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A publication produced by Groves Academy giving updates from the past school year and including the Annual Report from fiscal year 14.
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ANNUAL REPORT | CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER, SPRING/SUMMER 2015 i
ANNUAL REPORT CONNECTiONS NEWSLETTER
SPRiNG/SUMMER
2015
GROVES ACADEMYii
i LOVE GROVES ACADEMY BECAUSE iT GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNiTY TO HAVE A BETTER FUTURE.DAVIS LLOYD CLASS OF 2015
CONTENTS
Letter from Head of School . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Class of 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Alumni Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Faculty Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Board Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
The Learning Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Scholarship Gala Recap . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
2013-2014 Financials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2014-2015 By the Numbers . . . . . . . . . . 11
Groves Academy Gets Strategic . . . . . . 12
ANNUAL REPORT | CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER, SPRING/SUMMER 2015 1
The 2014-15 school year was another terrific year of accomplishment
at Groves Academy. With a record 239 students enrolled, we were all
busy learning, creating, and enjoying one another’s company.
A new math curriculum, Singapore Math, was implemented
for our lower school and half of our middle school with our
consultant giving us an “A” . We had extremely competitive
soccer and basketball teams with record participation from
the student body . Under the direction of Simon McAllister,
the upper school drama club produced two plays, Robin
Hood and Almost Maine, which were very well received .
The organization continues to grow both in the number of
students served and in the number and quality of programs
offered . It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Groves
Academy Community!
We also initiated a major undertaking in the creation of The
Learning Center at Groves Academy . The Learning Center
is a division of the organization that provides ancillary
services to both Groves students and to students from the
community at large . It is described in detail in an article in
this newsletter .
Board members along with teachers and staff recently
re-examined the organization’s mission, vision, and values .
The mission was revised to make it more concise and
easier to convey to the community . It now reads, “We build
confidence, success, and purpose through transformative
learning experiences .” Our new vision statement is “to
redefine the way our nation is taught one student, one
teacher, and one school at a time .” The board and the
school’s faculty and staff also spent considerable time
discussing our core values . In the end, we were all in
agreement that authenticity, collaboration, compassion,
discovery, and tenacity are important qualities for each
Groves community member to aspire towards . The mission,
vision, and our core values guide our decision making,
and examples of their use can be found throughout the
building—including in the classrooms . This work has
strengthened the school and has led us to becoming more
cohesive and purpose driven .
Finally, we had terrific community support this year . Due
to your generosity, we surpassed our fundraising goal of
$1,250,000, raising more than $367,000 than we did last
year! In addition, we had more than 450 donors this year
than last year . Clearly, the word of the good work we are
doing here is spreading . We cannot continue this good work
without your support . From everyone at Groves Academy—
especially the students, we thank you for your generosity
and we look forward to working with you during the 2015-16
school year .
With gratitude,
John AlexanderHEAD OF SCHOOL
DEAR FRiENDS
FOLLOW JOHN’S BLOG AT GROVESLiTERACY.WORDPRESS.COM
SAM FOLKMAN
FUTURE PLANS
Bethel University
iN HiS WORDS
“Groves Academy has been the biggest blessing in my life .”
CAMERON BRADSHAW
FUTURE PLANS
Minneapolis Community & Technical College
DAVIS LLOYD
FUTURE PLANS
Hamline University
iN HiS WORDS
“Before Groves Academy, college was never an option .”
SEAN LITWIN
FUTURE PLANS
University of Arizona
iN HiS WORDS
“I will use all of the knowledge
and skills Groves Academy has
given me for the rest of my life .”
SAM HARTMANN
FUTURE PLANS
Western State Colorado University
2015 VALEDiCTORiAN
CAMILLE HATFIELD
FUTURE PLANS
Augsburg College
MEET OUR SENiORS
CONGRATULATiONS TO THE GRADUATiNG CLASS OF 2015!
2 GROVES ACADEMY
ABIGAIL PERLINGER
FUTURE PLANS
University of Wisconsin-Superior for one year and then Oregon State University
OLIVIA NELSON
FUTURE PLANS
Normandale Community College
iN HER WORDS
“I now have another family here at Groves Academy .”
KAYLA SWEDBERG
FUTURE PLANS
Beacon College
ANDREW SJOSTROM
FUTURE PLANS
Minnesota Life College and Minneapolis College of Art and Design
DREW PETERSON
FUTURE PLANS
Army or Community College
iN HiS WORDS
“Going to Groves Academy saved
my life because ever since I’ve
been here I have actually been
understanding my classes .”
