Brehm Bears Help Win 17-U Championship!

The Illinois Titans (The Brehm Bears are a large part of the Illinois Titans travel team circuit) won the 17-U championship last night. Both Brehm Bears and Illinois Titans are coached by Brehm School’s Aaron Lee.

And, Brehm’s own Bamba "James" Siakam won MVP! (seen in photo above)

From ChicagoHoops.com today:

"Bamba "James" Siakam (Brehm Prep) was named MVP as the Illinois Titans defeated Mike McCall (Chicago Foreman), and the Illinois Heat 57-42 to win the 17-U championship of the 2009 ChicagoHoops.com Spring Travel Team Tip-Off Classic on Sunday night.

The Titans road to the title included a thrilling 52-51 win over the Mac Irvin Fire in a game that wasn't decided until the final seconds, a 69-47 win over the Illinois Kings, and an 82-69 win over Illinois Old School ahead of winning the championship game against the Illinois Heat.

Siakam, a 6'6" power forward, was at his best dominating the glass inside. 5'10" guard Daniel Daudu and 6'2" Bruce Baron were also both terrific throughout the weekend for the Titans, who opened the event with a loss to 6'8" Robert Covington (Proviso West) and 6'2" Isiah Jones (Mounds Meridien), and the Illinois Bobcats ahead of rolling the rest of the way."

Anatomy Students Give In-Class Oral Presentations

Recently in Andrea Keene's anatomy class, Brehm students prepared for a test by giving oral presentations on the digestive system.

Students were able to create a poster as a visual aid and use notecards as a guide.

This activity allowed students to refine skills such as organization, research, synthesizing information and public speaking. Andrea said that the activity was exhausting for many of the students, due to the amount of work put forth, and most felt a huge sense of accomplishment.

Other anatomy projects include: powerpoint presentations, in-class labs and activities, dissections, field trips to St. Louis and viewing parts of a cadaver.

DEADLINE REMINDER: Commitment Letters Are Due

The 2008-2009 school year for Brehm is coming to a close. We are preparing for Prom, Finals and Graduation (among other exciting events) to celebrate another fantastic year with many individual and group successes.

As interviews for new families are picking up pace for the upcoming school year we want to remind our current families about the reserve placement deadline.

In order to reserve placement for a student for the 2009-2010 school year (which begins in August), we must receive a commitment letter and deposit by April 4th. The deposit reserves placement until July 1st, when the remainder of the tuition is due.

Enrollement forms will be sent out following Parent's Weekend. Tuition and enrollment forms are due by July 1st so faculty and staff can most efficiently plan for the upcoming school year.

For more information on this fast approaching deadline, or how to enroll a new student, contact contact our admissions office at 618-457-0371 or admissionsinfo@brehm.org

OPTIONS: Two Tracks

OPTIONS: Part 2 of 5

OPTIONS provides two different tracks; both offer structured supervision and supported study hours with Independent Living Counselors.

College Transition Track - When starting the second semester in the OPTIONS Program, many students are identified to participate in a community college curriculum. Those students who take classes with our partner, John A. Logan College (JALC) also take classes at OPTIONS, as well as receive full OPTIONS support. Students can receive full college credit. Students receive OPTIONS assistance with every step of the process, from selecting a curriculum and classes to registration and participation. Class progress is monitored every two weeks with written communications between the OPTIONS JALC liaison and JALC instructors.

Certificate of Completion Track - Students who are interested in learning the academic and job specific competencies needed for competitive employment follow the Certification Track. Vocational preparation classes are held at OPTIONS. The Certificate of Completion is generally a two-year program — two semesters of major coursework, one semester of coursework and practicum experience and one semester that focuses primarily on work-based learning with support.

Certificates of Completion Vocational Areas:

• Business & Office Technology
• Health-Related Services
• Computer Technician
• Retail Sales
• Social Services
• Animal Care & Services
• Food Services

Also read:

Academic Core Classes (part 1 of 5)

The OPTIONS Program at Brehm is a comprehensive transitional program for students with complex learning disabilities who have graduated from high school, earned their GEDs, or who have chosen to defer graduation in order to participate in this empowering Program. The OPTIONS Program focuses on the academic, employment and social skills required for success by emphasizing independent living, self-advocacy skills, and learning how to learn. As students (most 18 to 25 years of age) transition through three phases of the OPTIONS Program, they develop academically, socially and emotionally — acquiring the crucial tools necessary for independent life. OPTIONS is located in Carbondale, Illinois.

