The Write Stuff: Fall 2012

Fa ll 2012 2511 Numa Watson Rd. S easid e, C A 9 3 9 5 5 tel: 831.394.3468 w w w. c h a r t w e l l . o r g www.newhighschool.org

The Newsletter of Chartwell School and The New High School Project

Look Inside • • • • • • •

Tuition Support Fund Otter 501 Screening Raising LD Awareness Alumni Updates Party in a Pear Tree New Staff Free Community Workshops

Calendar CHARTWELL SCHOOL Nov. 12 – Veteran’s Day: No School Nov. 21 – Noon Dismissal Nov. 22-23 – Thanksgiving Vacation Dec. 1 – Party in a Pear Tree Dec. 21 – Noon Dismissal Dec. 21-Jan. 4 – Holiday Vacation

TNHSP Nov. 12 – Veteran’s Day: No School Nov. 21-13 – Thanksgiving Vacation Dec. 1 – Party in a Pear Tree Dec. 21 – Teacher Workday: No School Dec. 21-Jan. 4 – Holiday Vacation

The New High School Project Graduates First Senior Class In June, The New High School Project (TNHSP) at Chartwell graduated its first class of seniors, who celebrated their achievements with family, friends, faculty, and staff at an emotion-filled event at Chartwell. Four collegebound seniors comprised the graduating class: Austin D’Orsay, Katey Fry, Emma Roth, and Graduating senior Katey Fry receives her diploma from Christopher Spanos.

Steve Henderson, outgoing Head of School Addressing the assembly, the seniors spoke of their personal journeys, lessons learned, and plans for the future as audience members looked on with pride and tearful emotion, knowing the setbacks and struggles these students had overcome to be standing before them as high school graduates. For the seniors, the event marked the realization of a goal that may have seemed out of reach prior to their enrollment at TNHSP. Yet, through their hard work and perseverance, and the support and guidance they received from TNHSP faculty, they are not only high school graduates but current or prospective college students with another four-year goal in mind: a college degree.

TNHSP’s first graduating class of seniors came nearly three years after the founding of the school in August 2009. At TNHSP, Chartwell’s formula for preparing students with unique learning styles for academic success has been retooled to provide a college-preparatory experience for students in grades 9–12. Each of the graduating seniors took advantage of TNHSP’s innovative project-based curriculum to meet not only their immediate academic needs but to develop goals and pathways for a successful future. continued on page 5

Because Not All Great Minds Think Alike

President’s Message I would like to take this opportunity to welcome back our returning students, families, and staff and also extend a heartfelt welcome to our new families and staff. It is an honor to serve Chartwell in the capacity of Board President.

I would like to begin by thanking my predecessor, Lynne White Dixon, for successfully leading the Chartwell Board of Trustees through three of the toughest economic years in our history.

Her leadership, dedication, professionalism, and collaborative nature have been inspirational to the Board, the school, and our community of families.

I am grateful she will continue her service to the Board in other capacities.

As we move forward, we know our families are still constantly challenged with weighing the economics of their respective households with the value of a Chartwell education. Our administrative leadership constantly evaluates finances and all available economic options in an effort to continue to provide the quality educational program Chartwell is known and respected for. In the classroom, our dedicated teachers continue to teach skills and core knowledge in a manner that builds confidence and success with our students. Our Board members continue to rise to the occasion with their support, generosity, and ongoing energy. Our donors and volunteers have risen to the challenge by making record contributions in the last school year.

We know that our economic challenges are ongoing. In the year to come, we will continue our quest to seek new financial sources of revenue, increase student enrollment by providing more opportunities for financial assistance, and explore organizational options that will allow Chartwell to successfully fulfill its mission.

On behalf of the Board, I want to thank each person and organization that has donated and volunteered to Chartwell. Each contribution is measured daily in the lives of the children we so successfully serve.

Board of Trustees John Ward President Scott Fosmark Executive Vice President Mary Jane Gonzalez-Huss Secretary Art Pasquinelli Treasurer Douglas Atkins Ralph Bailey Jonathan Beck Shane Fuller Catherine Hawley Robert Hernandez Charles Jacobson Carrie Miles Sharon Smith Sam Spring Jason Togneri Lynne White Dixon Steven Whyte TRUSTEE EMERITI Thomas S. deRegt Judy Lewis Nicki McMahan Marsha Zelus HONORARY TRUSTEES: Marjorie Love Mick McMahan

John M. Ward Board President

New Board Member Catherine Hawley New to the board in 2012, Catherine Hawley is a Chartwell School alumna. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, a consultant for SaveUp, and she serves as the liaison between the Financial Planning Association and San Francisco’s Smart Money Network. Catherine holds a B.A. in communication studies from UCLA, where she was a scholarship athlete and captain of the women’s tennis team.

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Planning Your Estate?

Please help build strong futures by including Chartwell in your plans. Contact the Advancement Office at 831.394.3468 for information.

