A Year of Growth, Recognition, and New Beginnings at Summit School

Dear Summit Families, Students and Staff,

As the 2024–2025 school year draws to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary growth, milestones, and momentum we’ve experienced together as a community.

This spring, we proudly celebrated the graduation of students across our programs—some transitioning into Summit’s adult education stream, others moving on to new adventures beyond our walls. Each of them leaves a lasting mark on our school, and we are deeply proud of their perseverance, development, and individuality.

We’ve also continued to enhance our physical spaces and programming. One of the year’s proudest moments was the official opening of the Summit Centre for Creative Arts and Physical Education, a dynamic and inclusive space that now pulses with student creativity in art, music, dance, and physical education. In that same spirit of building a school that reflects our students' needs and strengths, I’m excited to share that next year, we will be constructing two new playgrounds—one at the front and one at the back of the school—designed to foster movement, accessibility, and joyful learning for all ages.

This year, Summit was also officially recognized as an Apple Distinguished School, a global designation awarded to institutions that demonstrate innovation in learning, teaching, and school leadership through technology. This achievement reflects the deep commitment of our educators and our entire school community to integrating digital tools in a way that enriches student experience and supports neurodiverse learning.

We also celebrated a key leadership transition on our Board of Directors. After many years of dedicated service, Susan Kasner stepped down as Board President. Susan’s influence—her strategic leadership, her advocacy, and her heart—will resonate at Summit for years to come. We are deeply grateful for her legacy. At the same time, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Mitch Shiller, a pediatrician and long-time child advocate, as our new Board President. His personal and professional connection to our mission is already energizing Summit’s future direction.

Looking ahead, one of our most important commitments is to remain not only up to date—but ahead of the curve—when it comes to best practices in neurodiverse education. Through our Summit Centre for Education, Research and Training (SCERT), we will continue to engage in research and thought leadership that keeps Summit at the forefront of evidence-based, student-centered learning and therapies.

As part of that commitment, I want to personally emphasize how important it is to invest in our staff’s professional development. Whether it’s attending the latest conferences, participating in specialized trainings, or collaborating with other schools and experts, our staff’s continued learning directly impacts the quality of education and care your children receive. This work is not only important—it’s essential. And it will continue into 2025 and beyond.

Before we break for summer, I also want to remind you that the Summit School Golf Tournament will take place October 6th. This event is one of our most important community fundraisers, and we’re hoping for strong sign-ups and support. It’s a day of connection, generosity, and fun—and every contribution helps strengthen Summit’s programming and student experience.

Finally, to our incredible staff—thank you. Your daily efforts, your creativity, and your belief in our students are what power this school. To our families and caregivers—your trust and partnership are at the heart of our success. And to our students—you are the reason we are here. You inspire us every single day.

Wishing you a joyful, restful summer. We look forward to welcoming you back in the fall with energy, excitement, and continued purpose.

Warm regards,

Herman Erdogmus

Director General

Summit School