Brehm takes 2nd Place at FIRST robotics regional!!!!

Congrats Brehm Students and Mentors! Read all about it at the Brehm Megahurts website!

BREAKING NEWS! BREHM ROBOTICS TEAM IS IN THE FINALS!!!

Brehm's Team Megahurts traveled to St. Louis to compete in the 2009 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition: Lunacy.

Over 60 Brehm students and staff traveled to St. Louis to cheer on Team Megahurts this weekend. The Mayor of St. Louis visited the team yesterday to learn about our school and our robot.

We just found out Brehm Team Megahurts made the finals. Go. Brehm. Go!

Brehm Megahurts is Awarded Sponsorship Check from Aisin Manufacturing

Angela Holmes of Aisin Manufacturing, Inc. in Marion, IL presents a sponsorship check for the Brehm Robotics Team Megahurts to Joe Viscomi (at the right), Director of Technology & Information Services; Jonathan Cohen, Information Systems Specialists; and Russell Williams (far left), Coordinator of Development.

For the third year in a row, the Brehm Robotics Team will be competing in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition at St. Louis University on March 19-21. The robotics program and the competition inspires students, to pursue careers in science, math and engineering while educating our community.

If you are interested in finding out more about the robotics program or supporting Brehm programs, contact Russ Williams, Brehm’s Coordinator of Development, at (618) 457-0371 ext. 1308 or email rwilliams@brehm.org.

Share Your Brehm Experiences.

Are you a parent and wish to share progress you've seen in your child?
Are you an alumni and want to let us know how you are doing?
Are you a staff member and have a breakthrough to tell us about?

Share experiences with your Brehm family. Send an email to scostello@brehm.org.

The Brehm Ski Trip Report

By Jonathan Cohen, Brehm Information Systems Specialist and Robotics Mentor

The annual Brehm School Ski Trip took place at the end of February. This year, like past years, we went to Durango Colorado for a few days of skiing and side trips.

While all of the kids we traveled with had flown before, few had been on a plane that you had to balance passenger weight in. The flights were fine though, we arrived in Durango the morning of the 21st, and although we were tired from the early morning flight we were all excited.

The group enjoyed 3 days of skiing on 2 feet of fresh snow. Everyone, first-timers and veterans alike had a lot of fun. This year we had a mix of kids with different skiing abilities. David and Adrien learned to ski for the first time while Haroun learned how to snowboard. The rest of the group had been skiing or snowboarding before, although there was not a single person in the group that did not fall at least once.

Wednesday the group drove to nearby Mesa Verde National Park to take a tour of the Pueblo Indian cave dwelling before returning to Carbondale the next day.

We are busily planning next years trip. Look for a display at Parents weekend and move-in weekend in August. Special thanks to the staff at Colorado Timberline Academy for giving us a place to stay and giving us a great dinner each night.

OPTIONS at Brehm Success story

“OPTIONS impacts my life in a big way.

Working with Speech and Language Pathologists in both group and individual sessions has vastly improved my language skills.

Learning important job skills at OPTIONS has given me more confidence and allowed me to be prepared for job interviews. I live on my own and use the strategies I’ve learned to find solutions for my daily issues every, single day.”

— Cassidy

OPTIONS Program at Brehm: Part 1 of 5

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

Academic Core Classes

The core curriculums offered through the OPTIONS Program are designed to introduce students to a wide range of skills needed for either the college transition track or the Certificate of Completion track.

The first semester in the OPTIONS Program is dedicated to transitioning the student, monitoring progress and assessing academic competencies.

Small classes (with one-on-one attention) focus on:

• Study skills and strategies
• Understanding the learning process
• Identifying student deficits; developing and implementing strategies
• College level reading and comprehension
• Formal writing, editing and revising
• Vocabulary building
• Math calculations & applications
• Basic computer software programs
• Exploring strategies to most effectively complete class assignments

The OPTIONS Program focuses on the academic, employment and social skills required for success by emphasizing independent living, self-advocacy skills, and learning how to learn. As students (most 18 to 25 years of age) transition through three phases of the OPTIONS Program, they develop academically, socially and emotionally — acquiring the crucial tools necessary for independent life. OPTIONS is located in Carbondale, Illinois.

