May 24, 2018

NAMI Walk

Derek (from HS) participated NAMI walk and he completed walking for 3 miles!

NAMI
On Saturday, May 19, 2018, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts (NAMI Mass) will hold its 15th annual Walkathon, NAMIWalks, along the Charles River at DCR Artesani Park in Boston. Each year, this empowering event increases public awareness to help combat the stigma surrounding mental illness. 


1. Getting into the bus.


2. Arrived at Artesani Park in Boston.


Mile 1


Mile 2


Mile 3


Derek loves dogs!




Finally lunch time!

Massasoit Art Festival 2018!

BJ (from HS) and Emily (from EP) represented Boston Higashi School at Massasoit Art Festival in Canton. They greeted everyone with smiles and handed ceramics politely to customers. 
When they had a break, they enjoyed watching live music, beautiful and unique artworks, and even painted a masterpiece. Both of them worked very hard and also enjoyed the event. 
Great job!


  
















May 18, 2018

It's Science Time!




The EP division has been working on a science unit in preparation for their upcoming division field trip to the Museum of Science. They have been learning about and practicing the scientific method and reading instructions while practicing using their core words of the month, "What" and "Where". We are ranging from different fun topics such as the solar system and planets to bird habitats. One classroom worked as a class to build a bird house.
BHS Research Team Presented at INSAR 2018

The 2018 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR, formerly IMFAR) was held in Rotterdam, Netherlands from May 9th to May 12th.


On behalf of Boston Higashi School (BHS), Dr. Ashley Woodman (University of Massachusetts Amherst) and Yumiko Mori (BHS, Educational Program Evaluator) presented two posters at the conference: 1) The Impact of Vigorous Exercise on Behavior Problems and Academic Engagement among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and 2) The Effect of Music on Exercise Intensity among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study.

Please see the PDF versions of the posters below:


Read our PE Study Poster                             Read our Music and Exercise Study Poster

The second study "Music/Exercise Study" was published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, 7(3), 38.



The BHS Research Team is grateful to our wonderful co-researchers: Dr. Ashley Woodman, Dr. Miriam Evans (EdTogether, Inc.), Ms. Becky Golden (Boston Children's Hospital), Ms. Emily Breviglia (Graduate from University of Massachusetts), and Ms. Hannah Wisniewski (Graduate from University of Massachusetts).


We truly appreciate all the students and their parents who participated in these studies. Also, we greatly thank all staff members who supported the research projects. Without their involvement, we would not have reached this milestone!



John Maina, Ph.D. and Yumiko Mori, M.S.

BHS Research Team

May 15, 2018

Did you get LOVE from our students?


We had an amazing Road Race on Sunday even though the weather was not so perfect. 
Mothers and families were surprised by Mother's day gifts made by our students!

Shopping for flowers at Trader Joe's.

Making a Mason jar beautiful.

Flower arrangement! So focused!












May 11, 2018

Beautiful Friday Afternoon

With the weather being so nice out on Friday afternoon, the resident students decided to go outside for Communication class. They had fun going for a Scavenger Hunt on the nature trail. They looked for birds, squirrels, flowers, leaves and other fun nature items.