Scoop Hamlin Robinson School
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Dream Reflections
4
The Writing Revolution
5
HRS Basketball
6
Enrichment: Brent Hall
7
Community Connections
8
Auction & Fund-A-Need
WINTER 2026 A publication for families and friends of Hamlin Robinson School
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HRS Speaker Series
11
Parenting Math Workshop
FROM THE DESK OF STACY TURNER, HEAD OF SCHOOL MISSION
Hamlin Robinson School ignites the academic and creative potential of students with dyslexia and other languagebased learning differences. VISION
The world class educational program at Hamlin Robinson School is a catalyst for students to discover the joy of learning within a rich, comprehensive school experience. CORE VALUES
Respect, Responsibility, Purpose, Perseverance EQUITY STATEMENT
The Hamlin Robinson School community strives to ensure each student and their family has access to the supports they need within an inclusive environment that recognizes and honors all aspects of identity. We aspire to create an equitable environment for each student, family, faculty and staff, and all members within our community where everyone thrives and knows they belong. We are committed to this journey which requires continual self-reflection, vulnerability, intentionality, and accountability from each of us.
COVER: Lower School students challenge themselves on the rock wall.
Every day at HRS, we see perseverance in action. In our primary classrooms, it looks like a student taking a deep breath and trying again after a difficult math problem. It’s a student learning new words to describe big feelings. It’s a classmate offering kindness to someone who is having a hard day. In Middle School, perseverance shows up when a science experiment doesn’t go as planned, and a student reviews the data, resets, and tries again. It’s there when a student pauses midsentence, gathers their thoughts, and finds the reassurance to try again in answering the question of the day at assembly. These moments of challenge are not setbacks. They are opportunities for growth. When students stretch, reflect, and try again, they build skills, and equally important, they develop resilience. Over time, steady practice transforms their relationship with learning and builds confidence. Students begin to see themselves as capable learners. Our faculty intentionally create environments where this kind of growth can happen. Structured routines, thoughtful practice, and high expectations help students develop a healthier relationship with learning where challenge is normalized. This year, the introduction of The Writing Revolution (TWR) has added another powerful layer to that growth. Behind it is the compelling idea that “Writing is not just a skill—it’s a vehicle for learning.” A fitting extension to Slingerland®, TWR fortifies the
connection between language and meaning. Research shows that writing develops and strengthens the thinking process, and we are already seeing students become stronger thinkers as a result. As we look ahead to the HRS United 2026 Auction, we celebrate this spirit of perseverance in our community. This year’s Fund-ANeed supports tuition assistance, which helps families begin and continue their HRS journey with stability and partnership. Together, we are developing not only academic skills, but resilient, self-assured learners prepared to meet challenges with determination and confidence.
With gratitude,
Stacy Turner Head of School
Legacy
CONNECTING
TO THE PRESENT
At the end of January, the Lower School and Middle School came together for a project to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The inspirational result, Dream Reflections, involved students, faculty, and staff contributing a single word that embodied either one’s hope for themself, the school, the community, or the world. A sentence for the meaning behind the word was also provided for context.
Dr. King shared his dream for equality and justice for Black people. His vision continues to resonate today, reminding us that equality and dignity must extend to everyone. By teaching students to value perspectives shaped by lived
experiences, we foster empathy, respect, and inclusion. Collaborative projects like Dream Reflections help students actively carry forward Dr. King’s legacy through meaningful dialogue and shared growth.
The collection of reflective words is positioned around an artistic rendering of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as seen at right. Lower School students’ words appear in lowercase, Middle School in cursive, and faculty and staff in all uppercase. Inspiring a sense of community, belonging, and hope, the framed Dream Reflections is installed in the Middle School as a reminder to all our students that giving voice to one’s dreams is powerful and striving to achieve them is an important endeavor.
“This collective art is representative of our students’ voices. Their participation is an exercise in self-advocacy by advocating their dream desires.”
