Let me start with a couple of positives. Positive #1 is Mr. Orsatti in special ed and the wrestling coach. He totally understood my boy. He enjoyed learning from him immensely. He learned to use a power drill and about cars. He was great and he communicated with me on the regular. Any concerns I had, I ran through him. He even accredited him with preparing him for his 9th grade English class as he is doing exceptional in (not his resource teacher for English). Positive #2 is Ms. Leilani, my son's educational assistant (his 2nd). She was only from December through the end of his 8th grade year, but oh boy, she made a tremendous impact on him. She gave him the space to grow and learn to maneuver through social adolescent interaction. My son just adored her and Moanalua middle would be losing an asset when she leaves. These two are the soul reasons, my son had any sort of fun and positive/normal experiences in middle school. These 2 earned the star.
Now, I have been biting my tongue for months but I won't post this til we are all the way off island for fear that Principal Moss may hunt us down for this.
Now, just a little background on my son but he started off at Red Hill Elementary and it was hard times getting adjusted moving to 4 different schools during 5th grade going from CA to the UK and eventually landing on Hawaii. He had diagnosed ADHD only. So the principal at Red Hill had history with him. When he graduated, she took over Moanalua Middle School.
I will on say this just ONCE, but I should've listened to my husband who said maybe changing schools would be better. I simply thought having a continuity of care would be better as they already know him but instead hindered him from getting proper education.
In 7th grade, he was on medication and diagnosed with level 1 autism. My son is super smart and can do the work. He has been off and on honor roll and does have certificates in academic achievement. He has had off and on suspensions as well. So please, I am not excusing any of his behavior but halfway toward the end of his 8th grade year, I felt that he was on the principals hit list because of his history with her.
He absolutely abhorred his 1st EA Mr. Andy, He was on top of his every movement so much so he was virtually breathing down his neck. Every wrong doing he would be given point off and they had it so he had to be good 80 percent of the time. How is that a realistic expectation for a 13 year old boy? He would even get in trouble for delivering a note to the kids he felt wronged him by asking them to tell Principal Moss the truth so he can finally go out to recess.
He was in all resource classes which gave him no homework. He is smarter than that so after school he would read and summarize. He had 3 science teachers during his 8th grade year. During the last month in his English class, he either watched a movie or did other work not pertaining to English Language Arts.
All in all, I think he could've handled more than he was given credit for.
Let me not forget to mention that he got no recess for 7 months in 8th grade and any thing kids snitched on for they believed even though they were from kids and no substantial proof but hearsay in my opinion.
He has been in his new high school for 2 months now with not a peep from the principal or any teacher, he has made lots of friends, he loves all his classes and is striving to get into AP science, he is doing baseball and wrestling, and has expressed interest in a service academy after graduation. He is doing fabulous.
I think if you are good % of the time and are a teachers pet, you are good as gold but other than that better watch out, you'll be blacklisted and good luck getting the education you are entitled to.
So glad we are outta there. Hope to never hear from you again. read more
