MEET KAREN!
~ OUR AMAZING MUSIC THERAPIST ~
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Karen is happy to be a founding member of the Creekside Team as our Music Therapist since our school first began. She loves interacting with the students and having an opportunity to watch them grow and learn while engaging in her favorite hobby, music!
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Karen came out to California to do her Music Therapy internship after graduating from the University of Kansas. While here, she fell in love with the climate, her eventual husband, and all the community based opportunities she saw for individuals with special needs. However, Karen's first music therapy job was working with teens and adults in a state hospital back in St. Louis. After working on locked ward units, she couldn't wait to get back to Cali where clients were being deinstitutionalized. After her return, she went on to graduate school at San Francisco State where she earned a Master's Degree in Special Education. She and her husband got married shortly thereafter and they have one grown daughter.
Karen has provided Music Therapy services for Oak Grove, Cupertino, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Alum Rock, KIPP Charter Schools and Santa Clara County of Education special education classrooms. She has also run Music Therapy programs for the City of San Jose's Therapeutic Recreation Services and CA Community Opportunities. She will happily tell anyone that Creekside is the VERY BEST school she has ever worked at!
Karen plays piano, guitar, recorders and is attempting to learn the folk harp. Her hobbies include succulent gardening, traveling to as many foreign countries as possible, and spending time with her two rescue whippets. She is also an ambassador to the Music and Memory program which promotes the use of music to assist individuals living with Alzheimer's and dementia.
We are so thankful for Karen!
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Kinship Academy Parent's Day (Rescheduled)
Kinship Academy is hosting a Parent Day and they have invited our students and parents! The day will include a bounce house and a visit from farm animals: chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits and a small pony. They will be have a craft table, bubble making area, fun snacks for the kids, and finger sandwiches for parents inside for the luncheon. All families are welcome to join them on our campus from 11:00-12:30 pm on Friday, May 24th!
Thank you Kinship!
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Take a Look in our Classrooms!
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Next week 3C students will go on our monthly vocational outing to the Animal Assisted Happiness Program (AAH). Students will help groom, feed, give water and TLC to the goats, bunnies, alpacas, and miniature pony. After completing all of this hands on hard work, the students will be rewarded with some fun at the nearby Baylands Park! I hope that this wacky May weather doesn't affect this vocational outing!
Students will revisit the letters p & d as these can be tricky to differentiate. P words will be penny, parachute, pizza, and pig. D words will be duck, donut, drum, and dog. Students will also practice writing these letters and number writing. We will continue to learn about the three R's, learning how paper is made and how to save a tree! 3C students look forward to finishing the week with some fun at the Kinship Parent Day celebration on Friday, May, 24th.
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Next week the students will revisit their ULS lessons and activities.
We will also review the careers and dive deeper into two careers of their choice and give them the opportunity to learn a few skills in the field.
It was a very busy week with IEP's and state testing so our class will continue the lesson plan from this week.
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FREE WAYS TO HELP FUNDRAISE FOR CREEKSIDE!
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AMAZON SMILE:
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support our school every time you shop, at no cost to you. Go to
smile.amazon.com
and search for our school name. There are other Creekside Schools so please make sure you choose the one located in San Jose and founded in 2010.
BOX TOPS:
We are collecting BOX TOPS! Just clip and collect every Box Top you receive and periodically send them back to us.
RECYCLING:
Send in rinsed plastic bottles and non-alcoholic cans only! The kids will be taking them to the recycling center every so often. Recycling can be dropped off at the cafeteria or just call us and someone can meet you curbside!
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UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS AROUND THE BAY AREA
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5/18/19 Saturday - A Walk On Water Surf Therapy
Time: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at Cowell's Beach, Santa Cruz. A full, rejuvenating day for the family: surf session, as well as art, yoga, music, plus breakfast, lunch and and snacks. Surf Therapy events are free, but reserve now, spots are limited and fill up fast.
https://awalkonwater.org/event/santa-cruz-ca
5/25/19 Saturday - AMC Sensory Friendly Films: Pokemon: Detective Pikachu (PG)
Time: See participating theaters
What: AMC is proud to partner with the Autism Society to offer unique movie showings where we turn the lights up, and turn the sound down, so you can get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! Our Sensory Friendly Film program is available on the second and fourth Saturday (family-friendly) and Tuesday evenings (mature audiences) of every month.
5/25/19 Saturday - Paddle 4 Good: Paddle Together
Time: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. at Shoreline Lake, Mountain View
Paddle4Good's Paddle Together program brings the special needs, volunteer, & paddling communities together for a free, safe, amazing, half-day on the water, with safety & inclusion as the primary goals - participants have the opportunity to safely stand up paddle (SUP), kayak, peddle boat, & more with a friendly set of community volunteers & skilled crew of paddlers. The Paddle 4 Good events are for those with special needs ages 4-24. Registration starts on April 13th! Limited space.
Click here to sign up to receive a reminder when registration opens.
For more info about
Paddle 4 Good's Paddle Together program click here.
Also: Sept. 7, Sept. 8, and Oct. 4.
6/01/19 Saturday - Scientists & Artists Benefit for Autistry Studios
Time: 6:00-9:00 pm at Autistry Studios, 448 Du Bois Street, San Rafael
Scientists & Artists: a Nerdy & Neurodiverse Benefit for Autistry Studios: Out-of-this-world presentations by a NASA scientist, a New York artist, a VR specialist and an Animation Writer.
Click
HERE
for complete details and to purchase tickets!
6/03/19 Monday - Kepler's Speaker Series: Graeme Simsion
Time: 7:30-9:30 pm at Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Kepler's presents Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project, The Rosie Effect and now the Rosie Result. In the third and final installment, Don and Rosie’s final tale will explore the parenting quandary they undergo as their son, who takes after his dad, struggles to adapt socially in school. Through his writing, Graeme has successfully helped increase awareness of autism and continues to advocate for organizations that support people with autism.
Click
HERE
to purchase tickets.
7/06/19 Saturday - Giants Autism Awareness Night - Giants v. Cardinals
Time: 7:05 pm at Oracle Park, San Francisco
The Giants are proud to partner with Autism Speaks and Anova, in addition to other organizations in the community, in an effort to change the future for all those who struggle with autism spectrum disorders.Your special event ticket package includes a ticket to the game against the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as a limited edition Will Clark item! Additionally, proceeds from every Autism Awareness Night special event ticket benefit non-profits in the Autism community to aid in their ongoing mission.
SUMMER PROGRAMS from VIA SERVICES
Via West provides residential respite care with weekend and week-long special needs camping programs throughout the year. We offer innovative programs and activities that include both learning and outdoor experiences, plus independent living skills and skill building activities that are specifically designed to improve self-sufficiency. Their summer brochure can be found
HERE
Six Sundays June-August, 2019: SFASA Summer Pool Parties
Time: 1:00-4:00 pm at AnT Swim School, San Jose
Our pool parties for autism families return this summer! Registration coming in May. Event dates: June 9, June 23, July 7, July 21, August 4, August 18
Saturdays (Weekly) - Dance for Al
l - Inclusive Exercise Class
Time: 1:00-2:00 pm at the El Camino YMCA, 2400 Grant Rd, Mountain View, 94040
This weekly class offers a safe and accepting environment where differences are accepted without judgment and special need participants can exercise side-by-side with their family members and other Y members. Attendees participate in a series of dances, choreographed to popular music enjoyed by youth, as well as Pilates-based exercise that exposes them to moves they would find in a number of other Y classes. More Info at:
Class List
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The Creekside School
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