I received an email from one of the waitlisted schools. It was one we thought she would definitely get in, and had a great shot at the scholarship. I asked them to offer insight as to what my dd could have done differently for a differnt outcome. It really did come down to a numbers game. They had 250 applicants for 16 boarding positions. That means that 93% of the applicants will not be able to go. I am sure they accepted more than 16, but probably not a whole lot more, maybe another 10-12. Add the fact that we needed financial aid, and her chances get smaller. Beacause, in this economy, full pay students have the edge. It is simply a realistic fact. Oh well, it was quite a journey and my amazing dd is a stronger kid for it. Jo

A friend of mine has a son with learning disabilities. He went to a special high school and once he graduated he went to a college that has special programs for kids like him. No uniform, though. I don't know the name, I just remember it is in Florida. But there were several schools they looked at. I would think a high school guidance counselor could help you, or even a local organization that helps parents advocate for their kids. Why does it need to have uniforms? If that is really important I think you will be greatly limiting your choices.

Trying copy again I attended boarding school for my high school years. I was quite young (11) when starting my freshman year. I recall that I was very homesick the first couple of weeks. The nuns were very kind --they baked a birthday cake for my September birthday. Once I recovered from homesickness I joined the routine of the school. Although there were a few private rooms most of us slept in a large dormitory room with our 'cells' separated by curtains which could be drawn open and shut. Furniture consisted of a bed, a chair and a washstand with a pitcher and bowl. Our closets were lined up at one end of the room. To the best of my recollection our weekdays started at about 6:30 when the nun in charge of the dormitory went up and down the aisles ringing a small bell. We went to the communal bathroom to fill our pitchers with warm water which we used for our washing up, We filled a glass with cool water for tooth brushing. When we were washed and dressed we went to the chapel for daily Catholic mass. Following that we had breakfast in the refectory (dining room.). We had some time to ourselves before we assembled in the study hall before classes began. Bells were rung when classes were over and we moved from room to room in orderly lines. At noon we had lunch in the refectory with some time to ourselves before afternoon classes After school we went to the kitchen for a snack which varied from bread and jelly or peanut butter to some sort of cookies or crackers. Every afternoon following the snack one of the nuns took us out for a walk of about a mile. We were required to stay in line, two by two. After the walk there was time in study hall again, then dinner, then recreation. There was no TV in those days. I remember how excited we were when we got a radio. Sometimes one of the girls would play the piano and we would dance, the older girls teaching the younger ones. Dinner was served at 6 o'clock with an hours recreation following, then more study hall. Around 8 o'clock we went to the chapel to say the rosary, then had more time to ourselves before bed around 9:30. Sometimes on weekends we went downtown to see a movie, We had a large lawn with a tennis court and benches where we could sit and enjoy the outdoors. Saturdays and Wednesdays we signed up for our turn to have a real bath in one of the several tubs. There were no showers. On Saturdays we could press our clothes, mend, shine our shoes, set our hair, polish our fingernails, read or play games. Sunday we attended mass at the church across the street. Aside from an hour in the study hall to write letters or do homework we were pretty free to do as we chose. We could not leave the school without permission.

seniorgal, I love reading your posts! Although I'm a wee bit younger, I experienced something similar to you. I went to an all girls' Catholic school called St. Mary's Academy that was founded in 1864. It had boarders and local day student girls as well, but everyone wore uniforms. I was a local day student and attended there for my first year of High School. But when I was in grade 10, we were told the school would be closing, after the end of the school year, due to not enough funds to keep it running. It was such a beautiful school and it was so sad to see it being demolished after 107 years! The girls from St. Mary's were then transferred to the local all boy's school, Assumption College School, which was a Catholic boarding school that also had local boys as day students, and was run by Basilian Fathers. We were the very first girls to join the school, making it Co-Ed after it had been an all boys school for 101 years. The boys were thrilled to have us, but the priests made it clear we were not a welcome addition. It probably took them the better part of my first year there to accept that their traditions had to change a bit to accommodate girls. Some of the nuns who had taught us at St. Mary's joined the teaching staff at Assumption, so we did have some familiar faces among the teaching staff. I did enjoy my time at both schools, but still find it sad when beautiful historical buildings are demolished, due to lack of funding. Please continue telling us all of your wonderful memories!