NICHOLAS SEVERSON
FUTURE PLANS
Working and furthering my education
ISAAC TAMBORNINO
FUTURE PLANS
Hamline University
EMANUELLE WILLIAMSON
FUTURE PLANS
Interior Design at Alexandria Technical &
Community College
QUOTE
“Every year (at Groves Academy)
since 4th grade in Ms . Brown’s
class has been amazing .”
3ANNUAL REPORT | CONNECTiONS NEWSLETTER, SPRiNG/SUMMER 2015
GROVES ACADEMY4
ALUMNi PROFiLE
Meredith Shankwitz
It started with a confession; “When I was in 4th grade I could
not read. That summer, I was tested for a learning disability
and, sure enough, I ended up having one.” The confession was
not to a close friend or family member. It was to 320 members
of the St. Louis Park High School graduating class of 2015.
It was part of Groves Academy alum Meredith Shankwitz’s
valedictorian speech on June 4 as a graduating senior.
Meredith vividly remembers an early elementary school
experience when her class was reading Betsy-Tacy and Tib .
Her teacher separated the class based on reading ability
and she had placed Meredith by herself . She couldn’t read .
Her parents, Kathleen and Craig, had a tutor help her after
school for a total of almost two hours per day . Meredith
knew that something was going on but she didn’t have
the words to describe it . It was her tutor who talked to her
parents about Groves Academy .
Meredith came to Groves Academy to “shadow” school
in the spring of her 4th grade year . “I still remember
everything I learned that day . The teacher talked about the
Demilitarized Zone and tied lots of different activities to that
one theme .” At the start of the summer, she was tested for
a learning disability . “I have a little dyslexia and dysgraphia
and have trouble with organization and putting things
together and in chronological order .”
Meredith started at Groves Academy in 5th grade and
stayed through her 8th grade year . “Groves Academy
taught me how to ask for help in a way teachers can
understand . I learned study skills and, of course, how
to read . Groves Academy taught me a lot .” Meredith
transitioned to St . Louis Park for high school . “I was
super scared to transition . I did not want to regress and
take backward steps after I had worked so hard to make
progress . I was nervous about falling through the cracks
and getting the help I needed .” What were her keys to
success? Meredith calls herself an obsessive studier . If
she had a few minutes before practice or a school activity,
she would spend that time studying . She also asked a lot
of questions . “Groves Academy taught me to be proactive
and pursue the help I need and ask the right questions
when I don’t understand something . I knew that if I didn’t
understand the first thing, I would not get the next concept .”
GROVES ACADEMY TAUGHT ME TO BE PROACTiVE AND PURSUE THE HELP i NEED.MEREDITH SHANKWITZ ALUMNI
ANNUAL REPORT | CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER, SPRING/SUMMER 2015 5
FACULTY PROFiLE
Jean Hayward
Jean Hayward, dedicated faculty
member at Groves Academy, has
spent more than 30 years digging
deep into the realms of literacy.
Hayward came to Groves Academy after spending time
at The Reading Center in Rochester, MN and shared her
expertise with the Groves Academy community . Jean is
a self-proclaimed lifelong learner and encourages her
students to be as well . Heeding her own advice, Jean took
on a leadership role at Groves Academy by agreeing to
be the Singapore Math implementation manager . Through
her countless hours of research, studying, and workshop
attendance, she has developed a thorough understanding of
how math works and how to do more as a teacher to debunk
math myths . Her goal is “for students and teachers to enjoy
math and help them apply it .” She is thankful to the Groves
Academy administration for providing four days of intense
training in Singapore Math for the teachers and a boot camp
for the parents .
Meredith stayed connected to Groves Academy through
her high school experience with visits to teachers and
friends, talking about her transition experience to current
Groves Academy parents and helping another student
transition to St . Louis Park High School . “Groves Academy
also helped me a lot with ACT tutoring and preparation .
I took the test at Groves Academy and received the
accommodations I needed .”
Eight days after her graduation speech, Meredith left
Minnesota for New York to work on a farm for the summer
and to gain valuable experience for her future . “My neighbor
is a holistic veterinarian and has a friend in New York near
Cooperstown . They have an all-natural, grass-fed beef farm .
