IN THIS ISSUE:
3
Strategic Plan
4
Early Learning
7
Teaching the Teachers
9
Curriculum Night
10
Alumni Community
12
Annual Fund
SUMMER 2026 A publication for families and friends of Hamlin Robinson School
13
Community
14
Dyslexia Dash
MISSION Hamlin Robinson School ignites the academic and creative potential of students with dyslexia and other language-based 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 playground fun at recess. Photo by Lucy Berliant
FROM THE DESK OF STACY TURNER, HEAD OF SCHOOL As summer begins to wind down, there is a special kind of excitement that fills our school. Hallways that have been quiet for a few weeks will soon echo with laughter, classrooms will come alive with curiosity, and our community will gather once again to begin a new school year. Whether you are joining Hamlin Robinson School for the very first time or returning for another year, welcome. We are so glad you are here. Every school year marks a new chapter in the HRS story, but this year feels especially significant. As we look ahead, we are launching a new five-year Strategic Plan that will guide our work, expand our impact, and strengthen our commitment to students with dyslexia and other languagebased learning differences. We are also excited to introduce a new website that better tells the story of who we are and why our mission matters. Both are grounded in the same belief that has shaped Hamlin Robinson School for more than four decades: every child deserves an education intentionally designed for the way they learn. As you read through this magazine, I hope you’ll notice another theme woven throughout these pages: community.
You’ll read about resident teachers learning alongside experienced educators, alumni staying connected long after graduation, families coming together through the Dyslexia Dash, and a community investing in the future through the Annual Fund. While each story is different, they all point to the same truth. Hamlin Robinson School is much more than a place where students attend classes. It is a community where students are understood, families find connection, educators continue to grow, and every person has something meaningful to contribute. That sense of community is one of our greatest strengths. It is what allows students to take risks, discover their confidence, and realize they are capable of more than they ever imagined. It is what encourages families to support one another. And it is what inspires alumni, volunteers,
Our Next Chapter: donors, faculty, staff, and friends to continue investing in the future of this remarkable school. As we begin this new chapter together, I invite you to become an active part of that story. Attend a school event. Cheer on our students at the Dyslexia Dash. Volunteer. Join us at Curriculum Night. Make a gift to the Annual Fund. Introduce a prospective family to HRS. However you choose to engage, know that your participation strengthens this community and helps create opportunities for every student. Thank you for being part of Hamlin Robinson School. Together, we are writing the next chapter of a story that began more than forty years ago and continues to change lives every day. Welcome to the 2026–27 school year. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together.
Warmly,
Stacy Turner Head of School
A Story We Will Write Together Every great community is built on stories.
The
Next
Chapter
STRATEGIC PLAN 2026-2031
Stories connect us. They remind us where we’ve been, celebrate what we’ve accomplished, and inspire us to imagine what comes next. At Hamlin Robinson School, our story has always been one of possibility. Students discovering confidence. Families finding hope. Educators transforming lives. A community coming together around the belief that every child deserves to learn in a way that honors how they learn best.
As we begin implementing our new five-year Strategic Plan, we invite every member of our community to help write the next chapter. Our plan is built around three ambitious goals: enhancing our core academic program, strengthening our impact locally and nationally, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Hamlin Robinson School. While these goals provide a roadmap for the future, they are ultimately about people. They are about preparing students to thrive in a changing world, supporting families navigating learning differences, sharing our expertise with educators, and ensuring that Hamlin Robinson School remains a place of innovation and belonging for generations to come. This coming year, we will place special emphasis on sharing our impact story. That means telling the stories of students who have discovered their strengths, families who found hope after years of uncertainty, alumni whose confidence continues to shape their futures, educators who inspire learning every day, and supporters whose generosity makes transformational opportunities possible. These stories remind us that our mission continued »
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Our strategic plan reflects the voices of many: including students, parents, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and friends of the school. Together, we envisioned a future where Hamlin Robinson School continues to lead in structured literacy, expands access to families and educators, builds meaningful partnerships, and remains financially strong so that our mission can flourish for decades to come. Every person in our community has a role in that future. Whether you are a parent supporting your learner, a teacher inspiring confidence in the classroom, an alumnus sharing your journey, a donor investing in opportunity, or a volunteer lending your time, you are part of the Hamlin Robinson story. Your experiences, your commitment, and your belief in our mission shape who we are and who we will become. As we turn the page to this next chapter, we invite you to journey with us. Together, we will continue building a community where every student is known, every family belongs, and every story has the opportunity to unfold with confidence, purpose, and hope.
