Jarvis 2006

Judy Lepper remembers how nervous they were the day that she and her son, Jarvis, arrived at Landmark East for the admissions interview. Jarvis was 13 at the time and had had been struggling and failing in school for several years. Although he had already undergone extensive testing to assess his learning disabilities, they were both unsure and anxious about what lay ahead. Their initial meeting with the Headmaster, Fred Atkinson, did a lot to assuage their fears.  Judy vividly recalls his conversation with Jarvis. He asked the youngster what he thought the school could do for him. “I want you to fix my brain" said Jarvis. “There’s nothing wrong with your brain, son.” Mr. Atkinson assured him, “We’ll just teach you how to use it.”

That was 1995. In the ensuing years, Jarvis boarded at Landmark East for four years and did indeed learn how to use his brain. He made remarkable progress winning numerous awards for academic and athletic achievement at the annual awards banquets. He served as student council president for three years and was the class valedictorian when he graduated in 1999.  Jarvis is most proud of the prestigious award he received when he was in grade 11. In 1998, he was honoured with the Beat the Odds Youth Award from the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada. The award is for dealing with a disability and promoting awareness of learning disabilities to the public at large.  Jarvis is a grown man now. He took the skills he developed at Landmark East and went on to study at the Atlantic Baptist University in New Brunswick. He graduated from Acadia University in May 2006 earned his Masters of Divinity degree.  He is now at Upper Kingsclear Baptist Church working as a Youth Pastor - and enjoying every minute of it.

One would think the story ends happily here, but that’s only half of it. Jarvis’ younger sister, Julie-Ann had been fighting similar battles in elementary school and junior high.  She enrolled in Landmark East the September following Jarvis’ graduation. Over the years at Landmark East, it became apparent that Julie-Ann shared her brother’s drive. She served on Student Council (as Secretary in 1999 and President in 2001), the Yearbook Committee and the Grad Committee. She was also the valedictorian of her graduating class in 2003 and received the Queen Elizabeth Medal for academic achievement and community involvement.  Julie-Ann was also honoured with the prestigious Student Achievement Award from the Rotary Club of Wolfville along with a $2500 bursary for post secondary education.  Julie-Ann will be graduating from the Atlantic Baptist University with her Bachelor of Arts (English) degree in May 2007 and is planning to take her Bachelor of Education degree.

Julie-Ann 2007

Judy was a parent deeply involved with Landmark East for eight years. She knew the importance of a good education for her children and how vital it was to find a program focused on their particular needs. She made many sacrifices in order to assist and support them in achieving success. In 2002, the “With Determination” Award was created to honour her and presented by the Landmark East Headmaster at her daughter’s graduation.

Judy still keeps in contact with Landmark East staff and is one of the school’s most passionate advocates. Last year she wrote this about the school: “I’m so glad I made the decision to send my kids to Landmark East. My son used to come home from school each day depressed and frustrated. He used to say,”Nobody will ever help me, what can I do?” I found out about Landmark East and decided to give it a try. I saw an immediate change in him. I don’t think there’s anything he wouldn’t tackle now. My daughter is blossoming and becoming more confident too. I can see positive changes in both of them. I made a lot of sacrifices to send them to the school but it’s worth it when I see them succeed. I want them to get the best they can get. Landmark East has changed our lives.”