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The Journey of A TWLS Student
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010
TWLS is excited to welcome six new students this year. We are thrilled to have these fresh, young minds getting the education they deserve at our school. We recently spoke with a new family about the journey they’ve had with their son Adam before he enrolled at TWLS and what they’re looking forward to this year. Preparing Adam to be an independent young adult is an imperative concern for his parents, since he deals with the challenges of autism, anxiety and ADHD every day.
Prior to enrolling at TWLS, Adam attended Fraser Academy, a K-5 charter school that provides individualized educational programs to students of all abilities. Now in sixth grade, Adam’s family needed to find another school that could meet his unique learning needs. At TWLS, with its small class sizes (9:1 or less) and individualized learning program combined with essential life and social skills, the family found a great fit for Adam. “We like that they [TWLS] understand different kinds of kids and adapt to each individual child,” his mother Anne explains. “We also enjoy the fact that the parents are very involved in the school – it’s a very personal experience.”
Anne appreciates the life skill-based education that TWLS focuses on as well as the staff’s direct involvement. As Adam works to overcome various challenges, Anne describes how difficult it is to know which one is causing a particular behavioral struggle. “We want to know how to cope with his behavior, and a good teacher really makes a difference. TWLS teachers have great training and wonderful patience.” In addition to core academics, life skills classes at TWLS include cooking, sewing, health, mind and body workouts and social skills, all aimed at helping students develop the skills they need to be contributing citizens as adults.
Despite their apprehension about finding a new school for Adam, Adam’s family knew after their first tour that coming to TWLS was the right decision. “I was thrilled with the way the kids and teachers interacted,” Anne says. Adam spent a whole day at TWLS as part of the admissions process and the students were all helpful. “They acted like he was part of the family,” she said.
TWLS has many upcoming events to help make Adam’s (and the rest of our new students’) school year transition easier while engaging learning. The Baker Near Wilderness overnight is already next month, an overnight trip aimed at exploring the outdoors and connecting with the community. The students will also attend “Orchestra Spooktacular,” a trip to Orchestra Hall that’s part of the TWLS music therapy program, and encourages students to appreciate music and become aware of the impact it can have on them.
Adam’s parents are already becoming more involved with TWLS as Adam settles into his new routine. Starting this week, Anne began volunteering during recess and lunch. “This is just part of the process with him and everybody is offering support and help to get him used to being there. I’ve been very excited with the parents I’ve talked to and they are warm and welcoming. It’s been awesome.”