HSAs: Two down, two to go

We've been dying all summer to get the results of the High School Assessment tests Charlie took back in May.

All high school students have to pass 4 HSAs in order to graduate.  There is an alternate way for special needs students to graduate (called "Bridge Projects") if they don't pass all the HSAs, but colleges don't look as kindly upon students who didn't actually pass the HSAs. 

Charlie passed the Algebra HSA last year on the second attempt.  We knew English would be a problem.  The first time he took it, he was around 60-70 points from being able to pass.  The second time he took it, he was still 40 points away from passing.  Last May, he took the English one again and he took the US Government HSA, as well (which is about to be phased out, but would be really great if he passed). 

We just got the results.  He passed the Government HSA with a good margin, and he is now WITHIN 9 POINTS of passing the English.  He is just thrilled!  He is scheduled to take it again in October, and since he has been working with a tutor all summer and learning some grammar, he really feels he will be able to pass it this time.  Then the only one left would be Biology (which he is taking this fall, and already knows and likes the teacher he will be taking it with). 

So, we now have two down and two to go, and he is feeling more confident about being able to pass the remaining two.

I decided this was something we just had to make a big deal out of, so I went out and bought a Snickers Ice-Cream cake and put two candles on it.  We'll just keep up that tradition until he passes the last one, when we'll have 4 candles and some sort of little present to go with it. 

Gotta celebrate the small victories, KWIM?  Wahoo!!