Families now have a new, convenient way to support both their child's academic success and their own wellness. Through a new collaboration between Miriam School and Learning Center and the Gateway Region YMCA, YMCA members can now enroll their children in fee-based, specialized tutoring services offered by Miriam at the South County and Chesterfield YMCA locations.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of eight members to the board of directors. These additions will support the nonprofit’s work to empower students with learning differences, bringing the total number of board members to 25. Darcy Scharff has taken over as president of the board.

Addison Miller, a 2020 Miriam eighth-grade graduate, inspired this year’s eighth-grade graduates and their families alike during his address at the May 15 graduation ceremony. He spoke about the importance of pride, and encouraged the teens to embrace what he calls an unmatched motivator.

Watching Henry walk across the stage to accept his Miriam High School diploma, one would never guess that just 18 months ago, he was facing a constant uphill battle at school - a fight he felt destined to lose. Today, Henry isn’t just a graduate - he is a future archaeologist following his path to St. Louis Community College with a newfound sense of self-assurance.

I can hardly believe we are near the end of the school year! What an incredible year it has been for Miriam’s children and those of us who work with them.

Thanks to our incredibly generous community, the Third Annual Minds in Bloom Auction & Dinner broke both attendance and fundraising records for the event! The event, held on Saturday, April 18, at Clayton Plaza Hotel, raised more than $300,000 in total, with $181,324 specifically going to our Fund the Future Scholarship Fund to help make Miriam more affordable for families who need us. 

For many high school seniors, the final weeks before graduation are a blur of yearbooks and ceremony rehearsals. But for the 12 seniors at Miriam High School, the homestretch looks a bit more like a professional debut. April 13 marks the launch of their short-term internships, a new piece of scaffolding in the school’s mission to bridge the gap between specialized education and "real world" success.

There is much excitement in the air about our BBQ and Variety Show at the High School on Friday, and the Art Festival and Talent Show at the Lower Middle School next Friday, April 17th. Many of our students come to us afraid to make eye contact or say hello, and then by this time of year, they are on stage singing their favorite Taylor Swift song or playing the piano, and there are tears of joy running down the faces of the crowd who know how much each of these children has overcome. 

It is a fundamental human need to desire connection and a true sense of belonging. Learning how to navigate the complexities of friendships and group dynamics is more than just a social grace; it is a critical life skill.

Paper stars with those four school values - along with the students’ names - wallpaper the windows around the school office. Whether it’s helping a peer or taking a deep breath during a difficult moment, school staff hand out stars when they see a student leaning into one of these four values - providing immediate, visual proof that their positive choices are noticed.

Planning for the future can feel daunting, especially for students who learn differently. Miriam High School’s Next Steps Fair offers tools to help move forward with confidence. Students and their families were invited to explore programs, resources, and opportunities that can help with life after high school.

Yesterday, I had a phone call with a parent, and she spoke about the "soul-crushing" approach of the traditional special education system—a system often based on the identification of disabilities where children only receive support after a series of failures, low scores, and social-emotional trauma.

Today, a younger student arrived having a visibly tough morning. As he crossed the building's threshold, his struggle was apparent in his posture: shoulders hunched, hair disheveled, and his usually bright eyes dimmed. He moved as though he were underwater.

As winter break approaches for thousands of students across St. Louis, many parents are preparing for their children to be home for the holidays.