| That means the athletes can’t draw from the excitement and encouragement that comes from looking up from the court and seeing their supporters in the stands. And families don’t have that sense of connection and school sprit that a home gym provides. And of course, there’s the expense of constantly paying rent for practice and game facilities, and the gasoline costs for transportation.
A gym would bring countless opportunities: a home court advantage, summer sports camps, pep rallies, assemblies, concerts, adult basketball leagues, plays, homecomings, festivals, and more. Briggs sums it up, “Words can’t describe how I feel when I think about it. A gym would allow our TCS Cougars to have a sense of PRIDE and LOVE for their school. For me, it means: Tradition, Togetherness, Excitement,
Passion, and Family!” |
Roxanna
Seeing a child discover her potential is like watching a flower bloom. You see the light in her eyes as she masters a new skill. You hear the confidence and pride in her voice as she describes her accomplishment to a friend or teacher.
These moments of discovery can happen anywhere. For 8th grader Roxanna, they happen on a gym floor. “My volleyball coach saw potential in me, believed in me, and thought I would be good at playing basketball. So now I am on our Middle School team and I’m really enjoying it!”
Roxanna has learned something valuable from every win and every loss. She also says she has grown, thanks to her teammates and coaches. “Sports have helped me learn so many lessons,” explains Roxanna. “You learn from your mistakes and you learn to never give up; to always keep trying.”
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She is excited to hear of the plans for a new gym for The Cottage School. “I think it’s such a great idea. Right now we have to look for places to practice so it will be nice to have a gym of our own. And you know, so many of us would really love to look up in the stands and see our families there. We practice so hard. It would be great to have our parents see us play in that gym and see how hard we have worked!”
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Cally
Volleyball, basketball, tennis, cross country, homework, and more – how does junior Cally find the time and energy? She’s inspired and motivated by her love for The Cottage School and its people!
“It’s awesome! I don’t know what I would do if we hadn’t found this school - I don’t know where I would be right now! I’d probably be in boarding school. All the teachers will help you with anything you need ANYTIME.”
The Cottage School’s teachers, coaches, and her classmates have all had a tremendous impact on Cally’s life. Through these relationships, Cally’s self-esteem and confidence have soared. She has created lifelong memories: friends, special events, and sports have played a huge role. She spends many afternoons practicing and learning new skills, developing a work ethic and attitude that will help throughout her life. |
Not to say that it’s been easy. Cally and her teammates have found it challenging to pursue their sports passions without a gym. They practice on the shifting surface of a sandpit and then face their opponents on the completely different surface of a gym floor. It is her dream for her team to have a gym of its very own. “We have come so close and I know we would win if we had our own gym. We would have more time to practice and we would know where the lines are! We have had to play inside the cafeteria where we have to be careful not to break anything or we practice in a sandpit and it can be really hot.”
Cally believes a gym would benefit the whole school. “It would mean so much for team spirit, ownership, and pride for our school. We can practice at our own school for all sports. We can have our sports, prom, homecoming, graduation, plays, and Glitter - the possibilities are endless!”
Omari
What would having a home gym mean to a basketball player like sophomore Omari? “Everything! We wouldn’t have to get on a bus anymore to travel to practice. We could walk into our own gym and we would be proud not to be ‘homeless’ anymore!”
Omari credits basketball and his coaches for giving him a chance to clear his head and focus. He has plenty of praise for his coaches and teachers – mentors he believes have his best interests at heart. “Brian and Richie are really patient. I have watched them take kids who have never played basketball before and they’ve taught them fundamentals.” The life lessons he has learned playing sports have supplemented Omari’s overall school experience. The Cottage School has brought out the best in him, and he is grateful for the smaller classrooms and the relationships he has built with his friends and the faculty.
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Special school events and sports play a huge role in the minds and hearts of many students. “My favorite Cottage School moment was Homecoming last year. It was my first Homecoming game ever and so many people showed up to support all of the basketball players!” He can only imagine what it would feel like to play his next Homecoming game with a home court advantage. Most high school basketball players dream of sharing a special moment with their teammates in their own gym, in front of their home crowd. A gym for The Cottage School would help make that dream come true for Omari and generations of TCS students to come.
Omari is ready for the challenges of tomorrow – thanks in large part to the skills he has developed and strengthened in The Cottage School classrooms and on the basketball court. “I feel privileged. That’s the only word to describe how I feel when I think about being at The Cottage School. I am grateful to be here - it’s amazing!”
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Alex
Alex has a passion for helping others. As a member of The Cottage School’s Interact Club, Alex and his fellow students participate in many service projects, including efforts to collect food and school supplies for those less fortunate. The Interact Club is just one of the many opportunities The Cottage School provides for students to explore and experience new things. “Thanks to the small size of the student body and the support from the staff and counselors, at The Cottage School, you can find your own comfortable spot within the community,” says Alex. The junior has carved out another niche for himself at school, pursuing one of his other passions: music. |
Alex also is a talented vocalist and guitarist and is one of the musical pacesetters at The Cottage School. He recently founded an a capella group at school. “I have been singing since I was very young and I love music in all forms. Never being an outstanding athlete, music gave me an area, besides schoolwork, where I could excel. Without music, I’d be a much different person. Being involved in music has given me a lot more confidence.”
Alex looks forward to the day when The Cottage School family comes together to celebrate the opening of a new center for the arts, sports, and all forms of student expression. “I really like everything about the school and I hope the gym/theater project is a success. I think it would be a wonderful addition. It would provide convenient practice space for the sports teams and drama class. It would give us an opportunity to have musical events in the theater and that would promote musical development throughout the school!”
