We've been waiting for a call back from the charter school since April (calling practically every day with no word back since they were waiting on the district who does the lottery)--they have had their machine on and no one has returned our calls since last week. So, today i went to the office at our neighborhood school (Miles goes to preschool there) and asked if any papers were forwarded from the charter, since that is the protocol that the school takes in case Miles didn't get picked for the lottery.
The office lady said "I think I do recall reading his name on a fax on Thursday." My heart sank when I heard that. Knowing that this was a possibility (not getting picked) I really have been hoping for the best. The office lady found Miles' paper work and then told me he was automatically enrolled there. "I'm sorry he didn't make the lottery," she said.
I had to take a moment to just accept hearing that, feeling so emotional because naturally, we want the best for Miles. We believe that this school will give him a better shot at life period! Seeing how overcrowded the classes are at our local school is disheartening, making me feel worried about the kind of learning experience he will get there. Will it be enough? Will he learn enough? Will he get the one-on-one that he needs in the classroom?
I had to just cry it out in the car for a second before I could even collect myself to drive home.
When I got home, before even getting out of the car, I felt the urge to call the charter to ask about the wait list. Was Miles on the wait list? And if so, what number was he on the wait list? I just needed to hear for myself if there was any other options we had for him to get into that school. The lady who answered was pretty patient with me (I'm sure she could hear the concern and urgency in my voice), asking, "So you would like him to be on the list?" "Yes, of course I would! We will wait if we have too." Wait listing wasn't automatic at this school? After all, so far, our lives as a family has been all about lotteries & wait lists. We got on a lottery to get this new apartment upon leaving SF to AC. And I have currently been on a two year wait list to enter the RN program. We don't have anything to lose but everything to gain.
The lady got on the phone and said, "While we are unable to tell you the wait list number because it is confidential, I can tell you that Miles definitely has a good chance of getting in. Oh yes! As soon as there is an opening, you will be receiving a phone call."
Oh my gosh. I felt a rush of joy, feeling so thankful to this woman on the other line, telling me something I had hoped to hear! Lately, Justin and I have been feeling like someone is on our side, call it God, call it spirit guides, along with our ancestors--they have been looking out.
So while Miles may start kinder at our neighborhood school, he may end up transferring to the school at anytime. And that is, in itself, reassurance for us. As long as Miles has an opportunity and step ahead in the education we feel will help nourish him as a whole person--is what matters.
I will continue visualizing dropping Miles off at the charter in the morning, seeing him in the kinder classroom, learning the violin, learning Spanish, volunteering in his classroom, and picking him up after school. Visualize and be as patient as possible.
I feel like the grandmother in Waiting for Superman, waiting for her grandson to be picked for the boarding school, only to hear that he wasn't picked but eventually picked when his wait list number was called! Every kid definitely deserves quality education. Every kid definitely deserves the same great opportunities in life. As a parent, I will do what I can to make sure Miles is afforded these opportunities.