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE This last spring Chartwell School and The New High School Project achieved two outstanding milestones: 1) full accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) for the maximum period of six years; and 2) matriculation of the first high school graduating class to college.

There are three reasons why these milestones are significant. First and foremost, they define the unique commitment to teaching and learning that has become a hallmark of Chartwell as we look to celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2013.

Second, The New High School Project has brought further distinction by achieving accreditation within three years of its founding.

Third, The New High School Project remains the only secondary school in the California Central Coast region to focus on this vastly underestimated population of learners. Our uniqueness of purpose allows us to not only meet the needs of the four counties that traditionally send students to Chartwell, but also to serve as a beacon for more distant communities in California and other states who share the college-bound goals aspired to by our students. Despite our status as a day school, an astounding 20% of the admission inquiries we receive still come from families in areas beyond our four county Central Coast region.

Lastly, as reflected in the school’s prompt accreditation by WASC, The New High School Project has taken a bold position at the forefront of two promising educational trends. The first of these is a growing need to

reconcile Common Core State Standards with research in reading and learning by focusing on “Power Standards” – those standards most essential to K-12 mainstreaming, college success, and lifelong learning. The second trend is recognizing the universal value that “Project-based Learning” brings to conventional classroom pursuits.

The New High School Project’s combination of Power Standards and Project-based Learning makes it uniquely effective at producing positive, long-lasting outcomes because it allows bright learners to find academic success through individualized strengths.

The final accreditation report summarizes the visiting committee’s conclusions:

“Chartwell is doing an excellent job of advancing its noble mission and of meeting a widespread need for specialized education for an often neglected and underserved student population.

Chartwell’s use of ‘diagnostic teaching’ is impressive and effective, and the school’s use of highly individualized instruction should serve as a model for schools educating students with learning differences. Chartwell has attracted an extremely qualified and motivated group of educators and administrators who are well suited to the school’s difficult task...”

On behalf of the graduates themselves, I would like to thank all of the Chartwell community – faculty and staff, parents, trustees, and donors – for helping us to achieve these important precedents and milestones.

Douglas Atkins Executive Director

New Board Member Jason Togneri Jason Togneri comes to the Chartwell Board as a dedicated philanthropist and a leading expert in the building materials industry. He works for Pacific Coast Building Products, one of the largest family-owned companies west of the Mississippi. Jason recently received the “President’s Citation for Sales Excellence” and has been consistently ranked as a top salesperson with the company. He has served as a consultant on real estate projects for JT Capital LLC and has worked on the New York Stock Exchange. He was also a licensed commodities trader in the coffee, cocoa, and sugar market on the New York Board of Trade. He resides in Monterey with his wife and two children and is an active member in the community. Jason is directly or indirectly involved in fundraising efforts for charities such as Reach for the Stars, Advent Ministries, and My Museum.

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Chartwell Establishes $1,000,000 Tuition Support Fund We are exceedingly fortunate, appreciative, and pleased to announce that Chartwell School and The New High School Project have recently received a $1,000,000 gift from a generous donor to provide a 2-year 50% tuition reduction to 20 new students enrolling this year after September 1st.

It is the donor’s request to remain anonymous, and we will respect and honor that request, but this in no way diminishes the enormity of this kindhearted gesture or our gratitude. We are humbled by this show of support and belief in the work that we do in providing students with the opportunity to reach their full potential as lifelong learners.

The impact of this gift has been tremendous, as it has already begun to help transform the lives of students for whom an education at Chartwell is not simply a valued option but a necessity. The following letter from the family of a student admitted through the program speaks to the significance of the Tuition Support Fund as a pathway for families to access the education their children need: “We are so appreciative of the Tuition Support Fund that our family received from Chartwell. Our daughter attended Chartwell during the summer, where she blossomed as a student. We watched her transform from a struggling student to a student who loved to go to school each day, wanted to try reading chapter books, and increasingly gained the ability to organize her thoughts and get them across to people. It was an amazing thing to watch as a parent of a child who struggles with school.

As much as we wanted to have our daughter attend the school year, we had to make a difficult decision to wait a year due to economic reasons. As the new school year started, it was very frustrating to watch our daughter struggle with her new grade at a different school. She would come home very frustrated, and we could see her new exuberance about school fade. Then we received a call from Chartwell, and Ms. Lee told us about the Tuition Support Fund.

Through the Tuition Support Fund, we were able to transfer our daughter to Chartwell in September. The transformation in her has been amazing. Words and gratitude cannot always express what an extraordinary gift Chartwell has given our daughter, but seeing her smile and watching her face light up as she talks about her day at school is truly amazing. The gift of learning is so precious and our family is very gracious and thankful to receive the Tuition Support Fund.”

