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"Palo
Alto Prep has been an amazing experience for our family.
Justin started as a freshman, bypassing public high school
completely. We chose to send Justin to private school
because he struggled through public middle school. He
is very bright, but has a different learning style. As
we were preparing him for public high school, we realized
that the teachers would not be able to provide the right
kind of support to enable Justin to be successful. In
April of his eighth grade year we started looking into
private high schools. When we found the PAP website, it
seemed like a school designed for Justin. The website
indicated that PAP used experiential learning and outdoor
activities. The student: teacher ratio was very good.
Justin was resistant because he wanted to go to high school
with his friends. During the last week of eighth grade
he must have had an epiphany, because he told us that
he was thinking about the student: teacher ratio at private
schools, and he thought that would probably be more favorable
for him than going to school with his friends at Palo
Alto High School.
During
PAP’s summer school program Justin had his shadowing
experience. When he visited PAP he was clear that it was
the school for him. We enrolled him for the fall semester
and have never regretted this.
During
Justin’s freshman year he had a teacher named 'Math
Will' (which distinguished him from 'English Wil' ). Math
Will saw that Justin had a talent in mathematics. He very
quickly convinced Justin that if he took math classes
during summer school, he could get advanced math courses
in his junior and senior year which would be much more
interesting. So the kid who swore he would never go to
summer school, enrolled in Algebra II for the summer after
freshman year. Justin worked very hard that summer and
was able to complete the whole year of Algebra II during
the summer at an accelerated pace. Sophomore year he took
pre-calculus during the school year. After sophomore year
he enrolled in summer school again to complete a whole
year of geometry in one summer. Junior year he took Calculus
and senior year he took AP Calculus. Except for the first
year, Dylan Rich taught him all his math and science courses.
Dylan was a tough teacher, but he was always available
to assist the students. I believe he practically lives
at the school.
Justin’s
difficulty in elementary and middle school was related
to his diagnosis of Non-Verbal Learning Disability. His
NVLD made reading very difficult and writing was painful
for him. Because of the style of teaching at PAP, English
classes did not turn Justin off. Wil Paisley ('English
Wi') was his English teacher for every grade except sophomore
year. Wendy was his teacher sophomore year. During his
sophomore year after he was assigned to read the book
'Fight Club,' Justin started reading for pleasure. During
his senior year Justin took a creative writing class.
At this point, writing was no longer painful for him,
and he was able to use writing to express all his creativity.
His short stories are very stylistic and quite interesting.
Wil provided an atmosphere that encouraged the students
to write freely with little initial criticism. He believed
that getting students to write was the most important
thing, and that the grammatical stuff could come later
as long as they had not already been turned off to writing.
This strategy worked wonderfully for Justin.
Justin
was part of the PAP band all four years. Wil Paisley taught
music class and supervised the band. He encouraged the
members to reach new heights in their music and singing.
The band played the type of music Justin enjoyed and he
quickly improved. By the end of his sophomore year he
was quite proficient. Junior year he was one of the lead
guitarists. He played and sang a solo in one of the school’s
productions.
The
highlight of Justin’s time at PAP was always the
backpacking trips. He participated in week-long backpacking
expeditions his freshman and sophomore year. Both times
he returned rejuvenated. I remember him saying that out
in the wilderness he had everything he needed, and he
could have stayed out there forever. We had done a fair
amount of camping with the kids, and even did backpacking.
The experience he had with PAP was on a whole different
level because he was out there with his peers and with
the wilderness guides, Becky and Sean. It seems that once
he was stripped of all his creature comforts, he really
found his identity. He particularly enjoyed deep discussions
with his peers during these trips. Justin has always challenged
conventional thinking. He insisted on wearing cotton socks
and high top converse sneakers instead of hiking boots,
against the advice of his wilderness guides. Sean told
him that he was making a big mistake and would have to
pay the price. At the end of the trip, Sean acknowledged
that Justin was one of only two students who did not have
foot blisters on the trip, thereby busting his theory
of acceptable hiking attire.
Sophomore
year Justin also took an Art History class. He enjoyed
this class very much. During spring break junior year
Justin accompanied other PAP students on a trip to Italy.
