And The Good News
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Sunday was the CBC welcome mass and reception. L recently had another growth spurt, so we stopped off on the way to mass and bought him a nice button down shirt. Mass was in the cafeteria, in order to accommodate the 280 incoming students and their parents.

Cool point #1: there were about 840 people in the cafeteria, and we could all hear each other. The sound baffling is awesome. L's gradeschool cafeteria is deafening with 100 people talking.

Cool point #2: When a teacher called for quiet, you could hear a pin drop. That never happens at L's gradeschool.

Cool point #3: After the mass, an assistant principal made a speech. He talked about family, and how proud he is of these new additions to the CBC family. That meant children and parents alike, and I really felt like I was adding to my family. -Without the dysfunction, of course. And then he ended his speech with

Cool point #4: The neatest thing I've ever seen. Made me weepy, it did.
He said that he believed in these boys, each and every one of them. He believed that they would graduate, go on to college, and live happy and successful lives. (And his tone said successful, as in whatever you incoming Freshmen feel is successful. It wasn't about a dollar amount, it was about being complete in everything you do.)
To show just how much he and the rest of CBC believes in the class of '09, the senior class would be giving them a gift.
And (sniff) the seniors came out and gave the class of '09 their tassels. (sniff) Each senior gave one student a shiny purple tassel to wear four years hence, when they get to add a gold colored 2009 on graduation day. (weep)

I was not the only parent with wet eyes.

Then we went to the reception and L promptly glued himself to the wall until we told him we weren't leaving unless he met at least one boy. L found another wallflower and they started talking. Then he talked briefly with two other boys, who's grandma hugged us all before they left. It was nice

Before we left the school, we stopped off at the Cadet store. (CBC used to be a military school, so their mascot is the CBC Cadet) L picked a jacket and a baseball hat, and had perma-grin for the rest of the day.

I haven't seen that kind of joy on his face in a long time. I've seen him happy loads of times, but it's been a while since I've seen him shining like that.

So, Achromic... When you ask me, "Why CBC?" That's why. (grin) It's his home. And it's been waiting for him for 14 years.