It appears we are!
Cegep visits with Chase began today. And unlike last year
where he was clearly not ready to look ahead-he was ready today. Fully engaged
and interested. What a difference a year of maturity can make.
If you had asked me 5 yrs ago or 3 yrs ago or even 2 yrs
ago if there was any chance this boy would be interested or potentially qualify
to do a Science degree I would have giggled (or if I am being honest maybe died
laughing). But not only is he intending to apply to do a Human Science degree
but as double DEC program of Commerce and Science over three years!!!!!!
OMG!!!!
And it is not to see that he will get into the Human
Sciences degree-his marks are borderline for that program….and may not be good
enough at all…but the fact that his interest is there and that he would want to
do a double degree to cover all his bases to leave all the doors open for university
impresses me to no end. the problem with the school he attends currently is that is doubly hard as a public school and grades are expected to be about 10-15 marks below public schools...but there are no calibrations done for Cegep! If he was coming from a public school he would get into Sciences for certain...but no it is more unlikely than likely.
And I feel proud as a parent. And so does his Dad.
Academic are really really important to us. Not the
grades they receive necessarily (thought of course the good grades please us)
What is most important to us is that they see education as a gift..Are self-motivated…are
taking school seriously. And know that school is a path to their future. The
grades are secondary but still an important element.
We base our kid’s success by how much they care..How much
they do on their own without needing to be pushed or nagged and how much they
connect their future to their present academic state. By about grade 6 our expectation
is that they are 100 percent independent in studying and planning homework…are
not to be nagged about studying and homework and self-manage it all by
themselves except for having certain hrs that technology is shut down and they are expected to be studying..(but who knows since we are at works right?) They are expected to make their choices and live the impact . even
as early as grade 2 besides reading a dictee or verbs to them weekly or a
testing on memorization for exams-they were left largely alone in their studies
and projects, they manage it fully. Chase got the most help...because he was our eldest and we made the most mistakes on him.Babied him a bit too much...so that was why it made me proud to see him all grown up today.
Check! Check1 check! Check! All three kids!
And trust me they were not all born this way-this has
been a HUGE work for us as the parents getting to this stage. But we set the
stage well and all three are set up for success-in the way that they will make
their own choices and are aware of the impact of those choices. They do school
for themselves and not for us. They truly care.
Last week there was one night when Chase had recuperation
at lunch and then an afterschool study period. But he time he got home he was sol
exhausted and just said “I am not studying to doing homework tonight”
And that was the first time in his life he ever said
that.
And I told him that was a wrong choice as he knows he
would pay for it the next day at school and he listened and went up and did it
anyways. One of the downfalls of this school is that there is never a night or
weekend without homework and studying…it has never happened in his 5 yrs.
there. And when you skip it..you get held after school. Hard on kids for sureL But also makes them really
appreciate their weeks off (there is a week off every 6-8 weeks in this school)
This school teaches resilience and hard works and is motivating.
It works…..this school is God like to me. Sometimes I feel like getting down on
my knees and praying to it!!!! Many parents who talk about this school call it
cult like! I agree in a certain way!
My kids are weak and lazy at a lot of things..a lot of
things. But school is not one of them. All of varying degrees of competency and
skill, and grades and passions…but all committed and passionate in various
ways. The sports and dance program help considerably because they are motivated
to wake up every day and go to do what they love often surrounded by a bunch of
academics subjects that they could take or leave most days of the week-but the
climate and dancing and 77 sports taught help them enjoy it all.
In describing this school to a contact the other day who
is considering sending her kids there it was easy for me to summarize: It’s not
for every kid-you have to have parents and kids alike that take academics very
seriously and are willing to put the time and energy to do what is needed to succeed
at this school. But it’s a formula that if it is what you believe in-that teens
need a focus to stay out of trouble? It is a magical place….it keeps them focused
on the right things throughout the turbulent years and surrounded by similar
and like-minded students (and parents).
Last night I came home to 5 teens sitting around the
table with Chase… all 16.5 yrs. and they were all so smart and good and funny
and kind. I felt safe enough to actually leave them all there and leave for the
evening for a very long date night with my Hubby. And when I came back. Everything was
perfectly ok as I predicted.
Today I saw my son in action, the lazy one in some ways,
the less academic one in some ways, the one who I used to pray would pass math.
And there he was ….in the science building of my alumni. Asking great
questions. I realized my lens needs to change on him..he has changed. He has
felt the magic of his school and has bloomed before our eyes
Finding his way-with every skill he was taught in his
suitcase of life.
I was desperately proud of my boy today
And very excited for him for the next stage of his life.
