CT Feature
they all, develop a network of friends here, some with special needs, some typically developing, who they can look out for and who will look out for them.
And her DS means that she will always find some of the moves harder to learn/complete than typically-developing kids will do. So it is with intense pride that I can write this: The Girl did not look out of place next to any of her class-mates. She nailed just about all the moves (though her jumps still need more bounce and distance), was expressive, and was driven by her desire to get it right. And by her infectious enthusiasm. And the girls all support one another and Emily looks out for them all; a wonderful teacher. I am a very proud man.
Laying down future memories (2). End of Year 8 School Report. I used to hate taking home my school reports. Mam and dad were rarely cross – my reports on the whole were quite good. But if there were what she deemed to be fewer ‘A’s than she thought me capable of, mam would sort-of sigh, this exhalation signifying disappointment that I wasn’t achieving my potential. So it is with some relief that The Girl’s end-of-year school reports come home to me and The Boss and that we have nothing to be disappointed by. The Girl has made significant progress over last year and the estimated level that the teachers believe she will achieve by the end of Year 9 has gone up in most subjects, and gone down in none. The teachers have clearly put significant effort into reporting on her progress, just as they have into teaching her. The Report itself seems to me to be a very positive process/ document. The girl we read about in the Report is very much ‘The Girl’, with all her strengths and challenges ringing true. That means it seems to me that both The Girl and the Report are fit for purpose!
Laying down future memories (2). School’s Out for Summer. On the last day of term the Head Teacher, came up to me at the school gate, with his hand held out to shake mine: "She's had a good year, it's been a very good year!" I agree with his assessment and it was a nice touch that he sought me out to say as much. As I waited at the gate, my daughter’s best friend, came and waited with me; "I'm really going to miss [The Girl] this summer. Will you and my mum be able to arrange time for us?" They only live just over a mile and a half apart but it's along busy roads and, of course, both families have different holiday plans so finding the right play-dates takes some jiggling of diaries. We'll manage it.
I thought that I might close this month’s article with a quote from The Girl’s form teacher. It is more generic than the subject-specific sections of the Report and there's nothing in it that is private or that my daughter herself would be embarrassed by. Here it is. “[The Girl] is a delightful member of the form class. She always arrives with a smile on her face and is keen and eager to complete any form activities that we do. [She] is a confident young lady and is always keen to make a valuable contribution in class discussion and to read aloud when we discuss our thoughts for the week. Both myself and [her classmates] are in awe of the numerous extra-curricular activities that [she] clearly enjoys! I very much look forward to moving forward with [her] and guiding her through her GCSE option choices in year 9.”
The Girl arrived and they walked to my car arm in arm. I tried hard not to cry with love and pride at the two such lovely girls. Both finding their feet in an increasingly grown up world. I think also of her friend in Aberystwyth, whom The Girl will be visiting later this summer, and another friend whom my daughter has only really met once a year on residential courses, these past four years but whom she looks up to and laughs a lot with. I hope she,
PS, The Girl was interested enough to want us to read the Report through with her before bed. She was chuffed to bits and demanded a family cuddle when we told her how proud we are. There are some memories I’ll never forget!
3
Article - Wyn Evans - August 2019 page 3
Tuesday, 23 July 2019 16:18 Magenta Yellow Cyan Black