Birchwood Isle Family Roleplay

Basic Information

Full Name: Tyler Jacob Whelan
Nickname, if Any: Squeak (does not like this)
Age: 11
Birthday: January 2nd
Sex: Male
Pronouns: He/him
Current Grade in School: 5th grade
Special Needs: Tourette's (most common tics are grunting noises and sudden arm movements)

Personality

What are your greatest strengths? List 5-10: Clever, persistent, hard-working, observant, good memory, good with smaller children and animals
What are your greatest weaknesses? List 5-10: Dishonest, disloyal, doesn't speak up for himself or others, oversensitive, prone to assuming the worst about people, nosy, suck-up
What do you struggle with? Communicating clearly, prioritizing tasks
What are your hobbies or interests? Movies, animals, whatever my friends like
What do you really enjoy? Stories, television, music that makes my body shake, board games, pizza, wearing a heavy jacket, days that are a little cloudy, bland colors, fruit, fresh cookies, little kids
What do you really dislike? Doughy food, people yelling in anger, really hot days, wet clothes, being around too many people at once, being late, being bored, being nagged, really sour food, things that are supposed to be scary but aren't
What are your favorite things? Watching TV, doing things in parallel with a close friend, baggy clothes
What do you fear? Being seen as useless or a burden
Describe your personality in 100-500 words: Tyler hates open conflict, and wants very much to be included and liked by other people. At his best, he can be helpful, pleasant, and uncannily charming. But he can also be fickle and manipulative: he can perfectly sweet to you one moment, then ditch you the next moment because he thinks it will ingratiate him with someone he cares more about who just walked into the room. It’s not quite fair to say he’s insincere, though it can come across that way. If you meet him on his own, he’ll really, truly want you to like him, and he’ll be willing to go to great lengths to make it happen; it’s just that if there are two people around, he has to decide whose opinion he cares about more…

Relationships & Behavior

How do you normally get along with adults? I'm quiet and don't make trouble on my own, so most adults don't mind me. When adults do pay more attention to me, it's a bit hit or miss: I try really hard to figure out what they expect, but sometimes misunderstand or fixate on the wrong thing.
How do you normally get along with teenagers? Teenagers mostly don't notice me, which is fine, but on the rare occasion when one needs a younger assistant, I'm pretty good at it.
How do you normally get along with other children? I often have trouble with my peers: I miss social cues, say the wrong thing, or misunderstand things. I want to fit in and get along, but too much, in a way that's over the top and too obvious. It's easier with younger children, where there's not the same social pressure.
How independent are you? Pretty independent for my age.
How do you normally react when you get into trouble? I freeze up or try to lie my way out of it. If that doesn't work, dissociate.
Link to your discipline sheet: click here ✅

Orphan Village

Orphan Village Application

How long have you lived at the Orphan Village? Four months
Which House do you belong to? Willow House
What is your grade in school? 5th grade

How did you come to live in the Orphan Village? Mother unable to take care of him, kicked out of house by step-mother and father.

Who are your favorite people in the Orphan Village? The younger kids. They’re easy to deal with and mostly happy that I like paying attention to them.
What are your favorite places in the Orphan Village? The stables! I love horses, and I miss the one I used to ride, so I’m really glad I can still take care of horses here.
What are your favorite things to do in the Orphan Village? See above

How do you get along with caregivers and authority figures in the Orphan Village? With most of them, pretty well; I don’t act out much, and I try to make it easy for adults not to need to pay attention to me, which is fine by me. With the adults paying too much attention for that to work, I can be a little frustrating because I’m so prone to lying or treating every serious conversation like I’m about to be in trouble.
How do you get along with other children in the Orphan Village? I often struggle with peers close in age, where my tendency to say the wrong thing and miss social cues stands out.
How do you get along with teenager adolescents in the Orphan Village? Fine. Teens are usually more tolerant of the way I miss social cues because they expect younger kids to follow different social norms, and I’m agreeable enough.
How do you get along with young adult adolescents in the Orphan Village? Fine, though I don’t deal with them that much. They’re basically adults, as far as I’m concerned.

Do you hope to be adopted someday? I’m not sure
Describe your ideal adoptive family. Several siblings, older and younger

Is there anything else we should know about your life at the Orphan Village? No

Background

Describe your history in 150-1000 words: Tyler’s house was never calm, and over the first few years of his life, his father’s violence escalated from screaming and thrown plates to physical violence directed at both Tyler and his mother. When Tyler was six, Miranda’s mother left with Tyler, and the two lived a somewhat precarious life, hopping from couch to couch, until a car accident left Miranda unable to take care of him.

