June 2024 Newsletter

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was going to end… it became a butterfly.” ~ Unknown

Editorial 

Dear Dawn to Dusk Community,

May is a special month for Dawn to Dusk as it was on May 17th, 2021, that Dawn to Dusk opened our doors to welcome 13 participants into our Day Program. The first day still remains fresh in my memory when our 3 vehicles at the time went around to pick up our participants from their homes. Our team of 16 staff worked tirelessly to support our participants, most of whom were staying home after the disruption that the COVID-19 pandemic had caused. It has been humbling to see our growth from those days to today. Since then, May 17th is celebrated as our anniversary and like last year, we celebrated it with a picnic for all program participants and staff at Thompson Park in Monroe.

Looking back, Dawn to Dusk opened for the first time on October 11, 2020. However after remaining open for a brief period of 6 weeks, DDD asked all Day Programs to close as the number of COVID-19 cases were on a rise as we approached Thanksgiving 2020. From December 2020, we offered a virtual program until we reopened for in-person programming on May 17, 2021. I view the period from December 2020 to May 2021 as our metamorphosis period, similar to the metamorphosis of a butterfly from an egg, to caterpillar to the pupa and ultimately the pupa breaking open the cocoon to emerge as a beautiful and colorful butterfly. It is also analogous to a child that grows inside the mother’s womb for 9 months and is introduced to the world on his or her birthday. Thus May 17, 2021 is our special day, the day we became a butterfly. Our growth and metamorphosis continues with the slogan that we are devoted to: The Best is Yet to Come. 

I thank you for being a part of our journey and our story and invite you to walk the untrodden path with us and leave a trail for the future generations.

~Sesh Subramanian

Life Skills and Growing Independence

Packing Lunch:

In preparation for the Dawn to Dusk’s Anniversary Picnic, all participants had the chance to assemble their own delightful picnic lunches. Each team gathered with an assortment of supplies including brown paper bags, chips, water bottles, and juice pouches to curate their perfect midday meal, which later on had a sandwich added to it. Everyone effortlessly prepared nonperishable lunches, ensuring that no one would go hungry. This hands-on experience also provided the participants with an opportunity to develop valuable skills and boost their confidence as they took charge of their meal preparation. The best part? Each person was able to personalize their lunch bag to their heart's content. 

Self Expression Through Creativity

Our Get Creative activity sessions are exactly that: an opportunity for the participants to show off their creativity using various media and techniques to create a piece of art! Each month we select art projects that match with the monthly theme and provide ample choices and options for each participant to create something that truly reflects their preferences and vision. Working on listening and following step-by-step directions from staff; sharing and communicating with their peers; making choices about color, material, texture, placement, detail, and design; manipulating tools and using fine motor skills throughout, the Get Creative activity sessions are a popular choice in the afternoon for many of the participants at Dawn to Dusk!

Special Event:

• On Thursday, May 23rd, Dawn to Dusk hosted our first Music Recital for the talented students of Mike Montrey. As many of you know, Mike has been performing at our center every Thursday and Friday for quite some time. He has been providing music lessons to our participants before and after these performances, teaching them to play the keyboard (piano) and guitar. After months of dedicated practice, his students put on a heartwarming performance that moved many to tears. Each student showcased their musical talents, effortlessly strumming and playing their instruments. It was a magical moment as the lights dimmed and all eyes turned to the stage. The room filled with a sense of anticipation and as each student performed, the atmosphere was filled with silence. The transition from silence to applause and cheers was truly remarkable. What an amazing production, bravo to all!

Physical and Mental Health and Wellbeing

We are proud to offer Dawn to Dusk's Health Matters program at our center, which is led by our experienced Nurse Mike. The program focuses on helping individuals improve their overall health and wellness by incorporating full body motion paired with mindful and intentional movements. This month saw the participants following along with Thai Chi and Yoga flows to promote the mind-body connection, as well as compound movements during aerobic exercise including squats, lunges, and boxing movements that work the entire body and large muscle groups.

