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THE FLETCHER SCHOOLTHE RANKIN INSTITUTE8500 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270

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The “Point” of the StoryIn 1969 Mac Fletcher was sitting in an airport restaurant in Chicago, IL, when he drew a simple idea for his company’s logo on the back of a cocktail napkin. The exclamation point that he drew came to represent the sales promotion company of Fletcher-Barnhardt & White and became an industry icon. As most of you know, Mac was one of the original founders of The Fletcher School. In honor of him, we named our publication “Exclamations!”

We hope you will nd that it features some of the exciting and not-to-be-missed happenings of The Fletcher School.

what’s inside!Be There Dad Workshops. . . . . . 3The Process of Mainstreaming . 4Annual Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7Envision Tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . 8New Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Parents’ Council . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Commencement/Seniors. . 13-14Fletcher Abroad. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17Faculty Appreciation . . . . . . . . . 19

board of trustees 2012-13 Kelly Graves, Chairman Ted Laporte, Treasurer Elliott Crutch eld, SecretaryMichael Kahn, At-Large Chris BerryMike BlairBill Byron Steve CherokRobert Deaton Tom Dulin Laura EdwardsFletcher Gregory Al Guarnieri Rick HopkinsBryan Ives Reid LeggettTony Orsbon Vick Phillips Kama Pierce Anne PipkinMark RyanJohn Scott Bob SpeizmanSteve Sutherland

Margaret Sigmon, Ex Of cioJulie Peach, Ex Of cio

SUMMER 2013

exclamations A NEWSLETTER FOR THE FRIENDS AND FAMILIES OF THE FLETCHER SCHOOL AND THE RANKIN INSTITUTE

THE FLETCHER SCHOOL THE RANKIN INSTITUTE

8500 SARDIS ROAD CHARLOTTE, NC 28270

The Rankin Institute at The Fletcher School is very pleased to bring back Kirk and Casey Martin for the 2014 Fletcher Forum. The Martins presented a very successful program last November on Celebrating Calm in our lives at home, school, and work. In February they will further coach us to create calm by motivating children, especially strong-willed children.

The 16th Annual Fletcher Forum Proudly Welcomes BackKirk & Casey Martin

A few of the topics the Martins will address: Get your kids and students to listen the rst time.

Say no, and stop the entitlement mentality.

Stop the eye-rolling and backtalk immediately.

Motivate unmotivated kids and stop the endless texting and video games.

Improve focus, follow through, and grades.

“I thought the presentation ‘Celebrate Calm’ was excellent! I’ve read a lot of books on behavior

management, and I’ve engaged in a lot of professional development seminars on the topic, including an

entire week one summer at a ‘Responsive Classroom’ institute. What I haven’t gotten that I think Mr. Martin

provides is very strong, practical suggestions for dealing with and understanding those students who do not

respond to the usual techniques and strategies.” –Mrs. Gleason, 1st Grade Teacher / Teacher of the Year

“I recommend ‘Celebrate Calm’ as a resource to parents. The families I serve commonly hear me sharing

‘pearls’ I have learned from Kirk. We were fortunate to have Kirk and Casey give outstanding presentations

in Rochester, one for teachers and another for parents and kids. I recommend parents sign up for the free

weekly newsletter and other resources.” – A. W. Atkinson, MD; Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician;

Bluestem Center for Child & Family Development

Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 6th, when we will offer two community sessions, one in the morning and one in the evening. An all-day teacher workshop is scheduled for Friday, February 7th.

We hope you’ll join us for what will surely be an educational experience for everyone. Registration is required for these events and will open in August. To register, visit The Fletcher School’s website and click on the Rankin Institute Registration button on the home page.

2 ! the etcher school

Dear Fletcher Community,

The 2012-13 school year has been one of looking back at our history and of looking forward to our future! As we celebrated the 30th birthday of The Fletcher School in 2012, we ended the year with a Grandfriends’ Day Celebration that exceeded all expectations. On November 19th we hosted over 110 grandfriends for a morning program focused on the successes of our students. Two “heroes” returned to speak to this audience and express their appreciation for the change that Fletcher made in their lives. Genny Ives (see page 14) and Raymond Lupse certainly exemplify the types of students who have bene tted from their Fletcher experience, but there are many more and in many different shapes and sizes.

As to the future, The Fletcher Board of Trustees adopted a new Strategic Plan in May, 2012, to help set the direction of the School for the next 3-5 years. The last Strategic Plan was written in 2007 for a 5-year period. All objectives of that plan have been accomplished. The new Plan targets the 7 areas highlighted to the right.

As these areas of focus guide The Fletcher School for the next 3-5 years, I am con dent that we will continue to offer our students and families the highest quality educational program available for students with speci c learning disabilities and/or ADHD in the Mecklenburg area.

We have already taken several steps toward the stated goals by hiring Lindsey Field as Director of Development in order to free Susie Harris to function full-time as the Assistant Head of School. We have also hired Jenny Grabiec as the Director of Instructional Technology to assist teachers with the integration of technology into the classroom.

We are positioning our School to be on the cutting edge of technology while keeping our original mission of multisensory, structured, and individualized instruction. We are enthusiastic about the opportunities to keep up with the ever changing world of technology in education!

This is an exciting time to be part of The Fletcher School,

Letter from Margaret Sigmon, Head of School

CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMS: While continuing to offer a college preparatory program with a strong emphasis on the core disciplines of reading, writing, and math, we recognize the need to offer additional courses and programs to help our students succeed and develop their strengths.

TECHNOLOGY: Integrating technology into a Fletcher education is critical to helping our students become concise communicators, discerning researchers, and persuasive leaders in the 21st century. We recognize that we must enhance our learning environment by providing state-of-the-art technology and one-to-one computing programs.

FACILITY: With the completion of our campus including the classroom wings and gymnasium, we will turn our attention to enhancing our learning environment by providing ample and optimal space for all of our programs.

FACULTY/STAFF: Recognizing that our faculty and staff are the key to the quality of instruction and programming for our students and families, we must continue to attract and retain the most quali ed staff. This requires offering competitive compensation packages, opportunities for training and growth, and succession plans for key administrative positions.

LEADERSHIP: Recognizing that leadership begins with a strong Board of Trustees comprised of bold leaders, we will continue to strengthen and diversify the Board.

FINANCIAL STABILITY: As we work to ensure stability for the School, we also desire to broaden our nancial aid program, wisely monitor our bond repayment, and add to the reserves through prudent budgeting.

SUSTAINABILITY: Recognizing that there are only two sources of revenue for the school–tuition and donations–we will strive to increase contributions through fundraising and reduce our reliance on tuition. This will involve opportunities for growth in diversity, early intervention, alumni, and use of social media.

Head of School Margaret Sigmon

exclamations ! 19

Each year, with the help of The Parents’ Council, Margaret Sigmon recognizes the faculty and staff of The Fletcher School for their dedication to the school and all they have done for our students and their families.

During the week of activities, teachers were honored with a “Spring Fever” luncheon and a generous gift. The luncheon, organized by parents Leslie Duffy, Ellen Daniel, Julie Peach, and Sara Waters, featured a slide show of all of those being recognized for reaching milestone anniversaries. While every year of service is noteworthy, faculty and staff members who have given extended time to The Fletcher School are celebrated.

Margaret with Kenneth Barnett and Lee McRae as they are recognized for ten years of service to the school.

Parents’ Council volunteers Leslie Duffy, Ellen Daniel and Julie Peach make Faculty Appreciation week a tremendous success!Cyndi Oklar celebrates ve years!Angie Lindsey simply glows

after ten years!

exclamations ! 19

Twenty Years:Bess Forshaw

Ten Years:Kenneth Barnett

Susie HarrisAngie Lindsey

Lee McRaeJulie Person

Ceres Vandiver

Five Years:Stefany FerrellJoanie GerkenJames Higgs

Susan MunsonCyndi Oklar

Stephanie Townsend

This year’s list of honorees included the following:

Faculty Appreciation 2013Bess Forshaw Celebrates Twenty Years

Margaret Sigmon and Laura Hutchison “crown” a jubilant Bess Forshaw after twenty years at Fletcher!

My little sister, Taylor, has Batten disease, a rare brain disorder that causes blindness, seizures, and cognitive and motor impairment. But that didn’t stop her from signing up for Girls on the Run in the fall of 2008, at the start of her 5th grade year at The Fletcher School. The degenerative disease had already stolen her vision and made it dif cult for her to learn new things, but more than anything, Taylor wanted to be a normal kid, and she dared Batten disease to get in her way.

In the afternoons after school, Taylor and her girlfriends met at the track for practice. They developed good tness habits and learned about teamwork, and they learned to believe in themselves. An upper school student named Mary-Kate stayed after school to practice with the younger girls. When it came time to walk or run around the Fletcher track, she and Taylor each took one end of a modi ed jump rope– my sister’s lifeline to a normal experience she desperately craved.

At the last practice of the semester, the girls ran a “practice” 5K around the school track. All of the other girls nished their laps before Taylor and Mary-Kate. Then, as the pair rounded the corner and began their nal lap, something magical happened. One by one, everybody on the sideline joined my sister and her sighted guide on the track. Soon, the whole team, plus the coaches and others there to watch the practice, fell into stride with my sister and ran her nal lap with her.

The team’s rst REAL race took place on a chilly morning that December at the Jingle Jog 5K, run on the streets of uptown Charlotte in conjunction with the Thunder Road Marathon and Half Marathon. Mary-Kate told us that Taylor stumbled and fell several times on the course, but that after each fall, she pulled herself up, said she could keep running, and did just that. The tethered pair nished the race in just under an hour. Watching them cross that nish line remains one of the most moving things I’ve ever witnessed. So when the trees bloomed that next spring, I started running for Taylor.

I’ve run thousands of miles for Taylor since that day at the nish line of the Jingle Jog 5K. I’ve shaved more than 30 minutes off my half marathon time since my rst go at the 13.1 distance in 2009. I’ve won awards and set a string of personal records this spring. But I’ve never come close to achieving the kind of feat my sister accomplished, because I’ve run every race with the bene t of my vision. That’s why, to honor the 5-year anniversary of her incredible achievement, I’ll run the 2013 Thunder Road Half Marathon blindfolded.

Run to the Light By Laura King Edwards

I’ll be tethered to my good friend, Andrew Swistak. Andrew is an avid runner and is also the IT director at Fletcher, where my sister spent 6 wonderful years and met many sighted guides–all of them her guardian angels. I’ve spent the past month practicing with my sighted guide, and I remain in awe of Taylor’s spatial awareness and courage. Andrew and I have some work to do between now and November 16, but we’ll be ready.

I’m doing this to honor Taylor’s courage and raise awareness of Batten disease, but also to help fund the ght for a treatment for kids like her. Our organization, Taylor’s Tale, supports research and awareness of Batten disease in many ways.

To learn more about us, visit www.taylorstale.org. You can also subscribe to my blog at www.writethehappyending.com to follow our training and the work of Taylor’s Tale.

Above: Taylor King and running partner Mary-Kate perform a guided run during Girls on the Run at Fletcher in 2008.

Left: Laura King Edwards takes on the challenge of running the Thud Road Half Marathon blindfolded in her sister’s honor and to raise awareness for Batten disease.

18 ! the etcher school exclamations ! 3

Recently, a niece of mine had her rst baby. This heart-warming occasion reminded me of choosing names for my own children years ago. Should we include family names? How will the full name sound as the bearer walks across the stage during high school graduation? Given names are very important. They are the child’s rst title in life.

But I have learned something else about names, too. What people actually call us may be even more signi cant than our given name. Nicknames re ect our personalities, our character, and our relationships. At some point, the words on the cake change from “Happy Birthday, Betty” to “Happy Birthday, Grandma.” Nicknames describe our uniqueness and are part of our biography.

On Father’s Day, I received envelopes with the name “Dad” written in the hand of each of my children. There is only one person my children call by that name. No one else has that honor. It is the word that describes the person I hope they see. They call me Dad.

As the famous quote goes, “Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.” Dad is engaged with his children. Dad is involved. Dad does his best to help his children nd their way. Mostly, Dad is present and loves his kids. Fathers want to be called Dad. But it is not always easy. So, how can we meet this challenge? Common sense and an objective look at reality tell us that the positive presence of a father in a child’s life has a bene cial impact.

Again this year, dads will come together in Be There Dad workshops to support each other to become and stay the dads they want to be amid the noise, confusion, and hectic schedules of everyday life. I will lead four evening workshops, sharing the “parables of my life” to stimulate conversation. We will share our own concerns and successes in raising our children. We will talk about ways to solidify our relationships with our children; how to set priorities and be more involved; how to improve our communication; and how to measure success as fathers. In a relaxed atmosphere, we will nd support from other dads who feel the same as we do. I invite all dads to join us. Even if you came to a previous workshop, please come again, as we continue on the ever-changing and always challenging journey of fatherhood.

I hope to see you there!

They call me “Dad” Be There Dad Workshops Offer Support on the Journey of Fatherhood

Jeff Usher

by “Coach” Jeff Usher

Be There Dad 2013-14 Workshop Dates

October 8, 2013December 10, 2013

February 11, 2014April 19, 2014

Fletcher Welcomed New Faculty Members In 2012-13JULIE CRIBB (Grade 6 Language Arts and Science): Julie has a degree in Special Education from East Carolina University. She taught for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and is a former Teacher of the Year nominee!

AUDREY GAUSS (Upper School History): Audrey graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and then moved to New York City to work for Teach for America. While in NYC, she earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She is uent in four languages.

KATE DULL (Grade 4 Math and Social Studies/Science): Kate is from Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Miami University of Ohio and taught for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

KATE STIRLING (Grade 6 Language Arts and Science): Kate earned her undergraduate degree from The University of Illinois and her Masters in English from The Citadel. She went on to teach at the Citadel, but has also taught Middle School and High School.

KATIE BROWN (Grades 2/3 Social Studies/Science and Grades 4/5 Math): Katie is from Charlotte. She received a Master’s Degree from The University of South Carolina and has taught for many years in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Pictured from left to right: Julie Cribb, Audrey Gauss, Kate Dull, Kate Stirling. Not pictured: Katie Brown


The needs of a “mainstreaming family” are dif cult to serve in a group setting because each family and each student has a different agenda. For exam-ple, some parents are questioning whether or not their child is ready to leave Fletcher; whereas, other parents believe their child is ready, but they are not sure where they should look for an appropriate placement. Some parents are interested in mainstream-ing to public school and are concerned with the programs that protect them by law- namely, the 504 plan and the IEP. Other parents are attracted to private schools and are paying attention to the accommodations available at each school.

