ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 “My dyslexia has shaped me, and I love who I have become.” Allison Arne ‘09 Dyslexia Is Strength Allison Arne ’09 The dinner table lacked food. I sat at my place crying, showing people my reading skills. Each day I learned next to my teary eyed mom. I was stupid, and we both something new, whether I learned Latin prefixes or knew it. It had been another long night of writing and the simple rhyme, “I before e except after c or when rewriting the same word on a piece of paper. It was sounding like ‘a’ as in neighbor or weigh.” I couldn’t get second grade, and I still could not spell “chocolate” for enough of school. Although reading takes me places I my spelling test the next day. I sat blubbering out tears have never been, my favorite part was my father saying of worthlessness, knowing I was dumb. Silent tears of to me recently, “Allison, your love of reading makes me frustration stained my mother’s face; she didn’t know so proud, because I never thought you’d say that eight how to help me. I would come home later that week years ago. It’s a miracle.” with yet another failing test grade. My lack of self- confidence from constantly failing continued another I craved learning and loved Schenck, but eventually year until one summer day before fourth grade. After I had to return to my old world. Schenck decided I days of testing with strangers, Mom told me I was had all the skills I needed. My mom advocated for me dyslexic and always would be. She also said I was throughout middle school and told teachers about my smart. I asked, “You mean I’m Georgia Tech smart?” disabilities and academic needs. I was first put in the Unfortunately, she didn’t only tell me I was dyslexic, classes with students who weren’t motivated to learn, she told everyone. I avoided those who knew, quickly but with my mom’s advocacy I was tested for and diving into the pool, because they would know I was placed in the gifted program to take my education as weird and different. A new school accepted me as a far as I could. My grades soared throughout middle student. I told all of my friends I was going to "pirate" school, as did my group of friends, who believed I was school, not realizing "private" was a totally different smart despite my dyslexia. word. I started my fourth grade year as a student at The Schenck School, a place only for dyslexics, where I Entering high school, I walked up to all of my teachers learned how to be me. after school, making rounds to tell them I was dyslexic and that eventually I might need help and extended At Schenck, I learned Orton-Gillingham, a different time. I was no longer the tiny six grader whose way to decipher English words. But the most mom told the school everything. I was me: a strong, important thing was everyone was like me. Soon I was independent dyslexic who loves to learn and be the best rushing home with the “Tale of Despereaux” in hand, I can be. My attitude towards learning didn’t change, plopping down on my bed, and eating the words up. and I became proud of the fact that I was dyslexic. For Eventually I craved this new knowledge and craved me, dyslexia is a strength. 2 THE SCHENCK SCHOOL 2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT My dyslexia taught me to work for my grades and my having to explain: “You don’t have a disability. I love education. My time management skills have improved being dyslexic, but I can’t tell what I would give to be to compensate for my slower processing. Managing normal and be able to process as fast as those without a sleep, family, friends, studying, music lessons, and learning disability.” swimming has been a challenge, but I have found ways to accomplish all of them. Last year, while I watched My dyslexia has shaped me, and I love who I have friends enjoy their high school time, I sat up very become. Dyslexia has been one of the biggest struggles late each night studying and reading because each and greatest gifts of my life. When I went on a trip my assignment took me longer. In addition to academics, junior year and was asked to say something personal dyslexia affects how I read music. It impacts my ability about myself, I stood up and looked around. “I’m to interpret symbols, maintain tempos, and read the dyslexic. Everyone thought I was dumb, but I’m taking notes properly. This makes sight-reading in class and the hardest classes at my school this coming year. I’m during auditions frustrating. I have worked hard with going to prove them all wrong.” And