Stars of Texas - Fairhill School and Diagnostic Assessment Center
Transcription
Stars of Texas - Fairhill School and Diagnostic Assessment Center
VOLUME 19 | NUMBER 1 | JANUARY 2015 THE FALCONER HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE: New Teachers, page 2 Tommy Thompson, page 4 In Tune With Students, page 6 save the date for this grand event, Stars of Texas GALA & AUCTION FEBRUARY 21, 2015 School news, information and events Dear Friends of Fairhill, Fairhill has been serving students with learning differences in the greater Dallas area for over forty years. In that time many students have found the academic success that eluded them in a mainstream academic setting. The reason for student success at Fairhill lies in a uniquely qualified faculty. Faculty expertise includes dyslexia and reading specialists as well as other teaching specialists that provide a well-rounded academic program. The faculty excels in identifying the learning needs of the students and finding that balance between supporting and stretching each student. As the students gain skills, they grow in confidence and become successful independent learners. A strong partnership between the school, families and the community are necessary components in providing this type of learning experience. Our joint efforts provide a platform for student success and an opportunity to prepare our students for success in the future. We have highly qualified teachers, dedicated parents, and school leaders that are all committed to providing the best possible school for students with learning differences. As you read this edition, you will learn about significant programs and individuals that make Fairhill a wonderful school. It is a privilege to serve in this school and to work with so many dedicated individuals. Thank you for your individual contributions that make Fairhill a school that provides opportunities for students to thrive. Carla Stanford, Executive Director Homecoming Events and Football Game Fairhill celebrated Homecoming in a new and fun way this year! The football game was scheduled for 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 25, preceded by a tailgate party starting at 11:00 a.m. Food trucks, face painters, continued on page 3 Fairhill School and Diagnostic Assessment Center | 16150 Preston Road | Dallas, Texas 75248 | Phone 972.233.1026 | Fax 972.233.8205 | www.fairhill.org FH_NL_JAN_2015.indd 1 12/2/14 1:43 PM Welcome New Teachers and Staff Fairhill is excited to have added six new teachers and staff to our team this year! Cheryl Nelson: Ms. Nelson teaches higher level math courses in Fairhill’s Upper School. A Frisco, TX native, Ms. Nelson graduated from UT Dallas with a degree in Geoscience and is certified to teach math, grades 8-12. Ms. Nelson is an experienced traveler – going to such interesting places as Thailand, Hong Kong, China, and even South Korea where she taught ESL classes for two years. She has also tutored both college and high school students in advanced level math courses. Ms. Nelson enjoys bicycling, rock climbing, running, and yes - MATH! Laura Glass: Fairhill is fortunate to have Laura Glass join the team as a language therapist and reading teacher. Ms. Glass graduated from the University of Tennessee with an undergraduate degree in English and received a Masters in Teaching at Texas Women’s University. She has also received her Certificate of Academic Language Therapy. Ms. Glass has worked in several schools within the Diocese of Dallas and in Frisco ISD. Ms. Glass has two children. She enjoys running and reading. Sharon Sutton: Mrs. Sutton joined Fairhill this year as a math teacher for 2nd – 8th grade students. She has over 15 years of experience in education. She is a graduate of University of North Texas with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Mrs. Sutton is certified to teach Math, Science, Journalism, Special Education, and Gifted and Talented. She is married and has two daughters plus a dog and cat that go everywhere with the family. She loves to cook, travel, hike, and camp! In fact, she has camped across the USA – from West Coast to East Coast! Alicia Rust: Mrs. Rust has over 18 years of teaching experience with a wide range of experience teaching LD students. At Fairhill, she teaches English and Literature. Mrs. Rust is certified to teach English Language Arts 1-12, with a specialization in reading acquisition and comprehension with a supplemental certification in ESL. Mrs. Rust has received additional training in dyslexia reading, Pre-AP studies, New Jersey Writing Project, and Student-Owned strategy. Mrs. Rust is married and has one child. Her favorite things