Although our son had dyslexia and ADHD we were incredulous that no matter how much he failed in the public schools, he qualified for no special services. After years of failing, being frustrated and detached from the mainstream he was labeled a behavior problem. I knew this boy was no behavior problem but genuinely fearful of being in a classroom where he had become regarded as an SOL liability. He was loosing his sense of anything positive in his life when we turned to TNCS. Writing that first check took my breath away..it was a huge change for us. But within only weeks, I had my child back. He was excited about his life! His curiosity, vigor and motivation re emerged. And he was learning again. When people ask me how in the world I can afford this I tell them I could not afford not to...it's not just about the education. I've bought his childhood back.
My rising 6th grader was struggling with school and I had no idea where to start looking for answers. I found a tutor who happened to be a teacher at TNCS. She told me my daughter would benefit from an education with TNCS. I had no idea there was a school out there for her. We are in our 6th year, my daughter has improved her skills exponetially. She has confidence and self-assurance. I commend this school and Julia Ann Greenwood for its committment to recognizing individual learning styles and teaching each child to their style. Since coming to TNCS, we've never looked back. We love it and would encourage anyone with a child who is having difficulty learning to see a professional who can diagnose learning differences. TNCS may be the school for you.
The New Community School was my first teaching position out of college. I had never considered teaching at a private school, much less, one that served students with dyslexia. Thank God I did! That was the best thing I could have done for me personally, as a professional teacher. The faculty and staff at TNCS were the epitome of caring, loyal, dedicated educators who would stop at nothing to help the students find academic success (as well as athletic and social success), but more importantly, self worth. To see the positive change in attitude toward academics and life in general by the students is what the teaching profession is all about. Unfortunately, my time at TNCS was brief (4 years) due to family matters that required moving two states away. However, the mountain top experience I had teaching and coaching at TNCS has sustained me as I have moved on to public school education. I now know what education utopia is and where it is located -- in Richmond, Virginia at The New Community School.
New Community School is a highly structured day school gear at redemial education of student with average to above average intellegent that strugual with dyslexia. The high teacher to student ratio and demanding yet indivualized course work acceraates students to learn at or above their level.
Our son who is dyslexic learned study and organizational skills that allowed him to transition into a regular high school where he has worked hard, but been able to stay on the Honor Roll. He learned multi sensory techniques that helped with all subjects. He learned self advocacy skills and a strong work ethic as a result of having been at the New Community School. His teachers were all well trained in the teaching methods that are successful in helping dyslexic students. They were top notch as was the administration. Our son excelled at the school and hopes to be a financial supporter one day. We are forever indepted to the New Community School as our son is doing very well in school, again thanks to TNCS.
The New Community School changed my life as well as that of my daughter. From the first day of school, her attitude toward life changed-because she had help, support and a caring staff. She was not one to like school, but she always looked forward to attending TNCS, and I never heard one word of complaint about anything-it was all so positive. She graduated in 2008, and the skills she acquired at this school gave her the confidence to go to college. She attends the Savannah College of Art and Design, and is a junior. This school is wonderful! TNCS deserves the highest praise for a school that educates students with learning disabilities. The students feel empowered, and know they can learn and grow and overcome obstacles.
I was failing miserably in a public school system my freshman year of high-school. I then transferred to TNCS where I completed my freshman, sophomore and junior years with much success. TNCS gave me important writing, organizational, thought process and communication skills that were never taught to me in a public school. I am now in a profession where I use these skills everyday. Part of my current job is to write press-releases and proof-read documents. I know I could never have made it as far in life as I have without the education, help and resources I learned through New Community.
Our son attended TNCS from mid-6th grade through graduation. What a great learning and social experience for him. Before TNCS, Matt got lost the the crowd. He did drama elective every year, and starting in 10th grade blossomed as a very talented and genuine actor. He never would have even sought this opportunity elsewhere. Whether or not he pursues theater, he will carry this positive experience with him throughout his life.
I was a student there and was very appreciate of what they did for use. all of the teachers are extrememly caring and are willing to help you to succed at what ever your goals are.
Our son is has ADHD and is very dyslexic and dysgraphic (language-bassed learning disabilities). He was struggling despite significant assistance in elementary school, and unlikely to really succeed (just be "passed") in the public school environment. He was able to advance academically at New Community. He attended there from fifth through twelfth grades, and graduated. The staff at New Community is dedicated to their students. Class sizes are very small, and teachers are available to students with inside and outside the classroom. Most teachers could earn much more elsewhere, and choose to teach these students who need so much.
The New Community School is a great place for children who are experiencing learning problems in the traditional school setting. It will teach them how to overcome their learning issues, which then boosts their self-confidence in all areas of their life. The teachers are wonderful and the attention is personal. The school is small enough that the students can participate in all offered sports and toher activities, such as theater.