Anna
The lights dim, the audience grows still, and the curtain slowly rises. A new world is unveiled as the actors play their parts and stretch their imaginations. At The Cottage School, students like junior Anna, have challenged themselves, built their self-esteem, and created lifelong memories on the stage. “I just love doing it! You get to be someone you aren’t in real life and just have an adventure,” explains Anna.
Drama has played a big part in Anna’s life, as has The Cottage School. “I’ve enjoyed it so much, ever since I started going there from 6th grade to now. The students treat me with respect, kindness, and honesty.” |
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Bringing the words of a playwright to life takes talent and ingenuity, and the budding actors of The Cottage School have certainly learned how to be creative. Without a theater, the students have learned to improvise. “We take down all the tables and chairs in our cafeteria and perform there,” says Anna. “We have our maintenance staff lend us about nine stools that are hard and steady and we put them together like a puzzle.” They use a smaller stool to then step up on this “stage”. “We put black curtains behind the stage and on the side but we don’t have the ability to pull the curtains closed,” Anna explains. “And we have speakers very close on the top of the ceiling to project our voices as much as possible. A junior named Glen Nakutis does the sound effects on his laptop in the back of the cafeteria.”
The students’ love for the arts motivates them to find a way to make their productions possible. They hope their efforts and dedication will inspire others to join them in an effort to bring the arts home to The Cottage School. “It will make it a lot easier to perform with a real theater. If it can be built before I graduate - it will be so exciting!”
Phil Parker
When it comes to expressing what a new facility would mean to The Cottage School, perhaps no one is better equipped than Phil Parker. As an art teacher, coach, and parent of a Cottage School graduate, Phil has firsthand knowledge of the value of investing in children. “It will mean a lot to me, and especially to students, to finally have a facility where both art and athletics can be conducted. The art room has always been small, cramped, and cluttered, so a larger and well-organized art facility will be wonderful. Having a gym of our own will help generate a sense of pride and provide a very necessary facility for both sports and performances of all kinds. It will also be tremendously convenient as well as save time and money from renting outside facilities for practices and games.”
There is no doubt that Phil is committed to The Cottage School’s mission. He invests his life in furthering that mission everyday. Why does the school mean so much to him? “I have the opportunity to make a real difference in a student’s life; also, the consistent professionalism and genuine care and concern that teachers have for students. It’s always a pleasure having students in High School and those who have graduated come to visit me and tell me how much they learned in my Middle School art classes. In sports it has been sheer joy watching young athletes I have coached go on to high school and win State Championships in track (most recently, senior Joshua Farris and junior Sam Kacergis).”
Phil realizes the opportunity we all have to impact a young life in the classroom, on the stage, and on the playing field. “My daughter graduated from The Cottage School in 1993 and has been very successful in business while raising two beautiful daughters. Working where I saw her blossom is very special to me.”
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The History
The Cottage School has grown from its humble beginnings of a one-room office, a card table, and folding chairs to a vibrant 23-acre campus which serves nearly 200 middle and high school students. For 23 years, TCS has successfully provided the Keys to Education, Independence, and Success to students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and/or socio-emotional issues. With a ten-to-one student-faculty ratio, small classes that accommodate various learning styles, and highly individualized instruction, the school provides a comprehensive academic college preparatory curriculum as well as vocational and special “hands on” classes.
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The Need
The Cottage School’s extensive and diverse fine arts and sports programs are often the key to opening a new world of self-esteem for students who previously struggled academically and socially. Breakthroughs are made and success is experienced on the cross country trail, the stage, the soccer field, or the basketball court. But it has been challenging for students to pursue these passions because The Cottage School does not have adequate campus facilities. Staff members have been forced to rent facilities for sporting events, training and practice sessions, performing arts presentations, dances, and other activities.
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The Vision
A survey conducted among parents, staff, students, and Board in conjunction with the 2005 SAIS/SACS accreditation process, revealed that an overwhelming majority believe the addition of an on-campus athletic facility should be the school’s number one priority for campus improvement. The five-year strategic plan adopted in the Spring of 2006 calls for the completion of the Roswell campus, including the construction of a gym, performing arts facility, and additional classrooms. To address these needs, the Board-appointed Facilities Committee, composed of Board members, parents, alumni parents, faculty, and students, developed plans for an 16,000 square foot academic/activities center: a multi-purpose structure that will include a gym, stage for performing arts, carpentry and arts classrooms, a fitness center, locker rooms, and athletic offices. The cost to construct this comprehensive academic/activities center is $2 million.
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The Future
Imagine stands filled with fans cheering the Cougars on during an exciting basketball or volleyball game. Picture a stage filled with actors or singers, living out the dream of performing before an audience of family and friends. Experience the excitement of a graduation ceremony or a homecoming dance held in an on-campus center where students and families have created a lifetime of memories. A new multipurpose/activities center will help complete the school experience for our Cottage School students, families, and faculty.
The new center will also provide opportunities for revenue generating activities such as weekend youth recreational basketball programs, summer sports camps, and expanded After-School for Credit and Summer Enrichment Programs. There will be new opportunities for outreach to the community with sports programs for special needs children, expanded Project Work for disadvantage youth through new vocational courses, plus a wide variety of community activities. The Cottage School will also save a substantial amount of money by eliminating the need to rent facilities and transport students off campus for many activities and events.
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Bring it Home
The Cottage School’s history of success repeatedly demonstrates that students who come to the school disillusioned or discouraged (some to the point of “giving up” on education), flourish in the school’s environment and emerge as independent, capable, and successful young adults. As these students look back on their school experience, many of their fondest memories will be of activities and special relationships: sporting events, teammates, proms, homecoming, graduation, and great times with family and friends at special gatherings. Those who support the effort to create The Cougar Center are really creating an experience for these students and their families – an opportunity that already exists at other schools. Now is the time to Bring It Home for The Cottage School. |
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