The Parish Post: Summer 2021

Summer 2021 Celebrating Superhero Faculty: Past, Present and Future Decades of Dedication Campus Happenings

Summer Camp Round-Up Therapy Services at The Carruth Center Bike-a-thon Nature Center Update

Our Mission To educate children ages 2-12 who have communication delays and learning differences, empowering them with the tools to succeed.

In This Issue

3

Check it Out!

10

Decades of Dedication

22

The Carruth Center

4

Letter From the Head of School

14

2021 Gala Recap

24

Bike-a-thon

5

Alumni Spotlight: Dean Wincentsen

16

Photo Round-Up

26

Unbabbled

18

Nature Center Update

27

Save the Dates

6

Campus Happenings

20

8

Celebrating Faculty Past, Present and Future

Summer Camp Photo Collection

Administrative Team

Board of Trustees

Cheval Bryant, MCD, CCC-SLP Head of School

Meredith Krimmel, MS, CCC-SLP Director of Admissions

Mimi Branham, MA, CCC-SLP Director of The Carruth Center

Anne Powers, MA, CCC-SLP Director of Early Childhood

Huyen Cao, MA, CCC-SLP Director of Elementary

Holly Wilbourn Director of Advancement

Terry Clough, CPA Director of Finance and Operations

Lily Yoder, LPC, RPT Director of Student and Family Services

Terri Garth Director of Integrated Arts and Sciences

Executive Officers Steven Gordon President Greg Dillard Vice President Peter DeFazio Treasurer Laurie Gutierrez Secretary Tommy Jamail Officer

Board Members Gregory Brown Cheval Bryant Janet Eckert Sydney Goss Hans Graff Cathy Guttentag, PhD Paula Katz Steve Kean Ann Neyland Tish Prior Peden Joseph Probst Ashleigh Rickertsen Melanie Seigle Lyle Wincentsen

The Parish Post is printed twice a year and is published by The Parish School for students, parents, alumni and friends.

For information or questions regarding The Parish Post, please contact the Advancement office – advancement@parishschool.org.

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Summer 2021 | 3

Letter from Head of School, Cheval Bryant Dear Parish Fr

iends,

With a very u nusual schoo l year behind time in histo us, we find o ry. None of u urselves reflec s knew exactly ting on an un pressures of how the 2020 precedented racial unrest -2 1 sc h , p o o o lit l ye ical turmoil an ar would unfo navigated sign d a global pan ld under the ificant social-e demic; yet, w motional nee challenges b e h av d s e an su rought on by d academic re ccessfully remote teach gression in o Because of th ing and learn ur students, e profession ing, and COV alism and co ID-19 safety students sho mmitment fr procedures. wed growth, o m our faculty an even during d staff, all of this difficult ye our ar.

Parents, I wan t to thank yo u for your kin members wo dness, grace, rked to provi and cooperat d e quality lear ion as our fa home and in ning experie culty and staff -person with nces for our a si gn st ifi u ca dents, both o by the flexibili ntly altered le nline from ty, determinat arning enviro ion and resilie nment. We h navigated th ave been am nce that our is new and d azed students hav ifferent way e shown as th have come th of accessing ey rough this to h th av ei e r education. Th ugh time hav while teachin ey are tenacio ing learned im g our faculty us and p o rtant lessons and staff imp about themse ortant lesson lves s as well.