are dark chocolate, reading poetry, and writing. Jeremy O’Quinn: Mr. O’Quinn is a 5th-8th grade PE coach as well as the girls’ basketball coach. Mr. O’Quinn was a student athlete in college – playing both baseball and golf at Wayland Baptist University. He came to Dallas as a football and basketball coach and later received a graduate degree from Texas A&M Commerce. He coached golf at Pearce High School (RISD) where he received the Dallas Morning News Coach of the Year award in 2009. Jeremy and his wife, Leigh Ann, have a 9-year old son and FH_NL_JAN_2015.indd 2 7-year old daughter. Mr. O’Quinn enjoys playing golf whenever he can and volunteers with Dallas Little League and YMCA. Lori Hamilton: Mrs. Hamilton is Fairhill’s new Director of Development and Public Relations. Her job at Fairhill is to organize school events, communicate to current and prospective Fairhill families, and organize efforts to raise funds for the school. Mrs. Hamilton received a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing/Finance from Baylor University and M.B.A. from UT Dallas. Prior to coming to Fairhill, she worked in corporate marketing with several Dallas area companies. Mrs. Hamilton is married and has three teenage children. She enjoys traveling, hiking, volunteering, and reading. Support for College Readiness College and Career Readiness Course Fairhill offers a College and Career Readiness class to 11th graders as an elective course. This class is designed to guide students in selecting a college and/or finding a career choice. In the class, students access Roadtripnation.org, a web based program which helps students think through the process involved in finding a college and/or career. The project requires students to interview someone in the field of their choice, video the interview, and put it together in a presentation. The course also includes learning strategies to be used in taking the ACT exam. Testing Diagnostic Assessment Center Fairhill sophomores and juniors participate in several important testing milestones in high school as many of them prepare for college. This year’s 10th graders took the new Aspire test which introduces the students to most of the sections they will later encounter on the ACT (English, math, science and reading). Aspire is a replacement for PLAN – ACT’s previous assessment readiness program. Aspire is a computer-based assessment system. Fairhill students can take the Aspire test on their iPads. As juniors, the students take the PSAT in October. Then, most take the ACT and/or SAT beginning in the spring of their junior year. Students with diagnosed learning or attentional disorders can request accommodations on both the ACT and the SAT. Accommodations include extended time, audio versions for those with dyslexia, and use of a computer for the essay portion for those with dysgraphia. To qualify for accommodations, the ACT requires diagnostic testing that has been done within the last three years. College Board accepts testing from the last five years for the SAT. The Fairhill Diagnostic Assessment Center offers this diagnostic testing year round. A good time to update the documentation is the summer before a student’s junior year, once he/she has turned sixteen. Literacy Committee Develops New Course for Lower School Students Students with learning differences vary widely in their needs within the classroom. Fairhill’s Literacy Committee has worked to 12/2/14 1:43 PM identify the many ways in which children are able to read, write, listen with understanding, and speak. The committee identified an opportunity to create a new course for lower school students who did not require the language therapy class that focuses on dyslexia intervention. The new course is called Language Connections and is taught to qualifying 4th - 6th graders. The course works to develop higher level abstract thinking and to integrate more writing. The Language Connections class provides an exploration of spelling knowledge as words are examined for relationships, sounds, spelling patterns, and meanings. Students examine, manipulate, and categorize words resulting in more confident and proficient readers/writers. This approach provides students with the skills to retain, internalize and transfer valuable knowledge for improved results in all areas of literacy including written expression. Cursive writing is also incorporated into this curriculum. Homecoming Events continued from page 1 a temporary tattoo station, and a few games added to the excitement of the day. Alumni were welcomed back to Fairhill and treated to complimentary lunches at the food truck and alumni t-shirts. Fairhill supporters participated