I’m working and living on their farm for the summer . I always
wanted to live in the country and have horses and cows and
lots of land . I went to camp for a month and loved working
on the farm, gardening, and working with some cows . This
summer I wanted an experience with a larger farm and a
bigger operation .” A normal day means getting up 5:30 a .m .
and getting home from the field at 6 or 7 p .m . She goes to
bed at 10 p .m . and does it all over again . “It’s a little intense,
venturing into new waters, but I love it, and it’s so beautiful .”
For fun, Meredith likes to run near the glacier lake on the
farm and ride horses .
Meredith’s decision on how to spend her summer was
purposeful . She intends to start studying agricultural
engineering at college this fall . “I love agriculture and my
dad is an engineer, so I put the two together .” Meredith said
choosing a college was a difficult decision . The summer
before her senior year, she applied to six of the Midwest
colleges she was interested in and was accepted at them all .
She narrowed it down to Montana State and Iowa State and
wrote a long list of pros and cons . She ultimately selected
Iowa State . Meredith wanted to be geographically close to
home, but at a big enough campus to have lots of different
opportunities . “I’m pretty nervous (about college) but that’s
okay, I’ve been nervous about school before .” And, like her
graduation speech says, “With hard work and dedication,
you can achieve many goals .”
GROVES ACADEMY6
BOARD PROFiLE
Q & A with Groves Academy’s newest board member, alum, and alumni parent, Dan Deikel
What do you remember about being a student at Groves Academy?
I attended Groves Academy as a 7th grader to help improve
my reading skills . It was the first year the school was located
at the current St . Louis Park location . I was a slow reader
and had difficulty comprehending what I read . I remember
Mr . Walker and other teachers who helped me organize and
break down a chapter in a way that helped me . I was able
to read at my own pace, eliminating the pressure of falling
behind . I remember I had diagnostic testing and attended
summer school prior to attending regular classes . As I look
back, for such a small school, I was surprised by how many
students were from Minnetonka .
At the time, there were no formal sports offered, so
I participated in a recreational football league in my
hometown . After one year, I transitioned to Woods
Academy and then to Minnetonka High School .
Your son Matthew attended Groves Academy for one year, too . What was your experience as a parent?
I remember Matthew and I attending orientation night at
the beginning of the school year . It was a great opportunity
for Matthew to meet new friends and for me to meet other
parents . I have clear memories of each parent sharing what
brought them to Groves Academy and of returning parents
sharing how it changed their child’s life . It was emotional .
Groves Academy is more than just a school—it feels like a
big family where everyone is welcomed with open arms . It
makes a difference in so many people’s lives . My son played
soccer and basketball while at Groves Academy, which were
good opportunities for him to be social and get to know
other kids . I don’t know that my son understands now what
Groves Academy did for him, but he will one day .
How did your Groves Academy experience impact you?
It took a number of years to understand what Groves
Academy gave me and the impact it had on me . Now I enjoy
reading for fun and learning and teaching myself new things .
I think it’s important for kids who have a learning disability
to be given the opportunity to have it identified, so they can
get the help they need . Groves Academy not only provides
educational help, but emotional stability as well .
You are a new board member and a donor to Groves Academy . What made you want to get involved at a deeper level?
Kids are our future; they need the right assistance and
attention to help them achieve their goals . Groves Academy
is a place to get tutored, to get diagnostic testing, like I did,
and so much more .
If there’s a way that I can help Groves Academy get the
word out, I am happy to give my time and help in whatever
capacity I can . It’s my way to give back for the benefits that
my son and I received from being at Groves Academy . I am
excited and ready to dive in .
What message would you send to the greater community about Groves Academy?
I have had great teachers at other schools, but they weren’t
provided the resources or knowledge to understand or help
me . It’s important that each student have the opportunity to
seek out the help they need to succeed . I think we need to
broaden teacher resources allowing them to become better
educators . We need to eliminate cookie-cutter education .
The more knowledge and training we provide will allow
teachers to prepare our children for the future .
I wish we could break down the barriers between public and
private schools and invest $1 now instead of $10 later, to
educate our youth and develop community-minded citizens .
I would like to see Groves Academy replicated .
GROVES ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2015-2016
ANNUAL REPORT | CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER, SPRING/SUMMER 2015
John AlexanderHEAD OF SCHOOL
Dr . Peter Brown
Dan Deikel
Franklin Groves, Jr .
Debra Hamilton, M .D .
