Our First Foreign Exchange Student

Transcription

Summer 2011
The “Point”
of the Story
In 1969 Mac Fletcher was sitting
in an airport restaurant in
Chicago, IL, when he drew a
simple idea for his company’s logo
on the back of a cocktail napkin.
The exclamation point that he
drew came to represent the sales
promotion company of
Fletcher-Barnhardt &
White, and became an
industry icon. As
most of you know,
Mac was one of the
original founders of
The Fletcher School.
In honor of him,
we have decided
to name our publication
“Exclamations!”
exclamat ons
A Newsletter for the friends & families of THE Fletcher School
& the rankin institute
Our First Foreign Exchange Student
For the past few years, The Fletcher School has participated in a summer Travel Abroad program to
give our students the opportunity to experience and explore other cultures. This year, the cultural
experience came to us in the form of our first foreign exchange student. Benedikt Henkel, of
Munich, Germany, came to Charlotte through AFS, the American Field Service Program (www.afs.
org). AFS is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides students
with intercultural learning opportunities.
Benedikt Henkel from
Munich, Germany.
We hope you
will find that it
features some of
the exciting and
not-to-be-missed
happenings of
The Fletcher
School.
We relate to each other
because we are similar.
We learn from each other
because we are different.
Benedikt joined our Senior class and was quickly
embraced by both students and teachers. Always
eager to learn about American culture, Benedikt was
also happy to share his experiences in Germany. His
classmates were impressed with his willingness to travel
to a foreign country and work so hard to learn English.
They were curious and open to Benedikt’s culture and
pleased to have this unique learning opportunity.
When asked about the differences between our culture
and his, Benedikt was quick to say that one culture is
no better or worse than the other…just different! He
did point out that Germans walk, bike, and use public
transportation more than Americans, stating, “Here,
it is always the car because gas is more expensive in
Germany.” Fletcher students who have traveled to
Germany with Fletcher’s Travel Abroad program agreed
with Benedikt’s observations.
Upon his return to Germany, Benedikt hopes to continue
his education. He would like to work in the tourism
industry where he will have frequent opportunities to
use the English skills that he is acquiring.
(Quoted from AFS brochure)
what’s inside!
Rankin Update . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Annual Report . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Parents’ Council . . . . . . . . . . . 8
New Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Commencement/Seniors . . 10-11
Faculty/Staff Appreciation . . . 16
Athletcs /After School . . . . . . 18
The American Field Service Program promotes the core
values of dignity, respect for differences, harmony,
sensitivity, and tolerance. AFS describes its alumni as more likely to speak at least one other
language fluently, to have friends from other countries, and to seek jobs that involve contact with
other cultures. Alumni are also more likely to encourage their children to meet people from other
cultures and to study abroad. Benedikt was a wonderful ambassador for this organization, and we
are grateful that our students had the opportunity to learn from him.
from the head of school
This past school year began with my commitment to give every student an
educational experience of the quality equal to the exceptional facilities
we now have on our campus. I think we accomplished just that! While
watching our finances very carefully, we have made optimal use of our
classroom wings, art studios, and gymnasium.
We now offer Honors English, Spanish IV, and Assistance Technology
courses in the Upper School as well as conference-level competition in
several sports. The Middle School has expanded their use of technology
with projectors and laptop computers in the classrooms and has more club
and athletic opportunities at the junior varsity level. Our K-5 Division remains
focused on the Orton-Gillingham model of remediation, but teachers also have the
opportunity to utilize more multisensory experiences with projectors and laptop computers
in each classroom. Throughout the School we continue to rely on the basic principles of
structured, multisensory instruction that have proven successful in the past, but we are
committed to incorporating new strategies and technology as they become available.
The Trustees are acutely aware of the financial concerns and uncertainty facing our families
due to the economic downturn. We strive to keep tuition increases as minimal as possible.
We have made a commitment to increase funding for financial aid and to offer aid to
more families. While we cannot guarantee tuition assistance to all, we do ask for open
communication regarding financial circumstances that may prevent a family from enrolling or
re-enrolling.
We also realize we simply cannot serve every child who has specific learning disabilities and/
or ADHD, but I feel comforted knowing that we offer free and open-to-the-public seminars to
parents and educators through The Rankin Institute.
We are so fortunate to have the “Fletcher community” as we continue through these
challenging times. We know that our current families have made their child’s educational
needs a top priority, and we thank them for the investment they have made in their child’s
future.
I hope that every person who walks through our doors has an experience at Fletcher that
matches the quality of the exceptional facilities we now enjoy. We continue to strive to be the
best for each student!
Sincerely,
Margaret B. Sigmon, M.Ed.
Head of School
the fletcher school
2
Margaret Sigmon
gets a visit from
granddaughter
Samantha
2010-11
Board of Trustees
Kelly Graves, Chairman
Ted Laporte, Treasurer
Sheryl Mayberry, Secretary
George Mackie, At-Large
Don Gately, Immediate Past Chair
John Allbert
Elizabeth Ashe
Mike Blair
Bill Byron
Margaret Clair
Elliott Crutchfield
Ellen Daniel
Tom Dulin
Fletcher Gregory
Al Guarnieri
Rick Hopkins
Bryan Ives
Michael Kahn
Lisa Meyerson
Tony Orsbon
Kama Pierce
Anne Pipkin
Bob Speizman
Paul Stroup
Steve Sutherland
Hadley Wilson
Margaret Sigmon, Ex Officio
The Rankin Institute:
A Year of Growth in Outreach
The 2010-11 school year was one of growth for The Rankin Institute.
