The Reynoldz

Haidyn's school PTA does a calendar fund-raiser at the end of every year where you can buy a calendar with your childs art on it.

Haidyn's class did a reproduction of Edvard Munch's "Scream" and used this art for their PTA art.

Now honestly, I do not think I could have picked a better picture to depict my dear Haidyn's school year than this. She had one of those years where she just did not click with the teacher. (which from my stand point is really really a sad thing for a 7 year old, school is suppose to be magical at this age.. right?)

It all started last March when her teacher set up a parent meeting and told us that something was "up" with Haidyn. He felt she had "Aspbergers or some kind of processing disorder". He wanted her to have an RTLB (resource teacher learning behaviours) specialist come in and observe her in class and wanted us to get her evaluated. (not the sort of thing a parent wants to hear about their beautiful child)

It took the whole year, many specialists, family/friend support, lots of moola and formal reports later to make him understand that the only diagnosis she may have is being "American" and that our girl was a bit shy, really uncomfortable in his class and he was not making it better..

She is FINALLY having a better time in his class but she only has 16 more school days left in his room..

Reflecting back, I think poor communication and cultural differences are the key factors in why Haidyn's situation at school was escalated.. We just did not understand each other even though we were speaking the same language.

"The problem with communication ... is the illusion that it has been accomplished." - George Bernard Shaw

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Please Please Please... let next year be better!!!

Here is Athea hiding out in the back bedroom away from the building chaos. She is chilling out listening to books on tape.

We will be picking up Haidyn from school soon. She has a playdate with a friend but I think we will be heading to the park and not back to our house....

View from the back yard.. (a little brighter) We are making the window over the new sink bigger and moving it over... so we needed to make a BIG hole... (good thing it is sunny outside!)

Here are more of the Fawkes burning men, There is a "paua poacher, skeleton man, mermaid and many more"

Here are some of Haidyn's mates...

When it got dark they lit them on fire... going...

going
gone.. (seems a bit morbid.. but it was fun. It was extra satisfying to watch all last years woes burn in the fox's belly)

We had lots of fireworks and the wee ones needed a little mommy warmth towards the end of the night because it got a little cold and they were a little tired.