Tyler went back to his father, now remarried. His step-mother, a vain woman who craved the appearance of a perfect family, took to Tyler when she discovered how good he was at putting on the performance she wanted, and Tyler send the next four years keeping up appearances and dodging his father’s anger.

That, too, fell apart when a fight with his father turned violent and a terrified Tyler managed to injure his father with a knife. Furious, Tyler’s step-mother kicked him out, persuading a social worker that he was too dangerous for her to keep in the house. The social worker, perhaps sensing that the situation was more complicated, arranged a placement for him in Orphan’s Village.

Other

Is there anything else we need to know about you? No

Basic Information

Full Name: Phoebe Eloise Robinson
Age: 12
Birthday: March 12th
Sex: Female
Pronouns: she/her
Current Grade/Year in School, if Applicable: 7th
Special Needs: Insulin and a special diet. Phoebe is T1D

Appearance

Height: 4'10"
Build: slender, slightly underweight
Hair Color: blonde
Eye Color: blue
Distinguishing Features: round face, full mouth, glasses
Brief Description: Phoebe's a cute girl, with a round face, full mouth, and deep-set eyes. Her smile ranges from gentle to truly bright, although she doesn't smile often. Her eyes often reflect a deep sadness that comes from years in the foster care system without finding anyone interested in adopting her. She usually wears her pale blonde hair loose halfway down her back in very loose waves, but sometimes she wears it in a braid or a ponytail. Typically, she dresses in jeans or shorts with a t-shirt or sweatshirt, and most of the time she keeps her body covered. She has prescription eyeglasses that are round and a bit too big for her face.

Personality

What are your greatest strengths? creativity; perseverance; willingness to try; accepting of other people; nonjudgmental; quickness to commit; awareness of others; general obedience
What are your greatest weaknesses? easily distracted; not especially bright; struggles to make friends; jealous; easily disappointed; withdraws when upset; sensitive to criticism; easily tired
What do you struggle with? waiting for 12 years to be adopted and feeling like nothing is ever going to change
What are your hobbies or interests? loves to draw; enjoys board games; caring for plants; roller skating; horseback riding; adult coloring books
What do you really enjoy? having chores to do; meals that make her feel normal; attention from adults; field trips; watching movies with friends; making new friends; being outside; shopping for new things; real carnivals; sleepovers; cats; horses; grownups who talk to her like she's human; girls; new clothes; gaining weight
What do you really dislike? reading; school; school parties; eating at friends' houses; having friends over; injecting herself with insulin; going to the doctor; having to make the right choice all the time because wrong choices could literally kill her; getting in trouble for actual accidents; "adoption fairs;" dogs; social workers
What are your favorite things? Nearly-completed coloring books full of her own coloring work.
What do you fear? never being adopted; dogs; snakes; opossums
Describe your personality in 100-500 words: For everything she's been through, Phoebe is remarkably outgoing, sociable, and friendly. While she's not always kind, most people perceive her that way at the outset. The trouble is often that people begin to layer her truth over her personality and then their perspective of her shifts from seeing the person she is to seeing what she might have been had her circumstances been different. This is what makes Phoebe hard for a lot of people to get to know; They superimpose their perceptions of her experience on top of who she actually is, and when that happens, she is quick to withdraw, which changes her significantly from an outgoing, friendly person into a withdrawn adolescent who wants nothing to do with the people who so easily pass judgment on her.

Relationships & Behavior

How do you normally get along with adults? It really depends on the adult, to be honest. For most of her life, Phoebe has been an inconvenience to people who aren't prepared to take on her special needs because as impactful as her diabetes can be on her life, social services has not considered it to be an especially high need, which means that she's been repeatedly placed with adults who consider her more of a burden than she ought to be on them. Phoebe is good enough to give most adults the benefit of the doubt, and she doesn't judge them on one mistake, but those who don't know how to handle her disease or her angst over 12 years in foster care often wind up being the ones she's most likely to avoid. This quickly turns into a vicious cycle.

How do you normally get along with teenagers? Not especially well. Phoebe's high needs tend to generate a degree of jealousy in foster care environments, and teenagers have typically had a tendency to make fun of her. As with children, her needs often impact the entire household in ways that other adolescents don't appreciate, and Phoebe is sensitive about their judgment of her and their feelings that she's impacting the way they're allowed to eat and not eat. She's always been told by adults, as well, that it's her fault that the household has to eat this way or that way, and so she's had a lot of bullying from teenagers over the years, causing her to avoid and distrust, judgmental or not.

How do you normally get along with other children? Similarly to teenagers. If food and eating don't come into play, and if she doesn't have to stop to make sure she gets her blood sugar up, she can enjoy playing with children close to her own age, but often relationships drift because friendship with Phoebe becomes inconvenient for the other child. This is obviously impactful and hurts her deeply, so while she is friendly and outgoing, she doesn't tend to seek out long-term friendships because of concern that she'll wind up losing those friends when they find out the "truth" about her.