I sat down. my music teachers to overcome these challenges. My struggles as a dyslexic have made me a stronger person through hard work and increased determination. Allison wrote this essay for her college application. May 2016, she graduated from Lakeside High School where she Students and teachers are surprised to find out that I’m had a successful academic and extra-curricular experience. dyslexic. They perceive dyslexics as being dumb. I try Her senior year, she was President of the Beta Club, a to teach others how a dyslexic just learns differently. member of the National Honor Society and Tri-M Music I still come across people who get angry when I get Society. In her junior year, she was named AP Scholar, extended time because to them I am smart enough to received the George Eastman Young Leaders Award, and not need it. Just this month, a girl in one of my AP scored 800 on the math SAT. In addition, Allison was classes became visibly furious that I was allowed to the varsity swim team captain and played three different stay and finish a test when she wasn’t. At first, I was instruments for the school’s marching and regular bands. taken aback and confused as to how such a bright Outside of school, Allison volunteers for St. John’s Lutheran girl felt that way. I realized I needed to explain why I Church and for People to People Student Ambassador need extended time and how I process differently from Program. Allison will attend the University of Rochester her. Other people look at me, some of them my best and major in science this fall. friends, and say, “Man, I wish I had extended time. You don’t even need it because you’re smart.” I find myself THE SCHENCK SCHOOL 2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT 3 BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Schenck School 2015-2016 Board of Trustees (L to R) Seated: Peter Kotchen, Barbara Coats, David Higgins, Jerry Rosenberg, Charlie Hurt Middle Row: Andrea Kauffman, Ellen Schneidau, Liz Shults, Kim Marks, Megan Nellan, Selma Ridgway Back Row: Ladd Jones, Twiggs Kelly, Mark Spinner, Cal Stowell, Brannon Huntz, Andrew Whitney and Paul Izlar Not Shown: Erik Belenky, Cheryl Brown, Richard Courts, Paul Damm, Jenny Haldopoulos, John Miller and John Patterson Chairman Mr. Mark L. Feidler ADMINISTRATION Student Photos Mr. David P. Higgins Mrs. Debbie R. Felker Head of School Robin Minson Ms. Ellen E. Fleming H. Ferrell Singleton Stephanie Pohl Trustees Mr. R. Brad Foster Mr. Erik L. Belenky Mrs. Duvall S. Fuqua Associate Head of School Class Baskets Mrs. Cheryl P. Brown Mr. J. Rex Fuqua Rosalie A. Davis, M.Ed. Meredith Holland Mrs. Barbara M. Coats Mr. S. Taylor Glover Founder’s Day Mr. Richard W. Courts IV Mrs. Nancy Green Associate Head of School Luci Phillips Mr. Paul M. Damm Mr. William C. Hatcher (d) Janet L. Brown, M.Ed. Mrs. Jenny P. Haldopoulos Mr. Robert C. Hill, Jr. PARENTS ASSOCIATION Grandparents and Mr. Brannon A. Huntz Dr. John C. Knox President Special Friends’ Day Mr. Charles D. Hurt III Mr. David Kolb Virginia and Robert James Callie and Kevin Fuller Mr. Paul R. Izlar Mrs. Sartain Lanier (d) Dr. E. Ladd Jones III Mr. Laurin M. McSwain Committee Chairs Same Boat Lunch Mrs. Andrea M. Kauffman Dr. Carlos S. Moreno Alumni Relations Grade Level Coordinators Mr. Twiggs Kelley Ms. Betsy Morris Jennifer Rudderman Lesley Flores – K Mr. Peter M. Kotchen Mrs. Joan B. Pattillo Stacie Torres Rebecca Seidel – K Mrs. Kimberly C. Marks Mr. Neal J. Quirk Amy Wheeler Mr. John W. Miller II Dr. John H. Ridley (d) Kraig Armstrong – 1st Mrs. Megan H. Nellen Mrs. Tina S. Roddenbery Annual Fund Elizabeth Draughon – 1st Mr. John S. Patterson Ms. Pamela R. Rollins Peter T. Kotchen Mrs. Selma Ridgway Mrs. Peggy Rollins Mark N. Phillips Zora Meadows – 2nd Mr. H. Jerry Rosenberg III Dr. Ernst M. Ruder Kimbrell Stribling – 2nd Mrs. Ellen F. Schneidau Mr. David T. Schenck (d) Art Gallery Callie Fuller – 3rd Mrs. Elizabeth J. Shults Mrs. Linda Sewell Elizabeth McCoin Tracy Hires – 3rd Mr. Mark J. Spinner Mrs. Karen Sibley (d) Julie Montgomery – 3rd Mr. Calvin S. Stowell Mr. Taylor W. Smith Auction & Gala Mr. Andrew G.C. Whitney Mrs. Janice K. Story Tracy Hires Ann Schuh Beth Scott – 4th Mr. David B. Stromquist Shelley Weymouth – 4th Emeritus Board of Trustees Mr. S. Andrew Sullivan Auction & Gala Committee Chairs Mrs. Betty Ann H. Abblitt Mr. F. Neal Sumter III Kim Gallagher – 6th Acquisitions Mr. Richard M. Asbill Mrs. Julie Vickers Kelly Williams – 6th Jennifer Fuqua Fowler Mr. Frank J. Belatti Mrs. Gwyneth G.