2019 Nominee
Dedication and CareBy John
There is so much more I can tell, but it would take 20 pages. She left on maternity leave a few months ago, and I was scared all would change. Nothing changed, as the acting principal was equally as good, and even now supporting me beyond what she is expected to do.
This story has been anonymised to protect the child's identity.
We were made homeless last July; after 10 years renting, our landlord moved students into our home. I have 3 children, but my main problem was my son John: he was in 4th class and had to move out of the area, the other side of the town. It took 2 buses to get John] to school, but we kept him there so as not to uproot his whole life, his friends are there and support from the school also.
The Principal’s called me constantly to check we were ok, arranged for John to be seen by an OT, which helped me as it turned out he has ADHD and is dyslexic. She got in touch with CAMHS [the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service], also arranged a Meitheal [family support] programme, which really helped myself also. She excused John when he was late, as he had to take 2 buses to get to school. She talked to me when I thought I could not go on anymore.
There is so much more I can tell, but it would take 20 pages. She left on maternity leave a few months ago, and I was scared all would change. Nothing changed, as the acting principal [name] was equally as good, and even now supporting me beyond what she is expected to do. She has a very large amount of students, but she always make me feel like I am the only mother and John is the only child. She has offered him art therapy, which he seems to love; she arranged for him to be still part of his school community with clubs and after-school programmes.
Now, John's teacher, – let me explain: he was his teacher last year and again this year. He is a young teacher and is such a great role mode. He treats John with such respect and takes him to play hurling and gives him jobs around the classroom to distract him from fighting and being loud. He makes time to call me with updates and gives John loads of praise.