Higashi Highlights - Spring 2018

Higashi Higashi Highlights

Spring 2018

Challenge

Believe

Together

April & Beyond: Celebrating Autism Every Month

At Higashi we celebrate children with autism every month, not just once a year on April 2nd. However, Autism Awareness Month provides a unique opportunity to engage with the greater community, and give our students opportunity to shine! www.bostonhigashi.org • Helping children with autism exceed expectations since 1987 • (781) 961-0800

The Principal’s Perspective Spring finally made its appearance, uplifting all our spirits. The longer daylight hours give us all more energy for our busy days and nights. The temperatures inched upward slowly, but we were finally able to abandon the layers of clothing we needed to keep us warm during this past protracted winter season. How fitting then, that with the promise of spring and the hope that new growth brings, we celebrate Autism Awareness Month during April. Despite our doubts and impatience, spring has indeed arrived - the new seeds springing forth, aided by our care and attention.

These seeds are indeed a metaphor for our own students’ growth. Dr. Kitahara spoke often of a child’s “most precious bud of self-identity,” and charged us to “foster it with loving care.” Every day at Boston Higashi School celebrates Autism Awareness, but during the month of April, this awareness is put on a global stage, and brings with it myriad opportunites to both reflect and act. From conferences and performances, to parent engagement and community involvement, the month of April shines a spotlight on the importance of autism and it’s impact throughout the lifespan. Indeed, our April 4th Autism Forum, “Leading the Way: New Perspectives in Autism Education and Research,” brought together educators, researchers, and parents alike, and was an inspiring way to kick off the important month of April.

We returned from spring break with very special memories of Graduation, Formal Dance and most especially, the Emergence Brunch. Parents and family members shared personal reflections that were very poignant and moving for one and all. I cannot begin to tell you how much our staff appreciates these sentiments. Summoning the courage it takes to stand before a large group to express what is deep in your the heart is not easy. We know that the hardest part of loving is letting go, and these fledgling adults are indeed ready to embrace their next life chapter. We will miss them dearly but take comfort in knowing that they join our alumni ranks and our connections to them will remain.

As we experience these annual rites of passage, I am ever mindful of the strong bonds of community that Boston Higashi School nurtures and sustains. We continue to care deeply about one another and remain connected through shared ideas, ideals, and collaborative memories. Together, we create a richly textured, colorful quilt of abundant experiences that encircle the various ages and stages of life.

We will soon be entering the last three months of this school year. June, July and August have their own special rhythm that gets us outside more. MCAS has come and gone and we are able to ease up on academic demands just a bit to include more flexible schedules and project-based lessons. Clearly summer lends itself to a bit of reprieve that we all need to refresh and recalibrate ourselves for the upcoming new school year.

Deborah Donovan, Principal

JUN 24

UPCOMING EVENTS ALUMNI BRUNCH 11am-1:00 pm Lombardo’s

JUN 24

ANNUAL CELEBRATION

JUN 25 - JUL 8

SUMMER BREAK

2:30pm - 5:00 pm

King Philip Regional High School

(Vacation Program, June 26- 29, July 2-3 & 5-6)

JUL 9 | Parent’s Collaboration Meeting

9:30 am - Noon JUL 21 | Family Day

11:30 am - 3:30 pm JUL 27 | Sibling Day

9:30 am - 1:00 pm AUG 12 | Bon Dance Festival @ Higashi (Open to the Public) 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm For the latest news and events, visit our website at www.bostonhigashi.org

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Class Notes

WHERE IN THE WORLD? Along with gearing up for the upcoming Annual Celebration, the Middle School Division is also starting to prepare for our World’s Fair! Each class is learning about a different foreign country in order to educate their peers about the various customs, languages, money, landmarks and (most importantly) foods! This year, we are visiting four exciting countries: Mexico, Korea, Nepal and Uganda! In Seimi’s class, students are learning about Mexico. Here, Sam is making his own sombrero! Que bueno!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! The High School Division is excited to finally get outside and see the sun! We have been enjoying some outdoor fun and observing all of the new life blooming around campus.

