Wonderful Westview Alumni News

A World after Westview

THE LITTLE GIRL THAT TRAVELED THE WORLD

PHOEBE GORRINGE

We recently heard from Kat Gorringe, mom to Phoebe, about what has been happening in the life of Phoebe since her time at The Westview School.

Phoebe left Westview after attending two years of Early Childhood Development and Prekindergarten. After Westview, Phoebe transitioned to kindergarten and first grade at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School in NW Houston, where she did great. What Phoebe did next was a wild, around-the-world ride.

After two years of attending a private elementary school in Houston, Phoebe's family had the opportunity to live overseas. Phoebe moved to India, where she attended The American Embassy School (AES) in New Delhi, India, for two years.

Kat shared that the family had so many unique and amazing experiences while living in India - tiger and rhino safaris in the jungles of India, a trip to the Maldives, and just loving the general madness of living in a city like Delhi and the country of India. Being at a school with kids from all over the world was also a wonderful experience for a "different" kid like Phoebe. Kat shared that there is no "normal" when you are living and learning in that world with kids from all different backgrounds, so Phoebe's learning differences were among many at school. The American Embassy School was very progressive, so there were many different modalities and means of learning so Phoebe excelled.

In 2019, Phoebe and family returned to America and settled stateside in Omaha, Nebraska. Phoebe will be entering 8th grade at St. Margaret Mary Catholic School. While in Omaha, Phoebe developed a passion for the theater. Kat applauds the wonderful youth theater program in Omaha that Phoebe attends called The Rose Theater. Phoebe has been involved with their productions for the past couple of years. Recently, she played Ms. Hannigan in the musical Annie, and this summer, she participated in a Summer Fun showcase singing songs from Grease and the Beach Boys. This fall, she is excited to be part of the musical Frozen, and in the spring will try her first go at non-musical theater with a play called Big Bad. In addition to developing a love for the theater, Phoebe was also invited to participate in a model development program. Suffice it to say; theater keeps Phoebe very busy!

Phoebe just turned 13, and Kat shared that "things are not all sunshine and roses."

"Raising a teenager with autism is not for the faint of heart," laughs Kat. Phoebe works with Boys Town in Omaha, which provides support. "Phoebe is doing so great thanks to the amazing foundation she received at Westview," shares Kat.

Graduate Gives Back

KATELYNN DE LOS REYES

Katelynn was a student at Westview from 2009-2011. She transitioned to public school in Fort Bend ISD for elementary and middle school. This spring, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Stephen F. Austin High School.

Early on, Katelynn was identified as gifted and talented and was part of the GT (Gifted and Talented) Program at Fort Bend ISD. She won her school's Spelling Bee contest in 3rd grade and was the first student to beat a 5th grader in her school. Her hobbies include swimming and music. She plays both the violin and the piano and has been in the Philharmonic Orchestra since Middle School. She has a green belt in Taekwondo.

When she was in 7th grade, she took the ACT Test, and out of 62,000 students, she was recognized as one of the 250 students with high scores by the Duke University Talent Identification program. She received the Presidential Award of Excellence signed by then President Donald Trump in 2018.

In 2019, Katelynn was chosen to participate in the NASA High School Aerospace Scholars Program. This experience propelled her interest in aerospace, dreaming of joining NASA in the future. In high school, she became involved in the Science National Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, and was an inducted member of the National Honor Society.

When COVID became a pandemic, she was challenged to help the community, however small it may be. She created a Leadership Initiative Project: Helping Others. She asked for monetary donations from friends and relatives. She bought masks, hand sanitizers, alcohol wipes, and antibacterial wipes with the money collected. These items were distributed to the Sugar Land Police and Fire Departments, Kidz are Stars Daycare Center, Denver Harbor Clinic for indigent patients, Star of Hope, Second Mile Mission, and The Westview School. She also volunteered at the Sugar Land Library, Wesley Community Center, Pearle Gustavo Outreach Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, and Houston Food Bank.

Her experience at Westview strengthened her self-confidence and inspired her work toward being "the change you want to see in the world." She will be forever indebted to the staff and teachers at Westview. She will never forget Ms. Jane Stewart, Ms. Elissa Marshall, Ms. Donna Marshall, Ms. Beth, Ms. Pilar, Ms. Candi, and Coach Bo.

