Author: Tammy Urban

THANK YOU!

We absolutely have the best families and community.

On May 13, we posted an end of year fundraising appeal because we had so much generosity this year that we were so close to the $100,000 mark (which we did not anticipate) that we thought we’d try to actually break that mark!

Well, it happened, and on May 22 we posted how we had not only met the $100,000 mark, we made it to $102,450.65. We were beyond ecstatic, as that is the most we have raised in a year, ever.

Then we posted about the Apogee cap not being met, and combined with a few other donations, we are currently at $108,011.65, and for the first time ever, school fundraising broke the 25% mark, at $27,802.53!

Where it all came from.

Your gifts make a huge difference in the academic experiences of our students and help us further our dyslexia reading programs. Tuition only supports 80% percent of the annual operating budget, and contributions from all members of The Brookwood Christian Community: parents, grandparents, alumni, past families, faculty & staff, foundations, community partners, and friends; bridge the gap to help us deliver the unique learning experiences our students deserve.

Again, thanks to ALL of you!

A farewell to Ms. Terri…

Ms. Terri,

A teacher like you can never really retire.

There is no point to count the years. They are not important. Important are the things you did, things we shall never forget. For many years you’ve devoted yourself to educating children, now you can look back with pride at all you’ve accomplished.

Astronauts, physicists, programmers, musicians, technologists, doctors, engineers, lawyers and all the other professions that make the world go around have one thing in common – a good teacher who gave light to their dreams.

As you step into the future and look back over the past all the lives you’ve touched, all the children you’ve changed they will remain a part of you for the rest of your life. So congratulations on a great career and a life well spent, not only inspiring and encouraging your students, but your colleagues as well.

Any teacher would be honored to have not only a great career with a life well spent, but to also be remembered as such an inspiration to not only to her students, but her colleagues as well.

Farewell, to one such teacher. Enjoy your upcoming endeavors!

Love Always,

The Students, Faculty, and Families of Brookwood Christian

Congratulations!

We DID IT!

We are beyond overwhelmed with the support from our families and community! We had an amazing year, we asked to help push us over the $100,000 mark, and you delivered!

Thanks so much to all of you, we have raised $102,450.65 this year! By far our best fundraising year to date.

Your gifts make a huge difference in the academic experiences of each student and help us further our dyslexia reading programs. Tuition only supports 80% percent of the annual operating budget, and contributions from all members of The Brookwood Christian Community: parents, grandparents, alumni, past families, faculty & staff, foundations, community partners, and friends; bridge the gap to help us deliver the unique learning experiences our students deserve.

This shows the sources of our fundraising, and we could not have done this without the help of all of our families, donors, sponsors, and community partners.

Again, we thank each and every one of you for your help.

2019 Spring Testing Results

We were fortunate enough to receive another grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) for the 2018-2019 school year. DGLF generously helps out schools and non-profits that target literacy, especially, below grade level readers, readers with learning disabilities, and students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).

Our goal is to achieve an increase in reading level of at least half a year, ideally a full year. It is not uncommon for many of our students to have seen no success with reading for 2-3 years before enrolling, so exactly when we see, and how much, improvement will vary from student to student.

We are proud to say that for yet another year, our graduates have all exceeded functional literacy levels, with each showing significant improvement on their initial scores.

Overall Reading Test ~ Average gain: 1.3 grade levels

  • 78% of students met the minimum 0.5 goal
  • 50% of students saw at least a 1 year gain
  • 16% of students saw at least a 2 year gain
  • Highest overall gain: 5.7 years
  • 97% of students met the minimum goal on at least one subtest!
  • 90% of students gained 1 year or more on at least one of the subtests
  • 41% gained at least 1 year on 2 or more subtests
  • Almost half of our students are very close to grade level, or higher

As usual, the biggest gains were seen on the Passage Comprehension section, which we consider the most important test!

Average gain: 2.2 grade levels

  • 75% of students met the minimum goal
  • 60% saw at least a 1 year gain
  • 25% saw more than a 2 year gain
  • 22% saw more than a 3 year gain

Overall Math Test ~ Average gain: 1 grade level

  • 25% of students saw at least a 1 year gain in math
  • 10% saw at least a 2 year gain!
  • ⅔ of students increased by greater than 1 year on at least one subtest
  • ⅓ of students increased by more than 2 years on at least one subtest

Congratulations everyone on a job well done!

Less than $2,000 to reach our Goal!

As we are wrapping up the 2018-2019 year, we are blown away by the generosity of our families, businesses, and local community!

Your gifts make a huge difference in the academic experiences of each student and help us further our dyslexia reading programs. Tuition only supports 80% percent of the annual operating budget, and contributions from all members of The Brookwood Christian Community: parents, grandparents, alumni, past families, faculty & staff, foundations, community partners, and friends; bridge the gap to help us deliver the unique learning experiences our students deserve.

Our fundraising efforts this year, from Acworth Charm Tour to Ride 2 Read to Spring Tea & Silent Auction, and everything in between, including Apogee Tax Credit Scholarship donations, foundation donations & grants, #GivingTuesday & other Facebook donations, Henry’s Helps Dyslexia, Amazon Smile, Publix & Kroger, etc., have raised $96,120.29.

