PWS Worries

In our Social Skills Groups we have done some work on the emotion worry. Other words for worried are stressed, scared, nervous, anxious and upset. Signs we might be worried can be nail biting, fingers in mouth, looking away, picking, pulling our hair, frowning, having a tantrum or looking all over. Sometimes when we are worried we might seem mad, angry, depressed, sad or shy. Our group wants you to know some of the things we worry about:

• We are going to miss something

• Getting in trouble (consequences, reminded about boundaries, not earning incentives/privileges)

• Others know more or know what’s going on and we don’t

• Blood work

• Something big is coming up (visits, cheat days, level 1 petitions)

• Did I forget something?

• Going somewhere new

• Missing food/food is late/menu changes/cheat days

• Meeting new people

• Feel like someone’s not listening

• Taking care of Scout/dog off leash

• Someone else going first

• Regular staff out

• Schedule changes

• Late/missing medication

• Stealing--someone else steals something of ours and when we steal

• Transitioning into adult services

"Let us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which will never happen."
~James Russel Lowell

Nursing Update

Latham will soon have RN coverage on campus Monday to Friday 7:30-9:00PM and Saturday and Sunday as well. The nurses provide assessment and treatment of the children’s medical needs.

"If love can't cure it, nurses can."
~Author Unknown

Latham Decides On Accreditation Through COA

Latham Centers, Inc. has made the decision to pursue accreditation from the Council on Accreditation. The council was established in 1977 by the Child Welfare League of America and Family Service of America (now the Alliance for Children and Families). More than 1500 private and public organizations that serve over 7,000,000 children, individuals, and families are accredited or are in process.

The Council is deeply committed to promoting standards that insure outstanding care, and quality service to vulnerable children and individuals. Latham is proud to be participating in this process and is currently working closely with the council to develop its self study. This study involves Latham in reviewing all of its policies, procedures and practices. The self study involves our students, residents, staff, stakeholders, and board members. As you might imagine, becoming accredited is a commitment of time and resources; however, we see it as an opportunity to acknowledge what we do well and improve systems where we can. We are excited about the process and look forward to becoming a member of this elite group of human service providers.

"It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is best from the top."
~Arnold Bennett

Winter Bringing You Down...Check Out Our Spring Photos!

Some of our student’s photographs are posted on Flickr. Check them out by clicking HERE. Considering how cold and snowy it has been, now may be a good time to admire some of these photos taken last spring and summer.

Latham was contacted by ICVolunteers to have students submit these photographs into an international Creative photography contest to be held later this year. Submissions are due by February 5th.

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush."
~Doug Larson

December Graduation

Consider how special it is to graduate in December! So many others are June grads, but at Latham, some young women get to graduate later in the year. It was a pleasure to attend two graduation ceremonies recently where two students at a time were acknowledged for the completion of their work at Latham.

To the strains of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance, each girl processed into a warm and loving environment filled with their excited and enthusiastic fellow students. Yes, they wore caps and gowns and carried special mementoes. Head of School, Lucy Foran, acted as Master of Ceremonies and three members of the staff spoke about each student's progress at Latham and hopes for their future. There was lots of applause and acknowledgement from the audience. Some of the graduates offered special thanks and remarks on their schoolwork and success in many special endeavors. Then, of course, the photos began with the presentation of the Certificates of Completion, some received flowers, each received a Memory Book (a personal recollection of stories and photos of each student's time at Latham) and each received an especially made commemorative quilt -- beautifully conceived and crafted by a group of quilters in Harwich. There were lots of hugs -- hugs of excitement, congratulations, encouragement, love and some teary goodbyes -- everything a graduation should be. Latham is such a special place!