On behalf of The Parish Sc h ool’s leadersh deepest grat ip team, I wo itude to our uld also like am azing grandp to express ou Board of Tru ar ents, commu r stees and mo n it y st p ar of all our inst tners, genero 2020-21 scho ru u ct s io d onors, n ol year one th al and therap at we will nev eutic staff fo are extraord r er m forget. Durin aking the inary! But give g a normal sc n the challen the only fittin hool year, ou ges we have g description r staff faced since th is “superhero e start of the an environm es!” Our teac p an ent where st demic, h ers went abo udents felt sa ve and beyon during a time fe , n u rt u d re to provide when the wh d, and some ole world was sense of norm COVID proto anything but al cy an cols and put d routine normal or ro themselves an utine! They en remote teach d their famili fo ing very quic rced es at risk ever kly and endu y day. They ad face-to-face an red the almo ju st d virtual lear ed to st impossible ta ners simultan sk of teachin pivoting alm eously. They g ost instantly to both displayed trem from teachin when their cl endous flexib g on campus ass had to cl ili ty to in teaching rem ose. This was otely from th but they sho a very difficu ei wed us the tr r h ome lt change for ue strength o teachers and For these reas f our commu st u d en ons, this issu ts, n it y. And for that e of the Paris of The Parish , I am so grat h Post is ded ef School and Th ul! icated to them e Carruth Cen – the superh ter. er o staff As we launch the 2021-22 sc hool year, we from the pan recognize that demic, but I am we still face ch so happy to co students, staff allenges ahea ntinue on this and commun d journey with ity. you all – our amazing

Cheval

4 | The Parish Post

Alumni Spotlight: Dean Wincentsen Parish Student: 2008-2016

At an early age, Dean struggled to communicate. His babysitter, who took care of many other children, was concerned and brought attention to Dean’s parents, Aisha and Lyle, who also struggled to find a great preschool fit for Dean. By chance, they happened to find another babysitter that was a speech-language pathologist at The Parish School. She recommended that the couple check out the school. That summer, at the age of 2 1/2, Aisha and Lyle enrolled Dean in The Parish School’s summer program, Camp Acorn. Dean instantly loved it and they knew they had to enroll him in the school as well.

Through drama classes with Terri Garth and piano lessons with Hillary Yip (the music therapist at the time), and the language and academic support received in the classroom, Dean began to thrive in the program.

He had this lightbulb moment and his brain started working together with music. It was a blessing for us.

-Lyle, Dean’s father

“We saw a really big change,” said Lyle. “He had this lightbulb moment and his brain started working together with music. It was a blessing for us.”

It was through this early exposure to the arts, that Dean found his great love of music.

After transitioning from The Parish School, Dean enrolled in the Branch School from 5th-8th grade and now attends Houston ISD’s prestigious Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where he continues to excel as an A-student in the classical piano department.

To view one of Dean’s piano recitals, visit https://bit.ly/3it7Ul7.

Summer 2021 | 5

Campus Happenings: A Look Around Campus Huge THANK YOU to Nancy Kaufman, for her continued partnership with The Parish School and The Carruth Center! She is such a valuable resource and we are so appreciative of her for continuing to lend her time and expertise to our community! If you missed her presentation, you can still catch the event recording at parishschool.org/apraxia-qa An exciting new play structure was added to The Parish School’s Adventure Playground, thanks to a very generous donation of four giant electrical spools. Huge thank you to Holt’s Heavy Hauling, Darr Equipment Co., Mobilease and Tenaris for making it happen! According to Jill Wood, Director of Adventure Play, “It’s a Playworker’s Dream!” Our AP’ers are certainly having a blast!

Welcome to “The Dinosaur Path!” This pathway, created by the Dinosaurs class, gives Parish students a nice outdoor space to walk between the Bear Cave (a favorite space for students to play and discover!) and our nature trails. For the project, the class worked on raking leaves, lining the path with bricks, and will be creating a sign to designate the space. We know everyone will just love this new outdoor feature. Thank you, Dinos, for paving the way!

Live from The Parish School campus…it’s TPS10 News! As an inquirybased learning unit, the Scouts class started a news station where they worked on segments to highlight people and activities on campus.

Interviews included the Parish admissions team, Harris County Meteorologist, Jeff Lindner, and Parish librarian, Jill Wood, among others. The upper elementary class released an episode in March and April that can be found on the school’s YouTube channel.

On #ReadAcrossAmericaDay, Primary students had the great pleasure of meeting author and illustrator, Nina Crews. Nina is the author of many children’s books, including “Below,” “Sky-High Guy,” and “You Are Here.”

Students were able to ask Nina questions about her writing process, as well as what it’s like to be the daughter of two notable children’s book authors herself.