David Iverson
Scott Lang
Nancy NordmeyerTREASURER
Suanne Orenstein
Steve Pontius
Megan Prindiville
Karen SangerCHAiR
Tom SassSECRETARY
Thomas SchnackViCE CHAiR
Gary Schiess
i LOVE GROVES ACADEMY BECAUSE OF THE SMALL CLASSROOM AND TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. AVA MONRO CURRENT STUDENT
7
GROVES ACADEMY8
As many in the community know, Groves Academy is much more than just a
school for 239 students. Groves Academy also offers an array of services for the
community at large. Designed specifically for students with learning disabilities
and attention deficit disorders, these services include diagnostic testing, tutoring,
career counseling, college support services, assistive technology assessments
and coaching, and speech and language evaluations and services.
These ancillary services have always been isolated (“siloed”) with no coordination between
them . They developed independently and organically with little administrative management
or plans for future growth . During the summer of 2014, someone here had a revelation
(though we are unsure who had it) that bundling these services would have benefits for
families and the school . Soon after, Jim Meinen, senior director of business operations, Pat
Erlinger, finance director, John Alexander, head of school, and the managers of each of the
services—Ray Boyd (diagnostics), Kim Aune (tutoring), Clare Roney (career counseling), Josh
Tierney (college support services), Todd Hanson (assistive technology), and Rich Kammueller
(speech and language), began meeting to discuss how to better deliver these services . By
summer’s end, this cross-functional team had created a business case that revealed that
there could be a revenue benefit to the organization if the services were managed and
integrated under the umbrella of a learning center . The team also strongly believed that
families using the services would have a better experience if the services were centrally
managed and integrated .
The outreach committee of the board of trustees reviewed the business case, gave input,
and ultimately recommended to the board of trustees that we proceed with the development
of a learning center . In the winter of 2015, the board unanimously approved the concept, and
The Learning Center at Groves Academy was officially born .
Groves Academy administrators spent the next six months moving the concept of The
Learning Center into an operational phase . In doing so, the cross-functional team met
frequently to discuss how services could be integrated to create efficiencies and to maximize
the potential to families using the services . We also discussed the intake process and how
the Learning Center would be presented to the public .
THE LEARNiNG CENTERAT GROVES ACADEMY
ANNUAL REPORT | CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER, SPRING/SUMMER 2015 9
After weeks of discussions, it was decided that Jim Meinen would direct The
Learning Center until revenue could sustain a new director . After a lengthy
process, a relationship manager was hired . Kim Aune will be responsible
for ensuring that all families who use services through the Learning Center
have quality experiences . She will bring service managers to the table to
have discussions with families about how best to deliver the services a family
is using . In doing so, services will be designed and integrated to meet the
specific needs of the student . This team approach is used by some of the best
service providers in the country including Mayo Clinic and Massachusetts
General Hospital .
In addition to providing integrated and quality services to families, the Learning
Center will generate net revenue that the board can use to make capital
investments for the school . Funds generated by The Learning Center can be
used towards scholarships, to invest in new programs, and to keep tuition
increases more modest . Clearly, the benefits of The Learning Center will affect
more than just the families availing themselves of the services .
This article officially launches The Learning Center at Groves Academy to the
greater Twin Cities community . We are excited to make this announcement and
to work with thousands of families in the future . Please do not hesitate to reach
out to us with questions, comments, or referrals . We appreciate your support!
FOR MORE iNFORMATiON GO TO
WWW.GROVESACADEMY.ORG/THE-LEARNiNG-CENTER/
SAVE THE DATE 2015
HOMECOMING WEEK September 28-October 3
COLLEGE FAIR Tuesday, October 20 6-8 p .m . at Groves Academy
GIVE TO THE MAX DAY Thursday, November 12
GROVES ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP GALA Saturday, April 9, 2016 Marriott City Center
AN INSPIRATIONAL AND PHILANTHROPIC NIGHT
The 38th Annual Groves Academy
Scholarship gala was held on April
11, 2015 . The gala is an evening of
celebration where Groves Academy’s
mission of building confidence,
success, and purpose through
transformative learning experiences
is showcased . Jonathan Mooney -
author, dyslexic, and public speaker
highlighted the evening with his
gravitating keynote speech . Together
sponsors, donors, families, volunteers
and staff raised approximately
$500,000 for deserving students for
whom a Groves Academy education
would not be possible without
scholarship support . Save the date for
next year - April 9, 2016!
