5517 Myrtle Grove Road
Wilmington, NC 28409

My son attends Bellamy and has a GREAT teacher, Mr. Vande Veer. You can tell how much the team there really cares about the children and their learning. My son says it should be rated 100 stars!

As a sibling of someone with disabilities, it pains me to write this. Myrtle Grove is by far the worst school in the Wilmington area. Not only is it poorly equipped with teacher’s that just “push students along” (even when it would benefit them to hold them back or actually work with them) but it condones bullying. A teacher admitted to acknowledging the bullying of a disabled student yet did nothing about it. This school is a disgrace to education. Soon, the school boards will catch up to them. If you have the option to send your student elsewhere, I recommend you do so.

After a recent meeting at the school, I was very impressed with the teacher's reports regarding my student. The teacher's comments about my student were written in a positive way and focused on strengths and areas where he needs more support. My student was present at the meeting and he was treated with the utmost respect. They were complimentary and this was encouraging. My impression is that each teacher/staff member at the table was interested in hearing his voice and in his well-being. I felt completely welcomed and respected. Without mentioning names, there were a few comments indicating that some students in attendance in his classses are disruptive and/or disrespectful. It was also noted how much good behavior exhibited by my student was appreciated and I like that positive reinforcement. My student has reported to me that students are vaping at school, sometimes in the classroom! This does concern me greatly, and another student has also told me that this is a fairly common occurrence. I am not understanding how this happens on the regular, but I am not a teacher there, so I have no idea what they deal with. I only say that I have had someone vape in my office and I immediately became aware of it due to the smell. The only other negative comment I could make would be that I am not understanding why there are test days where some students are not being tested and they have to sit in the cafeteria all day. This seems very difficult and unhealthy and I wish that there could be some planned activities provided for the students or to allow the students not testing to have excused absences. Overall, I am satisfied with my experience with the school and my student is doing better and better, and for me that is the most important thing. NOTE: My student does not get very excited about his classes/learning, but did show a little this year.