Lighthouse School, Inc.

December 23, 2022

"Generosity is compassion in action, and it is love in action."

-Barbara Bonner

Wellman Avenue Facility Entrance
Mill Road Facility Entrance

"Our lives are defined by opportunities. Even the ones we miss."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

Announcements:

  • The Bioeducational Theme for the month of January is Opportunity.

  • December Bioeducational Newsletters will be sent home on Friday, December 23rd.

  • School will be closed:

    • December 26 - 30th: Christmas Recess

    • January 2nd - New Year's Day, Observed

    • January 16th - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day

    • Quarter 2 closes on Friday, January 20th


Our Holiday Traditions

Holiday Shop

This is a very special event for our students. It gives them the opportunity to "purchase" gifts for their family members, loved ones, or special friend. Because they are using tokens they earned, it allows for a wonderful learning and personal growth opportunity as it teaches the students about giving to others.

Caroling

Here at Lighthouse School, Christmas Caroling is something so many look forward to each year. It is a time when we come together and sing the beautiful songs of the Christmas season. Whether in complete harmony or not, this special event reminds us all of the true meaning of the Christmas holiday.

Holiday Fest

The Holiday Fest is a favorite tradition for both staff and students at Lighthouse. Creativity abounds as the students are able to select from a variety of craft-making ideas to create a work of art, from a train made out of candy pieces to an ornament made from colored sand. This is a wonderful way in which the students highlight generosity in making gifts for others.

Artists @ Work (Creative Expressions)

Window & Door Decorating

This is a fun and favorite tradition for the students at Lighthouse. Each homeroom worked together to design and create a holiday “Homeroom” window and door. There was lots of merriment and excitement while the students brainstormed ideas and then put the decorating in full swing.

The staff and students then had the opportunity to visit the homerooms and see the amazing job done by all. We are so lucky to see the talent of all our students shine through these charming creations.

Lastly, before the start of the holiday break, a winner was chosen from each cluster and those homerooms received a prize. What fun it was!!

Generosity Snowmen

Each homeroom participated in a Bio-developmental theme of the month activity by creating a Generosity Snowman. We asked students to think about what generosity means to them and pick someone that symbolizes generosity. This could be someone famous, someone they have read about, or someone they know.


There were opportunities to plan, design, and create the Snowmen, as well as write about why they chose the particular person and what makes them generous. Students enjoyed using clay as well as additional materials such as felt, pom poms, pipe cleaners, etc.


These snowmen were on display during the last week of December so that all staff and students could look at everyone’s work and learn about how generosity can look.

Communication

With Winter fast approaching, we wanted to share with you some important information regarding our NOTIFY System, as well as our Inclement Weather Policy.

For urgent communication with families, Lighthouse School uses the NOTIFY System. Notify is the supplemental system that enables us to communicate directly with you about emergency situations or other matters of urgent importance. The system can forward personalized voice messages to your family's home, work, or cell phones, as well as send communications via email and text message. Because of this system, we are able to contact all families in a timely and efficient manner. When a call comes from Lighthouse School, your Caller ID will display Lighthouse School and/or the telephone number 978-251-4050. It is important to make sure that we have the most current and up-to-date telephone numbers and email addresses to ensure the delivery of any urgent communication to you.

Inclement Weather Policy: Only in inclement weather will television announcements for Chelmsford Public School cancellations also apply to Lighthouse School. Chelmsford Public School cancellations for any other reason (power outages, no heat, etc.) will not impact Lighthouse School and we will be open as usual. Please use your own judgment concerning the weather in your city or town when deciding whether or not to send your child to school, even in the event that Lighthouse School is open. Lighthouse School does not have delayed openings.

January

January's Theme of the Month: Opportunity

During the month of January, students will be exploring the Bioeducational theme of Opportunity. Opportunity is a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. It is a good chance for enhancement or progress. Many of our students struggle to try new things or deal with change. They struggle to break from their normal patterns and attempt to do things that may be different or difficult. This month we will focus on helping the students to see problems as opportunities to learn more about life and experiences and an opportunity to make a change.

Opportunity inspires hope, as well as something we can wish for to make our lives better. Real opportunities are the ones we don’t immediately see. They come by at the most unexpected, most inopportune times. Sometimes we don’t even realize that an opportunity has fallen in our path because we are too distracted. We help our students to see that conflicts are opportunities to learn about themselves and others.

Media suggestions:

Websites:


Book suggestions:

  • The Kids’ Book of Questions by Gregory Stock

  • The Giver - by Lois Lowry

  • Touching Spirit Bear - by Ben Mikaelsen

  • We’ll Fly Away - by Bryan Bliss

  • The Hate You Give - by Angie Thomas


Movie Suggestions:

  • Rudy (PG)

  • October Sky (PG)

  • Forrest Gump (PG-13)

  • Field of Dreams (PG)

Philosophy Amplification Project:

"The Power to Choose"


The second highlight of our Philosophy Amplification Project is “The Power to Choose.” This is a board with squares that can be changed where different solutions and choices are posted for students to see.

The Biodevelopmental components are:

Self-Understanding, Cognitive Dimension, Conflict Resolution, Disability Awareness/Acceptance, Guided free expression, Spirituality, Attitude and Bioblueprint.

How to use the board:

· Follow through the problems and solutions.

· What are the choices and consequences of each? Notice how there are different choices

· Is Impulse Control a problem?

· How would you handle this?

· Is there a better way to handle the problem?

· What steps can you take to make the better choice next time?

MA & NH Community Activities

Looking for things to do in your community? Check out the links below.

Our 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

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