higashi highlights - spring 2013 issue

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! The International Program for Individuals with Autism since 1987 800 North Main Street, Randolph, MA 02368 781-961-0800 www.bostonhigashi.org

Higashi Highlights

Spring 2013

Challenge Believe Together

Accredited by The National Commission for the Accreditation of Special Education Services The Boston Higashi School is affiliated with Lesley University.

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Division young women were treated to some pampering to get ready for the Formal Dance that evening with moms, grandmothers, aunts or sisters sharing in the moment. Hair, nails, make-up, the works were offered to enhance their inner beauty. The transformation from girls to women was startling and some of us had to work really hard not to shed too many tears and ruin that newly applied mascara. The limousines arrived at 6:30 p.m. to take our young men and women to the Quincy Marriott to dance the night away. Our male students looked very handsome in their black tuxedos and colored ties and cummerbunds. It was another “moment” for both parents and staff to see these gentlemen looking so formal and grand. A crowd of over 400 family, friends, staff, students, and alumni were on hand to give a rousing welcome and to celebrate with our elegant young men and women. Swiftly Fly the Years This was a very special night for the Class of 2013. Graduation had arrived for thirteen of our students. We took this match of the year and the number of graduates as a symbol of good luck ahead for their future endeavors. Each graduate and escort was announced to thunderous applause. On their way to their reserved tables they stopped to give their mothers a red rose, kiss on the cheek, and a special message. A very heartfelt DVD showcased each graduate from his or her baby days to the present moment. A lot of tissues were used as families and friends were struck by how quickly the years have passed. The dance floor was never empty and everyone celebrated doing their own special groove and of course those infamous Higashi line dances too. The next morning the Emergence Brunch took place at Lombardo’s in Randolph. After a hearty, sumptuous brunch, some eloquent speakers walked to the podium to share their heartfelt thoughts about how Higashi has influenced not only their graduate but their families and themselves.

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SPRINGING AHEAD “Within every living child exists its most precious bud of self identity. To search this out and foster it with loving care, that is the essence of education of the autistic child.” Dr. Kiyo Kitahara The long winter has finally passed and Boston Higashi School is in full bloom this spring both literally and figuratively. Our campus is exceptionally beautiful with all the flowering trees and lush green grass. The tiny cherry tree saplings that our students planted with Consul General and Mrs. Hikihara last year to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Cherry Blossoms have withstood the harsh elements of winter weather. Perhaps it is the love and care from our students that fortified their stamina. Our students learn by the example that our teachers set forth each and every day as they nurture each child as a “precious bud of self identity.” April Brought a Shower of Events We have had a whirlwind of experiences and opportunities that had our students and staff growing and blooming. Friday, April 12th was a day filled with pride and many powerful emotions. It was Open Class at the day school. Families and friends came to campus to engage in class lessons and activities. Our students were very proud to showcase their learning and share portfolios of their work across this academic year. It was a joy to see the sense of pride and accomplishment that all our students displayed. Every visitor was came away with proof that all Higashi kids learn and grow at their own pace because their teachers believe in them and never give up on them. The Drama Club treated us to performances of Reader’s Theater and a poetry presentation. The lobby and corridor walls became the Higashi Art Gallery. There were portraits done by our students of several famous and not so famous people who have made a difference and influenced others. There were still life drawings, landscape scenes and three-dimensional wonders and more all carrying a message of gratitude and appreciation. Higashi students certainly put heart in their art! Girls Day of Beauty began with a luncheon served with the female palate in mind. Our High School and Emergence

Deborah Donovan, Principal Photo courtesy of Lifetouch

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Higashi Highlights Spring 2013 2

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Mrs. McDaniel shared the arduous journey that she took to get her son Tyler to Higashi. Next, Tim Dunn, brother of Rachel spoke about his experience as a sibling and what he learned from having a sister with autism. Mr. O’Brien followed as he shared the many challenges that his son Patrick has had to overcome and how their unwavering belief in Patrick and faith in Daily Life Therapy® have brought them to this point. He was followed by, Mr. Dunn, Rachel’s dad, who also talked about his gratitude for all that his daughter experienced while at Higashi. Next, Zach’s parents, Nancy Wagman and Dave Danning, spoke from their hearts and expressed their love and gratitude for all the staff that have worked so hard through the years to help their son be all that he can be. Last came the youngest speaker, Corey Turner, brother of Kyle. Facing a room of over 100 people was no big deal for this highly skilled orator. He spoke with both humor and reverence for the lessons learned from his older brother and also identified him as his source of inspiration and true hero. The culminating activity of this celebratory morning was the presentation of the 2013 Class Gift. Through the generosity of the students and with support from their families, they designed a welcome sign to be displayed by the main entrance so that all students with autism can find their way to personal greatness at Boston Higashi School. Love Anthony April 29th everyone returned to campus. We had a very special Parent Collaboration Meeting. New York Times best selling author Lisa Genova shared her most recent book, love anthony. She talked about her connection to autism, her background as a neurobiologist

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and scientist and her quest to understand the workings of the autistic mind from the perspective of the human connection. Music in the Spring Air Once again, our Jazz Band was asked to perform at Ryles in Cambridge in early May. Our students brought their musical talents to this venue. They wowed their audience with their improvisational skills and crisp style of performance. It was wonderful to see some old friends and to make new ones. After Annual Celebration, their next gig will be on the Cape on August 12th at the Craigville Retreat Center for Authors and Autism. More information about this special event will follow. Higashi Road Race On May 11th, the forecasted rain stayed away and our students were off and running. It was very easy to see the heart and spirit of champions at work. The look of accomplishment and the sense of pride our students demonstrated were priceless. Once again, there were Higashi miracles. We watched a student who arrived in a carriage at Higashi 18 years ago, run the full course with his peers and finish respectably. We saw a young girl who could not even walk the course last year jog across the finish line with a smile that touched our hearts. We cheered for everyone and could barely speak at the end of it all. Before the event concluded, everyone was treated to special performances by the one and only Higashi Staff. We showcased our newest staff who turned out to be great dancers and singers. We had a visit from “PSY”- our own Ellery Luy stole the show. Many of the preteens were convinced that he was the real deal and had some of the adults believing it as well. It would be hard to distinguish the real “PSY” from our Higashi “PSY!” Ellery was amazing!

