Higashi Highlights - Summer 2018 by Boston Higashi School

Higashi Higashi Highlights

Summer 2018

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From job sites to field trips, learning moves outdoors in the summer months, providing more opportunities for community learning - and fun! www.bostonhigashi.org • Helping children with autism exceed expectations since 1987 • (781) 961-0800

The Principal’s Perspective

A Message from th

“Guts and glory; grit and grace. We have what it takes to be

I would like to thank everyone for joining take this opportunity to welcome all of ou Higashi strong!”

This is a special year as the Boston Higashi S

In the book “The POWER OF MOMENTS” Chip and Don Heath talk about defining have passedmoments quickly so please allow me, on as meaningful experiences that stand out in our memory. This truly applies to the life appreciation to and all staff, past and present, School’s times at Higashi for students, families, and staff. As I reflect on this school year,establishment, I can say withgrowth and succe this organization and it is a pleasu confidence that many memorable moments happened during this yearpart thatofmet the criteria to have faithfully served the Boston Higashi S be called epic moments. These moments contained “Elevation- they rose above the ordinary; Pride- they captured us at our best moments of courage and achievements; Insightthey gave Our staff has worked with great diligence overcome many us new understanding or ourselves and others in our world; and Connectionthey werechallenges social to perform in their performance and look forward to th and shared with others.” All of our endeavors with our students were driven by purpose and breaking the barriers of autism and achie passion. We always aspire for our kids to understand that they are capable of contributing to others and that their tion to our supporters and benefactors, f efforts can have a broader meaning beyond the task at hand. school and our mission. Please enjoy the 25th Annual Celebration!

During classroom lessons, preparation and rehearsal times for our Road Race, Annual Celebration, and Bon Dance, as well as all the community outings, special division events, and Family Day in our residence,Sincerely, our staff had the opportunity to “surface milestones that might have gone unnoticed.” All staff have their personal stories about working diligently with our kids and seeing firsthand a triumph over failure, gains made through repetitious practice and encouragement, and students cheering and encouraging each other in both subtle and not so subtle ways. These are the reasons that we teach using our own Daily Life Therapy®. We know that there is possibility and promise in every student and that they can stretch beyond their current capacities. The act of striving does not necessarily guarantee success, but it does guarantee learning. It is my joy to welcome you to the 2012 A

A Message from th gether. It is the 25th Annual Celebration

this schoolyear year is CELEBRATE. We hav This year marked the culmination of our 30th Anniversary Year celebrations. We launched ourfor celebratory legacy of our founder, Dr. Kitahara, and th hosting our founding teachers from Japan. There were many special memories and moments shared. The triumphs to the enduring and sustaining friendship and tribulations over the course of our school’s “beginning” and “becoming” years are pivotal acknowledge in our evolution, and our alumni and their familie set the trajectory to our current status as a leader in educating children and young adults withWe autism spectrum cherish our students, families and frie differences that we are proud of today.

Our performance today will touch your h age, and talents. You will not only be en In closing, I offer my thanks to all members of the Boston Higashi School community and all our generous benefactors motto in action. We challenge our stude and supporters. We appreciate all of you far more than words could ever express. We remain proud andand honored to we all work tog potential know when educate students with autism respecting their unique traits and qualities. We are steadfast in continuing to being lead the Thank you for with us today. On wi

way in making autism just another way of being in the world, while creating more epic moments everyone along Bestfor Regards, the way.

Deborah Donovan Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS SEPT 26

PARENTS NIGHT 6:30 - 8:00pm @ Higashi

OCT 13

For the latest news and events, visit our website at www.bostonhigashi.org

Class Notes

LOOK FOR THE HELPERS Elementary Division learned about “helping each other” through our Community Helpers Unit, and wrapped up our topic with a capstone field trip - we visited the Randolph Fire Station! Students enjoyed spraying water with a hose, and exploring the inside of the ambulance. Now we know how to be nice community citizens, help our friends, and be ready to show off our kindness in the upcoming new school year!

WHERE IN THE WORLD? The Middle School Division hosted their annual World Fair on July 20th. The travel itinerary included Uganda, South Korea, Nepal, and Mexico. For this unit, each class selected a country and studied its culture, language and geography. Students tried on costumes, played instruments, made cultural crafts, and sampled cuisine including samosas, kim chi, bean soup and guacamole. The students enjoyed jet-setting from class to class and appreciating each other’s work.

SCIENCE COMES ALIVE This summer the EP Division went on a field trip to the Museum of Science in conjunction with their academic unit based on science experimentation. They enjoyed themselves immensely, visiting the planetarium and traveling around the solar system (sitting through a 40 minute show)! They visited many different exhibits including planets, electricity, birds, dinosaurs and of course space! Great job, Emergence!