We never thought we would get this close, but we are going to try to get to $100,000 to close out the year. 

On May 9 we posted a fundraiser on Facebook with a $3,880 goal to reach that $100,000 mark. In 4 days we have only $1,770 to go! We are at 35% participation, let’s see if we can get to 50%, or better!

Many employers sponsor matching gift programs that can 2x or 3x the impact of employee, spouse or retiree gifts. Click HERE to find out if your company has a matching gift program that supports Brookwood Christian.

You can also donate HERE or send a check in to the office.

Again, thank you so much!

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Thank You Acworth!

Well it has been a hectic two weeks… from our Spring Tea & Auction, supporting Tommy Nobis Center Galaxy of the Stars Gala, having 2 proms a week apart, and then being named one of the 2019 Top 25 Businesses of the Year by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce!

We want to thank all of our supporters,  donors, volunteers, and local community and businesses. Our goal for this year’s Auction was to actually break $10,000. Thanks to all of you, we made it to $15,526 ❤

THANK YOU ACWORTH!


Brookwood Christian named a 2019 Top 25 Small Business of the Year

Brookwood Christian School honored among Cobb County’s Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year and 2019 businesses to Watch [pdf]

Acworth, Georgia (May 6, 2019) – The Cobb Chamber of Commerce today named Brookwood Christian a 2019 Top 25 Small Business of the Year at the Chamber’s First Monday Breakfast for its remarkable innovation, sound approach to organizational challenges and positive impact on the community.

“We are very honored to be named one of the Top 25 Businesses”, said Kim Wigington, founder and Headmaster at Brookwood, “This time last year we were crowded in our original building undergoing construction. Now we have our new building and are quickly filling the extra space to serve more students. This recognition highlights the hard work of all our staff.”

Brookwood Christian School (BCS) is a small private school with a focus on Dyslexia and other language processing disorders. BCS uses specialized curriculum such as Wilson Reading System® and Fast ForWord® Reading to help students overcome reading difficulties.  What makes BCS truly unique is our multi age groups which allow students with similar learning styles, needs, and abilities to work at their own level. Students usually gain between 1.5 to 2.5 years in reading scores every year.

Founder and director, Kim Wigington has received awards such as 2014 ABA Business Person of the Year and 2016 Cobb Chamber of Commerce Acworth Citizen of the Year.  In 2018 Wigington received the Leadership in Literacy Award from the Georgia branch of the International Dyslexia Association. BCS also earned the 2018 Top-Rated Nonprofit award from Great Nonprofits, as well as earning the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency for the second time in March 2019.

“We are so proud of all the small businesses that make up such an integral part of our community,” said Cobb Chamber President and CEO Sharon Mason. “The quality of the businesses, the work they’re doing in the community, the great jobs they’re bringing—it all goes toward making Cobb County a vibrant and successful place to live, work and play.”

To be considered for the Top 25 Small Businesses of Year, each hopeful submits an application to the Cobb Chamber. The applicants must prove an increase in sales or unit volume, provide examples of innovation, discuss adversity and challenges, and thoroughly detail their community involvement. Applications are analyzed and considered by a group of independent community business leaders and affiliates of the Small Business Administration.

The First Monday Breakfast was sponsored by LOUD Security Systems and S.A. White Oil Company.

About Brookwood Christian School

Brookwood Christian School is a private, non-profit, non-denominational Christian school that serves students who have not been successful in public or private schools due to their unique learning needs: individual or multiple learning disorders such dyslexia, reading & language processing disorders, auditory processing disorders, and other specific learning disabilities. Most of the operating budget comes from tuition payments augmented by the Georgia SB-10 scholarship program. Eighty-six percent of our students receive some sort of financial assistance. Recognition such as this helps with our fundraising which helps keep our operating costs and tuition low.

About the Cobb Chamber

As one of the most influential business advocacy organizations in Georgia, the Cobb Chamber is dedicated to bringing the community and its leaders together to create jobs and strengthen the economy and quality of life so businesses and the community can achieve more. The Chamber achieves this by creating jobs and driving economic development; strengthening the community and the region; growing member businesses and nurturing leadership; and connecting businesses, government and the community.

Media Contacts

Tammy Urban | 678-401-5855| first.last@brookwoodchristian.com

Amy Selby | 770-859-2350| FLast@cobbchamber.org

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Next Week Travel Advisory

From ACWORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT:

Please be aware that Main Street is scheduled to be paved on Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23 from the Caboose to roughly Dallas Street. The intention is to keep one lane open during the paving process, however please expect brief delays. Storefront parking from Lemon Street to Dallas Street will not be available during the paving.

On Wednesday, April 24 and Thursday, April 25 paving will move to the area under construction on Northside / Southside Drive. The intention is to keep one lane open during the process to allow access to the businesses located in the construction area.

Dyslexia Day at the Braves!