This is just one of the stories of transformation that the Tuition Support Fund has already enabled by extending opportunities to a wider range of families in the many communities that Chartwell serves. As we give our deepest thanks for this generous gift, we at Chartwell look to continue our mission of helping bright young students with learning differences recognize and fulfill their own extraordinary potential.

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“We watched her transform from a struggling student to a student who loved to go to school each day, wanted to try reading chapter books, and increasingly gained the ability to organize her thoughts and get them across to people.”

The New High School Project…cont. from page 1 A former student at Chartwell’s lower school, Austin D’Orsay entered TNHSP after frustrating experiences at mainstream high schools. Austin, an aspiring stock broker, utilized his senior project as an opportunity to develop a virtual stock portfolio that helped him learn the market and build his financial management skills. He summed up his experience at TNHSP by quoting another unique thinker who had his own struggles in mainstream education: “As Albert Einstein once said, ‘Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.’ I feel my time at Chartwell has not only given me success but real value. I have acquired the skills to succeed.” Upon graduating, Austin planned to attend Monterey Peninsula College before transferring to a four-year university.

Katey Fry, who moved from Crescent City in 2009 in order Austin D’Orsay speaks about his accomplishments and his future to attend TNHSP, described what the school meant for her: “When I first started TNHSP I was scared, broken, and had no self-confidence. Over the last three years I have grown into the person I always dreamed about being. Thanks to what I learned and achieved at Chartwell, I will be attending San Jose State University and majoring in criminal justice.” Katey prepared for her criminal justice program by completing basic firearms training for her senior project.

Emma Roth, who entered TNHSP in its inaugural year, spoke of the skills, confidence, and friendships she gained from her time at the school. For her senior project, she trained for and ran a half-marathon, which she described as an

“I feel my time at Chartwell has not only given me success but real value. I have acquired the skills to succeed.” “accomplishment that I will forever carry with me.” Following graduation, she enrolled at Eckerd College in Florida, where she is currently studying oceanography. Perhaps her career will bring her back to the Monterey Bay! Finally, as another student who relocated to the Monterey Bay area to attend TNHSP, Chris Spanos offered a heartfelt description of his transformation at the school: “The New High School Project...gave me a key to unlock and understand why I was different, why I did not learn the traditional way...This awareness has helped me conquer my everyday challenges. I now know anything is possible...I am so fortunate and so blessed that this opportunity was given to me.” Chris was accepted into the University of San Diego and is currently taking classes at MPC before transferring to USD next year.

While graduation marked the culmination of a long journey for these students, it also validated and inspired the ongoing efforts of the current TNHSP class. This year’s senior class has seven students, including three students who entered the school in its inaugural year and will graduate this coming Chris Spanos with his diploma spring. They are currently developing their own senior projects while setting their sights on college and beyond. Like the class of 2012, they plan to take Emma Roth, TNHSP graduate their newfound skills and confidence into the world and prove, once again, that people who learn differently can learn well and succeed.

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Chartwell Hosts Screening of Otter 501 In September, Chartwell hosted a screening of the documentary film, Otter 501, which tells the true story of an orphaned otter and its fight for survival after being rescued in Monterey Bay. The otter’s story is told through the eyes of Katie Pofahl, a freshwater biologist from Wisconsin, who found the young pup and helped work with the Monterey Bay Aquarium to train the marine mammal for re-entry into the wild.

At Chartwell, Otter 501 was presented by one of the film’s producers, Mark Shelley, a local filmmaker who serves as the Senior Series Producer for National Geographic Television and Film. Mark was on hand to introduce the documentary and answer student questions following the screening. Many Chartwell students took advantage of the Q&A session to ask Mark about the otter pup in the film and the sea otter species as a whole.

Echoing Chartwell’s philosophy of promoting environmental awareness and conservation, the film provided students with a deeper look at their own Monterey Bay ecosystem, including lots of marine footage of sea otters in their natural habitat. Anyone who has visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium or witnessed these creatures out on the bay knows how endearing they can be. Yet the movie reminded students that otters are important not only because they are “cute” – but because they are a “keystone species” that is vital for the health of marine ecosystems.

In wrapping up the Q&A session, Shelley left the students with an important message: to see in the film just a few examples of the fun and exciting careers, be it as a biologist or filmmaker, that the world has to offer to those with the ambition and necessary preparation to succeed. In doing so, he reminded students that while school can be a struggle, it is a vital stepping stone to future accomplishments. Like Otter 501, who gained the skills she needed for survival in the wild, students at Chartwell are acquiring the tools they need to succeed in mainstream education and beyond.

Anyone who has visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium or witnessed these creatures out on the bay knows how endearing they can be. Yet the movie reminded students that otters are important not only because they are “cute” – but because they are a “keystone species” that is vital for the health of marine ecosystems.

