Spring 2010

NAPSEC NEWS


Members in the News!

 

Vista

 

Jefferson School

 

Forbush at Glyndon

 

Kennedy Krieger

 

Phillips Programs

 

The Childrens Guild_

 

Little Keswick School

 

Brookfield Schools

 

Strawbridge School/Board of ChildCare

 

SEARCH Day Program

 

Community High School

 

The Pathways Schools

 

HMS School

 

St. Elizabeth School

 

The Foundation Schools

 

Eden Institute

 


Member News

***

News briefs are supplied by member newsletters that are mailed to the office.

 

Make sure to add NAPSEC to your mailing list so we can include your news in the next newsletter!


 

NAPSEC...is the indispensable voice and premier resource

for the private special education community


NAPSEC MEMBER NEWS...


Welcome to NAPSEC's Newest Members!

 

New School of Montpelier, Montpelier, VT

 

Spurwink, Lincoln, RI

 

Sierra Vista Child & Family Services, Modesto, CA


 NAPSEC Is Moving!

The NAPSEC Office will be moving on May 25th to a new location. The office will be closed from May 25th until after Memorial Day to get settled in our new office (May 26, 27, 28. Monday the 31st is a holiday).

 

Our email and website addresses will remain the same, but everything else will change.

Address

601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Suite 900 - South Building

Washington, DC 20004

Phone

202.434.8225



 NAPSEC AFFILIATE MEMBER ADVERTISEMENT!





Vista Vocational & Life Skills Center

Westbrook, CT


Vista Vocational & Life Skills Center

Vista opened its doors in 1989 as an alternative to traditional college education for adults with disabilities and has grown into a dynamic and innovative educational program serving 165 adults. Families, friends and community members, Vista invites you to share in our year long 20th Anniversary celebration. Opening Ceremonies were at Water's Edge Resort on Fall Family Weekend, October 24th & 25th. Saturday morning featured a festival of student/member achievements. Guests traveled throughout the resort viewing various displays – a vocational exhibit featuring the National Wildlife Refuge project, performances by Vista Voices, a Creative Expressions display featuring student/member artwork, crafts, and more. And on Saturday evening, Outreach Program members celebrating 10 years at Vista were recognized. Community Support Awards and the President's Award were also presented.

 

Other celebrations throughout the year include a Thanksgiving dinner exclusively for Vista students/members to bring them together as a group to celebrate their lives and achievements. Vista Voices will again perform at area nursing homes and community events during December. The famous Vista Variety show is scheduled for February at a new and spectacular location. The 20th Anniversary Committee is also planning to publish a Vista yearbook, available in the summer of 2010.


Vista on the Go Meetings

The Vista on the Go meetings have been very successful. Seven Vista families have hosted recep­tions in their homes to date, and Helen Bosch and other Management Team members have traveled to Massachusetts, New York, and around Connecticut to meet with groups of families. Forty families have attended to date. This has been a great opportunity for Vista families to connect with each other and talk about happenings at Vista. The new 5-year strategic plan is described and families are updated on the exciting initiatives that are underway, as well as planned projects and enhancements. Meetings are scheduled in Westchester and Long Island this fall.

 

For more information on Vista Vocational & Life Skills Center go to www.vistavocational.org.

 

Back to Members in the News


The Forbush School at Glyndon

Glyndon, MD


The new greenhouse, which will house our school's horticulture program, run by Mr. John Snadkuhler, is nearing completion. It will be up and occupied by students soon.

 

The school's existing Activities Building presently serves as our indoor gym space with equipment brought in by our physical education teacher, Mr. Warren Goodling. Plans are under way to design and build a new gymnasium on our property adjacent to the main school building, with construction hopefully to begin in the 2011-2012 school year.

 

The school has worked at developing positive relationships with the Glydon community Association held its quarterly meeting in the school's Falcon Nest Restaurant and cafeteria this past November and the Green Spring Valley Garden Club will be hosting a flower show the second week of February.

 

Additionally, the Women's Club of Glyndon is planning to use the school's auditorium for a function this coming spring. A special thanks goes out to Santoni's, the local food market, for donating food for the school staff and movers during our move in a week at the end of June. Even the local police and fire department personnel have been very helpful.

