Monday 19 January 2009 at 12:00 am
Robert went back to school a week ago. A few days before going he want over to his best fiend's house, and found another person friend from the publish school there, and evidently, they tried to convince him to come back to public school. For a couple days he was down on going to Greenwood, saying that he didn't want to go back next year, even though he could see it was to his advantage. He also said he didn't want to have to give the Gettysburg Address, something that students memorize and recite. However, once he was at school, by all reports he is happy.
Before he left, I wrote a couple of the faculty, asking if they would ask Robert about learning skiing. Most of his friends at Greenwood are skiing, so I thought he would enjoy being with them. The physical therapist says that sort of activity will be good for him, too. Robert, however, told us he didn't want to take skiing this year, but would do it next year. I know that sometimes other people can get results where there's a knee-jerk reaction against the parents, so I contacted the faculty, who said they would talk to him. Sure enough, Robert decided to learn skiing. He will be taking lessons. Too bad it was so cold this weekend that they they skipped skiing.
Friday 19 September 2008 at 12:28 am
We got some news about Robert today. Eric Pals said
I just wanted to let you know what a pleasure it has been getting to know your son these past few days. I spent the morning building a new trail system in the woods behind campus, and Robert was our hardest worker. Shortly after you left campus he got engaged in a working on the ?Chaos Machine? in the science room, and he hasn?t slowed down since. Of course bedtime is a little tough for all the boys, but Robert seems to enjoy being read to and has done very well. I?ve attached a couple of pictures. He?s really fitting in well. On another note, we have some younger applicants in the interview process which, if all goes well, could give Robert a bigger social circle.
Haruko also spoke to the headmaster's wife, who said Robert is doing well. It looks like he and his roomate haven't really hit it off and become best buddies. There's no problem between them, but the kids don't have as much in common as the adults thought. They might rearrange rooms and give him a new roomate. Apparently, Robert did wish that he could have a little more time to himself.
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| Robert works on a marble maze. | Robert returns from clearing some trailes |
Tuesday 16 September 2008 at 12:33 am
We took Robert to Greenwood this weekend, and bid him a tearful farewell.
Robert's school started this weekend. Because we had his bicycle, we drove to Vermont in our venerable red Corolla station wagon. We left on Thursday afternoon, several hours later than expected, and the trip was unremarkable except for Friday, from Toledo to Brattleboro, had almost constant rain.
Saturday morning we reported to school at 11 A.M. The returning boys had already arrived at 10 A.M., so the campus hummed with activity. Our first stop was the library, where we filled out paperwork., got Robert's laundry bags, and had our pictures taken. Although the new boy's official unloading was Sunday, we decided to take Robert's bags out today. That turned out to be a good thing because it let Robert get a lower bunk. The parents of Ben Bibault, Robert's roomate, were setting up his bed, and they obligingly moved Ben to the upper bunk when they heard that Robert really wanted a lower bunk. Rather than leave the full bags in the room, Robert and I took everything out and put it on his shelves. Then back outside where a barbecue lunch was being served.
I'm afraid that the dorm picture doesn't do the area justice. The campus is very green, and the dorm is at the top of a hill that leads down to the playing fields. In the winter it is popular for sledding.
We met a wide variety of teachers, and I do not remember all the names. The school art teach is accompanying the boys on the horse riding class. The social pragmatics teacher and her husband where actors in NYC many years ago.
We met a number of parents, too, but all the parents I met were returning students. Last year they had an unusually large incoming class, about half the school if I recall properly. This year there are only 12 incoming students.
After lunch, students, teachers and parents all gathered in the gym, where the headmaster gave some inspiring words and the faculty introduced themselves. Then the boys went to the library for some ice-breaker, getting to know you type of games. The parents stayed in the gym, where the headmaster, the dean of residential life and the academic dean addressed us. They talked about plans for the year, new programs they are trying, and discussed how the school runs. Among other things, we learned that they had to select among 36 or so candidate for the 12 slots.
Next, a panel of 6 parents came to the stage and spoke about their experiences. It was interesting to hear the parents because their experience was so varied. Some had had a very tough time, such as the 8th grade kid who couldn't read beyond a first grade level. His self esteem was shot, and he was a very angry child, taking it out on his family. Within a year he had gained hope, got involved in the school, and his reading level jumped to 4th grade. He even apologized to his mother for the way he had treated her. Another parent also had an angry child, and said that no one shed tears when they dropped him off. For them, it was a relief. More typical were the parents that cried their eyes out. All were enthusiastic about the school and how it had transformed their children. It was reassuring to hear a pep talk.
The school has a fund raiser at the beginning of the year, and this year they were raising money for outdoor equipment and for an electronic whiteboard system. We pledged some money for the 6 canoes the school is buying.
