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THEGILLEN BREWERSCHOOL2015 - 2016ANNUAL REPORT
The Gillen Brewer SchoolThe Gillen Brewer School4GBS hiSTory6Board of direcTorS / STaff8financial Summary10ProGram hiGhliGhTS14GBS evenTS16fundraiSinG evenTS18donorS24communiTy ParTnerShiPS25achievemenTS26GBS communiTyWe are defined by a commitment to our students,and inspired by their determination.Each of them is remarkable.Learning and growing in a secure and nurturing environment,they develop the skills necessary to overcome challenges.They learn from us, but we also learn from them.Listening and observing, encouraging and teaching,we work closely with their families to instill self-confidenceand build a strong foundation for lifelong independence.We view their future with unwavering optimism.WE ARE THE GILLEN BREWER SCHOOL.UNCOVERING THE SPECIALNESS IN EVERY CHILD www.gillenbrewer.com2015-2016 annual rePorT1
Dear Gillen Brewer Community,Nearly 25 years ago, the Gillen Brewer School started with only onestudent and an overwhelming desire to make a difference for childrenwith language-based and non-verbal learning disabilities. Today, ourschool has 90 students, 60 highly qualified and dedicated staff, andthe same powerful desire to make a difference.Today, our optimism is unwavering, yet we continue to be challengedwith the ever-increasing difference between the cost of a Gillen Brewereducation and the funding we receive from New York State. As a result,we are dependent on the generous gifts of the Gillen Brewercommunity, and are fortunate to receive support from current parents,alumni parents, grandparents, trustees, friends, and organizations.In the 2015-2016 year, we raised 1.87M to support our program. Everygift counts, and every donor matters. Your steadfast support allows usto sustain our year-round program for our wonderful students, and wecouldn’t do it without you. Thank you.2in the lives of children. Our dream was to build a schoolthat would be an educational haven for parents and families.Our success in fulfilling this dream has surpassed allexpectations. Twenty-five years later, our thriving communitycontinues to embody the founding mission, whileuncovering the specialness in every child.”laura Bilicicco-founder, The Gillen Brewer SchoolSincerely,donna KennedyHead of SchoolFrom the beginning, the mission of“The Gillen Brewer School was simple—to make a differenceKathryn TyreeBoard Chair and Alumni ParentThe Gillen Brewer School2015-2016 annual rePorT3
OUR HISTORYare ever so grateful for the support and tools that“wereWeprovided It is evident that your school’s missionhas been achieved and continues to impact the lives ofstudents well aſter they have leſt the school.”An Alumni ParentThe Gillen Brewer School was founded in 1992 bylaura Bilicic and laurie dubos as a school for childrenwith significant learning challenges.As special education teachers, they saw the overwhelming need for a school inNew York City where families with children who have significant special needs wouldbe welcomed, educated and supported. The founders believed that a knowledgeableand informed family was invaluable to each child’s overall education. To underscorethe importance of family, the school was named after the founders’ grandmothers,Mattie Gillen and Virginia Brewer.The school opened in 1992 with one student and added classes until it reached48 students from Pre-K through second grade. Forty-eight students were housed inwhat had once been the servants’ quarters of a stately mansion on Park Avenue. Itsoon became apparent that more room was needed, not only to accommodate morestudents, but also to house the ever expanding academic and therapeutic programs.In 2003, under the leadership of Board Chairman Henry B. Schacht and newlyappointed Head of School, Donna Kennedy, the school began a search for a newlocation. In August 2005, the school moved to its current location at 410 East 92ndStreet. The school currently has 90 students and 60 staff.4The Gillen Brewer School2015-2016 annual rePorT5
BOARD OF TRUSTEES, BOARD OF ADVISORS,ADMINISTRATION 2015-2016I am amazed by“the work all of you doand have such a heartspilling with gratituderight now. We lookforward to keepingin touch.”an alumni Parent6STAFF 2015-2016BOARD OF TRUSTEESEARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMART, MUSIC AND SCIENCEKathryn George Tyree, Chairhenry B. Schacht, Chairman Emerituslawrence w. leighton, Treasurerlaura Bilicic, Secretaryneal meltzernancy ParkerJames ShippKara marks, Directoramanda Siegman, Head Teacherabigail Burch, Head Teachercarly furino, Head Teachermelissa Smith, Head Teacherlauren Kowalski, Co-Head Teachermelanie matos, Co-Head Teacherhilary colon, Assistant TeacherSamuel circh, Assistant TeacherKathleen doyle, Assistant Teachermargo lash, Assistant TeacherJennifer lee, Assistant TeacherSabrina Samaroo, Assistant Teachercheri Taylor, Assistant TeacherKate Gugliotta, Art TeacherBraque hershberger, Science Teacherrobert Kennedy, Music TeacherBOARD OF ADVISORSfrank d’ameliomark hicksonPat russorick SegalPaul TagliabueJohn