Winter/Spring 2017–2018 Volume 2 Issue 2
5048 E. Oak Street Phoenix, AZ 85008 602 389 8600 newwayacademy.org
NEW WAY FAMILY
CONNECTIONS News and campus highlights connecting the New Way Academy family.
New Way Celebrates 50 Years! The new year brings a lot of extra excitement as New Way Academy celebrates its 50th Anniversary! We look forward to celebrating this monumental accomplishment and the legacy of our founders throughout the year. In 1968, two mothers, Evie Wiseman and Jeanette Bowling, were unable to find a school suitable for their sons with learning differences. After encountering many struggles as they searched for a school that could teach in a way that their children could learn, they decided to create their own. With four students, two teachers, and utilizing Sunday school classrooms at a local church, New Way School was born. With a goal of creating an environment in which students with learning differences could feel safe and free of ridicule while receiving an excellent education, Evie and Jeanette worked tirelessly to educate themselves on cutting edge research and instructional techniques to help their students. New Way School became a pioneer in the use of speech and reading therapy in conjunction with the learning program. In fact, New Way was one of the first schools to implement the Orton-Gillingham method of reading instruction — a groundbreaking method of teaching alphabetic phonics — which led to significant gains in reading, writing, and spelling for students with dyslexia. Over the course of two years, Evie travelled to Dallas, Texas for four weeks at
By Kendall Chester
a time in order to learn and observe this instructional method and bring it back to the students and teachers at New Way. In addition, New Way teachers were free to be creative in their teaching strategies, using hands-on learning techniques and interventions to help students focus and overcome their areas of challenge. An intimate setting with low student to teacher ratios also became a a defining feature of New Way. As students began to flourish in this new educational setting, New Way became a model for the instruction of students with learning differences, attracting the attention of major educational institutions and other parents struggling to find the right school for their children. The school grew rapidly, and within a short time, became the training ground for ASU’s Special Education students. In the mid 1990’s, New Way went through a significant amount of change. In 1994, New Way relocated from the church to an independent campus in South Scottsdale. After helping with this move, Evie and Jeanette retired after 26 years of school leadership. They left the school in the capable hands of Dawn Gutierrez, who led the school for the next 17 years. Soon after the founders retirement, New Way School became New Way Learning Academy.
Evie Wiseman (left) Jeanette Bowling (right)
circa 1968
In 2011, New Way Learning Academy changed continued on back page 1980s
campus happenings
No Place for Hate
Bulldog Squad: Personable and Welcoming!
This year New Way Academy has been working on becoming a No Place For Hate school. No Place for Hate was developed by the Anti-Defamation League, one of the nation’s largest civil rights organizations. The initiative provides a model for creating a more inclusive school environment which falls right in line with taking our PBIS initiatives to the next level.
The Bulldog Squad was created this year to meet the demands of eager lower school students who wanted more opportunities for leadership. The club motto is “Be somebody who makes everybody feel like somebody,” and our mission is to ensure that all students feel welcome and part of the Bulldog family by creating a positive campus culture. Members rotate through three committees throughout the year — culture, fundraising, and spirit. The culture committee is responsible for honoring students on their birthday by creating personalized buttons. The spirit committee transports the big, red Spirit Couch to and from assemblies, which provides the previous student of the month (and two friends) with a comfy spot to view the assembly and enjoy yummy snacks. The fundraising committee stays hard at work preparing for events like the recent Faculty Follies. The club also designed their version of a spirit gram called a “Bulldog Squad Shoutout.” Each month, members select a new, first year student and writes an encouraging note to him/her. The Bulldog Squad meets once per week during lunch period. The club sponsors are Ms. Luz, Miss Pennebaker and Mrs. Shimon.
By Lauren Brown
There are three things we need to do to become a No Place for Hate School: • Establish a No Place for Hate Coalition or club comprised of students, faculty, family members, and community partners to spearhead the program. • Adopt the No Place for Hate Promise affirming a commitment to have respect for others. • Complete a minimum of three No Place for Hate school-wide activities that promote respect for diversity and/or address bias, bullying, and name-calling. We started by having students complete a survey to get more information on how the students are feeling about the school climate and culture. We then began meeting once a month and inviting parents and staff to join us and to be part of this studentdriven coalition. Currently, we are creating a rock garden to show that our school has adopted the No Place for Hate Promise. We also are sending some of our 9–11th grade students to a Youth Summit in January to further our participation. We are excited to start our school-wide activities!
By Tate Shimon
Cinderella Charms Audiences By Christina Huston
Cinderella cast and crew performed for a packed house on December 1st and 2nd in our Imagination Theater. The cast of 37 lower school students delighted the audience with their convincing acting, timely comedy, and beautiful renditions of enduring songs. Chloe Kesner made her acting debut as Cinderella alongside her real life sisters Mollie and Olivia Kesner, as the mean Stepsisters. Grace Brennan, the Stepmother and Kellie Jones, the Fairy Godmother, lent their talent and experience to the production making the story come to life on stage. Liam Kruidenier was the dashing Prince Charming, supported by Henrik Hamburger as the King, Adam Elliot as the Grand Duke and Tenoch Hernandez as the Harold. The entire cast was surrounded by mice, villagers, and town criers to create the magical kingdom that is Cinderella. Dreams really do come true!
