COTTING SCHOOL an Annual Report of Cotting Stories
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COTTING SCHOOL An Annual Report of Cotting Stories 2018 Annual Report | 1 WHAT MAKES COTTING Anna, Capstone Student THE BEST CHOICE? Given all the options in special education, what makes Cotting School the best choice for a child? For every person considering that question, the answer is different. The pages that follow illustrate Cotting School STORIES told from the perspectives of teachers, students, parents, and staff, illustrating the strengths of our program and insights that only the people from Cotting School can provide. You can read more Cotting stories by following us! We use Social Media to share information, pictures and stories that will help you learn more about Cotting School! You’ll find links to our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter feeds at the bottom of our website, cotting.org. Search our hashtags, such as #CottingSchool2018 or #CottingStories and join in on the fun by sharing your thoughts with us using #MyCottingStory. #MyCottingStory Use this visual to share your Cotting Story with us. Download it at www.cotting.org/my-story. If you’re on social media we encourage you to use the hashtag #MyCottingStory and tag us by using: @CottingSchool INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE SINCE 1893 For 125 years we have been specializing in breaking down barriers to education by providing a highly individualized special education curriculum as well as coordinated and integrated therapies and medical services to support our students as they achieve their goals. Meet our people! Our students, parents, and staff have STORIES to share. You’ll learn about our unique school community in the pages that follow. Cotting Stories by: Krista: School leader, speech-language pathologist, and Dave: Math helper, writing tutor, accessible van driver, coach, curriculum expert who’s all about student outcomes ................... 3 and the person who helps every student find a friend. ................ 9 Alada: Storyteller, singer, caretaker and Mike: Proud Cotting School Alumnus, advocate, early childhood expert .................................................................. 4 college graduate, and avid writer ............................................... 10 Alpona: Alumni parent, reader, thinker, Ann: MCAS test expert, curriculum enthusiast, teacher’s assistant and so much more ........................................ 5 teacher at heart, mentor, and instructional leader .......................11 Jacob: Builder, D.I.Y.er, Science-lover, brother, Katherine: Housemate, friend, baker, working hard friend and AMAZING photographer.............................................. 6 towards independence, fan of comic book super heroes........... 12 Amy: Artist, feeding specialist, and occupational therapist dedicated to student access......................................................... 8 2018 Annual Report | 1 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS 125 years of collaboration and innovation sets a firm foundation for Cotting We take pride in sharing insights, skills and resources. Making Things School’s future! Our highly specialized school provides an unmatched Possible: The Parenting Experience was the theme for Cotting’s annual Burr educational experience for students with special needs between the ages of 3 Family Conference, free of charge and open to parents, educators and other and 22. Of course, each aspect of our school - academic, therapeutic, medical, professionals from across the east coast. Andrew Solomon, nationally-known athletic, extracurricular - is specifically tailored to help our students reach their author of the book, Far from the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search for highest learning potential and greatest independence. But there is much more. Identity treated guests to an exceptional keynote talk exploring themes of love What makes Cotting ... Cotting, is the profound sense of belonging that each and acceptance. Throughout he shared powerful stories from families raising student feels. Our students have friends. They are leaders. Our staff see their exceptional children who are in some way different from their parents. strengths and build upon them. We cheer their successes. Working toward our scheduled 10-year reaccreditation with the New England Last year marked the inaugural year of our newly developed Capstone Association of Schools and Colleges, we’ve embarked on a self-study to revisit Program for 18-22-year-olds, which has contributed positively to student our mission and examine the ways innovation will continue to shape and guide outcomes. The Cotting Curriculum Institute, comprised of our experienced, our practice in the years to come. Master’s level teachers, researched curricular changes in the areas of Math and Literacy education in order to best meet the needs of our diverse range of We couldn’t achieve all we have without our exceptional staff and the many learners. Dedicated Science and Social Studies teachers offer differentiated dedicated donors, volunteers, and supporters like you, who help us accomplish and accessible activities related to these content areas to all of our students. our mission. The vibrant HOPEhouse program is an intentional community of seven young adults, boarding 5-days a week throughout the school year, where they practice independent living skills in a supportive setting while also working towards their academic and/or vocational goals. David W. Manzo, President, Cotting School Students in schools across Massachusetts benefit from Cotting’s expertise. Cotting Consulting continues to deliver services to students in their local districts. The team is continuously implementing new high-tech and low-tech solutions for students and helping them meet their educational goals in the David C. Cushing, Chair, Board of Trustees setting that is best for them. 2 | Cotting School PROGRAMATIC HIGHLIGHTS At the heart of every student’s Cotting story are the many ways we provide • We hosted our annual Transition Fair the right tools and supports to meet the individual needs of every learner. which featured over twenty vendors from Our programming and curricula are differentiated to provide access to agencies supporting young adults with their challenging content and multiple opportunities to learn and apply skills. Some post-secondary plans. Students and families instructional highlights from this year include: were able to choose from eight different presentations focused on transition topics • Innovative curriculum designed to teach the women’s suffrage and civil such as creating a personalized transition rights movements to students through an inventive spin on the popular plan, financial planning, guardianship, and card game, Uno. A Cotting-developed Social Studies lesson re-wrote community access. the Uno rules to give unfair advantages to different groups of students. • In Math, we continued to revise and refine our The classes practiced various methods of protest including picketing, program based on feedback from teachers writing letters, and giving speeches. By anchoring a complex concept in a about student needs. New materials were familiar activity, students were able to deepen their understanding of how created, with a particular focus on application to raise their voices for change. of Math skills in academic, vocational, and • Students developed and tested their skills as engineers in Science community settings. class by designing pine cars, sailboats, and paddleboats and testing them for speed and mobility. Other budding scientists grew Venus flytrap plants, It is exciting to watch our students’ stories as learners, designed objects for the 3D printer, and created their own video games. community members, and unique individuals unfold! If you have questions about our School or our • Support for over 70 students participating in work internship individualized curriculum approach, I invite you to call experiences, including jobs both on-campus and at over 30 community worksites to help students develop skills in areas such as clerical, food or visit any time. I can be reached at 781-862-7323. service, maintenance, and human services, as well as a variety of entrepreneurial opportunities run by students such as our Dinners-To-Go meal service. Krista Macari, Chief Academic Officer 2018 Annual Report | 3 TEACHERS AND PARENTS AS PARTNERS “Communication with parents is the key to our youngest students feeling comfortable with their transition to school for the first time, or to a school that is new for them. As the lead teacher in the preschool classroom at Cotting, I view parents as essential to the educational team that we put together to support students. Children as young as three years old are learning what it means to be part of a daily school routine; we want it to feel positive and for them to experience success. Planning a child’s transition from Early Intervention to Cotting’s School Age Program at an early age provides us with the opportunity to identify skills and plan for student outcomes that will benefit each child throughout their Alada Caughey, school years.” Preschool Teacher – Alada Caughey, Lead Preschool Teacher, Lower School Curriculum at Cotting School is highly individualized to meet the needs of a diverse range of learners ages 3-22. 4 | Cotting School Alpona Saha, Program Assistant “My daughter Lily attended and has since graduated from Cotting School. Lily began as a student in the Cotting School Day Program when she was 16 years old and graduated when she turned 22. I witnessed a dramatic shift in her growth and learning through her years at Cotting. She gained skills