higashi highlights - spring 2014 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 2014

Challenge Believe Together

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

Deborah Donovan, Principal Photo courtesy of Lifetouch

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progress is a collective effort. Besides, it’s more fun! I was delighted to host three book chats about the NY Times bestseller, “The Reason I Jump.” This book was written from the perspective of a thirteen year- old boy with autism. He offers answers to questions about why he does certain things. Various parts of the book resonated with staff and parents. The willingness to share and learn from each other was so affirming and empowering. Wisdom was gleaned more from the questions and issues raised rather than the answers given. There seemed to be no “one size fits all” answer. What a blessing it is to be among people who know first hand that life takes on new meaning when we can bring positive energy to the experiences of the past so they can become the fertilizer for new pathways of growth toward the future. 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 are ever mindful of the safety net of support that we have woven around our kids and ourselves through our common bonds of our many shared experiences along the autism journey.

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THE PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE

SOWING THE SEEDS OF POSSIBILITY AND POSITIVITY

“Though I do not believe that a

plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared

to expect wonders.” -Henry David Thoreau

Despite our doubts and impatience, spring has indeed arrived. We appreciate the longer days with blue skies and sun, and embrace some rain and wind to nurture and pollinate growth. Every day at Boston Higashi School is an autism awareness moment but in April we joined in the celebration of National Autism Awareness Month with a variety of offerings and events. We know that autism does not define or describe who our students are in total. Each of them is a unique individual with strengths and challenges who inspire and teach us to become more, and do more than we could ever conceive. As we expose our students to more and more opportunities, both on and off campus, the impossible becomes possible and the fear of failure diminishes with every success and triumph. Staff and families have all had the thrill of witnessing an initial gasp turn into a strong grasp. We work together because we understand that making sustainable

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In mid March, the Arnheim Gallery at Massachusetts College of Art hosted an exhibit of all our students’ artwork. It was a stunning display of both the process and products of creativity and talent. Our student visitors and their families and friends got to experience the thrill of being at a gallery reception viewing their very own artwork. The Jazz Band returned to Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge in early May for another stellar performance. Our talented musicians took to the stage with poise, perfect timing and tempo. Each member played well and looked so comfortable and at ease performing their ensemble and solo parts to the large and appreciative audience. The Annual Boston Higashi School Road Race raised everyone up to new heights. Our students ran with enthusiasm and were cheered to personal victories by friends and family. The day culminated with outstanding staff performances that rivaled Carnegie Hall and Broadway. Everyone is in full bloom and ready to keep growing and learning with purpose and pride as we approach the finish line of the 2013-14 school year.

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Higashi Highlights Spring 2014 2

Elementary Highlights Chris Stanbrook, Elementary Master Teacher

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This semester was a busy one here in the Elementary Division! We really worked hard to improve our academic skills throughout the year so we could showcase our best work in our MCAS portfolios! Though we didn't have an Open Class this year, we had many Open Houses at which we could show off our academic progress. As the new semester started, we had our annual Road Race, and much fun was had by all! With our mix of

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new and experienced students, we had a tight race, with some new faces on the podium collecting their trophies and awards. Working as hard as our students do, and having fun with family and friends while doing it makes us all winners! Now our P.E. and Music skills will get a chance to take center stage as we start practicing for the “it'll-be-here-sooner-than-you-think” Annual Celebration! P.E. teacher Akiko and Music teacher Judy are hard at work

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getting the performances ready for June! We look forward to seeing you there!

(Some pre-race good luck wishes)

Middle School Highlights John McAllister, Middle School Master Teacher

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Middle School is getting ready for the 27th Annual Celebration, and the theme resilience comes to mind during every unicycle practice. Students and staff are both very motivated by our PE performance, which combines unicycles and rollerblades. For our Music performance we are working very hard on our marching band routine, and finishing our performance off with a song written by our very

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own Cesar. With less then six weeks to go, it is crunch time in Middle School. When we are not busy singing and practicing PE, we are learning about Willy Wonka and his fantastic treats as we read "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Hard to believe summer is right around the corner- it's true when they say time flies when you're having fun!

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(Who says hard work can’t be fun, too?)

Junior High Highlights Jen Kelley, Junior High Master Teacher!

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Junior High has made it through the long winter and everyone is glad to be back outside in the sun! Last semester Junior High was hard at work in the classroom refining their academic skills. All of the Junior High students have been making great strides in Literacy and Math, and are making progress everyday. This semester each class will be continuing to refine their Literacy skills using a variety of texts about special interest areas. In Mathematics, students will continue to work on their individual skill areas, as

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well as our division-wide skill of multiplication by grouping. During Science, students are discussing states of matter and conducting a variety of hands on experiments using common kitchen items to demonstrate changes in states of matter. Although it was a long winter with lots of indoor jogging, Junior High showed their best and had a fantastic time at the Higashi Road Race. Many students ran their “personal best” time, reducing their time from last year’s race. Practice for Annual Celebration is well underway and the students

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are excited to show off their Music and Physical Education skills in the upcoming show!