The
Institute saw a significant increase in registration and attendance for many
of the workshops in the My Child Has What? series, which addresses common
learning disability diagnoses. A new record was set when registration for the
Auditory Processing Disorder workshop exceeded 100 people. Teachers and
professionals from the public schools also attended Rankin workshops in
record numbers.
A new workshop, Walk a Mile in My Shoes: LD Simulations, was added to the schedule
this year. This workshop was designed to put the attendees in the shoes of a learning
disabled student in order to promote greater understanding, compassion and
discussion. The workshop was very well-attended and received.
The Rankin Institute expanded its outreach program by traveling to other schools
to present seminars to faculty members of Hawk Ridge Elementary and Gaston
Day School. By offering LD 101 and LD Simulations in these group settings, The
Institute is able to increase understanding of learning disabilities so teachers can
better support the struggling students at their schools. The Institute also held a
similar workshop for a wonderful group of seniors from Butler High School who are
considering careers as educators.
Top: Forum speaker, Sharon Weiss with Chairman of
the Board Kelly Graves and Head of School Margaret
Sigmon. Below: Rankin Institute training seminar.
In February, The Rankin Institute presented the Thirteenth Annual Fletcher Forum,
featuring Sharon Weiss, M.Ed. Ms. Weiss, a nationally known behavioral consultant,
presented From Chaos to Calm, a public seminar on parenting.
The Rankin Institute is extremely grateful for the generous grants received from The
Rankin Foundation and The Michael Khan Family Foundation. These gifts will help
The Institute continue its mission to increase understanding and learning disability
services throughout the community. “The Sibling Workshop, coupled
with our conversations afterward,
has paved the way to more realistic
and open dialog among members
of our household. Ben’s response
to his brother after the workshop
was overwhelming when he ran up
to Alex and hugged him, saying
‘Your school is awesome and you
are absolutely the smartest person I
know!’ He went on to discuss with
Alex the amazing way in which we
are all different and how lucky Alex
is to have The Fletcher School. For
our family, this workshop could not
have been better.”
Save the Date
for
fletcher
Forum 2012!
Community Workshop:
February 16, 2012
Teacher Workshop:
February 17, 2012
exclamations
3
CAN YOU PLEASE JUST SIT STILL?
By Diane Reid Stewart, MA, LPC
K-5 Fletcher School Counselor
As a mother of a child with ADHD, I too struggle with wanting my
daughter to just sit still and stay in her seat at the dinner table.
As the K-5 Counselor at The Fletcher School, I see firsthand how
difficult it is for our students to sit still in their seats. They fidget,
shift positions, move their chairs, rock back in their chairs, and
even fall out of their chairs on a regular basis. It is enough to
drive a parent crazy! It can be a challenge for teachers too - to
remain focused and patient teaching a lesson while distracted
by the constant movement of an ADHD student, especially
when there are several in the same classroom.
It is commonly known that for some with ADHD, hyperactivity
and excessive movement are symptoms of the diagnosis – in
fact, part of the problem. However,
little is ever mentioned about the
importance of movement
for people with ADHD.
Rather, as educators
and parents, we are
constantly fighting
that never ending
battle of trying to
get our kids to just
be still. Perhaps if
we better understood
the importance of
movement to the ADHD
brain, we’d encourage
movement
rather
than
discourage it.
ADHD is not specific to one particular region of the brain. In
other words, one area of the brain is not solely responsible
for the symptoms of ADHD. ADHD involves a deficiency
and deregulation of the neurotransmitters dopamine and
norephinephrine affecting the prefrontal, frontal, striatum,
limbic and basal ganglia regions of the brain. These areas interact
in feedback loops that provide for improved interpretation of
sensory input and are heavily involved in the control, planning,
and execution of complex behaviors often referred to as
executive function skills (i.e. inhibition, arousal, attention,
memory, planning, sequencing, and rhythm). Research
Perhaps if we
better understood
the importance of
movement to the
ADHD brain,
we’d encourage
movement rather
than discourage it.
the fletcher school
4
shows that when people
with ADHD engage in tasks
that require concentration,
they experience decreased
activity in the prefrontal
cortex rather than increased
activity like that seen in the
normal brain. Furthermore,
there are direct connections
between
the
cerebellum
(movement centers of the
brain) and the frontal lobes
(responsible for executive
function
skills).
The
distractibility,
restlessness
Lower School Counselor Diane Stewart and
and fidgety behavior observed daughters Evie and Audrey
in ADHD are actually builtin mechanisms that help to increase neural stimulation (selfarousal), which helps to improve focus and attention. So, the
under-aroused ADHD brain seeks arousal through movement.
That is, ADHD kids fidget in order to focus.
