* * * STAFF SPOTLIGHT * * *

Carolyn Rasta

Assistive Technology Specialist

What is your personal philosophy?

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.” (Kahlil Gibran). Laughter is the best medicine. Having a sense of humor can get you through the worst of times.

Where were you before you came to LPS?

I’ve been at LPS for eight years, and prior to that I provided Occupational Therapy Services in the Wayland Public School system for twelve years. I went to Simmons for my Master’s in Education in AT, and I’m so glad I did because I love what I do and where I do it. 

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

I lived in a tent on the side of a mountain in Alaska for three months!

What keeps you motivated?

Read on...

* * * PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT * * *

ACT Program

Occupational Therapy

At LPS, our staff know that in order for students to access their academic skills and be engaged learners, they need to have their sensory system needs met first. 

What does this mean?

If we take a look at the pyramid above, we can see that the “red and orange pointy end” are students’ senses that make up their sensory systems: olfactory (smell), auditory (hearing), visual (seeing), gustatory (taste), tactile (touch), introception (ex: ability to recognizing internal sensations like hunger, thirst, and urges to use the bathroom), vestibular (movement and balance), proprioception (pressure or deep touch).

The student’s senses are foundational and impact how they interact with their environment. Sensation has a large impact on how individuals feel in any situation, and supports our abilities to feel balanced in our bodies and in control. This is commonly referred to as sensory modulation, which is our ability to regulate sensory information and respond appropriately in order to maintain the right level of energy to be a ready learner. This requires self-regulation of our behavior and emotional responses to sensory input from the environment.

If students have sensory difficulties which impacts their ability to self-regulate, it has a ripple effect and it will be hard to access other skills further up the pyramid such as attention, emotional control, memory, social participation, and academic success.

In order to address students’ sensory needs, teachers and staff at LPS build supports into their classrooms to address students’ sensory needs...

Read on...

IMPORTANT DATES

Monday, December 6- Friday, December 10: Student Council Toy Drive

Thursday, December 9: Parent Advisory Group meeting, 9:00-10:00 AM

Thursday, December 9: Virtual Grade Level Meeting for 9th Grade, 6:00 PM

Thursday, December 9: Last day for After School Program (except MS Sports)

Friday, December 10: High School Student Council Movie Night, 7-9 PM

Tuesday, December 14: Last day for Middle School Sports

Thursday, December 16: Grade Level Meeting for 10th Grade, 6:00 PM (virtual)

Wednesday, December 22: All School Holiday Sweater Day // Early Release, 11:00 AM

Thursday, December 23- Sunday, January 2: Winter Break

Friday, January 7: Wear your Blue/Green shirt Say!

Thursday, January 13: Partners in Education (PIE) meeting, 9:00 AM

Friday, January 14: Early Release, 11:00 AM

Monday, January 17: No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

* * * LEADERSHIP BLOG * * *

How we we teach leadership skills?

By: Vanessa Craveiro,

Chief Financial Officer 

Every group of kids has a leader and they’re usually easy to spot. They’re the kids that are always speaking up or helping in class. They’re the ones getting the other kids excited to jump in the mud. They set their goals, and they get others to help them achieve it. Many of these kids are natural born leaders, inherently charismatic and convincing, but luckily for the rest of us, leadership can be taught.

If you google leadership skills, here are the top examples:

• Accountability
• Resilience
• Reliability
• Integrity
• Problem Solving
• Positivity
• Honesty
• Communication
• Team building
• Hard Working
• Listening
• Persuasive

There are many ways we can teach these skills at home or at school. One way is by having kids work in a team towards a common goal. You can assign a leader for the team or for a component of the team. One can lead the exercise, another can lead the reporting, someone else can speak for the group. They would have to help their team identify the goal and delegate the tasks. They would need to communicate effectively, work together, and make decisions in order to reach the goal.

Another way is by teaching kids how to set goals...

Read on...