She did it!

Back in November, Cassidy took a second test to try to get into M A.  This is the only public school we will consider sending her to here in Jefferson Parish.  Their state test scores, along with the other "advanced study academies" outshine the other public schools by double digits. There are some other public schools in Orleans Parish, but we would have to move and then risk not getting in there either.  

Cassidy tested a year ago at the ripe age of 3 and a half.  Admission is challenging with over 700 kids (784 for the previous year to be exact) testing for PreK for an opening of 40 spots at M A and another 40 spots at A P (we would also consider this school, but since we aren't in their district, we would never get in because they fill up every year with district kids).  She did well then with an overall score brief achievement score of 88, which qualified her (she needed an 85),  but only those kids with a 93 or above made it in which put her 24th the waiting list.  Her scores last year:

96 % in letter and word recognition
93 %in applied problems (math)
47 % in spelling (which is actually writing words... we knew she'd struggle with this one since she couldn't write her name yet).

Her average was actually a 78, but I assume the extra 10 points was an adjustment for her age. 

So over the past year, we've worked on writing letters, including her name and address.  We've worked hard on beginning to read, with recognition of sight words and letter sounds.  And we've worked on simple math.  She can count to 100 (she usually misses 77 and one or two other numbers) and she does simple addition and subtraction pretty well. 

So she tested again in November and we've eagerly been waiting for her scores since then.  In the mean time, we've been attending open houses and applying to a couple of catholic schools in the area as well as a backup plan for an expensive, non-denominational school near our house (which we LOVED, but its 12K/year by the time you add in food and after care).   For Kindergarten, which she is required to test for based on her age, there are 12 openings at M A.  That's right .... 12.  I know my kid is bright.... but I am realistic enough to admit that their may be 12 kids in our district who are either smarter, developmentally faster, or just test better than her.  So we've been assuming we'd be sending her to one of the Catholic schools.

The envelope came last week.  I stared at it for a good 5 minutes before opening it.  And then I screamed.  Alot.  With profanity.  Very loudly.  She did it!  She was accepted into M A.  Her test scores .... drum roll please ...

94 % in letter and word recognition
99 % in applied problems
91 % in spelling

For an overall brief achievement score of 97%

I'll pause for a moment here... feel free to cheer outloud!

I called out of curiousity....  The cutoff this year was a 93.  There were 12 spots.  74 kids tested for Kindergarten at M A.

So we now can start to make plans for next year.  And we can abandon the idea of moving into Orleans Parish. 

Way to go Cassidy!  And way to go teachers at CP ... you deserve a huge pat on the back for the work you do with our child and all the kids you teach!  I KNOW her attendance at your school has made a difference. 

Mardi Gras Madness

We had another great Mardi Gras season this year!  We started out the season with one of my favorites, Krewe du Vieux.  This year we rented a hotel room in the Marigny, recruited Nana and Papa to babysit, and had an enjoyable "staycation" in the Quarter and Marigny.  We spent the afternoon browsing the Quarter, hanging out in a coffee shop reading and drawing (a tourist took my photo drawing!  How 'bout that!) and after a light dinner and a soak in the hot tub, made our way out to the parade.  It was particularly crude this year, with a theme of Krewe du Vieux Comes Early. 

We got in our share of family fun at the Metaire parades.

And caught Ponchartrain Uptown on Napolean too!

But my new favorite, and by far best parade experience yet, is Endymion.  We'd been to Endymion once before and I didn't like it because it was crazy crowded.  Usually we watch it on tv as it gets to the superdome.  This year was different since we were invited to Jackson's (he's Cassidy's classmate who I'm sure you've noticed appears in a lot of pictures with her) grandparents house for their annual Endymion party.  They live on Canal along the parade route.  It was fantastic!  Aside from the convenience of a bathroom, there was great food, a balcony, and 6 ladders in front of the house.  So fun!!!  The lit up floats were amazing .... and gigantic!