Camperdown Academy

Camperdown Academy Announces Open House for the Cognitive Classroom

February 16, 2012 @ 12:49 PM | permalink

1^st school in South Carolina to offer Brain Training

for children with learning disabilities

Camperdown Academy announced today that a Cognitive Classroom Open House will be held on Tuesday, February 28th from 6:30 to 8:00pm. This is an opportunity for the community to learn more about how the brain training program is strengthening students' cognitive skills in order to improve their academic performance. An overview of the process will be presented, and students will be demonstrating some of the exercises utilized in the program. Camperdown Academy is the first school in the state of South Carolina to make the highly acclaimed Arrowsmith Program available through the Cognitive Classroom.

The Cognitive Classroom is another tool employed by Camperdown Academy to provide excellence in the education of dyslexic children. The program began in August 2011 with 20 students and 2 teachers.

Five months into the program, students, teachers, and parents are already seeing the positive impact of the Arrowsmith cognitive exercises on the students' academics. Teachers are commenting that many students are excelling on mid-year testing in reading, spelling and math. "I have been working through Level 3 of the Camperdown Academy Orton-Gillingham sequence and advanced word structure with a student, so I expected to see solid gains with spelling. However, I was amazed to see the scores on his spelling assessment double from fall to winter,” says Camperdown Academy tutor Courtney Stefanick.

Although the program requires two to four years to achieve the full impact of the cognitive exercises on academic achievement, the Cognitive Classroom teachers are encouraged by the initial results. Parents, teachers, and school administrators will be available at the Open House to answer questions.

CA Students learn about SC's regions by creating topographical maps and about the "Wonders of Light"

January 27, 2012 @ 6:12 PM | permalink

In the City People section of The Greenville News on January 25, 2012:

>Mrs. Newton's Am Group students have been studying the state of South
Carolina. The students created topographical maps of the state using clay in order to better understand how the state is separated into regions that are mountainous in the Upstate and gradually descend to sea level at the coast. Being able to experience the changes in elevation and foliage by manipulating clay has given them a multi-sensory awareness of the state that they would not get from reading a textbook. Congratulations to the following 3rd graders for successfully completing the project. Ryan Ball, Chandler Beerman, Riley Cottingham, Tad Denney, Emma Floyd, Warren Fulk, Emma Kromer, Avery Plourde, Alex Stokes, and Ellie Udouj.

Am Group picture (from left to right): Warren Fulk and Chandler Beerman

>Camperdown Academy Star Group students recently attended the "Wonders of Light" demonstration at Roper Mountain Science Center. Mica Bailey, Garrett Baur, Beth Cadieu, Savoia Cali, Andy Martens, Carlisle Poole, Carson Rogers, Samuel Stilwell, and Sean Tomlin were able to observe the light spectrum through different elements such as neon and hydrogen. Students also saw a demonstration with infra-red lasers and witnessed electricity travel through a student as part of the hands-on activities. The students are wrapping up a series on light as part of their Science curriculum.

CA's Cognitive Classroom places 3rd in the international "Word Marathon"

January 20, 2012 @ 7:30 PM | permalink

On Wednesday, November 30, 2011, the Camperdown Cognitive Classroom competed in an international "Word Marathon" against all of the other Arrowsmith schools in the US and Canada. For 40 minutes every student did the Word exercise as fast as he or she could write, and our class averaged 69 lines per student! (The benchmark expectation is 24 lines per period.) Congratulations to all of our students for helping Camperdown place 3rd out of all the schools we competed against! (A school in Toronto, Canada placed first, and a school in Brooklyn NY placed second.)