As parents and educators, understanding the way the brain
functions may help us to shift our expectations and be more
flexible in our own thinking about what truly is important to
the ADHD child. We might look to provide more opportunities
for movement in our homes and in our classrooms. At dinner
time we can allow our children to get up out of their seat to
get the catsup or more milk rather than doing it for them. In
the classroom we can consider allowing for frequent breaks and
build movement into our lessons. We can let our children stand
up to do homework or sit in a swivel chair. We can let them
chew gum in the classroom or play with a “fidget.” Go ahead…
break the rules! Sometimes they need to be broken if it means
meeting the specific needs of a child. How do we explain this to
siblings or to other students who aren’t getting the same kinds
of accommodations? At Fletcher, we teach “Fair is not equal.”
In other words, we are all different, and because we are different
we all have different needs. What works for one doesn’t work
for all. You’ll be amazed at how well children seem to accept
this answer. So, get up and move….you and your ADHD child
or student will be glad you did!
The Fletcher School
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6
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Lisa Sherman
Mrs. Warren Ferguson
Christine Perkey
Will Simerville
David and Kathy Ellis
Mac Fletcher
Bill and Jeannette Price
Julia Smith
Elizabeth Spencer
William H. Forrest, Jr.
Bob and Joan Sweeney
Karen Trigg
Georgia Szabo
Anonymous
Adams Gately
Blake and Ashley Graeber
Mercer Langley
Bill and Susan Porter
Rick and Yvonne Rayburn
David Rhodes
Ceres Vandiver
Robert McCoy
Mary Ann Shapard
John and Claire Tate
Sallie Hackney
Len Brinkley
James McDowell
Gene and Pauline Healey
Judy Ainsworth Taylor
Jerry and Kay Ainsworth
George Hall
Wayne and Pat Mabe
Don and Kathy Gately
Scott and Ashley Roehrig
Al and Eileen Varner
Jackson McFarlane
Fred and Sidney Lancaster
James Thomas
Carolyn Johnson
Catherine Houston
Steve and Jennifer Engel
Margaret McGowan
Haley Trapp
Chris and Christine Trapp
Susie Harris
William and Ina McCoy
Becky Black Morgan
Kathy Roberts
James McIntyre
Harry Burnett and Tillie Tice
Edwin Vaden
Jordan Brown
Ben and Linda Hawfield
Thomas McMillan
Roy and Edna Jessee
Chet and Christine Walker
Officer Norberto
Ortiz-Ocasio
Ruth Barnhouse-Colon
John and Jane Chanon
Richard and
Betty Hechenbleikner
Bailey Barnett
Doug and Cathy Mitchell
Robert Walker
Mr. and Mrs. Robert McElveen
Reed and Harriet Owsley
Bill and Gray White
Anna Peach
Walter and Jean Wilkinson
David and Harriet Pharr
Laurens and Libbie Willard
Melissa Pusanik
Sharon Swanson
Hadley and Hannah Wilson
Elizabeth Ashe
Hugh and Mary Katherine Black
Joseph and Shelton Bonnin
James and Shawn Butterworth
Paul and Emily Duke
James and Kim Gamble
Mary Ruth Handy
Lane and Karen Holbert
Rogers and Victoria Howell
John and Anne Montgomery
Jack and Martha Rand
Robin Shore
William and Elizabeth Sigmon
Tripp and Benton Ashe
Lydia Barlow
Mary Barlow
Bailey Barnett
Bill and Mary Clifford Boyd
Dow and Kitty Bauknight
Will Bicket
Dave and Jan Johnson
Anna Brearley
Roger and Barbara Spencer
Mary Coffield
Marell Cook
Susie Culp
Ralph and Sandra Besnoy
William and Peggie Heeney
Anonymous
Mr. and Mrs. James Michael Sanders
Faye Starnes
Fletcher Faculty and Staff
Richard Fletcher
Matthew Gantt
Skip and Louise Gantt
Don Gately
Michael Kahn Family
Margie Keel
Jack and Allison Levinson
Brock and Cathy Himan
James and Victoria Armes
Cathy Fletcher Himan
Fletcher Himan
Lawson Armes
Charley and Lynn Hodges
Doug and Lanier Hoy
Rachel James
Jon and Eileen Powell
Dick and Hanna Kane
Cantey Kelleher
George Ladley
Mr. and Mrs. George W. Brown
Kimberly Law
Kiernan McCarthy
Keith and Pam McCarthy
Strawn and Susan Cathcart
Robert and Gaither Deaton
David and Karen DeSilva
Michael and Kim Farr
Tyler Gately
Jennifer Guthrie
Jenny Carrington
Brandon and Ellen Carter
Jay and Ellen Daniel
Todd and Pamela Duvick
Matt and Betsy Gantt
Al and Kirsten Guarnieri
Clark and Gen Hawgood
Pat Weber
Stephanie Brotherton
The following list reflects new gifts and pledges to the Create a Bright Future
capital campaign received during the 2010/11 fiscal year.
