Logan was Providence Academy’s first student a little over 5 ago.  Previous to enrolling in Providence, he was having significant anxiety in all academic environments within both public and private schools and he was not learning.  He was in second grade and was not reading, writing or doing any math.  His mother Vanessa was desperate, because the private school he was enrolled in would not let him come anymore because of tantrums and anxiety.

    Logan is now 13 and doing beautifully. In fact I would say he is the ambassador of Providence.  He is the first one to welcome visitors and potential students when they come into the classroom. The other day a new potential student came for a visit and he stood up and shook his and said, “My name is Logan, what is your name.”  The child responded and Logan said, well I hope you come to the school next year and made the boy feel welcome. 

    He loves being with the other students and shows our younger students how to behave, how to calm down and how to learn.  He is an amazing young man who has gone from almost a nonreader to reading at 6th grade level in just four years. His math skills are on grade level and his writing has improved dramatically.  Logan’s family works extremely hard to keep Logan at Providence Academy and without the McKay Scholarship, he would not have had the opportunity to be a part of our school and become so successful socially, emotionally and academically.

 

 

 Fall Conference

 

   The Coalition’s 7^th Fall Conference, Expanding Our Horizons, will be held at Nova Southeastern University  in Orlando on October 14^th.  We will have only one site for the conference this year. More information will be coming your way.

 

Be a part of planning the conference.  Please spend TWO minutes filling out the attached survey.  We want to plan the conference program around YOUR interests.

 

 

The Children’s Forum which is within the Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs Unit has developed    The Central Directory which is an on-line site providing statewide information and referral services for the families of children who have disabilities and special health care needs.

    The Central Directory is funded by Florida's Department of Health and Department of Education. 

The Central Directory maintains a database with information on community services, counseling, education, diagnosis/evaluation, early intervention services, resource and referral, education and training, equipment, special education services, support groups, and therapies for children and youth from birth to 22 years.  Additional Central Directory services include advocacy, public awareness and technical assistance. 

    In addition to maintaining a database, The Central Directory also operates a toll-free number for callers to be connected to state and local agencies that serve those with special needs.  The toll free number is 1-800-654-4440.  The web-site for The Central Directory is http://www.centraldirectory.org/ .

   The Sunshine State was host to the Learning Disabilities Association of America’s National Conference on February 23-26, 2011. Over 1600 professionals, parents and students attended sessions on how to help individuals with learning disabilities both inside the classroom and out in the work force.  

   On Saturday The Coalition of McKay Scholarship Schools sponsored a workshop.  The program aimed to help the audience understand positive aspect of assisting families as well as address some of the concerns. Key topics at this session were getting information about the scholarship program out to the parent community, the impact of the RtI Process, and parents’ rights to have their child have an evaluation in a timely manner.  These topics will continue to be discussed at the Annual Conference in the fall. The panel, which was moderated by Jacqueline Egli, included: Robyn Rennick (Woodland Hall Academy), Steve Hicks (President of The Coalition), Andy Hicks (Center Academy) and Beverly Connell (Greenwood School)

   Other LDA events for Floridians included a reception hosted by the following schools: Academy Center for Education (N Miami Beach), Bridges Academy (Winter Springs), Center Academy Schools (Pinellas Park), Children’s Educational Services, Providence Academy (Orlando), Samuel Scheck Hillel School (N Miami Beach), Seven Bridges School (Orange Park).  Jacksonville Schools included Broach School & Crossroads School, DePaul School of North East Florida, The Greenwood School and Hendricks Day School.