The next day we arrived at 10 A.M. Haruko gave Robert's medications to the school nurse, and arranged his closet properly. We put Robert's bike in the bike shed. The teachers were out, helping the students get set up, so the whole first floor, where the new students are staying, was abuzz with activity. The headmaster and many teachers came by to see how Robert was doing and ask if there was anything they could do.
| Faculty in the hallway, learning beanbag tricks. |
Haruko organized everything
| Robert decided not to keep his Peeps at school. |
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Eventually, the room was set. There was nothing more for us to do. As I came into the room at that time, Robert was alone, standing by the window, apparently looking out. I came up and realized that he was crying. I gave him a hug and tried to be reassuring, but then the tears really started flowing. Haruko came in and gave Robert a hug, and we talked about how we would hear about what he was doing and talk to him in a weak. He sat on his bed, held pillow and cried. The headmaster's wife came in. She interacted with Robert a lot on previous visits, so he was familiar with her. She sat beside him, hugged him and reassured him. We had been told yesterday that the best way for parents to leave was to keep the farewell brief and save any tears for the car. That lets the kids get the adjustment started.
So we did. We said goodbye again. I teared up briefly, but kept it under control. We went outside, where the headmaster and assistant headmaster took great pains to assure us that we were leaving Robert in good hands. Then we got in the car and left, Haruko sniffling as we drove away.
The headmaster's wife said she would let us know how things were going, and she reported to us an hour later that Robert was helping build a floor-to-ceiling marble maze in the science room and doing well.
Monday 23 June 2008 at 01:42 am
From Ann Cathcart:
Hello Everyone!
Remember us? Again I am so sorry that we have not written and sent very many photos this week. I hope to make up for it today. The children are on their river raft trip down the Colorado River today and I am at camp getting some work done and catching up on letters to all of you. Everyone is doing great!! I think that they are kind of sad that things are starting to come to an end. We have much in store for the last few days, but I will send you some photos today of things that we have been up to this week. We did our camping trip on Monday and Tuesday, went to Eagle Pool on Wednesday, ent rock climbing on Thursday and we did fun things Friday and yesterday at camp.
All of the kiddos tried their hand at rock climbing!! That is quite a feat and it is very different climbing a real cliff and not a climbing wall. Many, Many of them made it to the top and back down, but again ALL of them tried it! We were so proud of each and every one of them!
I will send photos from the fun things we have been doing all week. Let me know if you do not see your child and I will be happy to shoot you a few photos. I am going through hundreds of photos and I am sure I will leave someone out, so do not be afraid to let me know.
I hope you have had a great weekend. WE sure have! Tonight will end with a camp fire and marshmallows after an early dinner.
Happy Sunday! And Thanks so much for sending your kids to TLC. They are a great group.
Ann, Tom and all of us!
Thursday 19 June 2008 at 01:32 am
It is a little late, but here is the tale of dropping Robert off at summer camp.
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I took Robert to The Learning Camp in Gypsum, Colorado this weekend. The camp is for dislexic kids, and runs with a very high counselor/camper ratio. The counselors are college students or adults who are either dyslexic themselves or have experience with dyslexic kids. They do the normal types of things one does at summer camp, but they also have a little work in the mornings so the kids keep up their academic skills. Robert was grumbling that he was going to do school work at the camp, but I think he will find plenty of other fun things compensate for it.
I took Robert to the camp, and we flew into Denver on the evening of Sunday, June 8, and drove to the camp the next day.
Our flight on Southwest airlines left at 5:40 pm from Midway. We took a cab there, leaving the house at 3, and once at the airport, got in line to check our luggage. Robert thought the line, some 30 people long would take forever. I guessed 10 minutes. It took 5. Southewest really got the line moving.
We checked the duffels with Robert's gear, and went through security, which was also quite short. Leaving that, we stopped at Pegasus on the Fly to get some food. Robert got 2 plain bagels, as is his tradition. I got a ham and egg artopita. I wanted to eat at a table, but Robert really wanted to go to the gate. We went, but we were so early that another flight was still using the gate.
I wanted to go back to the food court and get a table to eat, but Robert insisted on sitting on the floor. I grumbled, but did it. I don't know what it is with this kid. He gets these weird notions, like the best place to eat is sitting on the corridor floor, and just won't give them up. We weren't the only people on the floor, so that is probably what gave him the idea. I give in, deciding that this particular issue wasn't worth a fight.
We had lots of time to wait. We probably could have left 30-45 minutes later and still been unrushed. We waited at the window and watched the planes. We got ice cream treats at Ben and Jerry's (Coconut 7-layer shake for me, Chocolate chip cookie dough in a waffle cone for Robert). We watched the plans some more. Finally, they were ready to beging loading the flight.