Paul and Bobbie Jo Hille
Petro Kulynych
Bruce Levy and Ragnhild Daasvand
Ed and Heather Lloyd
Chris and Mary Richard McCoy
Family Festival Contributors
John and Susan Allbert
Eric and Laurie Andreozzi
Bill and Elizabeth Ashe
Ken Benkeser and Christina Pappas
Phil and Beth Bennett
Julie Bradlow
Charles and Reid Campbell
Steve Papageorge
Judy Papageorge
Yoni Raffler
Michael and Dena Raffler
Capital Campaign Donors
Laura Baker
Beth Bennett
Jack and Susan Benninghoff
Smoky Bissell and Margaret Gragg
Henry and Daisy Bridges
Doug Buchanan
Ray and Jan Swetenburg
Jim and Debbie Millis
Joseph and Kama Pierce
Greg and Catherine Plough
John and Katrin Schultze
Fred and Lyn Stubblefield
Jean Summerville
Eric and Annette Telljohann
Wells and Alison Van Pelt
Chet and Christine Walker
Mike and Leslie Walsh
Ginny Wheelock
The Parents’ Council would like to thank the following families who donated over $1900
to the Family Festival! We also want to thank those who made donations at the Festival!
William and Sally Wise Howle
Tim and Lisa Kendrick
Michael and Laura Maguire
Mike and Connie Martin
Chris and Caroline McDowell
Art and Nell Parker
Jeff and MC Pilon
Kurt and Andrea Powell
Preston and Lynn Purdum
Bob and Barb Salvucci
John and Katrin Schultze
John and Courtney Scott
Jim and Iva Skufca
Bryan and Susan Smith
Martin and Leigh-Ann Sprock
Bill and Paige Wallace
Charles and Sara Waters
David and Tess Whelpley
Bobby and Suzanna Wicker
7
Parents’ Council Board 2010-11
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellen Daniel
Past President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth Ashe
Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Brearley
Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allison Kitchen
Goal Accomplished!
One of the goals of the Parents’ Council is to foster a sense of community
within our school. The smiling faces and laughter at the fall Family
Festival, the Family Dinner, and the Talent Show were proof enough that
we achieved our goal! We also welcomed new families, hosted teacher
luncheons and the Faculty/Staff Appreciation Week in May. These events
and many others could not have been accomplished without the support
and participation of many of our families.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the chairpersons on
the Board for their hard work. Each one put 100% into their job, and I
am very grateful for their dedication. I also want to thank the parents
who volunteered to make each event a success. It is their involvement that
helps make our school such a special place.
To our 21 graduates, I send Parents’ Council’s sincere congratulations
for your accomplishments! To those of you leaving Fletcher, we wish you
continued success in your next journey. And for those of our families who
are returning, I look forward to seeing you all in the fall!
Sincerely,
Ellen Daniel
Ellen Daniel
Parents’ Council President
Scenes from Family
Festival (top and left)
and Talent Show (right
and below).
the fletcher school
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Committee Chairpersons
Art Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Berry, Debbie Long
Belk Charity Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meg Dewey
Book Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth Ashe, Pam McCarthy
Faculty/Staff Appreciation . . . . . . . . . . . . Luci Heeseman,
Elizabeth Sigmon
Faculty/Staff Half-Day Luncheons . . . . . . . . . Mary Tinkey
Field Days:
Grades K-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michelle Tyson
Grades 6-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristen Guarneri
Fletcher Family Festival . . . . Winslow Barlow, Betsy Gantt,
Iva Skufca, Betsy Wilder
Flight Deck Coordinators . . Sharon King, Patricia Thomas
Grade Parent Coordinators:
Grades K-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julie Peach
Grades 6-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diana Wakefield
Holiday Gift Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rose Fowler
Lunch Assistants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dawn Ryan
New Families:
Grades K-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raechel McClellan
Grade 6-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jo Little
Newsletter (Falcon Flash) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page Henderson
Spiritwear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cathy Dulin
Sports Concessions Coordinator . . . . . . . . Jeanette Bicket
Talent Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Allbert
Talent Show Dinner . . . . . . Sharyn Eisdorfer, Marla Wolfe
INTRODUCING OUR NEW TRUSTEES 2010-11
ELLEN DANIEL, the Parents’ Council President, served on
the Board as an ex-officio member. Her son, Taylor, was in
the tenth grade and son Colin graduated in 2008.
FLETCHER GREGORY has been employed at Charlotte Latin
School for over 20 years. He has held positions as a teacher,
coach, and Head of the Middle School. He is currently the
Associate Headmaster and Director of Finance.
RICK HOPKINS is the Director of Marketing at Keane Capital
Management. He has two children enrolled at Fletcher –
Caroline (grade 2) and Devon (grade 3).
Ellen Daniel
Rick Hopkins
TONY ORSBON is a partner with the law firm Orsbon and
Fenninger, LLP. His son, David, is a former Fletcher student
who mainstreamed. David is pursuing a Ph.D. in Religion
from the University of Chicago after graduating with High
Honors from Davidson College.
Tony Orsbon
KAMA PIERCE is an assistant professor at The Charlotte
School of Law. She also has previous educational
administration experience at a school for students with
learning disabilities. Kama has two children enrolled at
Fletcher: Julian (grade 3) and Jasmine (grade 4).
Fletcher Gregory
Helping Families Realize
the Fletcher Dream
The Fletcher School is committed to helping students with specific learning disabilities
Kama Pierce
experience success and achieve bright futures, regardless of their financial situation.
