Open Houses

Tomorrow, I'm off to an open house for Metairie Academy as a potential school for Ana next year. I've heard good things about this place--that their focus is long-term project work (which is my newfound passion) and kids are really happy. As an entering preschooler, Ana would have to be screened. I'm curious to imagine how she would respond to that: either with flying colors, or complete refusal, you never can tell.

What I'm looking for tomorrow:

• diversity
• teacher-child interactions
• examples of quality student work
• student-teacher ratio
• parent involvement
• exposure to varied media, experiences, people, cultures
• happy children

What Ana told me to look for: Everything like Abeona House. I'm going to miss my friends.

We have a lead on a potential school for Elliot: Madas in Jefferson Parish. Highly integrated community, happy and effective teachers that they retain quite well, etc. When trying to schedule a tour, I ran into the bouncer (read: secretary) who redirected my inquiry to the Special Education Office for Jeff Parish. That person redirected my inquiry to someone else. I left a message. Let's see what this whole process is like.

Still on the itenarary:

• Open House at St. Andrews
• Tour of ISL
• Purchase of small property in Lusher School district (just joking)
• Move to Minnesota (still joking)

Interestingly enough, all this school talk has me looking into the EMBA program at Tulane. It seems wonderful, with the exception of the $80K price tag! Yeah, right.

Random notes to my blog readers (remember, I can't comment on your blogs with my *(&#$computer):

• Erin, Try the Patak brand "Korma" available at Sav-A-Center/Rouses with your next meal...a canned curry that is out of this world with some potatoes, pecans and raisins. YUM.
• Shokufeh, I hope you're healing nicely, and want to plan a "pray date." Ana's been fighting with me about God's love. Where does she get this from(-;
• Holly's blog has pictures of our fun time with Will at the Ochsner event...I won the Tree Trimming service at the silent auction, btw. $50 for $300 in work.
• I'm trying to schedule in my Heifer International helpers. If you're still eager to help, we need to get moving. There's a press release all of a sudden.