Nicholas had his first day of school last week – well, that is, after all the fires in La Canada settled down!  The schools kept pushing out the “first day” due to all the smoke fall-out.  Nicholas’s nurses were very kind and kept him off-site – away from the area while the smoke cleared out.   Oh…But that first day of school, even, when it’s his 4^th time around, I still get all misty-eyed.  There he is, sitting in his little plaid rolled up shirt (ala the 50’s) all cleaned up and eager.  He sat down in his little wooden chair and sang the “Good Morning” song and I just turn to mush!  Here’s the thing.  If I put him in all special needs school, Nicholas would be one of the higher functioning kids, and in this class-room he probably falls at the end of that range.  But I will do anything and everything I can to make “integration” a reality.  It’s because he was integrated last year, as well as having his Springboard Speaking Device, that Nicholas has finally learned to communicate purposefully.  I have great hopes for his school year!  He’s in first grade and I am one proud Mama!