While there, he utilized his knowledge of Art History
and acted like a tour guide for the other students and
teachers. They visited Rome, Venice, Milan, and Pompeii.
I believe Pompeii was Justin’s favorite.
During
Spring break senior year, Justin traveled with the school
on an Outward Bound trip to Costa Rica for three weeks.
One of the teachers went along and brought school work
to the jungle so that the students would not miss out
on their classes. In Costa Rica, they camped or did “home
stays”. They participated in some farming activities,
played soccer, white water rafted, and surfed. Justin
once again came home beaming. He loved the outdoors and
he loved the Costa Ricans he met and interacted with.
He did not enjoy studying Spanish in school, but used
what he learned to communicate without much problem. He
will be taking Spanish in college, so I am glad that his
last experience was positive.
Justin
graduated in June of 2007 as the valedictorian of his
class. He was very proud of his accomplishments. Reflecting
back, I think the thing that works so well at PAP is the
culture that has been created by the founder and director
Chris Keck, the Dean of Students, Lisa O’Hearn Keck,
and the teachers. It is clear that the administrators
and teachers care about and believe in each and every
student. It is equally as clear that the students care
about the teachers and appreciate and respect them. My
daughter who goes to the big public school in Palo Alto
commented at graduation that it was nice to see kids that
really liked their teachers."
Catherine
Swent
Parent of a Palo Alto Prep Graduate
"As
I told Chris, it has been an absolutely wonderful experience
for Kristin. The best thing by far was the quality of
your teachers. There is no substitute for having your
child really like the teachers they has and in turn the
teachers really going the extra mile to work with the
kids."
John
Radford
Parent of a Palo Alto Prep Graduate
"As
you know, Sam did not enjoy attending public high school,
and had lost interest completely in his studies. However,
coming to Palo Alto Prep marked a real turning point in
his academic life. Although he resisted it at first, within
2 weeks, his attitude turned around, and he was excited
about reading again, and engaging in discussions with
his teachers. I believe that much of this has to do with
your small classroom sizes which allow each student to
be an individual and free from the peer pressures that
they’re so susceptible to during the teen years.
In
Sam’s words: '(Palo Alto Prep) provided me with
an environment in which I was able to find my identity
at a time when I felt completely lost'.
We
will always be thankful for Palo Alto Prep, and appreciate
all you do."
Irene
Jhin-Jaffe
Parent of a Palo Alto Prep Graduate
"I
started off at a public high school with pretty decent
grades, but then I faced a challenge. A challenge that
every teenager has to face. To follow the right crowd?
Or the wrong one? Well, I lost. I was then enrolled into
Palo Alto Prep for the next school year. A school recognized
for giving students a second chance. I was faced with
many challenges throughout my years at PA Prep. Challenges
that helped me find myself and what I wanted in life.
I have learned that with a lot of teenagers, once they
go downhill they never come back. If it wasn't for PA
Prep I would have been part of that statistic. I am now
in college to pursue my dream of becoming a pilot. I owe
a big thank you to Palo Alto Prep for saving me."
Julie
Davidson
Palo Alto Prep Graduate
"How
lucky we were to find a place that welcomed and accepted
our daughter as the outspoken individual she is -- a place
where she could speak her mind and be heard. A place that
in many ways became her daytime family, providing her
not only with an education but social opportunities as
well. How wonderful for me to suddenly hear the last of
'I hate school and I don't want to go,' but it did indeed
end that suddenly. And now she is heading to the college
of her choice-to another school that is known for focusing
on the students and celebrating the individual, and we
thank you so much for your role in preparing her and setting
her upon this path to the future."
DiAnn
and Ronald Vinsant
Parents of a Palo Alto Prep Graduate
"We've
thanked you during the three years our daughter attended
Palo Alto Prep, but wanted to put in writing how truly
grateful we are for your efforts and energy in helping
strong-willed students with AN ATTITUDE move forward.
I remember being told (during one of your evening meetings)
that a teen has to feel very safe to be able to get in
someone's face. Our daughter obviously felt VERY SAFE
at Palo Alto Prep! You became her second family and she
came to realize that she was responsible for her actions
and where she was taking herself. You became our lifeline.
