Scoop Hamlin Robinson School
IN THIS ISSUE:
03
Poetry Enrichment
SPRING 2022 A publication for families and friends of Hamlin Robinson School
04
Alumni Scoop: HRS Volunteers
06
Mom, They Don’t Speak French
Spring 2022 | 1
IN THIS ISSUE 03
Poetry Enrichment
04
Alumni Scoop: HRS Volunteers
05
Unearthing Fun Together
06
Mom, They Don’t Speak French
MISSION To ignite the academic and creative potential of students with dyslexia and other languagebased learning differences. VISION The world class educational program at HRS is a catalyst for students to discover the joy of learning within a rich, comprehensive school experience. CORE VALUES Respect, Responsibility, Purpose, Perseverance The Scoop is a publication of the HRS Advancement Office and is mailed quarterly.
What is it about spring that is so extraordinary? Spring is filled with promise. It evokes the feeling of new life and opportunity, appreciation for more light in our day, the urge to make new plans, and the craving to nest. At HRS, spring has sprung! We are actively planning for the opening of our new middle school this fall. We are posting new job positions, accepting new students and families, formulating moving plans, identifying new furnishings, and preparing to nest. This isn’t just happening in the middle school; it includes making plans to expand the lower school into our current building and growing our learning center space and capacity. We are flourishing – just like wildlife in the Pacific Northwest when springtime begins. There is also much to appreciate. We gathered at the Seattle Design Center for the first time as a community since 2019 for our annual auction gala, Sow & Grow, our middle school students returned to camp (see cover photo), our summer school program is
expanding, and graduation for our Level 8 students will happen in-person. This is awesome! This spring marks one year since I launched my monthly blog. At that time, I hoped it would serve as a way to build connections and relationships, spark conversation, but also to share more about what makes our school so exceptional. I’ve also found it gives me a chance to express more about what inspires me and helps build awareness of our school in the wider community. Every day I come to work and feel grateful. As a school and organization, we are united in our common purpose to help students with dyslexia achieve success in school and feel good about doing it. Like any job, the work doesn’t come without its challenges, but just like in spring when our daylight gets longer, when you’re doing something you truly love, suddenly, your days are filled with potential and your energy seems to be endless.
Stacy Turner Head of School
HRS Alumni Day We’ve missed you Eagle alumni! On June 9, come back to the nest at HRS to reconnect with former classmates, share advice with graduating students, and see how HRS has grown. And, space permitting, sign-up to take a special hard hat tour of the new middle school building currently under construction! Hard hat tours will leave in groups of five and last approximately ten minutes. Tour participants should wear long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy closed toe shoes. Play games, snack on popcorn, chat with Mr. Turner and more! This is one event you won’t want to miss. Let us know you’re coming and sign up for a tour on the HRS Alumni webpage.
Lower School Poetry Adventure with Janet Wong, author, poet, + publisher Lower school students had the joy of going on an adventure in March - a poetry adventure that is! Janet Wong, award winning author, publisher, and poet was a welcome visitor at the Hamlin Robinson School campus. As the winner of the 2021 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, Janet has a wealth of experience and a unique ability to connect with students of all ages. She also brought her poetry suitcase, loaded with props that inspired special
poems about family, feelings, and favorite foods. Afterwards, Janet challenged HRS students to create their own poems and drawings over the next week and gave prizes to those who participated. The challenge paired perfectly with the poetry unit for intermediate students, helping provide HRS teachers with additional context and real-life examples. This event was made possible thanks to the Joan Beauregard Endowment for Discovery and Enrichment. •
Beyond the Classroom After two years, we are so thrilled our middle school students were able to return to camp this spring. Camps provide a great opportunity for HRS students to experience new adventures, connect with others, and learn how to solve problems and collaborate. All while surrounded by the beauty of the outdoors in the Pacific Northwest.