6 | The Parish Post

Parish students have a new, multisensory method of experiencing storytime, thanks to a generous donation from AlphaGraphics West Houston. Their contribution of 40 signs has allowed the library lab team to create weekly storywalks, where classes may explore and discuss books while engaged in physical activity.

Students have loved running to the next sign to see what comes next in the story!

The Bananas and the Pink Panthers teams went head-to-head for an exciting game of whiffle ball! Thank you to Baseball USA “The Yard” for providing our students with a great location to play, and to our Upper and Lower Elementary teachers for hosting the event and being fantastic coaches!

In honor of Earth Day, we made a point to honor Earth right here on our campus, where we’re so lucky to be surrounded by birds, trees and flowers! While on their way to class or to therapy, teachers and students picked up trash on campus and discussed what littering does to our environment.

The Seekers class proved they know their stuff when it comes to keeping safe in the sun! They are one of only two classes in the nation that won $500 from Scholastic’s “Be Sunbeatable” contest! In addition to completing a sun safety unit and projects to illustrate the layers of the skin, they submitted pre- and postassessments to showcase what they learned. “After the projects were finished, we took a gallery walk to provide helpful, kind and thoughtful feedback to each other,” students added. “Now we are busy deciding what to do with our winnings!”

This year’s Elementary Culture in Focus study: Japan! After months of research completed in Arts & Sciences classes, and through a collaboration with What Is Noise, our Upper and Lower Elementary students transformed the Parish courtyard into “Konnichiwa: An Interactive Japanese Garden.” Their families were able to experience Japanese artwork, mini zen gardens, a koi pond, fan dance, haiku readings, sumo wrestling, and Omochio Tsukimasho, a Japanese hand-clapping game. A huge shout-out to the Parish Integrated Arts and Sciences team for putting together this event and making our students’ visions a reality!

Summer 2021 | 7

Our Founder, Robbin Parish

Celebrating Faculty Past, Present and Future For the past 38 years, The Parish School has nurtured the whole child, addressing students’ cognitive, social, emotional and physical growth, and fostering skills that will serve them throughout life. Great teaching, highly effective therapeutic practices, and exceptional support staff are the hallmark of our program. Alumni tell their Parish stories in terms of a life-changing environment filled with dedicated teachers who provide a nurturing and safe space where they are understood and are free to be themselves. We celebrate those teachers, past, present and future, whose efforts inspire – and continue to inspire – self-confidence and a love of lifelong learning in generations of Parish students.

s!

ember M f f a t S w e elcome, N

W

Left: (Back row, left to right): Dani Andreasky, James Branham, Megan Logue, Christina Gusewelle, Whitney Austin, Micha Stoneham, (Middle): Brianna Millard, Bonnie Weaver, Jessica Rankosky, Jessica Buitrago, Caroline Moreland, Kelsan Landry, Sharon Roman, (Front row): Bailey Haidamous, Aaralyn Green, Christie Skipworth, Jasmine Zapien, Suzanne Hunn, Jillian Allen

8 | The Parish Post

Employees of the Year for 2020-21

“Amy is constantly thinking about how to best serve the children in her classroom. Her passion for preparing young children for a lifetime of learning is evident in all she does. She holds herself to the highest of standards and works tirelessly for the benefit of others. Amy truly is one of the kindest, most thoughtful teachers, and I am so honored that she chooses to share her skills with our community.”

- Anne Powers, Director of Early Childhood

Teacher of the Year: Amy Rapp, CCC-SLP Therapist of the Year: Jennifer Woody, OTR/L, MOT, CAS Paraeducator of the Year: Fabiana Aponte

“Jennifer’s enthusiasm for excellent intervention is contagious. I’ve never seen her back down from a challenge or say something is too difficult. She has mentored other therapists and countless teachers on how to meet a child at their current skill level and always has ideas on how to help them achieve the skills they need to target. Her contribution to the many lives she has impacted will be felt for years to come.”