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Rounding out the Month of May A delegation of students from our High School and Emergence Divisions, accompanied by staff, participated in the 12th Annual Evan’s Run in Norwell MA on May 19th. This charity event is organized by the family of Evan Henry, a Boston Higashi School student who passed away suddenly in his home. Proceeds from this event several years ago helped to create the nature trail on our campus. Boston Higashi School has also been the recipient of several other generous donations and grants as a result of this event. A Proud Moment at the Paw Sox That afternoon it was Boston Higashi all the way at the Paw Socks Game. The Parent Association arranged this as a fundraiser to help shore up their treasury for upcoming expenses. The highlight was hearing and watching our own Dakota Burgess realize his life long dream. He sang the National Anthem at the start of the game. It was a flawless rendition and the standing ovation was more than deserved! We are so proud of you Dakota! Japanese Festival Boston Our school was invited to participate in the Japanese Festival held in Boston on May 19th. We were given a large booth in a prominent area. That afforded us the opportunity to tell people about our school and also sell our famous one of a kind pottery. The inventory was sold out very quickly! In closing, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of the Boston Higashi School community- students, families, staff, friends and supporters. You help us flourish and grow in every season with your generosity, engagement and support.

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Elementary Highlights Chris Stanbrook, Elementary Master Teacher

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Sharing Our Best This semester was a busy one here in the Elementary Division! We really worked hard this semester improving our academic skills so we could complete our MCAS portfolios! It gave our classroom teachers a chance to show off in their own Annual Celebration of sorts, by leading the Open Class in April! Everyone loved having their parents come in and join our students in a

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lesson, demonstrating how we learn! As always, our art teacher, Leniese created a great art exhibit with seasonal artwork beautifying the walls of our hallway! As the weather improved, we prepared for the Road Race, building our stamina to see who could go the fastest. Thanks to the magic of Higashi, we were able to do so despite a grim forecast! We thank all of the family and friends who attended the Road Race to cheer us on.

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I think I speak for everyone when I say we were all winners!

Our hard work on display

Middle School Highlights John McAllister, Middle School Master Teacher

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Students Ready to Shine Annual Celebration is right around the corner which means one thing for the Middle School Division - practice, practice, practice. We have been busy getting our two performances together. In PE we are using stilts. “Treasure Hunter” is the title of our performance. On the music side of things we will be performing "Thank You For Being

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a Friend," a song that really expresses our gratitude to those around us. We have three new students in the Middle School Division, and what a time of year to start! They are dealing with all the practices and changes in schedule very well and seem to be taking it all in stride. In academics we are starting the classic - Charlotte's Web. We will also start a planting unit, which everybody is excited about. As

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always we are very busy, but staff and students are all enjoying the ride.

Stilts practice during PE

Junior High Highlights Jen Kelley, Junior High Master Teacher!

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Springing Ahead After a long winter, Junior High is excited about spring and all it has to offer. Staff and students were thrilled to begin jogging outside and showed off their skills at the Road Race on May 11th! Junior High students particularly enjoyed watching their teachers Max Kelly, Kellie Hurlock, and Michael Laub show off their dancing skills during the new staff performance. In academics, Junior High will be learning about occupations and cooperation. Students will be

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learning about a variety of occupations, including the vocational jobs in the High School Division, and how to work with others. Junior High will also be practicing their pre-vocational skills within the classroom with some fun hands-on activities. Last semester Junior High focused on multiplication using grouping. This semester we will be focusing on division. With the coming of spring, each class will be growing their own plants and recording the growth from seed to full grown plant! Junior High had a great time at

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the Road Race and is practicing hard for Annual Celebration! We hope to see all of our friends and family at the big show!!

Pyramid practice during PE

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Emergence Highlights Paul Brennan, Emergence Master Teacher

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Gearing up for the Future This new semester, with so many graduates leaving us and moving on to bigger and better things, we have introduced a new curriculum unit in the Emergence Division: “Resume Writing and Interviews.” It is a requirement for certain job sites that our students

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participate in the same interview process that any other community member would, in order to get a position – paid or voluntary - within their company. Therefore, it is important that our students gain valuable experience with resume writing and the interviewing process. We would like to make this a strength for our students, and we also want to have our students feel as comfortable as possible in an interview situation, so they can display their potential. All of our students work hard in a wide variety of job sites from the High School Division, up through the Emergence Program, until they graduate. With this in mind, the teachers will help our students

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remember and organize their qualifications, skills and experiences and present them in a standardized format they can present to their potential employer. The resume writing and interview skills curriculum will be differentiated to the individual students level, to allow for full participation from all of our students. With the technology available to the school, e.g. iPads, video cameras, and smart boards, we feel that this could become a great strength of our students that will not only let their personalities shine through, but also their strengths, skills, and experiences.