Join the International Dyslexia Association Georgia (IDA-GA) for Dyslexia Day at the Braves, a fundraiser game at SunTrust Park where a portion of every ticket sold through https://groupmatics.events/event/Internationaldyslexia will go back directly to IDA-GA. Seats are available in the Home Run Porch (outfield) and Grandstand Reserved section.

Braves vs. Mets
Saturday, April 13th @ 7:20pm EST
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS.

IDA-GA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, scientific and educational organization formed to increase public awareness of dyslexia, the most common cause of reading, writing, and spelling difficulties (affecting 15-20% of the population). They are a resource and support system for educators, parents, and all professionals concerned with dyslexia and related reading difficulties.

IDA-GA provides community outreach activities including the annual Dyslexia Dash 5K run/walk, professional education conferences, scholarships and grants focused on teacher training, an information and referral hotline, and e-newsletters to increase awareness and educational solutions for struggling readers. Learn more at ga.DyslexiaIDA.org.

You can also purchase this hat for pickup at stadium or delivery. More details HERE.

#Until everyone can read! 

It is NOT a “Mistake” to Test all Kindergarteners for Dyslexia!

In a recent opinion piece about Senate Bill 48 by the Atlanta Journal & Constitution:  Mistake to Test all Georgia Kindergarteners for Dyslexia, a former Fayette County School Board Member, who was also a candidate for Georgia State School Superintendent in 2014, a 2016 candidate for the US Senate, and a 2018 candidate to the Georgia House for District 72 shares her concerns about the bill in blue, our rebuttal is in black:

“The bill defines dyslexia using the exact definition supplied by the International Dyslexia Association or IDA, a private corporation” 

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) is a registered 501(c)(3) non profit (EIN: 52-0953609) that files an IRS form 990! We are also a registered 501(c)(3) non profit that files a 990, and the notion that either is a “Private Corporation” is laughable. They have a 100% “Accountability & Transparency” Score on Charity Navigator. 

“In reality, there is far less certainty about dyslexia and how it is recognized. Many teachers avoid using the term because it is so vague that it has lost any real value.”

Most school districts NEVER STARTED USING the term! Forget about losing any real value, when they never applied it. Teachers have been cautioned not to call their students dyslexic because if they do, then the district will have to address dyslexia. 

“Teachers have been cautioned not to call their students dyslexic because it is a medical diagnosis”

If it really were the “medical diagnosis” she claims, all of our students would be able to seek a medical waiver for SB10 and other scholarships. It certainly has medical implications as outlined below.

“There’s also no objective proof any of their programs actually produce results, or that they are better than any of the other programs available.”

Yes, there is. Besides the plethora of proof elsewhere, we have been a recipient of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grant and as a result we have to submit an impact report. We have a statistician that analyzes the results and we use those results to place students in upcoming years as well as to evaluate our programs. Basically, they work! You can read more HERE. In fairness, is it the program? The environment? Our class size? That is hard to separate. However, something has to be done to address the issues, and early identification, which she opposes, gets students the help & resources they need. 

“According to the University of Michigan, dyslexia can be difficult to diagnose, and there is no cure because dyslexia is not a disease.” 

Interestingly, the University of Michigan also has THIS page, specifically for Dyslexia Reading Programs. It’s far less difficult to diagnose than it is to treat. As for it being a disease, SHE called it a “medical diagnosis”, which “is the process of determining which disease or condition…”, and while she is correct, it is not a “disease”, it is definitely a condition, that ignored, has long term implications, as seen below.

Our Wilson® Reading and Fast ForWord® Reading programs for our students with language processing disorders, such as dyslexia, yield impressive results in improving reading scores for. The following statistics are why we strive to ensure our students graduate at the best reading level they can attain:

  • 65% of Georgia 4th graders are not reading at the proficient level (1)
  • A 4th grade child not reading proficiently will have a 78% chance of not catching up (2)
  • TWO OUT OF THREE of students who cannot read proficiently by end of 4th grade end up in jail or on welfare (2)
  • 20% of high school seniors can be classified as functionally illiterate (3)
  • ONE IN SIX young adults (>1.2million) drop out of high school each year (3)
  • 43% of those with lowest literacy skills live in poverty (3)
  • Children of low literacy parents have a 72% chance of being at the lowest reading level (4)
  • 70% of prisoners in state and federal systems can be classified as illiterate (4)
  • 85% of juvenile offenders rate as functionally or marginally illiterate (4)
  • 43% of those with the lowest literacy skills live in poverty (4)

1. www.rif.org/literacy-network/facts#Georgia 
2. www.begintoread.com/research/literacystatistics.html
3. www.nrrf.org/research.htm
4. proliteracy.org/Resources/Adult-Literacy-Facts

Interestingly, the Arkansas Senate is about to vote on a bill that would require testing of inmates AND “the agencies must provide reading instruction or dyslexia intervention if a juvenile or inmate scores below the reading proficiency level considered high functioning, according to the bills.”

How bad does it have to get in Georgia?  🤦‍♀️

Please contact the Governor’s Office to express your support for SB48.

Source: https://www.ajc.com/blog/get-schooled/opinion-mistake-test-all-georgia-kindergarteners-for-dyslexia