Lighthouse School, Inc.

March 31, 2023 

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wellman Avenue Facility Entrance
Mill Road Facility Entrance

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness."

-Desmond Tutu

Announcements:

Spotlight on Expressive Therapy

Expressive therapy is an integrative, multimodal approach that utilizes a variety of methods to help people achieve growth. In this type of treatment, people work with a trained therapist who helps them explore and understand their reactions to their experiences with different forms of expression. Lighthouse School has a long history of employing expressive therapies as part of our comprehensive approach to treatment. Our expressive division works with students in experiential and art therapies as well as woodworking. Therapy is not “one size fits all” and while APEX already allows us to individualize treatment to each student's unique needs, expressive therapy gives us an extra tool in our toolbox to find the best ways to engage students. By being creative and thinking outside of traditional talk therapy methods, our expressive therapists help students be more active participants in their treatment, stay motivated to do this hard work and make connections with others. 

What's Happening in Electives


Food of the World

Fun STEM Activities

Digital Photography

Anime Art

Clubs  

Each quarter, we offer different motivational clubs to students in each cluster. Students spend their tokens on joining the 6-week club. Clubs offer students an opportunity to engage with students who share similar interests and work on their social skills in a less structured setting.

Remote Control Car Club

Sports Club

Basketball Club

Fitness Club

States Mandated Testing

Lighthouse School is committed to making State Mandated Testing as successful as possible for all participating students.  We help prepare the students for testing by providing opportunities for them to become familiar with different test formats, terminology, and test-taking strategies.  We encourage the students to participate in all testing opportunities offered at school.  At the same time, we recognize that these tests can be stressful for them.  Staff work with the students to validate those feelings of fear, anxiety and frustration to help the test-taking be a more overall positive experience.

   April

April Theme of the Month: Hope

The Bioeducational Theme of the Month for April is Hope.  Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.  Hope is a word that emanates throughout Lighthouse School.  It is something that we all have in our students and want to be able to foster within them.   If we exude hope, the attitude “hopefully” will be contagious and students will start to feel hope too.  Hope is also a feeling of trust or an optimistic attitude of mind that is based on an expectation of a positive outcome.  It is a feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.  Research shows that hope can help us manage stress and anxiety and cope with adversity.  During the month we will focus on what the word “hope” means to students.  Have they seen it in their lives?  What are their hopes and dreams?  There will be homeroom activities and Group Therapy lessons the students can participate in that will help them have a better understanding of how having hope can help make situations seem not so hard or overwhelming and by just believing things can indeed seem better.

If you would like to participate in activities at home, here are some suggestions:

Books:       

·         Have You Filled a Bucket Today by Carol McLoud

·         The Underdogs by Mike Lupica

·         Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy

·         Mr. Happy by Roger Hargreaves 

·         Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting

·         That’s When I’m Happy by Beth Shoshan

·         Imagine a Place by Rob Gonsalves

 Movies:

            ·         The Blind Side (PG-13)

·         Freedom Writers (PG-13)

·         Rudy (PG)

·         Stand and Deliver (PG)

Philosophy Amplification Project:

"Work We Are Proud Of"


The fifth highlight of our Philosophy Amplification Project is the “Work We Are Proud Of” station. This new station has locations at both Wellman and Mill Road.

The APEX Application:

It is meant to replicate a refrigerator door where proud parents would hang up various artwork or academic work samples their kids bring home as a way to show them how important and valued, they are.

Often, our kids do not associate success or pride with academic endeavors, and would love to use this station as another way to shift that notion for them.

Hopefully, the positive response will allow them to see the possibility that they too are worthy of recognition by having their efforts reinforced by positive adult figures in their lives.

The Biodevelopmental components are: Self-Concept, Identity, Values, IRA, Striving

How to use the station:

●       Can you describe what it means to feel proud?

●       What is something you are proud of?

●       Why do you think this work was posted on the refrigerator?

●     How do others show they are proud of you? How do you show you are proud of others?

●       When you are told someone is proud of you, how do you feel?

●       If “proud” were a color, what color would it be?



MassHealth Update

Make sure MassHealth has your most up-to-date address, phone number, and email so you don’t miss important information and notices.

If they are not able to contact you, your coverage may change or you may lose your coverage during your renewal.

Report any household changes.  These include a new job, a new address, changes to your income, disability status, or pregnancy.

Update your information and report changes using your MA Login Account at https://www.mahix.org/individual/.

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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