(Big smiles during Road Race practice)

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Emergence Highlights Hiroshi Abe, Employment Ed. Master Teacher

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Springtime at Higashi always brings about a phenomenal and emotional event, the Formal Dance Party. The party allows this year’s graduates to experience the Boston Higashi version of a prom and graduation ceremony, rolled into one event, starting with a limousine ride with their date. At the event, twinkling chandeliers echo the flashing of the cameras of proud family members, creating an atmosphere of anticipation that welcomes these young adults to one of the most meaningful events of their young lives. This year, Thursday, April 10, 2014, saw the return of this popular event to Lombardo’s, in

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Randolph, MA. More than 410 people attended and celebrated the “emergence” of the 10 graduates: Melissa, Noelle, Connor, Oliver, Max, Zachary, Harry, Michael, Kelsey, and Christopher. They looked excited, confident and full of big dreams that have been formed and encouraged through their years of education at the Boston Higashi School. On behalf of the Boston Higashi School, we are truly grateful for the generous donations from the 37 sponsors of this years event, totaling, $5,885. Special thanks go to Mrs. Janice Luy who organized the limousines this year, and Mr. Samuel Gathungu

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who worked so hard bringing everything together to make this one of the largest and best formal dances to date. Kudos and thanks go to everyone who helped to make this such a wonderful event: parents, families and friends, teachers, volunteer staff, and of course the graduates! Congratulations to all the graduates and good luck!

Let me have courage and a big dream No need for other things

I will never give up Let me feel how I feel

Let me run how I want to run to grab my shiny days�

- Arashi Moritomo

High School Highlights Jen Tomase, High School Master Teacher

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The High School students ended the last semester with a bang at the Formal Dance Party. All the students looked great and they all enjoyed dancing the night away with their family and friends. The students returned to school from spring vacation ready to learn, and eager to begin practicing for the annual Higashi Road Race.

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The students tried really hard in the few weeks leading up to the race, and it showed on race day as all the students did their best to impress their family and friends. Three High School boys swept the Main Race’s Male Division, coming in first, second and third place. In third place was Nicolas B., in second place was Christopher R., and in first place was Dakota B.

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Denzel A. was chosen for a special award for all his hard work leading up to the Road Race. Congrats everyone!

(Finishing strong as a family!)

Class of 2014 Leaves a Lasting Impression Joe Murphy, Dir. of Transition!

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Three Higashi students became three Higashi alumni in the weeks leading up to the Formal Dance and Graduation. These students are happy, and adjusting very well to their new placements. Graduation saw ten students receive recognition, and next year we will say goodbye to eight students. The next tidal wave will hit in the 2015/2016 school year when we will transition fifteen students!

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Planning is already in the works so that all of these students will make their transitions smoothly and successfully to the next stage of their life. The Class Gift, a tradition that began with the Class of 2012, was presented at the Emergence Brunch the morning after our Formal Dance. This year’s Class Gift is a banner that will

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hang above the Emergence hallway, welcoming visitors with student-drawn artwork depicting life in the Emergence Program.

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Spring Fling Vacation Program Heather Katz, Division Director

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The teachers’ warm hearts bring the sun to Spring Fling. “April Showers” bring…cold field trips! Despite the cold and wet weather, the Spring Fling Vacation Program was a big hit with staff and students alike. From wagon rides at Ward’s Berry Farm to relay races between divisions (and staff members!), every day was packed full of activities that

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were fun and educational in a relaxing environment. A cold tour of Fenway Park ended with warm Fenway Franks. Colorful beaded bracelets made in art class added a seasonal accent. Celebrating spring by dancing and singing to Top 40 hits in music class was a blast, and new records were set during different games that were played in leisure class. We are looking forward to warmer weather at our Stars and Stripes Vacation Program. If you have any suggestions for field trips for our program, please contact one of the Division Directors (John K, Heather K, or Jamie M).

See you at the next camp!

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Don’t forget to register for the upcoming Vacation Camps!

To ensure we have enough space for

your child, please return all registration forms to Maryellen Paradise by the dates below:

Stars and Stripes Camp:

May 30th

Summer Sizzler Camp: July 7th

A New Journey Begins Jamie Marshall, Division Director

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The morning after the Formal Dance, the students of the Emergence Program gathered together at Lombardos for the 10th Annual Emergence Brunch. Like many large-scale events that families may experience, it is not uncommon for attendees to gather together the following morning and enjoy a meal together, and our students shared in this experience. However, this is only one purpose that this event serves. It is also an opportunity for parents and teachers to connect, celebrating in the joint role each plays in the education and social development of our students. It is a far cry from the large-scale event experienced the night before. We are so used to seeing our students as members of something much larger than themselves, such as a member of a work group or a member of a class and of a division. As

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teachers, we can forget they are also members of a family that cares for them deeply. Indeed, this event brings together the two worlds in which our students dwell. Yes, there are other benefits to be reaped from this gathering. Teachers can show families the expectations during mealtime guidance, and how we teach our students important table manners. We can give the parents updates on what has been going on in the lives of their sons and daughters, what they have been doing at school, in class, and at their respective job sites. We can discuss future plans and share our hopes and goals with them. However, the Annual Emergence Brunch also serves the purpose of surrounding the graduates with the people closest to them, and celebrating for one last time, together. Emotional testimony was

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offered from many of the parents and siblings of the graduates. Each was given an opportunity to speak, and all presented powerful testimony and reflection of the past. Gratitude for the contribution of the teachers at BHS was a common theme, not just for our students, but also for the difference made in the lives of the families - another aspect that we, as educators, do not always recognize. To all our Graduates, thank you for what you have taught us. As you have grown and learned, we too have learned from you. You have made us better teachers and will always be part of who we are and, like you, what we aspire to be.

“Goodbye and Good Luck!”

