It is definitely not easy and it is a full-time job to keep all the pieces of the puzzle on the table but, in my view, well worth it, if you have the right partners. – Mica’s mom
This morning I read this beautiful note from a fellow mom to her son’s classmates. We work so hard to find the right placement, the right supports, the right accommodations (working on IEP goals? Read more here!). But we don’t do it alone. At the end of the day, we all want our kids to be happy and feel loved. We all want to belong and feel seen, even if it looks different for all of us.
So whether you are starting out on your school journey or reflecting on next steps, read on and think about who has left imprints on your child’s heart. Thank you for sharing with our community, Anne and Mica!
To Mica’s class:
Mica is unable to tell you how much you mean to him but I can. So, today, on your last day at St Philip’s, I just want to thank you all on his behalf.
Thank you for being his friend when it wasn’t easy. Thank you for being kind and patient – always. And, thank you for being his peer teachers – even when you weren’t planning on being that. Some of you may remember that, back in Grade 1, Mica did all his school work in a separate room because the noises of the classroom scared him too much for him to stay calm.
It took years of practice and Mica still has trouble staying calm in class but, now, he comes to school excited to see you all, especially those of you who volunteer to buddy with him throughout the school day. Through your actions, he has learned that while being part of a community can sometimes be hard, loving and supporting each other is always worth the effort.
Thank you for teaching him that.
Communicating with words is still Mica’s biggest challenge but he now knows that: a smile goes a long way, a high five tells someone else that you value their friendship, and he doesn’t need words to have a laugh with his classmates.
Some of you may also remember that, back in Grade 1, Mica was unable to go in the gym because the echo hurt his ears so badly. Everything was too loud for him at school and, back then, there were a lot of miserable days. It took almost 2 years for him to figure out a way to tolerate the sounds but, eventually, with headphones on, he did it.
YOU, Mica’s classmates, made that possible too. One day, you were all walking into gym class and, just like that, Mica decided to follow you in and participate. At first, he only managed to stay for a few minutes. Then, he stayed longer. Now, he participates in almost all of the school activities in one way or another – even when they are really hard for him, like skiing and rope climbing. He has learned that group activities – even scary ones – can be lots of fun when you’re doing them with people who have your back and who will laugh with you (not at you) no matter how many times you fall and get back up again.
Thank you for teaching him that.
6 years ago, Mica couldn’t say hello or goodbye to anyone at school and most of the teachers thought he couldn’t talk at all. Communicating with words is still Mica’s biggest challenge but he now knows that: a smile goes a long way, a high five tells someone else that you value their friendship, and he doesn’t need words to have a laugh with his classmates.
Thank you for teaching him that too.
For the many, many moments of kindness, caring and friendship you have shown Mica over the past 6 years, thank you. Really: If he could tell you himself, I know he would.
High school will be a whole new adventure for you all and you probably won’t see as much of Mica as you have up to now but, if you have a chance, please do stop and say hello to him. Trust me. He will be very happy that you did.
Have a wonderful summer, everyone.
Mica, his dad and I wish every single one of you extraordinary young people all the best in Grade 7!
