The Monarch School Newsletter

Preparing a Child for an Assessment: Tips for Families

During our family interviews at The Monarch Diagnostic Clinic, many parents express the concern that assessment results will not or cannot capture a proper snapshot of their child’s optimal functioning. While knowing what a child is capable of producing with support under highly individualized and idealized conditions can be of great value in terms of considering a child’s potential, some of our most valuable data for treatment planning stems from breakdowns in a child’s ability to demonstrate what they can do. When a child encounters difficulty in expressing the extent of their knowledge and abilities, meaningful information about their information processing, behavioral output, emotional response style, and social relatedness is often revealed. From this perspective, it can be more valuable for us as clinicians to see the “real child” – the child who presented with functional challenges that led to the referral for the assessment. Click here to read how families can help set the stage for a more positive assessment experience for both child and parents.

New Campus Campaign Update!

We are getting closer to our Phase One goal every single day! Thanks to so many people who believe in the mission and the future of The Monarch School, $5,720,588 has been raised toward the $6,944,744 total. Phase One includes site work required for the whole campus and construction of the Chrysalis Building.

Our friends at Amegy Bank are providing financing for the project and construction began on March 24, 2008. Mission Constructors, Inc. is hard at work and the detention basin has been dug and concrete piers already poured for the foundation of the building. To see progress on the new building, please click here.

Can you help put us over the top? ANY amount either in a one-time donation or a multi-year pledge will help make the dream of a permanent therapeutic day school for Houston a reality. You may also structure your gift through stocks and bonds, life insurance, gifts in trust, and real estate.

To make an immediate online donation to the New Campus Campaign, click here.

Or if you would like to take advantage of alternative ways to structure your gift, click here for a New Campus Campaign Pledge form.

We are happy to help you consider any of the above options and to provide greater detail. You may call 713-479-0800 and ask for Marty Webb or Shannon Woodruff for help. Thank you for considering an investment in The Monarch School at such a critical time. We appreciate you!

Monarch Life Academy Students Sparkle!		Monarch Students Graduate!
Interested in starting a new business through The Monarch School’s innovative Life Academy? It will be tough, but the students and staff will make it look easy! In October, 2007, the Rotary Club of Houston offered to partner with The Monarch School Life Academy to begin a micro enterprise jewelry business. The model is based on work that the Rotary pioneered in the historic East End of Houston. In small warehouse centers, underprivileged women were taught jewelry making skills in the hopes that they would be able to take these skills into their community to make a living for their family. Rotary was curious: could this project serve as a template for career advancement and training in a school focused on students with neurological differences? Find out the answer to that question here!		There wasn’t a dry eye in the house on May 17th as 10 Monarch Students were honored with awards, shared gifts to the community, and received their diplomas! We also were pleased to honor John Elder Robison, friend of Monarch and author of the best seller, “Look Me in the Eye” with an honorary diploma. You can read John’s blog account of the graduation by clicking here. And enjoy the commencement address delivered by Dr. Neal Sarahan, Challenger Program Director, by clicking here.

Sharon Duval to participate in the National DIR® Institute		Upcoming Events
Sharon Duval, M.A., CCC/SLP, DIR® Certificate 2007, has been invited to serve as a facilitator at the July 2008 DIR®/Floortime™ Institute in Washington, D.C. Ms. Duval will join participants from around the country at this five-day program, which offers training and certification for professionals in the DIR®/Floortime™ method. As a facilitator, Ms. Duval will be sharing her wealth of DIR®/Floortime™ knowledge and experience as she helps train others to implement the model successfully.		Monarch faculty speak! Click here for upcoming events.

Apprentice Students Celebrate End-of-Year Successes

Apprentice students had many reasons to celebrate in the month of May! Their hard work over the course of the year filled the community Greenstone jar four times. Greenstones are awarded to students and/ teachers for work on their goals.

To read more about the May celebration and other Apprentice Program stories, click here.

Monarch Staff Present at AutismOne Conference		Movers and Shapers
Monarch faculty members Sharon Duval, M.A., CCC-SLP, DIR® trained facilitator, and Debrah Hall, Ph.D., recently traveled to Chicago to represent DIR® and The Monarch School at the Sixth Annual AutismOne conference in Chicago. The five-day event featured a keynote address by actress Jenny McCarthy, autism advocate and mother of a child with autism. Sharon Duval gave a presentation about the DIR® Floortime™ method and how it can help individuals reach their maximum level of functioning. Dr. Hall represented The Monarch School at an information table and was also able to meet and establish relationships with other professionals and parents.

Address postal inquiries to:
The Monarch School
2815 Rosefield Dr.
Houston, TX 77080