 

For more information on The Forbush School go to www.sheppardpratt.org.

 

Back to Members in the News


The Jefferson School

Jefferson, MD


S.T.A.G.E. Program

The Jefferson School S.T.A.G.E. Program has presented more than 20 live performances since its creation some 11 years ago. Our acronym stands for Student Theatre Arts for Growth and Empowerment. The process of creating a production develops paths to positive connection that have become unavailable or are not often traveled by adolescents with a history of trauma or emotional disturbance.

 

Performance art replicates, in a therapeutically supported and challenging environment, the task of connecting to the deeper self, to others, to one's body, to the community and the greater environment. The positive connection to the community upon completion of a performance teaches the students that they can be noticed and valued by groups of people from whom they have often had a history of profound rejection. Success in the performing arts builds pathways to educational and personal risk and accomplishment.

 

Last year the students present a video version of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Our talented drama students did a superb job bringing the story to life, in many cases doubling roles and taking on new roles at the last minute. Select staff members also joined in as actors, reliving their high school glory days on the stage! The scenes were filmed and then edited into a short movie version of the play. Our version contained a bit of a twist, with Ebeneezer Scrooge becoming Elizabeth Scrooge, played by Meredith L. Brian H. eerily played Marley's Ghost, and then filled in as the boy who fetches the prize turkey on Christmas Day. Matt S. was a cheerful Fred and a frightening Ghost of Christmas Future. Megan J. was a calm and other-worldly Ghost of Christmas Past, and the sweet Martha Cratchit. Tony H. was the long-suffering Bob Cratchit, with Stephanie C. playing his wife.

 

These students were successful in not only offering a holiday gift to the community of the Jefferson School, but also in learning about overcoming the inevitable obstacles that present themselves in life and in art, which is life's reflection. They have much to be proud of and we are grateful to be able to work with them in this venue.

 

For more information on the Jefferson School go to www.thejeffersonschool.org.

 

Back to Members in the News


Kennedy Krieger

Baltimore, MD


KKSP

Within Kennedy Krieger School Programs (KKSP), a cadre of five licensed psychologists, two doctoral level school psychologists, and a psychology associate, provide school-based psychological services at KKSP campuses and our Public School Partnership Program with Baltimore City Public Schools. Their roles are diverse, ranging form direct care to administrative responsibilities. Areas of expertise include behavioral analysis, school psychology and clinical neuropsychology.

 

Services include behavioral and cognitive assessment, functional behavioral assessments (FBA) and neurological evaluations of students whose disabilities range from autism spectrum disorders to intellectual disabilities, to other learning and behavioral disorders. KKSP psychologists collaborate with teachers and staff to design and implement behavioral and academic interventions and provide mental health services through individual and group therapy.

 

KKSP is expanding in its role as a training site for psychologists. The schools host neuropsychology post-doctoral fellows during their rotations and recently provided a doctoral student opportunity to serve rotations at three of their sites include the public school partnerships. In its planning stage is a predoctoral internship for individuals interested in pursuing a career in school psychology.

 

In the fall of 2009, the School Psychology Seminar Series was introduced. Lectures, provided by KKSP psychologists in web-conferences format, offer professional development and continuing education to psychologists, related service providers, instructional staff and trainers associated with Kenney Krieger School Programs and the greater Institute. For information regarding the seminar series contact Dr. John Beetar at beetar@kennedykrieger.org.

 

For more information on Kennedy Krieger go to www.kennedykrieger.org.

 

Back to Members in the News


Phillips Programs

Laurel, MD


College Now

Twelve 2010 seniors are participating in a college course at the Laurel Learning Center "Achieving College Success", a course offered through Prince George's Community College , covers the techniques, skills, attitudes and behaviors associated with effective learning and college success. Topics include test taking memory, study skills, time management and personal goal setting.

 

The seniors find the work challenging and exhibit the level of responsibility commitment and support of each other necessary to be successful in this excellent opportunity. One senior stated, "I'm really glad I got to take this class – its hard and I'm a little anxious, but hey that's college, right!"

