Help Julian Stay At St. Mary's School!!
Donation protected
Hi everyone! I am starting this campaign to keep my son, Julian, at St. Mary's School. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am having a very hard time paying his tuition. He is in danger of being dismissed which is why I am sending this campaign out on a wing and a prayer. Leap and the net will appear has always been my favorite motto so I am taking that leap! I pray that the net will appear.
St. Mary's School is a private school in Medford, OR. It is an amazing school that offers it's students the very best education in a safe and nurturing environment. Their curriculum is unsurpassed and the opportunities are limitless. Students fortunate enough to go to this school become the very best possible versions of themselves. They can't help but do this as this school really fosters a highly positive and motivating environment.
This is an unbelievably wonderful school, especially for kids who are struggling. I have firsthand knowledge of that as I was once a kid who had a terrible time in the public school system. I had a dreadful experience my freshman year at a public high school. My sister suggested St. Mary's School and fortunately, our parents agreed to give it a try. I entered as a sophomore and amazing things happened to me.....
I was a very angry kid and this school completely transformed me. I had friends, I was playing several different sports, I suddenly had opportunities. I went from extreme anger and loneliness to a happy girl with a ton of friends and a newfound outlook on life. This school changed my life in absolutely every way possible and I have nothing but great memories from the three years I spent walking those hallowed halls.
Obviously I would want the very same experience for my children. It has long been a dream of mine to send my boys here. My oldest boy, Julian, is now walking those same halls I did and I could not be happier. This is where his story begins and mine ends...
Julian has Autism Spectrum Disorder. He has had a horrible time at school. Special education has failed him time and time again. He entered preschool at age three and it has been a very rough road since then. Teachers had no idea what to do with him, how to teach him, how to ignite that proverbial spark. Numerous meetings, different plans, different schools....it all yielded the same result. No understanding, no friends, no positive outlook, NO FUTURE.
After being kicked out of yet another public school, my husband and I homeschooled him for several years. We decided to try middle school because Julian really wanted to try public school again. That was a complete disaster but I'm glad we tried because that experience really made me think very seriously about St. Mary's.
Julian went through hell at public middle school. Other kids do not understand autism obviously and I really don't expect them to. I also did not expect the level of terror and bullying my boy was about to face! He is obviously different from his peers but that was grossly taken advantage of. He was continuously mocked daily, told he didn't matter, and was actively ENCOURAGED to kill himself. I thank God every single day he did not try to do that. He had hidden everything that was happening to him from his father and I. He knew just how much we worried about him and our private terror every time we put him on that school bus....
Once we learned about the terrors he was facing at school I took action. I decided to try to get him admitted to St. Mary's. No one thought it could happen. An autistic boy with a 1.3 GPA?? No way. Not happening. Forget about it.
I moved forward anyway. Leap and the net will appear, right?? We went to an open house event at the school. Julian got to see the school and even got to see his mother's name on a sports plaque in the gym! He talked with teachers who already understood autism. We were told there were several autistic students at St. Mary's. What a huge blessing this was and how hopeful we were!
We went with it. We sent in his unbelievably BAD school history and just hoped for the best. Naturally the school admissions director was skeptical, we did not blame her. There is no special education, no IEP meetings, no resources. I didn't care, my boy is brilliant and I've always known that. We have crazy discussions about astronomy, science, math, politics, etc. I've never doubted Julian's brilliance, I just needed him to be in the right place with the right structure and focus. I knew St. Mary's was the place for him, I just needed them to see that as well.
After several interviews, they saw it. They absolutely saw it. There was just one catch...Julian would have to repeat 8th grade. Normally this would've horrified him but when he was asked about this possibility, he immediately agreed. Anything to get in!
We left that last interview feeling very hopeful. About a week later we got the best news ever, he was accepted!! We were so overjoyed but life has a way of intervening....Julian developed a bad infection in his right leg and required hospitalization for over a week. He would not be starting school for awhile. It was one hell of a blow and we didn't know what would happen.