This semester, in between working hard at new spring job sites and preparing for Annual Celebration, we are learning about different life cycles. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our chicken eggs, caterpillars, and seeds so that we can bring our lessons to life ... literally! Stay tuned!

ALL ABOUT OUR EARTH The Junior High Division is excited to kick off the month of May, and begin preparations for their Science Fair this summer! From volcanoes to the solar system, the topics are varied, and hands-on projects bring an element of fun into all things science. JH E class is studying the layers of the earth - Core, Mantle and Crust - and modeled the layers using PlayDoh. Next up, how volcanoes are formed in the crust layer, and what happens when they erupt!

SEA LIFE HABITATS The Elementary Division explored habitats for sea animals in April! We researched which animals live in the deep ocean by reading books and watching videos, and created a habitat map! As a wrapup activity, we visited the New England Aquarium and had so much fun watching a variety of fish swimming... Now we are so ready to swim like a fish in the summer!

SCIENCE IS FOR THE BIRDS! The Emergence Program is busy conducting science experiments in the months of May & June, with a capstone project visit to the Museum of Science! EP F-Class has been busy investigating why certain birds prefer certain habitats over others. They have incorporated their topic into community trips to watch birds out in nature, and see birds in pet stores.

They’ve built a class birdhouse, and up next ... eating like a bird! Students will try picking up gummi worms with chopstick “beaks” to sample how birds eat.

Residential Reflections: High School B Raises The Bar & Closes The Curtain On Wednesday April 25th, High School B drew a curtain on the Parents’ Night that commenced some months ago at the Residence. The division wanted to give an eloquent testimony to Daily Life Therapy: the teaching methodology employed to convey skills, knowledge, and maximize the innate capacity of students.

They began with setting up the cafeteria, an activity designed to equip students to earn a means of employment as well as utilize knowledge for real life situations after graduation. Some of the parents did not want to be spectators and with aprons on, forks and knives in the hand, joined their kids to place their utensils in the order of use. Without prompts, the students placed forks on the left of the plate, knives and spoons on the right. The parents, in imitation of their kids followed them around the cafeteria placing whatever utensil was given to them.

The cafeteria was set up with such precision and perfection that some appetites were whet by just looking at the composition of the utensils in the tray. The kids showcased their skills with ingenuity and parents applauded both the teachers and students for the training acquired.

From work, the division took the parents and kids on a tour of play. There were two different types of games, Connect4 and straw connectors. The games were placed in stations, with each student & parent having the opportunity to have a feel of both games. Interestingly, some of the students have mastered the games to the level of professionals and could dismantle, assemble and complete a round or match within the spec of seconds. The twinkle-twinkle little stars were sparkling in the galaxy of High School B, driving their parents through the games while employing the tricks they have learnt.

It was a night no one wanted to end. Parents, students and teachers all had fun. It was an enjoyable night on which High School B concluded the parents’ interaction with their kids, at least for now. Interestingly, and like Oliver Twist, some parents asked for more. Understandable.

Greetings from the Parent Association! ~ Welcome Spring!

Parent Perspectives

Happy Spring from the Parent Association. We have been very busy! We want to thank all our parents for their continued support of the Higashi Store, which we turned over to the school to manage after getting it up and running this fall. With the funds we earned through store sales and at school events this year we were able to fund quite a bit this spring.

We recently helped fund the Ladies Day of Beauty and provided assistance with the limousine that brings our graduates to the Formal Dance and Graduation. The Parent Association also paid for the very popular photo booth. Many families were able to take home a picture as a keepsake of a very special night. As a thank you to all the amazing Higashi staff we treated them to ice cream sundaes during Teacher Appreciation Week. Annual Celebration is just around the corner and many of the costumes you will see on stage will be provided by us as well. As you can see, your contrubutions go a long way!

We are very excited to host a Parent Association Coffee on Wednesday, June 20th at 8:45 - 9:30am before the Annual Celebration Full Rehearsal. We hope you can join us, chat with other parents and learn about the Parent Association Board.

We have several open positions and would love to discuss them with anyone that may be interested becoming a member.

As always, if you have any questions or suggestions do not hesitate to contact me at jabsbo03@gmail.com or on Bloomz.

