A Letter to Hamilton School Families

Dear Hamilton Parents:

Whether yours is a returning family or a new family, I am pleased and proud to welcome you to Hamilton this fall. During my 29 years at Hamilton I have found that each year is different and full of its own challenges and successes. I know that all of you have embarked on a journey to get to this point. Hamilton is such a special place. I hope your child, or in some cases your children, have an exciting and productive year. Thank you for your trust and support.

For me, personally, this year will be bittersweet because it will be my last year as Director of Hamilton. Yes, it’s true. After 30 years, I will finally graduate! I am calling it “my retirement,” but honestly, I hope to remain active in the field of learning differences. I am not sure exactly what form that will take. I have no doubt that my replacement will ably lead Hamilton to new heights. I have been working with Allison for some time to select a high quality search firm and to ensure the smoothest possible transition, and we hope that you will be involved in that process. In the meantime, we have much to accomplish in the coming year.

Currently, we will have 73 Hamilton students enrolled in grades one through eight. We have 18 new students, 42 Lower School students, and 31 Middle School students. All of them are smart kids with learning differences, most notably dyslexia, language processing, and/or attention regulation issues. I am pleased to report that all of our full-time and part-time Hamilton faculty are returning this year.

While the pandemic has loosened its grip on us, it looks as though there will still be some COVID-19 precautions and restrictions, such as mask wearing, at the start of school. Look for more specific guidelines on this as school opening approaches.

The Hamilton Institute has been busy this summer. Jeanette Epstein and Margot Miller scheduled two Orton Gillingham training sessions and a teacher training for Wheeler Lower School teachers on the Hochman writing curriculum. Also, we have scheduled Dr. Brock Eide to be the keynote speaker for our annual conference on Learning Differences on Saturday, February 26. Brock and Dr. Fernette Eide wrote the book, The Dyslexic Advantage. Brock is a friend of Hamilton and a strong proponent of the strengths that people with dyslexia have. His talk will be informative and provocative, I am sure.

Each year we honor an adult with learning differences who has been successful in his or her professional field. In 2020 we honored artist Sally Taylor and entrepreneur Dean Bragonier. Over the years, we have honored some exceptional individuals. This year we will honor our 27th annual Life Achievement recipient on Friday, March 4, 2022. I hope that all of you can attend the “Mind Your p’s and q’s” event that evening, as it is a wonderful celebration of learning differences. This year’s recipient has not been selected yet, so feel free to contact me if you have suggestions.

At the end of this letter is the shortlist of Hamilton ONLY events that occur before the start of classes on Wednesday, September 1, 2021. These events could change if further risk mitigations are necessary. Do not forget to check the comprehensive Wheeler calendar when you login to the parent portal of the school website for all events happening during the course of the year.

Enjoy the remaining weeks of the summer of 2021. With luck, I will cycle up Mt. Washington at the 48th annual Mt. Washington Bike Race on August 21. Please do not ask me why I do it. It makes no sense.

I look forward to another great year! If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me at my office by calling 528-2167 or e-mailing me at jongreen@wheelerschool.org.

Best regards,
Jonathan Green

Important Dates

Wednesday, August 25 (new parents)

6 – 7 p.m. 
New parent orientation in the Hale Assembly Space of the Whitaker Building (Hamilton Lower School) for all parents that are new to Hamilton

Tuesday, August 31

11 – 11:30 a.m. 
Informal orientation for all students new to Hamilton and ALL Hamilton 6th-grade students. Lower School students meet in Whitaker Building, ALL Hamilton 6th-grade students go to Hope 311.

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. 
Hamilton cookout for the entire Hamilton Community outside Nulman Lewis Center in the center of campus.  This is a great way for returning families to reconnect and for new families to be introduced to our community.  As always, this is a casual affair.  Please come as you are, and bring your family.  There will be tables set up outside next to the Whitaker Building. No R.S.V.P. is necessary.

Wednesday, September 1

8 a.m.
Classes begin