READ MORE ABOUT DREAM REFLECTIONS
—Jonathan Lee, Director of Equity and Belonging Winter 2026 | 3
DEVELOPING AND
STRONG THINKERS
CONFIDENT
WRITERS At Hamlin Robinson School, writing is not just a subject, it’s how students learn to think. This year, we introduced the evidence-based Hochman® Method, also known as The Writing Revolution. As an effective extension of the Slingerland® Approach, The Writing Revolution breaks writing down into foundational blocks to build and deepen skills. The result is stronger critical thinking, writing, and communicating in all academic areas. Writing is hard for many students. It requires them to hear and discriminate between sounds, remember spelling patterns, use grammar, organize ideas, put thoughts into words, and then put those thoughts on paper using words. This process can feel overwhelming for students with dyslexia.
The good news is that writing can be taught, and a crucial part of that process includes working through challenges. Challenges are what help students become stronger thinkers and more confident learners. Writing is like developing a muscle, the more it is practiced in the right way, the stronger it gets over time. The Writing Revolution breaks writing into manageable steps that build skills gradually while strengthening critical thinking. It helps students take the language skills they build through Slingerland and apply them to more rigorous, content-based writing tasks across the curriculum. These skills support learning in every subject, not just writing. At HRS, students are experiencing writing in all content areas, including arts and wellness classes.
They are presented with consistency in the writing approach across all classes and through homework that includes structured writing practice. This all serves to help students improve writing skills, reading comprehension, analytical thinking, and content knowledge. As your child engages with writing and practices, what you may notice at home is your child sounding out words, talking before writing, writing short but clear sentences, using simple paragraph structures, and over time, gaining confidence. Some ways that parents can help and support are by encouraging your children to talk through ideas, praise their efforts, and celebrate progress. And perhaps, most important for everyone, is trusting the process.
“Progress takes time, and it is so worth it. HRS students don’t just learn to write; they learn to think, express, and communicate confidently.” — Bonnie Meyer, Certified Slingerland® Specialist 4 | The HRS Scoop
HAMLIN ROBINSON SCHOOL
Basketball Teams
HRS launched basketball as part of the school athletics programming this year! Students in Middle School teamed up for a season of boys and girls varsity and boys junior varsity. Our players have shown incredible commitment and outstanding sportsmanship throughout the season. We look forward to our second season! Go Eagles! BOYS VARSITY: Back: Tyree Hush, Ahmare Gordo, Asher Wise Middle: Liam Buchanan, Jake Kampp, Landon Coleman, Antonio Phillips, Finlay Buchli Front: Roark Rimsnider Player not pictured: Itzcoatl Rodriguez
GIRLS VARSITY: Back: Vivienne Lorton and Giselle (Gigi) Carter Front: Ashlynn Joos, Harper Woods, Anna Joos, Adria Larson, Makena Johnson, Estella Larson, Mia Frem Player not pictured: Brynn Curley
BOYS JUNIOR VARSITY: Back: Parker Gill Middle: Olivier Kabore, Louis Shaflik, Trigve Ueland, Kash Duckett, Evan Woods, Isaac Dowling, Maximiliano (Max) Guzman Zavaleta Front: Pierce Buhayar, Patrick Reimer, Paul Frem Player not pictured: Tycho Ray
Boys Varsity and Junior Varsity: Coach Dominic Sullivan (pictured on the left), Assistant Coach Liam Jefferson (pictured on the right) Girls Varsity: Coach Liam Jefferson (pictured on the right) and Assistant Coach Dominic Sullivan (pictured on the left) Winter 2026 | 5
STRIVING TOWARD YOUR DREAMS,
ONE LAP AT A TIME
In February, as part of our enrichment programming, HRS hosted Brent Hall to speak with students about his highspeed life in hydroplane racing. Brent’s story is one that inspires and has the lesson to dream big and to not let adversity detract you from your goals. Brent has HRS connections through his brother, Hayden Hall, a beloved former math faculty member of our Middle School, who was lost to cancer last summer. Brent himself is a cancer survivor and uses his experience to stay grounded while moving forward with the perspective to “take one day at a time, one lap at a time.”
