WESTVIEW THE SCHOOL FOR HIGH-FUNCTIONING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
FALL 2017
The Westview School | 1900 Kersten Drive, Houston, TX 77043 | www.westviewschool.org
WESTVIEW The Westview School 1900 Kersten Drive, Houston, TX 77043 Phone: 713-973-1900 E-mail: info@westviewschool.org Website: www.westviewschool.org —
LEADER SH IP MS. DONNA MARSHALL DR. NATALIE MONTFORT Head of School The Stewart Center Director
ADMINISTR ATION Carol Harrison, Lower School Principal Russell Avery, Upper School Principal John Moring, Director of Development Becky Mattis, Director of Admissions Adrea Harris, Director of Marketing and Communications
SUBM IS SIONS IF YOU’D LIKE TO SUBMIT A STORY... Send an email to aharris@westviewschool.org
GIVE US A CALL! 713-973-1900
Welcome! FALL 2017 Dear Westview Families and Friends, Being involved in the events of Hurricane Harvey and seeing the aftermath it left behind has been frightening, heart-wrenching and saddening. But, as many of you have experienced, it also filled me with hope. To see our Houston community come together as one has been incredible. To see our country come together is even more uplifting. We had people from across the nation call and email the school to see how they could help. A special needs school in California offered to stock our school with supplies; an organization in Tennessee reached out to see how they could help. And most of all, our Westview family came together to offer support to one another, help knock out walls in
homes that were destroyed, and contribute financially to those who need assistance. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for these acts of kindness. As we move forward, I am certain that the spirit of love you all have exhibited will help us rebuild our lives and continue to give us hope for the future. Indeed, we are TEXAS STRONG. If there is anything I can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to ask. Sincerely, Donna Marshall Head of School
Join the fun! thewestviewschool
@westviewschool_
info@westviewschool.org
PROGRESSIVE ART DAY p. 14
Contents FALL 2017 Campus Life
Ask the Experts
06
Summer Camp Fun Thank you to all the students, volunteers and staff who helped make summer camp awesome!
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The Life of a Girl with ASD Former student Cassidy Malcolm gives us a glimpse into her life as a girl with “dreams and ASPER-ations”
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Music for Autism If you’ve never been to a FREE Music for Autism concert, you’re missing out
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What is Apraxia of Speech? Tiffany Indiero helps us understand how ASD and Apraxia are linked
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Progressive Art Follow our students as they move from class to class to complete “progressive art” projects
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Campus Calendar Mark your calendars for these awesome events throughout the year!
Community Happenings 16
Trunk or Treat! Join us for a fall festival and holiday gift market on October 28
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Save the Date for the 2018 Fundraising Luncheon at River Oaks Country Club on February 28
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The Stewart Center is available for all your testing and therapy needs
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
WE’RE WITH the band! Former student Anne Marie won the 2017 Miss Teen Amazing and sang the Star Spangled Banner at the “Strike Out Autism” event held at a Sugarland Skeeter’s game. She was accompanied by the Launch Academy band, which included Westview alumni Reed, Nicholas, Sammy, Dawson and Cole.
PASTA DI ITALIA p. 30
Congratulations on a job well done! You make us proud!
GUEST ARTICLE p. 10
SUMMER CAMP RECAP p. 6
Summer Camp RECAP DUCT TAPE CHALLENGE!
OUR HINES SUPER HEROES
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Thank you to our volunteers
Thank you to our camp staff
Thank you to our campers
Hope you’ll join us next summer!
2018 Summer Camp Dates: June 4-22 and July 9-27 Fall 2017
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Orchestrating stronger lives
Music for Autism BRINGING FAMILIES TOGETHER
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Be Our Guest! October 28, 2017 www.musicforautism.org The Westview School is honored to host Music for Autism, an organization that is is enhancing quality of life and raising public awareness through autism-friendly, interactive concerts developed specifically for individuals with autism and their families. The concerts feature professional musicians, including Tony Award winners, Grammy-nominated classical artists, and Pulitzer Prize winners. To ensure equal access for all, every Music for Autism concert is fully subsidized. Families note that the concerts help fill a major psychosocial void, enabling them to enjoy enriching activities that are inclusive and to experience the joy and power of music as a family.
IN THE ACTION!
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LIVING IN TODAY’S WORLD
as a Girl with ASD CASSIDY MALCOLM IS A 16-YEAR-OLD “ASPERGIRL,” ASPIRING WRITER, ANIMATOR AND DOG LOVER. AS A FORMER WESTVIEW STUDENT, WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE HER AS OUR GUEST WRITER IN THIS ISSUE OF WESTVIEW MAGAZINE!
