Brehm News - School for Dyslexia, ADD/ADHD and more

NEW Brehm Blog unveiled

2011-03-08T08:16:00.002-06:00

To catch up on all of the latest news at Brehm Preparatory School, visit blog.brehm.org.
Please bookmark the site!

This Blog will no longer be updated. All updates will now be posted on blog.brehm.org.

Brehm FBLA update

2011-02-28T11:33:00.004-06:00

"This past Wednesday evening, Suzy Ventura and I took a group of students to the Career Fair held at Carbondale Community High School. There were more than 50 booths set up representing different careers. The students were able to walk from booth to booth and ask questions as well as collect information being handed out. We took nine students, and they all seemed to get something from the Career Fair. Most of them came away with a better understanding of what job skills would be required as well as schooling that would be required.

"Suzy and I were both so pleased with the way our students conducted themselves when asking questions and walking around from booth to booth. We even received comments from the different vendors about how our students from Brehm were so much more mature in their actions and how good they were at asking questions compared to the other high school students who attended. We are very proud of our students."

Brehm FBLA advisor and faculty member Mary Hart

Brehm students tour SIUC museum

2011-02-28T08:21:00.003-06:00

Brehm Preparatory School students toured The University Museum at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill.

Among the many exhibits they saw were:

Frederick Hart's sculptures: American sculptor, Frederick Hart (1943-1999) gained international stature for his "Creation Sculptures" for the Washington National Cathedral, for his "Three Soldiers" Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and for his pioneering use of clear acrylic resin and a process by which one image was embedded within another.
Andy Warhol's "Little Presents:" These photographs (52 Silver Gelatin Prints and 104 Polaroids, taken by Andy Warhol between 1972 and 1985) were donated to the University Museum, SIUC, in 2007. They represent a relatively unknown body of Warhol's artwork, which were often the studies for portraits and other compositions. Former SIUC Photographic Historian, Dr. Jordy Jones interprets the images.
Pop Art: A number of well-known and lesser-known Pop Artists are represented in the Museum's print collection. The Museum was able to frame these works for exhibition through a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant will also help bring area high school students to SIUC to study and to create their own exhibit based on the Museum's works.

Brehm students hear from successful businessman who overcame dyslexia

2011-02-24T13:39:00.004-06:00

Nathan Stooke, CEO of Wisper ISP, Inc., a wireless Internet company, in Belleville, IL, recently visited Brehm Preparatory School, where he spoke to students about his life, work and struggles with dyslexia.

Nathan was raised in O’Fallon, IL.

“Because of my dyslexia, I really struggled in school. I hated doing homework,” Nathan said. “In elementary school, I used to throw fits about doing my homework. It would take me four times longer to do my homework than it would most other

students because it was such a struggle. Then, I realized that whether I had a bad attitude with dyslexia or a good attitude with dyslexia, I still had dyslexia, so why not have a good attitude about it.

“Once I accepted my dyslexia, it still took me twice as long as others to do homework, but I had a better attitude about it, and attitude is everything.”

Nathan’s mother was key in helping him adjust his study habits to accommodate his dyslexia.

“In high school, my mom would record herself reading my books, so I could listen to them anytime, over and over again, especially driving to and from swim practice for two hours a day,” Nathan said. “In high school, I learned that dyslexia is a gift; it gave me the drive to prove myself.”

Nathan graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA, and came to Southern Illinois University, to study computer science and compete on the university’s swim team. Nathan was also a member of the U.S. Swim Team, ranked third in the world in 1997 for his 25km (15.5 miles) race abilities.

While attending SIU, Nathan joined SIU’s Achieve Program

– a comprehensive program of academic support for students with learning disabilities and/or attention deficits. Through that program, Nathan said he really honed his skills at turning his dyslexia into an advantage.

“Because of my dyslexia, I was able to take untimed tests. So, while other students were given an hour or two to take an exam, I could take as long as I needed to fully understand each question, because I read slower,” Nathan said. “I would take my time, and read each question repeatedly until I felt comfortable with answering the question. I once took 14 hours to complete a Calculus 2 exam, which I got one of the highest grades that anyone had ever received.”