in a “white out” – with supporters creating a sea of white in support of the Fairhill team. The football team played a hard-fought game against the Founders Eagles of Lewisville. Our own Falcon cheer squad and mascot were on-hand to dial up the spirit and really get the crowd involved in the action! Student Council Uses Unique Way to Raise Funds! Later that evening, the Homecoming Dance was held in the Fairhill Gym for Upper School students. The students had a great time dancing the night away! While the Homecoming Court was presented at the pep rally the day before, Homecoming King and Queen, Sean King and Kate Shaw, were announced at the dance. Prior to each football game this season, members of Fairhill’s Student Council could be found selling raffle tickets for the “best seat in the house”. What was actually being raffled off was an opportunity to watch the game from the comfort of a sideline leather couch! The raffle winner could watch the game and invite anyone of his/her choosing to join in on the fun. When asked if this tactic was successful, Robin Hodges, sponsor of the Fairhill Student Council said “Yes! We raised enough funds to create a memorable homecoming dance and that was our goal!” Magazine Sales Success! Fairhill students and families raised over $6,000 in this year’s magazine sales. Fundraiser Coordinators Barb McAfee and Jennifer Elout said, “This program is a win-win for everyone. Over 80% of the sales were from magazine re-orders of current subscriptions so Fairhill benefitted from what families planned to spend anyway!” Proceeds from the magazine drive are being used for a permanent basketball goal, a permanent tether ball set, resurfacing of the playground, and two additional stereo microscopes for our middle school science program! Fairhill continues to benefit all year through this program. If you plan to order/reorder magazines through August, please go to www.gaschoolstore.com and use Fairhill’s account code 2585404. On average, Fairhill receives 40% profit on these magazine and gift orders. FH_NL_JAN_2015.indd 3 12/2/14 1:43 PM Dr. William Gordon III Retires; Dr. Caroline Ford Assumes Key Role Dr. Bill Gordon, Director of Psychological Services and the Diagnostic Assessment Center, retired August 31. Dr. Gordon was a foundational element at Fairhill, joining the school shortly after its inception in 1971. Dr. Gordon’s association with Fairhill began as a student of UT Southwestern Medical School (UTSW). Dr. Gordon officially joined Fairhill as Director of Psychological Services after completion of his studies in 1982. When Fairhill’s Diagnostic Assessment Center was established in 1992, Dr. Gordon assumed the combined role of Director of the Diagnostic Assessment Center and of Psychological Services. An advocate and devoted provider of services for children with learning differences, Dr. Gordon was a key contributor to Fairhill and to the community. Dr. Gordon frequently mentored students from UTSW, offering professional internships and coaching. In addition, Dr. Gordon’s contributions in leadership, expertise, and financial support were instrumental in the development of Fairhill School’s services and operations. Post-retirement, he will continue to work with Fairhill as a member of the Board of Directors. Tommy had a vision from the outset of a “whole educational experience” for the Fairhill student. He believed this school, which is exceptional in teaching students with learning differences, should encompass quality academics as well as extracurricular activities including the arts, athletics, and other activities. By including the strong academic component with the additional choices of activities, Fairhill students could achieve their full potential. He initiated a strategic planning process to focus Fairhill’s growth and development on this vision. Tommy steered the construction of the gym and sports fields which were completed in 1999. He also monitored Fairhill’s continuing expansion and improvement of academic and other curriculum offerings including the arts and technology in the classroom. Today, Fairhill offers the “whole educational experience” that Tommy envisioned. The Fairhill community is grateful for the vision Tommy had for Fairhill School and for the time and energy he spent shaping Fairhill into the school it is today. Roy Pendergrass, current Chairman of Fairhill’s Board of Directors said “Tommy was always available to pitch in on projects or to just lend an ear. His wise counsel and, especially, his unique and friendly personality will be greatly missed. Tommy was truly ‘one of a kind’ and won’t be forgotten in the Fairhill community.” Dr. Caroline