CASSIDY SPEAKING AT THE WESTVIEW FUNDRAISING LUNCHEON
Want to follow Cassidy’s adventures?
CassiDreams and “Asper”ations is her new blog!
https://cassidreams.blogspot.com/
SI’S VISIT CAS G! NEW BLO
“So... Aspie girls. You don’t need to party in order to meet new pals! Sign up for school clubs or camps that are totally in your interests. I will guarantee that you will, at least, find one person who will accept you for you! The world is amazingly diverse. Not everyone likes to exactly party, but having a few close friends is really nice for those who’d rather take a nap (ahem, me)!” -From Cassidy’s blog
Fall 2017
Before I begin, I would like to thank The Westview School for giving me the opportunity to write an article for their magazine, and I would also like to thank my parents for supporting me throughout the time I have been here on Earth. It really means a lot to me! What is it like to live in today’s world as an ASD girl? It’s different for everyone, but I can tell you about MY experiences! As an ASD girl, time and time again, I have been pressured to conform to the everyday expectations of society. There are unwritten checklists that people just expect you to know. It’s quite hard being your quirky, normal self when faced with these kinds of “checklists” just so that you’d be accepted. For example: Pay attention in school no matter what. Look people in the eyes. Respond immediately when asked a question. Be happy and sociable around family, school, etc. Get good grades. But... I have a difficult time following the checklists, admittedly sometimes by choice. Other times it’s just difficult! There are several reasons; most of the time I don’t pick up on the cues that people put out. I also have a hard time when things are not clearly explained (and written out). Finally, I have to also admit, what’s fun about not being yourself? If everyone had the same, bland personality, we would all just look the same to make it that much easier, right? I say... NO! What I want is a society where people should rethink these social checklists and accept us for who we are… quirky, intelligent individuals who have their own strengths and weaknesses. I wish for a world where people will just not stereotype everyone, so that ALL people could be themselves without having to worry about being accepted.
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Now that we got the typical difficulties out of the way, let’s talk about some deeper issues. Making friends with other girls is not easy. Girls my age are usually into topics such as boys, social media (like snapchat), and the latest news in pop culture. However, I’m not into those types of things. I’m more interested in dragons, fantasy, writing, and the arts (mostly animation). Because of this, I have had difficulty conversing with other girls about topics besides the ones they are interested in. This can make me anxious and unsure of what to do.
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“This is my advice to other aspie girls: Don’t give up. Never give up. Giving up only makes your life miserable. Be yourself, and prove to the world that you can kick butt and take names.”
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I have found that girls my age need constant communication (which is why they are ALWAYS on their cell phones), although girls like me tend to be more introverted and don’t need constant communication. Thus, it’s difficult for me to maintain friendships through chatting…I can’t communicate for that long! I have to say that one thing that has really helped me was going to art summer camp. I found many new friends with similar interests by going there and still keep in contact with them, which is pretty exciting on my part! I always wished that other girls my age would open their hearts to girls like me. Summer camp has made a huge impact on my life!
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Social expectations aren’t the only things that make it hard for ASD girls to function in everyday society. Anxiety also is a challenge. Because I am socalled “high-functioning,” I am well aware of my anxiety (which makes it even worse). To help with this, I see a therapist and a psychiatrist to talk about my anxiety. I also find hobbies to help calm my nerves… in my case, it’s usually binge drawing. Girls with ASD may also have a more difficult time because of mood swings, which are caused by the normal hormonal process the body goes through. There is no way to “fix” this… just ways to help get around it. First and foremost, exercise is really important! I have to get up and move, walk a treadmill, do something that helps my body to regulate. Another way is to eat healthy…like eating a banana every morning for potassium. Healthy eating helps your body relax! Also, sleeping is a way to help with my mood swings. If I don’t get enough sleep I am quite rambunctious and have a hard time focusing. Medication can also help control mood swings. This way, one doesn’t have to worry about being angry on a drop of a hat. Trust me… I’ve experimented being on and off of medicine (safely of course), and I realized I need medicine. This is perfectly okay… I accept this is how my brain works, and I’m happy with it.