However, the economic events of the past few years have impacted our financial
aid program by reducing the amount of aid available while increasing the
“I want to thank you for
number of applicants. This year, our Financial Aid Committee awarded
the school’s generous gift of financial
a total of $254,050 in full and partial scholarships to 30 students,
aid to me. It is hard to explain how much
coming to Fletcher has helped me. When I arrived
representing 12% of the student body. Our Director of Admissions
at
Fletcher it was my sixth school. My mom had tried
estimates that approximately one third of all parents who inquire
everything in an effort to find the right place for me to learn.
about admission need some level of financial assistance. The
As
you can imagine I was pretty well done with schools and
following story is from one of the thank you notes written to the
didn’t want to come to Fletcher. Now, I find that every year I
Financial Aid Committee this spring. Stories like this are why we
can’t wait to come back. Without the incredible gift of financial
continue to pursue financial aid donations and maintain a goal of
aid, Fletcher would not be possible for me. I am very grateful
achieving an endowment for this purpose.
for the chance to be part of Fletcher for another year,
exclamations
and I just wanted to say thanks.”
- Fletcher student
9
Graduation 2011
The 2011 graduation ceremony was held at the Matthews
Community Center, located in historic downtown
Matthews. The auditorium and grounds of the Matthews
facility lent a sense of formality and occasion that befitted
the significance of such an event.
Author, educator, and public volunteer Kaye McGarry
served as keynote speaker, sharing her wishes and advice
with our twenty-one graduates. In 2009, Ms. McGarry was
named one of Charlotte’s Most Influential People. She
has combined her personal academic accomplishments,
which include degrees from Barry University, the University
of South Florida, and a Masters of Education in guidance
and counseling from the University of North Carolina at
Charlotte, with her passion to help others.
Ms. McGarry has vigorously pursued a career focused on
counseling students to help them realize their potential,
just as we do at The Fletcher School. In 1991, she founded
“Survival in College Seminars” in which she provides
informative seminars to college-bound students and their
families. Through the wisdom gained from her experiences
in the academic world as a teacher, professor, and current
At-Large Member of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Board
of Education, she wrote the book “A New Beginning: A
Survival Guide for Parents of College Freshman”, which was
featured in USA Today. A copy of the book was given as a
gift to each of our senior’s families.
Marell Cook Valedictorian, Class of 2011
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES FOR OUR SENIORS
Congratulations Class of 2011 on your college and university acceptances!
Sarah Bald
Gap Year: traveling to Africa for community service
until Dec 2011
Jordan Batchelor
Gardner-Webb, Lees-McRae, Limestone, LenoirRhyne, Davis & Elkins, Catawba, Queens, Brevard
Kira Jordan
Gap year: plans to take art classes
locally
Brian Beno
Davis & Elkins
Will Bicket
Liberty, Marshall, Gardner Webb
Anna Brearley
Wofford, Queens, Wingate, Guilford, Eckerd
Trey Cauthen
Northeastern Tech, Francis Marion, Winthrop,
Coastal Carolina
Kelli Kline
Lynn University, Davis & Elkins,
Western Carolina, Auburn, GardnerWebb, Memphis State
Brooks Little
Gardner Webb, Belmont Abby,
Winthrop, East Carolina University,
Western Carolina, Queens
Marell Cook
East Carolina University
Mary McMillan
Wingate, Queens, Gardner-Webb
Victoria DeZubay Central Piedmont Community College
Melissa Pusanik
Davis & Elkins
Emily Eichstadt
York Tech, Limestone
Lisa Sherman
University of Arizona, Iona, Southern Connecticut,
Curry College, East Carolina University,
SUNY-Oneonta
Mason Wallace
Savannah College of Art and Design,
High Point University
Danny Fourre
College of Charleston, UNC-Greensboro, GardnerWebb, East Carolina University
Jacob Fultz
Davis & Elkins, Central Piedmont
Community College
the fletcher school
10
Dalton Hatley
Coastal Carolina
Benedikt Henkel Our foreign exchange student
will be returning to Germany
Eliot Woody
Young Harris, Western Carolina, Mars Hill
These seniors model the traditional
South African dresses that were
gifted to them by Henry Browne.
Mr. Browne, a science teacher at
Fletcher for six years, moved to
South Africa in January to become
the Executive Director of the
Sackaesamoseh Football Academy.
The Class of 2011
Anna Brearley
Sarah Bald
Jordan Batchelor
Brian Beno
Will Bicket
Marell Cook
Victoria DeZubay
Emily Eichstadt
Danny Fourre
Jacob Fultz
Benedikt Henkel
Kira Jordan
Kelli Kline
Brooks Little
Mary McMillan
Trey Cauthen
Dalton Hatley
Melissa Pusanik
exclamations
Lisa Sherman
Mason Wallace
Eliot Woody
11
Honors & Awards 2011
MAC FLETCHER AWARD
The Mac Fletcher Award is
presented at graduation to
the Upper School student who
best represents the spirit of
Mac Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher’s
vision of a school for children
with learning disabilities was a
driving force in the foundation
of The Fletcher School. This year
the Mac Fletcher Award was
given to Kelli Kline.
HONOR STUDENT
AWARD
Each year at graduation the
Honor Student Award is given
to the student in the senior class
with the highest grade point
average during the high school
years.
The Fletcher School
Honor Student for 2010 was
Marell Cook.