Often the decision to leave Fletcher is not clear. Typical questions are: How much should I listen to my child’s desire to leave? Will my child’s chances of being accepted to a “good college” be compromised if he stays? Will we be able to afford to stay? If the new school doesn’t work out, will we be able to come back? Can Fletcher tell us what school is best? Is the high school rigorous enough to prepare my child for college work?

Keeping in mind the need to individualize, we have re-vamped our mainstreaming process to focus on each student. When a parent expresses a desire to consider mainstreaming, he or she is offered a conference with Helen Weaver, Director of Assessment. She will discuss mainstreaming in whatever context the parent wishes. She will be prepared to look at readiness in relationship to the child’s Woodcock Johnson test scores. She can offer a list of psychologists, should a new educational evaluation be necessary. She will confer with the parent about whether or not the student should take the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) and how to obtain accom-modations for that test. She will give the parent the names of former Fletcher families who have completed the mainstreaming process and who can relate experiences, good and bad, with the school in question. She can provide a list of admissions dates and deadlines for area private schools.

Meeting with Helen is only the rst step in the process. Armed with information from that rst conference, the parent is now on a path of discovery, including visiting possible schools. The parent is now prepared with a list of questions to evaluate each school in relation to the needs of the child.

The most important recommendation will come from the student’s teachers during the mainstreaming conference. At this meeting, par-ents will hear about the strengths and weaknesses of their child as observed by the teachers. If the teaching team recommends main-streaming, the parent can expect to be given speci c suggestions as part of a proposal to the new school to make the transition as successful as possible.

Individualizing the Process of Mainstreaming

Helen WeaverAssessment Director

Thirty-one students - 13% of the student body - mainstreamed this past year. … Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for

the miracle that Fletcher has performed for us over the past ve years as our child has learned to do mathematics, write, and to love reading for pleasure--something we were afraid he would never be able to do--and to love his time in school.

... It is with a heavy heart that we leave Fletcher! Fletcher has been a life changing experience for us, and I cannot begin to thank everyone at the school for all that they’ve done over the last four years!

… We have loved everything about Fletcher! The teachers and staff are excellent and seem to really care about my child as an individual. He is not very social, and I was afraid that nding friends would be an issue. Not so. He has some wonderful friends that he does not want to leave. He loves to come to school every day and is sad when there is a break!

… Please know that we will always be grateful for his years at Fletcher. He has made amazing progress due in large part to the Fletcher program, his teachers’ knowledge, and unending patience with him.

… What a proud moment to watch our son graduate last week! We have watched him revel in his accomplishments this year. This is what successful teaching is all about. All of you have nurtured him until now, and he has been launched into the world.

… I would like you to know the impact Fletcher athletics has had on my child. Your staff worked their magic with him just like they have in school. They welcomed him, encouraged him, and removed his fears. It allowed him to make friends and feel accepted. When a child discovers a passion for something, it wins a lot of battles! exclamations ! 17

Reid Dillon Headed to UNC Asheville for TennisOn April 30, 2013, Reid Dillon signed a national letter of intent to play tennis at UNC Asheville. Dillon is the rst Fletcher student to of cially sign to play for a Division I NCAA University.

Shown left to right: Kelly Graves, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Adele Dillon, Reid Dillon, Mark Dillon

Soccer player Will Stone receives the Sportsmanship Award.

Tennis player Jeffrey Gore receives the Most Valuable Player Award.

Varsity Boys Soccer Conference Champs: Tripp Ashe, Ethan Coffman, Hunter Cox, Taylor Daniel, Max Kahn, Chip Kiefner, Mike Lang, James Miralia, Panou Papageorge, Will Stone, Jonathan Taylor, Austin Whelpley,

Jacob Wicker, Everett Wickwire, and Mike Wolfe

Cross Country Champs: Pictured: Front, L-R: Scott Wallace (V), Kendall Duffy (V), Maggie Rose Bontempo (MS), Summer Dougherty (MS), Caroline Banks (MS) , Jack Andreozzi (MS),Timothy Kasimir (MS) Back, L-R:

Coach Swistak, Andrew Gertner (MS), Hunter Cox (V), Zach Dougherty (V), Matt Alexander (V), Luke Lemons (MS), Coach Hipkins Not Pictured: Luke Bennett (MS)


The Athletic program boasted a record number of participants this year with the BOYS’ BASKETBALL and GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL programs elding both Middle School and Varsity teams. All three seasons produced exciting competition, and the cheerleading team returned to heighten school spirit!

The fall Athletic season wrapped up with two new championship trophies! The GIRLS’ MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY team brought home a championship trophy with Caroline Banks, Maggie Rose Bontempo, and Summer Dougherty nishing strong.

The BOYS’ MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY team nished 2nd in the conference championships, and the Boys’ Varsity Cross Country Team rounded the season out with a strong 3rd place nish. Congratulations to all of our cross country athletes!

BOYS’ VARSITY SOCCER fought to pull out a victory and a conference championship trophy as well! This team came up with the win while earning the utmost respect from their opponent.

The highest of compliments are sometimes earned from the opponents themselves. Here is what the competition said about our soccer team:

“Your team played fantastic, defended brilliantly at the end, and fully deserved the victory. Well done! The commitment and passion of your entire team was a joy to watch. It was evident that your entire team was uni ed in their efforts to give everything for each other and the team ... We hope we made your team better and we know that last night your team de nitely brought the best out of us and pushed us to be our best.’” - Opponent’s Coach

Well done Tripp Ashe, Ethan Coffman, Hunter Cox, Taylor Daniel, Max Kahn, Chip Kiefner, Mike Lang, James Miralia, Panou Papageorge, Will Stone, Jonathan Taylor, Austin Whelpley, Jacob Wicker, Everett Wickwire, and Mike Wolfe.

The VOLLEYBALL teams set Fletcher records for the most wins in a season. The Middle School team took 4th place in the conference tournament with Jayden Kraziel winning both All-Tournament and All-Conference awards. Varsity players Makayla Somers and Ashley Simpson brought home All-Conference and All-Tournament awards, respectively.

The GIRLS’ BASKETBALL team nished 3rd place in the conference tournament. Both BOYS’ BASKETBALL levels nished strong. All-Conference award winners were: Charlotte Frank for the Girls, Jack Bennett for the Boys’ Middle School, and Caleb Abbott for the Boys’ Varsity. All-Tournament award winners were: Bianca Seagraves for the Girls, Connor Plunkett for the Boys’ Middle School and Tripp Ashe for the Boys’ Varsity.

Athletics Awards

Coach Elliott with gang

Coach Hipkins with trophy

2013 Fletcher Athlete of the Year Tripp Ashe with his mom, Elizabeth.

THE FLETCHER SCHOOL

SUPPORTERS 2012-13

Patrons Club$5,000+AnonymousThe Chris and Laura Berry FamilySally GambrellBryan and Gibbs IvesJohn M Belk Educational EndowmentThe Michael Kahn FamilyJohn and Civil McGowanJeff and MC PilonJohn and Ann Porter IIIMark and Dawn RyanJohn ScottEric and Annette TelljohannJohn and Debby WallaceTom and Jeanne Wickwire

Founders Club$2,500 - $4,999Walter BrinkleyThe Cherok FamilyChris and Liz ChokaJay and Ellen DanielClyde and Dorothy DicksonAndy and Cathy DulinTom and Jo Claire DulinBrotherhood FoundationJeff and Liz GoreKelly and Meredith GravesAl and Kristen GuarnieriGreg and India KeithBarrett and Astri KollmeBeverly LeahyBruce Levy and Ragnhild DaasvandDebbie LongJohn and Andra NormanKurt and Andrea PowellClyde and Carol PreslarFred and Ann TannerGeordie and Gray WalkerWarco Construction Company

Fletcher Club$1,000 - $2,499AnonymousEarl and Markay AlfordDr. and Mrs. William S. Ashe, Jr.Charlie and Karen BaldBrian and Elizabeth BarberyPeter and Winslow BarlowKenneth and Christina BenkeserPhil and Tracy BennettSteven and Sarah BerrardSmoky Bissell and Margaret GraggMichael and Elizabeth BlairJohn and Lou Boyte

Bill and Dana ByronBrandon and Ellen CarterDavid and Jo ClarkTom and Marcy CokerPhilip and Lisa CopeElliott and Lynn Crutch eldRobert and Gaither DeatonGeorge and Meg DeweyThe Dickson Foundation, Inc.Glenn and Leslie DuffyMike and Kim FarrMimi and James FountainScott and Debbie FrailCharlie and Caren GaleGlenn and Krissa GastonDavid and Marianne GertnerHeath and Cherise GilbertBrian and Christy GordonJeff and Bari GorelickJennifer GuthrieDaniel and Karen HowardBill and Anna HullMartin and Page HullMatt and Shaughn HutchinsonJanice LadleyTed and Ginna LaporteKeith LawAndrew and Gwen LindnerKeith and Angie LoweGeorge and Wandra MackieMichael and Connie MartinWilliam and Catherine McAndrewsChris and Caroline McDowellMike and Lesli McNamaraJim and Debbie MillisDino and Susan Paci ciBill and Litsa PappasArt and Nell ParkerThe Perkins FamilyCary PickardAnne Pipkin and Kevin QueenWillie and Carolyn ReaRone and January ReedDr. Russell A. and Lynn D. SaltonJohn and Candy ScanlonHank and Mary SchmullingMargaret SigmonWilliam and Elizabeth SigmonBernie and Annemarie SmithPhillip and Jill SmithGreg and Kim StoneTommy and Amy ThalmanTillie TiceClifton and Begee VannMark and Nikki VascoEd and Ainslie WallBill and Paige WallaceRobert Wicker and Suzanna Fox

Marathon Club$500 - $999AnonymousDennis and Cheri AbbottRashsaan AlstonEric and Laurie AndreozziDoug and Paula BanksGail BloomerJulie BradlowHenry and Daisy BridgesCharles and Reid CampbellDonna DunlapYvonne DunlapTodd and Pamela DuvickJohn and Cassell FitzHughTom and Carol FourreDavid and Ellen FrammJoseph and Julie GiekerJay and Christy Godwin JrFletcher and Mary GregoryAl and Leslie GrygielWilliam and Cheryl HadleyNed and Ellen HardisonWill and Kate HardisonScott and Susie HarrisKirt and Kathy HibbittsRick and Kelly HopkinsNeil and Linda HowellLisa HunttingGary and Merna JohnsonPat and Lele KellyTimothy and Lisa KendrickEric and Laurie KnauthJack and Elizabeth KnightDouglas and Kathleen KopitschShawn and Tammy LaBelleMark and Beverly LadleyReid and Anne LeggettRobby and Gina LemonsTom and Cindy LibhardtTim and Carol LoweGeorge and Linda MahoneySheryl MayberryRob and Raechel McClellanKB and Mary Beth McIntyreFlint and Julie McNaughtonGary and Cecelia McNorrillChristos and Sharon NakosTony and Susan OrsbonAndy and Julie PeachVick and Sue PhillipsJoseph and Kama PierceAndrew and Claudia PleplerLew and Dannye PowellRich and Kennie ProtasewichRay and Kathy QuintinGene and Cindy RammJay and Cathryn RiversShel and Stacy RobinsonTripp and Kamie RudisillRandall and Mary RussellPatrick and Julie RussoJoe and Rebecca SchraderAmy SeitlinHarold and Carolyn SharpeLance and Stephanie SharpePhelps and Kate SprinkleJohn and Suzi StephensPaul and Melissa StroupSteve and Janet Sutherland

Will and Cristina WarlickMichael and Lori WehmuellerRex and Linda WeltonDavid and Tess WhelpleyBrian and Elizabeth Wilder

Stepping Stones Club $300 - $499Frank and Mitzi AlexanderRick and Margaret BangeMalcolm BarlowDonald and Christine BerlingNiles BoltonLynda BridgerArtie and Krinn BurnsDr. and Mrs. John CulpWill and Susanne CurrentChris and Brook EdwardsThomas and Michelle EganDarren and Kathryn FrankTeri HolzbergAndy and Christy HorwitzBrian and Judy KilloughArch and Jennifer McIntoshDebi MedlinTommy MorganGreg and Catherine PloughLarry and Gay PorterMr. and Mrs. Gerald J. PrescottJoe and Ginny RippErich and Jean RupprechtBryan and Susan SmithTommy and Patricia ThomasDouglas WilliamsScott and Susan Young

Footprints Club$100 - $299Anonymous (2) Charles and Aimee AlmondJeff and Catherine ArmstrongMary BarlowBailey BarnettChristopher and Carol BensonSkip and Pam BerryRalph and Sandra BesnoyKimberly BinfordJeff and Mary BobbittChris BooneLen BrinkleyBill and Katie BrownFred and Opal BryantSandy BurnettJerry and Kay BurnsMerrily CaldwellSharon CampbellDon and Janet CarterPauline CarterStephanie CarterJohn and Jane ChanonChuck and Becky CheneyCliff and Becca CollinsCharles and Gwen CookKenneth and Laura CorsigOtis CrowderEric and Adrienne DavisMark and Adele DillonJordan and Kate DullJohn and Laura Edwards

Roger and Suzanne EdwardsKenneth and Sharyn EisdorferRebecca ElderkinBrian ElliottLorraine Ethridge and Ron OssoJames and Tracy FarrellDavid FarrowGordon and Teresa FolzTony and Virginia FrancoSteve and Lisa FriedmanLarry and Wanda FuschinoMatt and Betsy GanttScott and Molly GartlanDon and Kathy GatelyAudrey GaussFrank and Sarah GentryGerry and Joanie GerkenShirley GibbRichard Graham and Regina TaylorGray GreenPaul GreenDavid and Joy GreenwaldLlew HadenE Hooper Hardison, JrGrant and Nancy HawgoodRichard and Betty HechenbleiknerMargaret HemricMark and Page HendersonPaul and Bobbie Jo HilleHarold and Sandra HintzRick and Debbie HolzbergWill and Sally Wise HowleJay and Frankie HughesSteve and Doris HurrScott and Hali JaffeCarolyn JohnsonPeter and Luann Kasimir SrMichael Kelley and Amy DuncanJulie KimmelDan and Kathy KirklandDavid and Rudy KoehlerMichael and Holly LawroskiHoughton and Joanna LewisGarry Lickfelt and Stephanie NealRobert and Carolin LloydDave and Diane LyonRob and Page MackGreg MangumJoe MarkJim and Kee MarshallWilliam and Ina McCoyLee and Mary Beth McGaughJae and Riley McGuirtBruce and Joyce McIntyreTom and Becky MeleneyBill and Gwen MoertelRochelle MooreheadJames and Beverly MossFrances MullenBill and Linde MullisBill and Susan MunsonEdwin and Jill NewmanMichael and Jennifer NewmanPeggy NewtonJohn and Sonya NowakAlex and Laura OliphantPaul and Beth OsowskiVince and Melanie PayneSonny and Martha PendletonMatthew Perry

