Dear Jason,
Since August 2007, I don’t think a day has passed without someone inquiring as to how Tommy is doing at the “new school” (a.k.a The University School of the Lowcountry or USL). My reply is typically, “It has been a wonderful, positive experience and it’s the best decision I could have made”. I go on to describe Tommy as a “shrinking violet” prior to attending USL with declining enthusiasm for school. He had a teacher who actually diagnosed him as having ADD which of course immediately sent me in search of professional advice. After having two medical professionals evaluate Tommy and tell me that he did not have ADD, both doctors asked me if I had considered other schools as an option. The reality was Tommy was not thriving in his previous environment, and it showed in so many ways from his motivation to his self esteem. I could truly write a book about this educational journey and how thankful I am for USL, but I will try to sum it up in a few sentences.
Not only are the children academically challenged, they are also exposed to other life learning experiences that cannot be taught in the traditional classroom setting. I often comment how lucky Tommy is to be attending a school like USL.
To me, the most exciting part of USL is the off-campus activities which give the children “hands on” experience. I have been fortunate enough to accompany the children on a few trips, and I was amazed at what I learned on these excursions. We were able to combine history, science, social studies and actually have fun in the process. The children then discussed and shared their views of things they observed and learned amongst themselves and with the teachers. They were genuinely interested!
Thank you for sticking to your game plan, and your steadfast commitment to provide these children with a unique, challenging education. It’s truly been an amazing experience for us as a family, and I am happy to see Tommy continue to thrive and be excited about learning.
Sincerely,
Cindy & John Albrecht