THE CIRCLE(S) OF LIFE! This semester High School students learned about various life cycles. High School A & D class learned about the life-cycle of a plant, High School C class learned about the life cycle of a butterfly, and High School B class students learned about the life-cycle of a chicken. The students were very excited to watch the fascinating process of metamorphosis, watching our caterpillars grow into butterflies. They also enjoyed checking the chicken eggs each day for signs of new life. On June 14th our chick hatched and with the result of High School B class’s vote, she was named Pop Pop.

SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY The Junior High Division has been studying about community safety since break.

returning

from

June/July

We have been practicing

what we have been learning in the classroom, and applying our knowledge in the community on various field trips. Junior High is really enjoying their community trips, which have included Castle Island and the World War I Memorial Park, where we were able to walk the trail and feed the animals. Learning is fun in the summer sun!

Residential Reflections Residential Pool Party - The Residence is splashing through summer! Splish, splash, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for a pool party bash here at the Residential Program! Students came in and soaked up the rays with their families and friends. This summer journey began with all divisions identifying the date and time along with the best part - their choice of the pizza! Then all divisions were full speed ahead in the preparation by fine-tuning their swimming skills, rehearsing prerequisite drills for swimming, setting dates and communicating with their parents. The day came for each division and every suit was in place! Rain or shine, parents and siblings streamed into the pool ready to party, Higashi style! All in attendance first had at least 45 minutes of free swim followed by a sumptuous table laid by the poolside to end the party with a blast! At the BHS Residential program, all we can say to the parents and staff is, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bravo!!â&#x20AC;? for your dedication and unrelenting support by giving our students yet another memorable summer.

FAMILY DAY MEMORIES Our 20th annual Family Day began with a cookout. Whether on or off campus, all students and families enjoyed some BBQ., but this year, Emergence Program boys and girls went out to Powers Farm, right next to our school for their tasty BBQ lunch. After satisfying our stomachs, each division followed their schedule; swimming, taking a hay ride, horseback riding, and getting a snack at the Snack Stand. This year each division also played a division fun activity - kickball, disc golf, dodgeball, soccer and volleyball - not only to have fun, but to show their progress and what they can do with their family when at home. Our day ended with our traditional summer concert with Ken. We really want to thank everyone who spent the time with us and thank you to all our staff to make the day so special! See you next year!

Greetings from the Parent Association! New Board Members for a New School Year!

Parent Perspectives

The Parent Association wrapped up another busy year at Higashi. We were present and involved in all the major events of the school year. There is so much behind the scenes work that goes into each event and none of it would be possible without the help of parent volunteers! Thank you to each and every one of you! One of our favorite events to work on is Staff Appreciation. The purpose is acknowledge the amazing staff here at Higashi. We think you would agree with us that we hold all of them in such high regard, have much respect for them, and value their dedication to each one of our students. It is because of what they do on a daily basis for our children that we enjoy showing our appreciation. The Parent Association board had some changes during the school year. We would like to acknowledge Kathy Sidlauskas for her relentless support. She selfeshly assumed the role of President, Vice President and Treasurer in order to keep things running smoothly. Thank you Kathy! The school theme for the 2018-2019 school year is “Be Brave!” Let us carry that theme with us every day while we continue on our journey together at Boston Higashi School. As we prepare for the upcoming year please keep in mind that all parents are members of the parent association. We welcome you to help out at any event, and appreciate and value your input at any time. Keep your eyes open for our e-mails, they contain very important information you won’t want to miss. We’re pleased to announce the Parent Association Board for the 2018-2019 school year: President: First Vice President: Second Vice President: Out-of-State Vice President:

Jill Gichuhi Diane Cafarelli James Glanville Pamela Glatter

Treasurer: Assistant Treasurer: Corresponding Secretary: Recording Secretary:

Whitney Whinnery Lisa Harris Christine Walker Kate DeVane

As a parent group, we come from near and far and we all have busy and demanding lives. We do share a strong common thread that connects us: we are parents of children with autism. We know what it means to “be brave” each and every day!

Announcing our 2018 Higashi Gala:

“Celebrating Friendships” Preparations are well underway for the 4th Annual Higashi Gala “Celebrating Friendships”. As always, the event will be held on the Thursday before Sports Day, allowing the opportunity for our out-of-state and out-of-country families to participate in both events. As we “Celebrate Friendships” we look to honor two great friends, Peter Dennis, Vice President of Business Development at Liberty Bay Credit Union, and Don Lonergan, Principal of DRL Architects. Their contributions over the past several years have made a significant impact on the growth and development of our school, our staff, and our students.

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Mr. Dennis and his team have worked closely with our staff, and that relationship has evolved to become a very important component of our employee benefit package. Mr. Lonergan has been the pro-bono architect of three major projects at the school; the Culinary Arts Kitchen, Marble Hall, and the recently completed third floor classroom project.