For questions, email: Rebecca Nuffer Alumni + Outreach Manager RNuffer@hamlinrobinson.org
RSVP TODAY!
www.hamlinrobinson.org/alumni Spring 2022 | 3
Three’s Company For Ellie Austin, Claude Cobbs, and Torger Peterson, Hamlin Robinson School is a place where community thrives. No matter who you are - student, parent, alum, or friend – you feel welcome. It is for this reason they started volunteering at HRS, but also why they have stayed. Claude and Torger are HRS alums from the Class of 2019 and Ellie, while not an official alumna, has a younger brother who attends the school. HRS has a way of connecting people and creating community – just as Ellie, Claude, and Torger experienced. Until meeting up this winter, they knew each other as classmates at Mercer Island High School, but didn’t realize they independently reached out to volunteer at HRS.
Qualities like confidence, self-advocacy, patience, and a strong work ethic are evident throughout the HRS community, and they are qualities seen repeatedly in these three volunteers. For Claude, who is driven by creativity, volunteering is about giving back to a school that supported him. With the skills he gained at HRS, he was more confident in his ability to take on new subjects in high school, remembering clearly the first time a math unit really clicked for him. He also began to understand how everyone sees things differently, whether in the classroom or 4 | The HRS Scoop
out in the world. As an amateur photographer, being creative and thinking outside the box is a priceless asset. The same tools helped Torger, now a dedicated math and science student, pursue his interests. Armed with self-advocacy skills and an understanding of how to approach learning challenges, he excels in academics and is looking forward to learning more about how his favorite subjects are applied to engineering, economics, and business as potential future careers. When thinking about her future, Ellie sees writing and capturing stories as her goal. Journalism is not only her favorite class, but it is also an outlet for her personal expression. If journalism doesn’t turn into a career, she is also drawn to education. Outside of school, Ellie loves to explore Seattle, spend time with her family, and get together with friends. Ellie, Claude, and Torger have all witnessed changes at HRS – from new teachers and staff to the new
middle school building currently under construction. But they’ve also noticed some things remain the same, like the dedication of the teachers and the importance of a school with the mission of serving students who learn differently.
Giving back to the school as volunteers is just one way Ellie, Claude, and Torger can show their appreciation for the impact HRS has had in their lives. Volunteering also allows them to stay connected, to help with special projects, and gain experience for their resumes. As they wrap up their high school year and we wrap up ours, they have our gratitude for months of hard work and dedication, and for helping us succeed. To Ellie, Claude, and Torger, we cannot wait to see where next year takes you and all you accomplish in the future – but one thing is for sure, you are always welcome in the halls of HRS. •
On Saturday, March 19, our community came together at the 2022 HRS Auction Gala: Sow & Grow to eat, drink and be rosemary. It’s true - these last couple of years, the world has been a very different place. It hasn’t been easy, but through it, we’ve learned how important and special it is to be able to share time with others. At Hamlin Robinson School our mission is to ignite the academic and creative potential of students with dyslexia and other languagebased learning differences. This annual auction is our opportunity to come together as a community and support our mission. Thanks to our generous donors, there were lots of amazing items to bid on. The fund-a-need is the highlight of our auction. This year, proceeds will be used to furnish our lower school, middle school, and expanded learning center space. Classroom spaces in each building will be tailored to fit the students we serve. In addition, one
quarter of fund-a-need proceeds are automatically directed to the financial aid endowment. Earnings from this endowment provide tuition assistance for students who would not otherwise be able to attend our school. The fund-a-need was the final fundraising push to close out our Elevating our Impact capital campaign. Our community answered the call, raising over $230,000. Each and every gift demonstrates our belief in the potential of our students and the future of Hamlin Robinson School. In the end, we hope everyone walked away from this event with something as simple as a good feeling and a great memory, or something as amazing as a new friendship that could last for years. And also the knowledge that those who joined made an important difference in the lives of our students. Thank you for coming together to help us unearth some fun! You helped us sow the seeds so we can continue to grow. •
Spring 2022 | 5
Mom, They Don’t Speak French Susan Griesse retires this year as Board President. Susan has been a member of the HRS community for over a decade now. Her journey to HRS began when she started seeing signs her daughter Abbey wasn’t learning to read like her peers.
of summer school Susan remembers Abbey coming home and saying to her, “Mom, they don’t speak French at this school.” From that day forward, Susan could see a change in Abbey. Abbey began to see herself as someone who could succeed in school. HRS summer school led to 2nd grade with Mrs. Massoth that fall. It was a turning point. Susan watched as Abbey regained total confidence in herself as a learner. She became motivated and was joyful about school. The style of teaching was right for Abbey, making it possible for her to accomplish incremental achievement. Although reading fluency came much later, it didn’t matter.