Discover how our Cognitive Classroom is helping students learn in the January 2012 issue of Upstate Parent magazine

January 20, 2012 @ 7:26 PM | permalink

Y Group student Cassidy Van Houten and D Group student Alex Young share how the Arrowsmith Program that comprises CA's Cognitive Classroom is making a difference in their lives. Read the article online (pages 24-26):

greenvillenewssc.sc.newsmemory.com/default.php

CA students use spatial and motor skills to create gingerbread houses and their generous spirit to collect toys for needy children

January 20, 2012 @ 7:08 PM | permalink

City People, The Greenville News, December 28, 2011:
Camperdown Academy C Groupers put their architectural and engineering skills to work while creating and designing their own "gingerbread houses." Using graham crackers and frosting, they constructed multi-level houses from the ground floor up. The outcomes reflected their refined spatial and motor skills. Intricate trimmings of spice drops, peppermints, candy canes, M&Ms, and LifeSavers adorned and defined windows, porches, and railings. Each house has its own unique story. A true winter wonderland! Great job to: Max Weekes, Austin Calhoun, Tres Bauknight, Riley Fisher, Ben Richter, Campell Altman, Robert Thompson, Ethan Hargrove, and Bennett Evans.

pictured in gingerbread photo: C Grouper Max Weekes

The Camperdown Academy Student Council held a school-wide toy drive in response to a shortage of donations to the Salvation Army this year. Students heard on the news that there were not enough donations for all of the needy children to receive toys, and Student Council spent the last three days of the 2011 school year gathering donations from Camperdown families. In a 48-hour time period, close to 200 new, unwrapped toys were collected! The toys were delivered to the Salvation Army on the last day of school. Thank you to all of our students and their parents for the generous donations.

CA students hold Math class at BI-LO Grocery Store and learn about India

January 20, 2012 @ 6:53 PM | permalink

City People, The Greenville News, December 21, 2011 and January 4, 2012:

Camperdown Academy Am Group students recently had math class at a BI-LO grocery store. The purpose of the exercise was to practice adding, subtracting, rounding, estimating, and following directions. Prior to leaving for the store, students studied a floor lay-out to determine where their products might be located. Students brought $20.00 and a grocery list of 5 items that they were going to buy. The field trip had children comparing store brand versus national brand and estimating the cost of multiple items prior to check-out. It was a new experience for students to handle the money and change at the check-out counter. There were several days of follow-up exercises in the classroom utilizing their BI-LO receipts and change. Good job to our "shoppers": Ryan Ball, Chandler Beerman, Riley Cottingham, Tad Denney, Emma Floyd, Warren Fulk, Emma Kromer, Avery Plourde, Alex Stokes, and Ellie Udouj.

Am Group students (pictured from left to right): Emma Floyd,

Avery Plourde, Ellie Udouj

Aparna Duhkelar, a Hindi language professor at Furman University, visited the E Group social studies class at Camperdown Academy. Social Studies teacher Jimmy Tillery is teaching the class about Ancient India. Ms. Aparna gave great information about the way of life and culture of India. She brought in pictures, maps, money from India, a marble slab of the Taj Mahal, and wore an Indian outfit. "Having someone from the actual place you are teaching about will give the students a much better understanding of the culture and history of that country," Mr. Tillery said. Students also got to taste Indian food as part of their learning experience.

A Group students practice fine motor skills while decorating for the holiday

December 16, 2011 @ 6:33 PM | permalink

City People, The Greenville News, December 14, 2011

Camperdown Academy A Group students practice fine motor control through a variety of activities throughout the school year. During the month of December they will make Christmas ornaments for the front office tree and decorations for their classroom tree. By strengthening the fine motor control of the fingers and hand, the child’s ability to hold a pencil, form written-letters, and orient words within the primary lined paper is positively impacted. They will make a Fruit Loop garland; mold play dough ornaments; color, cut, and glue; string beads onto wreaths, and create wrapping paper for under the tree. Good work to first graders Jack Barrett and Collin Traynham!

pictured from left to right: Jack Barrett and Collin Traynham

Camperdown celebrates The Feast and Potlatch

December 12, 2011 @ 9:22 AM | permalink

City People, The Greenville News, December 7, 2011

This is the 23rd year that Camperdown Academy Y Group students have hosted the annual Feast. This homecoming event is a chance for current and former families to enjoy food, activities and games together. Y Group students Henri Caldwell, R.H. Roettger, Will Simcoe, Amy Farrenkopf, Colin Foley, Cassidy Van Houten and Maddie Smith continued with the long-standing tradition by baking and decorating cookies for all to enjoy. The students traveled to Laurenda's Family Restaurant in Greer to use the professional kitchen to learn how to bake and then ice cookies using pastry bags. More than 100 people came out for The Feast, spending several hours together on the Camperdown Academy campus.