GABE PRATT MEMORIAL
SPIRIT AWARD
The Gabe Pratt Memorial Spirit
Award is presented annually in
loving memory of Gabriel Foy
Pratt, a student at Fletcher from
1993-1996. He died tragically
on February 28, 1998. Gabe
demonstrated an exceptional
spirit of adventure, creativity,
and determination. This award
is presented to the middle school
student who best exemplifies
Gabe’s spirit.
This year’s
recipient was Jackson McFarlane.
FALCON SPIRIT AWARD
The Falcon Spirit Award is
presented to those who go
above and beyond to show
school spirit. These students
exemplify school pride while
cheering on their classmates.
The winners of this year’s award
were Emily Eichstadt and Danny
Fourre.
Falcon Spirit Award
Danny Fourre
Mac Fletcher Award
Kelli Kline
Valedictorian
Marell Cook
Gabe Pratt Award
Jackson McFarlane
END OF YEAR AWARDS
Best Senior Exit Presentation
Sarah Bald
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12
Superior Achievement
Will Bicket
Junior Marshals
Layla Barrier
Meg Hibbitts
Ben Jones
Jenny Rice
Community Service Society
Maggie Johnson
Danny Fourre
Emily Purdum
Emily Eichstadt
Cooper Roberts
Falcon Spirit Award
Emily Eichstadt
College Representatives Visit
The Fletcher School
A successful college experience for our students often requires a school that
offers full academic support suited to the needs of the individual student. This
support is most frequently found at schools offering comprehensive programs
for students with learning disabilities. To help students make informed college
choices, we strive to expose them to schools providing these services.
The Fletcher School Receives
2011 Best of Charlotte Award
For the third consecutive year, The Fletcher School has
been selected for the 2011 Best of Charlotte Award in
the Private Special Education School category by the
U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).
Nationwide, only 1 in 120 (less than 1%) of the 2011
Award recipients qualified as Three-Time Award
Winners. The 2011 USCA Award Program focuses on
quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based
on the information gathered both internally by the
USCA and data provided by third parties.
During the past school year, we invited
representatives from the following schools to
make presentations about their programs to
our students:
Davis & Elkins College, Elkins, WV
West Virginia Wesleyan,
Buckhannon, WV
Both schools are private, liberal arts schools
that enroll from 700 to 1,000 students.
Helen Kaufman,
Fletcher College Counselor
The STEPP program
at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
The Noel program at Gardner-Webb University,
Boiling Springs, NC
These schools offer exceptional programs for students with learning disabilities.
These schools are on opposite ends of the student population spectrum and
offer very different social experiences. ECU has an enrollment of 18,000 while
Gardner-Webb is another small liberal arts school, population: 2,000.
Queens University, Charlotte, NC
Represetatives visited Fletcher for the first time as they are interested in
expanding their learning center.
Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL
Lynn enrolls 1,800 students and is nationally recognized for its learning
support.
Madeline Heckenbleikner (above), former
Fletcher student, was named Valedictorian
of the class of 2011 at Davis & Elkins
College. Madeline is the first student in the
Supported Learning Program in the history of
Davis & Elkins to receive this honor. Madeline
attended The Fletcher School from 2nd through
8th grade before successfully mainstreaming.
She is the daughter of Betty and Richard
Hechenbleikner and granddaughter of Nancy
O’H. and David H. Rankin, for whom The
Rankin Institute is named.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah, GA
Many of our students are gifted in art and have expressed interest in careers
in the art field. While the school does not have a comprehensive program, the
support they do offer, combined with their nationally recognized art program,
offers students a wonderful opportunity for success.
These presentations were open to students in grades 9-12 and were scheduled
so that no student missed classroom instruction time. As you can see from our
senior class college acceptances, our students were impressed!
exclamations
13
celebrating grandfriends’ Day!
Brenda and Dale Cline, grandparents of Fletcher students Luke (1), Cooper (4), and
Cameron (7) Berry, served as the Chairpersons of Grandfriends’ Day 2011. The event,
held in November, proved perfect timing to coincide with family holiday travel.
Why did the Clines agree to assume this role when asked? Brenda says, “As I sat at the
opening last year, I could feel the vibes of anxiousness from grandparents and friends,
many of whom were probably struggling to understand the concept and necessity of
your program. I dare say that many of them left that day with confidence in the level
of achievement offered their student. I thought the
“simulation exercises” during the event were
especially educating, and I am proud to
say that I am dyslexic. The more I learn
ged
“Fletcher has chan
about Fletcher, the more I like it!”
The day was indeed one of fun
and education. The grandfriends
met for a broad overview of
The Fletcher School before
dispersing into workshops of
their choice focusing on who we
are, who we serve, and a repeat of
the hands-on simulation exercises.
Then there was time for the “friend”
to join their student for a photograph
and a visit to his/her classroom.
e and helped him
my Grandson’s lif
ial to learn. I
realize his potent
ese stories all
know you hear th
t even want
of the time. I don’
s life would be
to imagine what hi
you, thank you,
otherwise. Thank
thank you!”
ent
- Fletcher grandpar
Not 1,
...not ,
....but
2
3
Grandsons at Fletcher!
Over 150 grandparents and other “mature
friends” attended this event, allowing us the opportunity
to share information and good times with these important people.
