everything is a leap of faith.
Yesterday, Isaac told me, "I don't want to play Teletubbles, and I don't want to play elevators, so I want to play letters." It was his very first sort-of conditional statement. Then, last night as I sang Edelweiss in an effort to lull him to sleep, he thought it would be a good idea to add his own contributions to the end of every line so that "Blossom of snow/May you bloom and grow" became "Bloom and poop/Bloom and poop forever." And he burst into giggles at his wit. I'm not sure that Austrians would appreciate his artistry, but it was a thing of beauty to me.
Right now, he's sitting behind me on the couch, arms wrapped around my neck as I type. As I lean toward the computer, he pulls me back into a hug, smiling a little half-smile.
Everything is a leap of faith.
Very witty!!
Excellent that you got your school of choice!
Posted by: Casdok | March 10, 2008 at 04:07 AM
Congratulations, I'm so relieved for you!
Posted by: Jordan | March 10, 2008 at 05:15 AM
Hooray!!! I've been worried about this, but knowing "you can work with it", I will set my worries aside. It IS a leap of faith, every day, Susan. But, if we let them, these little guys will have a lot to teach us about all that, don't you think?
Posted by: kristen | March 10, 2008 at 05:25 AM
Congratulations! Wow, I didn't realize it's like a mini-college admissions season in SF! Of course, we only have the one choice in our district so...
Bloom and poop forever. Oy, he'd fit right in with my guys, for sure! Deliciously silly. :-)
Posted by: Niksmom | March 10, 2008 at 06:19 AM
yay for one of your choices!
and i must say, fluffy would ADORE issac's version!
Posted by: kyra | March 10, 2008 at 01:03 PM
I was just telling our pediatric urologist about SF's idiotic kindergarten distribution plan. Wat to take the village out of the equation, SF.
Congratulations on actually getting one of the schools on your list! You're the FIRST person I've known personally who's achieved that.
Posted by: Emily | March 10, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Oh PHEW!
Posted by: Special Needs Mama | March 10, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Poop - the equalizer across the board. Hey, your school news? This is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: mama p | March 10, 2008 at 11:42 PM
I love the last bit. I can so see Isaac hugging you like that. That doll.
I have to say, detaching and reading about our (SF'S) lottery system makes me feel like the whole thing is cuckoo.
Glad you guys got what you got. I know that your school has a nice reputation.
Posted by: drama mama | March 11, 2008 at 05:35 AM
Great news! Also love Isaac's drawing. Classic! K.
Posted by: Karen DeGroot Carter | March 11, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Cool beans! We're so happy for you guys!
Posted by: cry it out | March 11, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Congrats on the school...must be a load off your minds.
Totally tangental, I have to inform you that no self respecting Austrian has ever heard Edelweiss, much less seen "The Sound of Music." My kids' babysitter is Austrian and it's a running joke with us. I thought Edelweiss was the Austrian national anthem until I realized it was written by Rogers and Hammerstein, who are most definitely not Austrian. The movie bombed in Austria when it was released and it never came back. Tourists come to Austria and take the Sound of Music tour, but no Austrian would know what it is. I had to hold down Doris, our babysitter, and make her watch the film. She flipped out seeing her home city portrayed that way.
So, in a long winded way, I wanted to tell you to bloom and poop all you want, the Von Trapps won't be coming to hurt you!
Posted by: Ellen Gerstein | March 17, 2008 at 11:04 AM