I Wept

It was my seventh year as a leader of a school for students with dyslexia, my fifteenth year in education, and my thirty-sixth year as a dyslexic learner. I had given dozens of presentations around the globe about the challenges and opportunities associated with learning differently. I had engaged in hundreds of conversations with parents about their child’s recent diagnosis, using data, research, and my own experiences to assure them that though their path may diverge from others, their children would thrive.

All of this, and when the psychologist shared with my wife and me what we already knew—that our oldest child had dyslexia—I bawled. I cried because I knew what was before him. I cried because the story I had written for him would change. I cried because of my own school scars. I cried because he was me. I cried because it was my fault.

When I talk with my children (my youngest child was diagnosed a few years later) about having dyslexia and (one of them) ADHD, I remind them that they have inherited my gifts. And there will be times in life when they come asking for the receipt. There will be periods when my gifts do not seem to fit and feel less like a present and more like a weight. Especially during their school-age years, they may want to exchange my contributions for the status quo. During these times, I remind them that this is perhaps the most challenging but also best part of my gifts. Having to work harder and differently than their peers may feel like an injustice now but with the right support (and privileges), attitude, and effort, it can pay dividends in the game of life.

As this issue of The Lantern illustrates, dyslexia is complicated. Please enjoy the suite of articles explaining some basics of what dyslexia is—and is not, along with pieces about dyslexia at school, at home, and at work.

While sometimes my own dyslexia does not feel like a gift, I know that I live a life full of gifts because of it. BOOK-OPEN

What’s Cookin’?

Next Stop, Platform 9 ¾

In mid-December, the Elementary•Middle School faculty and staff hosted the inaugural Harry Potter Day for the entire campus. The plan was hatched in mid-September and transfigured into a festive, playful, and competitive day for everyone. Students were sorted into houses from the Harry Potter series with key qualities guiding them through the day. continued on pg. 6

MAKING WAVES

APRIL 12

Gryffindor: courageous, brave, daring

Hufflepuff: loyal, honest, patient Ravenclaw: witty, intelligent, observant

Slytherin: proud, determined, resourceful

GOLF

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Join

The High School Cooking Club kicked off the holiday season with a sushi night. Bayron Contreras, faculty supervisor for the Club said, ”It’s always inspiring when the students come together and choose a dish they want to learn about and cook. The students, with the help of cooking faculty volunteers, were able to execute the plan that resulted in some really delicious and beautiful looking sushi.” We can’t wait to see what else is in store. EVENTS! SEE YOU THIS SPRING

Next Stop, Platform 93/4 continued

The goal was to create a community event to build spirit, a sense of positivity, and teamwork. Students had an opportunity to practice many of the social skills that they learn throughout the year, to celebrate, and have fun.

Teams earned points for participating in positive and constructive ways including: positive cheering; completing tasks within the four main rotations: logic, transfiguration, trivia, and the headless hunt; winning Quidditch matches; participating in outdoor games; making announcements over the loudspeaker; and more. The winner of the day was Gryffindor with a total of 4,202 points.

With teams competing neck and neck throughout the day, Hufflepuff was the last house to enter the meeting room for the final ceremony, when the winner was announced. In matching yellow shirts—and epitomizing the purpose of the day—the students made a dramatic entrance, marching in a conga line chanting “Huffle-HuffleHuff-Puff” to win second place.

EMS plans to make this an annual tradition, selecting a different book or series each year.

Special thanks to the Held Family P’29 for helping to make Harry Potter Day possible.

Kindness, More Than a Theme

At the Elementary•Middle School (EMS), kindness has been a driving force this year. During morning meetings, Mrs. Sullivan, campus head, discussed the idea of community and the importance of kindness within it. She invited students to voluntarily participate in a contest demonstrating what the concept means to them. Of the many submissions, there were three standouts. Grace B. ’30 wrote a poem about how one benefits from acts of kindness. Working as a team, Sasha B. ’31 and Cristina H. ’31 designed a poster that illustrated how kindness looks in their community. They drew pictures of themselves picking up a neighbor’s newspapers and assisting someone crossing the street. They also wrote a paragraph explaining how showing kindness allows you to feel better.