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Ladies Day of Beauty Carly Glancy, Emergence Teacher

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The 10th annual Ladies Day of Beauty took place on Thursday, April 10th, 2014, before the Formal Dance. This event is a special time for the female students, their mothers and the staff of the Emergence Program. This year we honored three wonderful female graduates: Kelsey, Noelle, and Melissa. All of the female students in the Emergence program were

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transformed into beauty queens with makeup help from Junior High Art Teacher Leniese Gatto. Leniese is a talented makeup artist who was able to give our students a makeover that had them looking and feeling like princesses for the evening. Helping Leniese with hair and makeup was Residential Staff member Editha Marius. Both did an amazing job transforming our girls into confident young women! Teachers from the Emergence Program also became instant beauticians, perfecting the art of manicures and pedicures. Mothers and daughters were able to share this special day, relaxing and chatting over delicious foods prepared by BHS

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kitchen staff. Scrumptious cakes, cookies and finger foods filled the table in our leisure room, which had become a pink, flower-filled beauty salon for the day. As Beauty Day came to a close, the ladies of EP made their way to their apartments to change into their formal dresses. Our students looked fantastic as they danced the night away! !

Beautiful inside and out!

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Formal Dance & Graduation

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April 10th, 2014

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“Step-by-Step” is a Giant Leap! Aya Kolwaite, Master Teacher, Art Dept. !

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When High School Student Nicolas B. arrived at the Massachusetts College of Art show in March that featured Boston Higashi School student artists, he said, “This is the best art show ever!” Well, how can you top that? Surely it was special for all who attended. The large exhibit hall displayed artwork from every Boston Higashi student. The Elementary Division created brilliantly colorful elephants, the Middle School made shiny rainbow fish, our Junior High students demonstrated the process of creation to draw and color a hot chocolate mug (complete with marshmallows!), High School students made a dynamic study of warm and cool patterns with a collage and the Emergence

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Division contributed marvelous watercolors. There were also ceramic pieces and individual works from a variety of students. We also have to mention the first-ever public display of the finest from “Pun Man,” a collection of cartoons created by our own very talented Carmine DeCicco (staff member, and Class of 2008 graduate). The theme “Step-by-Step” was intended to display a wide variety of works of art from an even wider variety of learning styles and levels of perception—all from our students on the autism spectrum. Some of the works were the result of the step-by-step process and were completed with the teacher’s help so that the students could take pride in a meaningful

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finished product, while others were completed with very little teacher guidance. In both cases, careful attention was given to allow the students to use and develop their fine motor skills as well as their own sense of expression. Several MassArt professors attended, and one of the professors asked her class view to the exhibit as a lesson in uninhibited pure expression. Thank you to all the students’ for their hard work, and to the Higashi Art teachers who made this display possible. We hope that everyone who attended enjoyed the exhibit as much as Nicolas and the other students did! We always appreciate the opportunity to show off our talented students’ work!

The High School Division took class field trips to see their work on display in Cambridge!

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Are you a graduate o f Higashi? We hope to see you a t our upcoming

Alumni Brunch Sunday, June 22nd, 2014

11:00 am – 1:00pm Lombardo’s

6 Billings Street Randolph, MA 02368

Please RSVP by June 6 th to Ma rye l l en Parad ise a t 781-961-0800 x109 o r mparadise@bostonh igash i .org

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Emergence Program – Girls Division

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The Residential Emergence Program in the Girls Division has been very active this spring. The girls headed out into the community, especially to nature parks and trails to watch the magic that comes with budding plants each spring. They also made and sent seasonal greeting cards to their families, cleaned the nature trail, and planted flowers in the apartment’s backyard. Greatest of all was the Formal Dance Party, where three of our girls graduated. Everyone adorned themselves in exquisite attire, revealing their beauty both inside and out. Our graduates Melissa A., Noelle D. and Kelsey T. will be greatly missed!

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Our focus in Emergence is preparing students for transition, helping to equip them with the many skills needed for life after Higashi. One important skill, meal prep, is practiced often as the girls prepare their own meals in the apartment three times a week. The students choose the menu for the semester from several options given to them by their teachers. The menu is composed of American and Japanese cuisine, and includes favorites such as grilled cheese sandwiches, beef sub rolls, mashed potatoes, corn and rice. They have done a great job mastering basic cooking skills, and really enjoy making and eating the food. In preparation for Family

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Day, we will also be practicing our cookout skills - always a favorite! As always, many thanks to the parents for their unending support. Happy Spring!

(Practicing our table manners

while out to eat)

Emergence Program – Boys Division

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The snowy days are long gone and the grass has regained its green, while the trees and the flowers are blooming again. Yes, it is spring. After many cold days and lot of indoor activities, it is time to smell the fresh air and to continue the fun activities outside. As always, the students are excited to take on new challenges and hone what they have learned, while the teachers are always there to encourage their progress every step of the way. The highlight for our division was the Formal Dance Party,

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which saw six of our residential young men have the opportunity to receive their diplomas. The excitement of the limousine ride to Lombardo’s could not be more apparent – their faces were lit with pride and anticipation. Like the spring sun that radiates with warmth, the room was filled with joy from the graduating students, their parents, siblings, peers, teachers and friends. However, this also meant it was time to say good-bye to some of our students. They will be greatly missed as they pursue other opportunities. We wish our graduates well in

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their future endeavors. All the best to Connor, Zachary, Max, Oliver, Harry, and Michael! You will be missed!

(A “Thank You” hug!)

Residential Roundup Christopher White, Residential Director

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As the seasons turn from winter to spring, from cold to warm, it gives us time to reflect. The season of spring invigorates people with hope and just like a New Years’ resolution, gets people in the mood to push themselves to do better or make a positive change.

