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2008-09 Parent Testimonials
Katie began to
struggle in the 2nd grade. Up to that point she had
always loved school and was eager to learn. We noticed she was
having difficulty reading and was unable to complete her homework in
less than 3 hours. The most difficult point was watching her self
esteem start to disappear. We decided to have her tested and she was
diagnosed Dyslexic. She began tutoring at her current school but we
saw little improvement. During our search for assistance a liaison
for the Guilford County School System suggested we contact The
Piedmont School for help.
We felt an
overwhelmingly positive presence on our first visit to The Piedmont
School. The teachers were happy and seemed to love their jobs and
the children. Katie tutored at TPS thru the 3rd grade and
then began the full day program in 4th grade. The small
student to teacher ratio and the length of class time made it easier
for her to concentrate. Our daughter no longer felt that she was
different.
Today Katie is in
the 6th grade at The Piedmont School. Her reading has
improved greatly and her self esteem is now off the chart. Many
thanks, to everyone at The Piedmont School.
Sincerely, Terry
and Dwayne Morgan
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A Special Place
in a Big World
I was very happy
when I found out about The Piedmont School but that was nothing
compared to how good I feel now that my son is enrolled there. It
used to be that when I picked my son up from school, I saw on his
face each day, a look of distress and got little, if any, words out
of him as to how his day went. In the short time he has been at The
Piedmont School I have noticed a significant change in him when I
pick him up. He is much more lively and starts talking immediately
when he gets in the car and tells me about his day when I ask. He
just seems much happier to be at school now. I certainly do not
think there is anything particularly wrong with the public school
system, it is just a fact that they are not trained or prepared to
handle children with attention problems. These children are very
bright and simply need an environment that takes into account their
way of learning and that is where The Piedmont School brilliantly
stands out. I think the smaller environment is wonderful for the
children there. It is calm and peaceful instead of chaotic and
distracting and the children are not just left to figure everything
out on their own. I know that my son is not just another face in the
crowd now and that he is getting the attention that he needs. I
admit that my son is one of those fourth graders who is not all
grown up yet. He needs that extra little help to "get it" and to be
more organized. As it is, I can actually make sense of his homework
folder now. It is well organized and the teachers at The Piedmont
School make sure that his homework is written down so there is no
guesswork as to what is supposed to be done. Even my son knows
exactly what he is supposed to do each night. That little bit of
help alone makes for a much better evening for everyone and these
are just a few of the little things that make big differences in
learning when you have a child with attention problems and they are
a part of what makes The Piedmont School a special place in a big
world.
Dawn Millsaps
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Before we moved
our son to The Piedmont School in 6th grade, he was struggling to
keep up appearances because he was struggling to keep up with the
pace of his large class. The stress became so great that he was no
longer the easy going child that he had been. Now, he is taught on
his level in each subject, he has learned excellent study habits,
has taken on his studying without our help or prompting, feels
successful and is able to learn so much more because the stress and
anxiety he felt is no longer there. We are so grateful that The
Piedmont School is available for students who need individual
attention. It is a positive, fun, supportive school that recognizes
the talents and needs of each student.
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This is my
daughter's second year at The Piedmont School. The transformation
in her has been phenomenal. She had trouble learning to read in
Kindergarten and needed more intensive teaching than other schools
provide. The high teacher ratio at The Piedmont School is just what
she needed to get on track. Now, she is a confident second grader
and has made many friends for life. Next year she is ready to leave
the school which is very bitter sweet for us! This school was all
she needed and we were able to stop therapy and tutoring and
simplify her day by giving her the attention she needed. We will
always be grateful for this chance to have her at The Piedmont
School.
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We would like to
extend our sincere appreciation to Dorie Sturgill, the teachers and
staff of the Piedmont School for all that they have done for our
son, Zachary. Two years ago, we were challenged with making a
decision as to what middle school would fit Zachary’s unique
learning needs. After a long, frustrating search through several of
the public and private schools in the area, we came to the Piedmont
School. Since that time, we have seen a 180 degree change in
Zachary’s approach to and love for learning. For example, in the
fifth grade, prior to coming to the Piedmont School, he could barely
write a paragraph. Within six months, with the help of the teachers
at the Piedmont School, he was writing papers, at or above grade
level and was at or above grade level in all other subjects. We have
also seen an increase in both self-discipline and self-confidence
within him. He actually looks forward to coming to school every
day, and during the summer constantly asks, “When can I go back?”
Randy and Mary
Pegram
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Hi Dorie!
Thank you for
sending the note. I'll tell Benjamin that you sent it. He is
doing well now. The first two weeks of school were miserable. He
kept asking if he could come back to TPS. He has now settled in and
even asked to ride the school bus about 3 weeks ago!
We are grateful
for the time he spent at TPS. His teachers tell us he is one of the
most well behaved boys at Clemmons.... Can you believe that!!!???
He is on a team where all of the kids get modifications (though,
we'd really like for him to be challenged a bit more) and we were
also able to get him into a reading class every day. On his report
card he made a "B" in Language Arts and "A"s in everything else.
The family at TPS was a wonderful setting for Benjamin. We were
just talking with him about it the other day. He talks about Mrs.
Sturgill and Mrs. Gladney quite frequently! He does miss being
there, but is adjusting pretty well at this time.
Thank you for
checking on Benjamin!
Sincerely,
Selwyn Shaw
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Since our
daughter began attending The Piedmont School we have witnessed a
transformation. She has regained her confidence, sense of humor,
and desire to learn. The TPS staff supports her unique learning
style and provides a culture of acceptance and enthusiasm. We are
grateful to have found an environment that recognizes the gift of a
child with ADHD.
Frank & Donna
Steadman
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"Fortuitous
timing, along with my attentive mother, provided the opportunity to
enroll as The Piedmont School's first student. Initially struggling
to keep pace in school, the specialized approach to learning at The
Piedmont School provided a strong foundation for high school and
university. I am grateful for the confidence gained during my time
as a student and pleased to hear of the school's continued success."
Graham Culp-
TPS alumnus |