 

 For more information on Phillips Programs go to www.phillipsprograms.org.

 

Back to Members in the News


The Children's Guild

Baltimore, MD


Annual Gala Draws Special Guests

Raven's linebacker, Ray Lewis, and his mother, Sunseria "Buffy" Smith, will be recognized on May 8, 2010 by The Children's Guild at their Annual Vabaret for Kids Gala for exhibiting the spirit that makes the seemingly impossible in their live and improving the lives of at-risk children in Baltimore and Ethiopia. The recognition will take the form of a presentation of an original musical theater production of their life story. The production is titled Every Sunday is Mother's Day. The performance is written, produced and performed by Guild children and staff.

 

The Children's Guild opened seven school based mental health programs in Annapolis during the month of January to assist at-risk students in four elementary and two middle schools, and a public charter school. The Children's Guild also expanded its school based mental health program in Baltimore County from Sussex and Colgate Elementary to include Martin Boulevard and Victory Villa elementary schools.

 

For more information on The Children's Guild go to www.childrensguild.org.

 

Back to Members in the News


Little Keswick School

Keswick, VA


Little Keswick Welcomes Its Newest Staff Member!

Little Keswick School is honored to announce the newest staff member to our school community, Barter, a facility assistance dog! After over a year of applications and interviews the school has been awarded the opportunity to receive a facility dog for the school through a nonprofit organization, Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). (www.cci.org). This organization enhances the lives of people by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. The dogs spend six to nine months training with professional CCI instructors at one of five regional training centers. Here, the dogs learn over 40 specialized commands before completing Team Training where they are matched with an adult. Facility dogs work with a professional in an education, visitation or healthcare setting. It is truly a privilege to be selected to receive the facility dog as these animals are the product of years of training and are given to the school free of charge. Barter was matched with the school and his team member, Marc Columbus, during an intensive two-week training program which was completed in February.

 

Facility assistance dogs are specifically trained to work with a wide variety of people. Numerous studies have demonstrated benefits of therapy dogs for our students in particular. We recognize the role a dog will have in helping students build healthy attachments, increased verbal interactions, develop leisure/recreation skills, boost self-esteem, decrease anxiety, reduce loneliness, and improve attention skills. All of these components directly complement the objectives of our Social Emotional Curriculum that focuses on students' Executive Functioning, Competence, Cooperation and Social/Relationship skills. Each student's individual needs and preferences will influence the capacity in which he engages with Barter.

 

Barter will be a huge asset to our program and will benefit: our students in countless ways. Students will be able to assist in daily routines of grooming, exercising, and training. Examples, of trained commands such as "VISIT" and "LAP'" can ' allow for positive and calming interactions between the student and the dog. The dog may come to a student's therapy session, group speech, relaxation classes in OT, help with transitions, morning routines and attend the Community Meeting. Through careful training the CCI facility dog is comfortable working in a variety of environments and with students who may move or interact differently when he is present. At the same time students will naturally verbalize and participate with more enthusiasm in classroom and residential activities. For those that need a social bridge to improved interactions with peers and adults, such support can be provided by shared attention given to - Barter. As CCI describes, .assistant dogs are, "Goodwill ambassadors, and often, best friends as well.  They open up new opportunities and new possibilities and spread incredible joy." Woof! Woof!

 

For more information on the Montgomery Academy go to www.littlekeswickschool.net.

 

Back to Members in the News


Brookfield Schools

Cherry Hill, NJ


Brookfield Schools Earns National Accreditation

Brookfield Schools is pleased to announce that have been accredited for the next four years by the National Commission for the Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). With this accreditation, Brookfield joins a very elite group of private special education schools in the country and becomes the only private special education school in southern New Jersey to hold this honor.

 

This thorough and comprehensive process of national standards-based accreditation assures that students are provided an environment that is healthy, safe, comfortable and conducive to learning. Five site reviewers from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and Rhode Island conducted an on-site visit for three days, observing classes and the over all operation of the schools, as well as reviewing the documentation for the 260 required standards.