You were our safety net. Together -- we were the bottom
line with Julie and there was no game playing. We are
most grateful for your solid interest in young adults
and for your courage and tenacity in taking on formidable
opponents."
Laurie
and Michael Davidson
Parents of a Palo Alto Prep Graduate
"You
and your teachers were not only patient and tolerant,
but somehow sensed that our son was intelligent and with
unfulfilled potential. You held him accountable, but he
quickly felt like a part of the school and started to
turn things around. We feel that Cameron has made amazing
progress, has grown into a considerate and warm human
being and now has a goal of attending college."
Karen
and Christy Morrill
Parents of a Palo Alto Prep Graduate
"I
have been an elementary school teacher for 31 years, so
I speak from experience when I say that what you accomplished
in our son is nothing short of a miracle. My husband and
I sent Shawn to you at the end of his freshman year. He
was rebellious, difficult to handle and resistant to education.
You have returned to us an amiable and mature graduate
who desires a university education and has positive, concrete
plans for his future. You gave him structure and stood
firm on the issues you felt were important and showed
patience and understanding as he struggled to find out
who he was and what he really wanted out of life. Your
skillful guiding of Shawn through all the difficult phases
of adolescence is in large part responsible for the maturity
we see in him. We now have a son of whom we are immensely
proud! We cannot thank you enough."
Marjorie
Trainer
Parent of a Palo Alto Prep Graduate
"As
a recent graduate, I recommend Palo Alto Prep for students
who want to enjoy their high school years while gearing
up for college. Palo Alto Prep provided me with individual
attention, opportunities and help that I would not have
received at another public or private school. The classes
are similar to small tutoring groups which helped me to
excel in previously weak areas. Faculty members offered
assistance before, during and after school. They helped
me with everything from choosing the colleges to which
I applied to selecting from among those that offered me
admission. Because of Palo Alto Prep, I am starting my
second year of college at U.C. Berkeley. Palo Alto Prep
left me with fond memories and an outstanding education."
Courtney
Dickson
Palo Alto Prep Graduate
"Michael
attended very fine public and private schools, day and
boarding schools, in New York and California. But until
he chose to attend Palo Alto Prep he never had the motivation
that was the only missing component to his success. Your
fine staff of teachers motivated and guided him and communicated
with us on a regular basis. You went to bat for him against
the SAT Board in Princeton to attain the proper testing
conditions for him, and gave him the freedom to be the
creative person he is. We just wish we had found you sooner!"
Parents
of a Palo Alto Prep Graduate
"It
gives us considerable satisfaction to write this letter
to thank you and your staff at Palo Alto Prep for your
success in graduating our son this year. Not only did
he graduate while still 17 years old, he has gone on to
college with a positive and confident attitude. It is
difficult to believe that it is the same person we brought
to you only two years ago. No one can foretell if Justin
will maintain his performance, but we have such sufficient
regard to your school's affect on his performance that
we have enrolled his brother with you this year."
Douglas
and Ramona Morris
Parents of Palo Alto Prep Students
"At
Paly Prep, Ryan excelled. He slowly overcame his shyness
with the teachers and students, and really enjoyed learning.
He amazed himself at the ropes course and the white-water
rafting trip because he ventured into areas he didn't
think he had the courage to try."
Trish
and Tim Kogan
Parents of a Palo Alto Prep Student
"At
Palo Alto Prep you allowed our son space to learn. Ethan
is excited about learning again. He feels safe, is allowing
his barriers to fall. He is loosening up. He is happier.
He goes to school everyday and looks forward to it. No
one puts him down -- but rather they help him figure out
his options. These are real life experiences in the planning.
He is learning facts, but also learning decision making,
goal setting and reaching, organization and working with
people. You are a breeding ground for individuals."
Leslie
Rosenberg
Parent of a Palo Alto Prep Student
"Palo
Alto Prep is much more than just a place of learning;
it's a place of opportunities, friendliness and adventure."
Jamie
Lloyd
Palo Alto Prep Graduate
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