- Mimi Branham, Clinic Director

“Fabiana’s dedication to those she teaches is apparent. Her patient, kind demeanor makes such a positive difference in her students’ lives. Day in and day out, she demonstrates outstanding skill and expertise to see the children in her care grow and learn new skills. Always quick to smile and offer an encouraging word, her sweet spirit is such a blessing to our community. We are so thankful for her efforts!”

- Anne Powers, Director of Early Childhood

Margaret Noecker Natu

re Center Excellence in T

Congratulations to Bob Millar, Lower Elementary Paraed ucator, who receiv ed the Maragaret Noecker Nature Center Teac hing Excellence award.

Bob was selected fo r his dedication to fin ding the voices of his students and his pa ssion for sharing hi s knowledge on natu re and geology. Nam ed in memory of long time Parish Head of School and belove d first teacher, Mar garet Noecker, the awar d is managed and fu nded by her husband, N ick, who remains ac tive in the Parish comm unity and serves on the Margaret Noecker Nature Center’s co uncil.

Pictured: Nick Noec ker, Terri Garth (Mar garet Noecker Nature Center Chair ), Bob Millar, and Hu yen Cao (Director of Elementa ry).

eaching Award

Summer 2021 | 9

Decades of Dedication: Current Longtime Faculty and Staff You may not be aware of it, but right here, right now on campus, there are 14 members of our faculty and staff who have worked at The Parish School or The Carruth Center for more than 10 years – and many of these folks have been here even longer (in fact, it’s 30 years for our performance aficionado, Terri Garth!). Their commitment to our school and our students is invaluable and lends to the warm, family feeling that we have enjoyed at The Parish School for so long. Whether it’s directing students in plays and musicals, ensuring campus grounds are well-maintained, taking students on a book walk, or providing one-on-one speech therapy, this group of dedicated individuals has played an essential role in helping countless Parish students and Carruth clients to

not just grow, but thrive!

Terri Garth Director of Integrated Arts & Sciences, Drama Educator (30 years)

Nancy Mosely Administrative Manager (28 years) The kids all work so hard to gain so much.

Seeing their successes motivates me, as well as seeing how hard everyone works to make the kids successful too!

Dawn Reinarz Early Childhood Speech-Language Pathologist (28 years) It is beyond satisfying to know the difference I make in these little people’s lives and in the lives of their whole family. It feeds my soul when a parent says, ‘thank you, you changed our lives.’

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Renee Attaway-Storer Director of Camp Social Superheroes (21 years)

Melinda Millar Paraeducator (18 years)

Jeff Wallace Maintenance Manager (16 years)

Stefanie Heintz Social Learning Lead Clinician (15 years)

Summer 2021 | 11

Jill Wood Director of Adventure Play, Librarian (15 years)

Maritza Medrano Paraeducator (14 years)

Stephanie Landis Elementary Speech-Language Pathologist, Unbabbled Host (13 years) When I visited The Parish School, I fell in love with the campus, the mission, the feel, and the naturalistic approach to language in the early childhood program (where I started). Working here brings my love of early intervention and naturalistic, play-based therapy into a fun classroom setting.

12 | The Parish Post

Meagan Rosales Reading Specialist (13 years)

Mark Hordge Custodian (12 years)

Jennifer Beleiff P.E. Educator (11 years)

Kathy Hamada Carruth SpeechLanguage Pathologist (11 years)

Summer 2021 | 13

The Parish School Gala Holds an In-Person Event to Celebrate Our School’s Superheroes –

Our Faculty and Staff!

The Parish School parents, supporters and friends

include Fayez and Susan Sarofim; Kirkland and Ellis,

came together to celebrate our school’s faculty

LLP; Melissa and Steven Kean; Kate and Doug Bacon;

and staff in our “Superhero Soiree” gala, filling

Adonia and Kevin Cokinos; Cherrill Farnsworth and

The Ballroom at Bayou Place, on Saturday,

Peter Pavluk; The Ellwood Foundation; Carolyn and

May 8, 2021. The annual gala is The Parish School’s

Platt Davis; Jenny Elkins; Jackson Walker LLP; Dr. Mark

biggest fundraiser each year and has grown steadily

Schusterman and Stephanie von Stein Schusterman.

in recent years.