This fall, she will begin her studies in Chemical Engineering at the University of Houston, where she has been accepted into the Honors Program and was awarded the Academic Excellence scholarship. Katelynn is very excited about her future and the opportunities awaiting her.

Wonderful Westview ALUMNI NEWS

ISOBEL ADAMS

Isobel completed Westview Middle School in the Spring of 2019. She then transitioned to high school at Gateway Academy, where she is now entering her senior year. Isobel was a student at Westview for eleven years and recalled her teachers always made learning fun and were very nice to her. Her favorite classes in high school are Art, English, and Greek History. The number one thing Westview taught Isobel was to read. “Westview taught me how to read, so I could learn about anything I wanted,” Isobel shared. She also encouraged students to stay positive. "You got this!" Isobel said.

PRESTON DHANES

Preston was a student at Westview for ten years. He completed our Middle School program in May 2019 and currently attends high school at The HUB. Preston’s favorite high school classes are woodworking and social studies. Preston remembers all his Westview teachers being very nice and that he learned a lot of academics while a student here. He also has good memories of Tae Kwon Do with Master Plumber. When he is not in class, Preston has a job working with Jessie’s Bites making gourmet dog food. He enjoys making food and also the friendships he has made with his co-workers. He encourages Westview students to work hard and to keep going. “You can accomplish anything,” Preston says.

RYAN PETTY

Ryan was a student at Westview for all his middle school years. This year he graduated from Tomball Memorial High School. Ryan loved his high school experience and was very active. During his senior year, he was voted Homecoming King and given the "Senior Superlative" of Social Butterfly. This summer, Ryan is attending camps and playing tennis with Special Olympics. Ryan said he learned to play tennis at Westview, and this past spring, he won a Gold medal in Men's Singles Tennis at Special Olympics. In the fall, he plans to attend HISD's Community Connections Academy part-time while studying Animation and Digital Art at Nonpareil Institute. He also has plans to attend the Life Path program at Lone Star College in Fall 2023. He currently works part-time at CVS and enjoys greeting customers and making his own money. He credits Westview with teaching him confidence, how to advocate for himself, and to make friends. He encourages Westview students to "have fun, make new friends, but to remember to make good grades, too." Ryan's future dreams include being a comic book artist, creating video games, and doing voiceover work.

FRANK TORRES

Frank was a Westview student for a total of seven years. After Westview, he attended middle school at Our Savior Lutheran and graduated high school from Jersey Village High School. He currently is part of The Monarch School and Institute Residential Program, where he lives and attends summer school. He is most interested academically in history and engineering and is planning to take some courses in the fall and spring of 2023. Frank had this to share about his time at Westview. "The Westview School was so supportive of me and would not let me give up on myself," said Frank. "The teachers were always calm and patient and had an enormous impact on me and my life. The teachers understood my social and educational needs. They gave me the space to grow at my own pace." Frank said that because of Westview's love and support, he could transition and be successful at Our Savior Lutheran and in high school. Frank encourages students to enjoy their time at Westview. "Listen to your teachers," he said. "And always try to be positive. Don't worry about the small things."

MADISON LOFTIN

Madison was a student at Westview from early childhood to first grade. She transitioned into public school after Westview. Madison graduated with honors from Seven Lakes High School in Katy this spring. She is currently enrolled in community college summer school and plans to transfer to a university to study psychology. Madison remembers having fun at Westview – playing with friends during class, recess, and in the indoor gym. She praises Westview for understanding who she is rather than forcing her to be like someone else. Her advice to current students is, “Enjoy what you are doing now and be grateful for the people who support you.”

JOSHUA STEWARD

Joshua was a student at Westview from second to seventh grade. After Westview, he attended and graduated from Brehm Preparatory High School, a boarding school in Illinois that serves students with learning differences. Josh attends college at Western Kentucky University, where he studies Environmental Geology. This summer, he is participating in an internship with Bowling Green Parks and Recreation in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Josh remembers much of his time at Westview from beginning to end. From field trips to classes and even after-school activities like Dungeons and Dragons Club, Josh's time at Westview helped him develop social skills and engage more with new peers. Josh encourages students to "listen to your teachers and stay focused in school." He says, "You never know when you will need the things you are learning."