Program Spotlight: Special Olympics Partnership & Curriculum -- Here's What It Means for Our Students

Sports deliver a lot of benefits for children -- from motor skill development and coordination to fitness and cognitive skills. Sports also can be a way to connect with peers socially and form friendships around a shared interest. That’s why we’re excited to partner with the Special Olympics to provide their inclusive sports program to our students!

Through this partnership, the Special Olympics provides sports equipment and curriculum that we weave throughout our PE and fitness classes. Age- and ability-based lessons are provided for students in Pre-K, elementary and middle/high school.

Our trained teachers lead students through the curriculum, breaking down each skill into linear components adapted for students with autism. “We teach each skill step-by-step to our students with each day building on the previous. As students learn, we reinforce their growth with a fun activity,” explains Katie Wentley, Director of Health, Wellness & Aquatics at Connections.

Only a Few Days Left to Get Tickets for the 7th Annual Hearts & Hands Gala!

You won't want to miss this year's Hearts & Hands Gala, which promises to be our best event yet! You'll enjoy good company, delicious food, live music, dancing, a unique silent auction with incredible finds, and much more!

Come celebrate the impact we're making together and help us raise funds to continue changing lives!

There are multiple ways that you can be part of this powerful event!

• Join us at the event -- get tickets today
• See sponsorship opportunities for visibility in front of 200+ impact makers
• Recognize a student, teacher or loved one in the keepsake-quality event program
• Donate to this fundraiser

Cooking Up Culinary Careers Through the Recipes for Success Program

Several Connections students and young adults are officially part of Recipes for Success, an innovative program designed by Exceptional Charities to prepare participants for successful careers in the culinary industry.

Three times a week, these students attend class in a fully equipped, commercial kitchen where they learn from an accomplished chef with support from Connections teachers. 

Kicking off the program this week, our students:

• toured the kitchen 
• learned about kitchen equipment
• reviewed procedures for keeping materials clean and food safe
• Learned to chop vegetables for a soup base

See more photos on our Facebook page and watch for more updates as our students progress through this impactful program!

The Art of Sewing -- A New Skill for Our High Schoolers

In art class, our high schoolers have been learning to sew, a valuable life skill that depends on fine motor skills, precision and patience. This week, they shared their progress in a series of photos on our Facebook page.

It has been a labor of love for these incredible kids, along with a lot of cooperation between staff and students, to learn this complex, useful life skill!