Thank you for my boys. I feel that I it weren’t for the experience they have had at Chatham Academy I can’t imagine where they would be. But don’t think you’ve gotten rid of us for good. When everything is said and done your school became too much like home for us to leave it for good. Any time you need anything please call. I would be more than happy to help out anyway I can. And if you ever decide to open a branch in Bluffton, there are lots of kids who need you over here.

I will never forget the day you first tested my son. You came out of your office with your hand on his shoulder and said, “Yes, he’s one of ours.” You gave me a great gift and I am forever grateful.

Our child has been a student at Chatham Academy for the past twelve years. He will graduate this year. We are so grateful for the education he has received. We have watched him grow to be self-confident and a productive citizen in his community As soon as he received his driver’s license he put in an application for a part-time job. He put on his application that he would work for $5.50-$6.50 an hour. They hired him for $6.00 an hour. Because of the education he has received from Chatham Academy, he has grown into a bright confident young man with a good future. He will go to school elsewhere after he graduates. The teachers and the staff have made a difference in helping him succeed in life as he leaves, Chatham Academy.

We can’t thank you enough for all you have done for our son. He is back to his crazy self and actually loves to read! You have boosted his self-confidence and renewed his love of learning. We are greatly indebted to you all and our appreciation has no bounds.

Just a quick note to update you on our son’s progress. We have just gotten his firs report card, and he has an 84 average (despite being in three advanced classes). The transition from Royce has been unbelievably smooth academically and emotionally. We are truly grateful for the part that Royce has played in our son’s life. People who meet our son are impressed with his confidence and his attitude. He is organized and completes his work with very little input from us…just one of the skills he learned at Royce. We cannot express how grateful we are to the staff members of Royce. You can never underestimate how important you have been in this young man’s life.

I would like for you to take a journey along with our family through the halls and class rooms of Chatham Academy. Every day the faculty along with tutors build skills, confidence, organization, arts, and music and sports that process with our children’s daily life. Each year they take steps that grow until one day you see a butterfly unfold before your eyes. The ray of hope that we hang on to becomes a testimony like our son. Then everyday he shares this with his smile, heart and pride for his school with other students. Thank you Chatham Academy. We re proud to be a part of a lifetime of learning and adventure.

I would like to thank Chatham Academy, Carolyn Hannaford and the entire staff for the care they given my son and the hope they have given me. We started at Chatham Academy five years ago and I was so worried about how he would learn when he learns so differently. I discovered he would learn through the love, patience, skill and forward thinking that characterizes every person he has come into contact with at Chatham Academy. I was even happier to discover that he not only learned how to read, compute fractions and write a sentence, he also learned to challenge himself and to believe in himself. He has grown academically, socially and even athletically. He has been exposed to so many opportunities to grow and succeed that would have been impossible in any other setting. Thank you Carolyn for creating such a school, such a staff and so much more.

Our son had struggled at his previous school and was not fulfilling his potential academically, emotionally, and socially. Since enrolling at Chatham Academy, he has prospered in every aspect of his scholastic experience. The dedicated staff at Chatham Academy tailors the curriculum to meet the needs of each individual student. The teachers genuinely know the students and take the time to identify each student’s strengths and weaknesses. Through this detailed and individualized approach, out child has experienced tremendous growth both socially and academically. Chatham Academy is not a “one size fits all” approach to academics, and for that we are thankful.

I can clearly remember my first impression of Royce Learning Center. My husband and I had just found out that our child had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. We were beside ourselves with worry, until we met with Mrs. Hannaford, the Chatham Academy principal. She gave us great comfort by telling us that everything was going to be fine, that we were not alone, and that the school would be able to help our child.

Chatham Academy teachers are very qualified and dedicated. They always appear to be giving 110% of themselves to their jobs. The children are kept on track and challenged to do their best. The teachers teach in a way that makes the children feel better about themselves. At Chatham Academy, children are often given extra help after school and communication is excellent between the school administration and teachers and parents. I am so grateful for the education my son has received at Royce. My family will continue to fundraise for the Royce Learning Center long after my son has graduated. Royce has helped to make my son the good person he is today. He volunteers at his church and in the community; in a few weeks he will go to Hunter Army Airfield to help the Red Cross welcome our soldiers home. While attending Royce, my son has grown from a shy 6 year old, into a bright confident man in the 11th grade.

I am the proud parent of a soon to be graduating senior. This is only because of the dedication of the staff and teachers of Chatham Academy. My son Patrick has struggled in school since first grade. We tried many different programs and schools with very limited progress. It seemed like he was just being pushed through the system without gaining anything from the process. This was very frustrating for myself, my husband, and most of all Patrick. It was clear by middle school that something had to change, if receiving an education was the goal of attending school.

After researching private schools in the area we chose Chatham Academy. My initial meeting with Carolyn Hannaford set my mind to rest. She told me that she understood that there were many layers to learning disabilities. Learning Disabilities affect all areas of life not just academics. It was such a relief to talk to someone who actually understood the situation as a whole.

Patrick was enrolled in Chatham Academy that fall. He was still a challenge, pushing the limits and testing the boundaries. To my relief and surprise the school handled him with patience and control. This was a new experience for Patrick and myself. Not only did the school understand, the entire staff was equipped to deal with Patrick’s unique personality. When he chose to push the limits teachers chose to deal out fair consequences. Through patience and consistence academic progress is being made. For the first time in his life he was actually learning.

In Patrick’s junior year my husband was offered a job out of state. The hunt was on to find another school. Research was done with disappointing results. Carolyn assisted with recourses at her disposal; the results were no better. I tried a 100 mile radius around the area still no luck. It became crystal clear what a wonderful unique school Chatham Academy is. There was no other school that even came close to what we already had. Instead of risking losing ground on Patrick’s education, the job was declined.

Patrick is now working with the department of labor. This is a great opportunity to discover employment opportunities and to obtain skills. This would not have been possible without the relationship the school forged with the Dept. of Labor. As the school grows so do the options for the students.

I am truly grateful for the teachers and staff. It has been my pleasure to work with all of them throughout Patrick’s high school years. Without them it would be doubtful that he would graduate. I felt that several of the teachers really went the distance not allowing him to give up, when the going got rough. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to all.

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