School

I realized this morning that taking Ashleigh & Noah to the bus stops is not an option for these reasons:

 1.  We sit in the van awhile (from 8:30-9a)

Ashleigh's bus stop is at 8:39a

Noah's bus stop is at 8:57a.

2.  We freeze until the heat warms up.

3.  We realized we could just take them to school since we are so close.

Here is the map of where their bus stops are:

H- Home

A- Ashleigh's Bus Stop

N- Noah's Bus Stop

The x is Possible bus stops for Ashleigh.  (explain this below).

The yellow line is a unnamed alley.  I have no idea what the name of it is.  

 The kids are on different buses.  Ash is on a mini bus. We have had issues with the bus company having her picked up at our home.  They are saying that a mini bus can not get down out street (remember this statement for later).  They are staying that they can can stop at the corner of our street & the other street because it is too steep.  It is a hill.  Her bus driver asked me yesterday why she is not picked up at our home.  I told him because a mini bus can not fit down my street.  He said "I go down that street daily."  He is going to have a chat with them.  I am in the process of writing a letter to get an IEP meeting ASAP.  This has to be addressed.  Our child advocate WILL be there. This is bull shit.  Why should a disabled child walk or have her parent drive her to her bus stop daily?  That sidewalk to get to her bus stop is snow covered.  Probably icy, too.  No way we are walking on that.  She is not falling.

Noah is on a big bus.  He can not be on Ash's bus because he does not have an IEP.  I tried.  So much easier if he was.  Damn bus company.  The old school district Noah was for TWO YEARS!!!  I am learning this new school district rules.  Ash can not be on his bus because she has issues with the steps on the big buses.  I am worried if I put her on one then what if she can not do this & the other issue (explain in a second), & they won't take her off, then what?  Ash does not like loud noises.  Bigger buses are louder.  

Thursdays & Fridays I was planning on taking them to school anyway since I am on my own.  Shawn is working daylight.  I have Ethan to take with me.  It is easier to take them to school.  We don't have to be there until 9a.  This school starts at 9:15a.  The kids can start coming between 8:45-9:15a.  This is a difference from the old school for Noah.  His old school started at 9a.  He got out at 3:15p. but his new school gets out at 3:30p.

Ashleigh & Noah love their new schools.  Ashleigh was not nervous at all.  Noah was nervous.  I took them to school yesterday because it was their first day plus I had to give the school nurse Noah's inhaler.  Ash & I walked Noah to his classroom.  His teacher told me that he needed a binder.  Guess what I had in the van?  Yes, binders!!  I cleaned out my college tote that had ALL my class notes & books.  I was a science major!  I took all the notes out of the binder & took them to the paper recycle at Ash's camp.  We recycle all of our paper.  It has cut down our trash by 1/2.  I highly suggest looking for 1 of these bins in your neighborhood. It helps an organization with fundraising, you are helping the environment, & your trash will be cut down a lot.  Noah is the one in our house that is BIG into recycling.  We try to recycle anything we can.  I want to recycle all the cardboard boxes.  I am working on that.  I went to the van, opened the tote, got a binder for Noah, & he was set for that.  I thought this way he was right with his class.  They call these binder W.O.W.  Something about being organized.  Love this idea.  I will talk about this again once I remember what the W.O.W. stands for.

That is it for now!

Melissa