How independent are you? Phoebe has had to be pretty independent because she's inconvenient when she's not, but the truth is... She really relies on adults.

How do you normally react when you get into trouble? It depends on what her relationship with the adult with whom she's in trouble is like. If the relationship is close, she's more likely to be cooperative, but tearful. If it's not close, she's more likely to shut down emotionally and refuse to engage.

Link to your discipline sheet: click here ✅

Orphan Village

How long have you lived at the Orphan Village? Just arrived
Which House do you belong to? Birch House
Are you currently enrolled at the Orphan Village Academy or BWI College? Orphan Village Academy
What jobs or responsibilities do you have at the Orphan Village? Keeping up with her own health regimen is a full time job. Phoebe also helps with the community garden when it's in season

How did you come to live at the Orphan Village? Phoebe's case worker was at her wit's end. There was, in her mind, absolutely no reason why Phoebe had not been adopted in the twelve years that she'd spent in foster care, and she hoped that by moving Phoebe into an entirely new system, she would open doors to getting Phoebe adopted.

How do you generally get along with caregivers and authority figures? It really depends on the caregiver and how they treat Phoebe. The ones who treat her like she should be wholly independent at her age are going to set themselves up for disappointment, and she will spiral. These will not be strong relationships. The ones who hover over her like she can't possibly be trusted to take care of herself are going to set her up for frustration and disappointment, and she will spiral. Her strongest caregiver relationships will be with those who understand that they may need to prompt her to check her blood sugar but not remind her that she shouldn't partake of a cookie at the party. She knows she can't eat sugar all the time, but she doesn't like sticking herself. There has to be a balance, and with those adults who find the balance for her, the relationships will be strong and satisfying. They might even be able to earn her trust after a while.

For what it's worth, the most interesting scenario for Phoebe is if she encounters a mixture of adults who fit different roles for her.

How do you generally get along with younger residents? Phoebe honestly doesn't have a lot of use for younger residents. It's not personal, except that it is. Like most kids who reach early adolescence while in foster care, she's watched dozens of little kids get adopted while she waits for anyone to give her the time of day. What's the point in getting to know someone who's going to move right back out of the house when they get adopted? Yes, to a certain degree she's resentful, but mostly she understands the math: She's more likely to be here for longer, and she's going to be hurt when someone she likes moves out of the house and she never sees them again. In that respect, what's the point?

How do you generally get along with your peers? Except in specific cases, Phoebe gets along pretty well with people her own age because she is empathetic and understanding. Most of them haven't been through quite what she has, but she knows that they are in a tough situation and she has the experience with foster care to do her best to help them adjust to their situation. Her kindness matters in these situations, and most of the time it helps her to make friends with people in her own age group. The trouble comes in when jealousy arises -- either she will be adopted before some or they will be adopted before her and this can be highly disruptive to her emotional wellbeing. Another factor with her peers is that Phoebe isn't the smartest kid, and this sometimes results in teasing and bullying.

Do you prefer to be adopted or remain in the Orphan Village? Phoebe's dream is to be adopted

Describe your ideal adoptive family. I'm restarting Phoebe but intend for her to go with the same family she's been with before, since it is a damn-near perfect fit

Is there anything else we should know about how you get along in the Orphan Village? Oh yes.

First, Phoebe sometimes knowingly does stupid things that could hurt her. It's not that she's trying to hurt herself, but she gets so tired of being left out of things that once in a while she'll eat something that spikes her blood sugar. While this doesn't usually cause her blood sugar to go dangerously high, it can result in a significant drop in blood sugar later, which is very dangerous for her. She's not exactly doing these things intentionally, but she sometimes does them, knowing the potential outcome, just so that she can fit in with the other kids. It is, therefore, important to ensure that at all times there is a way to keep her involved and include her in things that other kids are doing, without requiring them to meet her at her level. It's not even about meeting one another "halfway." There's no excuse not to provide options for Phoebe alongside regular options for the kids who aren't dealing with her disease.

Second, Phoebe has been waiting to be adopted since she was an infant. Notably, infants in any system tend to get adopted fast, unless there is something wrong with them. While her diabetes wasn't diagnosed until she was two years old, she had health problems as a baby that prevented her from being adoptable. Everyone wants healthy infants, not infants with heart problems or high medical needs, so she went into foster care, where she waited. And waited. There's no reason for her to be a priority placement, especially considering that behind the scenes we know 100% where she's going to go when the time is right, but this reality impacts her behavior, and adults need to be aware that she is going to need a lot more reassurance and work than some other children in the village might.