 

"We're very proud to have met the rigorous standards required in the NCASES accreditation to earn this distinguished recognition," said Dorothy K. Van Horn, Ed. D., Executive Director and Superintendent. "It is a reflection of the hard work and dedication that the entire Brookfield staff, administration and board of trustees put forth to benefit our students."

 

For more information on the Brookfield Schools go to www.brookfieldschools.org

 

Back to Members in the News


Strawbridge School - Board of Child Care

Baltimore, MD


Thomas Curcio Honored for Contribution to Alliance Board

The Board of Directors of the Alliance for Children and Families recently honored the Board of Child Care's President and CEO. Thomas Curcio, for his years of service on the Board, completed at the end of 2009. The alliance is a national advocacy group representing more than 360 nonprofit child and family serving organizations. Mr. Curcio served the maximum of three terms on the Alliance Board. Each term was for three years. He also served as the Board's secretary for an additional one-year term, serving the Board a total of 10 years. 


Ways to Work Program Recognized As "Outstanding"

The Board of Child Care's Ways to Work office in Baltimore has been recognized as one of the Most Outstanding New Programs among the 32 Ways to Work sites nationwide.

 

The Board of Child Care's Ways to Work program was one of 16 sites awarded national recognition and a $2,500 grant by Ways to Work, Inc. at the 11th Annual Ways to Work Institute in Milwaukee. The Performance Awards recognize local Ways to Work affiliates that have shown exceptional performance, particularly in new loan production and successful management of clients. Clients use the low-interest loans primarily to purchase reliable, used cars to better manage work and family obligations

 

Since the Board of Child Care opened the Baltimore Ways to Work office in 2008, 52 families have received loans. "We are thrilled to be a recipient of this award," said Thomas Curcio, BCC President and CEO. "The grant will help us continue to work to help more low-income families purchase cars so they can get to their jobs and keep moving their families up the economic ladder."

 

For more information on Strawbridge School - Board of Child Care go to www.boardofchildcare.org.

 

Back to Members in the News


SEARCH Day Program

Ocean, NJ


Collaboration at its Best

Search Day Program offers an ongoing home support program to all of our families throughout the school year. Parents receive programming sessions that assist the families with generalization of skills in the areas of socialization, communication and the reduction of challenging behaviors in the home and community with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Given all of the challenges families face with busy schedules and responsibilities, our parents continue, as always, to place their children in the forefront and other matters may be temporarily set aside to facilitate productive, natural learning opportunities to ensure the happiness and success of their families.

 

Over the years, it has been truly remarkable to see the dedication and eagerness that all of the parents have demonstrated with the design and implementation of their programs. Participation by each family requires a personal commitment and a great amount of time to carry out the programs. In most cases, families participated in every aspect of the program from initial assessment, data collection, in-person or phone meetings and problem solving throughout the weeks. Following a review of behavioral principles and development of the program, the families continued to apply their knowledge to the specific goals and to other areas.

 

Some of the skills that our parents have practiced and then generalized with their children include toilet training, appropriate behavior in stores and restaurants, introduction of new foods, flexibility within meal time and other valuable daily living skills to promote independence. Parents used behavioral strategies including a variety of motivational systems, systematic prompting and shaping. Parents also practiced additional behavioral methods including extinction, recognition of setting events and recognizing the need for modifications to the environment for productive change.

 

It has been exciting to observe the change over time that has occurred collaborating with our families in their homes and in the community. Search Day Program is so very proud of our parents; their continuing hard work and dedication in assisting their children lead their lives with independence, dignity, respect and happiness. 

 

For more information on SEARCH Day Program go to www.searchdayprogram.com.

 

Back to Members in the News


Community High School

Wickatunk, NJ


United for Service Club

There is no more popular extra=curricular activity or club at Community High School than our United for Service (UFS) club. UFS is a nationwide "fraternity" based organization whose members .dedicate their time and talent to service-oriented projects. The fraternity aspect was incorporated into UFS' founding to develop. a closer unity among members.