If I Built a Boat…

Several Landmark elementary classes were treated to a special enrichment lesson in October, organized by EMS teacher, Mrs. Parker. Her husband, Will Parker, presented an interesting lesson about the boat-building process. Will currently works at C.W. Hood Yachts, a custom boat company located in Marblehead, Mass. In addition to viewing a digital slide presentation, students got to climb aboard the Athena, a 32-foot wooden sailboat that Will towed up to the EMS campus.

Survival at Sea

Michael J. Tougias, author and professional storyteller, spoke to middle school students at the EMS in November. Tougias is the author of 30 books, seven are about rescues at sea and one was turned into a Disney movie, The Final Hours, starring Chris Pine and Casey Affleck. Tougias prepared a captivating presentation that detailed the harrowing sea rescue of boats off the coast of Manchester and Gloucester during the Blizzard of 1978. Tougias’s captivating stories and his practical advice were well received by all.

Let’s Make Pickles!

Tom Pepin, head of EMS food service, gave Ms. Wilson’s eighthgrade science class a practical lesson on how chemical changes are used in food preparation. Mr. Pepin explained the process of pickling for different vegetables, and the students enjoyed the tasty results of this kitchen chemistry experiment.

Surprise Recognition

Earlier this year, Landmark High School Junior Kacie N. ‘24 and her mom, Cindy, surprised Landmark Elementary•Middle School faculty member, Lauri Johnson, with a very special honor.

Mr. Pepin demonstrates how to pickle a variety of vegetables.

Eighth Graders Bond

Early in the fall, the eighth grade class participated in an off-site bonding event at a local college to kick off the year with energy and focus. The afternoon consisted of team building activities, planning for the year, voting on class representatives, and discussing their class legacy.

Kacie and Cindy had heard about “It’s Not About the Bag,” a program sponsored by the popular women’s bag and accessory company, Consuela, and felt compelled to nominate Ms. Johnson for the award.

In their letter to Consuela, Cindy said, “I truly owe my daughter’s life to Lauri without whom I cannot imagine where we would be.” She describes how Ms. Johnson came to school each day with fresh ideas for how to earn Kacie’s trust and help her achieve success, one small step at a time. “What mother could ever thank a person enough for saving them; for helping them in ways no one else has been able to? She showed my daughter that she was capable of learning anything—truly the gift of education.”

Fall Athletes of the Week

Max Ash ’23, Golf

Katie Davagian ‘23, Girls Varsity Soccer

Caitlin Garcia Stenson ‘23, Volleyball

Sean Hoey ’24, Boys Varsity Soccer

Ermiyas Johnson ’26, Cross Country

Miles Parker ’26, Junior Varsity Soccer

Ella Twomey ’25, Cross Country

Lily Vaughan ’24

Girls Varsity Soccer

Brady Yutkins ’26

Cross Country

High School Student Council

This fall, Landmark High School held Student Council elections with several brave students making stump speeches in front of the entire student body, faculty, and staff. Students elected Rocco C. ’23 as president, Jack B. ’23 as vice president, and Derek C. ’24 as treasurer.

In addition to organizing campuswide events, the Student Council raises money for organizations near and far, including the Open Door Food Pantry in Gloucester, Beverly Bootstraps, nAGLY, Ddembe Home Uganda, Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (NPH), and many more.

Debate, Alive and Well at Landmark

High School debate students spent several months debating the merits of U.S. Supreme Court term limits, investments in high-speed rail, and the country’s strategy of great power competition. Debaters extensively researched the topics, developed arguments supporting each side of the issues, and then debated a side determined by the flip of a coin. The exercise helped them develop and hone skills in research, case writing, speech, and debate. Congrats to our debaters: Andre G. ’24, Ben A. ’24, Blade S. ’23, Dylan A. ’23, Elijah A. ’23, Kaden J. ’24, and Luke G. ’23.