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Otter 501 with surrogate mom

Feeding time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Mark Shelley answers student questions

Chartwell Achievement Night 2012 Chartwell School extends its most heartfelt congratulations to the following students who transitioned in June:

Birdies for Charity Pledge Drive Attention golfers and non-golfers alike! Chartwell is participating in the Monterey Peninsula Foundation’s annual Birdies for Charity pledge drive, a fun and exciting way to show your support.

To participate, simply go to the Birdies for Charity website (http:// www.attpbgolf.com/charity/birdiesfor-charity/pledge) after November 1 and pledge a donation in support of Chartwell.

You can pledge one cent or more for each birdie scored during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February 2013, or you can make a flat donation of $20 or more.

Over the last five years, the tournament has averaged a total of 1832 birdies each year, putting the minimum one-cent-per-birdie pledge donation at less than $20. But it’s a great opportunity to donate more, since MPF will match 15% of every donation up to $5,000, and 20% of all donations (also up to $5,000) made online. That means Chartwell can receive up to 120% of your donation, making it a great way for new and regular donors alike to support our mission.

There’s also an added bonus: if we receive donations from at least 15 donors for a total of $1,000 or more by December 31, we’ll have the chance to qualify for the Birdies for Charity ShootOut, an opportunity to win additional funds up to $50,000! Donors can make contributions until February 28th, but please don’t wait long. Thank you for your support!

Quinn Allard Annagrace Camara John Cody ‘JC’ Fambrini Jace Frudden Johnny Jean Groce Ryan Hober Jordan Kahn Julianne Komar Trent North Gabriel Rankin Kathryn Sardina Delilah Steinmann Elizabeth Verbica Cody Voogd Megan Wray

Christopher Baier Reilly Corner Catherine Foy Jack Giuffre Ava Hallin Asha Johnston Madeline Kiely Paul Manuel Austin Ow Elizabeth Regan Jared Stace Donovan Vavuris Cheyenne Vieira Gabriel Woolever Casey Young

We at Chartwell are proud of you and wish you the best in all your future endeavors!

New Font Designed to Help Dyslexic Learners A new font, known as OpenDyslexic, has been developed specifically to help dyslexic learners read online and computer-based materials.

Created by Abelardo Gonzalez, the font features letters with unique shapes and thick, heavilyweighted bottoms. This design is meant to give distinction and “gravity” to each letter, with the goal of helping prevent the brain from flipping or swapping the letters in ways that stifle and disrupt the reading process.

This open-source font is free and available to download at the OpenDyslexic website: www. dyslexicfonts.com. According to the website, the font will be “up dated continually and improved based upon the input of dyslexic users.” The site also offers free downloadable apps utilizing the font, including a word processing program, ebook reader, and web browser.

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Chartwell Student Recognized for Fire Safety On October 1st, a warm fall day in Seaside, Chartwell seventh grader Carl “CJ” Hicks noticed a puff of smoke rising from a hillside near the Chartwell campus. He quickly alerted his teacher about the possible danger, leading Chartwell administration to notify the Seaside Fire Department (SFD). SFD promptly sent crews to investigate, and they located the fire in the brush behind Marshall Elementary School. The firefighting crews extinguished the vegetation fire before it could cause any serious damage or injury.

The Seaside Fire Department returned to the area three days later – not to investigate another fire but, rather, to award CJ with a certificate of appreciation for his “quick actions and judgment” in alerting authorities about the “potential life safety event.” Chartwell held an assembly to receive the SFD crew, which included Captain Suarez, Engineer Garcia, and Firefighter Marsiguerra. Captain Suarez presented CJ with a framed certificate and took the opportunity to speak to Chartwell students about the importance of fire safety. After the assembly, the crew treated our second and third grade students to a brief inspection of an SFD fire engine before departing with a few friendly honks. We at Chartwell are proud of CJ for his quick and concerned thinking and are thankful for the SFD’s efforts in keeping our community safe.

Carl “CJ” Hicks with Engineer Garcia and Captain Suarez

Chartwell Open House Events Chartwell School and The New High School Project welcome visitors to learn more about our K-8 and high school college preparatory programs by attending our monthly Open House events. Guests can meet faculty and staff, ask questions, and take informative tours of our award-winning green campus.

Saturday Open House Dates January 12 February 9 March 16 April 20 May 18

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Tuesday Tour Open House Dates January 15 February 12 March 19 April 23 May 21

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Engineer Garcia offers students a look inside a fire engine

Alumnae Establish Book Club Sara Lynn and Thea Pewthers both transitioned from Chartwell School at the end of their seventh grade year. They attended different schools for eigth grade but have reunited as freshmen at Notre Dame High School in Salinas. While both girls are active in a variety of sports and clubs, this fall they formed a new club – a book club! The club includes several members, and the first book they read was The Perks of Being a Wallflower. They intend to read The Immortal series next, and who knows what they will choose after that. We are proud to learn they have formed their own club, a gutsy move for freshmen, and one dedicated to reading no less!

Congratulations, Thea and Sara.