Ford, Ph.D., has assumed the role of Director of Psychological Services at Fairhill. Dr. Ford came to Fairhill during her post-doctorate studies at UT Southwestern and joined the Fairhill team upon completion. Dr. Ford is a former Fairhill student, attending Fairhill in 4th – 6th grades, followed by enrollment in RISD schools and undergraduate studies at Austin College. She received her doctorate degree in clinical psychology from UT Southwestern Medical School in 2004. Of her time at Fairhill, Dr. Ford says “Fairhill gave me the confidence I needed to be successful.” In her new role, Dr. Ford provides counseling to students and parents, researches and analyzes newly developed assessment tools, and conducts presentations at Fairhill and in the community on such topics as bullying, cyber safety, and leadership. In addition to her responsibilities at Fairhill, Dr. Ford maintains a private practice and offers pro-bono psychological services to A Home Within – a support organization for adopted children ages 18 and below. Tommy Thompson and Fairhill School Tommy Thompson, long-time Fairhill supporter and benefactor, passed away on November 6. Tommy served on Fairhill’s Board of Directors for over 25 years and used his business expertise to guide Fairhill’s growth and development. He was a key contributor to many significant milestones that have molded Fairhill into the quality school it is today. Tommy first began his association with Fairhill as a parent. Tommy’s son, Ken, attended Fairhill from 1975–1985. In the late 80’s, Tommy joined the Fairhill Board of Directors and assumed the chairmanship of the Board in 1990. He was instrumental in Fairhill’s ability to purchase our current site and converting the building into a workable school. FH_NL_JAN_2015.indd 4 Special Guest – Ryan Chalmers On October 6, Fairhill received a special guest who spoke to 5th–12th grade students. Ryan Chalmers is a 25-year old young man who has made the best of a difficult situation. Ryan was born with spinal bifida and has never been able to walk. Rather than focus on what he was not able to achieve, Ryan has lived his life by looking at what he can do. Ryan began wheelchair racing at age 8. He competed in the 2012 Paralympics in London. Last year, Ryan went a step further. With the heart of a champion and an intense competitive nature, Ryan undertook a challenge to Push Across America and travel by wheelchair from LA to NYC. Ryan told the students of his efforts to accomplish the goal in spite of harsh weather and the grueling nature of the trip. When asked what the key to his success was, he said “Staying focused.” He told the students, if you want something, stay focused and work to achieve that goal. Obstacles such as learning differences can make the journey harder, but the goals are still achievable. 12/2/14 1:43 PM Extracurricular Activities After School Programs After school programs are offered to our lower school students (grades 1-7) to provide additional mental and physical challenges, develop self confidence, and allow additional socializing opportunities for the children outside of their regular class time. Programs include chess, martial arts, percussion and technology classes. 15th Annual Golf Classic Chess Program with Frank Mordante High School and IAA Sports Fairhill Upper School students participate in a variety of fall sports including football and varsity volleyball for high school students. IAA soccer and volleyball are offered for 6th – 8th graders. This season, Fairhill’s IAA volleyball team placed 2nd in the North IAA League. Congratulations Team! Golfing enthusiasts and Fairhill families turned out for the Fairhill 15th Annual Golf Classic on Saturday, October 18. Nearly 80 players enjoyed a beautiful temperate fall day for the Florida Scramble. Adding to the spirit of the competition, a Hole in One Contest was on site at Hole 12. While several players were close, no one won the 2014 Lexus ES. Fairhill’s traditional putting contest and raffle also provided excitement to the day. A total of over $17,000 was raised for the Fairhill Technology Fund through golf tournament players and sponsors. These funds will be used to keep classroom technology up-to-date for both students and staff. Winners of the tournament included teams headed by Denis Hildebrandt (father to two Fairhill 2nd graders), Mark Copeland (father of Fairhill 11th grader), and Kyle Dreyer (father of Fairhill 9th grader). A special thank you goes out to Fairhill parents Mark and Tisha Copeland who acted as co-chairs of the event. Fairhill Falcons Football Team IAA Volleyball Team FH_NL_JAN_2015.indd 5 12/2/14 1:43 PM Fairhill Student Wins IDA Art