January 4, 2006 --- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hedco Grants $200,000 to Chartwell School
CHARTWELL RECEIVES $200,000 FROM HEDCO FOUNDATION
Seaside, CA – The Board of Trustees of Chartwell School is pleased to announce a grant of $200,000 from HEDCO Foundation of San Ramon. The grant will support the new Chartwell campus, now under construction at the former Ft. Ord. Completion is scheduled for August 2006, in time for the 2006-07 academic year.
Chartwell Executive Director Douglas Atkins said, "We appreciate the HEDCO Foundation’s strong belief in the new campus, and their understanding of the importance Chartwell’s work with children who learn differently. We feel especially fortunate to be able to name the new Science Room in their honor."
"HEDCO has encouraged us to use the innovative features of the new campus to teach the kind of hands-on science at which many of our students excel," said Thomas S. deRegt, President of Chartwell’s Board of Trustees. "We are excited to add their name to our new, green campus."
Since 1983, Chartwell School has educated students with dyslexia and related language disabilities in a way that provides them with the learning skills and self-esteem necessary to return successfully to mainstream education. Chartwell is the only school of its kind in the region, serving students from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. Instruction at Chartwell emphasizes best practices in student-centered diagnostic teaching, building on student strengths while acquiring the skills to address gaps. Chartwell currently enrolls 103 students, ages 6-14. More than 100 volunteers help support the school’s mission and help raise needed funds. The School awards more than $280,000 in financial aid annually. Chartwell also conducts outreach programs to share its knowledge and experience, so that other schools and youth organizations can better meet the needs of children and youth who can learn well, but who learn differently.
The new campus is located on 29 acres of land overlooking Monterey Bay at the former Ft. Ord. EHDD Architecture of San Francisco, Ausonio, Inc., and Community Bank are key partners in the project. The School is on track to be the first in the nation designed and built from the ground up to meet the highest standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED Platinum). It also meets standards for the Collaborative for High Performance Schools. Healthy materials, ample natural daylight, natural ventilation to maintain a comfortable classroom environment while minimizing noise, and radiant floor heating will help enhance student achievement. Energy and water conservation will reduce ongoing operating costs and provide additional opportunities for learning.
For more information about Chartwell School, please contact Douglas Atkins at 831-394-3468. Websites relevant to this story include www.chartwell.org, www.chps.net and www.usgbc.org.
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