Chartwell Partners with Carmel Art and Film Festival to Raise LD Awareness While an estimated 15-20% of the population is dyslexic, the truths and experiences behind dyslexia and other learning differences remain poorly recognized and understood in the mainstream. For many unique learners and their families, the process of discovering and understanding their differences can be an anxious and frustrating struggle fraught with questions, misconceptions, and stigmas. In October, Chartwell School teamed with the Carmel Art and Film Festival (CAFF) to present two important creative endeavors designed to enhance the awareness and understanding of learning differences and the experiences and abilities of people who have them.

Presented at the Carmel High School Performing Arts Center, the event included a special screening of the documentary film, Dyslexia expert Dr. Sally Shaywitz meets with Dylan Redford The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia, directed by James Redford, and an art exhibition, Dignity of Differences, by local abstract and contemporary painter Patricia Qualls. Followed by a panel discussion including Chartwell staff and a TNHSP student, the event offered an informative and engaging learning experience for persons both new and familiar to the LD community.

The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia takes its name from the style of “big picture” thinking that is representative of so many dyslexic thinkers who have language processing difficulties but are nonetheless intelligent, creative, and gifted in varied capacities.

The film includes profiles of numerous dyslexics, ranging from “super-achieving” dyslexics such as business mogul Sir Richard Branson to the director’s own son, Dylan, a smart and ambitious student who struggled to learn to read.

To help explain the gap between high intelligence and low literacy experienced by Dylan and many other dyslexics, Redford showcases the efforts of Drs. Bennett and Sally Shaywitz, CoDirectors of the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity. Of particular significance is Dr. Sally Shaywitz’s forward-thinking Do No Harm, by Patricia Qualls model of dyslexia, which “emphasizes a ‘sea of strengths’ of higher critical thinking and creativity” surrounding a deficit in language processing abilities in the brains of dyslexics.

The corresponding art exhibit, Dignity of Differences, by Patricia Qualls, included numerous paintings in an abstractexpressionist style, as well as mixed-media installation pieces – all of which spoke to the personal experiences and emotions of unique learners and their families. Qualls, who holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and currently works as a full-time artist from her studio in Carmel Valley, drew from her own experiences as a unique learner, and parent of a unique learner, in creating the work. Her goal in showcasing the pieces, which include not only abstract work but figurative pieces alluding to domestic, classroom, and public scenes, “is to have children, parents, educators, and the broader society walk in the shoes of an individual who learns differently.” The title of the show refers to Qualls’s belief that “every child, every person, has the right to learn without fear, shame, or humiliation.”

The film and the art exhibition combined to sketch an informed, inclusive portrait of the LD experience, with attendees gaining insight into the latest dyslexia research as well as the opportunity to consider learning differences from more personal and expressive viewpoints. The panel that followed the film provided a public forum for guests, including many from the LD community, to add to the discussion. Among those on the panel were Chartwell Executive Director Douglas Atkins and TNHSP student Elizabeth Bellingham, who offered professional and personal insight into life and education for unique learners.

Chartwell is proud to partner with CAFF, Ms. Qualls, and the team behind The Big Picture to help raise awareness about learning differences, so that each unique learner’s “sea of strengths” can be recognized, with dignity, and tapped to its full potential.

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Mission Accomplish Chartwell Alumni Weekend 2013 In conjunction with Chartwell School’s 30th anniversary, I am pleased to announce that Chartwell will hold its first ever alumni weekend in 2013 (date to be determined). This event will be a chance for former students to reconnect with the Chartwell community, our beautiful campus, and each other. It is my hope that alumni from near and far will take the opportunity to attend, reflect on their time at Chartwell, and enjoy an exciting weekend with friends old and new.

As the chair of the planning committee, I welcome any interested alumni to join me in coordinating the event. If you would like to participate in the planning or provide your current contact info, please email us at alumni@chartwell.org. We will provide more details about the event in the coming months, so stay tuned. I look forward to our gathering and the celebration of Chartwell and its alumni. See you in 2013!

-Catherine Hawley, Class of ’91

Chartwell Alumni Updates Courtney King ‘08 Courtney King made a name for herself on the first day of summer school in 2003, when she declared to her mother on the way home, “That was the best day ever!” We have heard similar quotes over the years, but coming from a nine year old, it had quite an impact. Courtney spent four years at Chartwell, where she made a good impression on peers and teachers alike. She was reliable, courteous, and generous to others.

Courtney moved on to Carmel High School, where she made the Honor Roll every semester and was recognized as Student of the Month for being Most Creative and Most Dependable. Yet the real highlight for her was being voted Student of the Year by the faculty at Carmel High School.

Courtney also played several sports, including water polo, for which she served as the team captain her senior year.

