Catchup

So this is where we are. The last three weeks have been hideous.  After Second Son's interview at Cav, we were informed that because he doesn't live in the catchment area, he didn't stand much of a chance of gaining a place for year 8 next year.  I was ropeable....not so much about the catchment deal, which I had been aware of, but about the school not giving me the heads up that EVEN with a special needs sibling attending the school in 2013 and EVEN with well documented special needs, the chances of himself getting a placement where somewhere between Buckleys and none.  Which left me with no back up plan and a category 5 migraine.  We had basically decided that the only option open to us (after checking various private special ed schools which had no places and which we couldn't afford anyway) was to move into the catchment area, which meant that the school would have to admit us.  It would also have meant borrowing rent money, and splitting the family in two as Firstborn  and FF would have to stay here with nanna and the piano, as it's kinda hard to prepare for two 7th grade piano exams minus a piano, while Second Son and myself gypsied into the catchment area.  See where the migraine comes in??  Fortunately, after explaining the situation (many, MANY times) to a bunch of Dept Ed reps, we finally got someone to intercede on our behalf, and himself will be attending with Firstborn next year.  It still amazes me that with all the "excellence" programs that schools have, there is still a massive lack of special education services.   If it were me, I'd be taking down that "our school is a insert subject/sport/whatever  school of Excellence" banner and replacing it with one that reads
Turning disabled students into able adults for 20 years.....Special Ed, we have it!!!!
Looking at my kids alone, the Government of this country is going to save itself hundreds of thousands of dollars in pensions, paid carers and support services, because of the dedication and perseverance of the Special Ed services.  Try doing that with a football.