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While participating at the recent Road Race, in the midst of my first lap around the building (in a couple years), it was the encouragement that willed me forward. It was the cheering from my family and friends fueling my resilience to keep going, to run faster, and make it to the finish.

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The articles to follow are snap shots of each division’s past successes and future goals for this school year. Like me, what pushes them along is being resilient, and getting that little bit of encouragement from family, friends, and peers along the way.

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Junior High Division – A

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With the warm weather finally thawing us out from our long winter, we look excitedly to new beginnings! We have said sad good-byes and wished the best of luck to our dear friends Ali, Nico, and Chris as they have grown and transitioned into Junior High B. But spring has also meant new arrivals and we welcomed our new friend Tim and our old friend from Day Side, Anthony. To welcome the spring, we

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have been taking many hiking trips through the Blue Hills, Houghton’s Pond, and the Chickatawbut trail, getting as much sun and fresh air as we can! We look forward to a warm summer when swimming becomes the favored recreational activity. We also anxiously look forward to our new swimming pool with its cool waters to relax in after a busy day. We really have a lot to look forward to in the coming summer months!

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(Thoughtful reflection while singing our National Anthem)

Intermediate Division

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As we usher out the spring and proceed into the season of summer, we cannot forget the long and dreary winter, punctuated with lots of fun snow! The season gave the IN Division many chances to play outside, and our students had lots of fun. It was nice watching our youngest star, David as he made the best out of the season by sledding, making snowballs and hiking in the snow with his friends. The boys also turned out to be “Iron Chefs” as they baked cookies and cupcakes every

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weekend with the effective guidance of their loving teachers. Henry surprised us all with his great skills at breaking eggs, mixing ingredients, and shaping cookies. He was amazingly focused during the cooking sessions, and a good model for the rest of his peers! All students also enjoyed the Spartan Race and were rated the best dancers at intermission time. We look forward to going swimming in the many local lakes and beaches in the summer, but most of all we cannot wait to splash in our new swimming pool,

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which will hopefully be open before summer is out!

(Out enjoying the blooming cherry trees of spring!)

Junior High Division - B !

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It’s hard to believe that another summer season is almost here. Surely, time flies when you’re having fun! JH-B is raring to go and we cannot wait for the fun as well as educational activities lined up for the coming months. Our favorites are soccer in the backfield, nature bingo, beach sports, hiking, and a host of other interesting activities. The teachers are also excited

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about the boundless opportunities for teaching while undertaking these activities. After all, the real fun is in imparting knowledge to the students. We welcome Chris B and Nicholas D from JH-A (who now join JH-B Group A.) In short JH-B is all geared up and ready for some summer fun! Family Day is just around the corner, so stay tuned for more information!

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(Planting seedlings in the springtime sunshine!) )

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High School Division

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Seasons don’t just come and go, they usher in a new atmosphere in High School Division. The cold breezes and snow gave way to the rain and warmth that announced the arrival of spring. Simcha, our High School “weatherman” was available to officiate this change with a smile. This seasonal transition was sweetly punctuated by the highly anticipated Formal Dance. To say that High School looked smart during the occasion would be an

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understatement! The trio of Andrew B., Sean S., and Ryan D. represented High School with high fashion. Their polished shoes reflected the smiles present on everyone at the party. The spring rains may come in the High School division, but they water the flowers of our determination, which continue to sprout everyday. High School has embraced the Residence’s theme of ‘Strengthening our Foundation,’ and an enthusiastic endeavor to achieve this success is in every

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student’s mind. The sky is no longer the limit, for that’s where we are, almost able to touch the stars.

(Pausing in the snow for a “photo

op” on a recent field trip)

Young Adults Division

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Spring is nature’s way of saying, 'One more time!' The YA Division can proudly say we had a great time, as we look back to numerous eventful moments of the year. Our most memorable recent event was our inter-division race competition. The “Black Knights” (YA) were greeted with smiles and enthusiasm by students and staff as we emerged the race winners! Our YA students continue to be winners at Higashi and beyond. Congratulations to Nicolas who won silver and gold at the 2014 Special Olympics aquatic assessment round. Young Adult success is achieved through

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hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the understanding that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to each endeavor. Various physical activities such as jogging, rollerblading, yoga, and treadmill have been scheduled for the entire year to keep our students physically fit. Our students are also keeping their minds fit during homework time at the residence. Community trips such as shopping, bowling, swimming, hiking, and of course, Music with Ken are always a big hit. Our students are already acquiring job skills, as every week they are involved in various

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activities such as cafeteria set up, cooking and environmental conservation recycling. In YA, we hold firmly to our school motto of Challenge, Believe, Together, reflecting on all we have achieved so far this year.

(All smiles during Culinary Arts!)

Girls Division !

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As spring awakens the flowers and the animals, it also awakens the Girls Division. All winter long, we have been waiting to play in the sunshine. Whether it’s rollerblading, showing off our artistic abilities with sidewalk chalk or hiking through the local parks, we are out there in the thick of things enjoying our time together with our school family.

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Unfortunately, like all families, some members must leave us to grow. With great sadness, we had to say goodbye to our beloved Sammy, but we also wish our little redheaded rock star the best of luck as she embarks on brave, new adventures at her new school. Good luck, Sammy. We love you!

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(Our girls all dressed up)

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On your mark, get set…. GO!

