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Annual Report 2015

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CONTENTS

Our Mission, Our Values, Our Vision 3

A Letter From Ms. Fed 4

Board of Governors 5

40 Years at Chelsea School 6

Financial Report 9

Donors & Fundraising 10

2014-2015 Highlights 12

Challenge Alaska Adventure 12

Women’s History Luncheon 14

Author Gary Karton Speaks at Chelsea 14

Sports Highlights/Championship Game 15

Our Lifelong Learners 16

Reading Score Improvement 17

Congratulations 2015 Graduates 18

Middle Division Camping Trip 19

College Trip 20

Summer STEAM Program 21

Teen Court 21

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OUR MISSION

Chelsea School educates promising students with specific

language-based learning differences in a rigorous,

individualized college preparatory environment to become

lifelong, independent learners.

OUR VALUES

Teach literacy across content areas

Program based on each student's individual needs

Utilize innovative technologies

Develop the full potential of every student

Foster a respectful, collaborative, and nurturing community

Affirm and celebrate diversity

Hold each other to an expectation of personal responsibility, integrity and excellence

OUR VISION

A model educational community where each student is valued,

has equitable access to opportunity, embraces their

differences and celebrates their achievements.

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A LETTER FROM MS. FED

Happy 40th anniversary Chelsea Community!

Summer allows time to reflect on the successes and lessons learned from our 2014-2015

school year, as well as plan thoughtfully for the coming year. In addition to looking back at this

past year, our 40th anniversary has inspired a deep look back at a long history of success and

the many lessons learned along the way. It has been a process that has filled me with

absolute pride.

Having been a part of this special school for over 26 years, it has been delightful and a bit

surprising to uncover unknown (to me) pieces of the past. Many of these pieces can be found

in a binder that survived our 2013 move from the 711 Pershing building to our home in Hyattsville. The contents are

40 years old and include a grant that sought federal funding for the development of Chelsea School. In addition to the

grant program description, there is a sample lesson plan (still sound by today’s best practice standards), co-founders

Eleanor Worthy and Betty Nehemias’ handwritten notes, and many letters of support from the original Chelsea

champions which includes the first Board members and many pioneers and advocates from the learning disabilities

community. These letters called for the establishment of a greatly needed school for high school students with

dyslexia/ language-based learning disabilities. In 1976, Chelsea School became the first high school in the

Washington, DC, area to focus on providing promising students with language-based learning differences the

opportunity to maximize their potential in a college preparatory environment. Each day, the legacy of Chelsea

School’s original champions and alumni is realized through our current students’ success.

Our 2014-2015 Annual Report will highlight just a few of this year’s many accomplishments by our amazing students

with the support of their faculty champions. As always, there is much to be celebrated: Students continued to

demonstrate significant gains in all areas of reading: word attack, letter word identification, fluency and

comprehension. In addition, five students were inducted into the National Honor Society, 100% of our seniors

graduated and 93% enrolled in college or university. Our young people also demonstrated their Chelsea PRIDE in the

community: our athletes brought home trophies, students volunteered for Prince George’s County’s Teen Court,

senior James Domchick became a published/produced playwright and alumni Alex Navari completed a year of

volunteer mission work. We couldn’t be more proud of them all.

It has been wonderful to reflect not just on last year, but also on the history of our school, as next year (2015-2016) will be my last year at Chelsea School. I grew up (sort of) here. In 1989, when I first began my adventures with the Chelsea School, I knew how blessed I was. I knew that I had found my life’s work, my mission. Each day I am aware that I am part of something special, a wonderful team that does honorable and meaningful work with the amazing and inspiring students of Chelsea School. The work we do together matters and is life-changing. I love our school, I am devoted to our students, and I find joy each and every day. This all being true, it is simply time. It is time for me to find my next adventure, time for Chelsea to continue to grow with new leadership. I will always be a Chelsea advocate and promise to be a witness to the many celebrations to come.

I will forever be grateful for the founders, students, staff and Board for the opportunity I’ve had to be a part of this special school. Chelsea for Life!

With Appreciation and Much Affection,

Always ~Miss Fed

Katherine (Kate) Fedalen

Head of School

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BOARD OF GOVERNORS

The Chelsea Board of Governors is a voluntary board

representing a cross-section of interested persons from the

community and the population whom we serve. Chelsea's Board

of Governors meets monthly with our Head of School and

individual committees meet multiple times during the month. One-

third of the members of the Chelsea Board of Governors are

elected each year. Each member of the Board is obligated to

attend meetings of the Board regularly; to serve on a minimum of

one Board committee; to contribute financially to The Chelsea

School, either personally or by soliciting others; to volunteer

services in the School, and to attend the School’s special events.