High School Highlights Jen Tomase, High School Master Teacher

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Readers, Rockers, and Runners

The High School students were able to show their family and friends all the hard work that they have been doing in the classroom at this year’s April Open Class for parents. A big congratulations goes out to Kyle Campbell and Dakota Burgess for their participation in this years

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Drama Club performance. The fun didn’t end at the Open Class, it continued into the night at the annual Formal Dance. Just as the students showed off their academic skills during the day, they were able to show off their dance skills in the evening. Everyone came back after the two-week break relaxed and ready to go. We started our practice for the Higashi Road Race. The

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students ran their best and High School had a good showing on the podium. In the girls division Erin Murphy won 3rd place, and Henya Pruss took 1st place. In the male division, Chris Ruggeri placed 2nd and Dakota Burgess placed 1st. Finally, we would like to say congratulations to Dale Lange who won the special award for the High School division.

Class of 2013 Gift !

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Last year the graduating class of 2012 started a new tradition, the Class Gift. The intent is to leave something behind to the school as a thank you for their time at Higashi. This year’s Class Gift is a Main Entrance Sign to beautify our campus. We thank the students and their families for making this possible. We look forward to displaying it proudly very soon!

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(Left) Class of 2013 graduate Tommy Smith presents a drawing of the Class Gift during the Emergence Brunch on Saturday, April 13th.

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Spring Fling Heather Katz, Division Director

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April showers bring our Spring Fling Vacation Program of course! Despite the tragedies that unfolded in Boston, our Vacation Program opened and our students and staff actively engaged in a variety of fun-filled opportunities. From field trips to the Children’s Museum and walking at Battleship Cove in Fall River, to life-sized domino mazes and outside PE stations, the days quickly flew by! With our new activity leaders Erica and Jared leading PE and Music, our students never missed a beat

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maintaining a healthy exercise regime and keeping up with skills that have been practiced all year. We are already in full swing to prepare for the June/July Vacation Program. If your child is interested in attending, please be sure to fill out an application form and send it in as soon as possible. A huge “thank-you” to all of the staff that participated and made this program so valuable to the students. Another huge “thank-you” to the parents that so graciously sent in coffee and goodies for the staff as appreciation for all of their hard work. See you at the “Stars and Stripes” Vacation Program! (At right) Life-sized dominoes zig-zag through the library!

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A New Journey Begins Hiroshi Abe, Employment Ed. Master Teacher

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Close to 400 people attended the Formal Dance Party that was held at the Boston Quincy Marriott Hotel on April 12. We celebrated the graduation of thirteen students: Katie, Reece, Rachael, Tyler, Jonathan, Patrick, Zachary, Kyle, Kalah, Morgan, Tommy, Sam, and Edwin. They arrived at the Quincy Marriott in two large limousines. They wore boutonnières or corsages, and each carried a single rose as they marched in the procession. Each graduate presented a rose to their mother as a symbol of love and gratitude. They received their

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Higashi diplomas with pride and proudly displayed them as proof of their journey to this hallmark event. These diplomas represent their achievements not only in academic and vocational arenas. They also celebrate new levels of confidence and independence. They serve as a souvenir of all the friendships they have sustained with peers and the strong bonds they have formed with staff through the years. Special thanks go to everyone who worked so tirelessly to make this a commemorative event for the graduates, their families, friends, and alumni.

Congratulations and Good Luck!

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Never-Ending Journey - Owarinaki-tabi,

On the other side of the closed door There's something new waiting for me� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �And it's running me Saying "you'll be fine" Life is not all roses But still I wanna knock on the next door � � � � � � � �It's an endless journey To search for the real self Which should be greater than now.

Kazutoshi Sakurai

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Lighting Up the Literacy Stage Kaori Hyde, Reading Specialist!

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(Above) An exciting moment during “Sheila Rae the Brave.” Thank you so much for coming to the Drama Club performance and our mini Poetry Presentation on such a busy day right before the vacation! We had a wonderful show on April 12th. A long time ago, our Drama Club started out as more of a play with some lines. We focused on the performance as an end product. This had value in itself, however, as the needs of the students changed, our club’s performance started to change over the years. It evolved into a performance with a Reader’s Theater flare. Reader’s Theater is a kind of reading approach that is widely used from elementary school all the way to college. It is a fun way to improve fluency for readers at various reading levels. We focus more on the process of reading repetitiously. The end product might not be as elaborate as some performances in the past.

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However, we can assure you that students are learning very important skills. We had a truly wonderful performance by our two groups this year. Our Thursday group performed “Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. If a student was absent during our practices, other members always pitched in to read the part. This way, students learned to fill in for each other and gained more practice with reading fluently in the process. Though it is was unfortunate that we were unable to show you the performance in the way it was intended due to an absence, our practice paid off to have a successful presentation. Our second performance, “Sheila Rae the Brave,” was done by the Friday drama club. We enjoyed performing so much as we dramatized the scripts. All the dramatizations were the students’ original ideas. Some of the members were a bit nervous, but, with the help of their “Louises” around them, they all acted very bravely like Sheila Rae. This year’s presentation also involved short clips from our homeroom times. We started a Higashi Poetry Project. Every month, students were introduced to one to three new poems. All students participated in their own

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way as was seen on the short movie. Students read aloud, followed words as the teacher read, or listened to the poem being read. Poetry reading is a wonderful way to celebrate our students’ reading skills. It teaches beginning reading skills such as the directionality of print. Print goes from left to right, top to bottom. It also promotes students’ sight word skills, as well as fluency. We can hit a variety of skills in one shot! This movie was a synopsis of our poetry project throughout the year. We were so excited to receive positive responses from the audience. Kudos to all students and classroom teachers who have worked so hard throughout the year!!

