A Happy Thanksgiving At Brehm

The annual Thanksgiving Dinner for Lunch was held today here at Brehm. It was a great day for appreciating fantastic food with fellow Students before Thanksgiving school break.

At one point, after everyone was seated, and before the food line began, students would raise hands to take turns in giving thanks. One of the many moving statements from a student on the floor, "I'm thankful for friends and family and the opportunity to be here", seemed to sum it all up.

Each of the Brehm staff brought a bowl of something tasty,
to accompany the main Turkey meal seasoned and cooked
to perfection by the cafeteria.

Students lined up to eat, before they would leave for
Thanksgiving break with family.

What goes better with turkey than something blue to drink?

Smiles all around.

Greece, here we come!

Brehm has a tradition of taking international trips.

Last year's trip to Ireland added many wonderful memories to our dossier of good times.

Our next trip will be to Greece. It will depart on April 19th, and return April 26th, 2009.

For the duration of the International Trip, students will stay in centrally-located, comfortable hotels. The structured program includes sightseeing trips, excursions, walking tours, a boat cruise and many exciting local tours.

If you would like your child to participate, a down payment of $500 is required by Oct. 25, 2008, or Contact Barb Lawrence at (618) 457-0371 for more info.

"Coach" Talks About Brehm Bears Basketball!

Discovering Independence at OPTIONS

The OPTIONS Program at Brehm is a comprehensive transitional program for students with complex learning disabilities who have graduated from high school, earned their GED, or who have chosen to defer graduation in order to participate in our independence program.

The OPTIONS Program develops post-high school students academic, employment and social skills required for success by emphasizing independent living, self-advocacy skills, and learning how to learn.

The OPTIONS Program delivers a unique holistic program which fulfills the academic, social, and emotional needs of each student through a partnership among the staff, students, parents, board members, and community.

Students live in apartments within the small mid-west town of Carbondale, Illinois, located near the OPTIONS instructional building and Southern Illinois University (SIU) campus.

The apartments are supervised by Independent Living Counselors.
Many real life "Teachable moments" help move students toward healthy relationships and independence.

A 24/7 nursing staff provides education guidance, health and wellness and medication oversight. Transportation is provided for all program obligations and activities. To learn more about the OPTIONS Program call 618.549.4201.

Areas of focus:

• Meal planning, shopping
• and preparation
• Emotional coping skills
• Money management
• Follow-through & preparedness
• Interpersonal communication
• Social strategies & self management
• Accountability for actions
• Self-advocacy
• Safe behavior
• Time management
• Organization
• Personal hygiene
• Honesty and integrity

Another Brehm Success Story

“I accept myself.

I’ve learned to cope with my disabilities and accept who I am. I was hyper and immature and now I know how to get along better with people, thanks to Brehm. The teachers here are great. They go the extra mile to help me comprehend — they even help me when I get stuck on my homework.

It’s a real privilege to attend Brehm.”

— Maddy

Brehm Bears Basketball Schedule

Brehm Basketball Schedule

11/15/2008 Lalumiere Academy 7:00 P.M.
11/17/2008 Rend Lake JC 7:30 P.M.
11/22/2008 @ Lincoln Trail College 7:30 P.M.
11/24-28/2008 @ Martin Luther King Classic (Mem.) TBA
12/08/2008 @ John A. Logan College 7:00 P.M.
12/10/2008 Lincoln Trail College 7:00 P.M.
12/12/2008 Graves County, KY Shootout 9:00 P.M.
01/03/2009 @ SEC 7:30 P.M.
01/09/2009 @ Bowden Academy 7:00 P.M.
01/10/2009 Laumiere Academy TBA
01/14/2009 New Creations 7:30 P.M.
01/17/2009 @ New Creations 7:30 P.M.
01/20/2009 Covington, TN TBA
02/14/2009 @ John Wood Comm. College TBA
02/21/2009 @ Lake Forest Aademy 1:00 P.M.

Brehm School Basketball

10/28/2008 Liberation/Ezra (Boys/Girls) 5:30 P.M.
11/14/2008 Trinity 6:00 P.M.
11/18/2008 Liberation/Ezra 5:30 P.M.
12/16/2008 Trinity 6:00 P.M.
02/03/2009 Agape 5:30 P.M.
02/17/2009 Agape 5:30 P.M.

Also check out our events calendar.

Brehm Annual Giving 2008-2009

Over the past twenty-five years Mrs. Carol Brehm's dream to create an effective, life-changing school for students with complex learning disabilities has been realized and established.

Today, as we move into a new era of Brehm and The OPTIONS Program, we invite you to join us and invest in the next generation of students.

Your generous 100% tax deductible support will allow us to continue to build on the extraordinary successes we offer students — making today's dreams, tomorrow's realities.

Everyday, Brehm students benefit from the support of our alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends, thanks to the rich opportunities created via the Brehm Annual Fund.

Tuition and fees pay for the day-to-day operations of our school but we are indebted to our faithful donors who support the full educational experiences Brehm has to offer.

The 2008-2009 Brehm Annual Fund supports staff development, student programs and our campus Master Plan. For example, this past year, two instructors (and therefore numerous students) benefited from a specialized "Making Math Real" workshop which was provided by a generous donor. Student programs like the Robotics Team, Paint Ball Club, basketball, soccer, and theater productions are also funded via the Annual Fund.

Your tax deductible gift can include cash, check, credit cards, shares of stock, donations of insurance policies, inclusion in wills, services and products. To discuss the opportunities of giving to Brehm please contact your Coordinator of Development, Russell Williams, at (618) 457-0371 ext 1308.

WE WANT YOU to join Carbondale’s Brehm Robotics Team!

Brehm Preparatory School is entering the FIRST Robotics competition — and we need more mentors for our team!

Brehm is an internationally known school for students with complex learning disabilities, grades 6-12, right here in Carbondale, Illinois. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an international robotics organization founded by noted inventor Dean Kamen in 1991, to inspire students across the country to pursue careers in science and to use math and science to make the world a better place.

If you have the following talent to offer contact Team Megahurts today:

• Administration
• Engineering (ME/EE and CE)
• Photography
• Organizing
• Sponsors
• Video/Film
• Web Design
• Writing

Interested? Call Joe Viscomi, Chief Robotics Mentor, at 618.457.0371

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A Brehm and OPTIONS Success Story

"I first came to Brehm in 1995 and now I hold a staff sports writer position with the Southern Illinoisan newspaper. Recently, I won my first Associated Press award!

After struggling with parochial school, I was diagnosed with ADD and OCD. Soon after, I began attending Brehm and OPTIONS, which helped me through community college and then Southern Illinois University.

Thanks to the lessons I've learned from Brehm, I'm only the second person in my family to graduate from college.”

— Pete Spitler