Keith Bradley, Member, Board of Directors

"There is a good reason they call these ceremonies "commencement exercises." Graduation is not the end; it's the beginning."
~Orrin Hatch

Latham and The Jolly Jaunt

A JOLLY JAUNTing we will go . . . on December 6th, more than 536 runners and walkers turned out for the Special Olympics fundraiser called the JOLLY JAUNT. The Latham team was captained by Tim Vaughan and eleven folks signed up to run or walk. The team raised over $1,500 to go toward Latham students' participation in Special Olympics events. While most runners did the 5K race, I did part of the 2k walk with Lucy Foran and Scout. Scout was enthusiastic to compete and really wanted to win. One of the Latham runners came in seven seconds behind the winner! Many of the Latham students were at the Finish Line to welcome in the Latham runners! Just wait til next year!

After the race, everyone settled into the large ballroom at the Resort and Conference Center for lunch, the prize awards and results of the Silent Auction and 50/50 Raffle. Overall, the event raised close to $43,000 for Special Olympics. Next year, let's get more Latham team members and break out the blue and white balloons and streamers! Congratulations to Tim Vaughan and all the Latham runners and walkers!

Keith Bradley, Latham Board Member

"Runners just do it - they run for the finish line even if someone else has reached it first."
~Author Unknown

This Just In From The Children's League...

The Children’s League of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Human Service Providers Council of which Latham is a member, is actively participating in The People First! campaign. The focus of the campaign is to ask the governor and the legislative leaders to put People First! as they develop the state budget for FY '11. Part of this effort is a petition campaign.

The Council, who is coordinating the campaign, has launched its Democracy in Action (an automated advocacy tool) petition today. In this perilous time for so many residents, the People First! campaign is calling for state officials to renew the focus that people are first. Any dollars tied up in any obsolete, duplicative or nonproductive administrative systems, structures or mandates -- anywhere in government -- should be eliminated before eliminating funding that directly impacts the lives of those in need of essential state services.

The petition is now going to all members of the People First! campaign to be circulated among their memberships. We need HUGE numbers to make this effective, so we need your help.

Please consider getting involved by using the link below to access the petition, sign it, and forward it to your others who might be willing to participate.
CLICK HERE to sign this petition.

They are asking people to respond to this by Friday, 12/11.

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."
~Elmer Davis

Latham Students’ Learn Leadership

The Latham Student Council meets monthly to discuss and implement positive changes on the Latham campus and in the community. Elected in September and meeting monthly, members have initiated many projects. One project is keeping the grounds on campus beautiful. As one member noted, “We want to be proud of our campus when visitors come.” Because of student initiative, each classroom now has a garden area on campus to keep weeded and trimmed.

Students have also had ideas on how to increase activities in Physical Education, how to help the breakfast and lunch times run more smoothly and how to increase school spirit through Spirit Days. The spring term will be a busy time for the Student Council as members work on community projects such as organizing a can drive for the local Food Pantry and earning money through chores to donate to appropriate causes. Students are also thinking of ways to motivate students who have difficulty staying in class and working hard all day every day. This group of young people is making a difference.

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”
~Oliver Wendell Holmes

We Love The Museum of Science!

On Saturday, members of Simpkins Cottage and the Cabin visited the Boston Museum of Science. They had a wonderful trip and look forward to returning in the future!

"Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of science."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Boys Participate in Worldwide PWS Art Show

We have been working in the Simpkins Cabin social skills group on collages. The theme for the collage is "All About Me." Students chose items as if they were using pictures to describe themselves and what they like to someone. We are submitting these to the International PWS organization for the East Meets West International PWS conference in May in Tapei, Taiwan.

The artwork will be formatted and displayed electronically for viewing on a big screen in the lecture halls before each of the sessions and during breaks. The title of the piece will be displayed on the screen together with the name, age and country of the artist.

The maximum number of submissions from each artist is 3 pieces. This is not a competition. Each artist will receive an electronic certificate with the conference logo thanking them for their submission. Thanks to all the boys and staff for representing Latham in this wonderful effort.

These are their submissions.

"An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one."
~Charles Horton Cooley