In her junior year, she joined The Peru Club, and the following summer she traveled to Ccachin, Peru to build greenhouses for underprivileged families. Along with classmate and fellow Chartwell alumna, Mira Malcolm, Courtney came back to Chartwell that fall for Geography Day to give a presentation to the student body about her trip. Both girls were very humbled by the experience and wanted to share aspects of Peruvian village life with our students.

Courtney was the speaker at Achievement Night for Chartwell School this past June. In a dazzling speech, she offered this piece of advice to the students:

“Create a vision for yourself. Know what you want to achieve, where you want to go, and who you want to become. Your learning disability does not define you, but ultimately it is your character. Each and every one of you should embrace the chance to be successful.”

Courtney is currently attending the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!) with the goal of becoming a photojournalist for an eco-minded magazine. She was the winner of the school-wide digital photography contest in 2007-2008, and also later won the Julian P. Graham Award in the Weston Scholarship competition, so we feel she has chosen her career wisely!

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hed Alumni Updates Hey Alumni!

We want to hear from you! Email us at alumni@chartwell.org Jackson Waite-Himmelwright ‘04 Jackson Waite-Himmelwright, a student at Chartwell School from 2002–2004, recently graduated from Santa Cruz High School with a “weighted” grade point average of over 4.0. His GPA was weighted because he took and passed several Advanced Placement courses, whose scores tend to count more heavily due to their rigorous academic demands.

Indeed, in his junior year, Jackson took and passed AP exams in American History, chemistry, and calculus, and in his senior year, he passed the AP exam in environmental science. He was subsequently named an AP Scholar by the College Board, an honor granted to students who receive scores of three or higher on three or more AP exams.

At Santa Cruz High, Jackson played junior varsity soccer for two years, but his real sports passion was Ultimate Frisbee. He played the sport for four years at Kirby Prep, which allows students from other schools to play for their team, and he represented the San Francisco Bay Area on an all-star youth team that won the national championship in 2010.

Jackson applied to and received acceptance letters from UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara, as well as Lewis and Clark College and Willamette University in Oregon.

He is currently attending Willamette University, where he receives a substantial merit scholarship.

He also received a Santa Cruz High alumni scholarship award for his academic achievement. Jackson is majoring in environmental sciences, and when he is not studying he works as a soccer referee and continues to play Ultimate Frisbee.

Gregory Higashi ‘08 Gregory Higashi entered Chartwell in the second grade. Ms. Blodgett was his first teacher, and over the years he worked with most of the faculty, finishing with Ms. McMurdo. He often returned to Chartwell to visit the teachers and students, as well as to perform community service hours.

Gregory transitioned from Chartwell School with the class of 2008. He then enrolled at Salinas High School where he excelled academically, making the Honor Roll every semester and graduating in the top 9% of his class. He ran cross-country for two years and became very involved with the American Sign Language Club. Gregory took ASL for three years and served as an officer in the ASL Club. He even taught sign language to the students at Chartwell.

“Chartwell’s belief in my potential was crucial to my development as a student and individual. I will always feel grateful to them for providing me with the skills to learn and the confidence to succeed!”

In an essay Gregory wrote last year, he stated,

This fall, Gregory matriculated to Santa Clara University, where he intends to major in mathematics and minor in urban education. “As I begin my college journey,” he writes, “I would like to use my interest in math and the inspiration from the caring teachers at Chartwell to become a math teacher. I would like to help create future generations of not just math learners but lifelong learners, just like Chartwell did for me.” We wish you well in your academic pursuits, Gregory. Thank you for all that you have done in return, for Chartwell and for others!

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the new high school project Creating Active Learners “The goal is to provide students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge of how they learn best in varied settings and to appreciate their role as a learner…”

Message from Kristen Atkins, Head of School During our first project period, called Cognitive Diversity, students at The New High School Project learned about metacognition, or thinking about learning.

One of the students’ final tasks for the period was to write a set of self-reflective paragraphs describing how they perceived their performance in each class. Some progressive colleges and universities (e.g., Prescott College, Evergreen College) have embraced this philosophy because they have realized that in order to establish lifelong learners, assessments cannot only come from the instructors – students, too, need to assess and reflect upon what works for them and how they see themselves as learners.

The staff at The New High School Project works with students to help them TNHSP teambuilding develop highly individualized objectives and study strategies. The goal is to provide students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge of how they learn best in varied settings and to appreciate their role as a learner instead of just relying on the instructor for feedback. The students’ self-assessments from the first project period demonstrated how they are beginning to incorporate their self-awareness as unique learners into their respective approaches to learning.

One student, new to TNHSP, described how she developed new study methods to suit her learning style, leading to an improvement in Literature class: “For the first time I tried using audio books, which helped me more than I could imagine. Listening to the book while reading along with it was the perfect combination for my learning style, which is Visual Kinesthetic.” In discussing At study in the TNHSP library her performance in another class, the same student described a newfound appreciation for taking notes and using highlighters to categorize the information: “Because of my Visual Kinesthetic learning style, writing the notes down helped me remember the information even if I didn’t necessarily go back to look at them; and the different colors helped me separate information in my head. The physical act of writing notes helped me more than any other studying method has in the past.”