The New Community School has an amazingly talented and compassionate faculty and staff who teach a well-paced and rigorous college bound curriculum. They inspire dyslexic students to enjoy learning; not an easy task for this population. A grateful and strong parent group joins in the community spirit of the school and make wonderful volunteer contributions. The Richmond education community could learn A LOT from The New Community School.
My son is ADHD and dyslexic. He is intelligent but was without a place in the public schools. He is now a senior in college and on track to graduate in four years. When he started at TNCS in the 9th grade, I did not think college was an option for him. TNCS gave him the skills to manage his disability but more importantly, gave him the confidence to see himself as a student who had college as an option. He made the comment that Ms. Morris had higher standards for papers than his freshman class in college. TNCS prepared him for college and frankly, his grades are higher there than at TNCS. At TNCS, he participated in sports and acting; things he would never have done in thepublic schools. All this contributed to his maturity and growth.
My grandson was failing all his classes in public school when a family member learned about The New Community School in Richmond. The school was so highly recommended that his father moved to Richmond from another city to be close enough to take advantage of this resource. In the first semester my grandson went from failing everything to suceeding in all his subjects. In the beginning the school offered a personal scribe to write down his answers while he got a handle on how to do these things for himself. The keyboard class was a great asset as he soon learned to express himself in written word. Classes are still a challenge for him but he has learned how to study, how to find the needed resources and how to organize his time and projects. Not only did he graduate from The New Community School, but he has successfully completed a 2 year associates degree at a community college and is now enrolled in a degree program out of state. Perhaps the best part of The New Community School is how they support every student and because of their approach to learning get lots of parent and community involvment as well.
My time as a student there changed my life. I have dyslexia and some ADD. They helped me get around my learning disabilities. I left in my sophomore year and can say that i still use every learning strategy they taught me. If it wasn't for them i would not be able to get the grade As and Bs i have now. The teachers are always available and very helpful.
When my daughter starter at New Community, she hated school, homework was a nightly battle and her college prospects were looking dim. After a week at New Community, home work was no longer an issue, the small class sizes allowed teachers to give her the attention she needed and she started to excell. Year after year, her confidence began to climb and she started to dream about her future. By the time she graduated, my daughter was a member of the National Honor Society and was accepted to attend nine different colleges. To put it simply, New Community was a life changer.
I served on the Board for 6 years and witnessed first hand the incredible commitment and dedication to the needs of its students. I also serve on a Foundation Board that provides scholarship funds to TNCS and cannot think of an instituion where the funds are put to better use.
If you are looking for a school where each adolescent and older teen is treated as an individual, where there is peer support and encouragement, rather than teasing, goading and bullying; if you are looking for a school where the faculty is gentle and caring regarding each student's learning disability, yet demonstrably professional, efficient and effective, then New Community School is the one for you. I have been witness to all the above, as my granddaughter has grown and thrived in her 2+ years as a student there. This is a school that deserves the support of the whole community.
We home schooled our daughter through elementary school and realized that even with the extra tutors she needed more help with her dyslexia. We enrolled her in the summer session at The New Community School (TNCS) and saw such great results and such a positive reaction from her that we decided to enroll her in the fall. Not only has TNCS helped her achieve her potential it has also fostered a sense of community. She is involved in student government and from the beginning has taken ownership of her homework commitments and responsibilities. Up until this year she has participated in all of the sports the school has to offer (everyone is eligible to be on the teams and play at every game). The teachers are phenomenal, the size of the school enables everyone to know each other. Demeaning talk is not tolerated by the staff or other students. It is a beautiful safe place for kids to achieve their potential. Our daughter is looking to move on to "regular" school for high school. She's eager and confident that she will do well as are her teachers and the head of school. I'll be sad not to be a part of this institution but happy that she'll be such a good ambassador for New Community for the rest of her life.
I ran a college preparatory school in Richmond, VA,for 25 years. At one point we considered The New community School for one of our sons and elected not to send him. If we had known then what we know today, we might have made a different decision. I was the chairman of the evaluation team,whose extremely positive report resulted in the accreditation of the school by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. When I saw first hand what was being done for students with dyslexia, not just the academic achievement but also the restoration of confidence, I knew this was a very special place. Since that visit I have continually seved on the board except for those years that one is compelled to be "off." I have also co-chaired capital campaigns for the school. The city of Richmond is indeed fortunate to have such a resource available. From a financial standpoint the school has two drawbacks: Adding students does not make the bottom line bigger: it just creates the need for more instructors. The better job the school does, the more students it loses -- since its ultimate goal is to get its students back into less specialized schools or into an appropriate college.The is institution deserves all the support it can get.
My daoghter had strruggled with her education for years even within an excelent private e lementary enviorement. When we discovered that she was dyslexic we enrolled her i The new Community school and the differencce has been nothing short of amazing.The academics were our first concern but the attentative nature of all the staff is something we have never experienced before.It isd a small school which lives large. Thank goodness we found new Community before it was too late for Laura. FH Richmond Va