The Brehm Bears Inspire!

This year (2008-2009), the Brehm Bears played a tough schedule of community colleges, prep schools, and high schools. Several tournament and shootout sponsors have contacted

Brehm for 2009-2010.

All eight of our scholarship players have a 3.0 average or above and are on the honor roll.

The team has had an incredibly positive impact on Brehm students. The outgoing nature and great work ethic of the team members inspire, and Brehm school pride is at an all-time high.

“The basketball players are polite, respectful, and
wonderful role models. They are all looked
up to by their fellow classmates.”

— Barb Lawrence, Brehm Instructor


“When the school year started, one of the
basketball players noticed a student that was
too shy to introduce himself. The ball player
stepped up, wrapped his long arm around the
boy, literally took him under his wing, and
introduced the boy as his friend.
The look of joy on that boy’s face
was priceless. What a great
example for our kids.”

— Brad Sims, Brehm Coordinator of Speech Pathology


“Earl is incredibly motivated and upbeat.
He’s made massive strides in reading in just a matter
of months. His dedication to learning is inspiring!”

— Terri Douglas, Brehm Coordinator of Educational Services

Helpful Processing Speed Strategies

In an effort to assist family members and friends of students with learning disabilities who have issues with processing speed, one of the most popular staff emails this year has been converted to the article below. A special thank you to Terri Douglas, Brehm Coordinator of Educational Services, Brad Sims, Brehm Coordinator of Speech Pathology and others.

Processing Speed – Why we need to understand it!

More than half the student population at Brehm has been identified with issues involving
processing speed that effect academic performance, behavior, and/or social interactions.

“Processing speed involves the ability to perform tasks requiring sustained, concentrated visual attention or working rapidly under timed conditions. A student with a deficit in this area may have difficulty with different types of tasks that require the rapid processing of symbols”

— Nancy Mathers and Lynne Jaffe

How to teach and cue:

Social behavior mapping works well as a teaching tool, especially because it deals
with both expected and unexpected behaviors in specific contexts. If behaviors
and their effects and consequences have already been “mapped” for a student for
a problematic context, the map can be used for cueing, goal setting, and/or
progress charting.

Direct verbal cueing in the moment may be needed for the student to notice and respond
appropriately. Use it (discretely) as a teaching opportunity. E.g. “I don’t know if you
could tell or not, but I’m not having such a good day.”

Regardless of whether or not the student inquires as to why, tell briefly what is going on with you. Follow up by talking about how to tell if someone is feeling down by how he looks and acts. Let the student know that people appreciate when someone inquires about how they are feeling if they appear to be downcast.

Helpful Strategies to help with processing speed
Interactive Paraphrasing for both listener and speaker

Listener

• Ask questions to slow down delivery of information

Speaker

• Accompany words with pictures and motion – a picture is worth a thousand words
• Repetition, clarity and monitor speed of delivery
• Chunk information (directions, instruction, etc)
• Check for Clarification

Instructor

• Pre teach when ever possible - integration of information will occur more quickly
• Provide extended time
• Modify assignments
• Increase size of font and spacing between letters
• Remain patient, offer help not criticism
• Allow greater response time; avoid making the student respond on demand; Let them know before calling on them; allow prep time

Student

• Use markers with windows to block out other visual distracters
• Advocate for needs
• Use cues to let people know that you are thinking and not just staring off into space. (Raise index finger to indicate you need a moment, request at moment to think about it, use a phrase such as “Let me see. . . “
• Use visual language strategies (Draw what you need to remember)
• Make use of written reference sheets, such as lists

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Southern Illinois Community Foundation presents check

Pat Bauer of the Southern Illinois Community Foundation presents a check for the Brehm Preparatory School Endowment Fund to Dr. Brian Brown (at the left), Associate Director, and Russell Williams, Coordinator of Development.

The Brehm Endowment Fund will allow future students to receive scholarships. If you are interested in finding out more about making a tax deductible contribution to the Brehm Foundation, contact Russ Williams, Brehm’s Coordinator of Development, at (618) 457-0371 ext 1308, or email rwilliams@brehm.org.