We have diligently sought to include the names of all the individuals and organizations that made new pledges or gifts to The Fletcher School during the 2013 Fiscal Year, which ended June 30th. In the event that we have omitted or misspelled an individual’s or organiza-tion’s name, we offer our sincere apology and ask that you contact the Development Of ce at 704-365-4658 ext. 1103 so that we can correct our records.

exclamations ! 5

THE FLETCHER SCHOOL

Geoffrey and Julie PersonJonathan and Dana PhillipsPat and Debbie PhillipsEnrico and Dianne PirainoCharles and Cynthia PittsDal and Jane PostonJon and Eileen PowellTony and Mara PurcellReese and Mandy RencherBeverly RizzoBenjamin and Ceci RobinsonStephanie RogersJorge and Carla SanchezMr. and Mrs. James Michael SandersJack and Ann ScottBill and Betsy SimervilleAlan and Patty SimpsonFrank and Moira SkopowskiLee and Libby SmartDoug and Melanie SomersBob and Carol SpeizmanGreg Starrett and Martha CattRon and Suzi StephensPaul and Lib StroupBryan Sturkey and Kimberly LawJean SummervilleNorman and Judy TaylorBrian and Darla TerrickJohn and Carter Tierney

Richard and Jane TilleyBernard and Kathy TisdaleKaren TriggMatt and Anna TuckerDavid and Alice UlrichWells and Alison Van PeltElizabeth VandersliceMitch and Kathee VarnerNordy and Kim VaterMarion WardMartin and Amy WeltonBrian and Celia WilsonMr. and Mrs. Landon Wyatt, Jr.

Contributors$1 - $99Anonymous (2)Joe and Susan AldrichBruce AlpertSusie AlpertBrian AndersonDavid and Michelle AndersonJames and Victoria ArmesJon and Jennifer BabbKenneth and Faye BarnettWilliam and Elsie BarnhardtArthur and Ellen BennettLloyd BostianLadd and Barbara Brearley

Lindsay BridgesJenks Caldwell, Jr.Helen CarringtonJenny CarringtonAllen and Julie CassellThomas and Sarah CloosPam CoxMatthew and Julie CribbDr. and Mrs. Donald CulpDavid and Karen DeSilvaKevin and Wilhelmina DeesMichael and Barbara DoughertyStefany Ferrell and Brian PaynterJeffrey Ford and Pegi O’Shea-FordBess ForshawDarin and Kathleen GanttGeoff and Penne GibsonCarole GodekJonathan and Angela GrauelFlorence GroenTerry and Stephanie HallSheila HamdenJeff and Leah HanoodKristen HarperClark and Gen HawgoodGene and Pauline HealeyBuddy and Jo Anne HegeTony and Robin HerrickKim Hintz

Wendy HoffmanGill and Siri HollandDavid and Mary Lou HudspethChris and Laura HutchisonJack and Pamela JamesAnne JordanHelen KaufmanWendy KraizelAngie LindsayMichael and Laura LivingstonShane and Allison LunsfordKarol MatthewsJeromy and Nicole McConnellEllen McElhaneyDenise McKibbenLee and Cula McRaeJon and Tara MeekLouis and Elaine MolnarLynn MorrillCyndi OklarJoanne OliverLanny and Mary OpenshawJudith PapageorgeJohn and Jean ParrJon Patrick and Donna Campbell-PatrickBob and Linda PerryFrank PetersenRegina Pineiro

Rodney and Elizabeth PittsRick and Kathy PoeBill and Jeannette PriceMichael and Dena Raf erBeth RichKathy RobertsLynn RobertsonScott and Ashley RoehrigAmy RomeoLiz SchoeningTracy and Connie ShortRichard and Dorothy SigmonJim and Leyf StarlingFaye StarnesKate StirlingSteven and Page StroupAnne SweeneyAndrew and Ashley SwistakCharlie and Hayworth SzymborskiJohn and Claire TateKarl and Cathy ToddTed and Stephanie TownsendChris and Christine TrappCeres VandiverFurman and Dorothy WalkerGinny Wheelock

Annual Fund Contributors - cont’d

Financial Aid DonorsAnonymousBlumenthal FoundationTom and Jo Claire DulinKelly and Meredith GravesAl and Kristen GuarnieriRick and Kelly HopkinsBryan and Gibbs IvesMark and Bonnie JohnsonAnne Jordan

The Michael A. Kahn Family FoundationTed and Ginna LaporteThe Leon Levine Foundation, Sandra and Leon LevineGeorge and Wandra MackieSheryl MayberryDaniel and Kelley RippMargaret Sigmon

Rankin Institute DonorsThe Michael A. Kahn Family FoundationThe Rankin FoundationWells Fargo Bank

Restricted DonationsElliott and Lynn Crutch eldThe Fletcher School Parents’ CouncilVick and Sue Phillips

In-Kind DonationsLanier Site Services

AIG Allegheny Teledyne Inc.Allen Telecom Inc.Alliance BernsteinAlly Altria Group, Inc. Ameriprise FinancialAT&TAXA FoundationBank of America Banks Street Partners LLCCarlisle CompaniesCarroll Financial Associates, Inc.CB Richard Ellis Inc. Foundation

Citigroup FoundationCogentrix Energy Duke Energy FoundationG E FoundationHallmark Cards, Inc.IBM ING FoundationIngersoll-RandJefferson-Pilot CorporationKnight Ridder Lincoln Financial FoundationMarsh USA McKesson HBOC Foundation, Inc.Merrill Lynch & Co. Foundation

MicrosoftMorgan Stanley Northwestern Mutual FoundationNucor CorporationOlympus Corporation Philip Morris USA Piedmont Natural GasPrudential FoundationSAPSprint FoundationStandard Insurance SunTrust BankThe Beach CompanyThe Charles Schwab Corporation Foundation

The CIT Foundation, Inc.The Goodrich FoundationThe Vanguard GroupTIAA-CREF UBS Foundation United Guaranty CorporationWarco Construction CompanyWashington Group FoundationWells Fargo BankXL AmericaZurich-Kemper Life

Capital Campaign DonorsThe following list re ects new gifts and pledges to the Create a Bright Future capital campaign received during the 2013 scal year.

AnonymousKenneth and Christina BenkeserDoug BuchananStrawn and Susan CathcartBrian and Christy GordonDavid and Joy Greenwald

Jennifer GuthrieMichael and Laura LivingstonDebbie LongTim and Carol LoweMr. and Mrs. Bob Mayberry, Sr.Flint and Julie McNaughton

Alan and Patty SimpsonGreg Starrett and Martha CattEric and Annette TelljohannWells and Alison Van PeltChet and Christine Walker


Matching Gift Companies

We have diligently sought to include the names of all the individuals and organizations that made new pledges or gifts to The Fletcher School during the 2013 Fiscal Year, which ended June 30th. In the event that we have omitted or misspelled an individual’s or organization’s name, we offer our sincere apology and ask that you contact the Development Of ce at 704-365-4658 ext. 1103 so that we can correct our records.

exclamations ! 15

Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” At Fletcher, we are committed to providing exposure to other cultures. Since our Travel Abroad program began in 2007, we have visited Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany, France, Spain, Morocco, Ireland, South Wales, Scotland, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. This summer we traveled back to Spain and added Portugal to the itinerary. Suzi Stephens, Head of the Upper School, and Kathleen Gantt, Student Assistance Coordinator, were chaperones. Student travelers were Caleb Abbott, Benton Ashe, Spencer Berling, Ben Carmack, Taylor Daniel, Chip Kiefner, Bryce Ledbetter, Will McGaugh, Chase McNaughton, and Will Stone. Students from Ardrey Kell, Myers Park, and Providence High were also in the delegation from Charlotte.

Fletcher students visited Lisbon, Evora, and the Algarve region of Portugal. In Spain they visited Seville, Costa Del Sol, Granada, Valencia, and everyone’s favorite, Barcelona! A fun excursion to Morocco proved to be a very exciting experience for everyone.

In the summer of 2014 our Upper School students will be traveling to Italy, including an excursion to Sicily.

Fletcher Students Travel Abroad

Vanish has been a 4th grade local celebrity for the last 2 school years. Vanish, a brindle greyhound, is a trained therapy dog that lives within walking distance of The Fletcher School. Vanish visits a classroom weekly during reading hours and listens attentively to each student read aloud for practice. The students are especially thrilled when Vanish nudges them to continue their story!

During our closing week of classes, the 4th graders did a “thank you” presentation to Vanish and his owner, Mrs. Patti Weiss, which included home-baked bone-shaped cookies and thank-you notes from each 4th grader. Thank you, Mrs. Weiss, for sharing sweet Vanish. We all know it helped our self-con dence and our reading skills!

Therapy Dog

Ashley Norman reads with therapy dog, Vanish.

Above: Benton Ashe takes a camel ride this summer in Morocco.

Right: The Fletcher group gathers in Portugal.


Each year we hope that our commencement keynote speaker will have a message that resonates with our graduates, providing encouragement and celebrating their accomplishments. The 2013 graduation speaker offered that and more. As a former student of The Fletcher School, Genny Ives had a message that our graduates could truly relate to: you can achieve success in college and beyond!

Genny was diagnosed with ADHD and speci c learning disabilities in 2nd grade when she began to struggle with reading. She attended The Fletcher School for 3rd and 4th grade before mainstreaming to Charlotte Christian. In her address, Genny described her feelings of frustration and anxiety over falling behind her peers and the great joy she felt upon coming to Fletcher. Here she found a nurturing and understanding group of teachers who helped her learn, not only to read, but how to succeed.

Genny went on to attend Furman University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Economics. She credits Fletcher with giving her the tools, study habits, and con dence to achieve this goal. Genny now works in the Atlanta of ce of the international accounting rm, KPMG, as a Senior Associate in the Economic and Valuation Services Group, specializing in international transfer pricing for large multi-national corporations.

We were thrilled to have Genny Ives return to Fletcher and tell her inspiring and encouraging story to our graduating seniors and their families. She is a real-life Fletcher hero!

Ives Returns to Fletcher as Commencement Speaker

Above: Commencement Speaker Genny Ives with Head of School

Margaret SigmonLeft: Genny as a fourth grader at

Fletcher.

Caleb Abbott . . . . . . . . . . . . Central Piedmont Community CollegeTripp Ashe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . High Point UniversityTaylor Daniel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . High Point UniversityReed DeLoach. . . . . . . . . . . Central Piedmont Community CollegeReid Dillon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .University of North Carolina-AshevilleLogan Duvick. . . . . . . . . . University of North Carolina-GreensboroBen Eisdorfer. . . . . . . . . . . . .University of North Carolina-AshevilleSam Eisdorfer . . . . . . . . . .University of North Carolina-WilmingtonWilliam Fowler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Queens UniversityJonah Gorelick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elon UniversityMaggie Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Appalachian State UniversityChip Kiefner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Catawba College

Michael Lang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mars Hill CollegeParker Levy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hampden-Sydney CollegeWill McGaugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . East Carolina UniversityJames Miralia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elon UniversityAndrew Nielsen . . . . . . . . .University of North Carolina-WilmingtonPanou Papageorge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . East Carolina UniversityAllie Plepler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mt. Holyoke CollegeKate Romeo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Queens UniversityJonathan Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gardner-Webb UniversityHunter Tisdale . . . . . . . . . . . University of South Carolina-ColumbiaAustin Whelpley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Texas Christian UniversityEverett Wickwire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loyola University-Maryland

Class of 2013 College Choices Scholarship Money Awarded : $582,950 !!

ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13

Gifts in Honor of:Elizabeth AsheKenneth and Sharyn Eisdorfer

Bailey BarnettRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Betsy BarnettBailey Barnett

Dow and Kitty BauknightRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Chuck and Michelle BishopSonny and Martha Pendleton

Bill and Elizabeth BooneChris Boone

Maria BridgesHenry and Daisy Bridges

Len BrinkleyDr. and Mrs. John Culp

Anna BrownKenneth and Sharyn Eisdorfer

Bill ByronChris and Laura Berry

Carlisle CarringtonHelen Carrington

Don and Janet CarterStephanie Carter

John and Jane ChanonRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Mary Cof eldRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Marell CookCharles and Gwen Cook

Pam CoxKenneth and Sharyn Eisdorfer

Susie CulpRalph and Sandra BesnoyKenneth and Sharyn EisdorferMr. and Mrs. James Michael SandersFaye Starnes

Lucian DurhamSonny and Martha Pendleton

Paul EdwardsSonny and Martha Pendleton

Sharyn EisdorferEric and Annette Telljohann

Stefany FerrellEric and Annette Telljohann

The Fletcher School 4th Grade Teaching TeamJordan and Kate DullJohn and Jean Parr

The Fletcher School Class of 2013Dan and Kathy Kirkland

The Fletcher Faculty and StaffScott and Susie HarrisRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

The Fletcher School Board of TrusteesMargaret Sigmon

The Fletcher StudentsBess Forshaw

Don GatelyTom and Jo Claire DulinKelly and Meredith GravesAl and Kristen GuarnieriRick and Kelly HopkinsBryan and Gibbs IvesThe Michael A. Kahn Family FoundationTed and Ginna LaporteGeorge and Wandra MackieSheryl MayberryDaniel and Kelley RippMargaret Sigmon

Don and Kathy GatelyRichard and Betty HechenbleiknerPat and Debbie Phillips

Cameron GreelishFrank and Moira Skopowski

The Scott and Susie Harris FamilyWilliam and Ina McCoy

Ben and Linda Haw eldRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

McDade HawgoodGrant and Nancy Hawgood

Betty HechenbleiknerBailey Barnett

Tom and Barbara HensonRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Brock and Cathy HimanJames and Victoria Armes

Jack and Linda HinsonRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Kim HintzHarold and Sandra Hintz

Jay HipkinsEric and Annette Telljohann

Charley and Lynn HodgesRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Brandon HoffmanWendy Hoffman

Debbie HolzbergTeri Holzberg

Harold and Jane HopeRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Henry HowleWill and Sally Wise Howle

Doug and Lanier HoyRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Charlie HupeJim and Debbie Millis

Rachel JamesJon and Eileen Powell

Dick and Hanna KaneRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Cantey KelleherRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Chip KiefnerMr. and Mrs. Gerald J. Prescott

Taylor KingJohn and Laura Edwards

Robert and Esten MasonSonny and Martha Pendleton

The K.B. McIntyre FamilyKenneth and Laura Corsig

Mary Beth McIntyreBruce and Joyce McIntyre

Doug and Cathy MitchellRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Reed and Harriet OwsleyRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Guy PayneVince and Melanie Payne

David and Harriet PharrRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Pinkney and Jo RankinRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Burke and Carolyn RobertsonRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Molly RudisillCarole GodekDavid and Rudy Koehler

Mary R. RyanMark and Dawn Ryan

Jack ScottJohn Scott

Margaret SigmonWilliam and Elsie BarnhardtArch and Jennifer McIntoshRichard and Dorothy Sigmon

Mr. and Mrs. Roy L. Smart, JrLee and Libby Smart

Ellie SmithPat and Lele Kelly

Bob SpeizmanBill and Linde Mullis

McRae SprinklePhelps and Kate Sprinkle

Caroline StroupPaul and Lib Stroup

Ray and Jan SwetenburgRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Georgia SzaboThe Cherok Family

John and Claire TateRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Mac TierneyElizabeth Vanderslice

Edwin VadenRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Chet and Christine WalkerRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Martin WeltonRex and Linda Welton

Bill and Gray WhiteRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Walter and Jean WilkinsonRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Laurens and Libbie WillardRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Hadley and Hannah WilsonRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

John WilsonEarl and Markay Alford

Gifts in Memory of:

Helen BrinkleyBailey BarnettShirley GibbPaul and Melissa Stroup

Judy CookeLynn Morrill

Hilda M. CraigShirley Gibb

Mac FletcherNiles BoltonMark and Bonnie JohnsonBill and Linde MullisBill and Jeannette Price

Adams GatelyDoug BuchananDon and Kathy GatelyPat and Debbie PhillipsJoe and Ginny RippJean SummervilleJohn and Claire TateChet and Christine Walker

Sallie HackneyLen Brinkley

Eileen HickeyScott and Susie Harris

Bob MayberryDr. and Mrs. John Culp

Paul D. MullenFrances Mullen

Steve PapageorgeJudith Papageorge

Norwood E. RobinsonClyde and Carol Preslar

Pat WeberGarry Lickfelt and Stephanie NealMatt and Anna Tucker

The following list re ects new gifts and pledges to the Envision Tomorrow Society Endowment received during the 2013 scal year.

New Envision Members The Chris and Laura Berry Family Mr. and Mrs. Barrett Kollme George W. and Ruth R. Baxter Foundation

Endowment: Envision Tomorrow Society Members

exclamations ! 7



Dear Fletcher Families,

At the beginning of last school year, we embarked on a mission to raise $1.5 million to form the corpus of an endowment for The Fletcher School. The idea was to get 15 families to join The Envision Tomorrow Society by committing to a 5-year pledge of $20,000 per year. We are happy to report that we have made good progress towards this goal with 13 families having joined to date.

The Fletcher School is an invaluable asset to our community, as it provides an environment where gifted children with learning disabilities can overcome those challenges and recognize their potential. The reason this campaign has been a success is because of families who have seen what a difference Fletcher has made for their child or children and want to make sure that the school has the resources to serve its constituency today and in the future.

The operating endowment serves two important functions. First, it generates income that can be used on a yearly basis for causes such as capital improvements and nancial aid. Second, it gives the school a long-term asset to provide for its nancial security. An institution as essential to the community as The Fletcher School certainly deserves to be endowed.

We hope to raise awareness of The Envision Tomorrow Society so that any of you who would like to join in this effort can do so. Please feel free to contact me or the Development Of ce if you’d like to learn more.

Sincerely,

Robert W. DeatonRobert W. Deaton, ChairmanEnvision Tomorrow Society

Envision Tomorrow Society Members

George W. and Ruth R. Baxter FoundationJohn M. Belk Educational Endowment

The Chris and Laura Berry FamilyThe Cherok Family

The Crutch eld FamilyGaither and Robert DeatonMeredith and Kelly Graves

Kelly and Rick HopkinsThe Michael A. Kahn Family Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Barrett Kollme The Tommy Morgan Family

The Ryan FamilyThe Stubble eld Family

Envision Tomorrow

Robert and Jimmy Deaton

While Fletcher continues to offer a college preparatory program with a strong emphasis on the core disciplines of reading, writing, and math, we recognized the need to offer additional courses and programs to help our students develop their strengths and achieve maximum success.

Transitioning to high school can be a major endeavor. This year, The Fletcher School instituted a new course called FRESHMAN SEMINAR for our ninth graders. Freshman Seminar is designed to facilitate the transition from middle to high school;

working with students to improve organizational skills, study strategies, self-management, self-advocacy, and the use of technology to augment learning. Ultimately, the goal is to help students in the development of autonomous learning practices, leading to an easier, more successful transition to high school.

While the transition to high school is a big one, the transition to college is an even more signi cant milestone! In order to help our students prepare, Fletcher instituted a SENIOR SEMINAR class. The curriculum includes discussions about college choices and gap year options. Students work on their college applications and essays. They learn about dorm life, self-management strategies, self-advocacy, ethics, roommate issues, and a myriad of other critically important issues.

Both the Freshman Seminar and Senior Seminar classes are taught by Debbie Holzberg, Upper School Teacher.

Two New Courses Help Students Succeed!

Debbie Holzberg

exclamations ! 13

THE FLETCHER SCHOOL

CLASS OF 2013FFFFFLLLLLETTTTCCCCCCHHHHHEEEEERRRRR SSSCCCCCHHHHHOOOOOO

Caleb Abbott

Ben Eisdorfer

Parker Levy

Jonathan Taylor

Tripp Ashe

William Fowler

Will McGaugh

Hunter Tisdale

Taylor Daniel

Jonah Gorelick

James Miralia

Austin Whelpley

Reid Dillon

Maggie Johnson

Andrew Nielsen

Everett Wickwire

Reed DeLoach

Chip Kiefner

Panou Papageorge

Allie Plepler

Logan Duvick

Mike Lang

Kate Romeo

Sam Eisdorfer

2013 Honors & Awards

Tripp Ashe received the Mac Fletcher Award


Mac Fletcher AwardThe Mac Fletcher Award is presented at graduation to the Upper School student who best represents the spirit of Mac Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher’s vision of a school for children with learning disabilities was a driving force in the foundation of The Fletcher School. This year the Mac Fletcher Award was given to Tripp Ashe.

Honor Student Award Each year at graduation the Honor Student Award is given to the student in the senior class with the highest grade point average during the high school years. The Fletcher School Honor Student for 2013 was Maggie Johnson.

The Anna Grace Jordan Memorial Award Presented in loving memory of Anna Grace Jordan, this award is given to honor a student who discovers new pathways to achieve goals and embodies character traits of dependability, conviction, and perseverance. This year’s winner was Reid Dillon.

Gabe Pratt Memorial Spirit Award The Gabe Pratt Memorial Spirit Award is presented annually in loving memory of Gabriel Foy Pratt, a student at Fletcher from 1993-1996. Gabe demonstrated an exceptional spirit of adventure, creativity, and determination. This award is presented to the Middle School student who best exempli es Gabe’s spirit. This year’s recipient was Summer Dougherty.

The Bob Mayberry Jr. Spirit And Leadership Award This award is named in memory of Bob Mayberry Jr. who embodied the very traits for which this award is given. It acknowledges exemplary leadership potential and celebrates the impact of a positive spirit at The Fletcher School. It will be given annually at the Intermediate School Awards Assembly. This year’s recipient was Christian Moorehead.

Falcon Spirit AwardThe Falcon Spirit Award is presented to those students who go above and beyond to show school spirit. These people exemplify school pride while cheering on their classmates. The winners of this year’s award were Molly Bloomer and Allie Plepler.

End Of Year AwardsValedictorian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maggie JohnsonSalutatorian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jonah GorelickBest Senior Exit Presentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew NielsenJunior Marshal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Molly BloomerJunior Marshal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cameron GreelishJunior Marshal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris NowakJunior Marshal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris TeagueCommunity Service Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maggie JohnsonCommunity Service Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Keir LaBelleOverall High School Athlete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tripp AsheOverall Middle School Athlete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Will Reed

Christian Moorehead received the Inaugural The Bob Mayberry Jr.

Spirit And Leadership Award

Summer Dougherty received the Gabe Pratt Memorial Spirit Award

Valedictorian Maggie Johnson

Reid Dillon received the inaugural Anna Grace Jordan Memorial Award

The Class of 2013 gifted the school this permanent signage located in the Belk Lobby representing The Fletcher School theme “Where Performance Meets Potential.”

STEVE CHEROK and his wife, Cyndi, have a son, Steven, a rising 7th grader at Fletcher who initially enrolled in the 4th grade. Their daughters, Katherine and Emery, attend Providence Day and St. Gabriel School respectively. Steve is a Managing Partner with The Trion Group. He serves on the Development Committee.

LAURA EDWARDS is a community representative and is the chair of the Public Relations/Media Committee. She is a freelance writer and employed as a senior marketing and public relations specialist at Presbyterian Healthcare. Laura co-founded and is a past president of Taylor’s Tale, a non-pro t organization dedicated to ghting Batten disease. Her sister, Taylor King, attended Fletcher for 6 years. Laura is married to John Edwards.

REID LEGGETT is a community representative. Reid has retired and serves on the boards of the Freedom Schools and Social Venture Partners. Reid serves on the Public Relations/Media Committee for the Fletcher Board. His wife is Anne Leggett.

JULIE PEACH is the President of Parents’ Council and serves on the Board as an Ex-Of cio member. Julie and her husband, Andy, have a daughter, Anna, who enrolled at Fletcher as a kindergartner and is currently a rising 6th grader. Julie’s son, Gavin, attends Charlotte Christian. Julie also serves as Vice President for the United Methodist Women at Providence United Methodist Church as well as a member of the Haiti Mission Committee, and on the Youth Counselor Children’s Council Board. Julie is a sustainer with the Junior League of Charlotte. She is a self-employed interior designer.

VICK PHILLIPS is the grandfather of Andrew Mack, a rising 4th grader who enrolled at Fletcher in the 1st grade. Vick serves on the Trustee Committee. He retired from Bank of America after 30+ years and has served as managing director of a small investment consulting rm. Most recently, Vick completed his role as CEO of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and is looking for his next challenge.

MARK RYAN is the father of Matthew Ryan, a rising 11th grader who began attending Fletcher in the 1st grade. His other son attends the University of the South. Mark is employed at Bank of America in the Risk Management Division as the CFO Market and Credit Risk Executive. He serves on the Finance Committee for the Fletcher Board. Mark’s wife, Dawn, has been active on the Parents’ Council Board for many years and currently chairs the Lunch Assistants.

JOHN SCOTT is the father of Jack and Foard Scott. Jack, who has attended Fletcher for 7 years, will mainstream to Charlotte Christian this year. Foard attended Fletcher for 4 years before mainstreaming to Charlotte Christian in 2012. John serves on the Development Committee. He recently retired as the CEO of Wastequip and is currently a partner at Copeley Capital, a Charlotte-based private investment rm.

Introducing Our New Trustees

exclamations ! 9

This ye ar’s Education Conference focused on local non-pro t charities. The project provided an opportunity for Upper School students to get involved, to help others, and to give back to the community. Participants in the conference selected a charity and volunteered a minimum of three to ve hours of their time to work directly with their chosen organization and the population it serves. Loaves and Fishes, Salvation Army, and the Autism Foundation of the Carolinas are just a few of the local organizations that students chose. The goal of the project was to help students become aware of and understand the needs of others in their community. They were enthusiastic about participating in this volunteer experience and many have chosen to continue their volunteer work. In March the students made presentations documenting their experiences and teaching others about their organization.

Local Education Conference

James Miralia presents on behalf of his local charityMatthew Ryan and William Fowler

attend the conference.


When 4th grade student, Caroline Hopkins, asked to meet with administrators to share her idea for an Afterschool Club, no one had any idea just how far it would go. Caroline wanted to start “Reading Bugs,” a group that could combine their love of reading with the fun and educational enhancements of an Apple iPad. Honestly, the idea was too good to limit to an afterschool group, so with the help of some dedicated teachers, it became a class project.

Of course just the thought of using iPads created enthusiasm and excitement among the students. Working independently, they read and highlighted pages from the book. Students who were familiar

with the iPad quickly became the class “IT Support,” helping others who were not experienced with the devices. Before long, everyone in the class was highlighting facts, adding questions to the pop-up note pads, researching through the online dictionary and Google, and drafting a summary to ultimately create an iMovie report.

To complete the project, each student shared their movie, which was evaluated using a teacher-created rubric. We found that the students were completely comfortable using technology to enhance their learning. The process unfolded in a positive and rewarding way, and we thank Caroline for sharing her idea!

Let Me Run Let Me Run is a program designed to inspire boys to be courageous enough to be themselves, to build healthy relationships, and to live an active lifestyle. The boys, coached by Mary Beth and KB McIntyre, trained hard, and they all nished a race along with 700 boys at Knights Stadium.

Caroline Hopkins

It All Started… With a Student’s Idea!

exclamations ! 11

Dear Parents,

It is hard to believe summer is almost over! I’m so thankful for Fletcher and the difference it has made for my family.

One of the goals of the Parents’ Council is to foster a sense of community within our school. The laughter and excitement at the Fall Family Festival, the Family Dinner, and the Talent & Art Show, were proof that we achieved that goal! We welcomed new families, hosted teacher luncheons, held our rst ever Family Movie Night, and honored our faculty and staff with a full week of events and gifts during Faculty/Staff Appreciation Week.