The foundational skills that Abbey learned were setting her up for long-term success.
After going through the lengthy and emotional testing and evaluation process, Abbey was diagnosed with dyslexia during first grade. Through her work serving on the board of the French American School of Puget Sound, Susan was introduced to Joan Beauregard, who was also a board member. Located in Mercer Island, the French American School is a bilingual school and the family intended for Abbey to go there. When Susan shared the story of Abbey’s diagnosis, Joan suggested she look into the HRS summer school program. On that first day 6 | The HRS Scoop
She was building the tools she needed to better understand her own learning style. These tools are what she continues to use today as she prepares to enter college. Abbey has been accepted to Scripps, Cal Poly, Drexel, UW and many more amazing schools. She is thriving.
Aware of her previous school board experience, Susan was invited to join the HRS Board of Trustees, first as a member, and for the last two years, as the Board President. Susan will complete her term as president this spring. During her early service, she helped develop the current HRS strategic plan. She found this work to be motivating and invigorating. It was remarkable walking through the journey of the school; from where HRS was in the beginning, to the work being done today, to identifying what might be accomplished in the future. What has been most rewarding? Susan says the expansion of the middle school is an incredible accomplishment. She knows how lucky she is to have had access to HRS. Through her own journey, she recognizes how important it is to reach more students, not just within the walls of the school, but through the Learning Center programs and beyond. Access is imperative. Challenges? The pandemic and remote learning were difficult. She knew through experience just how hard the faculty and staff »
» worked through this time to deliver on our specialized program. Through deep dedication and commitment, HRS was able to get students back to school as quickly and safely as possible. Susan most identifies with the HRS value of perseverance.
Life isn’t always easy – and with Abbey, so many things about school were hard. But by taking small, incremental steps, so much can be achieved. This is a life skill Abbey learned
HRS Middle School Construction If you’ve been anywhere near the HRS campus in the last few weeks, you’ve seen the tremendous construction progress being made on the new Middle School building. Following the concrete pours in late February and early March, exterior framing of all levels was completed and interior framing started on level one through level four. The lower and upper roof installations are nearly complete.
through her time at HRS and a skill she still uses every day. Things might take a little longer, and your journey might take a different path, but that is ok. Susan’s time as a board member and HRS parent has been rewarding, and working with Stacy Turner, as Head of School, has been motivating. She recognizes his deep commitment and dedication to the school. Susan is ending her tenure with confidence in him, and the future of the school. “We are in very good hands,” she says. •
By the time this newsletter is in mailboxes, siding and window installation will be underway and the elevator will be installed. As we watch this daily transformation, we continue to meet on a regular basis to plan and coordinate our move into the space in the fall. Although we do not have an exact date when we will have our occupancy permit, we anticipate our move will happen in late September or early October. Our commitment to our students and families is evident in each and every nail, beam, wall, window, floor, and fixture. There is an incredible amount
of time and effort in the planning, building, coordinating, organizing, and fundraising to make this effort possible. All of this is happening for the best possible reason - for our students. This incredible facility will provide a multitude of opportunities. Without the support and investment of the entire HRS community, none of this would have been possible. We are truly grateful, especially for how this building is an acknowledgment and daily reminder that the HRS program is valued and needed. We can’t wait for the start of the 2022-2023 school year and expanding the campus with this new space for HRS Eagles to call home. We look forward to inviting our community to come see the new building this fall and details will be shared when we know more about when construction will be complete. Stay tuned! • Spring 2022 | 7
NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID SEATTLE, WA PERMIT #573
1701 20th Avenue S. Seattle, WA 98144 206.763.1167 www.hamlinrobinson.org
UPCOMING EVENTS: May 12, 2022 Artsfest | 5:30pm June 9, 2022 Alumni Day | 3:30pm June 14, 2022 Graduation | 6:30pm
8 | The HRS Scoop