Welcome to our first quarter newsletter for 2014. We are looking forward to a great year with wonderful achievements from all our divisions. We have a golf tournament coming June 16th at the Inverness Golf Course. It is a great fund raiser and lots of fun for our donors and staff alike. It is followed by a silent auction and dinner. Last year we raised enough money to start pottery classes and buy all the equipment necessary. Our Adult Day Program clients have been enjoying their projects and showing them off proudly.
Residential homes have been doing very well. The children and young adults are looking forward to spring and summer to have more time to enjoy outdoor activities. Many of our three bed personal care alternatives (PCA’s) are planning to plant gardens. Foster and Host Homes are increasing and it is wonderful when clients can step down to a less restrictive environment like a family placement.
Administration has been very busy keeping up with the constant growth and demands of the agency. At the present time a connecting patio is being built between buildings connecting the Adult Day Program to the Admin building on Evans Ave. This will be an addition everyone will enjoy this summer.
Our Day Treatment and Education departments have been enjoying their first quarter and have been busy with their annual fundraiser with Concert for Kids. The fundraiser ends April 30th and it is $10.00 a ticket to win a 2014 white Ford Mustang. The proceeds will benefit every classroom as each class gets to keep the whole $10.00 ticket price for every ticket sold! The person who guesses closest to the weight of The Austin Young Band plus their instruments will win.
Elementary classes have been experiencing the Alphabet Extravaganza!!! Each week features two letters from the alphabet. Fun activities have including Leprechaun hats for “H”, going to the Fire Station for “F” and making apple prints for “A”.
Elementary B had great fun making Abe Lincoln paper sack puppets for President’s Day and spring bugs for National Bubble Week. They have made great progress in taking turns while playing games like alphabet bingo! These small successes have led to a big breakthrough in mal adaptive behaviors. Kids seem very happy with everyday successes and praise for their good work.
Our young adults have been working on mastering their personal information. They also made Olympic torches for the 2014 Winter Games and spring flowers & bugs for National Bubble Week!
Our non-verbal class made popcorn boxes to celebrate Popcorn Lovers’ Day and always make sure Serenity students and staff receive a homemade birthday card.
T1 class is reading the exciting adventures in “Touching Spirit Bear” by Ben Mikaelsen. T3 is reading the sequel “Ghost of Spirit Bear” while T2 is starting to read “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH” by Robert O’Brian. Junior Transition class just finished “Freckle Juice” by Judy Blume. T1 will be holding a job fair for students in April after spring break. T3 students have gladly volunteered their time each month at the Food Bank of the Rockies. Students pack and unpack boxes and sort food. Two of our students were recognized as the hardest working students the food bank has ever had. Way to go T3!!
Serenity School has its own newsletter contests and we had 5 winners. Each winner will be featured in future issues of the school newsletter.
As you see our year has had a terrific start and we can only hope for it to continue for the entire year. Stay tuned for our next and expanded newsletter in June.