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Road Race May 10th, 2014

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Reflections on Japan – New Friends Abroad

Donna Mattie traveled to Japan in February to serve as our parent

representative at Musashino Higashi Gakuen’s Annual

Celebration festivities. (left: this year’s traveling group; right:

Donna shows photos of home to kindergarteners at Musashino

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皆様へご挨拶 – Minasama e goaisatsu, (Greetings Everyone)

Upon our arrival in Tokyo, we had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Katsumi Suzuki, Executive Manager of Musashino Higashi Gakuen, who was very gracious and accommodating, acting as our tour guide throughout the trip. Despite the long journey traveling to Japan, the exhilaration of knowing what was planned exceeded any feelings of exhaustion. Our journey began with a visit to the cemetery of Dr. Kitahara at Gessho-Ji Temple in Tokyo. With ladles in our hands, we each had the privilege of scooping water from a bucket and ceremoniously pouring water over her gravestone to cleanse it, while burning some incense. The following day, February 14, 2014, we toured Musashino Higashi Gakuen (there are several buildings throughout the city). I brought some pictures from home, and we sat with some of the Kindergarten students, showing them pictures of famous Boston landmarks. They also really enjoyed seeing pictures of my two dogs dressed up in clothes. After our tour, we headed outside and the teachers and our staff worked together pounding mochi (rice balls) to celebrate the New Year. At the Junior High School, we broke into small groups and were “interviewed” during an English language class. The students practiced their English skills by

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asking us questions like “What season of the year do you like the best?” and “What is your favorite color?” We also visited the Center for Education and Research, which opened in 2006. The Center provides a variety of programs for autistic and learning disabled children. They attend 1 to 2 times a week for speech, OT, computer, social skills, etc., and over 500 children participate. That evening, the Musashino Higashi Gakuen Parents’ Association hosted a heart-warming welcome party for us, and we had the opportunity to meet many of the parents. We shared stories of our students, and although there was a language barrier, we all shared the same bond. Every story ended with the tremendous progress our children have made through Daily Life Therapy®. We spent the next few days in Kyoto for some sightseeing. We visited several Zen temples, sampled the local cuisine including “shabbu shabbu,” and toured the quaint shops lining the streets. Returning to Tokyo, the last day of our trip was certainly memorable. We attended Musashino’s truly amazing Annual Celebration, with performances by the Elementary and Junior High School students. It was like seeing a school for the performing arts. Act I was “The Life of Jean Valjean,” a condensed version of Les Miserables, and some incredible dance performances.

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Act II showcased PE skills, as students performed on pogo sticks and stilts, used rice scoops, balls, jump ropes and vaulting horses; and performed very intricately choreographed gymnastics and martial arts. Act III brought amazing music performances, some conducted by students on the autism spectrum. There was not a dry eye in the house! Our last night in Tokyo before heading back to Boston, Musashino Higashi’s President, Mr. Terada, hosted a private dinner for all of us at restaurant owned by one of the Tokyo school’s parents. We had an amazing 5-course meal, and it was a very memorable way to close such a wonderful week in Japan! ありがとうございました –

Arigato gozaimashita, (Special Thanks)

Special thanks to everyone at Musashino Higashi Gakuen, especially Mr. Terada, Mr. Suzuki (our gracious host and guide), Mr. T, and all the Parent Representatives for their generous hospitality. I was so honored to represent The Parents’ Association of Boston Higashi School. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for having this once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of this amazing educational community. I am so honored and feel blessed to be part of this family.

-Donna Mattie Parent of Kyle Mattie

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Parents’ Perspective Janet Murphy, Parent Association President!

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As we move from the long, snowy winter to a warm, sunny spring, we look forward to the upcoming summer months when we can enjoy the outdoors and nice weather. And of course, who could forget the upcoming Annual Celebration on Sunday, June 22nd! At the end of June we have a great fundraiser and family outing planned at the Paw Sox game in Pawtucket, RI. The game is Sunday, June 29 at 1:05 PM at McCoy Stadium. Tickets are only $8.00 each, and the Parents’ Association receives $4.00 from every ticket sold. Last year it was a great day and a fun family event with our children. Please join us this year. We have 150 tickets we can sell for this event, and they are going quickly! We are also hoping to have some tickets donated to the residence so that one or more divisions can make it a “field trip” outing. Please let Maryellen Paradise know if you’re interested in donating. Her contact info and general ticket info is below. June is also the time to think ahead to elections, which take place for the Parents’ Association Board of Directors at the Bon Dance in August. We always like

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to have new faces come on board, so please consider running! All positions are up for election this year. President is a 2-year commitment, and also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the school. There are first and second Vice Presidents, and an Out-of-State Vice President, which serve to assist the President and help with other needs of the Parents’ Association. We have a Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer who take care of Parents’ Association funds. The other positions are the Recording Secretary who takes the minutes of all the Board Meetings and the Correspondence Secretary who writes out most of the thank you notes for the organization. If you have any questions about any of the positions, or are interested in running, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at [email protected]. I would like to thank all the current Board members for their time and efforts. You help meet the needs of the staff and school, help new parents as they enter, and help parents whose children transition to other programs when they reach age 22. Thanks Paul Haite, Lisa Burgess, Charles Borlam, Cheryl Begnal, Julie

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Coppenrath, Patrice Dwyer and Paula Baldassini for all you do to make a difference. We also thank Maryellen Paradise who helps behind the scenes to make it all happen for us. Most of all we thank Principal Deb Donovan, CEO Mike Kelly, the Education Office, Business Office and all the teachers and staff for helping us to support the school and its mission. We recently held a “Staff Appreciation” raffle to be able to thank all the dedicated and wonderful people who assist our children every day. We truly are a united community that serves children in their everyday lives. I thank Paula Baldassini for chairing this event, and the volunteer parents who pull together a great way to thank our staff and teachers each year. As we move towards the end of the year, I again thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as President of the Parents’ Association of Boston Higashi School. Regards, Janet Murphy Parents’ Association President