Camperdown Academy students recently celebrated Potlatch. Potlatch began many years ago as a way to highlight the special qualities of each member of the Camperdown Academy family. Although the idea of a Potlatch was borrowed from the Native Americans of the Northwest, it is in no way a religious ceremony. It utilizes the skills associated with observation, creativity, organization, written expression, and oral presentation. Students secretly draw names then spend several weeks observing and learning about the person. Students will prepare a form of written expression celebrating their Potlach partners in the form of a story, poem, cinquain, or sensory poem. Students will choose appropriately descriptive Native American names to represent their secret partner such as "Laughs with Great Thunder". To present the works, the student body gathers as each person reads his or her gift to their secret Potlatch partner.

Left to right in Potlatch photo: Brice Violette E Group, Will Simcoe Y Group, Riley Fisher C Group

CA students on the road

December 06, 2011 @ 3:20 PM | permalink

City People, The Greenville News, November 30, 2011
Camperdown Academy E Group students traveled to the Barrier Islands for an environmental field trip. The students participated in several team-building activities, and especially enjoyed the mud pit. They took a hike through the maritime forest and participated in an environmental debate. The trip was a great mixture of fun and learning. Students participating were: Petra Banzhof, Thomas Gasque, Austin Greer, Catherine Hackl, David Hatchette, Sam Smith, Jason Sturm and Brice Violette.

Y Group students Henri Caldwell, R.H. Roettger, Will Simcoe and Maddie Smith completed a project known as the Greenville Notebook Project. This was a month-long cross-curricular project in Language Arts and Social Studies classes. Students were provided with information on nearly 40 historic sites in and around the Greenville area. A field trip to 24 of those sites allowed students the chance to be photographed and make a selection of 12 sites to include in their notebook. Two sites were required: Springwood Cemetery and Dunean Mill Village. Students performed research in books and online, and used MLA style to write a biography of each of their chosen sites. In addition, students had to locate a long-time Greenville resident to interview and include the write-up in their notebook.

Shown in photo left to right, front to back: Henri Caldwell, R.H. Roettger, Will Simcoe, Maddie Smith

CA Performing Arts students showcase their talents in Dinner Theatre fundraiser.

November 28, 2011 @ 11:57 AM | permalink

City People, The Greenville News, November 28, 2011

Camperdown Academy recently celebrated the 2nd Annual Campfire and Cookout. Am and Star Group students joined teachers for an enjoyable evening outdoors on the upper lot. As families arrived, some gathered around the fire to chat while others joined in an exciting game of kickball. Then it was time to cook hot dogs over the campfire. When bellies were full, the students donned glow sticks and joined teachers in a game of Flashlight Hunt. They ended the evening with ooey, gooey S’mores and a few more flashlight games. The weather was perfect, the fire was warm, and the evening was entertaining.

Camperdown Academy Performing Arts students participated in a fundraising dinner and theatre event for the Drama Department. Am through E Group students performed in Greer at Laurenda's Family Restaurant to a sold-out house! Laurenda Norris, mother of a Camperdown Academy graduate, hosted the event for the school. Students created an innovative evening entitled, "Families, Inc." The production included monologues and dialogues that illustrated family life. Scenes involved intimate families, extended families, communities, and the world family. Much of the evening consisted of student-generated scripts! Aspiring actors delivered with great poise and professionalism as the school family came together for an evening of fun and delicious food.