Background

Describe your history in 150-1000 words: Phoebe entered foster care when she was six months old. Her mother, who she has no memory of at all, left her at the hospital when she was emotionally exhausted from having a child in the NICU for so long. Because Phoebe was medically-complicated, she spent a lot of the next two years in and out of the hospital. At two years old, she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. While her heart had been repaired and she was in better shape, the diagnosis made her complicated for a new reason, and regular foster parents struggled to figure out how to best care for her. She was shuffled around a lot.

Early on, there were two failed adoptions that nearly broke Phoebe. Each time, she went back into foster care feeling worse about herself. Meanwhile, she watched younger children be adopted while she continued to struggle to find anyone who liked her enough to so much as give her a chance. The longer and the more she waited, the more she acted out. The more she acted out, the more she got shuffled from place to place. She might not be the smartest kid, but she was able to put two and two together. Acting out meant that she got shuffled. So she tried even harder. In the end, it made no difference.

After twelve years of struggle, a new social worker finally decided that maybe a change of venue was the best thing for Phoebe, and so she brought her to Birchwood Isle and set her up in the Orphan Village in the hopes that the right parents could be found. If not, at least the Village provided a family atmosphere where Phoebe could potentially thrive.

Other

Is there anything else we need to know about you? Yes. Phoebe is not familiar with corporal punishment and it is going to hit her hard when the first few times do come. Just something worth noting!

Basic Information

Full Name: Nora Jeanine Dawson
Nickname, if Any: Nora
Age: 12
Birthday: April 24
Sex: Female
Pronouns: She/Her
Current Grade in School: 7th Grade
Special Needs: None

Personality

What are your greatest strengths? List 5-10: Curious; optimistic; friendly; creative; compassionate; quick learner; enthusiastic; imaginative; adaptable; honest
What are your greatest weaknesses? List 5-10: gives up easily; low frustration tolerance; impatient; dramatic; competitive; easily distracted; dislikes asking for help; stubborn; easily discouraged; overeager; easily overstimulated
What do you struggle with? Nora struggles to keep going once something stops being fun or easy. She loves learning new things, but the moment she realizes that she isn't immediately good at it, she's quick to convince herself that it means that it isn't for her. She has difficulty finishing projects, sticking with long-term commitments, and pushing through frustration. She knows that she's capable of more than she gives herself credit for, but discouragement takes over quickly.
What are your hobbies or interests? Baking; gardening; woodworking; music; painting; drawing; reading; hiking; various sports; bird watching; learning random facts; collecting rocks and feathers; pressing flowers; trying new crafts
What do you really enjoy? Learning things she's never tried before, spending time outside, helping with projects, baking for someone else, discovering new hobbies, making friends, exploring nature
What do you really dislike? Being bad at something, being watched while she's learning, having to admit that she needs help, needing help, feeling left behind, being compared to someone more experienced, long periods of boredom
What are your favorite things? fresh bread with butter; blueberries; golden retrievers; wild flowers; the sound of rain on a tin roof; oversized hoodies; colored pencils; libraries; campfires; sunflowers; school supply shopping; shopping for things for a new activity or sport; brand new notebooks; sharpened pencils; hardware stores; bird feeders; craft aisles; county fairs; carnivals; funnel cakes
What do you fear? Being left behind. Discovering she isn't good enough. Death of another parent.
Describe your personality in 100-500 words: Nora's the kind of girl who throws herself into new experiences eagerly with wholehearted enthusiasm. Curious by nature, she's always looking for the opportunity to learn a new skill, start a hobby, or volunteer for the next interesting project. She asks endless questions, makes friends easily and has an infectious excitement that often encourages others to join in. Her optimism makes her fun to be around, and she genuinely believes that every new interest might become her next great passion.

Unfortunately, more often than not, Nora's excitement fades almost as quickly as it arrives. The moment she realizes that she isn't immediately good at something, she gets discouraged. She becomes dramatic, begins to insist that she's "just not meant for it", and often tries to walk away before giving herself the chance to improve. It's not laziness, lack of intelligence, or even ability -- she genuinely struggles to believ that mastery comes through practice rather than talent.

Despite her challenges, Nora is kind, thoughtful, and resilient in ways she's usually blind to. She recovers quickly after setbacks, apologizes sincerely when she's wrong, and never stops being curious about the world around her. Underneath her frustration is a very capable young girl who just needs someone to believe in her long enough for her to begin believing in herself. And maybe someone who's willing to hold her accountable for the commitments that she makes and demand follow-through.