Come support the Boston Higashi School Parents’ Association

Sunday, June 29th, 2014 - 1:05pm McCoy Stadium, 1 Columbus Ave, Pawtucket, RI 02860

To reserve tickets, please contact Maryellen Paradise at 781-961-0800 x109, or [email protected] Please make checks payable to “Boston Higashi School Parents’ Association”

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Making a Bento Box Mrs. Ebihara, Director of Special Education

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In my home country of Japan, we have many words from outside of our country; but they are phonetically used, and sometimes people feel they are in a foreign country even though they are listening to a native Japanese person speak, including the phonetically pronounced words. Similarly, it has been a while since we first heard tofu, edamame, panko, sashimi, or sushi as part of our food vocabulary, particularly in this country. Now, “bento box” is becoming one of these commonly used food words. I find it a very interesting phenomenon. Bento is the traditional Japanese way to pack food that is traditionally used for lunch, but is now also referred to the type of packed meal, along with several different kinds of foods in a box or section with smaller portions. When you visit a Japanese restaurant for lunch, you may have heard of a luncheon special, called bento box lunch. It comes with a large box-like dish, with sections for salad, meat and/or fish, a couple of sashimi and maybe fresh fruits, served with rice and miso soup. On March 12th, the Boston Higashi School welcomed Debra Samuels, cookbook author and regular contributor to the Boston Globe, to introduce our visitors

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to what a bento box is all about. Debra lived in Japan with her family for more than ten years. She raised school age children there, took cooking classes, worked in a Japanese company, taught cooking and has written many articles on Japanese food and culture for American and Japanese magazines and newspapers. Her abundant experiences brought the workshop participants a great appreciation of food and its different cultural perspectives. She started this journey when her son asked her to make lunch like his friends had, in his kindergarten in Japan. The lunch she normally made for her son was an American staple - a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She recalled her eye-opening moment when she witnessed the elaborate lunch arrangement made by Japanese mothers for their young children’s lunch boxes. When talking about a bento box, if you were raised in Japan, everybody seems to have a sentimental memory, as it is a way of life, but it truly has family tradition; I always liked the way my mother made bento with onigiri (riceball) wrapped with seaweed and my favorite sausage, tamagoyaki, a type of Japanese omelette, which is made by rolling together several layers of cooked

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egg, and stir-fried green peppers or green hot peppers. I have a visual memory of seeing multiple colors, such as red, yellow, green, with a white and black rice ball. My mother always enjoyed receiving the empty lunch box from me after. Eating everything that was prepared by her was important, because it was my way of respecting her for taking the time to make the bento. On the workshop night, Debra prepared pretty much everything for us; from pumpkin salad, tuna in a petite tomato, green beans with sesame, chicken meatballs and more. They were all in small portions and carefully placed on a Japanese plate in a manner that engaged our eyes immediately. She also brought very special containers and chopsticks that she bought in Japan. When we entered the culinary arts room, the tables were already decorated with a Japanese nuance, with a cherry-blossom theme on each table. The task for us was to put everything in the box rather artistically, by paying attention to the combination of the colors. In our country, we eat food by appreciating the color, food fragrance, texture, and the rather mild taste. It is always

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Bento: A feast for the eyes

(and stomach!)

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some combination with a hint of soy sauce, sugar, salt, dashi (Bonito stock for example), mirin (rice wine like sake, but gives sweetness), sake, and vinegar. After we created our own bento box, finally we were able to eat. The participant’s feedback was interesting; some were amused that the each bite was rather small, but at the same we were full; some said that they enjoyed the art in the small rectangular container and did not want to destroy it. We finished

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the meal with a petite macha tea (green tea) muffin with mochi in it, along with Japanese green tea. It was truly a Zen moment for us. Debra ended the session with a tamagoyaki demonstration with some volunteers. As mentioned earlier, it is one of the staple dishes for the bento, as each mother of the household has her own traditional ingredients; some families prefer sweet, some prefer salty, but it always has the mother’s secret combination that usually transcends to the

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next generation. If you missed the session and would like to know more about the bento box, you might want to take a look at her new book called “My Japanese Table: A Lifetime of Cooking with Friends and Family,” which provides great pictures of everyday dishes with their recipes. You can also visit her website at www.cookingatdebras.com

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The Mark Donovan Memorial Lecture

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When thinking about the best way to honor the memory of her husband, and father to her two boys, Garret and Stephen, Principal Deb Donovan knew that it needed to be a celebration for fathers of children with autism. The first person that came to mind was Dr. Robert Naseef, a prominent psychologist from the Philadelphia area who not only talks the talk, but also walks the walk. It was fate and good fortune that his schedule could

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accommodate a trip to Boston Higashi School on the evening of April 9th. Dr. Naseef spoke with honesty, humility, humor and reassuring warmth as he shared his wisdom from decades of his own personal and professional experiences. He celebrated the role of fathers within families, and made us realize how precious the moments that we share together truly are. The ordinary does become the extraordinary in our memory. The

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evening proved to be a spark for many heartfelt conversations and connections that would happen well after the lecture. The Donovan family would like to extend their deepest thanks to Dr. Naseef, and everyone who attended and helped to make this event such a special tribute to the wonderful legacy of fatherhood and unconditional love that Mark has left behind.