Julie Coppenrath, Parent Association President (& Mother of Helen in JH)

Development News The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism Grant The Boston Higashi School was proud to be the recipient of it’s firstever grant from the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism - Allison Keller Education Technology Program to fund an Interactive White Board for one of our new third floor classrooms. The grant, totaling just over $4,000, covers the complete costs of the Whiteboard, its cover, movable mounts, a laptop computer and a rolling cart. The school is honored and proud to be a recipient of a grant from such a prestigious Foundation. The goal of the Flutie Foundation is to help families affected by autism live life to the fullest. Through their programs and partnerships, they help people with autism get access to care; lead more active lifestyles; and grow toward adult independence.

The Evan Henry Foundation for Autism Grant The Boston Higashi School is once again honored to be the recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Evan Henry Foundation. The Evan Henry Foundation for Autism is a nonprofit organization that has been established in memory of Evan Henry. Evan, a former student at our school, was an 11 year old child from Norwell Massachusetts who was diagnosed with autism and who accidentally drowned in July, 2000. Evan’s family and friends would like him to be remembered as a happy and loving child who taught others the true meaning of patience and compassion.

Canon USA Donates Equipment We visited the Canon USA HQ office in New York, and met with Mr. Shigeo Morita, Director of Canon, and Ms. Junco Kennedy, Communication Division. After watching a video about Higashi, they were so impressed with our students’ life on campus, and Higashi’s passion to improve the quality of services for those with autism, that Canon decided to send us gifts of a camcorder and color inkjet printer in support of our programs. The printer was immediately put to use for our graduation ceremony in April. We made a DVD for every graduate and the printer enabled us to add beautiful custom photos on each DVD. The camcorder will be a wonderful addition for capturing Higashi events, especially our upcoming Annual Celebration. We are most grateful for the new relationship we have built with Canon USA, and we look forward to a long and healthy partnership together.

Third Floor Construction Complete

Above: Vibrant and modern fabric swatches on each division’s concept design board.

After nearly 9 months of construction the addition of six new sparkling classrooms and new clinical and research space is complete. In addition, finishing touches to a complete renovation of the Young Adults Unit is done. Thirteen beautiful new bedrooms, a new shower and laundry room complement a newly designed and expanded living room, bringing a warmth and hominess to the unit – the likes of which have never existed at Higashi. Thanks to the expertise, creativity and generosity of parent and Architect, Whitney Whinnery for the countless hours she committed to the project, working with contractors and meeting with staff. New furniture is on its way, and stay tuned for an announcement about an Open House sometime this summer.

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Celebrating Autism Awareness : The month of April was filled with wonderful events that brought the topic of autism to the forefront. These partnerships, meetings, conferences, and performances showcase possibility, and give voice to the uniqueness that is life on the spectrum. Here are the highlights: KICKOFF TO APRIL (MARCH 28th) - We had an extremely well attended Parent Training session and Art Show, “Colorful Mind.”

Students sent postcards to their parents as part of their Language Arts lessons inviting them to come. The lobby was set up like a real museum, and student artwork was on display. The art department also conducted a lesson for parents to learn about the terminology and techniques that we use in our art classes.

Then the students joined their parents for some family art fun!

APRIL 4 - Our Forum, “Leading the Way: New Perspectives in Autism Education and Research,” was held at Granite Links in Quincy. It was a privilege to host this event, marking Boston Higashi School’s 30th Anniversary of educating children and young adults with autism. Our speakers, Dr. Helen Tager–Flusberg, Dr. Stephen Shore, Dr. Robert Naseef and Dr. Barry Prizant informed and transformed us with their proven expertise, unique experiences, and individual perspectives. We were honored to host these exceptional leaders in autism research and education.

Photos - This page: (bottom left) The incredible lobby at the Wang Center. Note our Jazz Band in the righthand corner!; (above left) The panel at Babson College’s Health Coverage Fellowship; (center) A pre-performance dinner at Ryles Jazz Club; (top right) The CAEP showcase spring event; (center right) Our esteemed panel of speakers at the Autism Forum; (lower right) The Teamsters present Higashi an amazing donation. Page right: (all photographs) Images from the Colorful Mind Art Show and Parent Training session.