l. vogelsteinADMINISTRATIONThe Gillen Brewer Schoolholly Thomas, Head of DepartmentJane enright, PathologistJennifer hogan, Pathologistnicole Klein, Pathologistdaria morganstern, PathologistOCCUPATIONAL THERAPYDEPARTMENTELEMENTARY PROGRAMdonna Kennedy, Head of Schooldr. cathy Kaufman iger, Assistant Head of School andHead of Psychology DepartmentSharon Slate, Chief Financial Officercaitlin Terry, Director of Development and AdvancementJoe Surak, Director of Admissionsmonica fishman, Elementary Program DirectorKara marks, Early Childhood Program DirectorPaul dentrone, IT and Systems CoordinatorStacey marye, School NurseKrista Jacobsen, Development AssociateJoline robles, Administrative Assistant andAssistant to Head of Schoolida Sacconi, Receptionist and Administrative AssistantSPEECH AND LANGUAGEPATHOLOGY DEPARTMENTmonica fishman, DirectorSarah cox, Head Teacherlinda delaney, Head Teacheremmy mlawer, Head TeacherSarah rosati, Head Teachermichelle Snyder, Head TeacherSamantha antonacchio, assistant Teachercourtney Benson, Assistant Teacheraimee Buszka, Assistant TeacherSammy cotumaccio, Assistant Teacherashley dallas, Assistant Teachermary flieger, Assistant TeacherKristin Paresi, Assistant Teacherrebecca Skolnick, Assistant Teacherhannah Sorgi, Assistant Teacherdoriana Stern, Assistant Teacherclaire Swinney, Assistant Teacherdanielle wolkowicz, Assistant TeacherShannie easterby, Head of DepartmentKelly Borbely, TherapistBrittany Blacker, TherapistSarah leventhal, TherapistKatie Plunkett, Therapisterica yauri Quizhpi, TherapistPSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENTdr. cathy Kaufman iger, Head of Departmentdr. audrey halpern, Psychologistdr. Benjamin Klein, Psychologistdr. carli Koch, Psychologistdr. middy whelley, Psychologist2015-2016 annual rePorT7
FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2015 - 2016Thanks to the partnership with our generous donors, the Gillen BrewerSchool is a leader in special education, providing students withlearning experiences that transform each and every one of their lives.SUPPORTING GILLEN BREWER:A CRITICAL NEEDWe depend on charitable contributions to fund the essential and exceptional programsthat make Gillen Brewer such a unique place for children living with special needs.While we are funded by the New York City Department of Education, their fundingdoes not cover the full cost of the enhanced, comprehensive program that is soessential for our students and makes Gillen Brewer so different from other schools.The average annual shortfall is 25,000 per student and we rely on the support offriends like you to make up this gap.FUNDRAISING REVENUEYour gift to Gillen Brewer allows us to continue to provide initiatives, including:26%43%4%27%annual appeal 805,322.40annual Benefit 500,960.50Special funds & Grants 89,025.00annual Gala with autism Speaks 479,000.00Total 1,874,307.90 1.87M RAISED8The Gillen Brewer School Student and Family Therapy Art, Science and Music Classes Health and Fitness Programs at Asphalt Green State-of-the-Art Facilities and Technology Chess Classes Pet Partnerships and Art Farm Unique Integrated Therapeutic and Academic Program Competitive Salaries for Our Talented Faculty and Staff43%27%4%26%The Average Annual Shortfall is 25,000 per Student2015-2016 annual rePorT9
2015-2016PROGRAMMATIC HIGHLIGHTSThings that fly by their own natural powerwas the theme for the 2015-2016 school yearour 4:1:2 claSSin ScienceIn July 2015, we successfully launched our first 4:1:2 class in order to serve more studentswho can benefit from Gillen Brewer’s approach but for whom a smaller class size isbeneficial. This private class serves four students and is taught by Gillen Brewer’s highlytrained and talented staff and a highly trained LPN nurse who also serves as an assistantteacher. As thought leaders in the world of educating children who learn differently, wedeveloped this unique model in order to serve this “small but mighty” group of learners.During the 2015-16 year, we expanded our egg-to-chick project in the Ladybugs’ and Puffins’classrooms to include duck hatching. We hatched three beautiful ducklings in addition to our24 chickens. These hatching projects are examples of project-basedlearning, where students investigate a topic across subjects andactivities, tying in literacy, math, science, social studies and the artsto make learning meaningful. These projects offer students witha variety of strengths and learning challenges the opportunity toaccess the curriculum.Science in The arTSTeacher’s College at ColumbiaUniversity supported the ArtDepartment with a grant calledResources for Classroom Programs,which Kate, our art teacher, used for aphotography project with the Dragonsand Dimorphodons. Not only did thestudents learn all types of photographictechniques and practice them on a walkthrough the neighborhood, they wereDragons and Dimorphodons t-shirt printing projectable to wear their photos! Using asolar-printing technique called LumiInk-O-Dye, they added a light-sensitive liquid to their t-shirts and then layered on aninverted image of their