To Whom It May Concern:
It has been my great pleasure over six years as Superintendent… to have personally witnessed the miracles produced by Reaching Higher. The school district’s counseling staff brought Reaching Higher into our high school several years ago and the program has since expanded into middle grades. Today, Reaching Higher is a fundamental intervention and prevention program that has changed the lives of previously troubled students while also reshaping the school culture most positively.
There is a timeworn adage shared among school principals that five percent of the school population can be responsible for fifty percent or more of the challenges produced by the student body. Whether or not that saying is true, I can say unequivocally (by the recorded data taken on a pre and post-program basis) that Reaching Higher has been pivotal in significantly reducing disciplinary action and referral of students for crisis intervention at our high school and middle school.
Each semester, the district’s counseling and social work professionals target the twenty-five to thirty students within high school and middle school grades that they feel can benefit from the nine weeks of training and counseling. Each year, the Reaching Higher graduating classes produce a significant number of student more capable of taking charge of their own lives and far more capable of producing responsible decision-making. Student self esteem goes up, attendance goes up and grades often dramatically improve over the nine weeks of Reaching Higher.
Reaching Higher is considered an addendum to our basic academic program at [ ]. Consequently, there is a constant appeal for community groups to fund the program. Personally, I think Reaching Higher is fundamental to the basic education of some students. I wonder just how much academic achievement could be improved in a school where all students were taught specifically how to face personal fears, manage stress, set realistic life goals and be provided opportunity to serve others. Fortunately, such a program exists in [ ] for students who desperately need it. It would be wonderful to provide all of our secondary students that opportunity.
Dear Ms [ ]:
I want to take this opportunity to personally thank you for all that you do to bring hope and encouragement to our girls. By teaching our girls The Twelve Gifts of Birth you are instilling in them the values of their personal strength, beauty, courage and compassion and giving them the hope they so desperately need for a brighter future.
Through your work and the work of others in the Reaching Higher program our girls are realizing they can change their destiny with hard work and personal commitment. They are learning respect for themselves and for others and that even though they may stumble at times they can overcome any challenge placed before them.
Thank you again for all that you do for our children. We are truly blessed to have your leadership and guidance for our young girls.
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter in behalf of Mrs Sue Dahlmann, Co-founder of Reaching Higher. Mrs. Dahlmann came to our high school and offered to facilitate their course for thirty high-risk students, as well as, a few student leaders in our building. She shared the curriculum with us, which looked fantastic. Once we received approval from our administration we began.
Little did I know what this course would offer our students. The thirty students that we chose were high-risk kids and they were having a very difficult time in their homes, as well as, in the classroom. Their failure rate was high and their apathy towards everything in their lives was profound. I remember the first day the trainers came. Mrs. Dahlmann brought five trainers in each week to work with the students in a small, stuffy classroom. There were no windows, no space, and hardly enough room for their desks. Within an hour, the room looked bright. They had colorful materials on each of their desks, flowers in a vase and candy. I must admit I was not sure what the kids would think. Certainly, they were not used to this type of reception. Well, let me tell you it was amazing. Every student returned the next week except one. They wanted to come every week and said that it was helping them see things differently in their lives. One boy after our first session was over, told me that the reason he came to school every week was because of this class. We now have finished the third year with the Reaching Higher program. It has become embedded in our curriculum and something we never want to let go of. We did a board presentation with the statistics from the first classes and found that the grades, attendance, and the behavioral concerns improved. What was most significant was that kids said they were feeling better about themselves and that they had hope – some for the first time. It has been a class that has motivated kids and reminded them that they could make their lives richer. Mrs. Dahlmann has a desire to change kids lives and is an amazing person. Her energy and love of her work is infectious. As in one of her training sheets during the course says, “Do not hope for easy lives, hope to be stronger.” I think that is what it gives the kids. Hope for their future and that they have the power within themselves to improve their lives.
[School Name] is truly pleased to express our appreciation and communicate its support of the Reaching Higher Program. This nine week experience was instrumental in making a positive difference in the minds and hearts of the students who participated.
In this age of high stake state assessments and accountability it is not an easy decision to allow external programs to come into schools and interrupt the mandated curriculum. The positive testimonials from parents and students speak to the merit of the Reaching Higher program. Our goal is to prepare students with twenty-first century skills that will equip them to compete in the global arena. Thank you Reaching Higher for supporting our efforts to achieve this target.
[School Name] is in its infancy as a school and as it develops it is programs like “Reaching Higher” that we will continue to embrace to empower our students. The counselors were caring, sensitive and connected well with the students. They challenged them to go deeper in understanding and recognizing their value as young people. We could not have expected or asked for more from them.
Susie, thanks for providing this wonderful opportunity to us. May your vision become contagious for others to see the benefits of your work.