Other ways Nathan has turned his dyslexia into an advantage are:

He got to know his teachers better. “Since I told them toward the beginning of each class that I had dyslexia, and worked with them throughout the semester to help me understand the materials better, I became well acquainted with my teachers,” Nathan said. “And, those relationships have helped me along the way.”
He built a large support system. “I had the support of my family, friends, teachers and more. They all knew how much I struggled, but they also saw how I worked really hard and never gave up,” Nathan said. “Without their support, I couldn’t be where I am today.”
He learned determination and perseverance. “Nothing is as hard to deal with as my dyslexia,” he said. “So, I know I can overcome anything.”

After graduating with a 3.95 GPA in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a minor in mathematics, Nathan went on to pursue a master’s in business administration from SIU, where he graduated with a 4.0 in 2000.

“With my dyslexia, I discovered that while I struggled with reading, I excelled with technology. While working on my bachelor’s at SIU, I sold computers out of my dorm room, and I was successful at it, calling my company ‘Stookeware,’" he said. “Then, I ventured into database design and programming, and from that I developed recruiting software for the U.S. Coast Guard.”

In 2003, Nathan started Wisper ISP, Inc., in his garage. Wisper now employs 21, has more than 118 broadcast points and serves about 3,200 customers who live or work near the St. Louis and Illinois metro-east area. Wisper offers Internet services, network solutions, custom connections, Web services and more.

“I love what I do, and I wouldn’t be where I am without dyslexia. It drove me to succeed,” he said. “When people told me I wouldn’t get a 4.0 in high school, I did. When they said I wouldn’t graduate from graduate school with a master’s in business administration, I did, and with a 4.0 GPA. When they said my small startup business couldn’t compete with the ‘big guys,’ we did and continue to do so.”

Aisin Manufacturing donates to Brehm Robotics Team

2011-02-23T16:00:00.002-06:00

Coordinator of Development Russell Williams accepts a

check from Glenn Edwards and Cheri Romonsky of Aisin

Manufacturing for their sponsorship of Brehm's Robotics Team.

For the past three years, Aisin Manufacturing has partnered with the Brehm Robotics Program.

Aisin Manufacturing Illinois, LLC (AMI) is one of three Aisin plants located in Marion, Illinois. AMI manufactures a wide range of products for some of the most demanding customers in the automotive industry including Toyota, General Motors, Lexus and Mitsubishi. These products include sunroofs, side and back door components, center pillar garnishes and door handles.

For information on how you can impact Robotics or other Brehm programs, contact Russell Williams, Coordinator of Development, at 618.457.0371 or rwilliams@brehm.org

Team Megahurts to configure Dune Buggy to drive autonomously

2011-02-23T15:28:00.003-06:00

With the struggles of raising capital and support this year to support Brehm Preparatory School's FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition Team Megahurts, the team is focusing on some projects that have fallen by the wayside, which are less financially demanding.

The first is to bring the Dune Buggies back to operational status and configure one to drive autonomously! That's correct, Team Megahurts will be training a new class of high school students interested in robotics & STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) by designing, building and integrating an autonomous driver control system in one of the team's off road buggies.

The concept is simple, but the execution is a very complicated process, especially since safety is a major concern. In principle, the larger buggy will be manually driven, while the smaller buggy follows autonomously - that means no one will be driving it!

Some of the problems the students will have to solve are object avoidance, evaluation of risk/danger factors, fusion of sensor data, locating and tracking of the lead buggy, and gracefully and safely handling system failures.

This project provides a great outlet for our advanced students and all of our newcomers. The first couple of days the team met, they were introduced to basic mechanics and engine maintenance.

The students removed any visibly damaged parts, drained and changed all of the fluids, then reassembled the radiator hoses and any other damaged or worn parts. Still left for repair are the ignition system and right front control arm. We expect to have the engine running within the next week. The students seemed to enjoy themselves and are very anxious to take it for a spin.