selected photograph.Microsoft’s Innovative Educator Program provided a grant toencourage innovative and engaging classroom instruction.This gift was in response to GBS’ application and lesson plan,which were evaluated based on criteria including dynamic useof materials, differentiated instruction, and fostering a sense ofcreative energy among students. This grant was used for a hairsculpture project with the Ladybugs and Puffins. After reflectingon their cultural identity, students created wearable hairsculptures and modeled them in a fashion show.Our robotics program was underway during the summer. Thestudents used LEGO Mindstorms robot kits to build real, workingrobots with a partner. These projects require planning, attentionDuckling hatchingto detail, and above all, teamwork.The robotics project appealed to our students’ interest intechnology while requiring them to learn and practice21st-century electronics skills such as laptop usage, USBconnections, using a file system, and elementary visualprogramming.Students also built terrarium projects in recycled plasticbottles. These self-sustaining habitats exhibited manyfeatures of nature, including the life cycles of plants, animalsand fungi, the water cycle, and even pollution. Studentsthen headed to Carl Schurz Park to collect some livingMaking Robotssamples from our local habitat to add to their projects.As the small habitats inside these bottles changed and grew in the classroom, students experienced natural processes in a concrete and focused way that appealed to all of our learners.SnaPShoTS inSide andouTSide The claSSroomTo end a social studies unit on culture, the Sea Hawks hosted aCultural Gala. After learning about the different cultural practicesand the cultural demonstrations of their countries, includingholidays, language, sports, foods, and clothing, and also researchingdifferent artifacts that each family sent in, each student had a tableset up with his or her research, cultural artifacts, flag, and pictures.Many parents sent in wonderful treats and visitors enjoyed askingthe Sea Hawks about their cultures.One of the Puffins modelshis hair sculptureSea Hawks cultural gala10The Gillen Brewer School2015-2016 annual rePorT11
2015-2016PROGRAMMATIC HIGHLIGHTSThanks to a generous donation fromthe Fallis family, who won this excitingopportunity at the 2016 GBS Benefit,the Dimorphodons were able to take aonce in a lifetime trip to tour the CNNstudios in Columbus Circle. They wenton set of the news show “At This Hour,”and got to meet John Berman, one ofthe hosts. They walked through thenews and control rooms and gotinsight on all of the different jobs,includingthe editors, journalists, andDimorphodons visit CNNcameramen. During lunch overlookingCentral Park, students were able to ask their own questions to Andrew Morse (CNNExecutive Vice President) and Jim Sciutto (Chief National Security Correspondent).of The Gillen Brewer School “I loveI haveandgreatwill memoriesalways remember the great times I hadhere with the best people in the world.”An AlumAt the end of a unit on the GingerbreadMan, the Ducklings showcased theiracting skills and performed their play,the Gingerbread Man, for an audienceof parents and friends.Ducklings performing the “Gingerbread Man”you how to love and be a family.“This school teachesThey always have your back.”An Alum12The Gillen Brewer School2015-2016 annual rePorT13
I always look forward to visiting“Gillen Brewer and seeing my old friendsat the Family Fun Day events.”2015-2016 EVENTSAn AlumGrandParenTS’ dayalumni Panel & uPPer School danceThis was a great day in which students paid tribute to their grandparents and theirgrandparents learned about our special community. Students invited grandparents to jointhem in their classrooms for a fun-filled day of collaborative activities and treats. The visitalso included a synopsis of the school with Donna Kennedy, Head of School, and theHeads of the Therapy Departments.Moving-on and aging out students and all Gillen Brewer parents were invited to come listenand talk to a panel of alumni students about “Life After Gillen Brewer.” Questions aboutfriends, homework, and adjusting to a new school were all addressed. After the panel, thealumni joined the 3 oldest classes at GBS for a parent-free dance upstairs while parentsenjoyed a cocktail party downstairs with Donna Kennedy and Cathy Kaufman Iger.fall family fun dayachievemenT ceremonyThis community event for Gillen Brewer families, friends and alumni was held in theCatbird Playground at Carl Schurz Park. Students and families enjoyed fall crafts, games,prizes and a potluck breakfast.The 2016 Achievement Ceremony was conducted in a new format that fostered a moreintimate experience for the parents and students. Students were divided into three separategroups according to age, with three separate performances. This allowed for a moreindividualized, age-appropriate set of songs that the students could share with their parents,caregivers, and friends. Learning and practicing these songs was a highlight of the musicprogram this year.ThanKSGivinG