Emceeing the event was Emmy-award winning The event featured a hybrid option this year, where

journalist, ABC’s Channel 13, Miya Shay. Ms. Shay

sponsors and donors could log into the school’s

brought a wonderful energy to the event and

YouTube account to watch the event in real time

entertained the crowd in between parent testimonials

but from the comfort of their own home. Sponsors

and live auction. And as a special surprise for the

who chose this option received a special thank you

audience, the school showed a video of award-

package the morning of the event. However, we had

winning actor Hugh Jackman, well known for his role

over 300 people safely attend in person, despite the

as the superhero Wolverine, giving the students and

COVID-19 pandemic, which is a true testament of

teachers of The Parish School some warm words of

the love people have for Parish. The combination

encouragement, from one superhero to another.

of underwriting sponsorships, pre-event donations, silent auction, raffle, live auction and “Paddles Up”

One of the annual highlights of the Gala are our parent

donations, led to a record year raising nearly $490,000,

chair testimonials. This year was no different as TJ

which directly support the school’s financial assistance

Farnsworth passionately described his son Wyatt, who

fund and, for the first time, funded a teacher wish

had been diagnosed with Autism in March of 2018 and

list, which included security upgrades for the

ADHD about a year later, as “For us though, those

campus, classroom enhancements and

are just labels describing aspects of him,

professional development opportunities.

no different than his size he got from his dad or his

Gala chairs Margaret and TJ Farnsworth

angelic good looks he so

and Sarah and Sam Luna said they couldn’t

luckily got from his mom.

be more pleased with the turnout and

He is still our perfect, happy

the generosity of the crowd, who

baby, and his autism is just

were seated at tables with sequined

a part of what makes him

tablecloths in red, blue, gold and black with

to brighten our lives, expose

centerpieces

us to animals we never

highlighting

knew existed, and keep us

popular superhero

in stitches with his honest

pop culture.

narrative

Underwriters

14 | The Parish Post

Wyatt. It is his superpower

and

commentary of our daily lives. For the past two

normalcy and routine during a time when the whole

years, The Parish School and The Carruth Center

world was anything but normal or routine! Upon the

have given him the tools he needs to unlock this

playing of the highlight video, the entire crowd stood in

superpower. When he stood up at Sea World in

a rousing ovation to salute these individuals.

front of a group of thirty people to challenge the animal trainer to “stop calling them killer whales,

Cheval Bryant, The Parish School Head of School,

because they are Orca’s and not really whales,

said “They enforced COVID protocols and put

they are the largest members of the dolphin

themselves and their families at risk every day.

family” – it was his superpower that gave him the

They adjusted to remote teaching very quickly

ability to access that information (which I had to

and endured the almost impossible task of

google to confirm), it was The Parish School that

teaching to both face to face and virtual learners

gave him the confidence to stand up with his voice

simultaneously. They displayed tremendous

in that crowd.“

flexibility in pivoting almost instantly from teaching on campus to teaching remotely from

Co-chair Sarah Luna also added her thoughts. “Sam

their home when their class had to close. They

and I want to thank The Parish School for being our

adjusted their teaching practices significantly for

game changer, for boosting Ava’s confidence, for

everyone’s safety. A school where cooking and

teaching Ava how to love learning. Thank you for

hands-on, group projects are everyday learning

teaching her how to make friends, be more socially

experiences became a school where students

cognizant, and learn to confidently sing the lyrics

were not allowed to intermingle, share materials

to a song. Parish has also given us the gift of a

or work collaboratively with peers from different

community of parents who have walked a similar

classes. This was a very difficult change for

path and there is nothing more valuable than not

teachers and students, but they soldier through

feeling alone as a parent as we take this journey of

with smiles on their faces and in their hearts…

so many unknowns. Parish has forever altered our

most days! It would be disingenuous to say things

lives for the better.”

