| Welcome! |
 A new school year brings a renewed sense of hope for our children and their families. After 35 years at the DuBard School, I see children, especially new students, come to school feeling defeated and often frustrated. After a few weeks of learning, their spirits improve. A little success boosts their confidence and like a sponge, they begin to soak up language and learning. We are blessed to watch them begin to flourish! As we enter our 50th school year, we take time to reflect on the hundreds of students and families we have served and who have found hope thanks to the gift of communication.
Sincerely,
Maureen K. Martin, Director |
| PICTURE THIS! | |
It wouldn't be the start of fall without a visit from the Golden Eagles football team lead by Coach Larry Fedora. The annual Black and Gold Day event is always held the Friday before the first home game. On September 2nd, the players and Coach Fedora signed autographs and visited with our students.
Pictured: Conner Sharff and player Kelvin Bolden
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The Bulletin: Notes from the Advisory Board and Fundraising Efforts
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- The DuBard School Advisory Board met Monday, September 19 and discussed ongoing fundraising efforts and school business. Jennifer Byrd, pictured on the far left of the front row, is a new parent representative on the board. Board officers include Dr. Will Baker, chair; Dr. Beverly Bryant, vice chair; and Chasity Holland, secretary. Click here for a full list of board members.
- DuBard School receives grant from Dollar General
In mid August, the school received a $3,500 grant from Dollar General to use towards the purchase of upgraded Rosetta Stone software for the computer lab. Students use Rosetta Stone in English to reinforce language, listening and reading skills learned in the classroom. - Sertoma Club of Hattiesburg donates $19,000 to the DuBard School
The annual Sertoma Club Drawdown, held in May, was a huge success. The annual event is the school's largest fundraiser held by a community organization. Thank you, Sertoma members, for your generous support!
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Horizon: Professional Development Opportunities
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Pictured Above: Participants in this summer's basic course practice cross drills.
UPCOMING COURSES AND EVENTS
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Missing Links in Academics, a workshop geared towards 2nd-8th grade teachers, reading specialists and speech-language pathologists, will be held November 3-4, 2011 at the DuBard School. Participants will explore how multisensory techniques and advanced decoding skills can assist in the teaching of the National Reading Panel five areas of reading.
- Mark your calendars for the 16th Annual DuBard Symposium: Dyslexia and Related Disorders which is set for February 2-3, 2012 at the Thad Cochran Center at Southern Miss. Speakers will include Diane Lyon, of Synergistic Education Solutions, and Danita Munday, an educational consultant.
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CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE: www.usm.edu/dubard  
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Where Are They Now?
Anna Cooley: A Student Success Story | 
When Anna Cooley was just two years old, her mother knew something may be wrong.
"She would say a word then forget it. You could barely understand her at all. She would get so aggravated," said Joanna Cooley.
Joanna and Calvin Cooley, who attended the DuBard School himself as a child, brought Anna to the school for testing. Anna began therapy soon after, and she then attended the full-time enrollment program from four to eight years old.
"I remember working with the cards [Association Method Cards] to learn sounds and words," said Anna. "I still have my notebook."
Anna's language and reading improved, and she transitioned back to her local public school.
Now Anna is thriving at school. In fact, she was the valedictorian of her middle school last year, earning the highest grade of any student at McLain Attendance Center in her hometown of Leakesville.
"The DuBard School helped me to develop good study habits. Our lessons were repetitious. I apply those skills as I study now," said Anna.
Anna, who is currently a freshman in high school, hopes to become a nurse. Her mother said the DuBard School gave Anna the confidence she needed to succeed.
In Her Own Words
"Without the DuBard School, learning would be very difficult. I still need one-on-one instruction at school, but I am a successful student."
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ATTENTION
FORMER STUDENTS | |
Send us updates about what's happening in your life such as graduations, academic or professional honors, weddings, births or anything you would like for us to share with our readers. We will pick a few updates to include in each newsletter.
Email your information to
Kathryn McPhail.
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| PROFESSIONALS SPEAK OUT | |
Twenty professionals from six states took part in the DuBard Association Method® in June. Tasha Cozens is a speech-language pathologist from the ACCESS School in Little Rock, Arkansas. She's worked there for about a year and a half and has already seen what a difference the method can make in the education of students with various learning differences.
"The structure and sequencing of the method make a huge difference," said Cozens. "Our students have a variety of disorders from autism to apraxia. The structured method teaches them to not only read and speak, but also how to perform other skills throughout their life. We teach our high school students skills like horticulture and cooking. To do these skills, you must be able to follow directions. The method helps students do just that."
Cozens is one of four SLPs from the ACCESS School who took part in the summer basic course. ACCESS sends many of its SLP's and other professionals to DuBard School to learn the method.
Pictured: Tasha Cozens, SLP ACCESS School
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Pictured (left to right): Todd Trenchard, Executive Director of the Bacot-McCarty Foundation; Dr. Maureen K. Martin, school director; Joe W. Martin, Jr., Jackson Co. Circuit Clerk and brother of Maureen Martin; Robbie Maxwell, Mayor of the City of Pascagoula.