feaSTParents joined the students in the classrooms for a potluck meal provided by the familiesand enjoyed the opportunity to share in traditions while gathering as a community andpausing for a moment of thanks.viP dayOn VIP Day, each student invited a special guest to visit their classroom. Each classroomwelcomed their VIPs in a different way, from designing and illustrating books about theircountries of cultural origin, to making a rainbow fruit salad to celebrate the end of colorweeks, to going on a scavenger hunt. We were happy to welcome over 50 VIPs to GBS!winTer family fun day, Screen free weeK & BooK fairWinter Family Fun Day gave us a great way to beat the winter doldrums with fun activitiesfor children of all ages at the school. Students enjoyed magic shows, festive crafts, games,a potluck brunch and a special chess simul conducted by former Gillen Brewer Schoolparent Yigal Nochomovitz, Ph.D.Winter Family Fun Day and the Scholastic Book Fair kicked off Screen Free Week, a week ofnon-electronic activities. Families were encouraged to put away the electronics and spendtime together reading, playing games and using their creative minds.uncoverinG SPecialneSS 14The Gillen Brewer SchoolSummer arT & Science exhiBiTThe Gillen Brewer School families were invited to view artwork and science projects createdby the students in July and August. The robotics unit is a summer tradition at Gillen Brewerand is coordinated by science teacher, Braque Hershberger. Braque worked with GillenBrewer’s oldest students building robots using LEGOS NXT kits and programmed them usinga visual interface on a laptop. These projects help students to combine math, science andcreative skills to solve problems and have fun. Art Teacher Kate Gugliotta’s summer themewas the fusion of art and technology. By combining traditional art materials with newtechnology tools, such as Squishy Circuits, LED Lights and littleBits Circuits, students learnedto explore and express their ideas in a new and exciting way.field dayRain didn’t put a damper on our Field Day! After lunch, studentsenjoyed an indoor field day with different school-wide activitiesranging from watching movies and sand art to a dance partyin the music room. We ended the day with popsicles in eachclassroom. What a great way to end our summer session!ONE EVENT AT A TIME2015-2016 annual rePorT15
THE 2016 GILLEN BREWER ANNUAL BENEFIT:THE AUTISM SPEAKS BENEFIT:“SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS”“LEAD OFF FOR A CURE”Thank you to everyone who joined usfor the GBS Benefit, Soar to New Heights,held April 18th at the Lighthouse atChelsea Piers.On May 9, GBS participated in Lead Off for a Cure,an evening benefiting Autism Speaks and GBS inpartnership with Major League Baseball. Theevent raised 479,000 for GBS. Lead Off for a Curetook place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art,and it was an honor for GBS alumnus MichaelRock to take the stage. Displaying his ease withpublic speaking, Michael confidently spokeabout his life experiences and the foundationhe built during preschool at Gillen Brewer.Michael received a standing ovation after hismoving remarks.The Benefit honored Jerry Pinkney, GillenBrewer great-grandparent and CaldecottMedal-winning children’s book illustrator.The event also featured a musical performance by GBS alumnus Dom Gervais, who iscurrently studying music at Berklee Collegeof Music in Boston, MA. Parents, staff, friends,alumni parents, and trustees all gathered tocelebrate our school, and the event raisedover 500,000 to support GBS!Honoree Jerry PinkneySuzanne WrightCo-founder of Autism SpeaksSuzanne wright, co-founder of autism Speaks, passed away in July aftera 9 month battle with pancreatic cancer. as you know, autism Speaks isthe most prominent leading national organization whose mission is tochange the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorder.Suzanne wright, and her husband, Bob, founded autism Speaks in 2005,following their grandson’s diagnosis. Suzanne has described how sheand her husband founded the charity to help families that don't haveresources to best approach an autism diagnosis, saying,These funds raised are critical to our mission,allowing us to continue helping our studentsovercome challenges and build foundationsfor productive and independent lives.Alumni performer Dom Gervais“It was unconscionable that millions of families across the countrywere not being accepted into the community that needed help.They were just ignored, and that's why we fought so hard.”Gillen Brewer has partnered with autism Speaks since its inception. our partnership revolvesaround the annual autism Speaks benefit, in partnership with major sports affiliations. This benefitraises awareness for autism and funding for autism research, and raises significant funds andrecognition for Gillen Brewer.OVER 500,000RAISEDto streng
8 The Gillen Brewer School 201522016 annual rePorT 9 Thanks to the partnership with our generous donors, the Gillen Brewer School is a leader in special education, providing students with learning expe