This student’s assessment of what worked well for her in class shows her budding appreciation of her needs as a learner and the tools and strategies she can use to meet those needs.

This kind of self-awareness allows students to become active, self-starting, and confident learners in the classroom and beyond.

As we move into the next project period, we are excited to see how our students will continue to use their growing Lending a hand during a problem solving exercise skill set and self-knowledge to their advantage.

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Tech-Free Day at TNHSP

George Wilson, New Dean of Students and Educator at TNHSP This fall, George Wilson, a teacher at Chartwell School since 2006, transitioned to The New High School Project, where he serves as Dean of Students and continues to teach in the classroom. George brings several years of valuable experience working with LD students to his new role at TNHSP, where he oversees the academic performance and well-being of students while teaching English, history, economics, and government.

George’s educational background, which includes an M.S. in Education with a focus on online teaching and learning, makes him especially well-suited for guiding TNHSP students in their use of technology, digital media, and online resources – all of which are integral to the innovative curriculum at TNHSP. George has enjoyed the transition so far, noting,

“It has been rewarding seeing the students I met and worked with in the K-8 program advocate for their needs and use their strategies to find success in high school.” Now, in working

On September 21, The New High School Project (TNHSP) held its first Tech-Free Day in which students and teachers alike were restricted from using computers, cell phones, and other technological tools over the course of the day. Beginning with the collection of student cell phones in the morning, the experiment progressed with a typical day’s classroom activities – minus the technology that has become so commonplace in the 21st century classroom, especially here at Chartwell and TNHSP. So, did the students – and teachers – survive? Yes, they did, we’re happy to report, and you may be surprised by some of the student feedback. Several students reported that they “actually liked” the experiment. One student noted, “It brought everybody closer. Everyone was interacting more, having more fun.” Indeed, students widely reported a sense of increased social interaction in the classroom and at lunch time. Others also described the techfree time as a “relief,” in that it allowed them to “take a break” from constantly checking their phones and other devices in an unfocused, distracting manner.

On the other hand, one student’s response pointed to the importance of technology as a learning tool: “I thought it was a disadvantage because I use technology to learn…For example, I use computers to type, rather than write [by hand], so it was a disadvantage for me.” One of the teachers summed up her experience: “I think it was harder for me than it was for the students. I found the day challenging because technology helps so many of our students focus.”

Whether the students and teachers found it fun or frustrating, we can be sure that they are back to using technology on a regular basis, as are so many of us in our daily lives. TNHSP plans to hold another Tech-Free Day in the future. We’ll see how round two of this experiment goes!

at the upper school, George plays an essential role in helping TNHSP students prepare for their next step, be it college or any other challenges and adventures they choose to endeavor.

Because Not All Great Minds Think Alike

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Party in a Pear Tree Saturday, December 1st 6:00 pm-11:00 pm Monterey Peninsula Country Club $225 per person Chartwell’s Party in a Pear Tree is our annual gala auction, dinner, and dance, which raises funds to benefit all students at Chartwell School and TNHSP. Proceeds help cover costs associated with the gap between tuition and the actual cost of a Chartwell education. This year the gap is approximately $3,500 per student.

Tickets: $225 Table of 8: $1,800 Table of 10: $2,250 RSVP Deadline: Tuesday, November 20th Live Auction items to include: • Gold Earrings - valued at $2,000 • One week in Playa Grande, Cabo San Lucas - valued at $2,100 • Lake House Get-Away – valued at $2,400 • Trip to “Just About Anywhere in the World” including airfare valued at $5,000+

Artwork generously designed and donated by Chartwell Board member Steven Whyte

For more information, please contact Diana Trapani at 831.394.3468 ext. 1020 or dtrapani@chartwell.org.

Don’t miss out on the fun, great food, and wonderful auction items. Make your reservation today!

Mistress of Ceremonies – Angeline Petronijevic Chartwell School is proud to welcome alumna Angeline Petronijevic as a co-host and performer at our upcoming Party in a Pear Tree fundraising event, to be held December 1st at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach. Angeline, who attended Chartwell from 1999–2003, is a professional opera singer who currently performs with Opera San Jose. She will bring her extraordinary talent, poise, and charisma to her role at Pear, where guests will be treated to a first-class vocal performance courtesy of this bright, young soprano.

Angeline came to Chartwell at the age of eight and spent four years here, a place she fondly remembers as her “haven” at the time. “[Chartwell] helped me decode all the things going on in my brain. I still use all the tools to this day. I use everything.” After Chartwell, Angeline worked diligently as a student and ultimately graduated high school a full semester early. “It was a huge achievement for me,” she recalls. “I wanted to go forth in my career.”