GROVES ACADEMY
68+13+10+4+5+w70+23+7+w
2013-2014 FiNANCiALS
REVENUES
Tuition $5,776,662
Outreach $1,097,199
(Financial Aid disbursement) ($858,785)
Total $6,015,076
Annual & Scholarship Gifts $870,586
Restricted Gifts $345,836
Other Income $409,303
Net Revenue Total $7,640,801
EXPENSES
Program Expense $5,563,390
Management & General $1,782,379
Fundraising $591,658
Net Expense Total $7,937,427
Net loss = $(296,626)* *Includes depreciation
10
2013-2014 donor list can be found in the online version of this publication at grovesacademy.org
ANNUAL REPORT | CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER, SPRING/SUMMER 2015 11
66+34+s2014-2015 Day school enrollment = 239 students
STUDENT DISABILITY INFORMATION
Students who have a learning disability and/or ADHD 100%
Students whose LD is in reading (dyslexia) or writing 89%
Students who have ADHD 66%
Students new to Groves Academy this year 30%
Students of color 24%
5-YEAR FINANCIAL AID ANALYSIS
SCHOOL YEAR RECEiVED ASSiSTANCEAVG AWARD
2014-2015 70 families $12,429
2013-2014 69 families $12,283
2012-2013 74 families $11,088
2011-2012 74 families $10,994
2010-2011 75 families $10,504
About 30% of our students receive financial aid.
For the 2014-15 school year, the total awarded
financial assistance was $870,000
The 239 students are from 36 different school districts
We draw the most
students (54)
from Minneapolis .
About 2/3 of our students live in the
Minneapolis, Edina, St . Paul,
Wayzata, Orono, or St . Louis
Park school districts .
64 (28%) transitioned from Groves Academy after 2013-14 school year
53 students
transitioned to
new schools .
11 students
graduated .
These 64 students
had been at Groves
Academy for an
average of 3 .5 years .
2014-2015 BY THE NUMBERS
GROVES ACADEMY
GROVES ACADEMY GETS STRATEGiC
Groves Academy Board of Trustees, staff, and faculty collaborated
on a plan for the future by revamping Groves Academy’s mission,
vision, values, and strategic priorities. The updates provide a
blueprint for Groves Academy students, teachers, and staff.
FOR OUR STUDENTS
GROW AND STRENGTHEN OUR DAY SCHOOL
Groves Academy expands the day school, strengthens
and enhances its programs and curriculum, while
maintaining the highest quality instruction for students
with learning disabilities .
FOR THE ACADEMY
FORTIFY OUR FOUNDATION
Groves Academy is financially secure, managed by strong
leadership, a well-structured organization, quality facilities,
and infrastructure that are best suited to deliver the Groves
Academy’ strategic plan .
STRATEGiC PRiORiTiES
OUR VALUES
At the heart of Groves Academy is a community where students, families, faculty, and staff are engaged with a sense of belonging, sharing, and support . As a community, integrity and respect are intrinsic in everything we do .
AUTHENTICITY
We are genuine,
honest, and open in
our relationships, our
actions, and our words .
COLLABORATION
We gain energy when
we are working together
and recognize our
decisions and actions
are better when we
engage as a team .
DISCOVERY
We have a passion
to persistently learn,
explore, and innovate .
COMPASSION
We embrace each
other’s differences
and value our unique
abilities, personalities,
and styles .
TENACITY
We are driven to take
risks, to advocate, and
to encounter challenges
with boldness and a firm
resolve .
12
ANNUAL REPORT | CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER, SPRING/SUMMER 2015
FOR THE COMMUNiTY
REACH OUT AND HELP OTHERS
Groves Academy is well respected for its contributions for
helping families, friends, professionals, and organizations
that support or serve students that are struggling to learn .
OUR MiSSiON
WE BUiLD CONFiDENCE, SUCCESS, AND PURPOSE THROUGH TRANSFORMATiVE LEARNiNG EXPERiENCES.
OUR ViSiON
TO REDEFiNE THE WAY OUR NATiON iS TAUGHT, ONE STUDENT, ONE TEACHER, AND ONE SCHOOL AT A TiME.
13
GROVES ACADEMY14
GROVES ACADEMY iS AN iNNOVATiVE SCHOOL, A PLACE THAT DARES TO APPROACH THiNGS DiFFERENTLY, A PLACE THAT SHOWS US THAT WE CAN SUCCEED iN OUR OWN WAY AND APPROACH LiFE WiTH AN OPEN MiND. SAM HARTMANN VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH, CLASS OF 2015
952.920.6377
GROVESACADEMY.ORG
3200 HiGHWAY 100 SOUTH
ST. LOUiS PARK, MN 55416
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