Jan Abraham JCA Consulting, Junior League of Washington Sustainer Chair and BOD

Spencer Becton Analyst, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy, Associate Administrator for Information Management & CIO

Tamekia Boucher-Gunthorpe Entrepreneur, Never! Never! Never Give Up 429 Project/ Amoy Boucher Design

Robbin Brittingham Principal Administrative Specialist (HR), the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

M. Susan Burns Professor of Early Childhood and Special Education, George Mason University

Robert L. Jenkins Criminal Defense Attorney, Law Firm of Bynum & Jenkins

John Kershaw Senior Systems Engineer, The SI Organization, NGA/InnoVision

Cherise Lesesne Project Coordinator, American Institutes for Research (AIR), Education Assessment Division

Darryl Lesesne Chief Auditor, District of Columbia Superior/Appellate Courts

Rebecca Letsome

Letsome Legal & Financial

John Rouse Director, Student Academic Support Services, McDaniel College Dave Thomas Director, ALVA Labs. Executive Consultant, LCA Vision Inc.

Our Current Board

A Message from the Board:

Dear Chelsea Community

As co-chairs it has been a great honor to serve on the

Chelsea Board. As Chelsea was settling into their new

surroundings, we were settling into our first year as board

chairs. Chelsea is an amazing and unique community.

It has been wonderful to see how Chelsea has been

welcomed into this Hyattsville community. Of particular note

were the community meetings in which Chelsea staff, faculty

and board invited community members to experience first-

hand the workings of the school and see the amazing and

inspiring work of the students.

Each year brings its own new sets of challenges and

opportunities. As we look back over the 2014-15 school year

and reflect on the challenges we have overcome and the

opportunities we have seized, we should feel a great deal of

pride. Hopefully our past success will give us the confidence

to address the new challenges and opportunities we will

face.

We know Chelsea will continue to shine in the education

community due to the work of the spectacular staff and

administration under the guidance and leadership of Kate

Fedalen, along with the unfailing support of the parents,

donors and alumni.

Sincerly,

Susan Burns

Rebecca Letsome

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40 YEARS OF CHELSEA SCHOOL

Chelsea School was founded in 1976 by Betty Nehemias and Eleanor Worthy, two Washington, DC

parents of children with dyslexia. However, the journey toward establishing the first high school to

specifically serve the needs of teens with language-based learning differences in the DC Metro Area

actually began long before.i

In the wake of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling and the civil rights movement of the 1960s,

disability rights advocates began to press for equal opportunities for children with special needs ii.

Although some services (such as tutoring) for students with learning disabilities existed in the district at

that timeiii, it wasn’t until Sally Liberman Smith began working with the Kingsbury Center in 1967 that

there was an elementary school that addressed these needs, and at that time no secondary schools

existed for students with dyslexia or other learning challenges.iv

Betty Nehemias was a reading tutor coordinator for the Montgomery County Public School System and

an early advocate for teacher training. She began exploring the process of establishing a high school for

children with dyslexia in 1970. Along with teachers Peter and Susan McKuen, Sue Clifford of the

International School in DC and Babs Sausser, Nehemias petitioned the area school districts to provide for

the establishment of the school; an attempt that failed due to “lack of suitable space and the existing

educational climate of the time, the school systems claiming that the dyslexic students were being taught

adequately,”v – a proposition that was about to be challenged.

In 1972, a landmark legal case in special education was decided. Mills v. Board of Education of the

District of Columbia was one of two rulings which brought sweeping change to the “existing educational

climate” in the US as well as the District and surrounding areasvi. Stating that “No child is entirely

excluded from a publicly supported education consistent with his needs and ability to benefit therefrom.”vii

This case, and others like it, such as Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1971), laid the groundwork for the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section

504, and, eventually, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1975.viii

In 1974, Betty Nehemias was introduced to Eleanor Worthy and the two embarked on the second attempt

to create Chelsea School. Eleanor Worthy was essential in gathering the materials for the new school,

including the extensive library, furniture and equipment required, while Nehemias continued to raise

support among educators and establish the case for subsidizing a high school for students who learn

differently. In 1975 the two drafted a Health and Welfare proposal in order to secure funding. Sally