Julian got out of the hospital and started st St. Mary's three weeks after the start of school. Not the best way to start at all. Worst case scenario. We were so very scared for him when we dropped him off at school on his first day...
Imagine my terror when I arrived to pick him up. I really was expecting the worst....however, my happy excited boy met me outside with his new friend Charlie. He said he had a great first day and couldn't wait to return.
Julian has gone from a 1.3 GPA to a 3.0 GPA, He has friends, he has opportunities, he loves school again. He is so very happy here. He looks forward to going to school. I know exactly how he feels, I felt it too. I KNOW what this school can do!!
Unfortunately I lost my job one week before Christmas. I never saw it coming. I will get another job what what am I do do now?? I only have another week to pay up or all is for naught. Julian will be dismissed and there will be nothing I can do!
I cannot have this happen. I will do whatever it takes for Julian's education. It is the most important thing in my life and his! Please help! I'll do anything in return...need a cake for your loved one's birthday? I'll do it!! Need help around the house?? I'm all over it!! Need a babysitter?? Count on me!!
Everyone who knows me knows how much I hate asking for help. I'll do anything to avoid it. However, this is much bigger than me. This is not about me. This is about Julian, and that is the only thing that matters. I have an account sent up through Banner Bank and all donations will go to that account. All donations will go directly to St. Mary's. Every red cent you donate will go to Julian's education. I will post updates with bank receipts.
Nothing matters more to me than Julian's future. Nothing. I'm a desperate mother rapidly approaching the 11th hour. Help me, please. I would be so very grateful.
These are a few photos of our journey so far....
1. Julian outside the office on Open House night.
2. The debit card for the account I have set up.
3. The amount we currently owe the school.
4, 5, and 6 are of Julian after Open House and wearing his two favorite school t-shirts.
7. Me playing softball my sophomore year.
8, and 9 are of Julian in front of my old locker on Open House night.
10. Julian reading his acceptance email on my phone.
11. Julian realizing that he did it!! A new adventure begins!
St. Mary's School is a private school in Medford, OR. It is an amazing school that offers it's students the very best education in a safe and nurturing environment. Their curriculum is unsurpassed and the opportunities are limitless. Students fortunate enough to go to this school become the very best possible versions of themselves. They can't help but do this as this school really fosters a highly positive and motivating environment.
This is an unbelievably wonderful school, especially for kids who are struggling. I have firsthand knowledge of that as I was once a kid who had a terrible time in the public school system. I had a dreadful experience my freshman year at a public high school. My sister suggested St. Mary's School and fortunately, our parents agreed to give it a try. I entered as a sophomore and amazing things happened to me.....
I was a very angry kid and this school completely transformed me. I had friends, I was playing several different sports, I suddenly had opportunities. I went from extreme anger and loneliness to a happy girl with a ton of friends and a newfound outlook on life. This school changed my life in absolutely every way possible and I have nothing but great memories from the three years I spent walking those hallowed halls.
Obviously I would want the very same experience for my children. It has long been a dream of mine to send my boys here. My oldest boy, Julian, is now walking those same halls I did and I could not be happier. This is where his story begins and mine ends...
Julian has Autism Spectrum Disorder. He has had a horrible time at school. Special education has failed him time and time again. He entered preschool at age three and it has been a very rough road since then. Teachers had no idea what to do with him, how to teach him, how to ignite that proverbial spark. Numerous meetings, different plans, different schools....it all yielded the same result. No understanding, no friends, no positive outlook, NO FUTURE.
After being kicked out of yet another public school, my husband and I homeschooled him for several years. We decided to try middle school because Julian really wanted to try public school again. That was a complete disaster but I'm glad we tried because that experience really made me think very seriously about St. Mary's.