The boarding process seemed smoother than the last time we took Southwest, going to Arizona several years ago. Based on the order they check in, people get a numbe within a lettered group. We were A34 and A35. The waiting area has columns with the numbers grouped by 5's (e.g. 1-5, 6-10, etc.). When your group is called, you line up at the posts in order and then file in. I like this better than the grouped rows that most airlines use, e.g. calling rows 20-25, because it avoids the jostling for position within a group. With Southwest, you know exactly your order in things, and you can check in early online to get a good position.
Our flight was uneventful, except for a little bit of shaking near the beginning as we went past some storm clouds. Looking out on the layer of white clouds with thunderheads poking up, Robert said he felt like he was looking at Antarctic snow fields.
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Monday 16 June 2008 at 1:21 pm
Haruko asked how Robert was doing, and got the replay from Ann Cathcart:
I asked Robert yesterday how he liked camp and his response was GREAT! He has made friends, he is excited about everything and he is not the same boy that was dropped off! He is excited right now about coming back for another session. Yesterday he was especially helpful with some children and he was recognized for his "random act of kindness". He is happy.
Sunday 15 June 2008 at 01:27 am
From Ann Cathcart:
Hi Everyone!
We have had a great few days! Since I wrote last so much has happened. It is now 80 degrees and summer time in Colorado! That has helped the
session get going! Thursday the entire camped hiked the mountain behind camp called the Shark's fin! We had planned to have groups turn around as the campers made their ascent and not to push anyone, however they all surprised us and everyone made it to the top! I will send some photos from that adventure in today's batch. We were so proud of them and we had a big celebration in their honor Thursday night.
Yesterday after classes we went swimming at our local pool. Today everyone is doing archery and riding horses and doing art and playing in the pond.
We had classes today, Saturday because we are skipping school early this week for our camping trip to Highland Lake, west of Grand Junction. We will be gone one night only and back in camp Tuesday evening.
Enjoy the photos and Happy Father's Day to all of you Dads out there!! Thanks for sharing your children with us during this special weekend! We
appreciate it and they all appreciate you!!
More photos to come!!
Ann, Tom and everyone at TLC!
Sunday 15 June 2008 at 01:18 am
This from the director of the camp, Ann Cathcart.
Hi Everyone!
OK, so today the children came to breakfast with the snow falling~~I am not kidding. It was cold and snowing and raining. We ate a hot breakfast
and came quickly inside the lodge. We postponed classes, watched a fun movie about a camp and by the time the movie was over the sun was out and they were off to their classes!!
The afternoon was full of archery, fishing, horse back riding and art. Children went from station to station. Some did everything, some did only
their favorites. The weather held for a camp fire tonight and everyone is off to bed with extra blankets and hats. Everyone is having fun.
Everyone is making friends. We are so pleased with how quickly it all came together for this group and we are excited about our days ahead.
Attached are a few photos from the day. I am not sending many but I wanted you to see some smiling faces. If you do not see your kiddo do not be
concerned, I will send more in a day or two.
I will be in touch should any of your children need you. Remember no news by phone is good news. However feel free to phone if you want to check in. Calls are always welcome.
I will send another email or two with just photos!
Thanks again for sending your child to us. They surely are living an adventure this week:)
Fondly,
Ann, Tom and the crew at TLC
Monday 24 September 2007 at 10:50 pm
Robert is going to be a Jedi this Halloween. Haruko found a robe for him, and I got curious about a tunic, and found some fascinating sites. I found a
document from a star wars con this discussed costuming. This lead me to
The Padawan's Guide, which is a whole site on the topic of Star Wars costuming. Also fascinating is
Trade Federation Supply Lines, which tells how they made many of the props in the movie. If possible, they tell you the exact pieces used and where to buy them. A scrubber droid is a Rubbermaid container, turned upside down, painted and decorated with doodads. Jedi food pellets are pen caps. A comlink is a stainless steel kitchen hand deodorizer.
Friday 14 September 2007 at 10:18 am
Robert had his first full day of school at the local public school yesterday. You can gauge how well it went by his loud protestations that he wasn't going to go today. The big problem is that when he is in the main (standard) 4th grade room, he can't participate. The other kids did something on laptops and he couldn't, or the class had to write something and he could not. He also said that he has no friends, but last night Haruko said that he had made a friend already. Still, I can see how it must be tough for the guy.
Yesterday, Haruko met a pair of new students for Singing Winds, one of whom woulld have been in Robert's class. They were wild, she said. Not what Robet really would have needed.
Yes, we are still involved in Singing Winds. We backed away somewhat, but the school is so shrunken that it needs all the help it can get to survive. Haruko is on the board. I am doing tech support, and may get roped into helping with marketing.