Angeline’s clear sense of purpose led her to enroll, at the age of 17, at the International Opera Institute in Palm Springs, where she undertook four years of private, one-on-one study involving vocal training as well as language training. She learned to sing in five additional languages – Russian, German, French, Italian, and Czech, and, upon graduating, she used her talents and training to quickly earn a spot with Opera San Jose. This month (November), she can be seen in Opera San Jose’s production of Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus. Guests at this year’s Party in a Pear will enjoy their own, more personal performance from Angeline, whom we are very proud and grateful to have in the Chartwell community!

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www.chartwell.org | www.newhighschool.org

New faculty and Staff Returning students…old friends!

Monterey County Gives! 2012 Chartwell School is pleased to participate in the Monterey County Gives!

2012 fundraising campaign. Last year, this program raised more than $670,000 to support organizations in the greater Monterey County community. Thanks to your support, Chartwell received more than $35,000! Thank you!

We encourage you to participate in this year’s campaign by visiting the MCGives! 2012 website and making a donation designated to Chartwell. The Monterey County Weekly Community Fund will provide a prorated match for all donations, so it’s a great opportunity to boost your contribution.

Be sure to check out the November 8th MC Weekly issue for more information about the campaign and the many organizations it benefits. Thank you for your past and future support!

New students…new friends!

Cord Bynum is the new Development and Communications Officer at Chartwell School.

Prior to Chartwell, Cord worked as a writer and coordinator of online educational materials for the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. He has a background in the humanities, including an M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. Cord is wellacquainted with the Chartwell community, as he has served as a volunteer at the Party in a Pear Tree fundraiser, spent time in the classroom at The New High School Project, and attended various other Chartwell events in recent years. At home in Carmel Valley, Cord enjoys hiking, watching movies, and sampling good food and drink with friends and family.

Alyse LeValley has worked at Chartwell in various capacities since 2008. She is delighted to move into a new role as an educator at The New High School Project, where she teaches literature and runs the college advisory classes for juniors and seniors.

The project-based curriculum at TNHSP inspires Alyse, whose diverse educational and professional background has equipped her with experience teaching LD students in grades K-12 and college.

Alyse, who holds a special education credential, is happy to teach at a school that celebrates cognitive diversity and projectbased learning. In her spare time, she can often be found hiking near her home in Carmel Valley, perusing the used books at Logos Books & Records in Santa Cruz, or hunting for tickets to local concerts.

Graydon Mitchell is the new Director of Admissions at Chartwell. Holding degrees in education and business, Graydon has 30 years of experience in various academic and administrative roles at independent schools specializing in students diagnosed with dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, and non-verbal learning disabilities. In the past decade, Graydon has served on the Board of Directors of the Learning Disabilities Association of Nova Scotia and the International Association of Special Education. Graydon’s frequent participation in conferences and forums, as well as serving on special education boards, has made him a more effective and insightful educator and education management consultant.

Sara Valancy is in her first year as an educator at The New High School Project, where she is excited to be teaching geometry and chemistry. Sara has worked as a tutor and teacher in various local programs, including those serving the LD community in particular. She greatly enjoys incorporating hands-on learning opportunities into the classroom, an approach that aligns with the project-based curriculum offered by TNHSP. As a volunteer for a local animal rescue, Sara enjoys fostering dogs and participating in local adoption events. She is a big animal lover and has brought her chinchilla Patrick to live at the high school. She welcomes you to come by and meet him in Room 400!

Because Not All Great Minds Think Alike

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Chartwell School & The New High School Project 2511 Numa Watson Road Seaside, CA 93955 831.394.3468

Because Not All Great Minds Think Alike

Free Community Workshops The Center for the Advancement of Language and Literacy (CALL) at Chartwell offers a Free Workshop Series that is open to the public. Any interested parties are invited to attend.

Workshops are held from 6:30pm–8:30pm in McMahan Hall at Chartwell School, 2511 Numa Watson Road, Seaside.

If you would like more information, please contact Graydon Mitchell at gmitchell@chartwell.org or 831-394-3468, or visit our website: www.chartwell.org.

Workshop topics and dates in 2013 include the following: Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Moving Beyond the Scars: Helping Students Cope with LD Issues (Presented by John Fleming, MEd – Developmental Learning Solutions)

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Memory Strategies to Enhance Learning (Presented by Dawn Anderle, MA, SLP – SCESD)

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Dyslexia Simulations Workshop (Presented by Kristen Atkins, MS & Judy Gaughf, MA – Chartwell School)

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Why Early Reading Intervention is Critical to a Child’s Academic Success; presented in conjunction with the Film Presentation Journey into Dyslexia and Discussion (Presented by Kristen Atkins, MS – TNHSP at Chartwell)

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Helping Develop Social Skills in Students with Learning Challenges (Presented by Carolyn Kelleher, MA, LMFT)

Funding for CALL’s free workshops are generously provided by the Harden Foundation, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, and donors like you.