Relationships & Behavior

How do you normally get along with adults? Nora generally gets along well with adults. She's friendly, talkative, and enjoys helping with just about anything, especially if it's new. She appreciates adults that are willing to teach her and answer her endless questions. 
How do you normally get along with teenagers? Nora looks up to teenagers and often thinks that they're the coolest people in the room. She curious about what they're doing and enjoys joining in when they'll have her. She can also be a little snoopy. Sometimes she compares herself them too much and becomes discouraged when they seem to "learn" or are better at things than she is.
How do you normally get along with other children? Nora makes friends easily. She's enthusiastic and imaginative, and she's almost always willing to include someone else in whatever she's doing. She enjoys sharing new interests with other children even if she occasionally becomes frustrated if they seem to pick up a skill faster than she can. Fortunately, she bounces back pretty quickly.
How independent are you? Moderately so. After years of moving between different homes, Nora's become adaptable and learns new routines quickly. She doesn't mind doing her own thing, but she's much more confident when she knows someone is nearby if she gets stuck. Asking for help doesn't come naturally once she gets frustrated.
How do you normally react when you get into trouble? Nora's usually aware when she's made a poor decision and doesn't spend much time denying it. If she's still upset about whatever led to the trouble, she might sigh dramatically, complain, argue that something is unfair, or even blurt out, "I don't want to!" Once she realizes the consequence isn't changing, she settles fairly quickly. Afterward, she's usually apologetic and eager to put the whole thing behind her.
Link to your discipline sheet: click here ✅

Orphan Village

How long have you lived at the Orphan Village? Since the beginning of June
Which House do you belong to? Cedar House
What is your grade in school? 7th Grade

How did you come to live in the Orphan Village? After years of moving between relatives and family friends, she was brought to Birchwood Isle and Orphan Village.

Who are your favorite people in the Orphan Village? to be determined
What are your favorite places in the Orphan Village? Science and discovery nook;  the Cedar House workshop; pollinator garden; LEGO and model-building room; music room; work pavilion; swimming pool; volleyball court; the trails
What are your favorite things to do in the Orphan Village? trying new projects; helping in the workshop; baking; exploring; collecting interesting rocks and feathers; craft projects; sports; swimming in the pool; building things; playing board games

How do you get along with caregivers and authority figures in the Orphan Village? Usually pretty well. Nora enjoys adults who are willing to teach her new things and answer her endless questions. Her biggest disagreements usually happen when someone expects her to keep working through frustration instead of moving on to something new
How do you get along with other children in the Orphan Village? She's eager to include others in her projects and activities and is openly friendly, making her easy to get along with.
How do you get along with teenager adolescents in the Orphan Village? She admires them. Maybe a little too much.
How do you get along with young adult adolescents in the Orphan Village? Comfortable. She tends to see them as micro adults, which can be confusing for her sometimes.

Do you hope to be adopted someday? Yes. Nora would love to have a family that she never has to leave and that never leaves her. She's a bit cautious given her past experience, but she still has hope.
Describe your ideal adoptive family. I would like to see Nora in a two-parent household with adults who are willing to allow her to explore her interests but not permit her to quit every time the going gets a little tough. She can be stubborn, and she could use parents who are willing to be both strict and harsh without necessarily holding things over her head and allowing her to work through them. It would be good if they were more physical than gentle, considering that tools such as grounding her only serve to feed her ability to not follow through on her commitments with an excuse of "well my parents said I'm not allowed". I'd like it if she could develop strong relationships, and I'm okay with her having siblings, whether that means joining a family that already has children or teenagers, or them adopting more.

Is there anything else we should know about your life at the Orphan Village? Nora is endlessly curious and approaches life with a ton of enthusiasm. If there's something new to learn, she's all about it. Her greatest challenge isn't finding interests, it's sticking with them.

Background

Describe your history in 150-1000 words: Nora was born into an ordinary family and spent her earliest years believing that life would always stay the way that it was. She remembers bedtime stories, birthday cakes, helping stir cookie batter while standing on a chair, and being told that she could do anything. Those are the memories she clings to when things get tough -- they remind her that she was once loved and how its done.

When Nora was young, her parents died in a car accident. They'd been there and gone in the blink of an eye. Rather than entering the foster system immediately, relatives and close family friends stepped in to take of her. For years, she moved from one home to the next -- first grandparents, then an aunt and uncles, and later a godparent's family.

None of the homes were abusive. Most of the adults genuinely cared about her. The problem was that every time she got settled things would change again. An elderly grandparent's health declined. An aunt accepted a job into another state. A marriage came under strain. One household discovered that adding another child wasn't as easy as they'd hoped. Another simply couldn't continue because of financial hardship. Every move had its own explanation and none of them made much sense to a little girl who only knew that she was packing her things again.