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Daily Life Therapy Sponsor - $25,000 20 tickets (2 tables with option of gifting 1 table to BHS staff), name and logo on screen at the event, in program book, on the website, in the newsletter and membership to the Kitahara Society Aquatics Sponsor - $10,000 20 tickets (2 tables with option of gifting 1 table to BHS staff), name and logo on screen at the event, in program book, on the website, in the newsletter and membership to the Kitahara Society Culinary Sponsor - $5,000 10 tickets (1 table) name and logo on screen at the event, in program book, on the website, in the newsletter and membership to the President’s Circle

As always, we look forward to an action packed evening lead by the witty and insightful David Wade, our fabulous Jazz Band, a great silent and live auction and some compelling comments from our Executive Director, Mike Kelly. We thank you all for your continued support, your encouragement and most importantly, your faith in our work, which allows us to successfully meet the challenge of serving students and young adults with autism. We look forward to seeing you all on October 11th for evening of inspiration, celebration and cheer. Thank you for all you do!

Sponsorship Opportunities Symphony Sponsor - $2,500 6 tickets, listing on screen at the event, in program book, on the website and in the newsletter Visual Arts Sponsor - $1,000 4 tickets and listing on screen and in the program book Fitness Sponsor - $500 2 tickets and listing on screen and in the program book Individual Tickets - $150 each

7 Good Friends & Neighbors

Development News

Teamsters Bring their Big Rig and 100 Smiles to Higashi On a glorious Tuesday morning in late July a giant tractor trailer adorned with a giant Teamsters Local 25 logo pulled up to the rear of the school. To the surprise of everyone, none other than Teamsters President and CEO, Sean O’Brien was behind the wheel. Sean got his start with the Teamsters as a driver, eventually became a Driving Instructor working his way up to his current position. The truck was here as a gift from the Teamsters, so that all our students would have the opportunity to sit in the driver’s seat, explore the cab and parade through the trailer which was set up as a conference room for union meetings. The weather was beautiful, the students were all excited and the experience was “one of a lifetime.” Thank you Teamsters for all you do for us and for families and kids all across New England impacted by autism.

Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association (MCMA) was founded in 1795, with Paul Revere as its first president, and incorporated in 1806. Its founding members had met initially to address the problem of runaway apprentices, but ultimately established MCMA as an organization committed to promote the mechanical arts and provide funds for members’ widows and families. Over the years their focus has changed and today their grants help to provide employment opportunities for the disabled, or use vocational training and workshops as a key part of their programs in developing the potential of physically or developmentally disabled individuals. The Association has been extremely generous to the students of the Boston Higashi School and over four year span have helped to fund all the appliances in the Culinary Arts Kitchen, the carport, washer and dryer and cabinetry for the Auto Detailing Center and all the shelving, cabinetry and lighting in our beautiful School Store. We recently received our fourth grant from MCMA to fund a complete Whiteboard System for our Emergence Program. Who would ever think that an Association started by Paul Revere could be so kind and supportive some 200 plus years later? Thank you for all you do for us!

Higashi Scores again with the Boston Bruins Foundation For the fourth consecutive year the students of the Boston Higashi School have scored again with our local hockey team. The Boston Bruins Foundation has awarded the school a $5,000 grant to purchase equipment for a new sensory motor/play room for our youngest students. Access to such a room would help our younger students who are growing in numbers, to maintain self-regulation, improve attention, facilitate communication, and provide age appropriate outlets for energy diffusion, in order to prepare the body for learning. The room would also become a valuable tool as we explore the possibilities of Early Childhood Programming, taking in student’s ages 3-5 years old.

Campus Happenings Stay an active part of the Higashi Community, and never miss an alumni event!

Mitsui U.S.A. Foundation Awards 14 Scholarships to the Boston Higashi Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Continuing Adult Education Program (CAEP) We are delighted to announce that once again, thanks to the very generous contribution of Mitsui U.S.A. Foundation, need-based scholarships have been awarded to 14 students, enabling them to participate in the CAEP Program for two full semesters beginning this September! Last year they generously supported our program with 10 need-based scholarships, and we are thrilled that this year an additional four scholarships were made available to our alumni. There is a huge need for quality adult service programming, regardless of family income level, and we are thankful that the support we have received from Mitsui U.S.A. can help fill that need for so many alumni families.