Liberman Smith, who had, at this time, just developed the Middle School program at the Kingsbury Lab

School, endorsed the new high school as meeting “a crucial need in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan

Area,” and added that “Investing in Chelsea School is investing in the promise of youth.” ix

Although the proposal was not funded, the document, which still resides in the office of Chelsea’s Head of

School, served as a “blueprint” for the creation of the school. x

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(Original Chelsea Logo)

In 1976, using a line of credit Dr. and Mrs. Nehemias had established (as required by the Maryland State

Department of Education), Chelsea School was incorporated as a non-profit organization and the Board

of Governors, consisting of parents, educators and supporters from the community, was officially formed.

Chelsea School’s first class began in 1977, consisted of 16 students, and was taught by five faculty

members in a temporary location, The Briggs Memorial Baptist Church in Bethesda, MD. In 1978, the

school moved into the Jesup Blair Mansion in Silver Spring, and held their first graduation.

In 1980, Chelsea received Maryland State Department of Education’s approval and became a member of

The Association of Independent Schools of The Greater Washington Area. As the school expanded, the

Board of Governors began searching for a new, larger location.

Chelsea eventually secured its new building, the former Academy of The Holy Names in 1989. The

property, included a 3.4 acre parcel of land and was originally leased by the school before a plan was laid

out to purchase it in 1999, along with the Riggs/Thompson House and grounds at 711 Pershing Drive,xi

where the school resided until 2013.

That same year was a watershed for Chelsea School. In that year, the school made a major evolutionary

shift in its focus by admitting publicly-funded students from Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland.

Chelsea School had always been dedicated to those students who were not adequately served; however,

now admittance to the program could be extended to students who would not have had the economic

means otherwise. Chelsea School’s program model of educating students with learning disabilities was

expanded to include those whose families would not have had the economic means to afford a school

that met their child’s individual needs.

Today, Chelsea School occupies a new campus featuring state-of-the-art classrooms and technology on

the top floor of 2970 Belcrest Center Drive, in Hyattsville.

Since its founding in 1976, our school has been through many changes, and has changed the lives of

hundreds of students. Throughout, Chelsea's mission and guiding values remain unchanged. Our

commitment to small classes, individualized multi-sensory instruction, explicit direction and assessment,

and intensive reading intervention based on current research is as strong now as it was then.

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Chelsea School will be celebrating its 40th anniversary next year. Chelsea's 40th is a milestone for our

school, and we have big things planned, including a spectacular anniversary event Saturday, May 14th,

2016 from 6:00 – 9:00pm at Chelsea School, 2970 Belcrest Center Drive, 4th Floor, Hyattsville, MD.

Set to coincide with Chelsea’s yearly PTO auction, this event will include indoor/outdoor activities, food,

drink and special guests from Chelsea’s past. We invite all Chelsea family, friends and supporters to join

us in celebration of 40 years educating students with learning differences.

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FINANCIAL REPORT

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CHELSEA FUNDRAISING

Dear Chelsea School Friends and Families,

For over 39 years, Chelsea School has been a school for students with significant learning differences

and ADD/ADHD where each child is valued, has equitable access to opportunity, embraces their

differences and celebrates their achievements as part of a community. Our scholarship fund is an

essential part of our ability to make a difference in the lives of all students who need the life-changing

opportunity of Chelsea School’s program. By supporting our Annual Scholarship Drive, you are

supporting the future of our students.

In his own words, a class of 1995 graduate and current member of Chelsea School’s Board of Governors,

would like to share the importance of his experience at Chelsea School:

“As I write this with many different affiliations over the years (student, alumnus,

teacher, and member of the board), I must say that the Chelsea School has a

very special place in my heart. The Chelsea School gave me and many other

students an opportunity to be successful and confident in our abilities that

other educational settings did not. Before attending Chelsea School, reading

and writing were not my strengths in academics. During my six years attending

Chelsea, the teachers worked with me to build my skills and confidence in

these specific areas. After graduating, I went on to earn my undergraduate

(2000) and graduate (2003) degrees from McDaniel College.