As she grew older, Nora became remarkably good at starting over. She learned how to make friends quickly, adapt to new routines, and settle into unfamiliar homes. She even began to see the moves as a fresh start -- a new bedroom, different rules, and a chance to do better this time. She approached each one with real excitement, convinced that this might finally be the place where everything worked.

Her curiosity flourished wherever she went. She wanted to try everything that caught her attention. One family introduced her to gardening. Another taught her to bake. A neighbor showed her how to fish. Someone tried teaching her to knit. Every new interest became her favorite thing in the world ... right up until it became difficult.

Nora never learned that becoming good at something takes time. Because her life changed so often, she rarely stayed anywhere long enough to develop mastery. She started plenty of hobbies and activities, but few lasted more than a few weeks or months before another move, another disappointment, or her own frustration convinced her to give up. Eventually, she developed a habit of deciding she "just wasn't good at it" whenever something stopped coming easily.

It was through a friend that her godfather had heard about Orphan Village on Birchwood Isle, and he'd genuinely hoped that it would be what she needed -- that they'd be able to provide her with the stability that she didn't have. And he hoped that their system would be better than the failing one in the states. Because she needed consistency, not another series of homes she'd walk away from, discouraged and frustrated.


Other

Is there anything else we need to know about you? Not right now.

Basic Information

Where do you live? Northern Isle
Are you married? If yes, to whom? Yes. To Graham Shepherd
Do you have any children? If yes, list them. Yes (To Be Determined)
Is your family open to adopting children or adolescents? Absolutely. Graham and I have always believed that every child deserves adults who are willing to invest in them wholeheartedly.

Appearance
Height: 5' 8"
Build: athletic, slender
Hair Color: blonde
Eye Color: blue
Distinguishing Features: warm smile, expressive eyes, often wears cardigans or practical dresses to school.
Brief Description: Laurel has the kind of presence that immediately puts people at ease. She smiles easily and carries herself with quiet confidence from years of standing in front of classrooms full of adolescents. While she dresses professionally for work, practicality influences nearly every part of her wardrobe. She wears comfortable shoes, simple jewelry, and clothing she can move freely in.

Outside of school, Laurel has no reason to dress any differently. Jeans, sweaters, boots, and comfortable jackets are staples throughout the year. Whether she's helping in the garden, attending a school function, or cheering from the sidelines at a sporting event, she always looks approachable.

Personality
Strengths: compassionate; patient; fair; organized; encouraging; adaptable; dependable; insightful; calm; honest
Flaws: stubborn; overly determined; agonizing; assertive; critical; self-critical; meddlesome; opinionated
Likes: reading; fresh bread; gardening; coffee; lesson planning; baking; family game nights; hiking; autumn; lighting candles around the house; tea in the evening; everyone gathering around the table; when kids bring her things that they've discovered and ask questions
Dislikes: bullying; cruelty; cheating; disrespect; wasted potential; breaking up fights; parent-teacher conferences due to poor behavior; backchat; public embarrassment; needless dishonesty; half-hearted effort
Vices: dark chocolate
Fears: rip tides and sharks
Personality: Laurel has always believed that education goes well past textbooks and report cards, happening in the little moments as much as the big. Every interaction, success, and mistake presents an opportunity to teach, and she does her best not to waste those. Whether she's explaining a science concept, mediating a disagreement, or addressing misconduct, she approaches each situation with the belief that personal character is developed through everyday lessons and not the handful of life-changing ones.

Years in the classroom have given her an understanding of adolescents. She recognizes the difference between genuine confusion, poor judgment, embarrassment, and deliberate defiance, which allows her to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting emotionally. While she is warm and approachable, her students quickly learn that she isn't permissive. Expectations are communicated clearly, and she follows through consistently when those expectations aren't met.

Outside of school, Laurel's greatest joy comes from her family. She treasures the time that she gets to spend with them, whether that's through shared meals, summer sporting events or even the ordinary routines that create long-lasting memories. She believes that children flourish when they're deeply loved, but also that love sometimes requires difficult conversations and meaningful consequences.

Relationships & Discipline

How do you normally get along with other adults? Very well. Laurel enjoys collaborating with others and believes the best outcomes are achieved when adults communicate openly and support one another. She's approachable, dependable, and values honesty over simply avoiding conflict.
How do you normally get along with teenagers? Exceptionally well. Working with adolescents has been the focus of Laurel's career for many years. She enjoys their curiosity, humor, and growing independence, while recognizing they still need adults willing to provide clear boundaries and consistent guidance.
How do you normally get along with children? Very well. Younger children generally find Laurel approachable and patient. She enjoys encouraging curiosity, celebrating accomplishments, and helping children develop confidence in themselves.
Link to your discipline sheet: click here ✅

Orphan Village

What is your role at the Orphan Village? Grade 6-8 Teacher
Which house or building do you work for? Orphan Village Academy
Do you live in the Village or commute? Commute
Do you have any special training, certification, or skills relevant to your role? Bachelors Degree in Middle School Education, CPR and First Aid certification, classroom management training, curriculum development, adolescent literacy instruction
Do you prefer to work with a particular age group? Which one? Middle school students. Laurel enjoys helping youngsters navigate the transition between childhood and adolescence while encouraging both academic and personal growth.
Do you struggle with a particular age group? Which one? Not particularly. Every age group presents unique opportunities and challenges, though Laurel feels most at home working with middle school students.