Forging Strong Community Friendships

APRIL 7 - On April 7th we held the showcase session of the Continuing Adult Education Program. Thirty alumni came to this culminating activity to share their work, enjoy the work of others and hear the music of the Alumni Jazz Band. They also sang and gave a performance complete with drums, singing and dancing to loud applause from an audience comprised of parents and caregivers. It is very heartwarming to see broad smiles from alumni faces beaming with pride. The alumni never outgrow Daily Life Therapy® and continue to flourish when high expectations are set, and they are supported with just the right amount of scaffolding. Parents and caregivers revel in the positive energy that pervades these campus reunions.

APRIL 21 - Our Higashi Jazz Band was delighted to perform once again at the 11th Annual Teamsters Local 25 Gala for Autism at the Wang Center in Boston for a loud and boisterous crowd of over 1000 people. As usual, the band was tremendous and handled the crowd with an amazing sense of confidence and professionalism. The Teamsters were most generous not only with their words and applause, but also with a hallmark donation to our school.

Executive Director Mike Kelly proudly received the 2018 Essential Puzzle Piece Award on behalf of the Boston Higashi School.

APRIL 30 - Our Jazz Band closed out the month at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge, MA, where they opened the night before performances from Milton Academy and The World Leaders. If you’ve never seen the Jazz Band at Ryles, it’s certainly worth checking out. Stay tuned to our website and Facebook page for upcoming performances!

APRIL 30 - Higashi alumni and current staff member Carmine De Cicco, and Principal Deb Donovan were invited by author and journalist Larry Tye to serve on a panel discussing autism as part of the Health Coverage Fellowship at Babson College. The fellowship selects 12 journalists each year from across the country for an intensive week devoted to health care issues. Also on the panel were Dr. Christopher McDougle from the Lurie Center, and John Williams, a talented artist with autism. Carmine was very informative and quite at ease responding to the questions that were posed by the attendees. It was a great opportunity to discuss Daily Life Therapy, the Boston Higashi School, and the personal impact and importance of quality autism education.

“To help children with autism, we don’t need to change them or fix them. We need to work to understand them, and then change what we do.”

-Dr. Barry Prizant, from his book Uniquely Human

Congratulations Class of 2018 8 The Next Chapter Begins for our 2018 Graduates Our “Higashi Family” continues to grow! Over 500 members of our Family gathered at Lombardo’s in Randolph on April 12th, to celebrate the next phase of the journey for our 12 graduates at the 2018 Formal Dance. April always brings special rites of passage and treasured annual traditions for Boston Higashi. Our Formal Dance, Graduation and Emergence Brunch are always poignant times of great reflection and joyous celebration. These events make us take time from our busy schedules to pause and ponder how swiftly time passes. We congratulate our graduates, and wish them all the best as they begin the next chapter of their lives.

It is said that the road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Our lessons come from the journey rather than the destination. It is the people that we encounter along the way that help us discover the treasure of our authentic selves. If we are lucky, we encounter those who live their own lives with passion, purpose and pride. They inspire us and enable us to dwell in possibility.

They ignite our will and build our capacity to grow and be changed for the better. These are truly the hallmarks of our graduates and their families. Each and every one of them have left an indelible mark in the heart and mind of everyone who has been blessed to know them through their Higashi years.

The presence of so many alumni at our Formal Dance, and at so many other Higashi events throughout the year, is a true testament to the community that continues to thrive, even after graduation. We hope to see our new graduates at many events to come, and know that even as they embark on their separate journeys, they will always remain stitched together, a part of the fabric that makes up our “Higashi Family.”

“Do not go w where ther here the path may l e is no pat e h and leav ad, go instead

e a trail.”

-Ralph W Keep Lead aldo Emer ing the Wa son y, Gradua tes!

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Ladies’ Day of Beauty

Formal Dance & Graduation

Emergence Brunch

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Campus Happenings Through the efforts of Mr. Douglas Trudeau, the Director of Fine Arts for Waltham Public Schools, Waltham High School’s Show Choir, Music Unlimited, treated our staff and students to a stellar performance on May 3rd. They are a large, diverse group and related well to our students. It is always uplifting and inspirational when music transcends differences and brings people of all abilities together in song. Our students really enjoyed this partnership event.