Am Group Students: in the front row left to right - Alex Stokes, Avery Plourde; in the back row - Ellie Udouj, Warren Fulk

M Group Literature students have been studying Heroes in Greek Mythology, and recently presented their final projects. Students were asked to choose a modern-day hero that had similar characteristics and accomplishments to some of the ancient heroes. Students wrote papers and presented oral projects in the form of videos, power point slides, and posters for subjects such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and the
founder of Tom's Shoes, Blake Mycoskie. Congratulations to the following students for a job well-done: Lawson Spinks, Sarah Moseley, Emily Hall, Courtney Humphries, Grant Coffey, Alex Brown, Jason Frederick, Nicholas Johnson, and Thomas Hollow.

CA students collected donations and money for the Greenville County Humane Society.

November 17, 2011 @ 9:26 AM | permalink

City People, The Greenville News, November 16, 2011

Camperdown Academy students held a school wide collection to raise money and collect items for the Greenville County Humane Society. Almost $150 was collected, as well as various wish list items that the Humane Society uses on a daily basis such as newspapers, paper towels, Clorox wipes, disinfectant cleaner, baby wipes, canned pet foods, beds, collars, and leashes.

M and Y Group students took a field trip to drop off the donations and take a tour of the facility. Students visited with puppies and kittens in their special “nursery,” played with the older animals, and finished up with a visit to the supply room where they saw firsthand how their donations will make a difference.

Students who attended were Frances Masaschi, Alex Brown, Grant Coffey, Jason Frederick, Emily Hall, Thomas Hollow, Nicholas Johnson, Langdon Kennedy, Sarah Moseley, Lawson Spinks, Liam Tomlin, John Michael Wallwork, Henri Caldwell, Amy Farrenkopf, Colin Foley, R.H. Roettger, Will Simcoe, Maddie Smith, and Cassidy Van Houten.

Camperdown Students In The News 11-9-2011

November 10, 2011 @ 2:02 PM | permalink

City People, Greenville News, November 9, 2011

The River Monster is a project for Star Group students at Camperdown Academy. This monster is not scary at all. It is made up of all of the student's vocabulary words. There is mountain range hair, source eyes, a river's mouth for his mouth, tributary veins, a delta shaped tongue, a below sea level belly button, erosion sneakers, and much more! The River Monster helps the students to understand and visualize the United States landforms in a fun and unique way! Students participating in the project are: Samuel Stilwell, Carson Rogers, Garrett Baur, Mica Bailey, Beth Cadieu, Savoia Cali, Sam Cooter, Kai Franken, Carlisle Poole, and Sean Tomlin.

The River Monster with Star Group students. . .pictured from left to right in front row: Sam Cooter, Mica Bailey, Carson Rogers, Carlisle Poole; back row: Kai Franken, Garrett Baur, Jimmy Tillery/teacher, Sean Tomlin, Beth Cadieu, Savoia Cali, Samuel Stilwell

The E Group science class at Camperdown Academy has been testing the water quality of Brushy Creek by searching for macroinvertebrates. They were able to find and identify several species, including dragonfly, mayfly, and caddisfly nymphs. Several pollution-sensitive species were found, indicating that the water quality is fair. The water quality of the creek has improved during the past decade. The class will be building on this information in their next unit on ecosystems and biomes. The E Group science class plans on testing Brushy Creek again in the spring to see if there is any seasonal variation.

Camperdown Students In The News 11-2-2011

November 10, 2011 @ 10:38 AM | permalink

City People, Greenville News, November 2, 2011

Camperdown Academy C Group students are learning to describe and classify their speech sounds on the basis of their motor characteristics. They identify their speech helpers using multi-sensory techniques such as mirrors, air drawing, and breath sounds so they experience speech sounds on a conscious level. They discriminate and describe unvoiced/voiced pairs of consonants, and associate them with labels that describe their characteristics. This sound-label association works on their phonological and phonemic awareness skills.

The Camperdown Academy Middle School had a competitive soccer team this year, playing 13 matches with other area schools. The team fought like true "Jaguars," and never gave up. They showed poise, sportsmanship, and determination on the field. The coaches and fans could not be more proud of the student athletes that participated.