Fall 2017
I do want to give some advice. For teachers, you may be wondering how to help with aspie girls. If an aspie girl is in “shut down” mode, don’t be afraid to discuss what the issue is. What may come out may be more complex than you think! Usually, the answer is they are in sensory overload and need a way to decompress. Aspie girls tend to bottle up their emotions, and thus need a little help on getting them out. They usually don’t mind talking about their feelings… they just need a little prodding and nurturing. They need to know they are cared for.. Once you have the problem pinpointed, discuss with the student and their family strategies to help. Make accommodations for the student, such as longer due dates or longer testing times, and be clear on your expectations. In my experience, my biggest challenges always happen when I don’t know what is expected of me. For parents, don’t be afraid to have your child to see a therapist and psychiatrist. They will help more than you may think! Therapists will help get the bottled up emotions out of an aspie girl, while a psychiatrist will help with the medicine part of it. Also, you can talk with the therapist and psychiatrist yourself! They will be someone to talk to when you are unsure.
This is my advice to other aspie girls: Don’t give up. Never give up. Giving up only makes your life miserable. Be yourself, and prove to the world that you can kick butt and take names. Prove to them you are awesome just the way you are, and that their silly stereotypes won’t define you. Also, don’t be afraid of talking with those you trust and are comfortable around. Bottling your emotions up only makes things worse. Take it from me, I’ve learned that lesson many times! Chase after your dreams, and don’t stop until they are within your grasp. They will come true, I ensure it. In conclusion, I personally dream of being a writer and animator, so that I may tell my fantastical stories. This also includes working on my blog, CassiDREAMS & “Asper”ations. I hope that with my new blog, I’ll be able to help girls like me, as well as families who are struggling and are unsure of what to do with their AWESOME aspie girls. I believe that my dreams will help me mold my future by making me more creative as I go… something that every writer and animator needs in order to be, well, a writer and animator. I may even become a TV animator one day, or the next J.K Rowling!
Cassidy and her mom, Tracy
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Until then, see you in my CassiDREAMS & “Asper”ations!
www.westviewschool.org
Progressive
Art
Fall 2017
ON PROGRESSIVE ART DAY, STUDENTS VISIT DIFFERENT CLASSROOMS TO COMPLETE ART PROJECTS WITH VARIOUS MEDIUMS. “IT’S A DAY OF FUN, EXPLORING AND CREATIVITY!”
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Community Happenings
FREE FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
Trunk or Treat! join us for a FREE fall festival and holiday market!
Calling all Trick-or-Treaters! The Westview School will host a sensoryfriendly “trunk-or-treat” and holiday gift market for the Houston community on Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities will include bounce houses, face painting, sensory-friendly games, food trucks, face painting, and other fun activities for the entire family. A “trunk-or-treat” will commence at 10 a.m. and last until noon for children to practice trick-or-treating. Trick-or-treat bags will be provided at no cost to the first 100 guests. This event is a “no-judgment zone” and is ideal for families and children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning differences, anxiety disorders, and others who benefit from a sensory-friendly environment.
are you a vendor? we’d love to have you at the holiday market! Vendor spaces for the holiday gift market are available for a fee of $50. For more information and to reserve your space, contact Sarah Chauvin: shchauvin@gmail.com. Fall 2017
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www.westviewschool.org
JA VA
Join us for Java, a free education series for care-givers of indivuduals with ASD!
We invite you to attend our weekly speaker series on parenting children with autism spectrum disorder. Javas are presented in a casual setting over coffee and refreshments, and all members of the community are welcome. Discussions will be relevant to parents and caregivers of children of all ages with autism spectrum disorder. Dates and topics are listed below. There is no cost to attend, but we ask that you register beforehand so we know how many people to expect. All sessions begin at 9:30 a.m. and last approximately one hour. Location: 1830 Kersten Drive, Houston, TX, 77043. Continuing education credits are available for professionals!
2017-2018 JAVA SCHEDULE
Oct 19 – Talking to Your Child and Others About Autism Spectrum Disorder Oct 26 – Childhood Apraxia of Speech Nov 16 – Picky Eaters and Getting Your Children to Try New Foods Nov 30 – Stranger Danger and Online Safety Jan 11 – Understanding Evaluations and Assessments Jan 18 – Mainstreaming 101 Feb 15 – ASD and ADHD Feb 22 – Sibling Support: How to Make Sure All Your Children Feel Supported and Understood March 8 – Dealing with Tantrums, Meltdowns and Effective Discipline March 22 – Guest Speaker - Topic to be Announced March 29 – Taxes and Estate Planning for Special Needs Families May 3 – Travel Tips and ASD-Friendly Activities for the Summer
2017-2018 Westview Calendar October
January
April
5
Jane Stewart Day
2
Teacher Inservice - No School
2
Teacher Inservice - No School
6
Staff Development - No School
15
MLK, Jr. Day - No School
3-6
Spirit Week
9
Columbus Day - No School
25
Grandparent’s Day
7
Family Fun Day
12
Book Fair Week
11-13
Camp SMILE
19
Parent Appreciation Brunch
February November
8
Mom’s Day
23-27
Spring Book Fair
26
Breakfast at the Book Fair
9
Dad’s Day
16
Teacher Inservice - No School
17
Thanksgiving Feasts
19
President’s Day - No School
2-024
Thanksgiving Holidays
28
Fundraising Luncheon
December
March
14
Holiday Play - Early Dismissal
12-16
Spring Break
15-1
Winter Holidays
30
Easter Holiday - No School
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May 24
Last Day of School
25
Teacher Inservice - No School
June 4-22
Summer Camp Session 1
July 9-27
Summer Camp Session 2
www.westviewschool.org
ASK the EXPERT!
