Summit School NEWS Autumn 2010 It started out as a little project: Karen was picking up her son from school one day last January and ran into Mr. Renner. Knowing of her professional experience (as a graphic designer charged with branding corporations and businesses, creating packaging and marketing campaigns, as well as setting environmental standards for new office and manufacturing spaces), Mr. Renner was delighted to have the opportunity to show Karen the addition to the Upper School, and he decided to ask for her help with hanging some photographs on the wall of the new conference room. Just a little project and easily accomplished. Karen was hooked! Yes, the conference room was a small project – but because the Elder family had been Summit parents for seven years, and here was a way for her to honor the huge difference Summit has made in the education of her son, Douglas, she wasn’t able to let it go at that. And so, as things often do, one thing led to another, and another, and another! Karen took a look at the difference between the new addition and the rest of the school building and decided to bring her professional expertise into play to ensure that the school could achieve its goal of having continuity between the two to create a seamless learning center. She knew without a doubt that it was important not to interrupt what happens at Summit, not to just change things for the sake of changing them. So before the school year ended, she made time to meet with every teacher in the Upper School, the clinical staff, teaching assistants, school administrators, the facility staff, and several students, in order to learn what worked for them and what didn’t. Colors were coordinated, lockers were installed in the hallways, flooring was seamlessly laid, paint was applied, new lighting brightened staircases, and throughout the building striking photographs taken over the years were displayed to highlight the spark and beauty of Summit students. “After all,” Karen says, “in the end, it’s not about the building. It’s about the students and the staff – they bring the building to life.” We are so very grateful for Karen’s decision to act on her appreciation for Summit’s role in her family’s life. Postscript: I would like to thank the entire Summit staff, and especially John Renner, Richard Sitman, Tina Rosenbaum and Frank Marrone, for entrusting me with your candor and sharing your ideas. This project and its success is the work of many, and I am deeply honored to work alongside the great talent found throughout The Summit School. –Karen Elder Images of Summit students brighten up hallways, offices, and meeting spaces. Francesca Russo stowing her backpack in her new locker. Summit Directors brush up for the new year: During the past three summers the Summit facilities have been transformed. We are delighted that our students have a modern and cheerful school.This past summer the older wing at our Upper School was renovated, and we are creating a beautiful outdoor environment at our Lower School. You, our parents made this possible, and we truly appreciate your generosity. Yes, it is wonderful that we have modern facilities; however, we know that what is most important are the people inside our buildings. We both are very proud to be part of such a competent, enthusiastic, good-natured, and dedicated group of educators. We welcome back our returning families and extend a big welcome to our new families. We are confident that you will quickly become part of the Summit family. We look forward to working with all of you throughout the school year. Sincerely, John Renner and Richard Sitman Take Us To The Water: In addtion to meeting grade level expectations, successful academic programs help students fulfill their innate desires for recognition, accomplishment, and social activities. Lower School students are fortunate to have the use of a regulation-sized swimming pool in the basement of their school building where they can frolic, exercise, and relax within the framework of a structured Swim Program. The Summit Swim Program consists of six comprehensive levels that teach students how to swim skillfully and safely. The program gives students a unique and positive learning experience. Each level includes training in basic water safety, including knowing when and how to call for help, and how to help a swimmer in distress. All aquatic and safety skills are taught in a logical progression. The objective is to teach our students to swim and to be safe in, on, and around the water. This is Miriam Hammer’s 16th year bringing her expertise and enthusiasm to Summit’s Swim Program. She holds certification in CPR AED (Automated External Defibrillators). In addition to her work at Summit, she has been a waterfront counselor, bringing her expertise in waterfront safety and first aid to day camps for over 20 years. Her daughter, Esther Yocheved Hammer Schmidt, was a student at The Summit Upper School from 1993 to 1997. words of welcome: As your new PA president, I warmly welcome all new and returning students and parents to The Summit School. I hope your children are transitioning well and enjoying the start of the new school year. I am proud to announce that the Summit PA is a very active parent organization that works in conjunction with the school administration. The Summit PA welcomes parent involvement. You can become involved in many PA committees. Some of those committees are: Class Parent Representatives; Spirit (organizing social events for Summit students); Book Fair; Benefit (an important one-night event, our major fundraiser of the year); End of Year School Picnic; and Guest Speakers for Parent Education. We encourage you to come to our next open PA meeting to learn more about how you can get involved. This meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 22nd, 9:30 a.m., at the Upper School conference room. Joining us is a wonderful way to get more connected to your child’s school. Please feel free to contact us anytime at: [email protected]. Finally, I’d like to thank our past president, Amy Maximov, for all her hard work during the past three years. Amy was instrumental in making The Summit School PA viable and strong once again. I am fortunate to work with a dedicated group of PA members who perform many “behind the scenes” jobs that enrich our childrens’ Summit School experience. I look forward to meeting many of you, and I wish Top L to R: Leah Herman, Emma Barbary Middle: Miriam your child a successful school year. Hammer, Bottom L to R: Theo Shapiro, Jason Applebaum, Fondly, Nicky Cohen Young, Jakim Poleon, and Aidan Forsythe. Jill Cohen yard project nears completion: Currently at the Lower School, there is no outdoor space for children to play, but the Summit Restoration Committee has been dedicated to changing that. Many Summit parents contributed time and money to transform the barren sideyard into a multipurpose yard for children and staff to enjoy. Our heartfelt thanks go to Jeanine McAdam, Jane Iyer, Paula Beer Levine, Carin van der Donk, Deborra-Lee Jackman; Swim-A-Thon organizers: Jeanine Mc Adam, Mary Rogers; Runners: Jon Simon, Sheril Feldman, Karen Hope, Ed Ament, Amy Maximov; and Charity Buzz Fundraisers: Deborra-Lee Jackman, Hugh Jackman, Vincent D’Onofrio, Lee Daniels, Kathryn Erbe, Darren Cahill, Matt Pinfield, and Leslie Fram. new faces of 2010 Polina Shkadron was born in Moscow, Russia, and lived with her family in the Ukraine. In 1993, at the age of 8, she immigrated to New York. Polina earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Adelphi University, and then earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from CUNY, Queens College. Polina has experience working with children from birth through adolescence. At the present time, in addition to working at Summit, she maintains her private practice. Polina is excited to join the staff at Summit and is looking forward to many years of being part of this professional team. On a personal note, Polina has participated in sports since the age of 3 and continues to enjoy physical activities, such as running and weightlifting. Anna Filosa: A Queens native, Anna attended Hunter College and earned a BA in Psychology. She holds an MS in Education, and an Advanced Certificate in School Psychology from Brooklyn College, School Psychology Program. Anna’s passion has always been to help children and young adults: “I am excited to be working in a school committed to the well being of its students. Summit provides a safe and supportive environment for the students. I also take pleasure in witnessing the dedication and mutual respect displayed by the students and staff members.” Leah Geller: Graduating with a BS in Biology from Hofstra University, Leah earned her MS from Adelphi in Science Education. Having taught in the public school system, Leah is quite pleased to experience the intimacy of a small school. It offers her the opportunity to get to know each student individually, which in turn helps her to help them succeed in Science in a way that works specifically for them. Leah teaches the Regents level course of Living Environment (the latest terminology for the class we previously called Biology!). Leah has enjoyed a warm welcome from the staff and particularly enjoys their positive and energetic attitudes. Summing up her Summit experience so far, Leah had this to say: “This is the way I had always hoped teaching would be.” Kathy Jurski: Kathy will be assisting Emily Seltzer, the Director of Transition, as she joins a very active Summit Transition Team. She will bring her organizational skills to help manage the very complex state registered, paper-ridden, Work Based Learning Program. With her professional background and quiet warmth, Kathy will represent the program as she interacts with students, parents, and businesses. Kathy graduated from Baruch College in Business Communication, specializing in graphic communication. While in college, she pursued her career in web design and photography at Global Dynamics on Long Island. Kathy is pleasantly surprised to find out how busy her job at Summit will keep her, and how useful her particular set of skills will be as she settles in at Summit. Her impressions of Summit:“It feels like family.” Nicky Nichtern has been associated with Summit since 2007 when she came on board in the early phases of the Campaign For Kids to assist with strategic planning, fundraising initiatives, and comprehensive graphic communications. Nicky has had a long career in the world of NYC independent schools for children with learning disabilities, first as a classroom teacher at Stephen Gaynor School, then as Gaynor’s first Director of Development, and moving on in 1998 to lead the capital campaign for The Churchill School and Center’s major expansion. If parents are thinking about launching any fundraising initiatives on behalf of Summit, please contact Nicky at [email protected]. She told us she’ll be wearing her neon green jacket to Summit’s benefit in November, so make sure to say hello! The summit school NEWS Monday, November 22nd, 2010 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Bridgewaters, Eleven Fulton Street South Street Seaport Cocktails, buffet dinner, live and silent auctions, raffles, entertainment, and more! Amy and Lawrence Birnbaum Honorees T I M SUMin the Y T I C Deborra-Lee & Hugh Jackman Honorary Chairs Chaye Zuckerman Shapot & BJ Langer Broas Benefit Chairs School Lower School 2009 witz-Zank, Jane alumni parent Iyer & Rachel Gibbons Auction Chairs Hayley Goldberg Gift Basket Chair The Summ it School B ene fit 0 1 20