Camperdown Students In The News 10-12-2011

November 08, 2011 @ 3:19 PM | permalink

City People, Greenville News, October 12, 2011

Camperdown Academy Am and Star Groupers have been helping in the community garden of adjacent neighborhoods, Wellington Green and Kingsgate.The neighborhoods formed GreenGate Community Initiative and partnered with the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation division to plan a park area in land that abuts Camperdown Academy. The community garden is one of the early components being developed on the land. Camperdown Academy has offered their building for community meetings, and students have been using the Camperdown Academy Greenhouse for starting the seeds and providing labor in the garden. Am Group students Ryan Ball, Chandler Beerman, Anna-Elizabeth Brown, Riley Cottingham, Tad Denney, Emma Floyd, Emma Kromer, and Avery Plourde kept the seeds in the greenhouse watered throughout the spring. This fall, Star Group students Mica Bailey, Garrett Baur, Beth Cadieu, Savoia Cali, Sam Cooter, Kai Franken, Ana Pelham, Carlisle Poole, Carson Rogers, Samuel Stilwell, and Sean Tomlin are providing weekly assistance in the community garden as part of their science curriculum.

Camperdown Star Groupers Kai Franken, Mica Bailey, and Sean Tomlin tend the GreenGate Community Garden.

October CAP Meeting Minutes

November 08, 2011 @ 3:05 PM | permalink

CAP Meeting

October 26, 2011

Welcome
Holiday Parties
The Feast – Sarah Greer and Rosie Udouj
Reading Tips by Mr. Dan
Dates for Your Calendar:

October 27th Thursday 6:30-8:00 PM Dyslexia Simulation
October 28th Friday Halloween Parties
November 18th CAP Meeting
November 18th Friday The Feast
December 16th Friday Christmas Parties
February 10th Friday Valentine’s Parties

Thank You’s:

The Cottinghams for hosting the Oyster Roast
The Walkers for hosting the Oyster Roast
The Denneys for Providing the Barbeque
The Pooles for Lots of Help at the Oyster Roast

Camperdown Students In The News 10-19-2011

November 08, 2011 @ 2:57 PM | permalink

City People, Greenville News, October 19, 2011

The A and C Groups students at Camperdown Academy have completed a community service project in Art class to benefit NHC HealthCare nursing home of Greenville. They spent two weeks planning and creating the perfect pumpkin faces using angles, lines and curves to cheer residents and staff alike. The pumpkins will spend the month on tables and in hallways to help decorate the facility. Those participating in the project were Jack Barrett, Collin Traynham, Campbell Altman, Tres Bauknight, Austin Calhoun, Riley Fisher, Ethan Hargrove, Ben Richter, Robert Thompson, and Max Weekes.

Camperdown A Group students Collin Traynham and Jack Barrett show off their decorated pumpkins.

Camperdown Academy students are proud that October has been chosen as "Dyslexia Awareness Month" by the state of South Carolina, as well as many area cities including the city of Greenville. This recognition is an important step in educating the community about the language-based learning disability which is the focus of all teaching, training, and outreach at Camperdown Academy.

Camperdown Greenhouse on WYFF-Channel 4

October 27, 2011 @ 1:26 PM | permalink

Click on this link to watch video from the October 26 broadcast: www.wyff4.com/video/29596110/detail.html

Camperdown Students In The News 10-5-2011

October 06, 2011 @ 6:11 PM | permalink

City People, Greenville News, October 5, 2011

Diana Carey’s 7th grade Literature class is studying a unit on Heroes in Greek Mythology. To help the students learn the 12 Labors of Heracles in correct order, the class mapped out a course on the school grounds. They chose a location for each of the twelve Labors which represented some major aspect of the Labor and then ran the course during class. As they stopped at each location, they could recall the Labor as well as the important details. To further help the students learn the details surrounding Heracles, Mrs. Carey created “Heracles Jeopardy.” The game included eight categories with six questions in each category and two Daily Doubles. The students enjoyed the competition as well as learning the pertinent facts. Good job to Nicholas Johnson, Jason Frederick, Lawson Spinks, Alex Brown, Thomas Hollow, Emily Hall, Courtney Humphries, Sarah Moseley, and Grant Coffey.