Tiffany Indiero, M.S. CCC-SLP Tiffany is a Speech-Language Pathologist at The Westview School and is CASANA Recognized for Advanced Training and Expertise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech, a designation fewer than 100 individuals in North America have been awarded. www.apraxia-kids.org
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Apraxia of Speech) are: • Inconsistent errors with consonants and vowels on repeated productions of syllables and words (your child says the same word in different ways when asked to repeat it several times. This might be more apparent in new words or longer more complex words.) • Difficulty moving from sound to sound or syllable to syllable, resulting in lengthened pauses between sounds and/or syllables • Inappropriate stress on syllables or words (such as all syllables are said with equal stress on each one causing the “melody” of speech to sound odd) CASANA lists additional possible signs of apraxia of speech to be: • •
•
Increased mistakes in longer or more difficult and complex syllables and words. Reduced vowel inventory (the number and assortment of vowel sounds that your child can produce), or errors when producing vowels, and Possible “groping” behaviors in which your child appears to struggle to achieve the correct oral posture to start or produce the syllable or word. (Not all children exhibit this at all times or situations. If your child does not demonstrate groping of their speech musculature, that alone is not enough to rule out apraxia of speech.)
CASANA is the only national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to children with apraxia and their families. CASANA raises money through small walks throughout the country. Its mission is to: •
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Autism and Childhood Apraxia of Speech We know by definition that children with autism have difficulty with language, sometimes so significantly that they are non-verbal or have limited verbal communication. But why do some children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) seem to try and make words and sounds and just can’t seem to get them out, or have poor intelligibility in connected speech? What is “Apraxia” and why is it talked about among families with children with autism? There are many reasons why a child with autism might be non-verbal or have limited verbal communication, and one reason might be that he or she also has Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). CAS is a neurological motor speech disorder. Children with CAS have problems saying sounds, syllables, and words. This is not because of muscle weakness or paralysis. The brain has problems planning to move the body parts (e.g., lips, jaw, tongue) needed for speech. The child knows what he or she wants to say, but his/her brain has difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words. The co-occurrence of ASD and CAS has been noted for many years. Autism Speaks notes a case study by in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics co-authored by Dr. Tierney. In it, she and her colleagues emphasize the importance of keeping both conditions in mind when Fall 2017
evaluating a child for either one. The researchers assessed 30 children, ages 15 months to 5 years, seen at their developmental communication clinic. Their follow-up testing showed that 64 percent of the children initially diagnosed with autism also had apraxia, and 37 percent of the children initially diagnosed with apraxia also had autism. By contrast, apraxia occurs in just 1 or 2 out of 1,000 children in the general population. Autism affects 1 in 68. However, other studies have reported the incidences are no higher among children with ASD. What is agreed upon by professionals and researchers at this point is that both disorders are complex, need further study and early intervention leads to the best outcomes. As a speech pathologist who has worked with children with ASD and apraxia for over 15 years I have seen a higher rate of CAS than in the average population, though not over 50%. How do you know if your child with ASD might also have CAS? A thorough evaluation from a speech language pathologist (SLP) will help allow for a “differential diagnosis” to be made. A differential diagnosis is when there is enough information to state that the child’s skills “fit” with a specific speech/language disorder. The top three characteristics of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (reported by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Technical Report on Childhood
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• • •
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To provide high quality information on CAS and spread awareness to families, professionals, policy-makers and other members of the public. To provide practical support to families by assisting with small therapy grants and communication tools for affected children. To facilitate better public policy and services for children affected by the disorder. To provide training and educational opportunities for families and professionals. To increase the level of expertise available throughout North America to diagnose and treat Childhood Apraxia of Speech To encourage/fund research in childhood apraxia of speech and sponsor scientific research meetings.