4 | The HRS Scoop
First Chapter
THE
extends far beyond our classrooms. They show the lasting impact that is possible when a community comes together around a shared purpose.
Long before children learn to read or write, they are learning something even more important. They are learning to wonder. To ask questions. To listen. To share ideas. To build friendships. They are discovering who they are and finding the confidence to say, “I can do it.” This fall, Hamlin Robinson School begins an exciting new chapter by welcoming its inaugural Early Childhood Education class — a program built on the belief that these earliest years lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Early Learning AT
For more than 40 years, Hamlin Robinson School has been recognized for helping students discover their strengths through exceptional instruction grounded in language and literacy. Opening an Early Childhood Education program is a natural extension of that mission, bringing the school’s expertise to the very beginning of a child’s educational journey while serving more families throughout the Seattle community. Walk into the preschool classroom and you’ll hear conversations before you’ll hear instructions. One child is explaining how they built a tower. Another is negotiating
whose turn comes next. A teacher sits beside a small group reading a favorite story, pausing to wonder aloud what might happen next. Across the room, children paint, build, investigate, sing, laugh, and ask questions. These everyday moments may look like play, and they are, but they are also where language, literacy, confidence, and curiosity grow. At Hamlin Robinson School, language isn’t a subject taught during one part of the day. It is woven into every experience. Every conversation, story, song, dramatic play experience, and
HRS
shared discovery becomes an opportunity for children to expand their vocabulary, strengthen communication, build relationships, and make sense of the world around them. Young children learn best through meaningful experiences, caring relationships, and joyful exploration. The preschool program embraces this philosophy by creating an environment where children are encouraged to investigate, create, collaborate, and solve problems together. Teachers intentionally extend children’s thinking through thoughtful questions, rich
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conversations, and responsive interactions that support each child’s development while honoring the wonder of childhood. The Early Childhood Education program also reflects Hamlin Robinson School’s commitment to serving families in new ways and expanding its educational mission. Decades of research and decades of experience at HRS affirm the importance of the early years. By bringing together exceptional early childhood education with the school’s longstanding expertise in language and literacy, the program offers families a distinctive preschool experience rooted in purposeful play, strong relationships, and intentional teaching. This fall, a classroom full of three- and four-year-olds will become the first chapter of a new story at Hamlin Robinson School. They will arrive carrying backpacks almost as big as they are, eager to explore, create, imagine, and belong. We can’t wait to welcome them.
Meet the Head of Early Childhood Education
Early Learning AT
HRS
For Kristin Karlson, launching Hamlin Robinson School’s Early Childhood Education program is both a professional milestone and the opportunity to help build something meaningful from the ground up. With more than 25 years of experience in early childhood education, Kristin has spent her career creating learning environments where children thrive through play, relationships, and responsive teaching. As the founding head of the program, she is excited to bring together best practices in early childhood education with Hamlin Robinson School’s renowned expertise in language and literacy. “I’ve always believed that the preschool years are some of the most important years in a child’s life,” Kristin says. “Children are naturally curious. They learn by asking questions, exploring their environment, building relationships, and making sense of the world around them through hands-on interactions. When we intentionally support those experiences with rich language and meaningful interactions, we’re giving children a foundation that extends far beyond preschool.” “What excites me most is that we’re building this program from the very beginning. We have the opportunity to create a place where children feel known, families feel connected, and every day is filled with joy, discovery, and opportunities to grow. It’s an incredible privilege to help shape the future of early childhood education at Hamlin Robinson School.”
6 | The HRS Scoop
TEACHING THE
TEACHERS
How Hamlin Robinson School’s Resident Teacher Program Builds Educators and a Community of Learning Every July, a new group of aspiring educators arrives at Hamlin Robinson School eager to learn. They come with enthusiasm, fresh ideas, and a desire to make a difference. Over the next twelve months, they become part of something much bigger than a teacher preparation program. They join a community dedicated to understanding how students with dyslexia learn, supporting one another, and continually growing together. By the time they leave, they are not only stronger educators; they often see teaching, learning, and people differently. For Jessica Ruger, Head of the Lower School, that transformation is exactly why the Resident Teacher Program exists.