On the last day of our Spring Vacation Program, our students were treated to a very special performance of Japanese “Gagaku,” which is the oldest style of music in Japan, dating from the 10th century. The performance piece, composed in 1940 to commemorate Japan’s 2600th anniversary, is a very new composition in the history of gagaku, and was based on a poem written by Emperor Showa (1901-1989) calling for peace in our world. The students were silent as the music and slow, peaceful dance movements enveloped the gymnasium.

What a beautiful experience for all!

Research News: Two Poster Presentations at INSAR The 2018 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR, formerly IMFAR) was held in Rotterdam, Netherlands from May 9th to May 12th. On behalf of Boston Higashi School, Dr. Ashley Woodman (University of Massachusetts Amherst) and Yumiko Mori (BHS, Educational Program Evaluator) presented two posters: 1) The Impact of Vigorous Exercise on Behavior Problems and Academic Engagement among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and 2) The Effect of Music on Exercise Intensity among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study.

The first study “PE Study” included a sample of 21 students from Junior High School division. The results showed that vigorous exercise decreases the number of problematic behaviors students display throughout the school day and increases students’ ability to focus on academic tasks. The second study “Music/Exercise Study” was conducted among 13 students from Elementary division. The results indicated that levels of vigorous-intensity exercise were significantly higher in the structured exercise period with verbal/physical prompts than in an unstructured period with minimal prompting, across all music conditions (no music, slow music, and fast music). Interestingly, these participants were more motivated by slow music than other conditions (i.e., fast music, no music). Participants with fewer maladaptive behaviors appeared to be motivated by fast music than slow music or no music. This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, 7(3), 38.

For more information about these studies, please visit the BHS Blog at https://bostonhigashischool.blogspot.com. The BHS Research Team is grateful to our wonderful co-researchers: Dr. Ashley Woodman, Dr. Miriam Evans (EdTogether, Inc.), Ms. Becky Golden (Boston Children’s Hospital), Ms. Emily Breviglia (Graduate from University of Massachusetts), and Ms. Hannah Wisniewski (Graduate from University of Massachusetts). Lastly, we truly appreciate all the students and their parents who participated in these studies. Also, we greatly thank all staff members who supported the research projects. Without their involvement, we would not have reached this milestone!

We were delighted to welcome Mr. Rokuichiro Michii, the Consul General of Japan, and Mrs. Atsuko Fish, longtime friend of Dr. Kitahara, whose foundation donated some lovely cherry trees to grace our campus on May 14th! We held a brief planting ceremony, and the Middle School division welcomed them with songs and a poem. Thank You Fish Family Foundation!

We Run for Fun! Our Annual Road Race on May 12th had both hares and tortoises. Everyone got to their respective finish lines with coaching and cheering from an enthusiastic crowd. Our students once again proved that champions are not born, they are made, through hard work, dedication, and a drive to succeed.

Congratulations!

Want to see more event photos? Check out our Facebook page!

Many of our Higashi students and staff also participated in Evan’s Run, the Evan Henry Memorial Road Race, in Norwell on May 20th. We remember Evan as a beloved student here, and still miss him. Our Higashi Road Race course uses part of the Evan Henry Nature Trail in his honor.

On Monday, May 21st, our Jazz Band had the honor of performing at the Massachusetts State House, at the invitation of longtime Higashi supporter Senator Walter F. Timilty. The band played an hour long set at lunchtime on the grand staircase, causing Senators, staffers, and even tour groups to stop and listen. The acoustics were amazing, and only amplified the confident notes from our Jazz Band members. When the performance concluded, Senator Timilty again prasied the band, extending an invitation for this concert to become a yearly occurance.

Thank you, Senator!

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

NEW

&

NOTABLE

PGS 6 -7

FEATURE STORY: AUTISM AWARENESS

PGS 8-9

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2018

PGS 10-11

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

IN THIS ISSUE PG 2 | Principal’s Perspective

CAMPUS HAPPENINGS

PGS 3-4 | Class Notes, Residential Reflections PG 4 | Parent Association PG 5 | Development News