“The best portion of a good man’s life: his little, nameless unremembered acts of kindness and love.” -William Wordsworth

“The best portion of a good man’s life: his little, nameless unremembered acts of kindness and love.” -William Wordsworth

Dr. Naseef presented on “Fathers and Autism” to a packed house on April 9th.

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Dr. Helen Tager-Flusberg Speaks

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On April 28th, we welcomed Dr. Helen Tager-Flusberg to our Parent Collaboration Meeting. She spoke on a topic that is close in the minds of many in our school community: “Why do some children with autism learn to use spoken language, while others do not?” Her presentation was thought-provoking, and together with members of her research team, she invited the audience to participate in her current research at Boston University. Dr. Tager-Flusberg is the Director of the Developmental Science Program and the Lab

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of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at BU. Her ongoing research focuses on “the essential characteristics of the cognitive /psychological phenotype that define many differing neuro-development disorders with special interest in autism, specific language impairment (SLI) and Williams syndrome.” In 2012, Dr. Tager-Flusberg’s research team was awarded an Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) grant by the NIH to continue her studies of language acquisition in the ASD community. We were so delighted to have her come speak! If you would like more

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information about research opportunities at BU, please visit www.bu.edu/autism, call 617-358-5910, or email [email protected].

(Above: Dr. Helen Tager-Flusberg speaks at our recent Parents’ Collaboration Meeting in April)

(Above: Dr. Helen Tager-Flusberg with members of her research team and Principal Deb Donovan.) !

Our$next$Parent$Collaboration$Meeting$is$

July%7th,%2014%Breakfast:$8:30am,$Meeting:$10am=12pm$

A$representative$from$SafetyNet$by$LoJack$will$speak$about$the$safety$bracelet$technology$designed$to$locate$people$at$risk$of$wandering$and$bolting.$$Join$us$for$this$informative$

session$to$hear$all$about$the$benefits$of$having$an$individual$with$autism$wear$a$SafetyNet$bracelet.$$

Hope$to$see$you$there!$

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On April 2nd Principal Deborah Donovan was featured in a sponsored interview on WebAble TV. The broadcast was the second of WebAble TV’s National Autism Perspectives Series during National Autism Awareness Month. Dr. Margaret Bauman, a member Boston Higashi School Advisory Board, was the focus of the segment. The

series of webcasts offers renowned experts on issues concerning persons with autism to assist families, communities, and decisions makers in successfully handling challenges for those on the spectrum. Dave Gardy, Executive Producer of WebAble TV, interviewed Principal Donovan via Skype and posed a variety of questions about the Boston Higashi School. Deb’s professionalism and personal touch were in perfect tandem and the infomercial was a great success. This infomercial will provide exposure about our school to the greater TV Worldwide Internet audience, along with a press release to over 2,500 media outlets worldwide. We are grateful to Claire Campo, Joe Sheehan and Susan Perry from our Technology Department for their expertise in making this webcast possible. The featured infomercial can be viewed on our Facebook page.

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The Higashi Jazz Band had another wonderful opportunity to perform at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge, MA on Thursday, May 1st. It was fun-filled night for everyone. We opened the performance with our newest tune “Equinox,” then followed with “Cantaloupe Island,” “Freddie Freeloader,” “Moment’s Notice,” and “Soweto Is Where It’s At.” Next year will be our 10th Anniversary of performing at Ryles! We can’t wait! (Left: Mr. Ueno and Jazz Band members Carmine and Ellery get ready for the performance.)

We had a special concert with Ozora Strings from Japan on March 26th. This string ensemble group consists of high school students and young adults with autism, and has been holding a number of concerts in Japan. Most of members live in the Sendai, Miyagi area, where the earthquake and tsunami hit 3 years ago. During the concert, the players shared their own experience of this devastating event. All of our audience was so moved, not only by their musical performance but also their stories about what they felt during that trying time. Yasuhiro Kojima shared, “I experienced that big earthquake in a dry cleaning factory, which I worked every day. Right after the earthquake, all of the transportation was stopped so I had to walk through the snowy pitch-black road for six hours to get back home. After a couple of weeks from that event, we visited some shelters and had a concert there. I saw so many people were crying during our performance.” Another member, Yutaro Iwasa, recounted, “After the earthquake, we talked about what we can do for people in a stricken area. We saved small change every day together for one year. Then we bought several musical instruments for the nursery school that had lost everything by the tsunami.” We were honored that our own Higashi Jazz Band could collaborate and perform with them, showing that music really does overcome any barriers between differing languages or cultures.

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Joe Murphy and Jamie Marshall represented the Boston Higashi School at the Association of Developmental Disabilities (ADDP) annual conference on March 21, 2014. The dynamic duo presented “Education to Life Long Inclusion” to a standing room only crowd of over 100 people. Several of the participants have since reached out to Joe and Jamie to schedule a visit to our school. President and CEO of ADDP, Gary Blumenthal, was one of those people. He visited our campus on Friday, May 2nd, and discussed ongoing legislation for improved funding adult services throughout the state.

(Left: Joe and Jamie showcase the many vocational job sites that are available in our Emergence Program. Far left: Meeting with Principal Deb Donovan after the tour.)

The International Meeting For Autism Research (IMFAR) provides Autism Spectrum Disorder researchers from around the world the opportunity to share in the rapidly changing field of scientific investigation of Autism Spectrum Disorders. The conference attracts many of the most lauded scientific minds, including some impressive young researchers, to the cause of helping people with autism. IMFAR provides a critical opportunity for dialogue, and fosters a spirit of collaboration among the scientific community. This year’s annual meeting was held in Atlanta, GA. Mike Kelley, Deb Donovan, and Yumiko Mori represented Boston Higashi School. Dr. Richard Grinker, a member of our Advisory Board, was a presenter at this year’s conference. (Right, above: Dr. Grinker and Mike Kelly, Right: Deb Donovan, Dr. Grinker, Mike Kelly and Yumiko Mori at this year’s IMFAR Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.)

