Thank you all for your kind comments and emails. Your concern, appreciation and caring hearts mean the world to me!
I had a meeting with the Head of School and the Admissions Director early Monday morning. I told them of what I knew. I told them everything and sugar coated nothing and left no detail or stone unturned. Both were concerned and both took me seriously. They felt horribly for Rebecca, who after 9 years has a stellar record both academically and socially at the school. I was assured that the matter would be attended to promptly and that faculty and students would be spoken to.
Today the 6th graders met with the Director of Admissions as a Group. She was firm with them. She told them that this was not a matter to be taken lightly and that many in that group needed to better respect their teachers and their peers. She told them that she knew all about what was going on... the secret passwords, codes and hand signals. The meeting, according to her,went well.
After school today, as I waited in the gym for Christopher's basketball game to start, I asked Rebecca how her day was. Yesterday she told me that she had had a good day. I was hoping for more of the same news. What I was not expecting was "Mom, today was a great day!" The girls went up to Rebecca in the locker room and told her just how sorry they were that they had hurt her. She said that they seemed to be genuinely sorry and the apology really seemed to come from the heart.
I was thrilled to hear this for several reasons. Of course my daughter wants her friends back and I am glad that, for the time being at least, they are. I was also glad to hear of the apology as it confirms that they have taken responsibility and acknowledged that they behaved poorly and what they did was indeed wrong.
Now we all know that I was not born yesterday. I have been around the block and back a few times. I know that things can change at the drop of a hat. My eyes and ears are open and I am paying close attention. As is the school.
As I was leaving school this evening I caught the Director of Admissions in the hallway and I thanked her. Profusely!
Off topic... wouldn't the painting of the children's hands look lovely on a large platter as a school auction item?!