(Left) Half the cast of “Sheila Rae, the Brave,” taking turns as they read dramatically!

The cast of “The Giving Tree” following their scripts.

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Open Class April 12th, 2013

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A New Dawn for the Residence John Maina, Residential Academic Director

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The Residential Program has experienced key transformations aimed at greater efficiency and effectiveness in the service delivery. I have been tasked to oversee the academic programs in the Residence and revamp five of our existing core programs by working closely with the school’s Director of Training and Curriculum, Jennifer Lambert, along with our new activity leaders. You may have already witnessed their dynamic presence in the corridors, but if not, let me introduce them to you. Katherine ‘Katie’ Giguere colors our Art program and has already put her mark on vibrant decorations seen at recent events in Marble Hall. Erica Ouellette has taken the reins of the Physical Education program, hitting a homerun with our students, and hopes to help our

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students win the Gold at the upcoming Special Olympics. Kenny Yan has brought life into the Vocational program and is frequently seen with his groups organizing our school. Jared Cordell brings harmonious sounds into Music and is currently working on a Jazz group and a choir! And last, but not least is the newest addition to the activity leaders quintet, Cailin Gallagher, who has taken Social Communication and Technology by storm. It has been exciting to see how these new reforms in our residential model are transforming the lives of our students. The students are not only well engaged throughout the day in their productive activities, but now their skill development has become more systematic and effective. Our staff is also excited because we have put them at the center of our professional thinking

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by organizing in-service training sessions so that they continue to play their rightful role in improving our students learning outcomes. In this regard, Jen Lambert and I have organized the homework in-service training for three divisions, and we look forward to working with the rest in the coming weeks. I am excited to be a part of the residence’s reform initiative, and look forward to continue working closely with my esteemed and dedicated colleagues, Moses Nduati, Residential Administrative Director; Christopher White, Residential Program Director; and Masaki Mitsuyama, Asst. Residential Director. With their support, along with the entire residential team, we will truly maintain our status as a world-class program.

Residential Roundup Christopher White, Residential Director

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At the residence, we are mapping out and preparing for this year’s Family Day, which will be held on July 20, 2013. As you may know, one of the main goals is to bring outside community events to the Higashi campus and enjoy them as a family. Another focus is to showcase the students’ learning and foster their ability to generalize skills to a very large group event. Demonstrating appropriate self control in a large group setting, transitioning to various activities, and staying with one’s group are skills that can be challenging for our students. At the same time we work diligently with students to overcome these difficulties so they can enjoy activities. These include having fun going down a water slide or enjoying a hands-on reptile show. Hideyuki Nishizawa, Division Director of YA and IN Division at the

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Residence, has crafted a comprehensive plan so that our students, family and friends can enjoy the day come rain or shine. Special Olympics is in full swing as well. We have been to the assessment rounds for gymnastics and track and field. Makiba White, Recreation Coordinator, Tomoko Ogino Master Teacher of PE, and Erica Ouellette, PE Activity Leader, with a select team of residential teachers have been doing well to make sure our students are up to speed on the track and picture perfect on the mats. We are going for the gold! I am pleased to announce the arrival of Activity Leaders to augment our residential staff. Still relatively new to our program, their efforts have made a giant impact on our kids, both individually and in the residential program at large. The activity

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leaders have been providing additional instruction and opportunities for our students to learn and have fun in the areas of Physical Education, Art, Vocational, Music and Social Communication and Technology. The following articles from John Maina, Residential Academic Director, and each of the activity leaders will give them a chance to introduce themselves and give you a glimpse into the expansion of the residential curriculum. With the snow and colder weather a distant past, the grounds at the Boston Higashi School are alive not only with the lush foliage but also in the renewed spirits that Spring always brings. I have seen increased initiative for challenges and learning from everyone. I express my gratitude to one and all for their hard work and perseverance.

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Sports for Everyone Erica Ouellette, Activity Leader

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I was born and raised in Weymouth, MA but lived in Montreal, Quebec for the past two years while completing my Master’s in Adapted Physical Activity at McGill University. In December 2012, I began my job as Physical Education Activity Leader here at Boston Higashi. Over the past five months I have learned a great deal from our students and staff. In the beginning months we participated in sports such as basketball, volleyball, floor hockey, and rollerblading. With

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the nice weather coming we have changed to outdoor activities such as soccer, rollerblading outside, relay races, and lawn games. What is great about my position is that I get to spend time with the students at both school and in the residence. My favorite part about my position is that I get to provide structured PE activities that facilitate learning and practice, but are still FUN! I am excited to be working as part of the activity leader team at BHS and look forward to teaching and learning from our students!

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Practicing our soccer skills

We Are Ready Kenny Yan, Activity Leader

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According to research, there are 54 million people with disabilities and their talents enrich the United States. Employers who hire them have seen a positive impact on enthusiasm and retention among employees. In particular, people with autism are creative and innovative. As a vocational activity leader at the Boston Higashi School, I am starting to focus on developing the interests of students toward potential employment. As a start we have carried over many of the vocational sites practiced at school such as performing clerical work, recycling both on

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and off campus, performing café setup, and working in the dish room. This program is still new at the residence but our plans in the future are to create more vocational opportunities both on-site as well as off-site for our students to gain much needed skills to prosper and to prepare for their future. I believe that we will be very happy to see our students earning their first paycheck as contributing members of the community. Nothing is impossible if we give a chance to our students to perform their skills. We want our students prepared to work by the time they graduate from Boston Higashi School.

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Practicing our vocational skills both on and off campus.

