This is for all the Ava Elementary Parents

How do you think your Parent Teacher Conferences went? Were oyu informed a lot about your child(ren)? Did your questions get answered?

I'm not trying to start drama here I just want some other opinions. I want to see what other people think about not only the teachers my stepkids have but the other teachers as well.

Both Mrs. Ewings and Mrs. Heckendorn were really good. Helpful, informative, let us know what the kids strengths and weaknesses were and what they were doing to help them with their weaknesses. They also offered advice on things we could do at home to help the kids.

i had a great experience with my sons meeting. i was surprised that she really didnt have anything bad to say about him. she pointed out the areas he needs to work on, and spent the rest of the time praising his work. i was pleasantly surprised. my sons teacher had many good suggestions for stuff we can do at home with him. i left the meeting pleased.

I love Mrs.McDonald, she is so wonderful with the kids in her class. She sat down with me for a good 30 minutes and showed me some of my sons art work, and class work. Now, Ms.Jess is a different story. I was very disappointed when all she said to me was "I was looking forward to this meeting cause I knew it would go quickly" and she mentioned how she expects a lot of my other son cause she know he is more then capable of it. Which is great, nothing negative, but I would have liked to hear more then just a brief sentence or two. She defiantly could be more nurturing. My son said she is mean to him all the time, and I just don't know what to think? They are 5, I like to know how they are with other adults and children. I do take a lot of pride in teaching my children to be appropriate and respectful, it's a breath of fresh air when someone acknowledges that they are awesome little men.

i know

NYGirl29 wrote:

I love Mrs.McDonald, she is so wonderful with the kids in her class. She sat down with me for a good 30 minutes and showed me some of my sons art work, and class work. Now, Ms.Jess is a different story. I was very disappointed when all she said to me was "I was looking forward to this meeting cause I knew it would go quickly" and she mentioned how she expects a lot of my other son cause she know he is more then capable of it. Which is great, nothing negative, but I would have liked to hear more then just a brief sentence or two. She defiantly could be more nurturing. My son said she is mean to him all the time, and I just don't know what to think? They are 5, I like to know how they are with other adults and children. I do take a lot of pride in teaching my children to be appropriate and respectful, it's a breath of fresh air when someone acknowledges that they are awesome little men.

5 year olds have a great concept on teachers'. You need to go and sit with him in the class a day or 2. You need to move him from that class if he feels she is mean to him. Come on if you dont help your son out now who else will?

Absolutely true, however he has a substitute teacher because Ms.Jess just had a baby. When she comes back, she can count on me coming in for a little sit down. But, ya know 5 year olds, they have a lot of stories, and not all of them are true. I know cause I have called the school and talked with bus drivers since the school year started..I have ruffled some feathers. I have no problems defending my boys, maybe I am a bit too over protective. ::shrugs::

This day and age you cant be to protective. I am not saying that 5 year olds dont have vivid imaginations and that they wont play on your sympothies BUT I dont even know your son or situation and I believe him when he says she is mean to him.....why would he make that up? You know as well as I that when you are pregnant, most of us women dont feel well and are in a bad mood daily. There is just to much that goes on at that school that us parents either dont know or aren't willing to cause waves! So, good for you for taking him seriously. By the way, does he say the sub is mean to him also?

Well for example..they boys were saying a big kid on the bus had been hurting them, so I of course fly through the roof, like why isn't the bus driver doing anything?! So I had their soon to be step brother go check it out for me, and the principal or whom ever had stopped him from finding out anything because he was in fear of him getting into more trouble..but that got attention towards the real situation..I confronted the bus driver, and he was clueless on who they were talking about..(I forgot the name the boys gave me)so I told him, I am not from around here, and I have heard how things roll, and I am not one to just sit back and relax while I think someone is hurting my kids..I'd go to the police and for sure press charges on who ever it was..so he moved the boys where he can keep an eye on them, and guess what..the boys finally admitted that no big kid was bothering them. There was a 4th grader who I heard was some trouble, but nothing like the boys had explained to me. But now, the bus driver gives me up dates and he watches them close cause I know he doesn't want the trouble I was about to offer. But anyways! I need to hear real reasons, before I start something. And mean, isn't physically or mentally hurting him. All it comes down to is, he finds unpleasant. And if that continues to be the case, he will have to just learn to cope..one of these days he will have to tolerate someone he doesn't like. I'd rather him learn now how to manage. Maybe a bit harsh, but I don't want them to live in a glass house, and have the world fall apart just because someone is mean to them.. I want them to hold their chin up high, and keep moving forward. But till they are old enough to defend them selves, Ms. Jess and I will talk when she comes back from maternity leave. I guess I am kinda torn because my 2 soon to be step kids and I have talked about things that happen at school. They tell me the more parents huff and puff about the teachers, the more the teachers will give them a hard time. All I know is in NY, this crap wouldn't fly, so I must choose my battles wisely.

So NYGirl29 do you like others in the elementary school? Teachers....administrators.... superintendent...etc?

Everyone I have met so far does seem genuinely nice. I try and give everyone the benefit of the doubt. :o)

Ms. Jess did confront me, due to other parents telling her what I said, which wasn't ideal. But, I think her confronting me put me in my place! I feel horrible, and I have apologized. When I am wrong I admit it, and I was very wrong. I am sorry again Ms. Jess!:o( Thank you for telling me about his activities and progress at school. The compliment of him being artistic and doing it in great detail, meant so much to me! Makes picking up all the cut up pieces of paper,crayons and colored pencils worth it. Sorry again..

NYGirl29 wrote:

Ms. Jess did confront me, due to other parents telling her what I said, which wasn't ideal. But, I think her confronting me put me in my place! I feel horrible, and I have apologized. When I am wrong I admit it, and I was very wrong. I am sorry again Ms. Jess!:o( Thank you for telling me about his activities and progress at school. The compliment of him being artistic and doing it in great detail, meant so much to me! Makes picking up all the cut up pieces of paper,crayons and colored pencils worth it. Sorry again..

Wait....what did I miss here? She confronted you and now your son thinks she is the greatest thing since sliced bread???? I am confused at what changed his disposition?

I didn't say all that! I did what was right in apologizing for posting anything about her before I ever got a chance to speak to her about this. And I am grateful for the positive things she had to say about him. She made me aware that the sub didn't clue her in while she was out on maternity leave, I can't blame her for that. And he does feel like she is better towards him since she had the baby, so who knows, hormones do crazy things to us women when we are pregnant.

And btw, if I knew how to delete this off of this, I would. I don't need to explain myself to you or anyone else. I know when I am wrong, and I know where my heart is.

You are right, you need not explain yourself to us and I understand you have a regret for posting here. I was only concerned for your son. I have had an unhappy child in the 1st grade and it was a very unpleasant year for everyone involved. I will always regret that I did not move her to another class.

who are the principals?

NYGirl29 wrote:

I didn't say all that! I did what was right in apologizing for posting anything about her before I ever got a chance to speak to her about this. And I am grateful for the positive things she had to say about him. She made me aware that the sub didn't clue her in while she was out on maternity leave, I can't blame her for that. And he does feel like she is better towards him since she had the baby, so who knows, hormones do crazy things to us women when we are pregnant.
And btw, if I knew how to delete this off of this, I would. I don't need to explain myself to you or anyone else. I know when I am wrong, and I know where my heart is.

It takes a very big person to admit that they made a mistake.