In reflecting on Hayden, Brent shared that he lived for teaching and that he “loved when the lightbulbs went on” and treasured being a part of that happening for students. Housed in the Middle School, the Math Resource Center honors Hayden and his philosophy that learning should be fun. As children, Brent and Hayden loved watching the hydroplanes. They consumed Seafair magazines for racer stats and created paper hydroplanes. Attending Seafair parties hosted by their mother sparked Brent’s lifelong passion for the motorsport. “It’s a dream come true. As a kid, to have watched the races all those years and to now be
6 | The HRS Scoop
a part of it; it’s really special,” said Brent. His love for the sport continued beyond his youth, and he volunteered as a part of the Oberto hydroplane public relations team in 2011. Brent recalls handing out beef jerky with Art Oberto of Oberto Sausage Factory, a small gesture that brought smiles to eventgoers, alongside Art’s well-known habit of giving away four-color pens. When Brent met Harold Mills, his relationship with the motorsport changed. Harold is the first African American man to win a trophy at Seattle’s Seafair (2005) in the Unlimited Lights class. Brent
recalls how life-changing it was to see someone like him racing and how that experience set him on his current racing trajectory. To date, Brent’s top speed is 178 miles per hour. In 2023, he came “so close to making history” as the first African American to ever qualify as an Unlimited hydroplane driver. One lap short, the gearbox let go. Brent remembers that at that moment of extreme disappointment and frustration, he had a choice about how he was going to react. Aware that cameras were on him and kids were watching, he made the choice to show up as an example of positivity and not
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS:
The Oberto Family The Oberto family has been a cherished part of Seattle for generations, building the Oberto Sausage Factory while giving back generously through deep community involvement and philanthropy. The land on which the Hamlin Robinson School campus is built was purchased from the Oberto family who recognized a fundamental alignment in the school’s mission with their family values.
defeat. He exited the hydroplane smiling and engaged with the kids and others, making people’s day and making many new fans. He knew that this setback would not be the end of his dream. “The goal is still to become a fully qualified Unlimited hydroplane driver, and from that, I get to make a bit of history,” said Brent. Enriching our students through cultural, historic, civic, artistic, and scientific thinking experiences enhances our educational program. Bringing guests, such as Brent Hall to campus, is supported by the Joan Beauregard Endowment for Discovery and Enrichment.
“The school represents growth and resiliency—exactly what the property needed. We are pleased to have an organization that will continue to value and contribute to the community,” said Kim and Steve Oberto. Alongside their deep ties to the Rainier Avenue neighborhood, the Oberto family’s history is closely woven into Seafair and Seattle’s hydroplane racing community through years of sponsorship. Brent Hall shared that he speaks regularly with Larry Oberto and noted how the closeknit motorsport community always looks out for one another. In reminiscing about his childhood, Steve shared memories of carving
“It’s important to find what you love. And then when you do, go after it. You have to be willing to reach out to ask for help when you need it, but also to put in the work.” —Brent Hall
hydroplane boats and making models that he and friends pulled behind their bikes. He recalled times of hanging out with childhood friends in the pits and attending lively Seafair parties. Steve’s father, Art Oberto, loved the sport and was known to walk the beaches passing out Oberto stickers and the famous four-colored pens telling kids, “You should be able to get four times better grades.” For our family, it’s always been “about investing in the community,” said Steve. “Your legacy is not the company you built, not the money you attained. It’s the ethics, the values, and the knowledge that you pass on to your employees and to your children. That’s your legacy.”
COURTESY OF OBERTO RACING
Winter 2026 | 7
AUCTION NEWS:
HRS United!
The HRS United 2026 Gala and Auction on Saturday, March 21, 2026, is a World Cup-inspired evening of food, fun, and purpose.
8 | The HRS Scoop
By design, the Hamlin Robinson School auction is a community-building event. It’s inspiring to unite our efforts in helping HRS students thrive. What can you do to help?
