FROM THE PRINCIPAL — May 2025 | | |
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Another school year has come to a close, and my heart is full. It’s truly inspiring to look back and see how much progress our students and adult clients have made — academically, socially and emotionally. We recently celebrated some of those milestones at Graduation 2025, honoring students completing Pre-K, elementary, middle and high school.
While the school year has ended, our work continues. Many students will be with us this summer for extended school year services and summer camp, continuing their growth in a supportive, structured environment.
Thank you for being part of our mission and supporting the incredible individuals we serve. Your partnership makes all of this possible.
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Debra A. Johnson, M.Ed.,
Principal/Executive Director
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Student Success: Increased Confidence and Communication Lead to a 180-Degree Turn for Jaime
When Jaime started school at Connections, he could not speak and was frequently frustrated, making it difficult to participate in the classroom environment. Communication challenges led to difficult behaviors — at school and at home. “He got very angry easily,” says his grandmother, Patricia. “When he couldn’t tell us something, he would throw fits, scream, hit his head on the wall, or run out of the room. It made life very stressful.”
At Connections, his speech therapy team and teachers worked hard to build a productive rapport with Jaime and uncover the root issue of his struggles. See what they found and how they helped Jaime make a 180-degree turn.
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Celebrating Our 2025 Graduates!
One of our favorite days of the year, Graduation 2025 was a joyful celebration of hard work, perseverance and achievement. We honored students completing Pre-K, elementary, middle and high school — each one demonstrating incredible growth academically and personally.
Proud family members joined us for the special event, filling the room with smiles, cheers and heartfelt support. The ceremony was a moving reminder of how capable our students are and the caring community that stands with them.
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Prom 2025: Around the World
On May 9, our high school students and adult clients donned their fanciest attire and joined us for Prom 2025 — a sensory-friendly celebration themed “Around the World.” The event offered a joyful time of dancing, photos, refreshments and fun, complete with travel-themed decor inspired by global destinations.
Held at the beautiful National Croquet Center, the memorable celebration featured music from Digital Vibez, whose DJs created an upbeat, inclusive atmosphere where everyone could shine on the dance floor.
We’re deeply grateful to the PGA National Community Outreach Charitable Fund for generously sponsoring this event and to the incredible volunteers and staff who planned, prepared and worked tirelessly to make it all possible for our students and clients!
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Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week 2025
During Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week held this month, we took time to honor the dedicated team members who make Connections such a special place for our students and adult clients to learn and grow. From breakfast treats and chair massages to creative activities and custom hat decorating, the week was filled with thoughtful moments and well-deserved appreciation.
With the theme “Hats Off to Health,” each day offered something new to celebrate the compassion, energy and care our team brings to Connections. We’re so grateful for everything our team members do, and we loved having the chance to say thank you!
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Draw the Line on Drowning
Did you know that drowning is the leading cause of death for children with autism? They are 160 times more likely to drown than neurotypical children, a heartbreaking reality we’ve faced in our own community. In Palm Beach County, more autistic children drowned in the past three years than in any other Florida county, underscoring the urgent need for specialized water safety programs tailored to their sensory and communication needs.
At Connections, we’re dedicated to keeping our students safe by providing adaptive swim lessons for every child and adult we serve. This May, for Water Safety Day and National Water Safety Month, we invite you to join our “Draw the Line on Drowning” campaign and make a gift to our nonprofit school today.
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Thank You to Our Speech Therapy Team
May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month — a perfect opportunity to recognize the incredible work our speech therapy team does every day at Connections.
Our licensed speech-language pathologists and assistants work diligently to help each student learn to communicate, whether through verbal language, augmentative devices, picture supports, or a combination of methods tailored to each learner.
Communication is essential for everyone. Developing those skills often eases frustration, builds confidence and supports learning and growth across all areas of life. To see a powerful example of our team’s impact, be sure to read Jaime’s story — this month’s student success feature. You’ll be inspired.
We’re deeply thankful for the talent, dedication and compassion of our speech team — and for the lasting difference they make in the lives of our students and clients.
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