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Communication and Connection Cailin Gallagher, Activity Leader

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As you walk around outside in the warm weather, you may notice the grass growing in your front yard, leaves reappearing on trees, and flowers blooming. Much like the growth of our surroundings this time of year, the Boston Higashi School is growing as well; coming up with new ways to ensure that students are receiving the best education throughout the entirety of the day. My name is Cailin Gallagher and I am so excited to be a part of this growth as the new Social Communication and Technology Activity Leader.

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My role at Boston Higashi School will be to bring the communication and technology skills that are worked on during the school day to the residence. Bringing such skills to the residence opens the students to a world of possibilities. I am currently in the planning phase, working alongside a number of colleagues, to come up with creative ideas and fun activities for the students that will help foster functional and social communication, as well as build upon their interests in technology.

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The communication aspect of this program will take an integrated approach, fostering social communication in various daily activities such as cooking, board games, sports activities, physical activities, music classes, vocational settings, and more. Technology will play an integral role in the students’ communication throughout these activities as well as serve as an educational tool and an appropriate leisure activity in the residence. I have high hopes for the success of this program.

Making a Joyful Noise Jared Cordell, Activity Leader

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(Above) Kazoos are a fun and motivating music instrument!

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I recently began as the Music Activity Leader for the Boston Higashi School Residential Program. I am elated to have the opportunity to create, design, and implement fun activities where students can dance, sing, and play on a variety of instruments. Students will have more opportunity to explore their musical side. We have implemented different classes at the residence such as establishing a choir and a rock/jazz band. Many groups of students will be able to use more musical

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equipment such as tambourines, kazoos, and the soprano recorder. As the summer months approach, I look forward to leading more activities outside, not only to enjoy the warm weather but also the beautiful Higashi School campus. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to teach such wonderful and creative students!

Art Abounds! Katie Giguere, Activity Leader

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Five months have quickly passed since I started my new role as Art Activity Leader for residence! It has been an exciting journey learning about and bonding with each student. We start each class with art homework to reinforce skills from school; students practice copying or tracing and coloring in the lines. After homework, we move on to the project for the day. Our projects have been

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focusing on making cards to send home and creating decorations. Soon we will be working on no-sew fleece pillows and learning how to take photographs with a digital camera. It brings me lots of joy to share my love of art with all of the residential students at Boston Higashi School!

(Right) Afternoon art brings smiles!

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Ladies Day of Beauty Jackie Briggs, Emergence Teacher

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Our 9th Annual Ladies Day of Beauty took place on Friday, April 12, 2013, prior to the Formal Dance. This event is for our female students in our Emergence Program. This day is very special to our young women, especially our graduating students. The teachers got the girls “all dolled up” for their big night. Many friends and families of the students’ gathered together to enjoy an afternoon filled with manicures, pedicures, make up,

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hair and a lovely luncheon put on by Bill and the kitchen staff. We had a professional hairdresser come in to create perfect hairstyles that suited each girl perfectly! He did an incredible job. Every student had their hair done and by the end it seemed as though we had a room filled with princesses. Leniese Gatto, elementary school teacher, is a make up artist as well and made all the girls look stunning. Other teachers from our Emergence Program became instant manicure and pedicure specialists. The girls all looked fantastic! Rachael, Katie, Noelle, Kelsey and even our old friend Shoshana, were all able to enjoy this day with their friends and family

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surrounding them. Each student got a pampering session they seemed to thoroughly enjoy. As the afternoon came to end, it was evident that the room was filled with emotions. So many feelings and reactions were filling the room, from parents and teachers, as the girls left to go back to their apartments to finish getting ready. Beauty Day was pleasant and delightful and it was a sure success.

Beautiful inside and out!

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Formal Dance & Graduation

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April 12th, 2013

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Lisa Genova Comes to Higashi Janice Oliver, Coordinator of Student Services !

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On April 29th we were privileged to welcome New York Times bestselling author Lisa Genova as our guest speaker, who spoke about her new book. love anthony is a novel about a young boy with autism. Lisa’s presentation was insightful and touching to all of us who were fortunate to hear her thoughts about how the world must feel to

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eight-year-old Anthony. Lisa engaged the audience in conversation, signed books and took time to chat with everyone. Love anthony is Lisa’s third novel. She has also written books about Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury. Her three novels have spent more than 40 weeks on The New York Times’ Best-Seller List. Lisa has a doctorate in neuroscience from Harvard and is a true advocate for those affected by cognitive disorders. Lisa’s interest in autism is influenced by her personal experience with her cousin’s son, Anthony. We are so pleased to have Anthony as a new member of our student body, and we look forward to working with his family!

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(Top) Taking time talk with the audience and sign her books. Bottom: Reading a powerful passage from love anthony.

Join us in this beautiful setting overlooking Nantucket Sound for a day of sharing as four authors provide their unique perspectives on autism. The day begins with a continental breakfast, followed by author presentations, buffet lunch, book signing, and a performance by the Boston Higashi Jazz Band. Please join us as we listen to these insightful writers who speak for the many affected by autism. Authors: Arthur Fleischmann, MBA, Carly’s Voice: Breaking Through Autism ! Lisa Genova, PhD, Love Anthony; Still Alice; Left Neglected ! Susan Senator, Making Peace with Autism; The Autism Mom’s Survival Guide Stephen Shore, EdD, Living Along the Autism Spectrum; Autism for Dummies; Beyond the Wall; Ask & Tell Moderator: Mindy Todd, Host/Producer of WCAI’s, “The Point,” as heard on the Cape & Islands NPR Station. Music Performance: Boston Higashi Jazz Band (Students with autism from Boston Higashi School)

For tickets & information contact: www.capecodvillage.org, or call 774-316-4640 $100 per person (tax deductible); advanced registration required; limited scholarships available Cape Cod Village, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to meet the ongoing residential and community living needs of adults on the Autism Spectrum.

