Parent Teacher Meeting at the School

Today I had an appointment for a parent teacher meeting at Kristen's school. When they called to make the appointment I was told that they were concerned about Kristen. Other than that I knew nothing.

So I showed up this morning and was escorted into a conference room with the English teacher, the Spanish teacher, the team co-coordinator and the student coordinator. That is a lot of people to support each student. At first it was overwhelming but then I began to understand the role that each played for the total growth of the student. Pretty amazing. We certainly didn't have that in Canada.

The reason I was called in was because Kristen was not integrating well and that was translating to her attitude and quality of work. She was feeling overwhelmed and when she didnt understand she just shut down and didn't bother to try.

I started to cry in the middle of the meeting, in front of these 4 women and it was embarassing but all I felt was guilt over putting her in this situation that she felt unable to ask anyone for help.

I asked that Kristen be brought into the conference and I could see the relief on her face that she had all this support to help her through it. She is determined to use all the help available. I am so proud of her. Her teachers said the same as well as how intelligent she is. Wonder where she gets it from?

So now she will have after school spanish lessons, a tutor at home 5 days a week and in class tutoring on her subjects and the language as well. With all this support I know she is in the right place and I am happy that we are here. What an amazing experience for her.

Early Dismissal every Friday

I am getting ready to pick up my daughter from school shortly because it is Friday. Every Friday the school lets out an hour early at 1:30pm.

I think its wonderful. They work hard all week going to school from 8am - 2:30pm and my daughter has after school Spanish lessons Tuesday and Thursday until 4pm. Every night they have at least 1 hour of homework, so letting them leave early on Friday I think is a wonderful reward for working hard all week.

Imagine if it worked like that in the adult working life. Imagine working hard and being rewarded EVERY single week. Imagine earning an extra 20% a week for working hard.

What would our world be like if every Friday afternoon was family time around the world? How would our children be different? How would WE be different?

What an amazing concept to imagine and consider. I think I would really like that world.

Schooling in Ajijic

Years ago when my parents had just settled down here in Ajijic, we got to talking about what it would be like if I moved there. My mother was insistent that moving here before my daughter had finished school was not a good idea. She was informed that the school system here was not as good as in Canada.

Little did my mother know at that time that she would pass on suddenly and I would find myself here caring for her mother and raising my daughter as well.

I researched and asked everyone about the schools. Almost everyone that I met and respected sent their kids to Terra Nova and my kid had met so many other children going there, we just opted for this particular private, bilingual school.

The school is in the top 10% of all schools in the state of Jalisco and they are working hard to be in the top 10 - period. They have a huge percentage of teachers that have their PHD and masters degrees.

School is taught in English for the first half of the day and Spanish on the second half. I have hired a tutor for my daughter to help her with her homework and he is doing wonders with her. She is understanding more and more and not falling behind in her schoolwork.

She attends after school Spanish lessons twice a week as well to help her learn the language. I have been told that after Christmas a light will click on in her head and she will be bilingual.

What an awesome opportunity for her. She also has available French and Italian after school lessons which we will take up next year after she has Spanish down pat. The school is a major prep for the University of Guadalajara, which is world renowned.

I am thrilled with the teachers, the school, the curriculum and the students. I am sure that she is getting a much better education here than she did in Ontario. There is daily homework and accountability. They teach values and not religion, which I am thrilled with. You can't learn too much values but religion is personal for me.

If you ever find yourself living in Mexico with school aged children, (I have met so many people here who are raising their grand kids here in Mexico while they are retired) don't be afraid of the schools. There are excellent ones that you would be proud to send your children to.