Let's Send Melissa to Morningside!
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Melissa is a smart, funny, strong, loving 13 year old girl in 6th grade - with learning disabilities. If something doesn't change immediately, she is on a track that isn't good. After 5 years of special education, her reading has dropped to a 3rd grade level and her self-esteem is at a zero.
She has had one obstacle after another to overcome since she was born. Her dad, my husband Steve Clough, died when she was 4. She's had issues with her ears since birth, countless ear infections, ear tubes x10, a major ear surgery when she was 11. All issues that have impacted her hearing, her learning and her self-esteem. She repeated Kindergarten because the school she was in didn't know how to handle her learning differences.
She changed schools in 3rd grade due to her learning disabilities. She moved from the small school she'd been involved in since she was 3, to a school that was bigger and she knew almost no one. She started special- ed classes in 2nd grade, leaving the school she was in for an hour and a half each day, returning to questions from friends and missed class time. When she switched schools, she was in a school with a special education dept and would be pulled from her regular classroom, sometimes 4 times a day, to get focused work at her level and in a small environment. 3rd grade was a very hard year socially as she did not make many friends - coming in to already formed relationships is tough. She did make some progress with an amazing Sp. Ed teacher that year, but since then, she has not made much progress.
She has suffered through teachers that don't understand her and some that have been inappropriate and mean. She is that kid that is very well behaved and so good at looking like she knows what's going on that she flys under the radar. She truly hates being different and hates anyone knowing she's "different".
She is now in middle school, a 6th grader, and is sinking - fast. She has struggled with depression for the past year, has missed many days of school and has suffered thru health issues that are anxiety driven. She is desperately in need of something good- something that will truly help her and change her life forever. That thing is Morningside Academy in Seattle. It is a small school in Seattle that is specially designed just for amazing kids like Melissa. She went to visit for a day last Spring and instantly felt like she belonged there, knew it was for her and her unique, beautiful brain. It's expensive, a small school with small classes. $22,500/year and there is no way I can afford it on my own. The school has told me they could provide some financial aid but it's still out of reach.
There are always things you cannot afford for your children but I so wish that an appropriate education wasn't one of them. I hate to put all this out there for everyone I know - and those I don't - but that is how important it is to me that Melissa go to this school for the next 2-3 years. I have seen the miracles this school has worked with other kids and I want that for her. I know she has such a bright future in front of her if she lands softly in the right spot. That spot is Morningside.
Thank you for your gifts, your thoughts and your prayers. I appreciate each and every one.
I anticipate $5-$10,000 per year in Financial Aid from Morningside Academy, leaving $10,000-$15,000 as my responsibility. I will contribute all that I can and have already committed to volunteering as many hours as possible each year.
She has had one obstacle after another to overcome since she was born. Her dad, my husband Steve Clough, died when she was 4. She's had issues with her ears since birth, countless ear infections, ear tubes x10, a major ear surgery when she was 11. All issues that have impacted her hearing, her learning and her self-esteem. She repeated Kindergarten because the school she was in didn't know how to handle her learning differences.
She changed schools in 3rd grade due to her learning disabilities. She moved from the small school she'd been involved in since she was 3, to a school that was bigger and she knew almost no one. She started special- ed classes in 2nd grade, leaving the school she was in for an hour and a half each day, returning to questions from friends and missed class time. When she switched schools, she was in a school with a special education dept and would be pulled from her regular classroom, sometimes 4 times a day, to get focused work at her level and in a small environment. 3rd grade was a very hard year socially as she did not make many friends - coming in to already formed relationships is tough. She did make some progress with an amazing Sp. Ed teacher that year, but since then, she has not made much progress.
She has suffered through teachers that don't understand her and some that have been inappropriate and mean. She is that kid that is very well behaved and so good at looking like she knows what's going on that she flys under the radar. She truly hates being different and hates anyone knowing she's "different".
She is now in middle school, a 6th grader, and is sinking - fast. She has struggled with depression for the past year, has missed many days of school and has suffered thru health issues that are anxiety driven. She is desperately in need of something good- something that will truly help her and change her life forever. That thing is Morningside Academy in Seattle. It is a small school in Seattle that is specially designed just for amazing kids like Melissa. She went to visit for a day last Spring and instantly felt like she belonged there, knew it was for her and her unique, beautiful brain. It's expensive, a small school with small classes. $22,500/year and there is no way I can afford it on my own. The school has told me they could provide some financial aid but it's still out of reach.
There are always things you cannot afford for your children but I so wish that an appropriate education wasn't one of them. I hate to put all this out there for everyone I know - and those I don't - but that is how important it is to me that Melissa go to this school for the next 2-3 years. I have seen the miracles this school has worked with other kids and I want that for her. I know she has such a bright future in front of her if she lands softly in the right spot. That spot is Morningside.
Thank you for your gifts, your thoughts and your prayers. I appreciate each and every one.
I anticipate $5-$10,000 per year in Financial Aid from Morningside Academy, leaving $10,000-$15,000 as my responsibility. I will contribute all that I can and have already committed to volunteering as many hours as possible each year.
Organizer
Wendy Burns Clough
Organizer
Redmond, WA
