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Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) Universal Design for Learning

Woodlynde School has developed a partnership with the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) through an internet-based pilot program that enables middle school students to develop their writing skills. CAST has earned international recognition for its development of innovative, technology-based educational resources and strategies based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). CAST works closely with schools, universities, and other partners to design and test flexible learning tools, train teachers to individualize learning, and facilitate efforts to improve education policy.
Woodlynde seeks to leverage the research expertise of organizations such as CAST in order to help students perform better and use technology to reach their academic potential.

Business Leaders' Luncheon

In April 2006, Woodlynde School was proud to sponsor its Third Annual Business Leaders' Luncheon (BLL), providing information for businesses and educators as they discuss strategies to prepare the workforce of the future. Woodlynde's first BLL, held in 2004, explored the partnership between business and education in the Greater Philadelphia region through the theme "Scaling New Heights." The keynote speaker for this event was Mr. Eric Weihenmayer, the first blind man to climb Mt. Everest. Other participants included Hugh Long, President, Pennsylvania/Delaware Bank, Wachovia Corporation; John Bogle, Founder and Former CEO, The Vanguard Group; Paul Vallas, CEO of the School District of Philadelphia, and Stephanie Naidoff, Commerce Director, City of Philadelphia. The discussion focused on the importance of teamwork and cooperation between educators and businesses, and the ways to prepare today's students to be the workforce of tomorrow. In its second year the forum "Preparing the Workforce of the Future" featured Mr. Rick Lavoie, an Educational Specialist in learning styles. He discussed issues dealing with current/future workforce demographics, critical skills required of businesses, programs and concepts in education that will ensure workers with competitive skills and the issues that businesses face in managing employees with a variety of learning and work styles. Other panelists were Dr. Constantine Papadakis, President of Drexel University, and Rick Stevens, Senior Vice President of Internal Services at The Boeing Company. Each year, The Business Leaders' Luncheon attracted over 300 regional business executives, educators and philanthropists to participate in the event. In 2006, "Building Partnerships: Preparing and Leading an Ethical Workforce" featured an intriguing and topical discussion with our three distinguished panelists, Dr. Howard Gardner, Dr. David Steingard, and Dr. Ralph Walkling. With this program Woodlynde continues its commitment to raising and exploring important issues with the educational and business communities to ensure that we have prepared our students for the workforce of tomorrow.

PA Leadership Charter School (PALCS)

In the spring of 2006, Woodlynde began a partnership with the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School (PALCS) in a pilot program offering the opportunity for students in 9th grade to participate in an accelerated Mathematics class. As an extension of the PALCS home-schooling program, Woodlynde students and students across the state of PA attend PALCS classes through virtual classrooms that enable students to continue to be challenged in subjects in which they excel. Fully interactive technology allows for live classroom instruction, live chat rooms and live individual instruction as well as timely responses to submitted assignments. The Woodlynde faculty partner with PALCS in developing creative lesson plans that allow each student in the virtual classroom to progress in his/her studies with support through the internet programs provided. PALCS offers expertise in providing lesson plans and instruction over the internet, offering a broad range of resources. Woodlynde continues to seek strategic partners in order to leverage their resources in offering the most creative, state-of-the-art educational options.

Resource Fair

Woodlynde School is committed to informing families of resources available to assist their child in achieving academic and social success. For the last two years Woodlynde has been proud to host a Resource Fair for parents and teachers of children who learn differently. In addition to hearing presentations from a wide variety of professionals, attendees will have the opportunity to talk directly to professionals in an informal environment. This year the Resource Fair will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Woodlynde School.

Over 400 attendees and more than 50 professionals have participated in The Resource Fair in the last two years. For more information, please contact Ronnie Prettyman.

The following list is a sampling of previous topics and presenters:

"When Must a Public School District Pay to Place a Child in Private School?"
David S. Thalheimer

"Top Ten reasons Your Child Can't Pay Attention: Diagnosis of ADD"
Susan E. Anderer, Psy.D.

"ADHD: What We Know and What We Can Do"
William D. Morgan, Psy.D.

"Finding the Right Tutoring Service for Your Child"
Study Smart

"Stress Management for Overwhelmed Children, Adolescents, and Families"
Jill Crawford, LCSW

"Wilderness Therapy: A Punishment or a Gift for the Learning Challenged Teen?"
Creative Educational Options

"School Success for the ADD/ADHD Child"
Main Line Clinical Associates

"Cognitive Coaching: Developing Organizational & Learning Skills for Student Success"
Friedman Associates

"Summer-A Time for Learning Outside the Classroom"
Intern Exchange International, Ltd.

"Developmental Dyslexia- The Brain and Reading Disorders"
Karen P. Kelly, Ph.D.

"Classroom Accommodations for a Child with Auditory Processing Deficits"
Aberdeen Audiology

"The Multistory Building: Learning Language from the Ground Up"
Laura Goldman, M.A., CCC and Stacey Goldstien, M.A., CCC

"Neuro Feedback/Interactive Metronome: Non-Medication Alternatives for Learning and Behavioral Issues"
Sadar Psychological and Sports Center

"Should My Child take the SAT or ACT? What are the Pros/Cons of Each College Admissions Test?"
A+ Tutoring Services, Inc.

"Prerequisites to Success in the Elementary Years: Phonemic Awareness, Language Development, and Metacognition"
Bryn Mawr College Child Study Institute

"Student Centered Team Building"
Geraldine Lambert, M. Ed.

"Fostering Emotionally Competent Children at School and at Home"
Jeannine C. Alvare, MSSW, LCSW

"Recent Changes in Estate Planning and Educational Programming for Children with Disabilities"
McAndrews Law Offices

"Raising a Moody Child: What Parents Need to Know About depression and Bipolar Disorder"
Norford Psychological Associates

"The Nature Connection"
Riverbend Environmental Educational Center

"Visual Perception/Occupational Therapy"
Theraplay, Inc

"Asperger's Disorder: What are Its Impacts on Learning?"
GKSW/Crystal Group Associates

"Navigating the Often Choppy Waters of College Support Services"
College Planning Plus

"Limit Setting without Battles"
Ari Tuckman, Psy.D., M.B.A.

"Study Skills, Life Skills, Learning and Homework"
Marianne Cook-Tutoring

"The Art of Friendship: Teaching Social Skills to Children Who Lean Differently"
Center for Psychological Services