Lighthouse School, Inc.
February 28, 2022
"A sense of humor can help you overlook the unattractive, tolerate the unpleasant, cope with the unexpected, and smile through the unbearable."
-- (Moshe Waldoks - an American rabbi)
"Our beliefs determine our actions and it is our consistent actions that will produce results."
-- (Billy Cox - American author and Keynote Speaker)
Wellman Avenue Facility Entrance
In This Issue:
Announcements:
400 Cluster Parent's Advisory Council Meeting will be held virtually on March 11th at Noon
2nd Quarter Honor Roll has been announced-more information is provided in this newsletter
Quarter 3 began on Tuesday, February 1st
Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 13th-don't forget to set your clocks ahead 1 hour
MCAS Grade 10 ELA test dates are March 22nd and March 23rd. Retest dates are March 9th and 10th for ELA and March 15th and 16th for Mathematics
Beginning February 28, a new Mask policy is in place at Lighthouse-more information can be found below
Updated Mask Mandate Policy
Based on recent announcements from Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley regarding mask-wearing, Lighthouse School will be implementing a new Mask Mandate Policy, effective February 28th, 2022. Beginning on February 28th, masks will be optional for all staff and students. You should have received a letter via email or US mail outlining all of the updated information and a copy of the letter can also be found by clicking the link below.
Academic Honor Roll
At Lighthouse School, we work hard with our students to provide academic services that are both meaningful and engaging. We recognize how difficult it can be to take risks, learn new things, and build academic confidence each day. We take every opportunity to capitalize on moments where our students display these attributes as learners through daily recognition such as positive reinforcement using our token economy and verbal praise, and through more formal processes such as the end of the year Academic Awards Recognition Ceremony. We also have an additional quarterly opportunity for recognition for our student’s academic investment and achievement through Academic Honor Roll.
Academic Honor Roll is the recognition of students who attain a specified grade scale in their core content areas: English Language Arts, Math, Science, and History, Reading (100 and 200 clusters), and Writer’s Workshop/Writing. Students must have earned an A or B (ADV or PRF for those students on portfolio grade scales), with the exception of Reading and Writer’s Workshop/Writing which is a broader grade range of ADV, PRF, or PRG.
Students who earn Academic Honor Roll were recognized in their homeroom Morning Meeting, a copy of their Academic Honor Roll certificate was printed for them to take home, and their name and picture was displayed on the cluster Honor Roll bulletin board. We also celebrated their accomplishments with a fun Ice Cream Sundae activity for all who earned the Honor Roll.
Spotlight: Transition Services
Transition Services is one of the areas of study for our high school-aged and older students. The curriculum focuses on developing skills they will need to be successful as they enter young adulthood. Transition planning helps students prepare for employment, post-secondary education/training, community participation, and independent living skills.
Lesson material covers topics such as organizational skills, exploring continuing education programs, resume writing, interviewing skills, budgeting, meal planning, housekeeping, and inventory skills. By cultivating a supportive and motivating learning environment during these lessons, we teach our students to think about life choices, build healthy relationships with their peers, learn how to give and receive feedback in a simulated work setting and grow overall as individuals who better understand their interests, strengths, and struggles.
The lessons taught as part of Transition Services are just one way we help our students boost their confidence, enhance their self-esteem and help them learn from mistakes while recognizing that success can be within their reach when motivated to work hard. Our students learn more about themselves by taking risks in lessons. Risk-taking may mean working with a group on a budgeting activity or completing a career interest survey, or performing housekeeping tasks and realizing what their strengths and interests actually are as they develop a sense of independence and think about applying for jobs.
By cultivating a supportive and nurturing learning environment where mistakes can be made and challenges/fears can be confronted, we hope to empower the students to make healthy life choices as they develop and plan for their future goals. Although planning for the future may sometimes seem overwhelming, all of this is done with the care and support of staff along with positive reinforcement and motivation to keep our students engaged and inspired.