A special THANK YOU to our Parents’ Association for all you have done and continue to do to support our teachers and staff. Most recently, a drawing was held as part of Staff Appreciation Day for gift certificates to Barnes and Noble, AMC Movie Theaters, iTunes, Olive Garden and Starbucks. Thank you for making us feel appreciated every single day at Higashi! Our parents are truly the best!

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After a long winter, we are finally outside and enjoying the beautiful weather! No rain, no snow, just blue skies and sunshine. The children have been finding all kinds of signs of spring. They have seen the usual little critters: ants, caterpillars, and birds, but this year the children also spied a bird’s nest on the playground! One of our teachers was able to safely move the nest to a secure place for the birds. It was very exciting. The preschoolers have been watching the caterpillars as they start their transformation into butterflies. The butterflies are another sure sign that spring has come! The Day Care Center has a lot going on the next few months, but our most recent event was

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our Mother’s Day Celebration! All of the children in Day Care celebrated their moms this year with a fantastic brunch on the morning of Thursday, May 8th! The children each brought home a special invitation to give to their mom so they would know when to come. During the week, there was a lot of commotion, as all the children got ready for the brunch. Some of the children were busy making presents for their moms, and the preschool children even baked blueberry muffins! During the week, the children made decorations to decorate their classrooms, which we set up and decorated the day before. Early that morning before anyone arrived, several teachers set up all the delicious breakfast treats

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for the moms and their children. There were muffins, coffee cake, donuts, scones, raspberry butter, bagels and cream cheese, juice, coffee and lots of mouth-watering fruit. The preschool children also sang a song to their moms that they had been working on all week. In the front entrance area, there was a photo gallery showcasing all of the children with their moms, set up around the breakfast treats. It was so nice to see the moms looking at all the photos and remembering the beautiful times that they shared with their child throughout the year. It was truly a celebration! We can’t wait to start planning for Father’s Day!

Daycare Delights Pam Patrone, Director of Daycare !

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! Comings, Goings and Everything In Between at Higashi

Pat Downey, Interim Human Resource Manager

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We offer sincerest condolences to Kay Carroll and Stan Dydzulis on the loss of their family members. Our thoughts are with them during this time.

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We have welcomed several new staff to Boston Higashi School since our last publication: Becky McBurnie, Academic Support, Toshia Jefferson, Physical Therapist, Michelle Leafer, Accounting Assistant. !Please introduce yourself to these new employees when you see them! We said goodbye to the following staff: Jessica Guevara, Antonio Rosa, Kazu Noro, Colleen Coyle, Wendy Weinberg, Lynn Philemond and Christopher Valles. 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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We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Heather Katz to the position of Director of Training for the Boston Higashi School.

Heather is a true leader, bringing with her over 17 years of experience working at Boston Higashi School. During that time she fulfilled many roles, from classroom teacher to Master Teacher, and finally as Division Director for the past 8 years. Her knowledge of Dr. Kitahara's Daily Life Therapy methodology, her passion for teaching children with autism, and her "can do" attitude will bring both teachers and parents together to problem-solve and improve our students' quality of life! Heather will slowly transition to the position in the next few months, while continuing to supervise her division and fulfill her Vacation Program responsibilities. She will assume her Director of Training duties on a full time basis at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year. Congratulations Heather!

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We said goodbye to Kazuyoshi Noro at the end of April, after 12 years of working at Higashi. Best of luck in the future, Kazu – we’ll miss you! (Right: Taking some goodbye photos with Elem. C Class)

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! More Please Bill Burke, Executive Chef !

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The arrival of spring means the Annual Higashi Road Race, and I have been practicing hard along with the students in preparation for the event. The outdoor water barrels have made their seasonal return for after-practice hydration. It is very important that we stay hydrated, especially as we increase our outdoor activities in the warmer weather! The picnic tables have arrived on the grassy knoll, which marks the beginning of cookout season – a staff and student favorite. If any of the School or Residential Divisions would like to eat outside on a nice warm and sunny day, just let us know and

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we will do our best to accommodate the request, serving the same food that students would be eating in the dining rooms. As you know, whenever we eat outside the students always seem to enjoy it. Weekend cookouts and “eat outs” are very good for everybody. By Memorial Day weekend we will have added larger clay pots by the entrance doors. Instead of planting greens and flowers, we will be planting spices and herbs. We will use what we grow in both our Culinary Arts Program and in the kitchen. We have just begun preparing the soil for pumpkin planting, and in the fall we hope to have some of our homegrown

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pumpkins to carve. We are also planning a “pumpkin seed feast” at one of our fall movie nights. With the arrival of warmer weather, we will continue to put additional salads on the salad bar. Our hummus, black bean, chickpea and edamame salads have been well received. In addition, we will begin rotating tuna salad, chicken salad, egg salad, ham salad, seafood salad and a vegetarian salad on a weekly basis starting in late May. Again, any suggestions that you may have are always welcomed. We look forward to hearing from you! -The Higashi Kitchen Staff

By Carmine DeCicco

higashi highlights - spring 2014 issue

Documents

autism journey

boston higashi school

autism awareness moment

higashi highlightsspring

book chats

students artwork

new pathways of growth

new meaning