The sounds of children playing fill the air as New Summit School Headmaster Dr. Nancy New prepares to celebrate the expansion of her school. New Summit serves students who have special educational needs. Some have learning disabilities, some need tutoring, some are autistic, and some are just plain too smart for regular schools. Why a student comes to New Summit doesn't matter as much to Dr. New as does her mission: educating the child to the best of his ability.
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| The new building. |
Dr. New said the school demolished two wooden buildings to make way for the new addition. The $2.3 million building will house a gym, technology lab, science lab, 14 classrooms, and even a life function room (Think Home Ec on steroids.). Dr. New said the expansion will allow New Summit to add up to 45 students to the population. She said a loan from Regions Bank financed the construction while private fund-raising paid for some equipment as well.
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| The new gym. |
The new gym will allow the school to field a basketball team in addition to other sports such as archery, cross country, golf, and baseball. The 15,000 square foot building triples the size of the two previous buildings that once stood on the site. New Summit was using a room that doubled as the gym and cafeteria.
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| New science lab. Tables move up and down. |
New Summit serves approximately 200-250 students during the year. The average class size is eight to ten students. The school offers a traditional school-day routine and scheduled classes but the classes themselves differ from the "traditional" school. The school tailors an educational plan for each student. Students attend New Summit for a variety of reasons. Some suffer from learning disabilities while others have autism. The school also offers ABA therapy for students with autism. Dr. New said the school also has students who developed ADD due to their environment and not clinical reasons, i.e., they were too smart for a regular curriculum and became bored in class. She said "we meet the student where he is." Students can take advanced placement classes as well. 13 students graduated in 2014. Ten scholarships were offered to students as well. One foreign language is offered each year to students.
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Typical classroom in new building.
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Tuition is $8,300 per year and is all-inclusive of expenses. No "nickle and diming" parents during the school year takes place- a common complaint heard about other schools, public and private. The school requires students to perform 100 hours of community service. The school has a campus in Greenwood and even one in Costa Rica. The foreign campus is for U.S. Nationals only. It has 32 students. However, the heart of the system is the Jackson campus as parents drive from as far away as Louisiana, Meridian, and Hattiesburg every day to help their children obtain the education offered by New Summit.
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| Gift store will be coming soon to New Summit. |
17 comments:
Sponsored content?
So I do a story about a school that serves kids with special needs, a nice positive story, and all you can do is take potshots.
scumbag.
The first paragraph reads like sponsored content, so I was just asking.
I mean, if I was going to take a pot shot I would have said that the only people I know that went there were delinquents who flunked out of other private schools, some of whom are dead from drug overdoses or in prison.
Several young people I know have landed at New Summit after problems, learning and otherwise. All have graduated or are still there. Seems to fill a big need in the area. I don't think everyone who needs it even knows about it.
and I know one kid there who suffers from autism and was really mistreated in Rankin schools.
I just sent my first JJ donation, Kingfish, because I appreciate this post, unlike at least one other reader whose comment I found quite offensive.
I have a child at New Summit. She could not cope with the demands of traditional school--and this isn't sour grapes: the prior school tried to meet her needs, but they just weren't cut out for her special needs. My daughter is on the autism spectrum, but high functioning enough that you might think she's just ill-mannered and/or slow. She is neither. New Summit has been a godsend for our family, because trying to help my daughter make it in traditional school took a real toll on us all. No school is perfect, and certainly one that is accepting students with special needs is going to face challenging students. We cannot fault New Summit for welcoming challenging students when we are so thankful to find a school where our daughter can be more successful. Educational options are very limited for students on the spectrum, particularly if the local school district's special ed programs are lacking (which ours is). I have older children who have sailed through traditional school, so I feel like I have seen both sides of this coin. Yet I can't for the life of me understand one's need to criticize or stand in judgment of this valuable alternative, this safe place, if you will, for students who (speaking here just for my own daughter), in a traditional school, fell further and further behind academically and became more and more isolated socially. I, for one, am eternally grateful for New Summit and the opportunities it's provided my child.
So proud for Dr. New. This school really did us a service and brought a lovely 12 year old up to a good solid grade level in math so she could keep from being held back. We will forever be grateful New Summit was there. Love that you got a gym for your students and other beautiful new areas. Proud for Jackson to have this great asset. Thanks for reporting, Kingfish
Always dangerous to be sincere around this group. Thank you for taking the time for a thoughtful and encouraging post. "Though the wrong seems oft so strong," it is not going to disable folks like Dr. New. Or you, Kingfish.
My son has Autism and was being picked on in public school (won't say which one because it doesn't matter). This is his 2nd year at New Summit and he is like a different person. Can't say enough good about Nancy New and the teachers at NS. So far it has been life altering.
My kid may still end up at New Summit - this year's been pretty good, but ya never know. Thanks for the post.
Congratulations to New Summit and I wish you all continued success. This school has helped a lot of kids and more and more I see a need for a school like this to handle special needs kids. I applaud any institution that can help the children become productive adluts who can live with the talents, skills and problems that they have been blessed and burdened with. Continued success
It's quite OK to have differing opinions and we should also celebrate the fact that we can express them most any way we want to.
Don't jump on those who post differently or feel differently from the way you post and feel. When you do that, it is you who is being non-inclusive and YOU who want all other people to feel the way you do.
I'm addressing this primarily to those above who think they have a right or a calling to jump the poster who dared to question the initial post on the thread.
This is not the Glee Club or the Cheering Section or The Pep Squad. Rather it shouldn't be.
it's amazing the number of students from traditional schools, public and private, who find their way to new summit....the school does a very good job meeting their needs
This is one of the best schools around. These children are not delinquents that have been kicked out of schools. These are kids that need professionals to help them meet their best ability of academics and social skills. There's many different special area therapy to help the children with dyslexia, reading, and math. The kids in one class could range from K level-5th grade. However, they are all about the same age. Their learning is specific and personalized. I've seen miracles happen there everyday. Many kids there were bullied at private schools and just want to have friends and fit in and some have severe autism and sensory processing disorder and they need the smaller teacher/student ratio. So say what you want about the school. Unless you are a parent, student, or staff member there it's hard to understand the beauty and power of the school. It's amazing!
I hope the anonymous poster at the beginning of the comments never has a child with a need for a school such as New Summit. They have some of the brightest kids around! Smart kids who do well academically, they just prefer a smaller classroom environment. They also have some of the best teachers ever. Teachers who care about the kids and love what they do.
To the anonymous poster...I think that you should pay New Summit a visit. There is nothing delinquent about these children. The are children that did not thrive in the public school system that New Summit has been able to work wonders for. I have two children at New Summit and I wouldn't take them anywhere else. It is the best environment and has been a great resource for my family.
I knew very little about this school before reading your article, KF, and am glad you wrote it. Truth to tell, I had the vague impression that it was sort of a holding pen for problem kids from families who could afford the usual area private schools---but who were not welcome because of their problems. I'm glad this alternative exists for them.
Burke loves to quote hymns, but I disagree that "the wrong...seems oft so strong." in this case. The "wrong" (i.e., the bored Anonymous whose silly comments you let pass) is not strong at all...just...a numbskull.
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