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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, O ct ob er 24 ,2 01 9 | 2 WHEN Tuesday Nov. 12, 2019 COST $35 (taxes & gratuities included) TIME 12 p.m. -- 2 p.m. R.S.V.P. Melanie Frazer EMAIL: mfrazer@nhgcc.ca TEL: 905.877.5236 X: 400 WHERE 363 Maple Ave. West, Georgetown Enjoy a 3-course lunch and the latest in winter fashion at this exclusive fashion show by 猀渀漀椀栀猀愀昀 匀ᤠ䠀吀䔀䈀䄀娀䤀䰀䔀 DAYofFASHION New OptOmetry Office in DOwntOwn GeOrGetOwn Dr. Ben Giddens Dr. Andrea Kozma Dr. Stephanie Britton has opened a 2nd location at the mill Street medical centre. DOwntOwn GeOrGetOwn 83 mill St | 905 873 1867 metrO plaza 371 mountainview rd S | 905 873 1861 family eye care ServiceS Day, Evening and Saturday Hours | Same day appointments for urgent eye care. Please phone. GIDDENS OPTOMETRY Although some children may dread the hard work that comes along with school, for students with learning disabilities, being in the classroom can be down- right intimidating.Such was the case for Sophie Matjasec, who was diagnosed with dyslexia and had severe anxiety. "I hated school," the 21-year- old recalled. "I was just constant- ly staring at the paper and not un- derstanding it." After no success in the public school system, Matjasec's par- ents heard about a then-new ini- tiative at Halton Hills Christian School (HHCS) called the Arrow- smith program and decided to give it a try. The program that started in Toronto with Barbara Arrow- smith Young uses neuroscientific research to strengthen the weak cognitive functions underlying a variety of learning disabilities, rather than teaching ways to compensate for those challenges. "It's a program that offers hope and delivers change," said HHCS principal Marianne Vangoor. "Stu- dents who have a learning disabili- ty are wounded by school because school doesn't work for them. They're intelligent, bright stu- dents, but their classmates are do- ing stuff they can't do. That is so frustrating. Arrowsmith is some- thing that actually treats that, and the wounds are healed." With October being Learning Disabilities Awareness and Dys- lexia Awareness Month, the local private school is working to shine a light on the program that has dramatically changed the lives of so many students like Matjasec, who anxiously entered the pro- gram in Grade 5 clutching a stuffed bunny for comfort. "I had no self-confidence, and literally, within the first week of the program my confidence went up," she recalled. Through Arrowsmith, indi- vidualized plans are created for students that target their precise areas of weakness and "exercise" their brains. The program re- quires commitment to repetitive work that may seem unconven- tional, said Sophie, such as trac- ing a series of symbols. Although the students may not be aware of this at the time, Vangoor said, the program is ac- tually working to help them grow new neural pathways. "A learning disability is like a log jam in the neural pathways, and the log jam begins to break apart," she said. "This breathes life into a child who's trapped be- hind a learning disability." Vangoor emphasized there are no immediate results and that students like Matjasec see the benefits after years of hard work for up to six periods per day. By Grade 7, Matjasec said, she no longer felt the need to bring a stuffed animal for comfort and was excited to learn. "But once I hit high school, I re- ally started to notice the changes," she said, recalling a test she took home with a mark of 99 per cent. She was reassessed for her learning disability in Grade 10 and was then deemed to no longer have dyslexia. "I have a drive now - I feel like I could do anything," said Matja- sec, who's currently in her third year of criminology at the Uni- versity of Guelph and is aspiring to be a lawyer. Vangoor said stories like this are common for those who've gone through the Arrowsmith program, such as one of her stu- dents who couldn't write but who's now taking creative writ- ing at the University of Toronto. For parents, the program can offer hope for their children who struggle on a daily basis. "The fact that Halton Hills Christian School offers this pro- gram is a real gift," said Matja- sec's father, Johnny, who noted you don't have to be Christian to attend the program. "Her anxiety has decreased significantly, and her confidence level just grew." There will be an information night about the Arrowsmith pro- gram at the Georgetown branch of the Halton Hills Public Li- brary, on Nov. 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit haltonhillschristianschool.org or arrowsmithschool.org. COMMUNITY SHINING LIGHT ON A PROGRAM THAT CHANGES LIVES THE ISSUE: LEARNING DISABILITIES LOCAL IMPACT: A PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE IN HALTON HILLS THAT TARGETS THE WEAK COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS UNDERLYING A VARIETY OF LEARNING DISABILITIES, RATHER THAN TEACHING WAYS TO COMPENSATE FOR THOSE CHALLENGES STORY BEHIND THE STORY With October being Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, we looked into what unique resources are available locally for students who are struggling. MELANIE HENNESSEY mhennessey@metroland.com Cell: 416-989-7809 Dave LoDuca QUALITY BATHROOM RENOVATIONS C C T I L EE RAM I Gold 2018 Halton Hills Serving Halton Hills & surrounding areas.