SCHOOL NEWS
ACES Dance Teacher’s Vision is Right on Pointe BY BEVERLY PERKINS
laborate with. Kernohan is the creator of Selah’s Song, hat originally began as a passing thought a program where “no student is ever turned away due in the mind of ACES dance teacher Sally to inability to pay”. Perez, turned into a beautiful and memorable day of giving for a wonderful group of young women. Last fall, Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES) held the first ever “Big Sisters of the Arts” dance donation event. Created by Perez, the vision and mission of “Big Sisters of the Arts” is to make a real-life connection between ACES dance students and other dance students throughout the community. Perez’s goal was to not just receive donaIn November, Kernohan and some of her students tions, but to have students make real connections and travelled to Aventura and were greeted by Ms. Perez bonds with other students who share a love of dance. and several ACES dance students at the Aventura ACES dance students were asked to donate new Arts and Cultural Center (AACC). The visiting and gently used costumes to pass on to “little sisters”. guests moved from table to table selecting from over For several months the ambitious teacher collected 100 costumes and dancewear pieces that were all beautiful pieces from generous ACES students, while donated by ACES students. Afterwards the students simultaneously looking for a group to partner with. were invited into the theater where they created a After a phone call with Brittany Kernohan, short dance piece together with their new found Director of Selah Academy in Hollywood, Perez knew “Sisters of the Arts”. she had found the perfect group to donate and to col“The look of joy on their faces as they entered was
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priceless. The excitement and appreciation were so genuine that it touched my heart. It made my day, to be a part of such a wonderful experience,” said Perez. “It was a dream come true. I had this vision in my mind of making a real connection with another group of dancers, and having an opportunity to give back. Watching the girls work together and watching the afternoon play out the way it did was simply spectacular.” “It is so neat to see how a common love of dance can make you an instant friend” said Kernohan as she watched her dance students become fast friends with the ACES dance students. “What the girls created in such a short amount of time was simply awesome,” praised ACES Assistant Principal Jorge Paz. As the students exited the theater, smiles and hugs were exchanged, and hearts were full. What began simply as an idea had manifested into the perfect day of giving and sharing with a wonderful group of students. “It was everything I hoped it would be and more!” added Perez.
The Victory Center Nears Completion BY BEVERLY PERKINS
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he Victory Center, which educates individuals with autism and related developmental disabilities, is nearing completion of its brand new 8,500 square foot school. The construction of the new facility began in 2016 and will allow the center to expand its capacity and serve many more children and their families in South Florida. The Center offers evidencebased intervention using the principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) in a unique community setting. Every student has an individualized plan with custom goals and interventions to meet their educational, social and behavior needs. The school proudly hosted a hard-hat tour for invited guests to see the progress of the state-of-theart campus, which will include space for students to obtain behavior therapy and to acquire everyday living skills to be functional members of the community. Each classroom will be equipped with its own bathroom and kitchenette. The school will also include a life skills room with showers, a washer and dryer, murphy bed, a microwave, stove top and dishwasher. This space is geared to help kids learn how to develop basic cooking skills, how to do their laundry, 22 FEBRUARY 2018 | OURCITYAVENTURA.COM
as well as teach the importance of basic hygiene. Other elements of the school will also include a multimedia center with flat screen TVs, game consoles, a play center, individual therapy rooms, in addition to sharing a theater for graduation ceremonies, music room, dance studio and art studio with the MAR-JCC. “Our new building will have more opportunities to expand and improve programs for children with developmental disabilities,” said Victory Center CEO Raquel Prancer. “We are excited for the final touches and we can’t wait for the students to begin enjoying their new space.” The nonprofit school was founded in 2000 by Barry and Judi Nelson, the parents of a child with Autism who found themselves frustrated by the lack of appropriate educational opportunities. Since its beginning, The Victory Center has worked out of a handful of rooms on the campus of the Michael-Ann Russell JCC at 18900 NE 25th Avenue, North Miami Beach, Florida. The new school will remain on the property and is being built jointly with the JCC. For more information please contact Raquel Prancer CEO, rpancer@thevictoryschool.org, 305-466-1142.
Dr. Tara Loughrey (Director of Education) & Dr. Jessica Dunn (Assistant Director of Education)
Elaine Adler & Raquel Pancer
Barry & Judi Nelson (Founders)