1. Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc.
January~February 2006 Serving Inner-City Youth and Families
thought he was getting the lessons praise him for his good conduct. He
until she gave the end of the year receives after school tutoring on
assessment test. I was heart-broken Wednesdays as well as my help with
and in disbelief. I wanted someone to his homework (After I leave the ASP, I
take the blame and explain to me how am on duty to help my own kids.)
this happened. I never received an
Now, it is 2006 and Justin’s senior year.
answer, but I did find out that 7 other
Since, it is mandatory for all the
children in Justin’s class significantly
seniors to meet with their counselor
performed below grade level. (This
near the beginning of the year, Justin
teacher retired the next year.)
and his brother Joel (who is also a
Although the first grade teacher tried senior) met with their counselor and
her best to work with these children brought me back a sheet saying that
who were way behind, Justin’s self- Justin was on track and Joel would
Justina Dix esteem continued to decline. We have to make up a class in night
decided to have him tested and held school. Later that week, I strongly felt
A Mother’s Heart - him back in the first grade to help him
catch up. After testing, it was
the need to meet with the counselor
myself. As she began to go through
determined that Justin had a learning the transcripts, she got a bit confused.
Education Concerns disability (LD). He learned at a slower
pace and needed extra time to
After several more meetings with
conflicting information, I expressed
What mother am I talking about? This complete work. He was put into all
(Continued on page 2)
time, it’s me. In 1991 I was a young resourced special education classes
wife and mother of three. I really (SPED), which caused him to endure
wanted to be a good mother and be ridicule from other children. Summerhill Community
involved in my children’s education,
I immediately began to pray for his Ministries will be featured
so I made a commitment to volunteer
at my children’s school a few times a
learning, comprehension and self- in the February edition of
esteem, as I’ve done with all of my
month. My son Justin, who gave me
children. After a couple of years of the PCA magazine, "By
permission to tell his story in hopes
that this won’t keep happening to
praying and working with Justin after Faith." Look for it soon!
school, he began to make the honor
students, was in kindergarten and
roll in his LD classes. I attended four
very shy and quiet. When I constantly
asked his teacher how he was doing
academically, she always assured me
meetings a year to discuss Justin’s
progress and where he would be the We Made the Grade!
next year. By 5th grade, he was Our volunteers do make a difference
that he was doing just fine. To my
mainstreamed into 2 general in the lives of our kids. When report
surprise however, at the end of the
education classes and attended cards came out last week, almost all
year she called for a conference.
resource for the other subjects. In of our students had a 100%
During the conference she stunned
middle school, he was doing so well
me with some of the worst news a improvement from midterm grades.
that he only required resource
parent could hear from a teacher 7 of our kids made the Honor Roll.
support for 2 classes. When he
about their child.
reached high school, the only class he Thanks volunteers for the one-on-
I was told that my child was not on was resourced for was 9th grade one tutoring and care you give to the
the academic level he should be on; Literature. He succeeded in both students.
as a matter of fact he was way semesters with an A and a B.
behind. I asked this teacher of 40
From the very beginning, I told Justin
years how could this be when I had
inquired about his progress several
times and was always given positive,
he is going to have to work really hard
to pass his classes. His goal is to Next issue -
receive a regular education diploma.
good news. She went on to explain
how Justin had her fooled. She
All of Justin’s teachers speak of his
determination to “make it”. They
SUCCESS STORIES!

2. January~February 2006 Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc.
(Continued from page 1) yet, something like this still happens.
my aggravation at this whole back
and forth process and pleaded for a
I also learned that almost half of the
seniors will not graduate on time Christmas Cheer
simple answer to my simple question. because they don’t have enough
We truly appreciate all of our
It took 3 more meetings and a new credits or they have not passed parts
supporters for making Christmas
counselor to get me the accurate of the High School Graduation Test.
a happy time for our ASP kids.
information. The school has now added a summer
The response was overwhelming
graduation program for students. It’s
Joel did not have to take a night and the wrapping party a great
sad that the goals for our kids are
school class; he was on track to success. We especially want to
changing. It used to be an honor for
graduate. However, Justin did not get thank all of our Sponsors,
students to walk with their class. If
credit for the year of the 9th grade Volunteers and East Cobb
adults are not motivating the kids to
literature classes because it was Presbyterian Church and Christ
look forward to this, how will they
under the SPED program. He would Church for their generosity and
stay motivated to finish? Parental
have to take the classes during the faithfulness.
involvement is critical to insure our
summer and graduate then. Again, children are getting the education
my heart dropped. It was worse than they deserve and need.
hearing news of his learning
disability. Justin has made his decision. Though How You Can Help
he could graduate with a special ed
diploma and walk with his class in • Cleaning supplies: big garbage bags,
June, he without hesitation mopping & cleaning solutions
announced, “Although I really want • Snacks for 25 ASP kids (5 days a week)
to walk with my class, I’ve worked • Gently used or new 15 passenger van
too hard for a regular diploma, and • Van maintenance (clean, change oil,
that’s what I want.” Our entire family rotate tires or put on new tires, tune up,
supports him. Please pray for him repair windshield crack, brakes
and for the many students who are • Paper Goods: paper towels, napkins,
falling through the cracks of “lacking toilet paper, plates, silverware, cups
credits” and lacking parental and • TV and VCR
school support to look forward to a • A working computer with internet access
hope and a bright future. (Pentium 4 and up)
Justina Dix • Color printer
• Copier paper (white and colored)
• Fax/scanner/printer/copier (4 in one
Justin Save Summerhill postage! machine)
Questions formed in my mind: Why Please consider receiving this • Up-to-date dictionaries
didn’t the counselors catch this…isn’t newsletter via email. To be • Stamps, envelopes
it their job to make sure students are added to the list, email • Gift cards to Office Depot/Staples or Wal-
getting the classes they need? It’s anneburlas@hotmail.com Mart for office supplies
been 3 years and we could have • Electric heaters
made this up if we had only known. • Boxed cards for birthdays,
The guidance office offered their
apologies and assigned blame to the
SCM Basketball encouragement, illness, condolences
• Basketballs, footballs, and soccer balls
former counselors. I followed up this
meeting with phone calls to the Board
(WE GOT GAME) • BP gas cards for vans
• Ongoing monthly contributions and one-
of Education. Although special Both of our basketball teams are time gifts.
permission was granted to receive undefeated as we go into our 4th
credit for one class, the decision on
week of play. Most importantly, our Can you teach an enrichment or life skill with our
the other one is still pending. Justin’s
young men are demonstrating 25 After School kids? We have a 30 minute time
teachers are rooting for him as well
as his peers. One teacher and
strength of character and good frame set aside for this activity. Some examples
counselor stated that it is not often sportsmanship by refusing the are dance, music, drama, arts-n-crafts, cooking,
that a student starts out in special challenges of the opposing team to sewing, wood works, sign language, pottery,
education and works their way out to get in a fight. Thank you to our gardening, etiquette, cosmetology, how to: tie a tie,
a regular diploma. coaches and our prayer partners change a tire, etc.. If you have something you
for uplifting and supporting our might be interested in sharing, please call or email
I thought about how I have tried to be youth. Justina.
there for my kids and their education
P. O. Box 160294 • Atlanta, Georgia 30316 • 404-964-4604 • justinascm@juno.com • http:www.summerhillcm.com