Left: Douglas Alleyne signs-in at fall Homecoming. Above left:
Andrew Mack and Grandfather and above right: Ashley Simpson
and Grandmother. Fletcher Holds First Alumni Event
the fletcher school
14
Thirty-five alums/former students attended the first Homecoming
event in Fletcher’s history. All were invited to join the faculty
for refreshments, remarks and remembering followed by a
recognition ceremony during halftime of the basketball game.
WISHES FOR JAPAN :
MAKING CRANES
FOR HOPE & MONEY
We constantly look for ways to help others, both within
our Fletcher community and outside our school walls. The
Middle School students, along with a few Upper School
student volunteers, took advantage of an opportunity to
help those in need in Japan following the devastation due to
the earthquake and tsunami.
These
Fletcher
students
utilized
their Team Time for
an entire week to join
students around the
world to construct
paper cranes. The
Upper
School
student volunteers,
Anna Brearley, Marell
Cook, Henry Howle,
Maggie
Johnson,
and Hunter Tisdale,
were experienced crane folders who sacrificed their lunch
time to teach the Middle School students how to fold the
origami paper cranes. These cranes were mailed to Students
Rebuild, a student-based organization that teamed with
DoSomething.org . For each crane received the Bezos Family
Foundation donated $2 to the Architecture for Humanity’s
reconstruction efforts in Japan. The goal of 100,000 cranes
was realized, and the project provided $200,000 to the
Architecture for Humanity. Fletcher students contributed
287 cranes to this goal.
The paper cranes donated by students around the world
became part of an art installation that serves as a symbol
of hope and support to Japanese youth. According to
Japanese legend, if a person folds 1,000 paper cranes, she
or he can have one wish come true. The Japanese culture
upholds cranes as mystical creatures, and a gift of 1,000
paper cranes is considered a gift of happiness, long life, and
luck. Our wish is that our 287 cranes helped bring support
and healing to those in Japan.
Left: Chaperones Brian Anderson
and Suzi Stephens in the Alps of
Austria; and below: Having fun at
Chateau de Bois, Loire Valley.
CIAO! FLETCHER ABROAD
Each year The Fletcher School takes a group of students on a summer
trip abroad. This year Suzi Stephens, Division Head of the Middle and
Upper Schools, traveled with the students to France, Italy and Austria.
Brian Anderson, an Upper School English teacher, joined her as a
chaperone. Students from Ardrey Kell, Myers Park, South Mecklenburg
and Providence High Schools also traveled with the delegation. The ten
day adventure began June 16th.
The following students participated in this year’s Fletcher Abroad trip:
Graham Baker, Will Bicket, AJ Dulin, Jacob Fultz, Jonah Gorelick, Dalton
Hatley, Chris Holevas, Ben Jones, Max Lair, Kiernan McCarthy, and
Panou Papageorge.
While in Vienna, Austria, the students visited such places as the Opera
House, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and the Schonbrunn Palace and
Gardens. They also explored the cities of Salzburg and Innsbrook. Next,
they traveled to Venice, Italy, to see St. Mark’s Square and the Grand
Canal and watched glass blowing demonstrations. From Venice, the
group traveled to Florence where they visited Michelangelo’s David, Uffizi
Palace, Ponte Vecchio, Chiesa di Sana Croce, and the Duomo. Leaving
Florence for Paris, France, the students toured The Louvre, Sorbonne, the
Pantheon, Versailles, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower, among
other sites. To round out the trip, the group journeyed to Loire Valley,
Chenonceau and Chartres before returning to Paris for their flight home. exclamations
15
Jane Tilley Celebrates twenty years
Each year, with the help of The Parents’ Council, Margaret Sigmon recognizes the
faculty and staff of The Fletcher School for their dedication to the school and all
they have done for our students and their families.
20
During the week of activities, teachers were honored with flowers, a poem by
9th grader Graham Baker, cupcakes, a luncheon, a generous gift, and sweets.
The luncheon, organized by parents Elizabeth Sigmon and Luci Heeseman, had
a festive Mardi Gras theme. The celebration was held in the gymnasium, which
was decorated in the traditional green, gold, and purple of Mardi Gras. During
the annual luncheon, the teachers who reached milestone anniversaries were
recognized. While every year of service is noteworthy, faculty and staff members
who have given extended time to The Fletcher School are celebrated.
This year’s list of honorees included the following:
TWENTY YEARS:
Jane Tilley
FIFTEEN YEARS:
Susie Culp
Jean Parr
Linda Perry
TEN YEARS:
Penne Gibson
Michelle Anderson
FIVE YEARS:
Jeff Hanood
Greg Mangum
FIVE YEARS (cont’d):
Becky Meleney
Carla Sanchez
Diane Stewart
Karol Matthews
Denise McKibben
Nichole McConnell
15
5
the fletcher school
16
10
Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff
Administrative Assistant, Pam Cox, was the new “voice of Fletcher”
this year, replacing Shirley Gibb who moved to a teaching position
in the second grade. Pam is a native Charlottean, graduating from
East Mecklenburg High School and attending Central Piedmont
Community College. Pam’s daughter, Katie, and her husband,
Collins Quinn, also live in Charlotte. Pam loves walking her two
little dogs and playing a round of golf.
