They arrived at Spencer's soon to be previous elementary school a couple of minutes early and Dave allowed his son to lead the way to the grade five classroom. Spencer's desk was in the back corner of the classroom and Dave immediately wondered why silently.
But yet his son seemed to sense his confusion and explained, "Mr. Humphrey likes to keep the misbehaving kids at the front and often times he'll let me opt out of a lesson so me being placed here let me do my own thing."
Dave really didn't know how to respond so he just stayed quiet. On the one hand he was glad that the teacher had understood that the regular curriculum wouldn't fit Spencer but on the other hand to place a child 'out of the way' was horrible.
He did however inquire, "Spencer, are there any books or notes that you want to keep from your desk?"
"All the textbooks are the schools and the other books are from the library. The notebooks do not contain anything I would like to keep and-" tapping his head, "eidetic memory remember Dave"
He chuckled at his son, ruffling the boy's hair.
Just then he heard somebody clearing their throat to announce their presence and turned. Dave was about to inquire about said person's identity but Spencer beat him to it, "Mr. Humphrey"
The teacher immediately responded, "Hello Spencer, I heard you were leaving us."
"Yes Sir. I'm getting adopted." And gesturing to Dave he continued on, "This is David Rossi, my soon to be dad, and an FBI agent."
Dave grinned at Spencer's reference of him as dad and stepped forward to shake the teacher's hand, "Pleasure to meet you."
"You as well. Why don't we carry on this conversation in the office? Spencer I think some of the boys are outside in the yard if you'd like. " Mr. Humphrey suggested,
"Sounds like a plan but Spencer will be joining us. This is his education we are talking about and he should be part of the conversation." Dave asserted, his son had already proven his maturity in dealing with his own education.
They made their way to the principal's office with Mr. Humphrey leading the way, Dave and Spencer behind. Spencer was excited that he was getting a say in his own life. Something that had never happened before. It was always go there, do this or that, with his opinion never asked. Now he got the chance to give his opinion.
Mr. Humphrey introduced Rossi to Las Vegas elementary school principal, Mr. Ollen
"I hear you are moving Spencer" Ollen began,
"That is correct. Once the paperwork goes through Spencer and I will be heading to my home in Quantico." Rossi explained, "I asked for the meeting today to get Spencer's paperwork and ask your opinion on what grade Spencer should be placed in as grade five is not appropriate with his intelligence level."
"Very well. I can have my secretary pull Spencer's files but I will need to see documents of your pending adoption and current guardianship" Ollen asserted
Once Dave produced the necessary documents, which he had had Spencer's case-worker fax over that morning after their conversation, Mr. Ollen left the room to procure the documents.
"Spencer could easily be placed in grade nine or ten," Mr. Humphrey began, "I've been trying to give him as much extra work as possible which is a challenge because he goes through it at lightening speed. However I have been drawing from the middle-school curriculum and teachers."
"In all subjects sir?" Spencer hesitantly asked,
"Yes for the middle school curriculum but I have also been drawing on high school materials for the maths and sciences which Spencer seems to enjoy more."
Rossi turned to Spencer with a question in his eyes
"The maths and sciences are more satisfying intellectually for me because there is a definite answer."
Rossi just chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair.
"So what grade?"
"I would suggest two options. A grade nine classroom to allow him to have social interaction but if you are aiming to intellectually challenge him a grade twelve classroom that he can have a year of high-school and apply to University. But given that it is almost the end of May I would wait until September for him to start. If you wait afterwards I can grab my documentation of all the extra work Spencer has completed for me."
Dave thanked Mr. Humphrey and then turned to his son who immediately responded, "Grade Twelve. I would like to be intellectually stimulated and as per our discussion previously I will join at least one social activity."
Just then Mr. Ollen returned to the office with the files necessary for Spencer to change schools and immediately objected, "Really putting the boy in Grade twelve?"
"I gave Spencer the option and not only will he be in a gifted school but I will be with him in University. I thank you for your opinion but we already made the decision." Rossi asserted, beginning to get up, gesturing for Spencer to follow.
They followed Mr. Humphrey to his classroom to get the files and hesitantly Spencer hugged his teacher good-bye. His teacher whispered, "Good Luck Spencer. I know you'll excel in whatever you put your mind to, and I truly mean whatever."