Bid in the online auction (March 13–20) Attend the live auction Donate to Fund-a-Need
FUND-A-NEED This year’s Fund-A-Need (FAN) focuses on strengthening Hamlin Robinson School’s Tuition Assistance program to ensure that students who need HRS can access and remain part of our community. Tuition assistance is not a “nice to have” at HRS — it is essential to fulfilling our mission to serve students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Dollars raised for this year’s Fund-A-Need will help families now and in the future: •7 5% of FAN dollars will be available for Tuition Assistance in the 2026–27 school year, directly supporting families during the spring award process. In addition to planned tuition awards, this fund will provide critical flexibility. Life circumstances can change quickly (i.e., job loss, unexpected medical expenses, or other financial hardships) and can put a family’s ability to remain at HRS at risk. Having accessible emergency tuition assistance funds allows the school to respond in real time, helping students stay enrolled, supported, and thriving rather than facing disruption at a pivotal moment in their education. •2 5% of FAN dollars will be set aside for the Tuition Assistance Endowment, creating sustainable support that will benefit students and families for generations to come. At its core, this Fund-A-Need is about access, stability, and promise as we try and move toward ensuring that finances never stand in the way of a child receiving the education that allows them to learn with confidence and succeed beyond HRS.
PARTICIPATE IN THE ONLINE AUCTION Be sure to register for the HRS online auction (March 13–20), whether or not you are attending the live auction and gala. It’s fun to bid on items and activities — all for a great cause! Found at: hamlinrobinson.org/auction
Questions? Email auction@hamlinrobinson.org or call Anne Baunach or Jen Fukutaki at 206-763-1167. Winter 2026 | 9
HRS
Speaker Series
The 2025–26 Learning Center hosted HRS Speaker Series presented topics for both families and educators of students with dyslexia or other language-based learning differences. Explore this year’s Speaker Series below and scan the QR codes to watch sessions.
The Writing Revolution: Explicit Writing Instruction in Service of Learning
Guest Speakers: Alexandria Chalonec and Sean Cioffi, The Writing Revolution
Learning Challenges and Mental Health: Social-Emotional Strategies for Student Success Guest Speaker: Dr. Karen Wilson, ChildNEXUS
How Skilled Readers Efficiently Remember Written Words and Why Those with Dyslexia Do Not Guest Speaker: Dr. David Kilpatrick
Big Feelings, Busy Brains: Helping Kids and Adults Thrive When Learning Is Hard
Guest Speakers: Brianna (Bri) Berkowitz and Jasmin Vara, Connected Family Partners The 2026–27 Speaker Series lineup will be announced in September 2026.
Parents of Adolescents and Teens (PAT) Virtual Cohort Hosted by the Learning Center at Hamin Robinson School, the Parents of Adolescents and Teens (PAT) Program brings together parents of adolescents aged 10–18 through parent support, advocacy, and social connection in a small-group setting. The Learning Center hosts in-person cohorts throughout the year and is actively developing a virtual offering. To indicate interest in joining a virtual PAT group, scan and register today! The Learning Center will contact you once enough participants have signed up to form a cohort. 10 | The HRS Scoop
Register your interest in a virtual PAT group:
SUPPORTING
M TH AT LEARNING HOME A parent workshop presented by Dr. Emily Starrett, HRS Math Program Manager
March 31, 2026 3:30 pm–5:00 pm HRS Middle School Conference Center, Fourth Floor
NO COST This hour and a half workshop for Lower School and Middle School parents provides an overview of how math is taught at HRS. Parents will explore real classroom examples, student work, and engaging math tasks grounded in the Standards for Mathematical Practice. Practical questions and strategies will be presented that support at home learning to strengthen student mathematical thinking, confidence, and problem-solving skills.
Register for workshop and childcare:
WALK AWAY WITH: • Insight into the math program at HRS •Q uestions and strategies to support math learning at home Childcare is available for HRS students and siblings at no charge.
bit.ly/4c7wGDC Winter 2026 | 11
NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID SEATTLE, WA PERMIT #573
1701 20th Avenue S. Seattle, WA 98144 206.763.1167 www.hamlinrobinson.org
summer at Hamlin Robinson School
FULL & HALF-DAY PROGRAMS TO IGNITE ACADEMIC & CREATIVE POTENTIAL Reading and Writing Classes July 6–July 29, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Camps June 29–July 31
CHECK OUT OUR SUMMER PROGRAM TODAY!
UPCOMING EVENTS: March 21, 2026 HRS United 2026 Auction April 9, 2026 Middle School Science and Engineering Fair April 13–17, 2026 Spring Break May 14, 2026 ArtsFest May 27, 2026 Alumni Day