Parent Advisory Council
Our Parent Advisory Council meetings are designed to provide families with a formal opportunity to share their input and discuss issues as they relate to the Education, Health and Safety of students in the program. Thank you to all of our families in the 100, 200 and 300 cluster who attended our Parent Advisory Council meeting on Friday, February 11th at Noon. This meeting, which took place virtually, was a great opportunity for us to connect with all of you and receive your feedback regarding our program, and it seemed like some nice connections were made between parents/guardians as well.
There will be a meeting for the 400 cluster on March 11th and invitations have been sent out to all families in the 400 cluster. We hope you can join us and if you are planning to attend, please RSVP in the JotForm link emailed in the invitation so we can send you the link for the Google Meet.
Fun March Holidays
There are 31 long days in the month of March. It starts out cold and windy with the promise of warmer sunny days, as the Earth turns its frostbitten cheek to winter and springs forth from the vernal equinox.
Please click this link to fine some fun things to celebrate daily to help you get through the month! Fun March Holidays
March Bioeducational Theme of the Month: Beliefs
Beliefs are attitudes and opinions that guide our actions and behavior. They are the convictions that we generally hold to be true, usually without actual proof or evidence. Our beliefs are assumptions that we make about the world and our values stem from those beliefs. Our values are things we deem important and can include concepts like equality, honesty, education, effort, perseverance, loyalty, faithfulness, conservation of the environment and many other concepts.
Our beliefs are shaped by our past experiences or our parents’ beliefs. Cultural beliefs play an enormous part in developing our attitudes and opinions about life.
Many of the limitations you face in life are self-imposed. What you believe about yourself can keep you locked behind your fears or thrust you forward into living your dreams. What you create through your thoughts is a belief system, and that belief system is ultimately what determines your success in life. The key to changing your belief system is changing your thoughts. Thoughts influence the outcome of situations.
Website Suggestions:
● https://kidsnclicks.com/list-of-values/
● https://teenheroicjourney.org/book/3-core-challenges/forming-an-identity/your-identity-puzzle/your-values/
● https://parentandteen.com/communicating-values-to-tweens-and-teens/
● https://www.developgoodhabits.com/core-values-worksheet/
● https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheet/core-beliefs
● https://positivepsychology.com/self-esteem-worksheets/
● https://www.activitytailor.com/games-develop-theory-mind/
● https://www.positiveaction.net/blog/social-skills-activities-and-games-for-kids
Book Suggestions:
Young Readers:
Our Values: My Beliefs
People
Same, Same but Different
Older Elementary:
Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story
Through My Eyes
90 Miles to Havana
Middle School:
The Breadwinner Trilogy
High School:
A Long Walk to Water
Warriors Don’t Cry
Freakboy
Movie Suggestions:
Soul Surfer (2011)
Themes: Perseverance, overcoming adversity, hard work
Pay It Forward (2000)
Themes: Kindness, thinking of others
The Blindside (2009)
Themes: Compassion, Empathy, Give people a chance, family comes in all forms
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Themes: Determination, reach for your dreams, a father's love
Coach Carter (2005)
Themes: The importance of good values and hard work
Hidden Figures (2016)
Themes: Equality, Discrimination, Feminism, Racism
Reader Feedback!
Here's some of what we heard from you, along with our answers:
READER: "I enjoy knowing the theme of the month & the quotes by important people. Does every class start with the theme as a lean into the subject?"
LHS: All lessons are planned with the theme of the month in mind, although some may highlight it more than others. We also decorate bulletin boards throughout the buildings that feature the theme of the month. It's a great way to have commonality across all lessons and a fun focus for students and staff across the program.
READER: "[my child's] behavior has improved over the [past] few weeks."
LHS: We are happy to hear it, thanks for sharing that!
Ideas from Our Families:
Could we focus on the topic of respect with students? Respect for parents; teachers & authority figures; students & their peers.
Thank you for your feedback! Please keep it coming!
Resources
Family Support Line
As a reminder, our therapists are available to offer clinical support to families and students 24 hours a day. If you are in need of assistance, please call our support line, starting with Line 1.
Line #1: (978) 821-1351
If you are not able to connect with a therapist or do not get a response within 10 minutes, please try Line 2.
Line #2: (978) 821-0316
Cluster Notes
Click the folder below to get the
latest Cluster Notes!