“Our mission has always been bigger than the students inside our own classrooms,” Jessica says. “We know how to help students with dyslexia thrive. The question became, “How do we extend that knowledge beyond our school?” That vision has grown into a program that has prepared nearly 100 educators who now serve students in schools across the country and around the world. Each leaves with a deeper understanding of structured literacy, dyslexia, and how to create classrooms where every child can experience success. Learning Together The need for programs like this has never been greater. Many new teachers enter the profession passionate about helping children
but receiving little preparation in evidence-based reading instruction or dyslexia. “No educator becomes a teacher because they want to watch children struggle,” Jessica explains. “The problem is that many simply haven’t been given the preparation they need.” At Hamlin Robinson, residents spend a full year immersed in classrooms alongside expert teachers. They begin with intensive Slingerland® training before moving into a carefully supported progression of observation, co-teaching, lesson planning, and independent instruction. Throughout it all, they receive continual coaching and feedback. Unlike traditional student teaching, residents are never expected to navigate the journey alone. They become part of two communities at once: a gradelevel teaching team and a cohort of fellow resident teachers. Together they ask questions, celebrate successes, wrestle with challenges, and learn from one another throughout the year.
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“Our students don’t just feel like they have one teacher,” Jessica says. “They feel like they have an entire team invested in their success.” That sense of belonging is one of the hallmarks of the Hamlin Robinson experience. A Ripple Effect That Continues
“They’re given permission to remain learners,” Jessica says. “That creates an environment where they can be vulnerable, take risks, and continue growing.” That culture of collaboration benefits everyone. Experienced teachers become more reflective as they explain their instructional decisions, while residents contribute fresh ideas and perspectives that strengthen the entire school. Learning That Changes Perspectives The greatest transformation isn’t simply learning a new instructional approach—it’s learning to truly understand students. Many residents arrive having heard a little bit about dyslexia in college. Living alongside students every day tells a much richer story. They begin to see how dyslexia affects confidence, organization, emotional regulation, and perseverance, while also discovering the remarkable creativity, resilience, humor, and strengths that define so many HRS students.
8 | The HRS Scoop
“They don’t simply learn about dyslexia,” Jessica says. “They experience why we do what we do.” That experience shapes residents far beyond the classroom. They leave with greater empathy, stronger communication skills, and a habit of approaching challenges with curiosity instead of assumptions. An Entire Team Behind Every Student The Resident Teacher Program also enriches the experience of HRS students every day. Resident teachers become trusted adults who know classroom routines, understand students’ individual strengths, and help provide consistency throughout the school year. When a classroom teacher is away, learning continues seamlessly because students remain surrounded by familiar adults who know them well. Just as importantly, residents work across an entire grade level, giving them a unique perspective on students’ growth, friendships, and social dynamics.
Although the Resident Teacher Program was designed as a one-year experience, its impact extends far beyond twelve months. Many graduates carry what they’ve learned into schools across the country, becoming ambassadors for structured literacy and advocates for students with dyslexia. Others discover such a strong sense of purpose at Hamlin Robinson that they choose to remain as classroom teachers. “They talk about the students. They talk about their colleagues. They talk about the sense of purpose they feel here,” Jessica says. “This is a community where everyone knows why they’re here and believes deeply in the work.” Whether residents stay or move on, each leaves prepared to change lives. In doing so, they help extend Hamlin Robinson School’s mission well beyond Seattle—one classroom, one student, and one educator at a time.
Curriculum Night
IS COMING SOON
Every day at Hamlin Robinson School, students experience a learning environment intentionally designed for the way they learn. Curriculum Night offers parents a chance to see that thoughtful design in action. We invite parents and guardians to join us this September as our faculty share the instructional approaches, classroom expectations, and curriculum that help students with dyslexia and other languagebased learning differences build confidence, independence, and academic success. This is an important opportunity for parents and guardians to gain a deeper understanding of what your child will experience throughout the year and discover how home and school can work together to support their growth. Curriculum Night is also an opportunity to strengthen one of the greatest resources at HRS, our parent community. Meet other families, connect with your child’s teachers, ask questions, and build relationships with others who understand the journey you’re on. Together, we create the partnership that helps every student thrive. Lower School Curriculum Night Wednesday, September 23 Middle School Curriculum Night Thursday, September 24 Whether you’re new to HRS or returning for another year, we hope you’ll join us. We look forward to welcoming you as we continue building a community intentionally designed to help every student, and every family, flourish.
