Mission teen can’t take part in grad; mom says it’s unfair

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MISSION (NEWS1130) – A mom says it’s not fair that her daughter is being excluded from taking part in grad events at her Mission high school; she thinks the school is discriminating against her child.

Lori Giesbrecht says her daughter, Shelby, has been struggling with Type 1 Diabetes and has missed school over the years when she was being cared for.

“We almost lost her to Type 1 Diabetes; she was ambulanced from Mission Hospital to Children’s Hospital, where she spent the night in a coma. The recovery took quite some time. She was not able to keep up with some of her studies.”

She has now been told she doesn’t meet the requirements to take part in grad celebrations at Heritage Park Secondary.

“She has spent two days a week at the Sylvan Learning Centre since last summer [and] she is in the process of catching up and finishing her math. But for some reason, it is not good enough or soon enough for her school.”

Lori says her daughter will graduate this year by meeting all of the requirements by the end of the school year, adding Shelby already has her grad dress.

Lori hopes an exception can be made.

“We have the dress and everything and we are told that she will not be able to walk across the stage and get her diploma because they will not pass her because they do not feel she is meeting their requirements.”

Principal Jim Pearse says Shelby is three courses short and is not on track to finish her final year in time. “Over the course of this year, we have had no less than six meetings through our councillors and our vice-principal in order to support her in her learning.”

Lori says this is the first she’s ever heard of such meetings taking place.

Pearse notes she can, however attend prom — with one stipulation. “She could come as a date; she could still participate in this as a date.”

But Pearse confirms will not meet the requirement to attend the cap and gown ceremony.

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