December 23, 2016

Cookie Decorating in the Residence!

The residential students got a chance to spread some seasonal cheer - and frosting! They baked cookies during Culinary Arts classes, then got a chance to decorate them with their own snowman design using frosting and icing tubes. Great job to the teachers and residential activity leaders for making such a fun activity possible!

Check out the photos on our Facebook page

December 22, 2016

Winter Music Festival Brings Laughter and Light

Our annual Winter Music Festival was possibly the best attended holiday event in recent memory, as friends, families and loved ones packed the gymnasium to help us celebrate. From Christmas standards and Hanukkah classics, to brand new traditions, this year's festival was a delight to all who attended. We even got some press in the Boston Globe the day after the performance! (Read the article here)  Thanks to all the teachers and staff who made this event possible, and especially to our students who tried their very best, both on stage and in the audience. Happy Holidays!

Check out the photos on Facebook

Residential Overnight Appreciation!



The residential overnight staff really enjoyed the overnight smorgasbord of delicious food provided by our Parents Association both on December 18th and 22nd! The feast began at midnight, and the residential instructors had so much food that they were able to snack all night long! 

What a great way to say "thank you" to the staff that work so hard "behind the scenes" making sure the children sleep well and are watched over throughout the night. No staff are more deserving! 

Happy Holidays to one and all!

December 21, 2016

Dr. Stephen Shore visits Higashi

                On Wednesday, December 21, 2016, Dr. Stephen Shore took a break from his many trips around the world to visit the Boston Higashi School. Along with being a world-famous presenter and self-advocate, Dr. Shore is a long-time member of the BHS's Advisory Board and is involved in research projects at the school. The Research Team was excited to meet with him and share updates on the many projects that are going on.

                Dr. Shore also met with Residential Staff from Japan. Many of these staff are not only new to BHS, but also to the United States. They shared many laughs with Dr. Shore and even snapped a quick photo before heading back to rest up for their afternoon shifts.
The Residential Staff are all smiles with Dr. Shore!
Dr. Ann Roberts, Principal Deb Donovan, and Dr. John Maina present
Dr. Shore with a copy of the department's first Strategic Plan.

December 16, 2016

Tiny Tumblers - Elementary Gymnastics Recital

We're so proud of our youngest division's hard work! On Friday they held their second annual PE Gymnastics Recital where they showcased their rolling, tumbling, and ability to follow group directions in front of an audience. From pencil rolls to crab, bear, and duck walks, our youngest Higashi students showed focus, effort, and lots of pride after a successful performance. Congratulations to all the students and teachers who worked so hard to make this event a success, and a special thanks to PE teacher Kristen Cook for organizing the event. Great job, Elementary!

View the photos on our Facebook page

December 14, 2016

Winter Dance & Residence Party - Holiday Happiness!

We were feeling festive on Wednesday night at our annual Winter Dance and Residence Party! The halls of Higashi were packed after hours, with a party for the younger Residential students, and a dance for the older crowd that was also open to Alumni, families and friends. Several Santas even made an appearance!

Check out our Facebook page for photos from the event

Happy Holidays!

December 13, 2016

Research Team Visits CARE at BU

The Boston Higashi School Research Team had a wonderful time visiting Dr. Helen Tager-Flusberg, Daniela Plesa-Swerer, Steve Meyer, and Brady Eggleston at the Center for Autism Research Excellence (CARE) on Tuesday. Housed in the quietest part of Boston University’s campus, the CARE lab is a meticulously clean, secure base for some of the world’s greatest research undertakings in Autism studies.

During the visit, the team had the opportunity to tour the entire facility and learned a great deal about developing research space for maximum utility. Much of the time, however, was spent in the Electroencephalogram (EEG) Center, where many BHS students will be participating in research this spring. We can’t wait to bring our students, staff, and parents to this amazing lab!


December 05, 2016

Smilies Abound at Winter Sibling Day

On Saturday, 21 siblings joined us for our Winter Sibling Day - a morning of friendship and festive fun! From a scavenger hunt and "snowball" fight, to everyone's favorite, gingerbread house decorating, the gym was all smiles. 'Tis the season!

Check out the photos on our Facebook page!

December 02, 2016

Emergence Program Delivers Care Packs for our Troops

On Friday, students from the Emergence Program visited the Care Packs Inc. Warehouse in Weymouth, MA. Thanks to the generosity of Higashi students and families, we were able to donate a wide variety of hygiene and leisure items to be sent to troops serving overseas. Emergence students worked hard to compose Thank You letters during their November academic unit using picture symbols, visual topic boards, and augmentative communication devices. These letters not only gave students a greater awareness of community involvement, but also brought a message from home to their recipients. Great job, EP!

December 01, 2016

Jazz Band Performs at EMC

For the second year in a row, the Jazz Band performed at EMC as part of the "International Day of People with Disability."  

EMC also held their 7th Annual Pinball Wizard Contest & Vendor Fair, and our students even got a chance to practice their pinball skills after a pizza lunch.

Thanks to Higashi parent Kristine Biagiotti-Bridges, President of the Disability Employee Resource Group at Dell for arranging this great opportunity!