Sensory Program launch: In May, Dawn to Dusk unveiled our sensory program, recognizing the diverse needs of our community members. We understand that some may find certain stimuli overwhelming, whether it's noise or crowded spaces. With this in mind, we launched this initiative to ensure that everyone who walks through our doors receives the support they require. Our goal is simple: to create a welcoming space where every individual feels understood and valued, fostering an inclusive environment where all can thrive and grow.

Walking Club: In the morning hours at our center, after everyone has finished breakfast and settled in for the morning meeting, some participants choose to work out with Nurse Mike while others take advantage of the warm weather and go for a walk outside. We've brought back the Dawn to Dusk Walking Club! Both participants and staff will have the chance to walk laps around our center and track their steps and miles, as each lap around the building is 0.2 miles! Participants can sign up for daily walks and record their laps on a central chart. To encourage everyone, we are purchasing small sneaker charms to add to a bracelet for them to add to. On beautiful days, we plan to spend more time outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and staying active. Providing opportunities for outdoor recreation is a top priority for us, and we're thrilled to connect with our community outside after the cold weather. We're excited to discover new ways to stay motivated, get active, and soak up some vitamin D!

Swim Club: Many of our participants continue to go to Apex Swim Club for weekly lessons and have really enhanced their skills. If you are interested in having your loved one join swim lessons, please contact Sesh - sesh@dawntoduskwellbeing.com

In May, we continued our volunteer work with the Franklin Food Bank by packing paper bags with non-perishable food items and canned goods. The participants continue to look forward to this activity session and we look forward to continuing to offer it! Since implementing this part of our program, it has become quite clear that the participants at Dawn to Dusk agree; time spent helping others is time well spent.

Leisure and Recreation

The Dawn to Dusk Garden Club was very active this month, prepping the raised beds and planting saolings purchased from Gaskos, a local nursery. Participants visited the nursery in teams, found the plans that needed to be planted, and upon their return worked together to plant them in our D2D Garden. We look forward to nurturing the plants, monitoring their growth, and of course enjoying the harvest. 

Anniversary Picnic: On May 17th, Dawn to Dusk celebrated its 3rd anniversary of day programming with an all-program picnic at one of our favorite spots—Thompson Park in Monroe! The entire day program enjoyed a wonderful day at the park, playing basketball, making use of the accessible jungle gym and swing set, strolling along the park's paths, coloring, and participating in various backyard games we brought along, including frisbee, chalk, bubbles with homemade bubble wands, and more! We relished the sack lunches they prepared themselves and made sure to leave the park spotless before returning to the center. It's amazing to think that three years have flown by, and we're excited to continue expanding our program activities, outings, and community connections with all of you in the years ahead.

Community Corner

In May, we had a wonderful time exploring familiar locales in the community. We visited Quakerbridge Mall for some window shopping, Gaskos Farm to gather plants for our garden, Woodlot Park to soak up some sun, and enjoyed a classic game of bowling at Knob Hill Country Lanes. Our outings provided engaging opportunities for our participants to connect with the community, reinforcing social skills and promoting a sense of pride in their growth and enjoyment.

Every so often, our participants request lunch outings, reminiscent of the enjoyable experiences they have had with their own families and group homes. In May, we decided to organize a “Team Choice” outing, giving the participants and their teams the opportunity to select where they would like to go for the week. With the support of staff members, each team reached a consensus on which restaurant they would like to visit. Most teams chose restaurants we have visited before, while one team discovered a fantastic Italian restaurant that was new to us. Overall, it was a successful activity that encouraged our participants to collaborate, appreciate each other's interests, and foster a sense of unity.

Throughout May, our participants relished delightful dining experiences at some of our beloved local establishments, including Five Guys, Chick-fil-A, and IHOP. These outings offered invaluable opportunities for honing life skills such as patience, budgeting, and community engagement. Participants eagerly perused menus and placed their orders, demonstrating their growing sense of independence and responsibility. Their commitment to applying acquired skills and building positive connections with restaurant staff is truly inspiring. We celebrate their ongoing growth and successes as they thrive in our program.

If you have any questions or suggestions about the Day Program, please contact Emily at: emily@dawntoduskwellbeing.com          

Photo Gallery

Enjoy some special moments and smiles in our photo gallery here.