 

How does UFS work? Candidates first demonstrate their sincere interest in the organization and once inducted as members, strive to fulfill the UFS mission of service to their communities. The club's stated mission is to assemble high school students  into a service club in the fellowship of principles derived from national service organizations, to develop leadership, to promote friendship, to be of service to humanity, and to fulfill each student's educational and intellectual duty. In seeking to reach these goals, all efforts of United for Service members are reinforced by these words "I will make actual what others think impossible. I prepare myself for a journey like

no other".

 

Under the direction of Community High School English teacher Cheryl Pettway, our students have done just that. United for Service club meets at school often during the school day; sometimes on weekends, sometimes after school.-They elect officers, run meetings, write out their minutes and then together choose a:various number of projects and charities to assist throughout the year. The club is regularly being renewed with new members and fresh ideas. UFS invites new members to join once a year. Prospective members are required to demonstrate their sincerity and dedication by exhibiting exceptional educational performance and social responsibility in and out of school. New members will meet with current UFS members to express their interests and goals, and all students must also attend a welcoming meeting, where they meet and greet new members. The student body is then informed via postings on the UFS bulletin board of the additions to the club.

 

Since it's inception in 2005, UFS has raised money and participated in the Walk for Awareness to. benefit breast cancer research on three occasions, visited with and decorated the living spaces of senior citizens, collected supp1ies for American soldiers in Iraq, raised money for the AIDS epidemic in Africa, assisted Habitat for Humanity in building new homes,. collected and bundled food together with the Wycoff Food Pantry, worked together with students from other high schools at the Center for Food Action food bank in Hackensack, donated: money to the Smile Train to assist with cleft palate corrective surgeries, sponsored a holiday letter drive for American soldiers in Iraq, and participated in the Relay for Life walk to benefit cancer research. A very impressive set of accomplishments that continues throughout the school year:

 

This year's, activities include donations of time and money to:

  • Breast Cancer Walk

  • Habitat for Humanity building homes

  • Park Clean-up

  • Coat Drive

  • Food Drive

  • River clean-up

  • Flower Sale

  • Shelter Our Sisters

  • Soup kitchen

  • Donors Choose org charity, and there will be more to follow.

Our United for Service students aggregate work is certainly formidable and is worthy of great respect. United for Service is truly a terrific component of Community High School's contributions to so many New Jersey charities.  We are proud of Community High Schools .United for Service chapter and all of its student members for a job well done!

 

For more information on the Community High School go to www.communityschool.nj.org

 

Back to Members in the News


The Pathways Schools

Silver Spring, MD


Pathways Students Attend Obama Health Care Rally at University of Maryland

Five students from The Pathways School-Northwood, accompanied by two Pathways staff, went on September 17, 2009 to hear President Obarna speak about health care reform at the University of Maryland's basketball arena. The students, all juniors or seniors, had hoped to hear Obama speak last year at a rally during the campaign, but were unable to attend. When the invitation arrived for Marylanders to attend the open health care forum this fall, the students did not want to pass up the chance to go. It was an opportunity to see and hear the President, learn more about the health care reform issue, experience democracy in action, and practice social skills in a large, community setting.

 

The group left from Pathways-Northwood shortly after school began to go to the University of Maryland, where they joined many thousands of people in line to attend the rally. Upon their return, the students voiced their reactions:

 

"It was awesome - my first time seeing [Obama] that close. It was great seeing everyone happy to see our President. I felt he was truthful about what he said...It surprised me that the audience was very racially mixed. He captured everyone's attention. He thanked us at the end."

 

"I have never seen a president speak. The atmosphere, crowd and environment was good. It was worth the wait."

 

"It was mesmerizing. I never saw anything like it. Not many get to see the President and to be chosen to do so was amazing. Every word he said made me feel like there is some great change that is going to happen and that with him leading us it will be a good change- I appreciated the two staff taking me....It was fantastic, the best thing I've ever done, I will never forget it."

 

"It was exhilarating and inspiring to hear that a girl who spoke will be able to get medication for her health problems. I was so glad I was able to see Obama, especially since I was not able to vote for him. We even did the wave for him."

 

For more information on The Pathways Schools go to  www.pathwaysschools.org.

