The Meaning of Success

Parent Testimonials
Teacher Testimonials

At Bridgeway Academy, success comes in many forms. Marks are not the only way we measure accomplishment. Following are just a few examples of students who have succeeded, despite the odds:

• The 12 year old student who raced down the stairs one day, and forgetting the correct way to address his homeroom teacher shouted, "Come on Blondie, come and see what I can do!" It was the first time the boy had read a whole page without help.
• The student who went on to become a teacher.
• The young man who struggled until he was finally accepted into law enforcement.
• The young lady who went from being one of the kids who lived on the streets to getting her grade 12 graduation certificate, and continuing her studies in fashion design.
• The former student of the Academy whose dream of joining the Military (ROTP) came true.
• The twin girls who came to Bridgeway Academy after their mother had been advised that the best she could hope for them was that they could learn to read recipes, so one day they could cook for their husbands. Both graduated from university.
• The young man who was told the best he could hope for was a minimum wage job. He graduated from university, and is now successfully employed in the business world at the management level.
• Over a hundred students have spent two or more years with Bridgeway and then returned to public school. Many have successfully graduated from high school, and have continued their studies at the university or college of their choice.

Success is also measured by the restoration of healthy family dynamics. When the burden of parents having to also be the ³teacher² is removed, many families find the stress and turmoil is eliminated, and they can once again reclaim the joys of simply being a family.

Success for Bridgeway students and their families includes learning to be advocates for themselves. They are taught what type of learning disability they have, how it affects their learning, and what adaptations they must request to achieve success. Self advocacy skills ensure that when students leave the Academy, they can never again be made to feel like they are to blame for being born with a learning disability.