Contest Eighth grader Julia Gunn won first place in the 8th-12th grade category of the art contest on October 20 held by Dallas Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. Students were challenged to create a piece of art along with a statement that explains how dyslexia has helped shape the student’s future. Julia explained that being dyslexic and having some difficulty reading have caused her to spend more time learning to draw. She feels this increased focus on art will provide a professional career in art for her – designing art for homes and restaurants. Nice job, Julia! a B average or above, an E in conduct, a teacher recommendation, and an interest in learning about and creating art. The ceremony was held at Brookhaven College. National Honor Society Induction Fairhill welcomed four new members into the National Honor Society on October 16. The new members are Jack Hamman, Evan Norby, Ethan Lencioni, and Arianne Silver. To be invited to join the NHS: students must excel in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 are invited to apply for membership. These students provide a résumé of leadership and service activities which is then reviewed by a 5-person panel. Congratulations to our newest NHS members! Success In Teaching Art Means Being in Tune With Students Betty Sue Finnell has been teaching art for 28 years, 19 of which have been at Fairhill. While at Fairhill, the art department has produced numerous awards-winning artists – some of which have even gone on to receive art scholarships for college. When asked what she does differently to teach students with learning differences, Mrs. Finnell said “When teaching LD students, an art teacher needs to sometimes reinvent and tweak the curriculum to keep them engaged and motivated to reach their true potential.” Mrs. Finnell teaches art to grades 1-12 and approaches each grade level differently. Students are progressively challenged and expected to spend more time and effort to accomplish the assignment as they move on to higher grades. Students are given the basic outline to execute the project but encouraged to use their own creativity to make it their own. Mrs. Finnell reminds the students “The process of making the art is as valuable as the end result.” Many LD students like to manually manipulate their art materials. The process often begins with a two-dimensional format to plan ideas and then move onto a three-dimensional construction phase. Mrs. Finnell supports the process by researching, developing, planning, buying supplies, and creating an example. At times, the art instructor also provides a visual slideshow which breaks the project down into sequential steps. In this way, students see all the steps necessary for accomplishing each phase. Spanish Honor Society Induction Thirteen new members were inducted to the Spanish Honor Society on November 4. This is the highest number ever to be inducted at one time at Fairhill! Señora Dallas led the induction ceremony. She spoke about the importance that learning a language has in drawing people of different origins and cultures together. New members include: Evan Norby, Ale Haspel, Ethan Pierce, John Baltzer, Boone Edwards, Cal Ferraro, Vaughn Harter, Ethan Lencioni, Luci McCaffrey, Robby Mitz, Ariane Silver, Kate Shaw, and Erin Taylor. Excellent work! When asked what the secret to her success is, Mrs. Finnell said that experience has taught her to focus on the needs of the individual student. “Necessity is the mother of invention. It took me years to truly understand that phrase. I’ve learned that teaching art to students with learning differences requires understanding what makes them tick and what might motivate and interest them.” National Art Honor Society The National Art Honor Association (NAHS) inducted 5 new students into its organization on November 18. Students from grades 9-12 were invited to join this organization based on their completion of one-half year of a high school art class, FH_NL_JAN_2015.indd 6 Fall Drama Production The Importance of Being Earnest, a two-act play by Oscar Wilde, was selected as the Fall Drama Production. Fairhill drama students delighted audience members November 7th and 8th. 12/2/14 1:43 PM save the date for this grand event, Stars of Texas GALA & AUCTION – FEBRUARY 21, 2015 Former Falcons! Class of 2013 Rickie Huang, Class of 2013, is a sophomore at The University of Arizona in Tucson. Rickie is majoring in Information Science of Technology and Arts (ISTA) with minors in computer science and business administration. She is involved in Women in Computer Science and is a chapter member of a professional agriculture sorority, Sigma Alpha. For