The positive experiences that I had as a student guided me to my current profession; working with

students with learning differences. For the past 14 years I have worked as a teacher in secondary

and post-secondary education. I recently returned to Chelsea School as a member of the board to

ensure that current and future students receive the same opportunities that I received. “

~John Rouse, Class of 1995

You can help provide the same opportunity that John had to families who cannot afford the cost of tuition

by donating to our Scholarship Fund. Your tax-deductible contributions can be made online at:

http://chelseaschool.edu/alumni/scholarship or you can send a check payable to Chelsea School, see

pledge sheet for more information.

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DONORS

Newseum Performance Cycles Perry Nichols Amy Nicholson Oriental Trading Company Craig Patrick Potomac Riverboat Company Nancy Powell Yanique Redwood Chris Riggs Rachel Riseling River Riders Marianne Rosenberg John Rouse Jonaki Sanyal Brian Savage Diana Savit Ray Savoy Art Scheel Schrader-Hosh Family Shadowland Laser Adventures Shanandoah Caverns Kimberly Shearin-Cotton Sean Sinclair Soaring Adventures Paula Spears Eva Stattel Julia Stewart Target Dave Thomas Toby’s Dinner Theater Daniel Vest Davey Vest Deb Vitkova Visionary Art Museum Kelly Walker (The) Walt Disney Company DaShanta Washington Washington Capitals Washington Nationals Washington Redskins Washington Wizards Watermark Tours Kristal Weems-Bradner Whitetail Ski Resort Priscilla Williams Aaron Wilson Martin Worthy Donna Zack-Williams

Melodie Ford Karen Gallo Ken Gedling CP Gingles Goldman Family Melissa Goodwin Jeff Green Roselle Halle Julia Hays Horn Family Arelle Hughes Amanda Hursey IGive Amy Isaacson Utah Jarhead Robert Jenkins Stacy Johnson Leslie Kirkland John Kershaw Julie and John Kidd Soledad Labarca Lake Family Tarryn Laughlin Kristine Lawwill Janine Lebby Darryl Lesesne Rebecca Letsome Leveling the Playing Field Liberty Mountain Resort Dr. Arnold Licht Dr. Jonah Licht Florence Lourie Luray Caverns Loretta Lynch Madame Tussauds Malone Family Susan Mather Rachel Maccabee Linda Macpherson Megan Marshall Sandy Matthai Zach Matthai Carol McFall Bobbie McFarland McGinty’s Pam McRae Medieval Times Jay Milhalko Frank Mills Leslie Nash-Ruffin Amanda Natangelo

“Roots” ($10,000 and above)

Stone Foundation “Acorns” ($5,000 - $9,999)

Miss Fed United Way Foundation “Leaves” ($1,000- $4,999)

Bancroft Foundation Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Keith Battle Haines-Walton Family Judith Lantz Carla Passarelli (For Kim Lake) Friends of Chelsea ($250-$999)

Jan Abraham Anonymous Aybar-Bueno Family Spencer Becton Britten-Powell Family Robbin Brittingham Thea Burgess Capital Documents Solutions Casey Family (La) Chiquita Chelsea PTO Domchick Family Nina Fedalen Ron Ferrante Franklins Restaurant Giant (A+ Rewards) Deana and Bob Hally Patricia Hubbard Cherise Lesesne Debbie Lourie Yyonne Martinez-Vega Nancy McTaggart Anthony Messina Daphne Miles David Navari Olive Garden (In-kind) Kathryn Olson Kim Scirpo Maria Socorro Bueno Tim Tormoen, Enterprise Travel Turner Family Myrna and Steven Webb Elizabeth Welborn Family Marcia Will (VandenBerghe Family) Wolk Family

Blue and White Club (Gifts up to $250)

Andrea Abrams Anonymous Nayif Al-Mishari Atlantis Casino Resort Spa Avalon Theater Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Lynn Barlett Kevin Bembridge Robert Bolin Tamekia Boucher Alexandra Bourne Jeffery Bowers Bowl America Box Tops For Education Bowie Baysox Brevard Family Joan Burgess Susan Burns Butler’s Orchard Caron Cadle California Tortilla Philip Callahan John Carlson Karen Carlson Carmen Constantinescu Catoctin Wildlife Preserve Margie Chalofsky Clarice Smith Center Christian Clayton Coakley Family Madeline Collington Jim Conklin Dori Cook Linda Davis Joetta Dennis Ana Maria Durrelli Diliugi Shirley Disney Laurie Dodd Jen Drganc Earth Treks Louise Elliott Jen Emel Carianne Evangelist Maryanne Evangelist Steve Fairley Josh and Lauren Fedalen Felten-Green Family Ronald Ferranti Ferrell Family (The) Fillmore Patricia Fisher Veronia Flores

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2015 HIGHLIGHTS

ALUMNUS ALEX NAVARI’S CHALLENGE ALASKA ADVENTURE

Chelsea Alumnus, Alex Navari did something unique with his 'gap

year' between High School and College -- after graduating, he

spent the next 10 months serving others and gaining experience

in an organization called The Anchorage Service Adventure Unit.