 

Back to Members in the News


HMS School

Philadelphia, PA


HMS Merits Department of Public Welfare Certification

HMS's residential program has earned certification by Pennsylvania's Department of Public Welfare, Division of Youth and Families, recognizing the school's compliance with DPW requirements and capacity to meet students' needs. DPW's formal recognition is particularly significant when out-of-state- families and their school districts consider an HMS placement and seek objective evaluation of the residential program.

 

Dee Avegnon, who has been named Director of Residential Services, led the process that involved several levels of evaluation, site visits by DPW representatives and detailed paperwork. Certification insures that employees in the residence meet state standards and that their employment and training records are in order. DPW evaluates the programs ability to meet students' needs and that all procedures are in place for each resident's Individual Service Plan. It also evaluates the physical site for comfort and safety standards such as adequate space and emergency evacuation plans.

 

Ms. Avegnon says that while the two-year certification effort was time consuming, it was eased by the fact that HMS had already formalized its internal policies and procedures for the residence at a level that exceed DPW standards. HMS's policies encompass not only students' safety and comfort, but also lay out a residential plan for practicing skills and for enjoying a high quality of residential life.


WHYY TV's Spot Featuring HMS to Air in May

WHYY TV's Arts and Culture Experience spot featuring the HMS dance/movement therapy program is now scheduled to air between May 17 and May 30. The two-and-a-half minute video will be shown several times during the two-week period, typically close to the hour and half-hour breaks between regular programming.

 

WHYY filmed HMS dance/ movement therapist Rachel Federman-Morales last year as she worked with students and also filmed a performance of the after-school dance collaborative project held at the Painted Bride Art Center.

 

Closer to the airing date, HMS may be able to learn exact times that the sport will appear and will notify our readers. Once the spot airs, it will become part of WHYY'S on-line video library at:

 http://video.whyy.org/program/1100712934 - that visitors can view at their leisure. 


HMS Hosts Professional Symposium in September

HMS will present a one-day symposium for special education professionals, "Serving All Our Students: Meeting the Needs of the Child with Complex Disabilities" on September 28, 2010 from 8:30am to 4:15pm at PaTTAN's King of Prussia facilities. The program will draw on the expertise of HMS staff, school district superintendants, directors and supervisors of special education, direct service providers and parents of children with special needs.

 

Ron Cowell, President of the Education Policy and Research Center, will offer keynote remarks. Annie Steinberg, pediatrician and child and adolescent psychiatrist, will speak at lunch. Program sessions will explore working models to support students in varied settings by bringing services to the student; collaborating to keep the medically fragile student in school, regardless of the placement; and finding the appropriate placement where the needs of a child with multiple disabilities can be met in a coordinated way.

 

For further information, please contact Suzanne Zimmermann, 215.222.2566 or suzannez@hmsschool.org.

 

For more information on HMS School go to www.hmsschool.org.

 

Back to Members in the News


St. Elizabeth School

Baltimore, MD


Special Guest Graces SES

Ms. Minako Murakami, a teacher in Japan, has come to St. Elizabeth School this fall and is volun­teering as a classroom intern with Mr. Robert Galassi's high school science classes and his senior homeroom. Ms. Murakami taught for Japanese Intern,
 

Ms. Minako Murakami eight years in Japan in schools for students with special needs - first in a special school for students with physical, cognitive, and emotional needs; and then in a special high school for students with cognitive and emotional needs, including students with autism.

 

Ms. Murakami took a leave from teaching last spring to visit schools for students with special needs in Australia, France, and Germany_ While visiting those schools, she taught Japanese language, letters and cultural arts,-such as Origami and calligraphy in regular and special education classes. The students enjoyed her classes very much!

 

Ms. Murakami is happy now to be here at SES where, so far, she is observing and learning about our students and our educational methods and policies. When she returns to Japan, she will either return to teaching or continue her research at the university comparing special education services in Japan with those services in other countries.

 

When not in the classroom, Ms. Murakami likes sports, especially badminton and volleyball, reading books with pictures to children, and singing. Ms. Murakami is enriching our school with her presence and at the end of her visit, will share her experiences and observations with our staff. We are glad she is here at SES.