Julian went through hell at public middle school. Other kids do not understand autism obviously and I really don't expect them to. I also did not expect the level of terror and bullying my boy was about to face! He is obviously different from his peers but that was grossly taken advantage of. He was continuously mocked daily, told he didn't matter, and was actively ENCOURAGED to kill himself. I thank God every single day he did not try to do that. He had hidden everything that was happening to him from his father and I. He knew just how much we worried about him and our private terror every time we put him on that school bus....
Once we learned about the terrors he was facing at school I took action. I decided to try to get him admitted to St. Mary's. No one thought it could happen. An autistic boy with a 1.3 GPA?? No way. Not happening. Forget about it.
I moved forward anyway. Leap and the net will appear, right?? We went to an open house event at the school. Julian got to see the school and even got to see his mother's name on a sports plaque in the gym! He talked with teachers who already understood autism. We were told there were several autistic students at St. Mary's. What a huge blessing this was and how hopeful we were!
We went with it. We sent in his unbelievably BAD school history and just hoped for the best. Naturally the school admissions director was skeptical, we did not blame her. There is no special education, no IEP meetings, no resources. I didn't care, my boy is brilliant and I've always known that. We have crazy discussions about astronomy, science, math, politics, etc. I've never doubted Julian's brilliance, I just needed him to be in the right place with the right structure and focus. I knew St. Mary's was the place for him, I just needed them to see that as well.
After several interviews, they saw it. They absolutely saw it. There was just one catch...Julian would have to repeat 8th grade. Normally this would've horrified him but when he was asked about this possibility, he immediately agreed. Anything to get in!
We left that last interview feeling very hopeful. About a week later we got the best news ever, he was accepted!! We were so overjoyed but life has a way of intervening....Julian developed a bad infection in his right leg and required hospitalization for over a week. He would not be starting school for awhile. It was one hell of a blow and we didn't know what would happen.
Julian got out of the hospital and started st St. Mary's three weeks after the start of school. Not the best way to start at all. Worst case scenario. We were so very scared for him when we dropped him off at school on his first day...
Imagine my terror when I arrived to pick him up. I really was expecting the worst....however, my happy excited boy met me outside with his new friend Charlie. He said he had a great first day and couldn't wait to return.
Julian has gone from a 1.3 GPA to a 3.0 GPA, He has friends, he has opportunities, he loves school again. He is so very happy here. He looks forward to going to school. I know exactly how he feels, I felt it too. I KNOW what this school can do!!
Unfortunately I lost my job one week before Christmas. I never saw it coming. I will get another job what what am I do do now?? I only have another week to pay up or all is for naught. Julian will be dismissed and there will be nothing I can do!
I cannot have this happen. I will do whatever it takes for Julian's education. It is the most important thing in my life and his! Please help! I'll do anything in return...need a cake for your loved one's birthday? I'll do it!! Need help around the house?? I'm all over it!! Need a babysitter?? Count on me!!
Everyone who knows me knows how much I hate asking for help. I'll do anything to avoid it. However, this is much bigger than me. This is not about me. This is about Julian, and that is the only thing that matters. I have an account sent up through Banner Bank and all donations will go to that account. All donations will go directly to St. Mary's. Every red cent you donate will go to Julian's education. I will post updates with bank receipts.
Nothing matters more to me than Julian's future. Nothing. I'm a desperate mother rapidly approaching the 11th hour. Help me, please. I would be so very grateful.
These are a few photos of our journey so far....
1. Julian outside the office on Open House night.
2. The debit card for the account I have set up.
3. The amount we currently owe the school.
4, 5, and 6 are of Julian after Open House and wearing his two favorite school t-shirts.
7. Me playing softball my sophomore year.
8, and 9 are of Julian in front of my old locker on Open House night.
10. Julian reading his acceptance email on my phone.
11. Julian realizing that he did it!! A new adventure begins!
Organizer
Heather Kerr-Moores
Organizer
Phoenix, OR
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