Students Rocked the Runway, “Feeling Fierce” By Alyssa Johnson The 3rd Annual New Way Fashion Show was held on November 17, 2017. The theme “Feeling Fierce” was selected by our high school student government class in an effort to encourage participants and the audience to feel empowered and confident in who they are. Our students rocked the runway this year for a local charity, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). JDRF is an organization whose mission is to make life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat Type 1 Diabetes. One of the lives changed by JDRF is one of New Way’s own, Yehuda Friedman, who strutted the catwalk along with his older brother, Avi, who also attends New Way. This year the students were styled by a local clothing company, Rockin’ Street Wear. Thanks to these partnerships and the New Way community, we were able to make a big impact for a great cause! Thank you to all who supported our students and JDRF.
Get Ready to Run for the Gold! We’re excited to announce the details for the New Way Academy Fun/Color Run — Running for the Gold. On Friday, March 2nd, our Lower School students will participate in the Fun Run at 1 pm, and our Junior High and Upper School students will participate in the Color Run at 2 pm. Check your student's backpack for sponsorship packets coming home on February 20th. Watch upcoming emails for run details and parent volunteer opportunities!
Showing Bulldog Pride Through Service By Melissa Vallejo and Meg Woster
New Way students are always eager to lend a helping hand and reach out to the community. One recent example is the mini-food drive by the primary classes, which was headed by ASU Teacher Candidate, Gaby Rocha. Ms. Rocha helped students from all levels collect canned goods to donate to the neighborhood food pantry at St.Theresa’s Parish. Our youngest Bulldogs took charge of delivering the goods to the parish and got the inside scoop on this very necessary food bank that supports our local community. In honor of Veteran’s Day, Hailey Indiere, also an ASU Teacher Candidate, spearheaded a letter to vets campaign. Additionally, our executive functioning classes banded together to celebrate our own campus servicemen: Mr. Vallejo, Coach Tucker, and Mr. Boone. Students enthusiastically decorated their classroom doors to give thanks to these teachers for their service to our country. Student Government had a busy fall semester. They sponsored the annual Homecoming Tailgate and Dance, Movie Night, supported Happily Ever After (an organization for moms battling cancer), and organized a gift drive for the preschoolers at Orangedale Early Learning Center.
Save the Date for the Golden Gala! Please join us to celebrate New Way’s 50th Anniversary at the Golden Gala on Saturday, May 5th. The annual Auction & Gala is New Way's largest fundraiser, and the most anticipated adults-only event of the year! We look forward to celebrating the past and imagining the future with you at this year's event. More details will be sent home soon!
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circa 2000s
2018
its name to New Way Academy. The next year, New Way Academy promoted Abbey Ross and Michael Walker as the co-leaders of the school, in the roles of Executive Director and Head of School; positions in which they remain today. Although much has changed over years, the legacy of our founders lives on. From the beginning, one of the goals of New Way was to provide a caring environment that appreciated students for their individuality, a hallmark of the New Way experience that persists today. New Way has opened the door for thousands of Arizona children with learning differences, helping empower students with both education and advocacy skills in order to prepare them for a successful future. Over the years, New Way has grown from a school of four students to over 250 and growing; created and grown a sister program to support students
Student Spotlight Enjoy these insightful excerpts from Joseph Holdnak's High School English assignment.
Paying it Forward Have you ever imagined a world that everyone can be happy to live in? Giving to a charity or a person makes for a better world. Charities include shelter for poor people, natural disaster responders, and anything that helps people in general. Paying it forward can mean good deeds in any form.
with learning differences in college and vocational programs, now known as Northbridge College Success Program; implemented alternative seating options in every classroom, Kagan cooperative learning structures, trained every teacher in the basics of Wilson Reading Program, and participates in ongoing Emergenetics training in order to equip every student with the tools they need to be successful inside and outside of the classroom, and created robust sports, leadership, and performing arts programs to enhance students’ school experiences. But, we aren’t done yet. There is still so much for New Way Academy to accomplish for our students. Over the next year, we look forward to celebrating our past with you, while we also imagine the future of New Way. Cheers to 50 years!
Donating to charities help you feel good about yourself, they lift people up, and best of all, they help lower one’s taxes. Being a kind person and paying it forward for someone creates a chain of kindness, and the impacted could be changed for life. When donors give, it makes a huge difference. You might hear that money cannot buy happiness, but maybe that happens because people aren’t doing it correctly. TED spokesperson Michael Norton explained at a conference that money can buy happiness if done in the right way, meaning paying it forward. It doesn’t matter how much is spent . It’s more the thought that counts.
The impacted can be changed forever and they will feel loved. One good deed can change someone, no matter how big or small. There are GoFundMe campaigns that are started by students so they can go to college. These campaigns have really helped students that needed financial aid, and the donors made it happen. Giving is a gift of kindness for you and another. Paying forward to a charity or person makes the world a better place, and making love a big part of people’s lives. If you haven’t given, you don’t know what you’re missing out on.
FEBRUARY Friday, 2/9 Angst Movie Showing 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) Thursday–Friday, 2/15–2/16 Noon dismissal Monday, 2/19 President’s Day - No School Wednesday, 2/28 PAWS Campus Volunteers Committee Meeting 8 a.m.
MARCH
UPCOMING
EVENTS
For complete listings of all sporting events, visit our sports website at www.sportsnewwayacademy.org.
Friday, 3/2 NW Fun and Color Runs! 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Monday–Friday, 3/12–3/16 Spring Break — No School Thursday, 3/22 Spring NWPC Meeting 4–6 p.m. Friday, 3/23 Spirit Assembly 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, 3/28 PAWS Campus Volunteers Committee Meeting 8 a.m.
APRIL Wednesday, 4/17 Last day to make your AZ State income tax donation to New Way
MAY Saturday, 5/5 New Way Golden Gala 6 p.m.