A Light In The Dark: Edmonton Academy

  My mother has a saying, kids never go off the tracks at the same time.

  It's like they know we can only deal with one crisis at a time, so they watch and wait their turn. As Mitchell was finishing grade 6, it seemed to be his turn to come off the tracks. Mitch has an amazing mind, even as a little boy he would blow me away with the things he would ask. He has incredible insights for a guy his age. School however, never seemed to recognize his spark.
  My Mom and I took both boys on trips to Scotland several years ago. The life coach I was training with at the time knew about the struggles we were having and suggested that we go and show them where they come from. Give them history, something to belong to and identify with. That worked like a charm as Mitch was instantly in love with everything Scottish and in fact came home proudly with his own kilt. His father was a bit horrified when Mitchell decided to wear it to school on his first day home and quietly packed a pair of sweats in his backpack in case he should change his mind. He arrived home proudly still in the kilt and when his dad asked him how the day went he said " well, the guys were bugging me about wearing a dress but I set them straight. It's a kilt, not a dress!" A true Scott!
  On the academic side, we had taken a lot of homework with us and my mom got a first hand view of the difficulties we struggled with every day. Mitchell was diagnosed with ADD when he was in grade 3. We were both ready to slit our wrists trying to do homework with him. We could not keep him focused for more than a few minutes. It was exhausting. We tried Sylvan learning center, Kumon, there was little out there that offered promise that we didn't try. None of it seemed to help. We had tried Ritalin, Concerta, Adderol and Mitchell hated them all. It was a constant struggle to get him to take his medication and he fought us and half the time flushed it down the toilet. These medications are difficult in a number of ways. Ritalin and Concerta had caused depression and although Adderol was better, it caused a very dramatic suppression of appetite. Now not only were we fighting about medication, we were fighting about meals too. By Grade 6, Mitchell was starting to feel frustrated and with the prospect of grade 7 looming with it's organizational challenges, we were worried.
  Once again I turned to the incredible people I am so priveledged to care for. I asked teachers, professionals, parents, anyone I thought might be able to offer us some direction. One incredible family who had shared their journey suggested Edmonton Academy. I practically sprinted from the operatory to pull it up on google. I downloaded the forms and called their number and left a message. I believe it was in the summer after school had let out. I wasn't really expecting anyone to call as I thought the school would be closed for the holiday. Within days I had an email from the registrar. She was amazingly kind. I think my message must have sounded quite desperate, because she took the time to email me from her husband's email account while they were on holiday. She walked me through all of what I needed to submit and promised me they would be in touch. I hurriedly contacted all the professionals who had the reports I needed and asked them to forward their submissions. Then all I could do was wait.
  We got the call for the interview and I thought my heart would burst. Hope. We didn't tell Mitchell until the night before because we didn't want him to be nervous. We explained that this was a chance to go to a school that recognized that not all kids learn the same way. That sometimes finding the channel that works for your brain and focusing the learning energy there makes everything come together. Edmonton Academy
figures out whether you are an auditory, visual or kinesthetic learner and then teaches to your strengths. They have been amazing at helping Mitchell understand what he needs to optimize his learning. Mitchell was hesitant about the change. His mind was set on following all of his friends to HE Beriault. We asked him just to do the interview and keep an open mind.
  Laurie Oakes is the principal at Edmonton Academy and a more amazing woman you would be hard pressed to find. She is more of a cosmic phenomenon than a mere person. She is very " chic" and cutting edge. She is closer to the cool end of the spectrum than we parents will ever be. She had Mitchell at hello.
I sat spellbound listening to her in that interview. She took a boy that didn't want to be there and connected with him in a way I have never seen another adult connect with him until that moment. At the end of that interview and talking to Mitch about his areas of strength and his areas of need, she paused for a moment and looked him right in the eye. She told him how amazing she could tell he was from all the reports that she had and that she thought that they would be a good fit, but that he needed to feel the same. She said he should go home and think about it. We hit the side walk outside the school and he paused and looked at his dad and I and said " I think I could fit in here! " . I could have cried.
  We made the decision to drop the medication. That was our concession to Mitchell agreeing to try EA.
We decided to trust that Mitchell's own intuition that the medication was not for him and see if a different learning approach would make the difference.
  His first year, first report card, Mitch came home beaming. He was on the honour roll. My son was transformed from a boy who seemed lost and uncertain to a young man walking tall and proudly, joking with teachers he had grown to love and respect. In the meantime on this journey, once Mitch got firmly back on the track Garrett decided it was his turn to come off. His diagnosis lead us to Dr. Bruce Hoffman and the gluten free, casein free diet and the knowledge that ADD and Autism were linked on the same spectrum. He surprised us by wanting to treat both kids. So we did.
  Two years later, both my boys are lucky enough to attend this amazing school and we are honour roll with both of them. Mitchell has been blessed to have had the same teacher for both years, a brilliant teacher named Christa Farmer-Shave. She has meant everything to Mitchell as his homeroom teacher and guide.
She, along with all the other gifted teachers at this school, have restored my children's belief in themselves, their self esteem and their love of learning. They now believe they can, and they are learning the tools that will get them where they want to go. The diet has made a remarkable difference in Mitchell. Christa would say he "woke up". It has been like watching someone come out of the fog.
  The story of how Garrett came to EA is a story for another day, but his life has been changed by the kindness and acceptance of these wonderful people too.
  If any of what I have written rings a bell for you, I would encourage you to visit their website. They have restored my faith in the education system.
  Signing off for tonight,
Kathryn