Save the Date
Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events taking place on campus.
Student Art Show
Wednesday, May 31 6-7:30 p.m.
Wonder at the creativity and artistic expression of Cotting’s talented students, including civics projects, sustainability initiatives and other imaginative displays.
MHS Event
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To support Cotting today please visit: https://bit.ly/SupportCotting
Alumni Reunion
Sunday, May 21 12-2 p.m.
We look forward to welcoming former students and their families back to Cotting campus for lunch and the opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni.
Interested in volunteering? Contact
Associate Director of Advancement Carly Churchill at cchurchill@ cotting.org or 781-325-7997.
Society. “ Making the school’s history and accomplishments available to researchers, scholars and alumni and their families is in line with the MHS mission to promote understanding of the history of Massachusetts and the nation. We see our stewardship of the Cotting School’s archives as an important step in helping the public to understand the history of special education, diversity and disability.”
Over the next year, the collection will be organized and cataloged, then made available to the public. For more information about Cotting’s history, visit cotting.org/history-project or email Director of Advancement Nora Frank at nfrank@cotting.org.
Thanks to the successful campaign to build our new Campus Center, we were able to invite Erland Construction and Architectural Resources Cambridge (ARC) back to campus to start renovations on the school building. This included a significant upgrade to the Kiva, Vocational/Occupational Therapy Skills Lab, Learning Commons, classrooms and hallways in the main building. In addition, the medical department was expanded and the former gymnasium was transformed into a spectacular OT/PT area.
According to PT Lead Cindy Furbish and OT Lead Amy Houghton, having more space and the flexibility to use it in different and creative ways makes a huge difference. With room to spread out during therapy sessions, students have Continued on next page.
Rolling Admissions
Contact Director of Admissions Elizabeth Russell at erussell@cotting.org for more information.
Incredible Spaces (continued)
fewer distractions and therapists can take advantage of the wide variety of equipment options. This includes multiple mat areas, parallel bars, quiet rooms, a technology area and a variety of swings for movement and vestibular experiences. There’s even a skills lab where students can practice what they’ve learned within a functional “household” setting.
Collaboration is key amongst therapists, as well as students. “We
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have room for students from all levels in the school to work together. This opens up opportunities for younger students to interact with older
students, in some cases fostering a situation where older students can become role models and encourage younger students.”
Cotting’s Impact Across Generations
Although he graduated in 1963, Francis “Steve” L. Fleming, Jr.’s experience as a student at Cotting School made a lasting impact that spans decades—and generations. In fact, Steve’s sisters, Catherine Fleming and Terri (Fleming) Melchin, and his nephew, Jim Melchin, have all become regular donors. Even though Terri was just five years old when Steve graduated, she remembers the laughter and bonds that were formed at the former Cotting campus on St. Botolph Street in Boston. Steve stayed connected to his Cotting friends long after graduation. One friend in particular became like a brother to him and was considered a member of the Fleming family.
Growing up, Terri greatly admired the positive attitude and incredible resilience her older brother Steve demonstrated daily. She notes that “he
President’s Message | Bridget Irish, M.B.A., S.P.H.R.
The trees are budding, the flowers are blooming and Cotting campus is alive with anticipation. There’s a lot to look forward to in spring–from the start of baseball season to the alumni reunion to events like the senior trip, prom and graduation. As we race towards the finish line of another school year, it’s hard not to focus on what’s next.
But this is also a time to reflect on the remarkable accomplishments of our students and faculty. Thanks to their hard work and cooperation, MCAS Alt Portfolios were assembled and reviewed meticulously prior to submission. Planning for next year’s classroom groupings has already begun, prompting a series of webinars to keep parents and guardians informed of our process.
We are working to make a higher level of transparency and communication the status quo. Developing more robust tools for transition planning, Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings, an annual parent survey and the feedback we receive will be incorporated into how the school operates. We will also be looking to incorporate many ideas into a refreshed website coming soon. Parents and guardians play an integral role in the Cotting community, and we are grateful for their partnership.
On a related note, it’s been wonderful to see older and younger classes teaming up for this year’s Go Green! sustainability initiative. From keeping sneakers out of landfills to making sculptures out of recycled materials to testing biodegradability, the collaborative projects our students are working on together are inspiring. I encourage you to attend the Annual Art Show on May 31, where you will be able to see some of this work on display.
faced his obstacles with dignity and courage”. To this day, she says, it still inspires her and provides perspective on all of life’s challenges.
Shortly before he passed away in 2003, Steve asked his family to request that donations in his memory go to Cotting School. “He was very proud of the new campus in Lexington and the wonderful work that continues there,” Terri remembers. “I believe he wished that others like him would have the same opportunities and experiences that he enjoyed.”
By supporting Cotting, Steve’s family continues to make a positive impact on our students while honoring his legacy. While philanthropic gifts to the school ensure its operational stability, we are honored that donations like those from the Flemings and Melchins also carry significant meaning for generations of Cotting families to come.
Uncovering Hidden Treasures from Our Past
At a special reception in March, we celebrated the start of our new partnership with the Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS). Cotting’s archives include a unique collection of photographs, annual reports, press clippings and other documents from throughout its 130-year history. We are thrilled that MHS is helping to preserve it and make it accessible.
President Bridget Irish noted, “The treasures in this collection show not only how our mission and vision have changed to continually serve and educate society’s most vulnerable students, but also how society adapted to better meet the needs of students with disabilities. We are so thankful to MHS for providing its expertise in archiving these important resources.”
Researchers and academics are excited about gaining access to the Cotting School archive. It will not only play a crucial role in the study of disability history, but also help explain the evolution of special education through methodology and innovation, including different diagnoses, equipment and medical language.
University of Pennsylvania
Department of History and Sociology of Science Chair and Associate Professor Beth Linker stated, “The records of the Cotting School and its predecessor, the Industrial School for Crippled and Deformed Children, are vital to the advancement of disability studies and to the writing of U.S. history as a whole. With these holdings, a marginalized group of
“I believe Steve developed confidence instilled during his time at School that allowed him to live his life to the fullest.”
people will now have a voice, no longer rendered silent or invisible.”
“The Massachusetts Historical Society is delighted to partner with Cotting School! ” said Brenda Lawson, Senior Vice President for Collections and Content Development at the
