One In and One to Go!

We FINALLY got word back from JFK that Josie was accepted into the 5th grade for next year.  YAY!!  Such a relief... well, partial relief.  We did not get anything regarding Benjamin.  We are trying to make ourselves feel better by wondering if maybe they are just going grade by grade and haven't gotten to the 2nd grade yet?  We feel that, hopefully, it is better to not get any word than to hear he is on the waiting list.  I have read that once one of your children have been accepted that the odds for your second child getting in go way up.  We are sure hoping this is true.
We can't figure out what factors they use for acceptance.   We do know that because they have a mandate that 40% of their student population be American that we are one of the top priorities to get in and that the order in which applications are received is not a determining fact but what is?  I can't imagine that Benjamin not being accepted (yet) was based on any of his merits compared to Josie's.  He (and all of the other incoming 2nd graders) only have a kindergarten report card and just a half of 1st grade report card to submit.  So, it truly must just be space available.

In no way do I want to take anything away from Josie being the INCREDIBLE student/child/daughter that she is.  And really she is quite remarkable and often doesn't get enough credit.   She is in an advanced program at school and currently doing reading, writing and math two grade levels ahead.  She has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know and is funny and fun and loving.  So... yeah, she has a lot of amazing character traits but there is no way JFK would know that from her application.  But, they will soon find out!  We are so SO proud of her and  in reading her acceptance letter to JFK, Marty and I both got a little emotional.  Our little girl is growing up!!  She is a great friend and is surrounded by great friends.  She is tenacious and unshakable when she sets her mind to something.  

She loves art, and riding her bike and reading.  She is adventurous and spunky.  She loves little kids and thinks she might want to be a teacher someday.   So, today we celebrate! We celebrate having such an amazing (not so little anymore) girl in our lives.  What a gem!

We are half way there!!  Deep breaths until both kids are accepted.