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Autism & Authors: Autism’s Impact on Families

To Benefit Cape Cod Village Monday August 12, 2013 - 10 a.m.

Craigville Retreat Center Centerville, MA

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Parents’ Perspective Janet Murphy, Parent Association President!

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Spring is finally here and all of us are looking forward to the warm weather and doing outdoor activities. The children worked hard to prepare for the Annual Road Race which was held on Saturday May 11, 2013. This Road Race is a celebration of all the hard work of the children and staff. They run every day indoors in inclement and cold weather and outdoors when the weather is warmer and soothing. Everyone works hard to complete the race. Every student reaches the finish line with all staff, and families cheering loudly. Together, we can all accomplish anything we put our hearts and efforts towards with the help of our community of Boston Higashi School and the Parent Association. We are always delighted to welcome new parents. We hope you get to know other parents. Feel free to contact any one of us. We are always here to assist new families. As parents, we like to show our gratitude by thanking the teachers and staff for all the day to day hard work they do with our children each and every day.

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This year Staff Appreciation was held on May15th with breakfast in the morning for the overnight staff and two pizza lunches midday and in the late day for all teachers and staff to enjoy. We gave away some raffle items to say thank you for all that staff do for our children. We know that staff work passionately with our children who are happy most of the time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the love, care and compassion you give to each child. As a Parent Association, we continue to support the mission and efforts of the school. We will have our Annual Celebration in Wrentham on Sunday, June 23, 2013. The students will show us all the accomplishments they have been working on all year. We know it will be a great performance as it always shows the great efforts of the students and staff. We will also start thinking about the upcoming year and elections for the Parent Association Board. If you are interested please, let Maryellen Paradise, Administrative Assistant, know by email, [email protected],

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phone at x109, or letter. All positions are for one-year term except the office of President. This is a two-year term and I am completing the first year. (More information to follow.) On behalf of all the Executive Board Members, I thank all parents for your continued support for the Parent Association and the school. We appreciate any and all support given whether it is volunteering or financial contributions. The success of the staff appreciation parties, Paw Sox outing, sale of stadium blankets, Winter Festival sales items and Annual Celebration costume sewing all happen because of the dedication of wonderful parents, and caring teachers and staff of Boston Higashi School. I am grateful for the opportunity to assist all parents as the President of the Parent Association. It is truly an honor to serve in this position. Sincerely, Janet Murphy President, Parent Association Boston Higashi School

Mark your calendars for our 26th Annual Celebration! June 23rd, 2013 2:30pm (doors open at 2pm)

King Philip Regional High School ~ 201 Franklin Street, Wrentham, MA Admission is free and open to the public

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Connection, Collaboration and Inspiration Abroad

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February 2013: A major snowstorm, massive power outages and airport delays did not deter an ambitious journey to represent the Boston Higashi School Parent Association at the Musachino Higashi Gauken School. We embraced Annual Celebration Events, School Tours, The Research and Education Center Promotion, Parent Association Receptions and experienced the culture, customs and scenic ambiance of Japan, for an amazing and unforgettable trip! During this journey, a sense of embrace with a culture that values, among many things, educational excellence, delivers it with grace and a “do your best” attitude, and set forth a challenge for me personally (and the staff collectively) to assimilate these tenets to everyday life. In short, it was inspirational! We arrived, weary from a long flight, however once immersed in the vibrancy of the city with its fast-paced, visually stimulating, stylish and ordered lifestyle, weariness was not on the agenda. We met many former (Boston) Higashi staff and it was heartfelt to see those staff reconnect with our teachers and administration and hear of the humble but dedicated beginnings, of our school. It struck me how a number of staff have remained constant, and how integral someone like Bill Burke is to the history of our

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school. They stay to carry on the tenets of Daily Life Therapy® and those that did move on returned to their roots and are still vested in the mission of quality education and high expectations We visited four school locations (divided by age group), as well as toured the newly opened Center for Education and Research. We toured an Olympic-sized rooftop pool and outdoor track – which surely took careful planning as land constraints dictate. A willingness to share their experiences and curriculum on pool safety and co-teaching was a generous thought. During the tours, some students were at the stage rehearsal for their Annual Celebration however we spent some time with the kindergarten students during recess. I remember feeling pure joy as we watched the children play and eat a hot broth (which they offered to us) made from a root vegetable they grew outside the classroom. It was cooked by fire, in a cordoned - area under adult supervision on the playground. From an early age, they connect with the land. Another very memorable moment, during this recess was when several of the young boys made an immediate connection to John Kolwaite, urging him to play with them. He happily obliged and the inter mix of them running to the playground slide was endearing. We visited students in Junior High Classes who were learning English

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and we sat in groups exchanging questions. In my group, they wanted to know how much a hamburger cost in America and what music and holidays were popular. It was a great experience. One I wish all children could have in learning new languages. In the high school division we saw students setting up for lunch, counting dishes and moving their carts under the direction of a job supervisor. We also saw HS students in pottery and painting class. We reconnected with three of the exchange students who had been in Boston and they shared their post graduation ambitions, one was so inspired by his time at Boston Higashi he plans to go into Special Education. Another is heading to a University and the third a specialty school for hospitality training. A highlight for me was the tour of the Center for Education and Research, which is a program geared to support almost 450 autistic or learning disabled students (with a staff of only 14!) These students are not enrolled fulltime at the school. They come from their local districts 1 or 2 times a week for speech, computer, group OT, social skills and parent connection opportunities. A commitment to collaborating with their teachers, researching best outcomes, augmenting teaching materials for publication and programs

Paula Haite, Vice President of the Boston Higashi School Parent Association traveled to Japan in February to serve as our parent representative at Musashino Higashi Gakuen’s Annual Celebration festivities.