The Mitsui USA Foundation is the charitable arm of Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), and the parent company is one of the largest general trading companies in Japan. The Mitsui U.S.A. Foundation was established in 1987. Thank you, Mitsui U.S.A.! - Yoshie Gordon, Development and Corporate Relations

Just a Summer Fling

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Higashi Alum Carmine DeCicco’s Band Goes on a European Summer Tour! Most of you have seen Carmine DeCicco, Higashi Jazz Band’s talented bassist, perform during Higashi events, but did you know he is in a band of his own? The Higashi Alum turned Staff Member is also the lead singer of the band Seax (the name comes from a weapon commonly used by the Saxons as far back as the 5th Century). Their style of music is reminiscent of 80s thrash/speed metal (think Metallica, Slayer, Exciter, Overkill, etc). Carmine (photo at top right, center) and Seax spent 3 weeks this summer on a European tour - the first for the band. The trip spanned 11 countries, and included 21 cities like Paris, London, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Prague, to name a few. “We generally tour once or twice a year.” said DeCicco. “The priority now is branching out to other areas so we only play locally a few times a year.” When asked about his favorite non-musical part of the trip, DeCicco reminisced “Hard to choose just one, but I really enjoyed seeing the Arnold Schwarzenegger museum in his childhood home in Thal, Austria. There was also Vlad The Impaler’s prison in Budapest. Oh, and the celebrations all around Paris the night France made it to the World Cup finals (photo right). There wasn’t a quiet place in the entire city!” Sounds like an amazing trip, Carmine! Thanks for sharing your musical talents with not only the Higashi community, but also the world!

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To see more event photos, “Like” us on Facebook!

Photos 1-6: Annual Celebration; photos 7-10: Alumni Brunch; photos 11-15: Sibling Day; photos 16-19: Bon Dance Festival

Community Connections Beautiful Music Thanks to Yamaha Corporation of America A big “Thank You” to Yamaha for helping our Jazz Band continue to make beautiful music! Their recent donation of an alto saxophone, a tenor saxophone, and a trumpet, have allowed our students even more opportunity to practice their skills and further their musical development. Music truly is a universal language that brings out the best in everyone. Where words fail, music speaks. Thank you to Ian Wudyka, District Manager of Northeast U.S., Yamaha Corporation of America, and renowned jazz trumpet player Tiger Okoshi, Professor at the Berklee College of Music for making this happen, and joining us at our 31st Annual Celebration where the instruments made their debut performance! Photo above, from left to right: Kaname Ueno, Higashi Jazz Band Director; Tiger Okoshi, Professor at the Berklee College of Music; Ian Wudyka, District Manager of Northeast U.S., Yamaha Corporation of America; Mike Kelly, Executive Director, Boston Higashi School

Boston Higashi School Partners with AccessSportAmerica, the John A. Scileppi Foundation and the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children Thanks to a grant from the John A. Scileppi Foundation, students from the Boston Higashi School were able to enjoy five weeks of water activity at Reservoir Pond on the grounds of the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children in Canton. In partnership with AccessSportsAmerica students were able to experience canoeing on a Hawaiian outriggers, paddle boarding and windsurfing. AccessSportAmerica, a national non-profit organization inspires higher function and fitness for children and adults living with challenges and disabilities through high-challenge sports and training. Their programs are designed to promote each person’s highest physical and athletic potential while cultivating social, cognitive, and emotional well-being. They seek to create a community where differences are diminished, blurred and often erased. The John A. Scileppi Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the needs of disabled children and adults. The Foundation is named for Jake Scileppi and was established as a way for Jake, as a severely disabled person, to help others like him. The Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children provides medical, rehabilitative, educational, recreational, habilitative, transitional, and complementary alternative medical services to children and young adults with multiple disabilities, assisting them to achieve their optimal level of independence in all aspects of life. Thanks to all these amazing groups for making this a summer to remember!

Kindness Rocks at Higashi! The Middle School Division and the Day Care students are spreading the love this summer with another great unit from Middle School Art teacher, Aya Kolwaite. Aya lead the students in a cooperative effort to produce and display their latest project, Kindness Rocks. The Kindness Rocks Project is a nationwide art collaboration with participants of all ages. The purpose of the project is to spread positivity to others, as well as allow students to participate in bettering their community. Students write uplifting messages or paint positive images on the rocks and leave them in the designated garden. Friends, family, and students of Boston Higashi School are encouraged to take a rock if they need a pick-me-up or leave a rock for the next person who needs encouragement. The garden can be found near the Day Program Main Entrance.

Outdoor Adventures! Right: windsurfing as a team sport! Below: High School students exploring a canoe with Hawaiian outriggers Look out Moana, because here Higashi comes!

BOSTON HIGASHI SCHOOL 800 North Main Street Randolph, MA 02368 (781) 961-0800 www.bostonhigashi.org

NEW

NOTABLE

PG 6

“CELEBRATING FRIENDSHIPS” 2018 HIGASHI GALA

PG 7

DEVELOPMENT NEWS: GOOD FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS

PGS 8-9

For the latest news and events, visit our website at www.bostonhigashi.org, or subscribe to our online calendar

IN THIS ISSUE PG 2 | Principal’s Perspective

FUN IN THE SUMMER SUN

PGS 3-4 | Class Notes, Residential Reflections PG 5 | Parent Association PGS 10 - 11 | Community Connections