Briefly describe your caregiving or mentoring style. Laurel believes children learn best when expectations are clear, consequences are fair, and successes receive just as much attention as mistakes. She emphasizes accountability while remaining approachable, encouraging youngsters to ask questions, think critically about their choices, and learn from their experiences. Whether inside or outside the classroom, her goal is always to teach rather than simply correct.

Describe how you see your role in the village. I see myself as both a teacher and a trusted adult. Every child deserves someone who believes in their ability to grow, even when they struggle to believe it themselves. My classroom is only one part of that responsibility. Whether I'm teaching literature, helping resolve a disagreement, or encouraging a student who's having a difficult week, I hope to provide consistency, encouragement, and honest guidance every day.

Is there anything else we should know about your role in the Village? Because every student at the Academy also lives within the Village, Laurel works closely with caregivers to ensure children receive consistent expectations and support across both school and home. She believes communication between adults is one of the strongest predictors of a child's success.


Background

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Middle School Education
Work History: Laurel spent nearly two decades teaching middle school English and Language Arts before joining the Orphan Village Academy. Throughout her career she became known for maintaining an orderly classroom built upon mutual respect, high expectations, and genuine care for her students.
Current Goals or Challenges: To help every student leave middle school with not only strong academic skills, but the confidence, resilience, and character necessary to thrive throughout the rest of their lives.
Reason for Living on Birchwood Isle: Laurel and Graham were searching for a community where education and caregiving worked hand in hand. Birchwood Isle offered an opportunity to become part of a close-knit group that shared many of the same values they had spent years trying to foster in their own home.
Brief History:

Laurel grew up in a family that valued education, kindness, and personal responsibility in equal measure. Encouraged by several teachers who recognized her natural ability to connect with others, she discovered early that she wanted to spend her life working with young people.

After earning her teaching degree, Laurel began teaching middle school English, quickly discovering that she loved the unique challenges presented by early adolescence. She believed those years represented one of the most important periods of a child's development -- when confidence, character, and lifelong habits were often established. Over time, she's developed a reputation for running an orderly classroom where students feel respected, challenged, and genuinely cared for.

When Graham accepted a position at Birchwood Isle, Laurel immediately recognized the opportunity that it was and looked into positions for herself. The close partnership between teachers, caregivers, and families reflected many of the values she had spent years advocating for in traditional schools. Together they chose to make the Island their home.

Basic Information

Where do you live? Northern Isle
Are you married? If yes, to whom? Yes. To Graham Shepherd
Do you have any children? If yes, list them. Yes (To Be Determined)
Is your family open to adopting children or adolescents? Absolutely. Graham and I have always believed that every child deserves adults who are willing to invest in them wholeheartedly.

Appearance
Height: 5' 8"
Build: athletic, slender
Hair Color: blonde
Eye Color: blue
Distinguishing Features: warm smile, expressive eyes, often wears cardigans or practical dresses to school.
Brief Description: Laurel has the kind of presence that immediately puts people at ease. She smiles easily and carries herself with quiet confidence from years of standing in front of classrooms full of adolescents. While she dresses professionally for work, practicality influences nearly every part of her wardrobe. She wears comfortable shoes, simple jewelry, and clothing she can move freely in.

Outside of school, Laurel has no reason to dress any differently. Jeans, sweaters, boots, and comfortable jackets are staples throughout the year. Whether she's helping in the garden, attending a school function, or cheering from the sidelines at a sporting event, she always looks approachable.

Personality
Strengths: compassionate; patient; fair; organized; encouraging; adaptable; dependable; insightful; calm; honest
Flaws: stubborn; overly determined; agonizing; assertive; critical; self-critical; meddlesome; opinionated
Likes: reading; fresh bread; gardening; coffee; lesson planning; baking; family game nights; hiking; autumn; lighting candles around the house; tea in the evening; everyone gathering around the table; when kids bring her things that they've discovered and ask questions
Dislikes: bullying; cruelty; cheating; disrespect; wasted potential; breaking up fights; parent-teacher conferences due to poor behavior; backchat; public embarrassment; needless dishonesty; half-hearted effort
Vices: dark chocolate
Fears: rip tides and sharks
Personality: Laurel has always believed that education goes well past textbooks and report cards, happening in the little moments as much as the big. Every interaction, success, and mistake presents an opportunity to teach, and she does her best not to waste those. Whether she's explaining a science concept, mediating a disagreement, or addressing misconduct, she approaches each situation with the belief that personal character is developed through everyday lessons and not the handful of life-changing ones.

