Schoolsearch2000: For some, home is where the start is

For some, home is where the start is

By KIBRET MARKOS

SEMINOLE -- Theodore and Melissa Heeren's first son, Alex, was zoned for Seminole Elementary School when his education began nine years ago.

The Heerens didn't dislike the school, "except that he was not being challenged," said Melissa Heeren. "Alex was doing multiplication and was ready for more than what they were doing in kindergarten."

The parents began looking for other options. Heeren said she noticed there were students on both extremes at Seminole Elementary. But with a class size of 24, she felt there was no way for any teacher to meet the needs of the students on the far ends of the spectrum.

"I think the most important thing in a school is for it to be able to care about every child's needs."

She considered Bay Point Elementary School, a math and science magnet. She visited the school and put her son's name on the list.

But Heeren later ruled out Bay Point as Alex would spend 45 minutes each way on a bus to get to the school.

In order to use the time that would have been spent on a bus ride, and to make sure that their son's performance would be individually attended to, the Heerens decided that home was the best school for Alex. That was the choice they made for the grade schools of all three of their sons.

Alex was home-schooled up to fifth grade, attending the gifted program at Seminole Elementary only one day a week. He qualified for the Mathematics Education for Gifted Secondary School Students (MEGSSS) program in fifth-grade.

His parents later decided that he should go to Seminole Middle School, part-time. "We felt part-time would be a good transition after home-schooling," Melissa Heeren said.

Also, since MEGSSS was an intensive program with a lot of homework, the Heerens preferred Alex's part-time attendance.

On his second day in seventh grade, however, Alex wanted to go to school full-time. He is now 13 and in eighth grade, his second year of full-time school.

Alex's path turned out to be the trail for his two younger brothers. Andrew, 11, was home-schooled through grade school. He is now a part-time sixth-grader at Seminole Middle School. He, too, is in the MEGSSS program.

Nine-year-old Adam, the Heerens' third son, is now being home-schooled for grade school.

"It worked well with Alex," Heeren said, adding that this was one reason she home-schooled all her sons.

But she said she still was not sure if all her sons would follow the same path after grade school.

"I have no idea if Adam would be interested in going into the MEGSSS program, or if Andrew would like to remain being a part-time student. We will just have to wait and see what they prefer."

An upcoming task for the family is to find the right high school for the eldest son.

"We are looking into International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment at St. Petersburg Junior College, the different magnets and all other options," she said. "It will be an adventure to find the school that best fits Alex's goals."

Heeren also plans to have Alex "shadow" in a couple of high schools. He would follow a student for a day or two in a certain high school, going through the regular schedule of a ninth-grader.

Home-schooling will not be ruled out if it is the best choice for Alex, she said. Among other things, Heeren is also a communications director for Kaleidoscapes, a Web site for home-schooling.