In 1997, The Anchorage Service Adventure Unit was started -- a

ten-month voluntary service program for men and women ages

17 to 20 who come together from all over the country to live

together for a year in community and work at non-profit

organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Challenge Alaska,

Homeward Bound and Children's Lunchbox.

One of the highlights of Alex's service included traveling to some

of the native villages to see how The Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) interacts with the Alaskan Natives.

We talked to Alex near the end of his service. Here are some of

his thoughts about the trip:

Q. Firstly, what have you been up to for the ten months since

you left Chelsea?

I’ve spent the last ten months on a service trip with a Mennonite

organization called Service Adventure. I am located in Anchorage

Alaska working for The Bureau of Land Management on the

2015 YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS

James Domchick's play, The

New World, Premiered at The

2015 New Play Festival as

part of the Young Playwrights'

Theater In-School Playwriting

Program.

James is an alumnus of

Chelsea School, and an

important part of his success

is, in his own words, “Chelsea

taught me how to put my

thoughts onto paper”.

The Young Playwrights’

Theater has been providing

students in 8th-12th grade

opportunities to see their work

performed since 1995.

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Campbell Tract Facility. Nathan my boss and I do snow removal, cut grass and work in the

wood shop. I made wooden Iditarod plaques for the Iditarod sled dog race and accumulated 25

plus hours of volunteering for the event. The BLM provides me with training, and gives me the

opportunity to visit some Native Villages to see how they interact with the natives.

Q. What made you decide you wanted to go on this service trip?

I knew I wanted to take a gap year after high school and work a little bit before college. I was

looking at some options with the Student Conservation Association and such. My mom told me

about Service Adventure and introduced me to Mark, a current BLM participant at the time.

Mark and I exchanged a few emails about Service Adventure and the BLM placement. It

sounded really cool working in Alaska for a year, so I applied.

Q. What were you looking forward to?

I tend to look forward to any learning opportunities the BLM might have to offer. I love

volunteering and helping anybody that is in need of my service. I also look forward to getting

home where it is dark at night so I can sleep. Nineteen hours of daylight is a little too much for

me.

Q. What was the most important thing you took away from the experience?

The most important experience for me was being able to go to the native villages and see how

the BLM interacts with them. Working at the shop was great, but I had no idea what the

Anchorage field office was working on until I went to Graying, my first native village. It was so

cool seeing a different culture.

Q. What thoughts & advice would you like to send back to the Chelsea Family?

Always be prepared! Our group went to Fairbanks for The National Ice Sculpture finals and we

decided to stay in this little cabin six miles from the Chena hot springs. When we got to the head

of the trail at 8:30pm we had to hike three miles to the cabin. It was -25° outside and it took us

two hours and forty-five minutes to get there carrying all our gear and firewood. We did not bring

enough firewood or water to stay warm the whole night, and one of us forgot to bring their

sleeping bag. It was a rough night, the cabin only got to be a high of 32° the whole night. After

eating a breakfast consisting of only potatoes, we hiked back to our car and it would not start.

With the low being around -37° the battery

was frozen like a brick. I flagged someone

down and they towed us to Chena Hot

springs. They said, in Fairbanks two

homeless people froze to death that night.

Lesson learned, always be prepared.

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CHELSEA STUDENTS ATTEND WOMEN'S HISTORY LUNCHEON

In continuation of a 30 year tradition, Prince

George's County held its Annual Women's

History Month Luncheon on Thursday,

March 12th, in honor of women's service to

government and community. This year,

Chelsea students Diamond Washington and

Nia Collington were invited to attend.

"I enjoyed meeting Mr. Baker," Diamond,

Grade 8, commented, referring to Prince

George's County Executive Rushern Baker

III, "I liked that we got to see people get

scholarships."

The scholarships presented were The

Gladys Noon Spellman Scholarships, which

have been awarded to young people in Prince George's County for over 15 years.