 

For more information on St. Elizabeth School go to www.stelizabeth-school.org

 

Back to Members in the News


The Foundation Schools

Rockville, MD


The Buddy System is Always Best!
Buddy Reader. Program Gets Underway at the Largo Campus

Many of our students have fully diagnosed: learning: disabilities: or learning deficits and come to us reading well below grade level Reading: is at the core of both academic and, personal success: We are committed to improving: the academic experience for all our students, especially by increasing their literacy-skills. A 45-minute reading class is provided each school day to all students in need of: intervention and the progress we have seen as a result has been .impressive with many  students improving up to two-grade levels during, the course of a year.

 

To augment our literacy efforts; the Foundation School, in Largo has begun a Buddy Reader program. Over the semester, four high school students have volunteered to be a buddy. Reader for the students in the Elementary School's youngest classroom. The. program is beneficial to both the older and younger students. The older students get to -hone their oral literacy skills and. earn Student Service Learning credit, while the younger students become excited about reading by hearing the wonderful stories and getting extra attention from the high school students.

 

Our community can be a "buddy" to our Largo campus library! The library is expanding its efforts in serving the school's older students by establishing: a "TeenZone"' in the media- center. A small sofa; chair, and rug are needed, as well - as novels and magazines appropriate for teens: If you have any of these gently used items that you would like to donate; please contact: Jo-Anne-Foster at JFoster@fs-dms.org.

 

For more information on the Foundation Schools go to www.foundationschools.org

 

Back to Members in the News


Eden Institute

Princeton, NJ


New York Schools Purchase Eden Curriculum

This past fall, New York's Board of Education strict 75 purchased 40,000 worth of Eden Autism Services curriculum. District 75 is New York's Special Education district and covers all 5 counties of New York. The Eden Curriculum is a comprehensive series of teaching programs that address essential skill areas such as cognitive, self care and domestics, speech and language, vocational, physical education, recreation and leisure, employment and residential living. Eden's curriculum will be used to help educate the 5,600 children with autism in District 75.

 

Eden's Director of Outreach & Support, Nina Finkler, recently conducted her first training for administration and staff. She says that initial feedback of the curriculum has been positive and the staff is very excited about integrating the lessons into the classroom.

 

The decision to purchase the Eden Curriculum was made this past July at the Annual Autism Society National Conference and Exposition, where Finkler met with Stephanie McCaskell, Instruction Supervisor for the Office of Autism in NY.

 

In addition to the curriculum purchase, Eden will be conducting ongoing professional development trainings and workshops with the district.

 

"We are delighted to have made such an impression upon this district," says Finkler. "We look forward to working closely with the faculty and helping to make a difference in the lives of the district's more than 5,000 children with autism."

 

For more information on Eden go to www.edenservices.org.


A Garden Grows at Eden Florida

"Do you have a green thumb?" For the students at Eden Florida the answer is yes! Eden students have undertaken an exciting new venture as urban farmers with the creation of an organic garden located behind Spanbauer house, Eden Florida's first community residence for adults with autism. The land has been converted into a full production organic farm with eight 100-foot rows in production with items such as kale, mustard greens and lettuce.

 

With help from adviser John Puig, president of the Collier County Fruit Growers Association, Eden students have been coming out once a week for instruc­tion on planting, cultivating, harvesting, and simple steps in organic farming. Eden Florida has been negotiating to sell prod­ucts from the garden to area restaurants and businesses. The Jolly Cricket, a new restaurant in Naples that features organic greens on their menu, recently accepted its first delivery. ''Their executive chef said it's the best greens he's had since he left Cali­fornia," says Eden Florida Interim Director Lauren Lovell, "We're very proud of what we're producing."

 

According to Lovell, the students love the farm project. Working on the farm has helped them gain a better understanding of how food is made. Soon Eden Florida adult participants will be brought to the garden to learn the steps in rinsing and washing the organic greens, and then boxing and shipping to the restaurant. "It's great from a learning perspective, and it will be even greater if it will start to produce some revenue," Lovell says.

 

For more information on Eden go to www.edenservices.org.

 

Back to Members in the News



 

 

Back to Members in the News


Return to NAPSEC's Main Page