the summer of 2015, Rickie has been awarded a paid internship from Walmart Corporate Office in Bentonville, AR. She will be working in their Information System Division (ISD) on the Web and Application Development Team or Infrastructure Team. Rickie is very excited about this opportunity as it will help her in her college studies and as a programmer in her career. Andrew Appell, Class of 2013, is in his second year of college at University of Texas at Dallas. He is studying Physics and Mechanical Engineering. Andrew plans on going into the field of Astrophysics. Kendall Wolf, Fairhill student from 2004–2012, attends school at Gettysburg College, a private, four-year liberal arts college in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. At the end of his freshman year, he earned a place on the First Year Recognition List for achieving a GPA of greater than 3.0. After final exams in May, Kendall headed off on a school trip to Ethiopia for two weeks of hiking in the Bale Mountains and to observe the efforts to encourage Ethiopian women to switch from using charcoal stoves to propane stoves. Kendall enjoys running and has raced in two half marathons. Class of 2011 Cory Free, Class of 2013, is studying Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M. He recently accepted an internship in Washington D.C. working for the House Committee on Agriculture. He has also recently earned his Aggie ring. Class of 1989 Stephen Marx, Class of 1989, received a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Texas. Dr. Marx is currently living in Jerusalem, Israel with his wife and four children. He has conducted research focused on cancer and transplantation, has made 6 publications, and has delivered over 30 presentations at national conferences. He is currently working on clinical trials in humans regarding Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD) – situation in which transplant tissues attack host tissues. Dr. Marx is always looking for additional sites to which he can expand clinical trials or for people who want to get involved in his projects - [email protected]. FH_NL_JAN_2015.indd 7 FAIRHILL SCHOOL AND DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT CENTER 16150 PrestonMISSION Road |STATEMENT Dallas, Texas 75248 Fairhill is dedicated to providing the best possible education to learning different students, emphasizing each student’s unique pattern of information acquisition, processing, and expression. To accomplish this, Fairhill focuses upon academic, social, and emotional development. Fairhill guides its students in “learning to learn.” BOARD OF DIRECTORS W. L. Pendergrass, Jr., Chair Tom Carse, Vice-Chair W. K. Gordon III, Ph.D., Secretary William K. Barnard, Treasurer John Dziminski John M. Gala Leslie Zale Greco Carol Young Marvin Jane Sego Jeffrey Siegel, Ph.D. Karen Smith Carla Stanford Connie Wilson, Ph.D. ADMINISTRATION Carla Stanford, Executive Director Melinda Cameron, Assistant Director & Head of Upper School Deborah Atchely, Head of Lower School Lori Hamilton, Director of Development & Public Relations Caroline Ford, Ph.D., Director of Psychological Services Leigh Miller, Director of Diagnostic Assessment Center Tom Wiemann, Athletic Director Cricket Burton, Business Manager 16150 Preston Road | Dallas, Texas 75248 Phone 972.233.1026 | Fax 972.233.8205 www.fairhill.org 12/2/14 1:43 PM FAIRHILL SCHOOL NON PROFIT US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TEXAS PERMIT NO. 181 AND DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT CENTER 16150 Preston Road | Dallas, Texas 75248 Phone 972.233.1026 | Fax 972.233.8205 www.fairhill.org LY D N E I R F A R REMINDE UMNI ON AL D FALC N ews A n i S n ON or alum R FALC ilton, student m r a e FORME H ri rm ail Lo ave fo -m 6 e r o -1 If you h ll 3 3 02 ca at 972-2 , please pment to share lo e . v e r of D irhill.org Directo ilton@fa or lham L!!!! FAIRHIL ger, $ FOR $ n’s, Kro $ o E s E rt FR rams. b, Albe g m ro u p h T n o n, Tom Educati r ers fo n s Amazo rt a p x To munityp and Bo rg/com o l. Target il h ir w.fa ils. Visit ww for deta 100 TAX ! ble deducti % igning ook S Yearb Please Help Fairhill Students Shine! our contribution to Fairhill’s Annual Fund is essential to ensure that these Y bright students reach their fullest potential to become the leaders, innovators, teachers and public servants of tomorrow. Roger and Chandra Wilson, Parent Campaign Chairs Senior Buddie s Cross Country – Sean King 16,000 ies compan ifts… match g s? ur does yo Volleyball Team Mom’s Day FH_NL_JAN_2015.indd 8 SUPP Fine A ORTS: rts New T Programs ech Sports nology Progra Specia l Equip m men Staff T raining t 12/2/14 1:43 PM