A Note from the Principal...
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Dear Parents,
We have had a very busy and challenging start to the Spring semester with the loss of Ms. Patti-Brown. But through all of the hurt and sadness, we have had many successes. All of our teachers and students have shown tremendous determination and resilience. We are also very thankful that Ms. Gemma was available to be a consistent substitute during this time and she has done a tremendous job jumping in wherever she has been needed. Her dedication and loyalty to Crossroads is unparalleled. Throughout this process of recovery, the Leadership Team has been carefully combing through resumes and conducting interviews with those candidates who are qualified to work with our students. It is imperative that we find someone that will be a great fit into Ms. Patti-Brown’s role here at Crossroads while also understanding how to work with our students. With that being said, our search is over and we are happy to announce that we have hired a new full-time teacher that will be starting on March 23rd. She has made commitments to other schools as a substitute until after spring break and, appropriately, she has asked us to allow her to honor those commitments.
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Her name is Christine Paige and she comes to us highly recommended from many professionals in the special education community. She has several years of experience working and volunteering at other schools similar to ours, such as, The Parish School, The Joy School, and The Westview School. Christine has a Master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas. Her background experience is in teaching social studies and English language arts. She has already met many of the students during what we called a “shadow day” to observe her interaction with our students and staff, and both groups have given their approval. We are very happy she will be joining us, so please welcome her to the Crossroads Team!
Justin Adams
713-977-1221 x120
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Annual TAAPS Conference
Our Principal, Mr. Justin Adams, and Head of Social Development, Ms. Ayesha Baig, attended an all day workshop in January put on by our accreditation association TAAPS, Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools. The conference aims to keep all TAAPS accredited schools connected and informed about today’s collective private school advantages, requirements and challenges.
Mr. Justin attended a presentation by Ellen Carter, Head of the Magnolia School, who focused on how to create a safe learning environment and ways of determining if behavior intervention is the proper approach in different circumstances. She presented what she called a “Daily Support Card” which is very similar to the Crossroads Goal Sheet that is already in place. Mr. Justin also attended a session by Emily Glanker from the Griffin School on teaching with current events. Her presentation focused on teaching students how to have productive discussions about current events, instead of debating them. Ms. Glanker noted that the key to this strategy was to teach multiple perspectives. Ms. Ayesha also attended two sessions over the daylong conference. Her sessions were focused on the dos and don’ts of using multimedia in the classroom and building connections through restorative practices. Both of her classes allowed for practical application into the Crossroads curriculum and she has begun introducing these ideas to the rest of the faculty.
At Crossroads, we believe that it is important for us to stay informed and aware of the latest classroom products, procedures, techniques, and innovation where special education is concerned. Please don’t hesitate to call or email Mr. Justin or Ms. Ayesha with any questions or ideas about their past or future continuing education. We welcome your input!
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As Seen Off Campus
This week our students attended a high-flying field trip at iFLY! It was the pinnacle of learning while having fun.
Some of the learning objectives of the field trip included:
- Understanding the difference between solids and fluids
- Analyzing the effects of different forces on an object
- Planning investigations and defining variables of an experiments
- Measuring and recording data
- Interpreting results
- Understanding variability, uncertainty, and error in experimental results
- Increasing awareness of exciting STEM careers
- Learning how STEM is used in the real-world
- Lastly, students were able to experience the power of physics by flying in the wind tunnel!!!!
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Cooking with Ms. Gemma
This week we celebrated Mardi Gras by making some rich and tasty Louisiana-style foods. None of the students were familiar with boudin - a Cajun sausage made of rice, ground meat, and spices - but they sure had fun forming those ingredients into round, bite-sized, baked treats! They even made a zesty creole mustard sauce for dipping. On Wednesday, our Superstar-Doubleday Cooking Club student made a half-dozen deviled eggs kicked up with tangy olives and salami. Happy Mardi Gras Indeed!
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Make your reservations now for the Breakfast Gala
April 1, 2020
A parent meeting to help with planning for the Gala is scheduled for
TUESDAY, MARCH 3 at 8:45 AM
HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
- Sponsor a table and invite your friends
- Plan to attend the Breakfast Gala yourself
- Request donations for the auction
- Volunteer to help with the planning
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TEAM CROSSROADS
in memory of Ms. Patti-Brown
The next Team Crossroads event will happen on March 7, 2020! Staff, students, and friends of Crossroads can participate in a race at 7 a.m. on March 7th at Minute Maid Park. (There are 10K, 5K and 1K options.) This will be the third event in which Ms. Azmae is coordinating Team Crossroads' participation this year!