were not difficult and that there was not a high degree of anxiety at times! But I can say with

A highlight of the evening was honoring the faculty and

utmost sincerity that our faculty and therapists

staff of The Parish School and The Carruth Center with

handled the challenges with grace! And for that

the Golden Oak award, for their monumental work

I consider this group of teachers and therapists

keeping Parish students engaged and progressing

Parish Superheroes forever!”

during the early days of the global pandemic lock down and subsequent re-opening of school with

Thank you to all of our underwriters, donors

masks, plexiglass barriers, occasional remote learning

and guests for making this year’s Gala very

and social distancing among classes. Our teachers

rewarding and memorable. For more information

went above and beyond to provide an environment

on how you can support Gala 2022, please contact

where students felt safe, nurtured, and some sense of

advancement@parishschool.org.

Summer 2021 | 15

16 | The Parish Post

Summer 2021 | 17

Construction Underway on Oak Creek Exploration Zone Progress continues on Phase 2 of the Margaret Noecker Nature Center, Oak Creek Exploration Zone! The week that school ended in May, work began in earnest on the current playground site. Children were glued to the windows in Bur Oak Cottage, as were the young clients in The Carruth Center, as construction workers and large equipment tore down old structures and ripped out concrete pathways. The following weeks were spent on the outdoor classroom’s infrastructure, such as drainage and grading, followed by concrete pathways that were set and poured. In July, we installed a twenty-foot Overcup oak tree, our signature piece of the zone’s entrance.

We can’t wait for Oak Creek Exploration Zone to become an engaging outdoor classroom for our 4 to 6-year-olds! Featuring stimulating and magical play environments of climbing, water, sand, hills, tree swings, building blocks, and loose-parts materials, the area is designed to give our children a place 18 | The Parish Post

Little Acorn Park Receives Certified Outdoor Classroom Distinction

where their imaginations and play skills can blossom. We fully expect the project to be complete in early fall 2021, so stay tuned for more details on a grand opening!

We also wanted to share some extra exciting news concerning Phase 1 of the Margaret Noecker Nature Center - Little Acorn Park.

The park has earned national recognition as a Certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom from the Nature Explore program, which is a division of Dimensions Educational Research Foundation. This has been a dream of the MNNC since the park opened in 2019, and we join a very select community of 500+ classrooms in the country that have received this distinction.

The Parish School’s commitment to providing research-based and nature-rich learning offers a wonderful example to programs and educators throughout the country.” said Heather Fox, director of communications and outreach for the Nature Explore program.

The classrooms help fill this void by integrating research-based outdoor learning opportunities into children’s daily lives.

Classrooms that are designed according to standards and principles described in Dimensions Educational Research Foundation’s Learning With Nature Idea Book are eligible to become Certified Nature Explore Classrooms.

“These spaces inspire hands-on activity, creativity, play and plenty of time exploring the natural world for children of all ages.”

Nature Explore Classrooms have been developed by a team of master educators, landscape architects and researchers in response to the documented growing disconnect between children and nature.

Read the description of Little Acorn Park on the Nature Explore website here: https://bit.ly/3ynLqHz

take advantage of The Parish School’s 17-acre natural landscape, is our commitment to fully integrating nature-based learning into Parish life. Over the next few years, the Nature Center will grow to be a dedicated, campuswide domain that touches every activity and educational program at our school.

Margaret Noecker Nature Center on The Parish School campus is an integrated, nature-based learning environment that facilitates children’s intellectual, social and emotional development through direct engagement with the natural environment.