pictured from left to right:
(back row) Nicholas Johnson, Jason Frederick, Lawson Spinks, Alex Brown, Thomas Hollow
(front row) Emily Hall, Courtney Humphries, Sarah Moseley, Grant Coffey

September CAP Meeting Minutes

October 03, 2011 @ 3:21 PM | permalink

CAP Meeting
September 30, 2011

Dan Blanch (Head of School)

E Group to Barrier Island Environmental Center
D Group to Clemson
AM & Star Groups Campout

Teresa Cottingham (Auction Chair)

March 17, 2012 at Huguenot Mill
Funds scholarships and student seeds
Solicitations begin now and are very important
Packets are ready
Looking for sponsorships

Betsy Poole and Whitney Ramseur (CAP Chairs)

Oyster Roast - October 8th
- Social event for Parents and CA Staff
- Set up Thursday, October 6th 8:00am
- Set up Saturday, October 8th 2:30pm
- Contact Betsy or Whitney to join us
Book Fair – Chair Renee Masaschi
- Monday – Friday October 3rd – 7th in Large Portable
- Volunteer Needs:
  - Wednesday 12:00-1:30 Linda Young
  - Wednesday 1:30-3:00 Vanessa Ollar
  - Thursday 10:00-12:00
Need a Chair for Feast & Special Friends Day
- Friday, October 18th, 3:00-6:00 p.m.
- A gathering of Alumni
- Sarah Greer and Rosie Udouj volunteered
Need a Chair for Beautification Committee
Dates for Your Calendar:
- October 3rd – 7th Monday – Friday Book Fair
- October 7th Friday, 13th Thursday Fall Conferences (AM-Y)
- October 8th, Saturday Oyster Roast (adults)
- October 13th Thursday, 14th Friday Fall Break – No School
- October 21st Friday Fall Conferences (A & C)
- October 27th Thursday 6:30-8:00 PM Dyslexia Simulation

Milt Lowder and Drew Brannon from The Lowder Group- -Guest Speakers:

The Lowder Group’s 3 Part Goal:
- Traditional Counseling
- Assessment (Holistic Approach)
- Sports Psycology
Setting Goals for your Children:
- Awareness – Can do / Cannot do
- Strengths, Weaknesses, Passions
- Courage to do something different
- Accountablility
What is Success?
- Achieving Your Goals - ones you can control
- Pursuit of a Worthy Goal
- Redefining Success for Your Child and Family
Drew comes to CA every Thursday
- Began January 2011
- Teaches topics such as decision-making, frustration, dealing with peers…
- Consults with teachers
- Zak recommends children to Drew
- Parents or teachers may refer students to Drew
- Children may have individual meetings with Drew; parents will be notified
Habitudes Curriculum:
- Character Building, Social Development
Each child developed 1 individual & 1 academic goal
- “As a Man Thinketh, So is He.”
  - Less than 3% of American adults write down goals that they review daily
- SMART Goals:
  - Specific: aim small, miss small
  - Measurable: outcome goals - easiest
  - Process goals – effort
  - Aggressive yet achievable/attainable
  - Relevant
  - Time Orientation – by when?
- Don’t do for them what they can do for themselves
  - Engage and give great effort with your performances
  - Encourage child to take initiative
  - Measure progress by pursuit of goal
  - Be intentional about setting goals for each child
  - Write out and post where they can see every day
  - Praise true effort
  - Consequences
  - Motivate your child in the way he best responds (5 Love Languages)
  - Help children motivate themselves, feel loved and successful

The Meeting was adjourned until the

next CAP Meeting on Wednesday, October 26th at 11:00.