The success of Parents’ Council is a group effort, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the board members for their hard work. They all committed a great deal of their time and effort, and I am very grateful for their dedication. Thank you to all of the parents who volunteered to make each event a success. The support and willing involvement of our volunteers is what makes our school such a wonderful place.

On behalf of Parents’ Council, congratulations to the most recent graduates! Your accomplishments are tremendous. To those of you mainstreaming from Fletcher, we wish you continued success on your next journey. For those families returning in the fall, I look forward to seeing you then!

Sincerely,

Julie PeachJulie PeachParents’ Council President 2012-13

Parents’ Council Parents’ Council Board 2012-13

President: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julie Peach Secretary: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reid CampbellTreasurer: . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth SigmonArt Show: . . . . . . . .Laura Berry, Meg DeweyBelk Charity Day: . . . . . . . . . . . Betsy GanttBook Fair: . Pam McCarthy, Christy HorwitzFaculty/Staff Appreciation:. . . . Sara Waters Leslie DuffyFaculty/Staff Half-Day Luncheons: . . . . . .Rebecca SchraderFamily Dinner: . . . . . . . .Rebecca SchraderFamily Festival: . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellen Daniel Mary Beth Mcintyre Jennifer NewmanField Day Coordinator: . . . . . . . .Page Mack Flight Deck Coordinator: . . . . Patti Thomas Grade Parent Coordinators: Grades K-5: . . . . . . Suzanne Edwards Grades 6-12: . . . . . . Page Henderson Holiday Gift Coordinator: . . .Michelle TysonLibrary Assistants: . . . . . . . . . Lynn NielsonLunch Assistants: . . . . . . . . . . . .Dawn RyanNew Families: Grades K-5: . . . . . Raechel McClellan Grades 6-12: . . . . . . Diana Wake eld Newsletter: . . . . . . . . . . . Suzanne Edwards Spiritwear: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Karen ClarkSports Concessions Coordinator: . . . . . . . . . . . . Kim StoneTalent Show: . . . . . . . . . . Suzanne Edwards

Julie Peach

Talent Show

Book Fair

Fun Festival Chubby Visit

2013 Honors & Awards

Tripp Ashe received the Mac Fletcher Award


Mac Fletcher AwardThe Mac Fletcher Award is presented at graduation to the Upper School student who best represents the spirit of Mac Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher’s vision of a school for children with learning disabilities was a driving force in the foundation of The Fletcher School. This year the Mac Fletcher Award was given to Tripp Ashe.

Honor Student Award Each year at graduation the Honor Student Award is given to the student in the senior class with the highest grade point average during the high school years. The Fletcher School Honor Student for 2013 was Maggie Johnson.

The Anna Grace Jordan Memorial Award Presented in loving memory of Anna Grace Jordan, this award is given to honor a student who discovers new pathways to achieve goals and embodies character traits of dependability, conviction, and perseverance. This year’s winner was Reid Dillon.

Gabe Pratt Memorial Spirit Award The Gabe Pratt Memorial Spirit Award is presented annually in loving memory of Gabriel Foy Pratt, a student at Fletcher from 1993-1996. Gabe demonstrated an exceptional spirit of adventure, creativity, and determination. This award is presented to the Middle School student who best exempli es Gabe’s spirit. This year’s recipient was Summer Dougherty.

The Bob Mayberry Jr. Spirit And Leadership Award This award is named in memory of Bob Mayberry Jr. who embodied the very traits for which this award is given. It acknowledges exemplary leadership potential and celebrates the impact of a positive spirit at The Fletcher School. It will be given annually at the Intermediate School Awards Assembly. This year’s recipient was Christian Moorehead.

Falcon Spirit AwardThe Falcon Spirit Award is presented to those students who go above and beyond to show school spirit. These people exemplify school pride while cheering on their classmates. The winners of this year’s award were Molly Bloomer and Allie Plepler.

End Of Year AwardsValedictorian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maggie JohnsonSalutatorian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jonah GorelickBest Senior Exit Presentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew NielsenJunior Marshal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Molly BloomerJunior Marshal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cameron GreelishJunior Marshal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris NowakJunior Marshal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris TeagueCommunity Service Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maggie JohnsonCommunity Service Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Keir LaBelleOverall High School Athlete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tripp AsheOverall Middle School Athlete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Will Reed

Christian Moorehead received the Inaugural The Bob Mayberry Jr.

Spirit And Leadership Award

Summer Dougherty received the Gabe Pratt Memorial Spirit Award

Valedictorian Maggie Johnson

Reid Dillon received the inaugural Anna Grace Jordan Memorial Award

The Class of 2013 gifted the school this permanent signage located in the Belk Lobby representing The Fletcher School theme “Where Performance Meets Potential.”

STEVE CHEROK and his wife, Cyndi, have a son, Steven, a rising 7th grader at Fletcher who initially enrolled in the 4th grade. Their daughters, Katherine and Emery, attend Providence Day and St. Gabriel School respectively. Steve is a Managing Partner with The Trion Group. He serves on the Development Committee.

LAURA EDWARDS is a community representative and is the chair of the Public Relations/Media Committee. She is a freelance writer and employed as a senior marketing and public relations specialist at Presbyterian Healthcare. Laura co-founded and is a past president of Taylor’s Tale, a non-pro t organization dedicated to ghting Batten disease. Her sister, Taylor King, attended Fletcher for 6 years. Laura is married to John Edwards.

REID LEGGETT is a community representative. Reid has retired and serves on the boards of the Freedom Schools and Social Venture Partners. Reid serves on the Public Relations/Media Committee for the Fletcher Board. His wife is Anne Leggett.

JULIE PEACH is the President of Parents’ Council and serves on the Board as an Ex-Of cio member. Julie and her husband, Andy, have a daughter, Anna, who enrolled at Fletcher as a kindergartner and is currently a rising 6th grader. Julie’s son, Gavin, attends Charlotte Christian. Julie also serves as Vice President for the United Methodist Women at Providence United Methodist Church as well as a member of the Haiti Mission Committee, and on the Youth Counselor Children’s Council Board. Julie is a sustainer with the Junior League of Charlotte. She is a self-employed interior designer.

VICK PHILLIPS is the grandfather of Andrew Mack, a rising 4th grader who enrolled at Fletcher in the 1st grade. Vick serves on the Trustee Committee. He retired from Bank of America after 30+ years and has served as managing director of a small investment consulting rm. Most recently, Vick completed his role as CEO of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and is looking for his next challenge.

MARK RYAN is the father of Matthew Ryan, a rising 11th grader who began attending Fletcher in the 1st grade. His other son attends the University of the South. Mark is employed at Bank of America in the Risk Management Division as the CFO Market and Credit Risk Executive. He serves on the Finance Committee for the Fletcher Board. Mark’s wife, Dawn, has been active on the Parents’ Council Board for many years and currently chairs the Lunch Assistants.

JOHN SCOTT is the father of Jack and Foard Scott. Jack, who has attended Fletcher for 7 years, will mainstream to Charlotte Christian this year. Foard attended Fletcher for 4 years before mainstreaming to Charlotte Christian in 2012. John serves on the Development Committee. He recently retired as the CEO of Wastequip and is currently a partner at Copeley Capital, a Charlotte-based private investment rm.

Introducing Our New Trustees

exclamations ! 9

This ye ar’s Education Conference focused on local non-pro t charities. The project provided an opportunity for Upper School students to get involved, to help others, and to give back to the community. Participants in the conference selected a charity and volunteered a minimum of three to ve hours of their time to work directly with their chosen organization and the population it serves. Loaves and Fishes, Salvation Army, and the Autism Foundation of the Carolinas are just a few of the local organizations that students chose. The goal of the project was to help students become aware of and understand the needs of others in their community. They were enthusiastic about participating in this volunteer experience and many have chosen to continue their volunteer work. In March the students made presentations documenting their experiences and teaching others about their organization.

Local Education Conference

James Miralia presents on behalf of his local charityMatthew Ryan and William Fowler

attend the conference.


Dear Fletcher Families,

At the beginning of last school year, we embarked on a mission to raise $1.5 million to form the corpus of an endowment for The Fletcher School. The idea was to get 15 families to join The Envision Tomorrow Society by committing to a 5-year pledge of $20,000 per year. We are happy to report that we have made good progress towards this goal with 13 families having joined to date.

The Fletcher School is an invaluable asset to our community, as it provides an environment where gifted children with learning disabilities can overcome those challenges and recognize their potential. The reason this campaign has been a success is because of families who have seen what a difference Fletcher has made for their child or children and want to make sure that the school has the resources to serve its constituency today and in the future.

The operating endowment serves two important functions. First, it generates income that can be used on a yearly basis for causes such as capital improvements and nancial aid. Second, it gives the school a long-term asset to provide for its nancial security. An institution as essential to the community as The Fletcher School certainly deserves to be endowed.

We hope to raise awareness of The Envision Tomorrow Society so that any of you who would like to join in this effort can do so. Please feel free to contact me or the Development Of ce if you’d like to learn more.

Sincerely,

Robert W. DeatonRobert W. Deaton, ChairmanEnvision Tomorrow Society

Envision Tomorrow Society Members

George W. and Ruth R. Baxter FoundationJohn M. Belk Educational Endowment

The Chris and Laura Berry FamilyThe Cherok Family

The Crutch eld FamilyGaither and Robert DeatonMeredith and Kelly Graves

Kelly and Rick HopkinsThe Michael A. Kahn Family Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Barrett Kollme The Tommy Morgan Family

The Ryan FamilyThe Stubble eld Family

Envision Tomorrow

Robert and Jimmy Deaton

While Fletcher continues to offer a college preparatory program with a strong emphasis on the core disciplines of reading, writing, and math, we recognized the need to offer additional courses and programs to help our students develop their strengths and achieve maximum success.

Transitioning to high school can be a major endeavor. This year, The Fletcher School instituted a new course called FRESHMAN SEMINAR for our ninth graders. Freshman Seminar is designed to facilitate the transition from middle to high school;

working with students to improve organizational skills, study strategies, self-management, self-advocacy, and the use of technology to augment learning. Ultimately, the goal is to help students in the development of autonomous learning practices, leading to an easier, more successful transition to high school.

While the transition to high school is a big one, the transition to college is an even more signi cant milestone! In order to help our students prepare, Fletcher instituted a SENIOR SEMINAR class. The curriculum includes discussions about college choices and gap year options. Students work on their college applications and essays. They learn about dorm life, self-management strategies, self-advocacy, ethics, roommate issues, and a myriad of other critically important issues.

Both the Freshman Seminar and Senior Seminar classes are taught by Debbie Holzberg, Upper School Teacher.

Two New Courses Help Students Succeed!

Debbie Holzberg

exclamations ! 13

THE FLETCHER SCHOOL

CLASS OF 2013FFFFFLLLLLETTTTCCCCCCHHHHHEEEEERRRRR SSSCCCCCHHHHHOOOOOO

Caleb Abbott

Ben Eisdorfer

Parker Levy

Jonathan Taylor

Tripp Ashe

William Fowler

Will McGaugh

Hunter Tisdale

Taylor Daniel

Jonah Gorelick

James Miralia

Austin Whelpley

Reid Dillon

Maggie Johnson

Andrew Nielsen

Everett Wickwire

Reed DeLoach

Chip Kiefner

Panou Papageorge

Allie Plepler

Logan Duvick

Mike Lang

Kate Romeo

Sam Eisdorfer


Each year we hope that our commencement keynote speaker will have a message that resonates with our graduates, providing encouragement and celebrating their accomplishments. The 2013 graduation speaker offered that and more. As a former student of The Fletcher School, Genny Ives had a message that our graduates could truly relate to: you can achieve success in college and beyond!

Genny was diagnosed with ADHD and speci c learning disabilities in 2nd grade when she began to struggle with reading. She attended The Fletcher School for 3rd and 4th grade before mainstreaming to Charlotte Christian. In her address, Genny described her feelings of frustration and anxiety over falling behind her peers and the great joy she felt upon coming to Fletcher. Here she found a nurturing and understanding group of teachers who helped her learn, not only to read, but how to succeed.

Genny went on to attend Furman University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Economics. She credits Fletcher with giving her the tools, study habits, and con dence to achieve this goal. Genny now works in the Atlanta of ce of the international accounting rm, KPMG, as a Senior Associate in the Economic and Valuation Services Group, specializing in international transfer pricing for large multi-national corporations.

We were thrilled to have Genny Ives return to Fletcher and tell her inspiring and encouraging story to our graduating seniors and their families. She is a real-life Fletcher hero!

Ives Returns to Fletcher as Commencement Speaker

Above: Commencement Speaker Genny Ives with Head of School

Margaret SigmonLeft: Genny as a fourth grader at

Fletcher.

Caleb Abbott . . . . . . . . . . . . Central Piedmont Community CollegeTripp Ashe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . High Point UniversityTaylor Daniel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . High Point UniversityReed DeLoach. . . . . . . . . . . Central Piedmont Community CollegeReid Dillon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .University of North Carolina-AshevilleLogan Duvick. . . . . . . . . . University of North Carolina-GreensboroBen Eisdorfer. . . . . . . . . . . . .University of North Carolina-AshevilleSam Eisdorfer . . . . . . . . . .University of North Carolina-WilmingtonWilliam Fowler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Queens UniversityJonah Gorelick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elon UniversityMaggie Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Appalachian State UniversityChip Kiefner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Catawba College

Michael Lang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mars Hill CollegeParker Levy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hampden-Sydney CollegeWill McGaugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . East Carolina UniversityJames Miralia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elon UniversityAndrew Nielsen . . . . . . . . .University of North Carolina-WilmingtonPanou Papageorge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . East Carolina UniversityAllie Plepler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mt. Holyoke CollegeKate Romeo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Queens UniversityJonathan Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gardner-Webb UniversityHunter Tisdale . . . . . . . . . . . University of South Carolina-ColumbiaAustin Whelpley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Texas Christian UniversityEverett Wickwire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loyola University-Maryland

Class of 2013 College Choices Scholarship Money Awarded : $582,950 !!

ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13

Gifts in Honor of:Elizabeth AsheKenneth and Sharyn Eisdorfer

Bailey BarnettRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Betsy BarnettBailey Barnett

Dow and Kitty BauknightRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Chuck and Michelle BishopSonny and Martha Pendleton

Bill and Elizabeth BooneChris Boone

Maria BridgesHenry and Daisy Bridges

Len BrinkleyDr. and Mrs. John Culp

Anna BrownKenneth and Sharyn Eisdorfer

Bill ByronChris and Laura Berry

Carlisle CarringtonHelen Carrington

Don and Janet CarterStephanie Carter

John and Jane ChanonRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Mary Cof eldRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Marell CookCharles and Gwen Cook

Pam CoxKenneth and Sharyn Eisdorfer

Susie CulpRalph and Sandra BesnoyKenneth and Sharyn EisdorferMr. and Mrs. James Michael SandersFaye Starnes

Lucian DurhamSonny and Martha Pendleton

Paul EdwardsSonny and Martha Pendleton

Sharyn EisdorferEric and Annette Telljohann

Stefany FerrellEric and Annette Telljohann

The Fletcher School 4th Grade Teaching TeamJordan and Kate DullJohn and Jean Parr

The Fletcher School Class of 2013Dan and Kathy Kirkland

The Fletcher Faculty and StaffScott and Susie HarrisRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

The Fletcher School Board of TrusteesMargaret Sigmon

The Fletcher StudentsBess Forshaw

Don GatelyTom and Jo Claire DulinKelly and Meredith GravesAl and Kristen GuarnieriRick and Kelly HopkinsBryan and Gibbs IvesThe Michael A. Kahn Family FoundationTed and Ginna LaporteGeorge and Wandra MackieSheryl MayberryDaniel and Kelley RippMargaret Sigmon

Don and Kathy GatelyRichard and Betty HechenbleiknerPat and Debbie Phillips

Cameron GreelishFrank and Moira Skopowski

The Scott and Susie Harris FamilyWilliam and Ina McCoy

Ben and Linda Haw eldRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

McDade HawgoodGrant and Nancy Hawgood

Betty HechenbleiknerBailey Barnett

Tom and Barbara HensonRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Brock and Cathy HimanJames and Victoria Armes

Jack and Linda HinsonRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Kim HintzHarold and Sandra Hintz

Jay HipkinsEric and Annette Telljohann

Charley and Lynn HodgesRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Brandon HoffmanWendy Hoffman

Debbie HolzbergTeri Holzberg

Harold and Jane HopeRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Henry HowleWill and Sally Wise Howle

Doug and Lanier HoyRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Charlie HupeJim and Debbie Millis

Rachel JamesJon and Eileen Powell

Dick and Hanna KaneRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Cantey KelleherRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Chip KiefnerMr. and Mrs. Gerald J. Prescott

Taylor KingJohn and Laura Edwards

Robert and Esten MasonSonny and Martha Pendleton

The K.B. McIntyre FamilyKenneth and Laura Corsig

Mary Beth McIntyreBruce and Joyce McIntyre

Doug and Cathy MitchellRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Reed and Harriet OwsleyRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Guy PayneVince and Melanie Payne

David and Harriet PharrRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Pinkney and Jo RankinRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Burke and Carolyn RobertsonRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Molly RudisillCarole GodekDavid and Rudy Koehler

Mary R. RyanMark and Dawn Ryan

Jack ScottJohn Scott

Margaret SigmonWilliam and Elsie BarnhardtArch and Jennifer McIntoshRichard and Dorothy Sigmon

Mr. and Mrs. Roy L. Smart, JrLee and Libby Smart

Ellie SmithPat and Lele Kelly

Bob SpeizmanBill and Linde Mullis

McRae SprinklePhelps and Kate Sprinkle

Caroline StroupPaul and Lib Stroup

Ray and Jan SwetenburgRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Georgia SzaboThe Cherok Family

John and Claire TateRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Mac TierneyElizabeth Vanderslice

Edwin VadenRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Chet and Christine WalkerRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Martin WeltonRex and Linda Welton

Bill and Gray WhiteRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Walter and Jean WilkinsonRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Laurens and Libbie WillardRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

Hadley and Hannah WilsonRichard and Betty Hechenbleikner

John WilsonEarl and Markay Alford

Gifts in Memory of:

Helen BrinkleyBailey BarnettShirley GibbPaul and Melissa Stroup

Judy CookeLynn Morrill

Hilda M. CraigShirley Gibb

Mac FletcherNiles BoltonMark and Bonnie JohnsonBill and Linde MullisBill and Jeannette Price

Adams GatelyDoug BuchananDon and Kathy GatelyPat and Debbie PhillipsJoe and Ginny RippJean SummervilleJohn and Claire TateChet and Christine Walker

Sallie HackneyLen Brinkley

Eileen HickeyScott and Susie Harris

Bob MayberryDr. and Mrs. John Culp

Paul D. MullenFrances Mullen

Steve PapageorgeJudith Papageorge

Norwood E. RobinsonClyde and Carol Preslar

Pat WeberGarry Lickfelt and Stephanie NealMatt and Anna Tucker

The following list re ects new gifts and pledges to the Envision Tomorrow Society Endowment received during the 2013 scal year.

New Envision Members The Chris and Laura Berry Family Mr. and Mrs. Barrett Kollme George W. and Ruth R. Baxter Foundation

Endowment: Envision Tomorrow Society Members

exclamations ! 7


THE FLETCHER SCHOOL

Geoffrey and Julie PersonJonathan and Dana PhillipsPat and Debbie PhillipsEnrico and Dianne PirainoCharles and Cynthia PittsDal and Jane PostonJon and Eileen PowellTony and Mara PurcellReese and Mandy RencherBeverly RizzoBenjamin and Ceci RobinsonStephanie RogersJorge and Carla SanchezMr. and Mrs. James Michael SandersJack and Ann ScottBill and Betsy SimervilleAlan and Patty SimpsonFrank and Moira SkopowskiLee and Libby SmartDoug and Melanie SomersBob and Carol SpeizmanGreg Starrett and Martha CattRon and Suzi StephensPaul and Lib StroupBryan Sturkey and Kimberly LawJean SummervilleNorman and Judy TaylorBrian and Darla TerrickJohn and Carter Tierney

Richard and Jane TilleyBernard and Kathy TisdaleKaren TriggMatt and Anna TuckerDavid and Alice UlrichWells and Alison Van PeltElizabeth VandersliceMitch and Kathee VarnerNordy and Kim VaterMarion WardMartin and Amy WeltonBrian and Celia WilsonMr. and Mrs. Landon Wyatt, Jr.

Contributors$1 - $99Anonymous (2)Joe and Susan AldrichBruce AlpertSusie AlpertBrian AndersonDavid and Michelle AndersonJames and Victoria ArmesJon and Jennifer BabbKenneth and Faye BarnettWilliam and Elsie BarnhardtArthur and Ellen BennettLloyd BostianLadd and Barbara Brearley

Lindsay BridgesJenks Caldwell, Jr.Helen CarringtonJenny CarringtonAllen and Julie CassellThomas and Sarah CloosPam CoxMatthew and Julie CribbDr. and Mrs. Donald CulpDavid and Karen DeSilvaKevin and Wilhelmina DeesMichael and Barbara DoughertyStefany Ferrell and Brian PaynterJeffrey Ford and Pegi O’Shea-FordBess ForshawDarin and Kathleen GanttGeoff and Penne GibsonCarole GodekJonathan and Angela GrauelFlorence GroenTerry and Stephanie HallSheila HamdenJeff and Leah HanoodKristen HarperClark and Gen HawgoodGene and Pauline HealeyBuddy and Jo Anne HegeTony and Robin HerrickKim Hintz

Wendy HoffmanGill and Siri HollandDavid and Mary Lou HudspethChris and Laura HutchisonJack and Pamela JamesAnne JordanHelen KaufmanWendy KraizelAngie LindsayMichael and Laura LivingstonShane and Allison LunsfordKarol MatthewsJeromy and Nicole McConnellEllen McElhaneyDenise McKibbenLee and Cula McRaeJon and Tara MeekLouis and Elaine MolnarLynn MorrillCyndi OklarJoanne OliverLanny and Mary OpenshawJudith PapageorgeJohn and Jean ParrJon Patrick and Donna Campbell-PatrickBob and Linda PerryFrank PetersenRegina Pineiro

Rodney and Elizabeth PittsRick and Kathy PoeBill and Jeannette PriceMichael and Dena Raf erBeth RichKathy RobertsLynn RobertsonScott and Ashley RoehrigAmy RomeoLiz SchoeningTracy and Connie ShortRichard and Dorothy SigmonJim and Leyf StarlingFaye StarnesKate StirlingSteven and Page StroupAnne SweeneyAndrew and Ashley SwistakCharlie and Hayworth SzymborskiJohn and Claire TateKarl and Cathy ToddTed and Stephanie TownsendChris and Christine TrappCeres VandiverFurman and Dorothy WalkerGinny Wheelock

Annual Fund Contributors - cont’d

Financial Aid DonorsAnonymousBlumenthal FoundationTom and Jo Claire DulinKelly and Meredith GravesAl and Kristen GuarnieriRick and Kelly HopkinsBryan and Gibbs IvesMark and Bonnie JohnsonAnne Jordan

The Michael A. Kahn Family FoundationTed and Ginna LaporteThe Leon Levine Foundation, Sandra and Leon LevineGeorge and Wandra MackieSheryl MayberryDaniel and Kelley RippMargaret Sigmon

Rankin Institute DonorsThe Michael A. Kahn Family FoundationThe Rankin FoundationWells Fargo Bank

Restricted DonationsElliott and Lynn Crutch eldThe Fletcher School Parents’ CouncilVick and Sue Phillips

In-Kind DonationsLanier Site Services

AIG Allegheny Teledyne Inc.Allen Telecom Inc.Alliance BernsteinAlly Altria Group, Inc. Ameriprise FinancialAT&TAXA FoundationBank of America Banks Street Partners LLCCarlisle CompaniesCarroll Financial Associates, Inc.CB Richard Ellis Inc. Foundation

Citigroup FoundationCogentrix Energy Duke Energy FoundationG E FoundationHallmark Cards, Inc.IBM ING FoundationIngersoll-RandJefferson-Pilot CorporationKnight Ridder Lincoln Financial FoundationMarsh USA McKesson HBOC Foundation, Inc.Merrill Lynch & Co. Foundation

MicrosoftMorgan Stanley Northwestern Mutual FoundationNucor CorporationOlympus Corporation Philip Morris USA Piedmont Natural GasPrudential FoundationSAPSprint FoundationStandard Insurance SunTrust BankThe Beach CompanyThe Charles Schwab Corporation Foundation

The CIT Foundation, Inc.The Goodrich FoundationThe Vanguard GroupTIAA-CREF UBS Foundation United Guaranty CorporationWarco Construction CompanyWashington Group FoundationWells Fargo BankXL AmericaZurich-Kemper Life

Capital Campaign DonorsThe following list re ects new gifts and pledges to the Create a Bright Future capital campaign received during the 2013 scal year.

AnonymousKenneth and Christina BenkeserDoug BuchananStrawn and Susan CathcartBrian and Christy GordonDavid and Joy Greenwald

Jennifer GuthrieMichael and Laura LivingstonDebbie LongTim and Carol LoweMr. and Mrs. Bob Mayberry, Sr.Flint and Julie McNaughton

Alan and Patty SimpsonGreg Starrett and Martha CattEric and Annette TelljohannWells and Alison Van PeltChet and Christine Walker


Matching Gift Companies


exclamations ! 15

Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” At Fletcher, we are committed to providing exposure to other cultures. Since our Travel Abroad program began in 2007, we have visited Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany, France, Spain, Morocco, Ireland, South Wales, Scotland, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. This summer we traveled back to Spain and added Portugal to the itinerary. Suzi Stephens, Head of the Upper School, and Kathleen Gantt, Student Assistance Coordinator, were chaperones. Student travelers were Caleb Abbott, Benton Ashe, Spencer Berling, Ben Carmack, Taylor Daniel, Chip Kiefner, Bryce Ledbetter, Will McGaugh, Chase McNaughton, and Will Stone. Students from Ardrey Kell, Myers Park, and Providence High were also in the delegation from Charlotte.

Fletcher students visited Lisbon, Evora, and the Algarve region of Portugal. In Spain they visited Seville, Costa Del Sol, Granada, Valencia, and everyone’s favorite, Barcelona! A fun excursion to Morocco proved to be a very exciting experience for everyone.

In the summer of 2014 our Upper School students will be traveling to Italy, including an excursion to Sicily.

Fletcher Students Travel Abroad

Vanish has been a 4th grade local celebrity for the last 2 school years. Vanish, a brindle greyhound, is a trained therapy dog that lives within walking distance of The Fletcher School. Vanish visits a classroom weekly during reading hours and listens attentively to each student read aloud for practice. The students are especially thrilled when Vanish nudges them to continue their story!

During our closing week of classes, the 4th graders did a “thank you” presentation to Vanish and his owner, Mrs. Patti Weiss, which included home-baked bone-shaped cookies and thank-you notes from each 4th grader. Thank you, Mrs. Weiss, for sharing sweet Vanish. We all know it helped our self-con dence and our reading skills!

Therapy Dog

Ashley Norman reads with therapy dog, Vanish.

Above: Benton Ashe takes a camel ride this summer in Morocco.

Right: The Fletcher group gathers in Portugal.


The Athletic program boasted a record number of participants this year with the BOYS’ BASKETBALL and GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL programs elding both Middle School and Varsity teams. All three seasons produced exciting competition, and the cheerleading team returned to heighten school spirit!

The fall Athletic season wrapped up with two new championship trophies! The GIRLS’ MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY team brought home a championship trophy with Caroline Banks, Maggie Rose Bontempo, and Summer Dougherty nishing strong.

The BOYS’ MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY team nished 2nd in the conference championships, and the Boys’ Varsity Cross Country Team rounded the season out with a strong 3rd place nish. Congratulations to all of our cross country athletes!

BOYS’ VARSITY SOCCER fought to pull out a victory and a conference championship trophy as well! This team came up with the win while earning the utmost respect from their opponent.

The highest of compliments are sometimes earned from the opponents themselves. Here is what the competition said about our soccer team:

“Your team played fantastic, defended brilliantly at the end, and fully deserved the victory. Well done! The commitment and passion of your entire team was a joy to watch. It was evident that your entire team was uni ed in their efforts to give everything for each other and the team ... We hope we made your team better and we know that last night your team de nitely brought the best out of us and pushed us to be our best.’” - Opponent’s Coach

Well done Tripp Ashe, Ethan Coffman, Hunter Cox, Taylor Daniel, Max Kahn, Chip Kiefner, Mike Lang, James Miralia, Panou Papageorge, Will Stone, Jonathan Taylor, Austin Whelpley, Jacob Wicker, Everett Wickwire, and Mike Wolfe.