The Nature Center, with long-range plans that The Big Hill

• activity hub • sliding • exploring • steppers + climbers

Swing Forest • swing pods hung from tree and supports • enchantment + discovery • reading nooks + chill space

Loose Parts Play • shade • building • creating • sensory • collecting • pretend play

The Ant Mounds • high intensity activity zone • steppers + balance beams • connectors + foot bridges • tunnels

The Lawn

RO

CARUTH CENTER

BU

• open play • outdoor classroom • group gatherings

AK BU IN G IL D

The Village

• garden planters • store fronts • mud kitchen • imaginative play • shade • mud play • sand play + digging

The Woods

• exploration • discovery • sensor y • reading nooks • hide-out zones • butterfly garden

Oak Creek Exploration Zone the parish school

Summer 2021 | 19 Houston, Texas 10/22/19

TBG

Experiences RecordSetting Enrollment

p m a C r Summe Promoting hands-on learning, growing self-esteem and developing communication.

. e g a u Lang Learning.Lots of fun !

Camp Acorn, the 4-week summer day camp offered by The Parish School, continues to grow each year. Coming off of a difficult school year, Camp Acorn’s enrollment is the highest it’s ever been! Between the therapeutic program addressing language, learning and social needs; adventure play camp; sibling day camp; and the afternoon enrichment program, 182 total campers were enrolled for summer 2021. The children had a blast each day while learning fun new skills and meeting new friends.

20 | The Parish Post

Enrollment for Summer 2022

Opens in December

www.parishschool.org/campacorn 11001 Hammerly Blvd., Houston, TX 77043 | 713.467.4696 x.191

Summer 2021 | 21

Therapy Services at The Carruth Center

The Parish School’s on-site clinic, The Carruth Center has provided diagnostic and therapeutic services to children in the greater Houston area for over two decades. The clinic offers services to Parish School students as well as children throughout the community. Carruth clinicians frequently collaborate with Parish educators to maximize a child’s learning potential. Offering an on-site clinic where students may attend therapy sessions during or after school allows convenience for our families.

Services include speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, physical therapy, mental health services, social learning, and neuropsychological assessments.

Clients benefit from:

• Individual and group therapy options • Prompt appointments for evaluations (2-4 weeks from contact) • Coordination of care with the child’s teachers and other medical professionals • Feedback and resources provided for carryover of goals and progress at home • Detailed reports and parent observation opportunities • Consultation and screening services to ensure appropriate placement in group therapies • Free adult education opportunities through The Parish School from educational and developmental professionals • On-site services at our clinic and off-site services at area private schools

22 | The Parish Post

Group Therapy

The Carruth Center is unique in its offerings of developmental therapies in a group setting. Sometimes a child benefits more from receiving therapy in a group than one-on-one services. The following groups are offered at The Carruth Center this fall. Contact Mimi Branham, Clinic Director for questions or enrollment information at mbranham@carruthcenter.org.

Social Learning Groups Ages: Preschool - High School Using a specific framework, we help students understand hidden social rules, observe their social environment, read cues to figure out other people’s thoughts, feelings and intentions, and adapt their social behaviors around this information.

Our groups are carefully combined to include students of similar social communication levels and social needs, as well as age. A maxium of four students are accepted in most groups, although a few accept 5-6 students. www.parishschool.org/socialgroups

Language Development Class Ages: 2 - 3.5 years Meets four times a week and provides speech, occupational and music therapy with a student-teacher ratio of 2:1 or less. The class experience is designed to improve children’s skills and abilities using developmentally appropriate, multisensory, play-based activities. www.carruthcenter.org/groups-ldc

Language Learning Tools Ages: 4 - 8 years Targets receptive and expressive language skills and improves and supports self regulation, joint attention and social language skills. A blend of sensory and language-based therapy techniques are used to support children’s communication and ability to process their environment. www.carruthcenter.org/groups-llt

Empower Hour Ages: 3 - 12 years Empower Hour explores your child’s social-emotional world in an accepting and nurturing environment to bring out their innate potential so they feel connected, confident, accepted and understood. Concrete emotional and social intervention is facilitated by our Registered Play Therapist. www.carruthcenter.org/groups/empower-hour/

The Parish School’s First Ever Bike-A-Thon Raises $16,000 for Local Charities The Parish School elementary students learned the importance of giving back to the community by organizing the first ever campus Bike-AThon, which was held on Friday, May 21, 2021.

