NEWS Summit School

Summit School
NEWS
Autumn 2010
It started out as a little project: Karen was picking up her son from
school one day last January and ran into Mr. Renner. Knowing of her professional experience (as
a graphic designer charged with branding corporations and businesses, creating packaging and
marketing campaigns, as well as setting environmental standards for new office and manufacturing
spaces), Mr. Renner was delighted to have the opportunity to show Karen the addition to the Upper
School, and he decided to ask for her help with hanging some photographs on the wall of the new
conference room. Just a little project and easily accomplished.
Karen was hooked! Yes, the conference room was a small project – but because the Elder family
had been Summit parents for seven years, and here was a way for her to honor the huge difference
Summit has made in the education of her son, Douglas, she wasn’t able to let it go at that. And so,
as things often do, one thing led to another, and another, and another!
Karen took a look at the difference between the new addition and the rest of the school building
and decided to bring her professional expertise into play to ensure that the school could achieve
its goal of having continuity between the two to create a seamless learning center. She knew
without a doubt that it was important not to interrupt what happens at Summit, not to just
change things for the sake of changing them. So before the school year ended, she made time
to meet with every teacher in the Upper School, the clinical staff, teaching assistants, school
administrators, the facility staff, and several students, in order to learn what worked for them
and what didn’t.
Colors were coordinated, lockers were installed in the hallways, flooring was seamlessly laid,
paint was applied, new lighting brightened staircases, and throughout the building striking
photographs taken over the years were displayed to highlight the spark and beauty of Summit
students. “After all,” Karen says, “in the end, it’s not about the building. It’s about the students
and the staff – they bring the building to life.”
We are so very grateful for Karen’s decision to act on her appreciation for Summit’s role in her
family’s life.
Postscript: I would like to thank the entire Summit staff, and especially John Renner, Richard
Sitman, Tina Rosenbaum and Frank Marrone, for entrusting me with your candor and sharing
your ideas. This project and its success is the work of many, and I am deeply honored to work alongside the great talent found throughout The
Summit School. –Karen Elder
Images of Summit students brighten up hallways, offices, and meeting spaces. Francesca Russo stowing her backpack in her new locker.
Summit Directors brush up for the new year:
During the past three summers the Summit facilities have been transformed.
We are delighted that our students have a modern and cheerful school.This past
summer the older wing at our Upper School was renovated, and we are creating
a beautiful outdoor environment at our Lower School. You, our parents made
this possible, and we truly appreciate your generosity.
Yes, it is wonderful that we have modern facilities; however, we know that what
is most important are the people inside our buildings. We both are very proud
to be part of such a competent, enthusiastic, good-natured, and dedicated group
of educators.
We welcome back our returning families and extend a big welcome to our new
families. We are confident that you will quickly become part of the Summit family.
We look forward to working with all of you throughout the school year.
Sincerely,
John Renner and Richard Sitman
Take Us To The Water: In addtion to meeting grade level
expectations, successful academic programs help students fulfill their innate
desires for recognition, accomplishment, and social activities. Lower School
students are fortunate to have the use of a regulation-sized swimming pool in the
basement of their school building where they can frolic, exercise, and relax within
the framework of a structured Swim Program. The Summit Swim Program consists
of six comprehensive levels that teach students how to swim skillfully and safely.
The program gives students a unique and positive learning experience. Each level
includes training in basic water safety, including knowing when and how to call for
help, and how to help a swimmer in distress. All aquatic and safety skills are taught
in a logical progression. The objective is to teach our students to swim and to be
safe in, on, and around the water.
This is Miriam Hammer’s 16th year bringing her expertise and enthusiasm
to Summit’s Swim Program. She holds certification in CPR AED (Automated
External Defibrillators). In addition to her work at Summit, she has been a
waterfront counselor, bringing her expertise in waterfront safety and first aid to day
camps for over 20 years. Her daughter, Esther Yocheved Hammer Schmidt, was a
student at The Summit Upper School from 1993 to 1997.
words of welcome: As your new PA president, I warmly welcome all
new and returning students and parents to The Summit School. I hope your children are
transitioning well and enjoying the start of the new school year. I am proud to announce
that the Summit PA is a very active parent organization that works in conjunction with
the school administration. The Summit PA welcomes parent involvement.
You can become involved in many PA committees. Some of those committees
are: Class Parent Representatives; Spirit (organizing social events for Summit
students); Book Fair; Benefit (an important one-night event, our major fundraiser
of the year); End of Year School Picnic; and Guest Speakers for Parent Education.
We encourage you to come to our next open PA meeting to learn more about how
you can get involved. This meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 22nd, 9:30
a.m., at the Upper School conference room. Joining us is a wonderful way to get
more connected to your child’s school. Please feel free to contact us anytime
at: pa@summitqueens.com.