The VOLLEYBALL teams set Fletcher records for the most wins in a season. The Middle School team took 4th place in the conference tournament with Jayden Kraziel winning both All-Tournament and All-Conference awards. Varsity players Makayla Somers and Ashley Simpson brought home All-Conference and All-Tournament awards, respectively.

The GIRLS’ BASKETBALL team nished 3rd place in the conference tournament. Both BOYS’ BASKETBALL levels nished strong. All-Conference award winners were: Charlotte Frank for the Girls, Jack Bennett for the Boys’ Middle School, and Caleb Abbott for the Boys’ Varsity. All-Tournament award winners were: Bianca Seagraves for the Girls, Connor Plunkett for the Boys’ Middle School and Tripp Ashe for the Boys’ Varsity.

Athletics Awards

Coach Elliott with gang

Coach Hipkins with trophy

2013 Fletcher Athlete of the Year Tripp Ashe with his mom, Elizabeth.

THE FLETCHER SCHOOL

SUPPORTERS 2012-13

Patrons Club$5,000+AnonymousThe Chris and Laura Berry FamilySally GambrellBryan and Gibbs IvesJohn M Belk Educational EndowmentThe Michael Kahn FamilyJohn and Civil McGowanJeff and MC PilonJohn and Ann Porter IIIMark and Dawn RyanJohn ScottEric and Annette TelljohannJohn and Debby WallaceTom and Jeanne Wickwire

Founders Club$2,500 - $4,999Walter BrinkleyThe Cherok FamilyChris and Liz ChokaJay and Ellen DanielClyde and Dorothy DicksonAndy and Cathy DulinTom and Jo Claire DulinBrotherhood FoundationJeff and Liz GoreKelly and Meredith GravesAl and Kristen GuarnieriGreg and India KeithBarrett and Astri KollmeBeverly LeahyBruce Levy and Ragnhild DaasvandDebbie LongJohn and Andra NormanKurt and Andrea PowellClyde and Carol PreslarFred and Ann TannerGeordie and Gray WalkerWarco Construction Company

Fletcher Club$1,000 - $2,499AnonymousEarl and Markay AlfordDr. and Mrs. William S. Ashe, Jr.Charlie and Karen BaldBrian and Elizabeth BarberyPeter and Winslow BarlowKenneth and Christina BenkeserPhil and Tracy BennettSteven and Sarah BerrardSmoky Bissell and Margaret GraggMichael and Elizabeth BlairJohn and Lou Boyte

Bill and Dana ByronBrandon and Ellen CarterDavid and Jo ClarkTom and Marcy CokerPhilip and Lisa CopeElliott and Lynn Crutch eldRobert and Gaither DeatonGeorge and Meg DeweyThe Dickson Foundation, Inc.Glenn and Leslie DuffyMike and Kim FarrMimi and James FountainScott and Debbie FrailCharlie and Caren GaleGlenn and Krissa GastonDavid and Marianne GertnerHeath and Cherise GilbertBrian and Christy GordonJeff and Bari GorelickJennifer GuthrieDaniel and Karen HowardBill and Anna HullMartin and Page HullMatt and Shaughn HutchinsonJanice LadleyTed and Ginna LaporteKeith LawAndrew and Gwen LindnerKeith and Angie LoweGeorge and Wandra MackieMichael and Connie MartinWilliam and Catherine McAndrewsChris and Caroline McDowellMike and Lesli McNamaraJim and Debbie MillisDino and Susan Paci ciBill and Litsa PappasArt and Nell ParkerThe Perkins FamilyCary PickardAnne Pipkin and Kevin QueenWillie and Carolyn ReaRone and January ReedDr. Russell A. and Lynn D. SaltonJohn and Candy ScanlonHank and Mary SchmullingMargaret SigmonWilliam and Elizabeth SigmonBernie and Annemarie SmithPhillip and Jill SmithGreg and Kim StoneTommy and Amy ThalmanTillie TiceClifton and Begee VannMark and Nikki VascoEd and Ainslie WallBill and Paige WallaceRobert Wicker and Suzanna Fox

Marathon Club$500 - $999AnonymousDennis and Cheri AbbottRashsaan AlstonEric and Laurie AndreozziDoug and Paula BanksGail BloomerJulie BradlowHenry and Daisy BridgesCharles and Reid CampbellDonna DunlapYvonne DunlapTodd and Pamela DuvickJohn and Cassell FitzHughTom and Carol FourreDavid and Ellen FrammJoseph and Julie GiekerJay and Christy Godwin JrFletcher and Mary GregoryAl and Leslie GrygielWilliam and Cheryl HadleyNed and Ellen HardisonWill and Kate HardisonScott and Susie HarrisKirt and Kathy HibbittsRick and Kelly HopkinsNeil and Linda HowellLisa HunttingGary and Merna JohnsonPat and Lele KellyTimothy and Lisa KendrickEric and Laurie KnauthJack and Elizabeth KnightDouglas and Kathleen KopitschShawn and Tammy LaBelleMark and Beverly LadleyReid and Anne LeggettRobby and Gina LemonsTom and Cindy LibhardtTim and Carol LoweGeorge and Linda MahoneySheryl MayberryRob and Raechel McClellanKB and Mary Beth McIntyreFlint and Julie McNaughtonGary and Cecelia McNorrillChristos and Sharon NakosTony and Susan OrsbonAndy and Julie PeachVick and Sue PhillipsJoseph and Kama PierceAndrew and Claudia PleplerLew and Dannye PowellRich and Kennie ProtasewichRay and Kathy QuintinGene and Cindy RammJay and Cathryn RiversShel and Stacy RobinsonTripp and Kamie RudisillRandall and Mary RussellPatrick and Julie RussoJoe and Rebecca SchraderAmy SeitlinHarold and Carolyn SharpeLance and Stephanie SharpePhelps and Kate SprinkleJohn and Suzi StephensPaul and Melissa StroupSteve and Janet Sutherland

Will and Cristina WarlickMichael and Lori WehmuellerRex and Linda WeltonDavid and Tess WhelpleyBrian and Elizabeth Wilder

Stepping Stones Club $300 - $499Frank and Mitzi AlexanderRick and Margaret BangeMalcolm BarlowDonald and Christine BerlingNiles BoltonLynda BridgerArtie and Krinn BurnsDr. and Mrs. John CulpWill and Susanne CurrentChris and Brook EdwardsThomas and Michelle EganDarren and Kathryn FrankTeri HolzbergAndy and Christy HorwitzBrian and Judy KilloughArch and Jennifer McIntoshDebi MedlinTommy MorganGreg and Catherine PloughLarry and Gay PorterMr. and Mrs. Gerald J. PrescottJoe and Ginny RippErich and Jean RupprechtBryan and Susan SmithTommy and Patricia ThomasDouglas WilliamsScott and Susan Young

Footprints Club$100 - $299Anonymous (2) Charles and Aimee AlmondJeff and Catherine ArmstrongMary BarlowBailey BarnettChristopher and Carol BensonSkip and Pam BerryRalph and Sandra BesnoyKimberly BinfordJeff and Mary BobbittChris BooneLen BrinkleyBill and Katie BrownFred and Opal BryantSandy BurnettJerry and Kay BurnsMerrily CaldwellSharon CampbellDon and Janet CarterPauline CarterStephanie CarterJohn and Jane ChanonChuck and Becky CheneyCliff and Becca CollinsCharles and Gwen CookKenneth and Laura CorsigOtis CrowderEric and Adrienne DavisMark and Adele DillonJordan and Kate DullJohn and Laura Edwards

Roger and Suzanne EdwardsKenneth and Sharyn EisdorferRebecca ElderkinBrian ElliottLorraine Ethridge and Ron OssoJames and Tracy FarrellDavid FarrowGordon and Teresa FolzTony and Virginia FrancoSteve and Lisa FriedmanLarry and Wanda FuschinoMatt and Betsy GanttScott and Molly GartlanDon and Kathy GatelyAudrey GaussFrank and Sarah GentryGerry and Joanie GerkenShirley GibbRichard Graham and Regina TaylorGray GreenPaul GreenDavid and Joy GreenwaldLlew HadenE Hooper Hardison, JrGrant and Nancy HawgoodRichard and Betty HechenbleiknerMargaret HemricMark and Page HendersonPaul and Bobbie Jo HilleHarold and Sandra HintzRick and Debbie HolzbergWill and Sally Wise HowleJay and Frankie HughesSteve and Doris HurrScott and Hali JaffeCarolyn JohnsonPeter and Luann Kasimir SrMichael Kelley and Amy DuncanJulie KimmelDan and Kathy KirklandDavid and Rudy KoehlerMichael and Holly LawroskiHoughton and Joanna LewisGarry Lickfelt and Stephanie NealRobert and Carolin LloydDave and Diane LyonRob and Page MackGreg MangumJoe MarkJim and Kee MarshallWilliam and Ina McCoyLee and Mary Beth McGaughJae and Riley McGuirtBruce and Joyce McIntyreTom and Becky MeleneyBill and Gwen MoertelRochelle MooreheadJames and Beverly MossFrances MullenBill and Linde MullisBill and Susan MunsonEdwin and Jill NewmanMichael and Jennifer NewmanPeggy NewtonJohn and Sonya NowakAlex and Laura OliphantPaul and Beth OsowskiVince and Melanie PayneSonny and Martha PendletonMatthew Perry

We have diligently sought to include the names of all the individuals and organizations that made new pledges or gifts to The Fletcher School during the 2013 Fiscal Year, which ended June 30th. In the event that we have omitted or misspelled an individual’s or organiza-tion’s name, we offer our sincere apology and ask that you contact the Development Of ce at 704-365-4658 ext. 1103 so that we can correct our records.

exclamations ! 5


The needs of a “mainstreaming family” are dif cult to serve in a group setting because each family and each student has a different agenda. For exam-ple, some parents are questioning whether or not their child is ready to leave Fletcher; whereas, other parents believe their child is ready, but they are not sure where they should look for an appropriate placement. Some parents are interested in mainstream-ing to public school and are concerned with the programs that protect them by law- namely, the 504 plan and the IEP. Other parents are attracted to private schools and are paying attention to the accommodations available at each school.

Often the decision to leave Fletcher is not clear. Typical questions are: How much should I listen to my child’s desire to leave? Will my child’s chances of being accepted to a “good college” be compromised if he stays? Will we be able to afford to stay? If the new school doesn’t work out, will we be able to come back? Can Fletcher tell us what school is best? Is the high school rigorous enough to prepare my child for college work?

Keeping in mind the need to individualize, we have re-vamped our mainstreaming process to focus on each student. When a parent expresses a desire to consider mainstreaming, he or she is offered a conference with Helen Weaver, Director of Assessment. She will discuss mainstreaming in whatever context the parent wishes. She will be prepared to look at readiness in relationship to the child’s Woodcock Johnson test scores. She can offer a list of psychologists, should a new educational evaluation be necessary. She will confer with the parent about whether or not the student should take the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) and how to obtain accom-modations for that test. She will give the parent the names of former Fletcher families who have completed the mainstreaming process and who can relate experiences, good and bad, with the school in question. She can provide a list of admissions dates and deadlines for area private schools.

Meeting with Helen is only the rst step in the process. Armed with information from that rst conference, the parent is now on a path of discovery, including visiting possible schools. The parent is now prepared with a list of questions to evaluate each school in relation to the needs of the child.

The most important recommendation will come from the student’s teachers during the mainstreaming conference. At this meeting, par-ents will hear about the strengths and weaknesses of their child as observed by the teachers. If the teaching team recommends main-streaming, the parent can expect to be given speci c suggestions as part of a proposal to the new school to make the transition as successful as possible.

Individualizing the Process of Mainstreaming

Helen WeaverAssessment Director

Thirty-one students - 13% of the student body - mainstreamed this past year. … Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for

the miracle that Fletcher has performed for us over the past ve years as our child has learned to do mathematics, write, and to love reading for pleasure--something we were afraid he would never be able to do--and to love his time in school.

... It is with a heavy heart that we leave Fletcher! Fletcher has been a life changing experience for us, and I cannot begin to thank everyone at the school for all that they’ve done over the last four years!

… We have loved everything about Fletcher! The teachers and staff are excellent and seem to really care about my child as an individual. He is not very social, and I was afraid that nding friends would be an issue. Not so. He has some wonderful friends that he does not want to leave. He loves to come to school every day and is sad when there is a break!

… Please know that we will always be grateful for his years at Fletcher. He has made amazing progress due in large part to the Fletcher program, his teachers’ knowledge, and unending patience with him.

… What a proud moment to watch our son graduate last week! We have watched him revel in his accomplishments this year. This is what successful teaching is all about. All of you have nurtured him until now, and he has been launched into the world.

… I would like you to know the impact Fletcher athletics has had on my child. Your staff worked their magic with him just like they have in school. They welcomed him, encouraged him, and removed his fears. It allowed him to make friends and feel accepted. When a child discovers a passion for something, it wins a lot of battles! exclamations ! 17

Reid Dillon Headed to UNC Asheville for TennisOn April 30, 2013, Reid Dillon signed a national letter of intent to play tennis at UNC Asheville. Dillon is the rst Fletcher student to of cially sign to play for a Division I NCAA University.

Shown left to right: Kelly Graves, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Adele Dillon, Reid Dillon, Mark Dillon

Soccer player Will Stone receives the Sportsmanship Award.

Tennis player Jeffrey Gore receives the Most Valuable Player Award.

Varsity Boys Soccer Conference Champs: Tripp Ashe, Ethan Coffman, Hunter Cox, Taylor Daniel, Max Kahn, Chip Kiefner, Mike Lang, James Miralia, Panou Papageorge, Will Stone, Jonathan Taylor, Austin Whelpley,

Jacob Wicker, Everett Wickwire, and Mike Wolfe

Cross Country Champs: Pictured: Front, L-R: Scott Wallace (V), Kendall Duffy (V), Maggie Rose Bontempo (MS), Summer Dougherty (MS), Caroline Banks (MS) , Jack Andreozzi (MS),Timothy Kasimir (MS) Back, L-R:

Coach Swistak, Andrew Gertner (MS), Hunter Cox (V), Zach Dougherty (V), Matt Alexander (V), Luke Lemons (MS), Coach Hipkins Not Pictured: Luke Bennett (MS)

My little sister, Taylor, has Batten disease, a rare brain disorder that causes blindness, seizures, and cognitive and motor impairment. But that didn’t stop her from signing up for Girls on the Run in the fall of 2008, at the start of her 5th grade year at The Fletcher School. The degenerative disease had already stolen her vision and made it dif cult for her to learn new things, but more than anything, Taylor wanted to be a normal kid, and she dared Batten disease to get in her way.