Years in the classroom have given her an understanding of adolescents. She recognizes the difference between genuine confusion, poor judgment, embarrassment, and deliberate defiance, which allows her to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting emotionally. While she is warm and approachable, her students quickly learn that she isn't permissive. Expectations are communicated clearly, and she follows through consistently when those expectations aren't met.

Outside of school, Laurel's greatest joy comes from her family. She treasures the time that she gets to spend with them, whether that's through shared meals, summer sporting events or even the ordinary routines that create long-lasting memories. She believes that children flourish when they're deeply loved, but also that love sometimes requires difficult conversations and meaningful consequences.

Relationships & Discipline

How do you normally get along with other adults? Very well. Laurel enjoys collaborating with others and believes the best outcomes are achieved when adults communicate openly and support one another. She's approachable, dependable, and values honesty over simply avoiding conflict.
How do you normally get along with teenagers? Exceptionally well. Working with adolescents has been the focus of Laurel's career for many years. She enjoys their curiosity, humor, and growing independence, while recognizing they still need adults willing to provide clear boundaries and consistent guidance.
How do you normally get along with children? Very well. Younger children generally find Laurel approachable and patient. She enjoys encouraging curiosity, celebrating accomplishments, and helping children develop confidence in themselves.
Link to your discipline sheet: click here

Orphan Village

What is your role at the Orphan Village? Grade 6-8 Teacher
Which house or building do you work for? Orphan Village Academy
Do you live in the Village or commute? Commute
Do you have any special training, certification, or skills relevant to your role? Bachelors Degree in Middle School Education, CPR and First Aid certification, classroom management training, curriculum development, adolescent literacy instruction
Do you prefer to work with a particular age group? Which one? Middle school students. Laurel enjoys helping youngsters navigate the transition between childhood and adolescence while encouraging both academic and personal growth.
Do you struggle with a particular age group? Which one? Not particularly. Every age group presents unique opportunities and challenges, though Laurel feels most at home working with middle school students.

Briefly describe your caregiving or mentoring style. Laurel believes children learn best when expectations are clear, consequences are fair, and successes receive just as much attention as mistakes. She emphasizes accountability while remaining approachable, encouraging youngsters to ask questions, think critically about their choices, and learn from their experiences. Whether inside or outside the classroom, her goal is always to teach rather than simply correct.

Describe how you see your role in the village. I see myself as both a teacher and a trusted adult. Every child deserves someone who believes in their ability to grow, even when they struggle to believe it themselves. My classroom is only one part of that responsibility. Whether I'm teaching literature, helping resolve a disagreement, or encouraging a student who's having a difficult week, I hope to provide consistency, encouragement, and honest guidance every day.

Is there anything else we should know about your role in the Village? Because every student at the Academy also lives within the Village, Laurel works closely with caregivers to ensure children receive consistent expectations and support across both school and home. She believes communication between adults is one of the strongest predictors of a child's success.


Background

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Middle School Education
Work History: Laurel spent nearly two decades teaching middle school English and Language Arts before joining the Orphan Village Academy. Throughout her career she became known for maintaining an orderly classroom built upon mutual respect, high expectations, and genuine care for her students.
Current Goals or Challenges: To help every student leave middle school with not only strong academic skills, but the confidence, resilience, and character necessary to thrive throughout the rest of their lives.
Reason for Living on Birchwood Isle: Laurel and Graham were searching for a community where education and caregiving worked hand in hand. Birchwood Isle offered an opportunity to become part of a close-knit group that shared many of the same values they had spent years trying to foster in their own home.
Brief History:

Laurel grew up in a family that valued education, kindness, and personal responsibility in equal measure. Encouraged by several teachers who recognized her natural ability to connect with others, she discovered early that she wanted to spend her life working with young people.

After earning her teaching degree, Laurel began teaching middle school English, quickly discovering that she loved the unique challenges presented by early adolescence. She believed those years represented one of the most important periods of a child's development -- when confidence, character, and lifelong habits were often established. Over time, she's developed a reputation for running an orderly classroom where students feel respected, challenged, and genuinely cared for.

When Graham accepted a position at Birchwood Isle, Laurel immediately recognized the opportunity that it was and looked into positions for herself. The close partnership between teachers, caregivers, and families reflected many of the values she had spent years advocating for in traditional schools. Together they chose to make the Island their home.