End of School...Start of School...Repeat...

It's the end of the school year here...which always means it's time to gear up for the next school year. I just sent off this email, and thought I'd post it, just in case it makes life easier for you to copy, paste, and tweak it to fit your needs.

Hey...I'm always interested in finding ways to makes life easier.

(For more helpful tips and information about how we manage Sugar at school, click HERE.)

Hello!

It's that time of year again.  The end of one school year means it's time to begin preparing for the task of sending {Sugar} to school with both diabetes and celiac again next year.  {Sugar} has matured quite a bit over the years, and is now able to be more of an active participant in her self-care.  She still doesn't possess the critical-thinking and decision-making skills that are necessary to insure her safety and well-being, but this past school year we've definitely seen her confidence soar in both areas of medical management. 

Prior to the 1st day of school next year, we will need to sit down to discuss her 504 accommodations, develop a routine for visits to the Health Office, and clarify any concerns/questions.  In order to meet these goals, there are a few bits of information I'll need when we meet:

• Lunch Time
• Recess Time(s)
• P.E. Time(s)
• Routine for classroom parties (time of day, types of foods typically offered, frequency of parties.)

I've compiled some resources that may be helpful for school staff to better understand both Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease.  Please feel free to share these resources with anyone who will be interacting with {Sugar} throughout the school day:

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes in School - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
Safe at School - American Diabetes Association (ADA)
Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed -- National Diabetes Education Program via the CDC


Celiac

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA)
Letter to Educators from the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign via the NIH

I hope these resources will be helpful in better understanding the medical issues {Sugar} lives with.  As her parents, it is our goal to help her succeed, despite the challenges.  We believe we have a responsibility to educate school personnel, and advocate for her throughout her education experiences.  We are always available to answer questions or address concerns, and want to maintain an open dialog at all times. 

I'd also like to mention that Nurse {C} and {Sugar} have a solid history of working together to effectively manage both diabetes and celiac in the school setting.  Nurse {C} is an outstanding resource to {Name of School}, and I am confident in her ability to troubleshoot, problem solve, and address any issues that may arise.  Nurse {B} is also very knowledgeable and capable of helping however necessary to insure {Sugar's} well-being.  I consider this amazing team of school nurses to be one of the most consistent attributes to {Sugar's}success at school thus far. 

Please let me know how I can be of assistance in getting her 504 meeting scheduled.

We are looking forward to a healthy, happy 4th Grade year, and hope everyone has a wonderful summer!

TIME TO SEND DIABETES TO SCHOOL!

Will you hit the snooze button, please?

I need 5 more minutes.

At least.

We've been out of town for several weeks (more on that later).  I feel like I'm behind the ball with school preparations this year.  I left it all at home.  I've been intentionally dealing with as little as possible "diabetes stuff" all summer...school was about the farthest thing from my mind when we got up close and personal with a few black bears and loads of buffalo...while we were cruising the famous Going To The Sun Road at Glacier National Park...when we were spending HOURS circling the National Bison Range...when we were boating with loved ones on Flathead Lake...when we were playing on the lake shore with my mom and the dog...when we were just hanging out and enjoying the beautiful Montana weather....

Then we came home.  And it was all still here...just waiting...lurking in the background.  First thing last Monday morning (before the suitcases were unpacked), we headed to the school...a meeting date followed...then the 504 revisions...who has time to recover from vacation when diabetes needs to go to school??????

I posted on Facebook when we were headed to our 504 Meeting.

And guess what!?!?!?!?!?!?  I'm not alone!!!!!  Comments, other status updates, private messages, e-mails...from left to right, I was quickly reminded it's THAT time of year again, and everyone else is trying to get ready too.

To be honest, this is the FOURTH year that we've gone through this.

Yes.

I said FOURTH.

Once for preschool, and twice for kindergarten (I opted to hold her back a year, because she has a summer birthday).

That brings us to right now.

First grade.

Sooooooo, I should be an old pro, right?

Pffffffffft....HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!  YEAH RIGHT!

I have to admit that it's easier the 4th time around.  But I'm still nervous.  I'm still afraid I'll forget to send in something important.  I'm still anxious about how a daily routine will be established with her new schedule.  I'm still freaked out about troubleshooting the inevitable pump setting changes.  I'm still scared out of my mind that she'll have the worst low EVer, and I won't be there to catch it.

I dunno if all that stuff ever goes away.

But I do know that, recently, I've had tons of requests for help.

There was a time that I was a mom looking for direction.  When I was lost, there were other moms who had gone before me, and they came out of the woodwork to help me get our act together.

Friends, we pave the road for each other.

And for the 40 who are diagnosed tomorrow...and the next day...and the next....

Time to pay it forward.

So, what bases do WE cover when it's time to send the BIG D to school?

Simply click on the 504 tab at the top of the page to check out the plan we use. Feel free to copy and paste it....then tweak it to your Candy Heart's content!  If you come up with any helpful revisions or have something to add, I'd appreciate it if you would send them my way (candyheartsblog@gmail.com)!

By the way, TODAY was Sugar's 1st day of the 1st grade....

How did it go, you ask?

Stellar :)

(That was for you, Heidi!)

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