The highlight of the event, though, is the presentation of The Gladys Noon

Spellman Public Service Award, given each year to a woman who exemplifies

dedication to public service on par with Congresswoman Spellman.

Nia found the presentation empowering "not just for women, but for men as well."

AUTHOR GARY KARTON SPEAKS AT CHELSEA

Chelsea School students and staff alike were

thrilled to host the wonderful author, Gary Karton.

We have enjoyed his book the The Last Akaway

and truly loved the time he spent with us: reading,

talking, questioning, listening, wondering, laughing

and lots of understanding. One of our students

asked, "Can we keep him?"

We will keep his sage advice and silly stories with

us and we were so honored that he agreed to be

our commencement speaker for the class of 2015.

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SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

After finishing the season with a 7-4 conference

record during the 2014-15 season, the Chelsea

Knights were awarded the 4th seed in the ISSAC

Boys Varsity Playoffs. The Knights defeated GW

Community School 75-65 in the first round of the

playoffs with the help of Junior Guard Darren

Galvin's 33 points and Senior Forward Isaiah

Waters 14 points. In the Semifinals, the Knights

won a thriller over Capital City Public Charter

School 65-63. Galvin led the team with 33 points

and Senior Guard Mike Long added 17. For the

ISSAC finals, the Knights were pitted against the

ISSAC division winner, Kingsbury Day School,

where they were sadly defeated.

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COMMUNITY CONNECTION EVENT – OUR LIFELONG LEARNERS

On April 28, 2015, Chelsea School’s Board of Governors

presented a community connection event at Chelsea School,

entitled Meet our Lifelong Learners. Attendees learned about

Chelsea's programs and the impact of learning differences on

our community. The event included presentations from our

Head of School, Kate Fedalen, on the importance of Chelsea

School's program for students with learning disabilities.

Current Chelsea students, Kemonie, Carlos, Hannah, and

Nia spoke about having a learning difference, what Chelsea

means to them and on the important role Chelsea School has

had in their lives.

Parents and alumni also spoke; featured speakers were

former parent David Navari, Susie Rinaldi (1994), and current

parent Daphne Felten-Green.

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READING SCORE IMPROVEMENT

Early intervention is the key to a student's success and students who arrive to Chelsea in middle school clearly demonstrate its effectiveness. These are students who were consistently underperforming at their public school; but upon arrival to Chelsea the keys to reading are given to them and they run through that door!

Total Percentage of Middle Division Students with Grade Increases on the

WJ-III Tests of Achievement in Reading

SY 2014-2015

100.00%

80.00%

80.00%

81.25%

82.00%

93.33%

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00%100.00%

BASIC READING SKILLS- 2014-2015

WORD ATTACK - 2014-2015

SPELLING - 2014-2015

PASSAGE COMPREHENSION 2014-2015

READING FLUENCY 2014-2015

LETTER WORD ID - 2014-2015

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CONGRATS 2015 GRADUATES –

92% college acceptances and over

$100,000 in scholarships earned!

On Monday, June 8th, Chelsea School honored the Class of 2015 at our Graduation

ceremony, hosted by The Round House Theatre in Silver Spring. The event featured

moving speeches from Class of 1994 Alumnus Jerrod Bowden, Senior Class Vice-

President James Domchick, and Valedictorian Andre Hussey.

Gary Karton, author of the award-winning author The Last Akaway, who also struggled

with learning challenges, was this year’s commencement speaker. A former Washington

Post sports writer, his charming demeanor and disarming grin entertained and inspired

the crowd. He spoke about being different, dealing with fear, and embracing the

possibility of failure as an opportunity to learn. He ended with a message that

resounded with the crowd – that being different is good, even when it feels like it isn’t,

that each of us has unique and special powers, and that overcoming our fear of failure

will lead to discovering and developing those strengths.

Head of School Kate Fedalen took inspiration from Gary’s writing, and gave each of our

graduates a personal message, describing each one’s ‘spirit animal’ and the powers

they possess that, if exercised wisely, will lead them to success.

Each graduate had a few words to say, thanking the teachers, staff, family and friends

that had helped bring them to this turning point in their lives. Transition Coordinator Bob

Bolin gave the closing remarks.

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MIDDLE DIVISION CAMPING TRIP TO ASSATEAGUE ISLAND

This year the Middle Division went to Assateague Island for their annual camping trip.

After setting up their tents, students got to enjoy the ocean. This trip is a culminating

activity for Chelsea’s Social Skills classes, which teach students team building, self-

esteem, self-advocacy, leadership and cooperation.

