Two Posts in One Day...

Well, look at me being a super blogger! I went to the choice information night tonight for Mountain View Elementary. I loved it. Seriously loved it.
The school is probably 6 or so years old. It's a great building with the year groups organized in pods, so the kinder pod consists of 3 classes, all of which were very bright, tech-infused and friendly feeling. They have multiple computers in each classroom, electronic whiteboards etc etc. They're a technology magnet school, and, I think I've completely turned around my thinking on how we should start Tom's school 'career' off.
I was previously thinking that all that stuff would be a distraction and he should focus on the basics first. But, I guess tonight I woke up.We're in the 21st century, not the 19th. Tom loves technology. He loves the computer, loves an ipad or an iphone. It's a tool to engage him, and he's pretty competent on said gadgets.
I'm thinking back to an article I read about fostering interests in kids on the autism spectrum, and perhaps this is a way of doing it.
A new friend this weekend gave me some advice - she thought about where her daughter would WANT to go to school. I know given the choice, Tom would rather Mountain View. He'd rather have a more friendly environment. He'd rather be surrounded by technology. He'd be more interested and because of this, he would learn more and want to go to school.
I spoke with the principal of the school tonight and briefly talked about what I was thinking for Tom. Mountain View has a Communication Social Delay program (CSD), which Tom is too high functioning for, but, it was the principal that pointed out that even though Tom wouldn't be in that program, the teacher is a resource for the whole school and therefore if there were any issues, or his teacher has questions, there was that expertise to hand, as well as the district autism team. It was him that volunteered that information, even though I was thinking it. I also kind of like their schedule - 2 full days and 1 half day per week.
So, class size consideration is going out of the window. As is probably TCA.
Tomorrow brings my tour of Academy International, but, Mountain View is a serious consideration at this point. And I don't feel confused or conflicted.