Second grade teacher, Shirley Gibb, was born in Meridian,
Mississippi but spent her childhood in New Canaan, Connecticut.
She has earned degrees from both Pfeiffer University and UNC
Charlotte. One of five children, Shirley is the mother of one son.
Her favorite pastime is being “Grandma” to Dean Wilson.
Third grade teacher, Liz Schoening, was born and raised in
Louisville, Kentucky. She attended Davidson College and American
University. Ms. Schoening’s parents still live in Louisville, but she
has one sister living in Concord, North Carolina. Liz is the proud
aunt to a niece and nephew.
Sixth grade Reading Comprehension and Science teacher, Linda
Phillips, was born and raised in Klamath Falls, Oregon. She
attended the University of Oregon and UNC Charlotte. Linda is
married to Wendall, and they have two sons, Thomas and Jonathan.
She also has two grandchildren: one granddaughter and a new
grandson!
New faculty and staff left to right: Linda Phillips, Liz Schoening, Pam Cox,
Stephanie Hall and Shirley Gibb
Familiar substitute teacher, Stephanie Hall, joined the faculty
this year to teach eighth grade Written Expression and Reading
Comprehension. Stephanie was born in Boston, Massachusetts,
but was raised in Cranfield, Ohio. A graduate of Miami University,
she is married to Terry, and they have two children, Lexi and Joey.
A “Sound” Experience
Our beautiful gymnasium has become the center of a great deal of activity at The
Fletcher School. In addition to P.E. classes, the facility stays occupied with athletic
events, after school activities, drama practice, and pep rallies. The space has also
become invaluable for large group events such as Back to School Night, The Fletcher
Forum and the Talent Show. To provide the best experience for participants of
these events, we have greatly improved the
acoustics of our gymnasium by adding a
sound absorption ceiling. The next step in
the process will be to replace our audio unit
with a higher quality, more versatile sound
system, and add a projector and retractable
screen to the stage. We tested the suggested
technology at this year’s Talent Show, and it
received great reviews (along with the acts,
of course!). We are grateful to Rick and
Kelly Hopkins for funding this project.
The new sound
absorption ceiling in
our gymnasium has
greatly improved
the acoustics,
further enhancing
events such as the
Talent Show!
exclamations
17
Fletcher Athletics 2010-11
The Fletcher School competes in the Charlotte Area Christian Athletic
Association (CACAA) for some of our Middle and Upper School sports.
For the first time we hosted the Boys Varsity Basketball Tournament
for the conference. Our students represented us well by earning several
All-Conference and All-Tournament awards. Also performing well this
year was the Boys Middle School Cross Country Team, which took 3rd
place in their conference tournament in the Fall. We congratulate the
following students:
All-Conference Basketball Award
Girls Middle School Team . . . . . . . . Rachel James and Andi Boston
Boys Middle School Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ben Sechler
Boys Varsity Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Will Bicket
All-tournament Basketball Award
Girls Middle School Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andi Boston
Boys Middle School Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kross Flynn
Boys Varsity Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jordan Batchelor
School awards were given to the Most Valuable Player
on all competitive teams. Winners were:
Boys Middle School Basketball Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ben Sechler
Boys Varsity Basketball Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Will Bicket
Cross Country Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hunter Cox
Flag Football Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Crouch
Girls Basketball Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andi Boston
Junior Varsity Soccer Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tripp Ashe
Swim Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kiernan McCarthy
Tennis Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andi Boston
Ultimate Frisbee Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AJ Dulin
Varsity Soccer Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Panou Papageorge
Volleyball Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Makayla Somers
the fletcher school
18
Looking Inside our
“Outside the Classroom”
Program!
Participation in After School Activities was high this
year with 199, or 77%, of our students participating in
at least one program. The number of activities offered
also increased with 21 different options for the Fall
and Spring seasons and 15 during the Winter session.
Activities for grades K-5 ranged from sport-related to
artistic. Middle and Upper School activities included
competitive conference sports. Other highlights of the year
include the addition of a swim team and a jump rope class.
After School offerings
were expanded this year,
including activities such
as piano and the addition
of a swim team.
HOSTING THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AT FLETCHER
The Fletcher School hosted a Special Olympics Regional Basketball Tournament for the first time
on Saturday, March 12. Over 250 people attended the 3x3 competition. Thirty Fletcher students,
employees, and parents volunteered as clock operators, scorekeepers, court assistants, lunch
managers, concession workers, Spirit Squad members and medical personnel. It was a special day for
everyone!
exclamations
19
the fletcher school
the rankin institute
8500 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270
Bring on the Bulldozer (Again!)
We always seem to be expanding or improving
our campus, and summer 2011 will be no
exception. It is our pleasure to announce the
groundbreaking of the Middle/Upper School
Courtyard. This project will include a paved
foundation, large shade trees, garden areas,
tables and benches. It will be used for a
number of purposes, including outdoor
education, student gathering, and social
events.
We are so excited about this
project, and the timing couldn’t be better.
Thanks to Robert and Gaither Deaton
who have graciously pledged to fund this
important project.
non-profit
U.S. Postage
Paid
Charlotte, NC
Permit #3243

Our First Foreign Exchange Student

Transcription

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