Each Social Skills class was responsible for preparing delicious meals. After breaking

down their tents in the wind, students went to explore the rest of the island. Students

either hiked or rode bicycles, some for the first time.

These trips are more than a Chelsea tradition, they offer students the opportunity to

take lessons and experiences learned in school out of the classroom, enabling them to

practice and develop social skills in real-world environments. These skills are crucial to

our students’ success, and expenses are supported for our economically challenged

families by the donations of our parents, staff, supporters and partners. See page 10

for info on how you can donate.

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COLLEGE TRIP

Chelsea’s Juniors and Seniors got a good look at what

college is like this spring, as they embarked on our yearly

college tours trip to Davis & Elkins College, West Virginia

Wesleyan and Marshall University.

At Marshall University, students were able to explore the

benefits (and challenges) of dorm life, as well as meet some

of the faculty and students. The tour emphasized the newer

amenities that Marshall has to offer, including the

magnificent health and exercise facilities, newly remodeled

dorms and the extensive library.

Davis & Elkins introduced students to The Naylor Center for

Teaching and Learning, which offers their Academic Support

Program, the Supported Learning Program, and Disability

Services (504 Accommodations).

West Virginia Wesleyan emphasized their Learning Center

Services, a program which provides one-on-one academic

and accommodation strategy guidance, and a Walk-in Peer

Tutoring System certified by the College Reading and

Learning Association.

May Madness

The tradition continued this year, Chelsea students faced off against our staff, parents and alumni on the court for our annual ‘May Madness’ fundraiser, sponsored by Chelsea’s PTO.

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SUMMER STEAM PROGRAM

This year Chelsea School

hosted its first Science,

Technology, Engineering,

Arts and Mathematics

(STEAM) Summer Program,

providing day-long, hands-on

instruction in these areas for

students in 5th through 12th

grades. The Chelsea STEAM

program introduces students

to science and technology

through studying relationships

between the culture, the arts,

and innovative technologies

and teaches fundamental programming concepts using programming tools with visual

and text-based programming languages.

Our students used the Python programming language to code and play a simple, text

based game, learned how to use the Unity Engine to produce 2D arcade games and

installed an operating system on the Raspberry Pi.

TEEN COURT

Chelsea School is proud that our students

have been given the opportunity to participate

in the Prince George's County Teen Court for

the second year now.

Teen Court is a volunteer program that

implements restorative justice, and offers first-

time, non-violent juvenile misdemeanor

offenders an alternative to the juvenile justice

system by allowing them to appear before their

peers and ask for a second chance.

Chelsea students, along with other teens from around Prince George's County, are

given a chance to practice skills such as public speaking, reasoning and decision

making by taking on the jobs of attorneys, bailiffs, clerks and jurors.

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SPECIAL THANKS TO: Kate Fedalen, the Chelsea Board of Governors, Our Donors and Contributors, the Chelsea PTO, Our Dedicated Teachers and Staff, and Our Students: Proving Each

Year That Learning Differences Need Never Be a Barrier to Success

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CONTRIBUTORS:

Copy Writer: David Vest

Graphic Design/Layout: David Vest

Copy Editors: Kate Fedalen, Karen Gallo, Kristal Weems-Bradner, Deb Lourie

Photos: Pete Broyles Aeonic Photography, Carol McFall, Alex Navari, Kristal Weems-Bradner, Deb Lourie, Rik

Goldman

Cover Photo: Jordan Barron

i From The Chelsea School Yearbook, Sept, 1981 ii http://disabilityjustice.org/right-to-education/ iii http://www.kingsbury.org/about/history_philosophy iv https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lab_School_of_Washington v From The Chelsea School Yearbook, Sept, 1986 vi http://usedulaw.com/438-mills-v-board-of-education-of-the-district-of-columbia.html vii Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia, 348 F. Supp. 866 (D.D.C. 1972). viii http://disabilityjustice.org/right-to-education/#cite-note-5 ix Health and Welfare Federal Assistance Application (pdf) x From The Chelsea School Yearbook, Sept, 1986 xi Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Testimony from Interested Parties, Part 2 of 7; Resource Recommendation for Designation on the Master Plan for Historic Preservation, section 36/8: Riggs-Thompson House. Avail. http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/historic/documents/testimony-from-interested-parties-part-2-of-7.PDF