Present at the Meeting:

Dan Blanch
Milt Lauder
Drew Brannon
Whitney Ramseur
Betsy Poole
Linda Young
Kim Barrett
Jami Hammond
Julia Altman
Dennis Bell
Teresa Cottingham
Vanessa Ollar
Sarah Greer
Jennifer Plourde
Rosie Udouj
Andria Leland

Camperdown Students In The News 9-28-2011

September 29, 2011 @ 5:56 PM | permalink

City People, September 28,2011

Camperdown Academy’s drama department and teacher Ms. Jimmi-Ann Muse have been busy with several projects. Y Group students Henri Caldwell, Amy Farrenkopf, Colin Foley, R.H. Roettger, Will Simcoe, Maddie Smith, and Cassidy Van Houten presented the Joke Show to students in A through M Groups. This annual event is an opportunity for students to begin the year with a good laugh, while gaining poise and self-confidence in the area of public speaking and performance.

Camperdown Academy students are creating year-long organizational goals as part of a new art project. Those goals are placed into Japanese paper lanterns which they will hang on the "bottle tree" created to showcase student work by artist-in-residence Bob Doster. Along with the bottle tree, Mr. Doster and the students created a jaguar sculpture of the school mascot to show off their Camperdown Academy Jaguar pride. Both the bottle tree and the jaguar, visible immediately upon entering school grounds, inspire a sense of pride and student involvement to all who visit.

Following a study and performance of Romeo & Juliet, M and Y Group students will be attending the upcoming Carolina Renaissance Festival in Concord, North Carolina. Students will attend in costume while improvising a character from that period.

(shown in picture of bottle tree from left to right) C Group students: Max Weekes, Austin Calhoun, Tres Bauknight, Riley Fisher, Ben Richter, Campell Altman, Robert Thompson, and Ethan Hargrove.

Camperdown Students In The News 9-21-2011

September 29, 2011 @ 5:40 PM | permalink

City People, September 21, 2011

Jimmy Tillery's Social Studies classes are using singing and dancing to learn how to pinpoint coordinates on the globe. 5th grade students Andrew Smith, Ridgley Fenters, Hallam Cottingham, and Walker Ramseur have learned all of the lyrics and accompanying motions to "Lines of Latitude" and "Lines of Longitude". At a recent Open House, Camperdown Academy parents also learned the songs to encourage continued study and memorization of the concepts at home. All 4th and 5th grade students will use the technique to remember that lines are parallel, and how they are measured.

On September 22nd at 6:30pm, Camperdown Academy will be hosting a seminar in conjunction with The South Carolina Branch of The International Dyslexia Association. The event will feature a viewing of HBO's "Journey into Dyslexia" followed by discussion. The seminar will be held at Camperdown Academy and is free and open to the public. Visit www.camperdown.org for more information.

pictured in attached photo from left to right: 5th graders Ridgley Fenters, Hallam Cottingham, teacher Jimmy Tillery, Walker Ramseur

Cognitive Classroom on Fox 21 News

September 23, 2011 @ 4:16 PM | permalink

A visit to our Cognitive Classroom was featured on the 6:30 and 10 pm news broadcasts on September 22, 2011. Go to www.foxcarolina.com/video and choose "Brain Training for Dyslexic Students" to watch the overview of the Arrowsmith Program at Camperdown.

August CAP Meeting Minutes

September 08, 2011 @ 2:54 PM | permalink

CAP Meeting
August 31, 2011
25 in Attendance

Dan Blanch (Head of School)
Summer updates:

Library – with an alumni donation CA was able to purchase new bookshelves, update the reading area, and purchase wireless printers.
Science Lab – complete renovation
Technology – 15 Mac computers (new Mac lab), Ipads
Cognitive Classroom (Arrowsmith)

Zak Stoudenmire (Dean of Students)

3 Day Interdisciplinary Unit: “I’m a Survivor"
- Taught first aid, knot tying, rescue, desert survival, drama improvisation, founding a political party, personal survival stories