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tailored to an individual’s specific needs was commendable. I shared in Advisory Board member Stephen Shore’s enthusiasm for identification in best teaching practices. Another offer on collaboration of materials was extended to our staff. The essence of this commitment to quality education was well -displayed at the next day’s Annual Celebration event. Both Mike Kelly and Peter Garland addressed the audience through an interpreter. The schools are integrated and the talents were evident in the opening act, featuring a dance troupe, which has won national recognition in Japan. A short playlet, various stellar music performances, and interpretive movement expressions inspired by Van Gogh paintings were all part of the Celebration Acts. One act in particular used large yellow sunflowers with gorgeous flowing white costumes, which the parents had made. It was memorable. Many acts included their autistic students and they were subtly, supported by staff and peers. The second half performance of physical education acts mirrored ours as balance disks, stilts, gymnastics and sport performances were

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synchronized. Jen Tomase, one of our high school Master Teachers shared how inspiring it was as a teacher to see these performances. Loud clapping for students accomplishing their objectives across the stage were heard and I was nearly in tears, knowing everyone was valued in this great performance. We met with parents during two different receptions and their generosity, and hospitality were over the top. I felt like I was visiting with distant family. We presented each association leader with Bill’s cookbook, a piece of pottery from the students, a Blank journal with seaside charms representing coastal life and a signed children’s book about the Cape Cod Bear who travelled across Massachusetts last year. Some spoke English and if not, others were willing to interpret. I learned that as parents they take immense pride in the many accomplishments of their children. Those parents with children of differing abilities have many of the same thoughts – wondering what the future holds; however there was a collective reassuring opinion, that while at the Musashino Higashi Gauken School, their son (or daughter) had made remarkable progress. We all gratefully share that

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remarkable bond. Special thanks are extended to both the Boston Higashi School and Parent Association and the Musachino Higashi Gauken Schools, Mr. Terada, Mr. Suzuki our gracious host and guide, Mr. T, and all the parents, the Administrators, Principals and Vice Principals and Parent Representatives for their hospitality and for opening your schools and hearts to us. To the staff and students who worked to bring us such inspirational performances. To Mike Kelly and Peter Garland, who aptly promote the value of maintaining these connections! To Marilou, Mrs. Ebi and all who assist in the coordination of these events. To my travel partners, especially to Yoshie Gordon, for all the history, interpretation, recommendations and cultural connections she brings to our school. Thank you for letting our family be part of this incredible educational community. Paula Haite Vice President Parent Association, Boston Higashi School

With Appreciation to our Parents!

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2-4-6-8 – Boston Higashi Parents are Great!!

We wish to express our deepest thanks to all members of the Parent Association for making us all feel so special! The breakfast, salad, pizza, and chocolate brownies were all served by Parent Association volunteers with such grace, elegance, and charm that it made us all feel like royalty.

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Everyone really enjoyed the excitement of the raffles. We appreciate the partnership we share with families on behalf of our students. Your support means so much to all of us. Thank you from the entire BHS Staff! The following staff members were the lucky winners of the fabulous gift certificates/prizes provided by our very generous parents:

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AMC Theaters … Jessica Janetti American Eagle … John Ngure Barnes & Noble … Ani Noro Best Buy … Samuel Gathungu iTunes … Ifeanyichukwu Okeke Michael’s … Yumiko Fantasia Lowe’s … Ketly Changeu Olive Garden … Nina Battista Panera … Mark Ryan Parce Sports Authority…Jonathan Drake Canobie Lake Park & American Express Gift Card … Ann Villani Beach Buggy & American Express Gift Card … Yumiko Mori

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On your mark, get set…. GO!

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Road Race May 11th, 2013

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(Below) This year 10 student runners participated in Evan’s Run, held on May 19th. Thanks to staff and parents who came out to support our students!

(Left) High school student Dakota Burgess sang the Star Spangled Banner before the Pawtucket Red Sox game on May 19th! His rendition truly “knocked it out of the park.” Way to go Dakota!

(Above) Emma Coleman, sister of Middle School student Billy, presented Principal Donovan with a scrapbook about Higashi that she created as a school project. It will be on display in our library for everyone to enjoy! Thank You Emma!

(Below) Emergence staff member John-Michael Krasoski presented Mike Kelly with a metal sculpture he designed and created as a gift for the school. The sculpture is the kanji character for “Higashi,” which means “east.” We are so lucky to have such talented staff!

(Left) This year Morgan McNamara and Noriaki Kanazawa represented Higashi at the “Japanese Festival Boston” downtown. They sold Higashi ceramics and raised awareness for our program in the community!

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(Above) Exercising and library skills were the focus of our parent collaboration meeting and hands-on training held March 28th.

(Right) Higashi Siblings are the best! We had our largest turnout yet for our Winter Sibling Day, held February 21st. From classroom activities to human-size foosball, a great time was had by all!

We were fortunate to welcome two separate musical groups to our stage! (Left) On January 30th, students from the Berkshire Hills Music Academy, a music school for adults with special needs, brought their many talents to our campus. (Below) On February 15th, we welcomed the orchestra from the Longy School of Music for an afternoon concert that was enjoyed by all!

(Left) Once again our Jazz Band showcased their skills at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge in early May. Their next off-campus gig will be August 12th as part of the “Authors and Autism” benefit. Please see the ad on page 14 for more information.