How does this impact Westview? Westview and The Stewart Center recognize that CAS impacts a portion of the children and families that attend and has graciously offered to host Houston’s Speak-tacular Walk for Childhood Apraxia of Speech. It will be a fun time celebrating the children and their families that work to overcome CAS. After completing my training and being awarded Recognition for Advanced Training and Expertise through CASANA, I have been asked to be a co-coordinator for this event and liaison for CASANA in the Houston area. If you have more questions about CAS, diagnosis or treatment I would be happy to help. Tons of researched based information can be found on the CASANA website: apraxia-kids.org. If your child has been diagnosed with CAS, I would highly encourage you to both support the walk and take advantage of the fun opportunity to meet other families that understand your struggle. Teams are forming now for the walk. Also, look forward to an upcoming JAVA on Childhood Apraxia of Speech! www.westviewschool.org
What’s happening at
The Stewart Center? The Stewart Center is a full-service psychology clinic serving families in the Houston community. We specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders.
“The Westview wrecking crew”
After the Storm
Recovering from Hurricane Harvey We would like to thank The Stewart Center for offering a free support and recovery group to families of children with ASD and related disorders who have been affected by the events of Harvey. The group will begin in October and will run for 6 to 8 weeks. It is supervised by Dr. Natalie Montfort, a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with individuals with neurodevelopment disorders and their families. Dr. Montfort and the staff at The Stewart Center are dedicated to community outreach and are offering this group at no cost. It is open to all members of the Houston community and surrounding areas. The Stewart Center at The Westview School is a full-service psychology clinic staffed by highly-experienced professionals with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. The Stewart Center serves children, adolescents and their families both from Westview and from the community. You do not have to be a student at The Westview School to receive services at The Stewart Center. It is part of the mission of The Stewart Center to be a center for early intervention. From birth to at least 36 months of age, every child should be screened for developmental milestones during routine well-child visits at their pediatrician’s office. When such a screening raises concerns, The Stewart Center can complete further evaluation, make diagnoses when appropriate and help families initiate early intervention.
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www.westviewschool.org
PAWS Group
Partnering Animals with Success P.A.W.S. at school provides students the skills needed to be successful throughout their academic career in a fun and interactive setting using behavior principles and experiential learning approaches. The Stewart Center will be hosting P.A.W.S at The Westview School, welcoming trained volunteers and their dogs to provide therapy and support to students ages Pre-K and up. Who is Eligible to Attend: This group is for children in grades Pre-K and up. Want more info? Send an email to info@stewartcenterhouston.org.
LEGO Group
Building Peer Relationships LEGO-based Therapy is a skill-building approach that focuses on social interaction and the development of age-appropriate peer relationships. By working together toward a task, such as building a specific Lego set, participants are able to experience collaboration, conflict resolution, negotiation, shared goals, joint accomplishment, social communication and mutual respect. This group runs continuously, and a one-month commitment is required. Who is Eligible to Attend: This group is for children in kindergarten through middle school. Knowledge of basic social skills (turn-taking) is required. ¬The ability to follow verbal instructions, keep Legos out of the mouth and maintain safety of self and others even when stressed is required. This group is for “fine-tuning” and reinforcing social development. Want more info? Send an email to info@stewartcenterhouston.org.
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www.westviewschool.org
Westview
Development
Annual Fund It’s time for annual fund! Be on the lookout for an annual fund letter in your mail box. Annual Fund is one of our largest fund raisers of the year and provides critical resources for our students and staff.
Student Council representative Noah and his mom, Sarah, at the 2017 luncheon
Carrying out the mission of The Westview School would not be possible without the continued support of wonderful people in the community who champion our cause. Special thanks to Landmark Industries and the Dujka family for their unwavering support and generosity through the Landmark Charities Classic golf tournament each year. Also, many thanks to Mrs. Donita Choate for her generous donation designated for new playground equipment for our upper elementary and middle school students. Plans for the new playground are underway, and we can’t wait to share the results. Finally, thank you to everyone who kindly made gifts to The Westview School in 2016-2017. An annual report and list of donors will be shared soon at www.westviewschool.org.
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Save the Date for the 2018 Annual Westview School
Fundraising Luncheon
The fundraising luncheon is a free event open to all who want to learn more about the mission of The Westview School. No tickets are required; simply RSVP to Director of Development, John Moring: JMoring@westviewschool.org, or call 713-973-1900. If you would like to become a table host, please contact Mr. Moring for more information.
1900 Kersten Drive Houston, TX 77043
Please join us! Community-wide Sensory Friendly Fall Festival Free fun for the whole family! 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.