Last December, our beloved teacher, Ms. Patti-Brown, ran in the Team Crossroads 5K in Sugarland. This next race, Team Crossroads will participate in her memory.
All of our donations for this race will be in her honor.
Our fundraiser goal for this event is $5,000. 93% of the donations raised for the race will come directly back to the school.
The race takes place at Minute Maid Park on March 7. Click the link below to donate or join the team. Staff, parents, students and alumni are all encouraged to join.
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Positivity Project - Social Intelligence
Social intelligence refers to a person’s ability to understand
and manage interpersonal relationships. It is distinct from a
person’s IQ or “book smarts.” It includes an individual’s
ability to understand, and act on, the feelings, thoughts,
and behaviors of other people. This type of intelligence can
take place “in the moment” of face-to-face conversations
but also appears during times of deliberate thinking. It
involves emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
Examples of social intelligence include knowing when to
talk or listen, what to say, and what to do. Timing is a big
part of social intelligence. For example, someone who is
imperceptive, may tell a funny joke – but at the wrong time,
or not show enough interest when meeting someone new.
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Intelligent Lives Screening
The Arc of Fort Bend County is proud to present a free public screening of the movie “
Intelligent Lives
” by Dan Habib on Thursday, March 19, 2020 from 6 – 8:30 pm at the Family Life Center of Christ Church Sugar Land, 3300 Austin Parkway Sugar Land, TX 77479. There will be county agencies, organizations and community resources providing information at this free event that is open to the public.
“From award-winning filmmaker Dan Habib comes INTELLIGENT LIVES, a catalyst to transform the label of intellectual disability from a life sentence of isolation into a life of possibility for the most systematically segregated people in America. INTELLIGENT LIVES stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities – Micah, Naieer, and Naomie – young adults who have intellectual disabilities who challenge perceptions of intelligence while navigating high school, college and the workforce.”
Free - Public Event - IDD Info & Resources - Doors Open at 5:45 pm
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Summer Camps
Camp Social Superheroes at Camp for All
July 5-10, 2020
Camp Social Superheroes is a six-day, overnight camp at Camp For All in Burton, TX, where children ages 8–12 learn and practice
Social Thinking®
. Campers attend a daily social group that focuses on social learning concepts necessary for success.
Counselors and speech-language pathologists help campers accomplish camp goals during fun camp activities like:
- Canoeing
- Eating meals together
- Campfire activities
- Swimming
- Horseback riding
- Hanging out in cabins
- and so much more!
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Goals:
- Blending and sharing space in groups
- Learning hidden social rules
- Guessing other people’s thoughts, feelings and motives
- Understanding friendships
- Reading cues
- Solving social problems
- Connecting with others through conversations and hanging out
Enrollment Open
www.parishschool.org/camp-social
Renee Attaway, MS, CCC-SLP
Director of Camp Social Superheroes
[email protected]
713-935-9088
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Camp Connect
Held at Camp Aranzazu - July 22-26, 2020
Giving teenagers the social tools to connect with others
The Parish School’s Camp Connect is a 5-day overnight camp held at
Camp Aranzazu
for 12- to 16-year-olds who struggle with social skills. From the founder of
Camp Social Superheroes
, Camp Connect continues to embrace the Social Thinking® methodology. Campers learn to connect with others, adapt to social environments and solve social problems, while enjoying a camp experience with team challenges, rock walls, fun activities and more. Goals are customized for each camper. Counselors have a background in speech-language pathology and special education, and provide direct therapy within small groups (5:1 student ratio).
Camp Connect focuses on the following concepts:
- Perspective-taking
- Social observation skills
- Understanding and forming friendships
- Conflict resolution
- Hidden social rules for teenagers
Registration
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Important Events & Reminders
- March 7, 2020 7am-10am: Team Crossroads Race at Minute Maid Park
- March 10, 2020 2pm: DaCamera Young Artists Parent Presentation
- March 16-20, 2020: Spring Break, School Closed
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CROSSROADS SCHOOL, Inc.
5822 Dolores St.
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 977-1221
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