We had the chance to collaborate and meet with many of these students on the conference day. We spent the day at the Holiday Inn in Boxborough. The day was full of opportunities to interact outside of school. It was a fun-filled day of role-playing, networking, and dancing! 

 

The day started around 8:00am, where there was a roll call in the ballroom of the hotel. After the roll call, everyone moved to their designated role-playing area. Our group participated in a role-play that worked on skills that our students benefit from when going into the community or in a workplace environment. We focused on the "Two Truths and a Lie," role-play. When the activity was completed, the students went back into the ballroom to mingle with their peers and then had lunch. Lunch was followed by dancing and an awards ceremony. Our students received medals of participation.

 

It was a great experience...everyone worked hard and truly enjoyed themselves!

The new year brings hope for a better year. We set new year's resolutions to be healthier, more productive, and more engaged with family and friends. The new year also brings January and February, two of the coldest and most difficult months of the year. As New Englanders, we are challenged every year to stay healthy both physically and mentally. With degrees sometimes in the single digits, this can seem like an impossible task. Here are some ways we help our LABBB staff and students approach this challenge.

One of the most important ways we can stay healthy is to continue being active and spending at least some time outdoors. At LABBB, our students participate in outdoor recreational activities. They go ice skating, go outside for recess, and go for walks outside. When the weather does not cooperate with these activities, we take our students to the gym, fitness room, or walk around the school or workplace. Our staff and students also participate in weekly yoga sessions. Look for a list of organizations in our newsletter that offer special education recreational activities. Belmont Sport and Burlington Recreation are two such organizations. Local community centers and fitness centers also offer many opportunities for physical activities, including swimming, fitness classes, open gym for playing basketball, yoga classes, etc.

In addition to remaining physically active, we need to be mentally active even during the long, cold winter months. We can continue to nurture our minds through intellectual, mindful, and social activities. At LABBB, we provide our students with ongoing mindfulness exercises that help them maintain a more relaxed and positive outlook. Our students also participate in ongoing social experiences. The arts can be another social, intellectual, and emotional outlet. At various LABBB programs, students participate in music groups, art therapy, and integrated specials, such as gym, music, and art.

Spending quality time with friends and family outside of school is also very important. Staying connected helps us avoid feeling isolated and depressed.

During the next few months and beyond, remember to get out, be active, and spend time with friends and family. That is a sure way to beat the winter blues!