FOCUS Center for Autism

Week two of the FOCUS Summer Program is in the books, and it was another great week filled with learning, creativity, and new experiences! Students worked on their basketball skills, practiced singing together, enjoyed swimming at Mills Pond, and continued with their ongoing job placement at American Flatbread. We also welcomed some feathered visitors, created intricate Zen doodle art projects, put our STEM skills to work by making s'mores using only the power of the sun, and finally got to enjoy the rock candy we made during last week's STEM activity. There were also plenty of laughs during a lively game of charades!

Our theme for the week was Tolerance, and our students demonstrated it in so many different ways. Whether it was encouraging one another, trying something outside of their comfort zone, or simply enjoying each other's company, they continued to show that some of the best parts of summer come from learning, growing, and having fun together.

The first week of the FOCUS Summer Program is officially in the books! It was a week full of new experiences, familiar favorites, and plenty of opportunities for our students to connect with one another. We kicked things off with a new Dungeons & Dragons campaign, cooled off with a swim at Mills Pond, enjoyed music and art activities, welcomed some reptile and amphibian visitors, made rock candy during a STEM activity, and spent time discovering all kinds of different board games. The rain may have changed our sports plans, but a few students were more than happy to spend the afternoon watching the World Cup instead.

Our theme for the week was Aloha—which means hello, goodbye, respect and compassion—and it couldn't have been a better fit. From students encouraging each other to try something new to simply enjoying time together, this week really captured the Aloha spirit. We can't wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store!

Last Wednesday we celebrated another school year with a wonderful Awards Day. These words sent by our Supervisor of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment and Special Education Teacher Ms. Sue to staff really captures the feeling of the day.

CELEBRATED
Susan Swan-Petrok

The weather was perfect; not a cloud in the sky and just enough of a breeze to ward off the heat. A sea of happy, proud faces flanked the rows of students at the front, but as I sat looking out across the rows of chairs at our Annual Awards Ceremony, there was something more wonderful happening than the perfect weather.

My eyes perused those front rows. My gaze briefly stopped at each student. A momentary reflective pause on how far that student had come over the span of the school year. One student who, two years earlier, had not been able to attend school at all for the better part of a year due to anxiety is now sending out ‘cat calls’ of affection to her teacher. Another student, similarly, had been unable to attend school for a prolonged period due to emotional issues and now sits right up front with a smile on her face. The next student had found the courage to climb out of the sheltered existence he had led for much of this school year and joined the day's activities. Next was a student, brand new to this school, his face radiant and smiling. Across the aisle sat a student who, a year ago, was too overwhelmed being in a crowd and hearing applause to be able to attend, but was now sitting with his classmates, cheering them on and walking up to the podium to receive his awards. Another student, too afraid to come into the seating area to take his seat at the beginning of the ceremony, suddenly found his courage as he watched his classmates from a distance; eventually taking the brave step to join the celebration and walk up to receive his award. The exuberant energy of another student jumping up to bring her award over to her mother, right in the middle of it all, her boisterous voice echoing above the speech being given over the loudspeaker.

As I was taking this scene in, it occurred to me that in a different setting, in a different school, at a different time, these students would be ‘tolerated’… at the most, maybe ‘accepted’… but here, in this setting, at this school, on this morning… they were ‘CELEBRATED’! Exuberantly and unabashedly celebrated! This is what made this morning so poignant and vital. The fact is that every child deserves to be celebrated, but for these students, moments like this are fleeting and rare. Here, they were part of a community that accepts them as they are and for who they are.

Years ago, I heard a quote that has become one of the guiding principles throughout my career as an educator.

“Each and every child; each and every day… I get to impact the life of a child… each and every day; each and every child.”

On days such as this, I get a profound sense of what a privilege it is for me to be able to impact the lives of these students in positive ways and to be blessed with the gift of seeing the payoff of the effort and dedication that have been put into the lives of these students. Moments like this morning don’t happen every day for our students, but when they do, it is a moment not to be missed and most certainly to be CELEBRATED… robustly!

The quote I had heard all those years ago remains relevant, but today I would make one adjustment.

“Each and every child, each and every day… I get the PRIVALEGE to impact the life of a child… each and every day, each and every child.”

Last week in recognition of Juneteenth, residents of Washington House, Focus’s Therapeutic Supportive Housing Program, participated in a full-day community outing focused on celebration and connection.

The day began at a safari-themed mini golf course, where laughter was constant as residents encouraged one another, joked around, and enjoyed friendly competition. The playful atmosphere set a positive tone for the day and allowed everyone to relax and be present with one another. After mini golf, the group shared lunch together, continuing conversations and laughs in a comfortable new setting.

Later in the day, residents took a long walk along the beach, enjoying the scenery and fresh air while reflecting and spending meaningful time together. The outing concluded with ice cream and a stop at Dave & Buster’s, where the evening was filled with arcade games, friendly competition, and high energy fun.

Overall, the Juneteenth outing offered residents a meaningful way to honor an important day while strengthening bonds, experiencing joy, and creating lasting memories through shared experiences in the community.