Four charities were identified as possible beneficiaries, and students had the opportunity to learn about each organization’s mission before voting for their favorite. After the votes were tallied, the students elected for Parish Bike-A-Thon funds to benefit both HTX Art and Kids’ Meals, Inc.!

In the weeks leading up to the event, students asked for donations from their families and families’ friends to support their efforts.

Students brought in their donations each week and excitement grew! A week before the big day, Officer R.A. Arriaga and Officer E. Netro from the Houston Police Department stopped by the school to talk to our students about bike safety, including the importance of wearing a helmet and how to pass other bikers safely.

On the day of the event, the campus was bursting with Parish spirit as students cruised around the circle drive to support two great causes during our inaugural Bike-A-Thon! Through their hard work over the month prior, they’ve raised $8,000 for each charity - HTX Art and Kids’ Meals.

Amazing! Houston Police Department officers, who had visited campus the week before, came back out to support our event and rode in the event themselves.

They were so generous to spend their time

24 | The Parish Post

making sure our kids rode safely, and even awarded a skateboard and helmet to the rider with the most laps in each class!

The students had two main takeaways from the Bike-a-Thon event. First, this event really allowed students to work on/use their social thinking skills and executive function when communicating with others about the event and the purpose of the event. Some students even made videos for Facebook while others went door to door in their neighborhoods.

And second, the students learned the value of giving back to their community. When presenting a check to each

charity, they learned that their donations provided 4,000 meals to area preschoolers, and literacy and art activities will be brought to underserved neighborhoods. Katina C. in the Tigers class and Colton I. in the Navigators class were also recognized with Certificates of Citizenship for being our top fundraisers!

We are so proud of the work our students have done to help support the community and for the skills they exercised!

Summer 2021 | 25

Please join us for The Parish School’s 13th Annual Luncheon

Giving Voice to Children Benefiting the Parish School and our Financial Assistance Fund

Thursday, October 7, 2021 11:30 a.m. • The Junior League of Houston Featuring Communicologist, Neural Architect, and Storyteller, Stacey Crowley www.parishschool.org/luncheon

Season

4

of Unbabbled Podcast Launches Soon!

Navigating the world of special education, communication delays and learning differences can be a challenge. Tune in to hear Stephanie Landis and Meredith Krimmel, two Parish speech-language pathologists, as they interview guests from parents to industry professionals.

Each episode covers a different topic related to education or child development and provides guidance, insight and hope to those touched by children who learn differently.

Topics and Guests Include: • Understanding Childhood Apraxia of Speech with Expert Nancy Kaufman • A Parent’s Perspective with Justin Keller • The Importance of Early Intervention with Anne Powers • Autism Spectrum Disorder 101 with Dr. Cathy Guttentag • High-Risk Behavior in Children and Teens with Dr. Crystal Collier

And More!

Listen online at www.parishschool.org/podcast or subscribe to “Unbabbled” for free in any podcast player, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify. Please give us a rating and review, too!

Save The Dates Cy b e r

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Close s: We dnes Septe day, mber 15 at 1 0 p.m. paris hsch o ol.or

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Fall Family Garden Day 6

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13th Annual Luncheon "Giving Voice to Children"”

Thursday, October 7 The Junior League of Houston parishschool.org/luncheon

2021 Houston Walk for Apraxia

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The Parish School's 30th Annual Gala Spring 2022 at Bayou Place The Ballroom hool.org/gala

www.parishsc

Summer 2021 | 27

11001 Hammerly Blvd.

Houston, Texas 77043

Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID Houston, TX Permit No. 440

Don't just grow. Thrive!

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About The Parish School: Since 1983, The Parish School has educated children ages 2-12 who have communication delays and learning differences, empowering them with the tools to succeed. This nationally recognized, special needs school in Houston provides an education for the entire family within the environment of a nurturing and safe 17-acre campus with on-site pediatric therapy clinic, The Carruth Center. Our personalized academic approach – with a focus on communication skills, social learning, nature, independence and the arts – allows children not just to grow, but to thrive.

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