ACCOLADES

P.S.I.A. WINNERS!

Accolades

Letters

February 13th, 2006

Hi Helen and Beverly,

I want to touch base with you both and share some thoughts I have since we left Kirby Hall. You both need to know how grateful Al and I are right now for the superb education that Kirby Hall provided our children for 7 years. Had it not been for their exemplary preparation at KHS they would be struggling right now to meet these academic challenges.

Their new teachers have commented on their academic capabilities and remarked at how well prepared they both are for this challenge. Zachary was moved up to 8th grade math after he missed only one problem on their placement test. Megan is being privately tutored in 3rd grade math and her teacher is just amazed at her comprehension. Zach also placed above grade level in Spanish as well. His History teacher was surprised by his depth and breadth of knowledge about history and his willingness to contribute to the class. Megan is the envy of her peers as she progresses so quickly through the material. The teacher provided her with logic sheets and more in-depth work to stimulate her blossoming brain. Miss Wiese, Miss Stokes, Miss Kim have molded and encouraged her to achieve more and more and ask for what she needs. Her teachers sense her confidence and poise and respond with the right challenges.

In all subjects English, Science, Social Studies, The Arts, Astronomy, Spanish, History, Math- the kids are thriving and it is not because they are particularly gifted- it is that they were given a gift from KHS of a well rounded, extensive education that they are able to draw from now in a totally new environment. You have provided for them a "comfort area" so large that they have made a soft landing at a rigorous academic school. What seems like an obscene amount of work and expectations to many of the parents new and old here seems perfectly normal to the kids. Zach had no trouble outlining 20 pages from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar over a weekend and preparing a paper on his findings. The other kids, Zach said, looked as though someone had just shot them but Zach figured it would be something Joe would expect of him and willingly did his best. He is outwardly grateful himself for his education-and his fantastic teachers. Miss Mora's private coaching of Zachary yielded a much more confident speller and writer than he would have otherwise turned into. Thank you!

In just three weeks I have accepted on your behalf much congratulations and praise for the kids educational background. This school also uses a similar curriculum with Saxon Math and Core Knowledge. The teachers though are amazed at the kids' understanding of the core material and their ability to express themselves in unfamiliar territory.

One thing that they both miss are the teachers and families that make Kirby Hall more of a home than a school. When children feel loved, safe and challenged, they can achieve a great many things. You raised the bar high for both Zachary and Megan and I can see the benefits now of the academic choices you made on their behalf. The kindness that was drummed into both of them too at KHS has borne fruit here as well. They are used to children being kind and inclusive and they expect that from their peers. The old adage you get what you expect is very true and they are finding those friends that are as kind as they are and so far have been slowly making some friends. Both are homesick right now but I have the blessing of not having to drag them along academically as well. For that blessing I am eternally grateful to KHS. Please continue to guide those children in your care and we will all benefit from the strong academic backbone that they will leave with.

I too miss the school but feel pride not in the kids' achievements ( that pride belongs to Kirby Hall school and all the kids' teachers) but in my choice to send them to you daily. Choosing Kirby Hall was the best opportunity I could have given my children and I am fortunate that I am able to see the tangible benefits of that choice at such an early time in Zach and Megan's academic life. My gratitude is to all of the kids' teachers for the fantastic results Zach and Megan are achieving.

I thought you would be proud to hear about how well the kids are doing and wanted to share their success with you. Our hearts are heavy at times but our brains are engaged. Thank you is to banal for the level of what you've given our children. May their success be your appreciation. Happy Valentines Day! All our Love and Thanks, Linda and Al Lanctot

"Dear Ann, Thank you for a wonderful tour. Words can’t really express what I felt walking along the halls and visiting classrooms. I’ll try to describe it - with some poetic license. I was home. I felt cozy and warm. I felt love and security were all around. I saw teachers’ faces. They seemed content. Children seemed happy. There was light-heartedness sprinkled here and there. Kindness. Respect. A place to breathe. A place to be who you really are. It is a precious place. I could see my son dressed in white and navy blue fitting right in, learning, practicing his Spanish with Mr. De La Llata, soaking up all that I have described above"

"I believe you are one of the greatest examples of what Kirby Hall must embody. You are love, honesty, compassion, intelligence and class wrapped up into one very lovely woman. Both staff and children are fortunate to have you as the first person new parents encounter."

"You and your staff seem to have created exactly what you intended in 1976 - a warm, loving home where children come to learn."

"We want to thank you for the superb educational environment you have created at Kirby Hall.  You have crafted an educational setting that achieves the best in scope and depth of learning while never losing sight of the individual's total development in mind and spirit.  You have brought together a wonderful group of teachers.  We know of no school with more dedicated, committed, and caring educators than the teachers of Kirby Hall.  Thank you for all that you have given to its students and the families of Kirby Hall."

"We can't adequately express our happiness with Kirby Hall and the current school year.  What a wonderful institution!  What a pleasant learning experience.  Thank you for your good works."

"I just wanted to update you on my applications to Oxbridge, as I believe I mentioned them when I wrote at Christmas.  I have just gotten into Somerville College at Oxford, and into the Master's program at the Oxford Museum of the History of Science.  A the end of that, we'll see if I can and want to continue to a doctorate.  While I'd still like to write about current science sometimes, perhaps for things like Doctors Without Borders, I enjoy delving into the history so much!"

"Thanks for giving Phillip the opportunity to be a student at Kirby Hall.  I am so pleased with your academic program, his classmates, and the faculty.  When I am asked where Phillip attends school, I answer with enormous pride, 'Kirby Hall'."

"Where do I begin?  I could not begin to put my thanks into enough words to properly represent or express the amount of gratitude that I feel towards you.  You took me into your school as a young duck and now I have become a swan with 53 hours at U.T.  Without your love, support and school, I could never have accomplished so much and gained so much confidence.  I hope that others at Kirby will only follow in my footsteps and take advantage of the opportunity that awaits them.  I will always credit Kirby Hall and am always glad to spread the good word!!"

(more to come...)