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Building the HRS
Alumni
Community “I found my people.” It’s a phrase we hear again and again from Hamlin Robinson School students. For many, HRS is the first place where they don’t have to explain why reading feels different, hide the ways they learn, or wonder if anyone else understands. Here, students discover classmates who share similar experiences, teachers who understand them, and a community where they are celebrated for who they are. That sense of belonging doesn’t end at graduation.
10 | The HRS Scoop
Whether you attended HRS for one year or graduated from Level 8, you remain an important part of the HRS community. Your journey since leaving our halls has been uniquely your own, but the connection you share with fellow alumni remains. That’s why we’re investing in building a vibrant alumni community, one where former students can reconnect with old friends, meet alumni from other generations, support one another, and continue celebrating shared experiences.
Our alumni have become educators, artists, entrepreneurs, engineers, parents, advocates, and leaders. Each story is different, but together those stories reflect the lasting impact of an HRS education. As our alumni network grows, so do the opportunities to learn from one another, mentor future graduates, and strengthen the community that has always been at the heart of Hamlin Robinson School. We hope you’ll join us as we continue building a lifelong HRS community.
ALUMNI SOCIAL FOR SOARING EAGLES (AGE 23+) Tuesday, October 27, 2026 6:00- 7:30pm This event will welcome back alumni (age 23+) who attended and/or graduated from HRS between 1983 to 2018. We truly look forward to seeing you. Please register using the QR code. We also need help finding many of your alumni classmates! HRS is updating the alumni database, but we have many gaps for current contact information. Don’t be surprised if we reach out to you directly for your ideas and assistance! Thank you to those who have already offered to help. What’s on the agenda for October 27? • Food and beverages • Greetings and updates from HRS faculty and staff – both past and present • Ice-breaker activities • Optional campus tours • Open time for discussions and visits • Idea sharing for dyslexia advocacy and involvement
ALUMNI DAY FOR RISING EAGLES (AGE 15-22) In late May, Hamlin Robinson School welcomed back our more recent graduates for Alumni Day. The Middle School 4th floor was packed with former HRS students who wanted to hang out, snack, visit, tour, and play the HRS Trivia Game. It was a whirlwind of fun and memories! Below are the trivia questions that almost 100% of our alumni answered correctly. See if you know the answers before checking the upside-down key below! 1. What is always the first sentence when you respond to Question of the Day? 2. Complete this call and response (hint, the answer is 5 words): One, two, three, eyes on me... 3. Based on what you learned singing at morning assembly, where do the watermelons grow? Trivia Answers: (1) My name is (blank). (2) One, two, eyes on you. (3) Down by the Bay Summer 2026 | 11
THE ANNUAL FUND
Designed for the Way Our Students Learn.
Made Possible by YOU. Every day at Hamlin Robinson School, students learn in an environment intentionally designed for the way they learn. From structured literacy and multisensory instruction to dedicated educators and a community that celebrates every child’s strengths, everything we do is built around helping students thrive. That kind of education doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because an entire community believes in our mission. While tuition is a significant investment for families, it covers approximately 84% of the actual cost of an HRS education. Philanthropy is one of the ways that the school bridges the gap, making it possible to provide the exceptional teaching, innovative programs, and individualized support that define the Hamlin Robinson School experience.
12 | The HRS Scoop
But the Annual Fund is about more than reaching a fundraising goal. It is about demonstrating the strength of our community. This October, our goal is 100% participation. Every gift, regardless of size, sends a powerful message that our community believes in the life-changing work happening at HRS every day. That message extends far beyond our campus. It shows foundations, corporations, and community partners that the people closest to our mission stand behind it wholeheartedly. There are many ways to participate. You can make a gift to the Annual Fund, raise pledges through the Dyslexia Dash, invite friends and family to support the campaign, or help share our story with others. Every act of generosity strengthens the community that makes Hamlin Robinson School possible. Together, we are creating a school intentionally designed for the way our students learn and made possible by a community that believes in every child.
HOW TO FIND
Community AT HRS Hamlin Robinson School enrolls students from 70 zip codes and four counties. Our families often ask: How can we get to know other parents? How can my student find playmates? Where can I meet and share with other parents what we’re going through? How do I get to know teachers and staff at the school?