Danny Griffin and his mom Wendy Proud Dad Dan, and James McIntyre PE Teacher Tomoko, Carlos Lopez, and mom Amarilis

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Daycare Delights Pam Patrone, Director of Daycare!

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Spring has sprung! Yeah! The weather has been very cooperative and we have all had many chances to go outdoors and enjoy the many beautiful spring days. We have taken walks around the campus and have stopped to see the flowers grow and bloom more each day. We have had picnics outside and gone on a lot of wagon rides in the playground. Our day care family is growing in leaps and bounds! Recently, we welcomed Luke Palleschi, Nora Carter, Cindy Mwangi and Peter Kimani to our family. We are looking forward to the arrival of four new babies enrolling before the end of the year. We celebrated Mother’s Day with an outstanding brunch. The moms were all able to have some tasty breakfast treats and spend some time relaxing with their child in their classroom. It was a nice opportunity to see some of the moms that we don’t usually get to see here and to be able to share amusing stories of their child with them in person. They also got an opportunity to see some of the artwork their

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children have done and some really cool activities. The parents of the preschoolers were presented with an original Mother’s Day song written by one of our own: Sharon Mwangi! The preschool teachers had a song planned for the children to learn but when they heard Sharon’s original song, there was no better choice! The moms all loved the song and thanked Sharon for sharing it with them. Another sign of spring is the Annual Road Race. Thankfully, the rain held off long enough for everyone to complete the race! The preschoolers started the event off by taking part in the “Fun Run.” Later, they cheered on all the rest of the runners, and then applauded loudly for the runners/walkers in the family and friends race. Two of our own daycare staff, Pam Patrone and Lynne Freedman, took part in the family and friends race. Breathless and barely making it to the finish line, they were motivated to continue to the end by the cheering sounds of familiar faces of parents and children in the crowd. Then everyone moved

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inside for the Awards Ceremony and the very enjoyable staff performances. The month of May will continue to be one of fun, spring activities. Hoping that we have a lot of sunshine, the teachers have a lot of outdoor activities planned for the children. The preschoolers are getting ready for their unit on butterflies with the arrival of caterpillars. The younger preschool group will be growing “hair” in cups decorated with faces and will be learning about worms and their lifestyle. The toddlers plan to go “fishing” in the classroom and have a bubble party! Plans of having picnics and long walks outside are also in the works, as well as fun tumbling down the “big hill!” The staff and children of the daycare are also getting ready for Father’s Day! For Father’s Day, we are preparing for our annual whiffle ball game and cookout. Soon the smell of grilled hotdogs will be filling the air as the children plan once again to beat the dads in this whiffle ball event.

Day Care was full of activity this spring, from Road Race and Mother’s Day activities, to exploring the world around us!

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! Comings, Goings and Everything In Between at Higashi

Behvin McDonnell, Human Resource Manager

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We offer sincerest condolences to Tsuyoshi Oba, Gilbert Gitau, Susan and Nina Battista, Henry Njoroge, and Peter Gaitho on the loss of their family members.

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We have welcomed several new staff to Boston Higashi School since our last publication: Jared Cordell, Music Activity Leader; Jessica Jannetti, Academic Support; Cailin Gallagher, Social Communication and Technology Activity Leader; Njeri Mbure, Overnight staff; and Residential Instructors Victoria Libby, Anthony Mwaniki, Jessica Berry, Richard Lynham, Ramone Robinson, and Jacqueline Thistle; Jennie Paskowski, Library Resource Coordinator; and Rebecca Golden, Assistant Clinician! We said goodbye to the following staff: Olivia Roberts, Dave Cooper, Ellen Patterson, Kaitlyn Scott, Julius Mwangi, Regina Mwangi, Emily Tricco, and Gregory Borsari. We wish them well in their future endeavors and thank them for their dedication to the students and staff here at Higashi.

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Congratulations to Carolyn Feely and her husband on the birth of their baby boy

Andrew Joseph on March 12, 2013!

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Congratulations to Joy Iroh and Egbuta Ndukwe on the

birth of their daughter Mercy

on November 19, 2012!

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We salute Leanne McAllister and Jacqueline Moniz who received their Masters Degree in Severe Disabilities from Lesley University this spring.

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Congratulations to Kana and Dennis March on the birth of their baby girl

Shiori Mikayla on April 24, 2013!

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! More Please Bill Burke, Executive Chef !

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We all have been very busy with the business at hand and I am pleased to say that much has been accomplished. Culinary Arts at the Residence is supplying us with the gluten free/dairy free bread that we need for students. We are branching into gluten free cakes and cookies also, but we do need a little more time. As stated earlier, we are

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developing a program where we will also be making other breads that people and students that are not sensitive to gluten can enjoy. We hopefully will be planting our gardens as well as the Higashi Lavender Patch. Last year we used almost one hundred pounds of tomatoes along with other vegetables that we grew on campus. I am convinced that our harvest was so abundant because of the love and care that our students gave each and every plant. Our Spring Fling April Vacation Program was very well attended. Students and staff enjoyed all the interactions and activities. They got to meet new friends and have

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fun learning in groups and working on new projects. Lunch is always a very social and enjoyable time in their busy days. The Stars and Stripes Vacation is rapidly approaching and will be here before we know it. With the warmer weather here please keep SAFETY first and foremost in all that we do. Again please don’t hesitate to contact the kitchen with any ideas or concerns that you may have. By working together we can accomplish many things.

By Carmine DeCicco

higashi highlights - spring 2013 issue

Documents

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boston higashi school

higashi highlightsspring

special night

division young women

special groove

special message

formal dance