Finally, I’d like to thank our past president, Amy Maximov, for all her hard work
during the past three years. Amy was instrumental in making The Summit School
PA viable and strong once again. I am fortunate to work with a dedicated group of
PA members who perform many “behind the scenes” jobs that enrich our childrens’
Summit School experience. I look forward to meeting many of you, and I wish
Top L to R: Leah Herman, Emma Barbary Middle: Miriam
your child a successful school year.
Hammer, Bottom L to R: Theo Shapiro, Jason Applebaum,
Fondly,
Nicky Cohen Young, Jakim Poleon, and Aidan Forsythe.
Jill Cohen
yard project nears completion: Currently at the
Lower School, there is no outdoor space for children to play, but the Summit
Restoration Committee has been dedicated to changing that. Many Summit
parents contributed time and money to transform the barren sideyard into a multipurpose yard for children and staff to enjoy. Our heartfelt thanks go to Jeanine
McAdam, Jane Iyer, Paula Beer Levine, Carin van der Donk, Deborra-Lee
Jackman; Swim-A-Thon organizers: Jeanine Mc Adam, Mary Rogers; Runners:
Jon Simon, Sheril Feldman, Karen Hope, Ed Ament, Amy Maximov; and Charity
Buzz Fundraisers: Deborra-Lee Jackman, Hugh Jackman, Vincent D’Onofrio,
Lee Daniels, Kathryn Erbe, Darren Cahill, Matt Pinfield, and Leslie Fram.
new faces of 2010
Polina Shkadron was born in Moscow, Russia, and lived with her family in the Ukraine. In 1993,
at the age of 8, she immigrated to New York. Polina earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication
Sciences and Disorders from Adelphi University, and then earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language
Pathology from CUNY, Queens College.
Polina has experience working with children from birth through adolescence. At the present time, in addition to
working at Summit, she maintains her private practice. Polina is excited to join the staff at Summit and is looking
forward to many years of being part of this professional team.
On a personal note, Polina has participated in sports since the age of 3 and continues to enjoy physical activities,
such as running and weightlifting.
Anna Filosa: A Queens native, Anna attended Hunter College and earned a BA in Psychology. She
holds an MS in Education, and an Advanced Certificate in School Psychology from Brooklyn College, School
Psychology Program.
Anna’s passion has always been to help children and young adults: “I am excited to be working in a school
committed to the well being of its students. Summit provides a safe and supportive environment for the students.
I also take pleasure in witnessing the dedication and mutual respect displayed by the students and staff members.”
Leah Geller: Graduating with a BS in Biology from Hofstra University, Leah earned her MS from
Adelphi in Science Education. Having taught in the public school system, Leah is quite pleased to experience the
intimacy of a small school. It offers her the opportunity to get to know each student individually, which in turn
helps her to help them succeed in Science in a way that works specifically for them. Leah teaches the Regents level
course of Living Environment (the latest terminology for the class we previously called Biology!).
Leah has enjoyed a warm welcome from the staff and particularly enjoys their positive and energetic attitudes.
Summing up her Summit experience so far, Leah had this to say: “This is the way I had always hoped teaching
would be.”
Kathy Jurski: Kathy will be assisting Emily Seltzer, the Director of Transition, as she joins a very
active Summit Transition Team. She will bring her organizational skills to help manage the very complex state
registered, paper-ridden, Work Based Learning Program. With her professional background and quiet warmth,
Kathy will represent the program as she interacts with students, parents, and businesses.
Kathy graduated from Baruch College in Business Communication, specializing in graphic communication.
While in college, she pursued her career in web design and photography at Global Dynamics on Long Island.
Kathy is pleasantly surprised to find out how busy her job at Summit will keep her, and how useful her particular
set of skills will be as she settles in at Summit. Her impressions of Summit:“It feels like family.”
Nicky Nichtern has been associated with Summit since 2007 when she came on board in the early
phases of the Campaign For Kids to assist with strategic planning, fundraising initiatives, and comprehensive graphic
communications. Nicky has had a long career in the world of NYC independent schools for children with learning
disabilities, first as a classroom teacher at Stephen Gaynor School, then as Gaynor’s first Director of Development,
and moving on in 1998 to lead the capital campaign for The Churchill School and Center’s major expansion.
If parents are thinking about launching any fundraising initiatives on behalf of Summit, please contact Nicky
at nnichtern@summitqueens.com. She told us she’ll be wearing her neon green jacket to Summit’s benefit in
November, so make sure to say hello!
The summit school NEWS
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Bridgewaters, Eleven Fulton Street
South Street Seaport
Cocktails, buffet dinner,
live and silent auctions,
raffles, entertainment, and more!
Amy and Lawrence Birnbaum
Honorees
T
I
M
SUMin the
Y
T
I
C
Deborra-Lee & Hugh Jackman
Honorary Chairs
Chaye Zuckerman Shapot
& BJ Langer Broas
Benefit Chairs
School Lower School 2009
witz-Zank, Jane
alumni
parent
Iyer
& Rachel Gibbons
Auction Chairs
Hayley Goldberg
Gift Basket Chair
The Summ
it School B
ene fit
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