Lowder Group
- local psychology/testing group who has partnered with CA for the 2nd year
- assisting CA students with small targeted sessions, advice on friends, socializing, and character building
Field Trips:
- Sept. 16: D-Y Group - Paintball
- Oct. 10-12: E Group – Barrier Island Trip (environmental education & team building)
- Oct. 17: D Group – Clemson (team building)
- Coming Soon: Am – Star – Camp Out (Dates TBD)
Biscuit Sale – Every Thursday to help raise funds for M/Y Group trip.
- Biscuits - $2.50
- O range Juice - $1.00

Teresa Cottingham (Auction Chair)

Date: March 17, 2012 (St. Patrick’s Day)
Theme: “Blarney Bash”
Purpose: To raise awareness & funds for CA Scholarships
Location: Peace Center Huguenot Mill
Presented new logo
Media Chair – Allison Rogers
Decoration Chair – Amanda Denney
Next meeting TBA

Amanda Denney (Auction Decoration Chair) – please forward any great “Irish” ideas her way

Rachel Cooter (5K4D Run for Dyslexia Chair)

Date: May 12, 2012
Location: Furman University Paladin Stadium
Family Friendly w/ Kid’s Zone
Last Year’s Results--Raised $4,745.00

Whitney Ramseur (CAPs Chair)

Importance of CA’s website:
- Under the parent tab one will find very useful information including the “Parent Handbook” & “Parent Directory”
- Dress theme is updated every Wednesday for the following Thursday
- Calendar of any upcoming events
- Read Handbook online for important information regarding CA’s honor code, homework policies, conferences, sports, late stay program, inclement weather, yearbook, lunch program, etc.
Important dates to remember:
- Sept 6-Back to School Night 6:00-8:30pm
  - Adults Only
  - Go through your child’s daily schedule
  - Meet all of the teachers & tutors
  - Used CA shirt sale
  - Volunteer booths
- Sept. 22 – Seminar: “Journey Into Dyslexia”
  - 6:30-8:00pm
  - Video & Discussion
- Oct. 3 - 7 -- Scholastic Book Fair (Chair: Renee Masaschi)
  - Space Theme
  - Large fair – looking for volunteers to help decorate/set-up
- Oct. 7 & 13 -- Am-Y Groups Conferences
- Oct. 8 -- Oyster Roast & BBQ
  - Adults Only
  - Cottingham Farm
  - Great time of food/fellowship
  - Live Band
  - Details coming soon
- Oct. 13-14 -- FALL BREAK – NO SCHOOL
- Oct. 21-- Fall Conferences (A & C Group)
- Oct. 27-- Dyslexia Simulation
  - Limited Number
  - Begin looking for more information & to RSVP the first of October
  - Highly recommended from other CA parents
MISC. Information:
- Wednesday is an unofficial “Red Shirt Day”
- Bricks:
  - When homework has not been completed the student will move bricks during their 1st break
  - Detours students from taking the “easy way out”
  - Legitimate parental excuses from homework will be considered (note, phone call…)
- Special “Thank You” to the Pelhams for hosting the New Parent Social
- Check out the article about CA (August 31) in City People – Thank you Allison Rogers!

Next Meeting: Friday, September 30, 11am

Camperdown Students In The News 9-14-2011

September 14, 2011 @ 3:41 PM | permalink

City People, September 14, 2011

Camperdown Academy students have been busy with “hands-on” science lessons that involve beautifying the campus as part of the curriculum.

4^th grade students learning about plant life spent time digging in the dirt and observing roots and soil while filling large planters at the side entrance of the school. The following students participated in that lesson: Mica Bailey, Garrett Baur, Beth Cadieu, Savoia Cali, Carlisle Poole, Carson Rogers, and Samuel Stilwell.

5^th grade students have been working at the Roper Mountain butterfly garden, and have spent time on the Camperdown Academy campus observing and identifying butterflies. Science teacher, Virginia Meador, says students are able to identify species much better in an outdoor setting than during classroom lab activities. Ridgley Fenters, Griffin Leland, Andrew Smith and Hallam Cottingham have participated in the butterfly project.

Camperdown Academy

The Camperdown News