In the afternoons after school, Taylor and her girlfriends met at the track for practice. They developed good tness habits and learned about teamwork, and they learned to believe in themselves. An upper school student named Mary-Kate stayed after school to practice with the younger girls. When it came time to walk or run around the Fletcher track, she and Taylor each took one end of a modi ed jump rope– my sister’s lifeline to a normal experience she desperately craved.

At the last practice of the semester, the girls ran a “practice” 5K around the school track. All of the other girls nished their laps before Taylor and Mary-Kate. Then, as the pair rounded the corner and began their nal lap, something magical happened. One by one, everybody on the sideline joined my sister and her sighted guide on the track. Soon, the whole team, plus the coaches and others there to watch the practice, fell into stride with my sister and ran her nal lap with her.

The team’s rst REAL race took place on a chilly morning that December at the Jingle Jog 5K, run on the streets of uptown Charlotte in conjunction with the Thunder Road Marathon and Half Marathon. Mary-Kate told us that Taylor stumbled and fell several times on the course, but that after each fall, she pulled herself up, said she could keep running, and did just that. The tethered pair nished the race in just under an hour. Watching them cross that nish line remains one of the most moving things I’ve ever witnessed. So when the trees bloomed that next spring, I started running for Taylor.

I’ve run thousands of miles for Taylor since that day at the nish line of the Jingle Jog 5K. I’ve shaved more than 30 minutes off my half marathon time since my rst go at the 13.1 distance in 2009. I’ve won awards and set a string of personal records this spring. But I’ve never come close to achieving the kind of feat my sister accomplished, because I’ve run every race with the bene t of my vision. That’s why, to honor the 5-year anniversary of her incredible achievement, I’ll run the 2013 Thunder Road Half Marathon blindfolded.

Run to the Light By Laura King Edwards

I’ll be tethered to my good friend, Andrew Swistak. Andrew is an avid runner and is also the IT director at Fletcher, where my sister spent 6 wonderful years and met many sighted guides–all of them her guardian angels. I’ve spent the past month practicing with my sighted guide, and I remain in awe of Taylor’s spatial awareness and courage. Andrew and I have some work to do between now and November 16, but we’ll be ready.

I’m doing this to honor Taylor’s courage and raise awareness of Batten disease, but also to help fund the ght for a treatment for kids like her. Our organization, Taylor’s Tale, supports research and awareness of Batten disease in many ways.

To learn more about us, visit www.taylorstale.org. You can also subscribe to my blog at www.writethehappyending.com to follow our training and the work of Taylor’s Tale.

Above: Taylor King and running partner Mary-Kate perform a guided run during Girls on the Run at Fletcher in 2008.

Left: Laura King Edwards takes on the challenge of running the Thud Road Half Marathon blindfolded in her sister’s honor and to raise awareness for Batten disease.

18 ! the etcher school exclamations ! 3

Recently, a niece of mine had her rst baby. This heart-warming occasion reminded me of choosing names for my own children years ago. Should we include family names? How will the full name sound as the bearer walks across the stage during high school graduation? Given names are very important. They are the child’s rst title in life.

But I have learned something else about names, too. What people actually call us may be even more signi cant than our given name. Nicknames re ect our personalities, our character, and our relationships. At some point, the words on the cake change from “Happy Birthday, Betty” to “Happy Birthday, Grandma.” Nicknames describe our uniqueness and are part of our biography.

On Father’s Day, I received envelopes with the name “Dad” written in the hand of each of my children. There is only one person my children call by that name. No one else has that honor. It is the word that describes the person I hope they see. They call me Dad.

As the famous quote goes, “Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.” Dad is engaged with his children. Dad is involved. Dad does his best to help his children nd their way. Mostly, Dad is present and loves his kids. Fathers want to be called Dad. But it is not always easy. So, how can we meet this challenge? Common sense and an objective look at reality tell us that the positive presence of a father in a child’s life has a bene cial impact.

Again this year, dads will come together in Be There Dad workshops to support each other to become and stay the dads they want to be amid the noise, confusion, and hectic schedules of everyday life. I will lead four evening workshops, sharing the “parables of my life” to stimulate conversation. We will share our own concerns and successes in raising our children. We will talk about ways to solidify our relationships with our children; how to set priorities and be more involved; how to improve our communication; and how to measure success as fathers. In a relaxed atmosphere, we will nd support from other dads who feel the same as we do. I invite all dads to join us. Even if you came to a previous workshop, please come again, as we continue on the ever-changing and always challenging journey of fatherhood.

I hope to see you there!

They call me “Dad” Be There Dad Workshops Offer Support on the Journey of Fatherhood

Jeff Usher

by “Coach” Jeff Usher

Be There Dad 2013-14 Workshop Dates

October 8, 2013December 10, 2013

February 11, 2014April 19, 2014

Fletcher Welcomed New Faculty Members In 2012-13JULIE CRIBB (Grade 6 Language Arts and Science): Julie has a degree in Special Education from East Carolina University. She taught for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and is a former Teacher of the Year nominee!

AUDREY GAUSS (Upper School History): Audrey graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and then moved to New York City to work for Teach for America. While in NYC, she earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She is uent in four languages.

KATE DULL (Grade 4 Math and Social Studies/Science): Kate is from Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Miami University of Ohio and taught for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

KATE STIRLING (Grade 6 Language Arts and Science): Kate earned her undergraduate degree from The University of Illinois and her Masters in English from The Citadel. She went on to teach at the Citadel, but has also taught Middle School and High School.

KATIE BROWN (Grades 2/3 Social Studies/Science and Grades 4/5 Math): Katie is from Charlotte. She received a Master’s Degree from The University of South Carolina and has taught for many years in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Pictured from left to right: Julie Cribb, Audrey Gauss, Kate Dull, Kate Stirling. Not pictured: Katie Brown


Dear Fletcher Community,

The 2012-13 school year has been one of looking back at our history and of looking forward to our future! As we celebrated the 30th birthday of The Fletcher School in 2012, we ended the year with a Grandfriends’ Day Celebration that exceeded all expectations. On November 19th we hosted over 110 grandfriends for a morning program focused on the successes of our students. Two “heroes” returned to speak to this audience and express their appreciation for the change that Fletcher made in their lives. Genny Ives (see page 14) and Raymond Lupse certainly exemplify the types of students who have bene tted from their Fletcher experience, but there are many more and in many different shapes and sizes.

As to the future, The Fletcher Board of Trustees adopted a new Strategic Plan in May, 2012, to help set the direction of the School for the next 3-5 years. The last Strategic Plan was written in 2007 for a 5-year period. All objectives of that plan have been accomplished. The new Plan targets the 7 areas highlighted to the right.

As these areas of focus guide The Fletcher School for the next 3-5 years, I am con dent that we will continue to offer our students and families the highest quality educational program available for students with speci c learning disabilities and/or ADHD in the Mecklenburg area.

We have already taken several steps toward the stated goals by hiring Lindsey Field as Director of Development in order to free Susie Harris to function full-time as the Assistant Head of School. We have also hired Jenny Grabiec as the Director of Instructional Technology to assist teachers with the integration of technology into the classroom.

We are positioning our School to be on the cutting edge of technology while keeping our original mission of multisensory, structured, and individualized instruction. We are enthusiastic about the opportunities to keep up with the ever changing world of technology in education!

This is an exciting time to be part of The Fletcher School,

Letter from Margaret Sigmon, Head of School

CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMS: While continuing to offer a college preparatory program with a strong emphasis on the core disciplines of reading, writing, and math, we recognize the need to offer additional courses and programs to help our students succeed and develop their strengths.

TECHNOLOGY: Integrating technology into a Fletcher education is critical to helping our students become concise communicators, discerning researchers, and persuasive leaders in the 21st century. We recognize that we must enhance our learning environment by providing state-of-the-art technology and one-to-one computing programs.

FACILITY: With the completion of our campus including the classroom wings and gymnasium, we will turn our attention to enhancing our learning environment by providing ample and optimal space for all of our programs.

FACULTY/STAFF: Recognizing that our faculty and staff are the key to the quality of instruction and programming for our students and families, we must continue to attract and retain the most quali ed staff. This requires offering competitive compensation packages, opportunities for training and growth, and succession plans for key administrative positions.

LEADERSHIP: Recognizing that leadership begins with a strong Board of Trustees comprised of bold leaders, we will continue to strengthen and diversify the Board.

FINANCIAL STABILITY: As we work to ensure stability for the School, we also desire to broaden our nancial aid program, wisely monitor our bond repayment, and add to the reserves through prudent budgeting.

SUSTAINABILITY: Recognizing that there are only two sources of revenue for the school–tuition and donations–we will strive to increase contributions through fundraising and reduce our reliance on tuition. This will involve opportunities for growth in diversity, early intervention, alumni, and use of social media.

Head of School Margaret Sigmon

exclamations ! 19

Each year, with the help of The Parents’ Council, Margaret Sigmon recognizes the faculty and staff of The Fletcher School for their dedication to the school and all they have done for our students and their families.

During the week of activities, teachers were honored with a “Spring Fever” luncheon and a generous gift. The luncheon, organized by parents Leslie Duffy, Ellen Daniel, Julie Peach, and Sara Waters, featured a slide show of all of those being recognized for reaching milestone anniversaries. While every year of service is noteworthy, faculty and staff members who have given extended time to The Fletcher School are celebrated.

Margaret with Kenneth Barnett and Lee McRae as they are recognized for ten years of service to the school.

Parents’ Council volunteers Leslie Duffy, Ellen Daniel and Julie Peach make Faculty Appreciation week a tremendous success!Cyndi Oklar celebrates ve years!Angie Lindsey simply glows

after ten years!

exclamations ! 19

Twenty Years:Bess Forshaw

Ten Years:Kenneth Barnett

Susie HarrisAngie Lindsey

Lee McRaeJulie Person

Ceres Vandiver

Five Years:Stefany FerrellJoanie GerkenJames Higgs

Susan MunsonCyndi Oklar

Stephanie Townsend

This year’s list of honorees included the following:

Faculty Appreciation 2013Bess Forshaw Celebrates Twenty Years

Margaret Sigmon and Laura Hutchison “crown” a jubilant Bess Forshaw after twenty years at Fletcher!

THE FLETCHER SCHOOLTHE RANKIN INSTITUTE8500 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270

non-pro tU.S. Postage

PaidCharlotte, NC

Permit #3243

The “Point” of the StoryIn 1969 Mac Fletcher was sitting in an airport restaurant in Chicago, IL, when he drew a simple idea for his company’s logo on the back of a cocktail napkin. The exclamation point that he drew came to represent the sales promotion company of Fletcher-Barnhardt & White and became an industry icon. As most of you know, Mac was one of the original founders of The Fletcher School. In honor of him, we named our publication “Exclamations!”

We hope you will nd that it features some of the exciting and not-to-be-missed happenings of The Fletcher School.

what’s inside!Be There Dad Workshops. . . . . . 3The Process of Mainstreaming . 4Annual Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7Envision Tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . 8New Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Parents’ Council . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Commencement/Seniors. . 13-14Fletcher Abroad. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17Faculty Appreciation . . . . . . . . . 19

board of trustees 2012-13 Kelly Graves, Chairman Ted Laporte, Treasurer Elliott Crutch eld, SecretaryMichael Kahn, At-Large Chris BerryMike BlairBill Byron Steve CherokRobert Deaton Tom Dulin Laura EdwardsFletcher Gregory Al Guarnieri Rick HopkinsBryan Ives Reid LeggettTony Orsbon Vick Phillips Kama Pierce Anne PipkinMark RyanJohn Scott Bob SpeizmanSteve Sutherland

Margaret Sigmon, Ex Of cioJulie Peach, Ex Of cio

SUMMER 2013

exclamations A NEWSLETTER FOR THE FRIENDS AND FAMILIES OF THE FLETCHER SCHOOL AND THE RANKIN INSTITUTE

THE FLETCHER SCHOOL THE RANKIN INSTITUTE

8500 SARDIS ROAD CHARLOTTE, NC 28270

The Rankin Institute at The Fletcher School is very pleased to bring back Kirk and Casey Martin for the 2014 Fletcher Forum. The Martins presented a very successful program last November on Celebrating Calm in our lives at home, school, and work. In February they will further coach us to create calm by motivating children, especially strong-willed children.

The 16th Annual Fletcher Forum Proudly Welcomes BackKirk & Casey Martin

A few of the topics the Martins will address: Get your kids and students to listen the rst time.

Say no, and stop the entitlement mentality.

Stop the eye-rolling and backtalk immediately.

Motivate unmotivated kids and stop the endless texting and video games.

Improve focus, follow through, and grades.

“I thought the presentation ‘Celebrate Calm’ was excellent! I’ve read a lot of books on behavior

management, and I’ve engaged in a lot of professional development seminars on the topic, including an

entire week one summer at a ‘Responsive Classroom’ institute. What I haven’t gotten that I think Mr. Martin

provides is very strong, practical suggestions for dealing with and understanding those students who do not

respond to the usual techniques and strategies.” –Mrs. Gleason, 1st Grade Teacher / Teacher of the Year

“I recommend ‘Celebrate Calm’ as a resource to parents. The families I serve commonly hear me sharing

‘pearls’ I have learned from Kirk. We were fortunate to have Kirk and Casey give outstanding presentations

in Rochester, one for teachers and another for parents and kids. I recommend parents sign up for the free

weekly newsletter and other resources.” – A. W. Atkinson, MD; Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician;

Bluestem Center for Child & Family Development

Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 6th, when we will offer two community sessions, one in the morning and one in the evening. An all-day teacher workshop is scheduled for Friday, February 7th.

We hope you’ll join us for what will surely be an educational experience for everyone. Registration is required for these events and will open in August. To register, visit The Fletcher School’s website and click on the Rankin Institute Registration button on the home page.

exclamations - the fletcher school exclamations for... · 2 ! the etcher school dear fletcher...

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