The short answer is: involvement. The more you get involved, the more community you find. We invite you to attend as many school events as you can. At first, you may not know anyone else — but that quickly changes. You realize that everyone has a story to share. Everyone has a common thread involving the educational journey of their child. Everyone wants to make connections. Just ask! Below are a few upcoming events you are encouraged to attend. And, this list doesn’t even include New Family Coffees, special events, or Eagle Meet-Ups at locations and sporting events. More details will be shared via school communications as these dates draw near. Whether you are a dad or a mom — we encourage you to engage and to share new ideas about how you would like to build community. Thank you!
DATE
EVENT
WHO
SEPTEMBER 1
Back to School Bash
All HRS Families, Teachers, Staff
SEPTEMBER 3-4
Fall Conferences
Teachers/Parents/Students
SEPTEMBER 16
Family Association Meeting
All Parents/Guardians
SEPTEMBER 23
LS Curriculum Night
All Lower School Parents
SEPTEMBER 24
MS Curriculum Night
All Middle School Parents
OCTOBER 3
Dyslexia Dash
HRS Families, Alumni, Teachers, Staff
OCTOBER 20
Family Association Meeting
All Parents/Guardians
OCTOBER 23
Fall Parent Social
All Parents/Guardians (childcare provided)
NOVEMBER 2-5
Parent Observation Days
All Parents
NOVEMBER 23-24
Winter Conferences
Teachers/Parents/Students
Summer 2026 | 13
Saturday, October 3, 9:00am, Seward Park
REGISTER NOW
More Than a
RUN
On an October morning, something remarkable happens at Seward Park. Students race ahead with boundless energy. Families walk together. Teachers celebrate alongside their students. Alumni reconnect with former classmates. Grandparents, sponsors, volunteers, and friends gather with one shared purpose: supporting students with dyslexia and coming together to build awaresness. The Dyslexia Dash may begin with a starting line, but it has never really been about the run. It is about bringing the Hamlin Robinson School community together. For one morning each fall, every corner of HRS moves as one. Current and former students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners all play a role. Some run. Some walk. Some volunteer or sponsor a student.
14 | The HRS Scoop
Others cheer from the sidelines. Together, they remind our students that they are surrounded by people who believe in them. For many students, that support is powerful. The Dash shifts the focus away from the challenges of dyslexia and shines a light on resilience, creativity, determination, and possibility. Every cheer from the sidelines, every high-five at the finish line, and every step along the course sends the same message: You belong here. The Dash also strengthens the connections that make Hamlin Robinson such a special place. New families quickly discover they are not alone, longtime families reconnect with friends, and alumni return to celebrate the school that helped shape their journey. The encouragement shared on race day often grows into relationships that last long after the finish line.
That same spirit of community fuels one of HRS’s most meaningful fundraising events. Through sponsorships, student pledges, and donations, participants help ensure that Hamlin Robinson School can continue providing the specialized instruction, innovative programs, and individualized support that empower students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences to thrive. Every gift is more than a financial contribution, it is an investment in students and a powerful expression of our shared belief in their potential. The miles may end at the finish line, but the generosity, encouragement, and sense of belonging inspired by the Dyslexia Dash continue throughout the year, strengthening the community that makes Hamlin Robinson School unlike any other.
BACK TO SCHOOL BASH
An Intentionally Designed Start to the School Year At Hamlin Robinson School, we believe that a strong school community doesn’t happen by chance, it is intentionally designed. That’s why one of our favorite traditions each year is the Back to School Bash, a fun-filled afternoon created to help students and families connect before the first day of school. We invite students and their families to join us on Tuesday, September 1, from 3:30–5:30 p.m. to meet your teachers, reconnect with friends, and discover the many programs and opportunities that make HRS unique. Enjoy classic carnival games, cool off with a delicious frozen treat, shop for HRS spirit wear, and experience the welcoming spirit that defines our community. Whether you’re new to HRS or returning for another year, the Back to School Bash is the perfect way to begin the year feeling connected, supported, and excited for what’s ahead. We can’t wait to welcome you back and celebrate the start of another incredible school year together.
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NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID SEATTLE, WA PERMIT #573 1701 20th Avenue S. Seattle, WA 98144 206.763.1167 hamlinrobinson.org
UPCOMING EVENTS: September 1: Back to School Bash September 3 - 4: Fall Conferences September 9: First Day of School September 21: Yom Kippur Holiday September 23: LS Curriculum Night September 24: MS Curriculum Night