Brehm students attend Valentine Dance

2011-02-23T09:48:00.002-06:00

Brehm Preparatory School's Student Council hosted "Love's a Mystery," a dance for sweethearts for the Valentine's Day holiday. Doors opened at 7pm. The dance ended at 9pm for RTS1 students and 10pm for RTS2 students. Only Tier Level 2 and above could attend the event.

Chrissy Strusz with the PACT department and students set up a "Crazy Photo Booth" for students and staff to dress up for and use wacky props in their photos.

Student Council members purchased Venetian-style masks for students to wear at the dance. Attendees were encouraged to "wear old-fashioned clothing - think Phantom of the Opera."

Refreshments were provided during the event. Fun was had by all!

Strategic planning retreat held at Brehm

2011-02-18T08:27:00.003-06:00

Brehm Preparatory School and OPTIONS staff and faculty, parents of past and present students, board of trustees members and others participated in a strategic planning retreat recently.

Brehm stakeholders, dedicated to realizing a desired future they designed together, worked together to reflect on the past, organize their thoughts, identify what's important at Brehm, and reach an agreement on the future they would like to live out at Brehm.

Brehm engages its stakeholders in strategic planning each year to improve focus among all participants; promote collaboration within Brehm and with partners outside of Brehm; define measurements of success; translate strategies into programs, projects, products and services; and foster accountability among participants.

The strategic plan is a critical step in establishing an effective vision that articulates the organization intent, a clarifying mission that articulates the organization purpose, and identifies strategic objectives/goals against which a measure of progress can be made. Using the strategic plan as its guide, Brehm stakeholders can undertake the identification of efforts that support the strategies and formulate tactical plans of action to implement the efforts.

Dennis Bellafiore, Ph.D., president of ISMS Limited, a Pennsylvania-based consulting company, served as the moderator of the strategic planning retreat.

Brehm basketball player nominated to McDonalds All American team

2011-02-11T14:06:00.006-06:00

Brehm Preparatory School senior, Bruce Barron, was nominated for the 2011 McDonald’s All American Boys Basketball Team. A senior at Brehm, Bruce is a 6’4” point guard, who recently signed a letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Oregon.

Katie and Jason Short, representing the Short family’s nine area McDonald’s restaurants, presented Bruce with a certificate highlighting the honor recently at Brehm Preparatory School’s gymnasium.

“We are extremely proud to be able to honor Bruce with this nomination,” Katie said. “He is a tremendous basketball player, and we are excited and honored to be able to recognize not only his achievements, but also the achievements of Brehm Preparatory School.”

While Bruce was not chosen to be on the 2011 McDonald’s All American Boys Basketball Team, he was a finalist.

“It is a very prestigious honor to be nominated,” said Brehm prep basketball team head coach Aaron Lee. “We are so very proud of Bruce. Our entire school stands behind him and supports him.”

Keeping our students healthy this winter

2011-02-10T16:05:00.003-06:00

Winter is making its presence known once again around Brehm's campus with glistening snow here and there, cold temperatures and, of course, the occasional cold or flu bug. Faculty and staff members are being diligent about trying to keep these bugs at bay, but we could always use the help of our students' parents and family members.

As our staff, faculty and students spend so much time together indoors, it is hard to make it through the winter without battling some type of illness. However, there are ways our students can combat cold and flu season without missing a beat this winter. Nursing Administrator at Brehm, Jeannine Banning, R.N., M.S.Ed., has provided some tips to encourage your children to follow:

Wash your hands. While it might seem like a simple request, encouraging your child to wash his/her hands may prevent them from spreading germs.
Cover your mouth. Encourage your child to cover his/her mouth when coughing or sneezing, and to wash their hands afterwards, if possible.
Stay hydrated. If your child drinks eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day, they will be able to flush out their system, including the illnesses that might enter their body during this cold and flu season.
Stay active. Brehm offers so many activities for your child to participate in. Encourage them to get out there and stay active!
Don't eat or drink after others. There are so many ways for germs to be passed around while at school, and eating or drinking after others is the easiest way. Help us help them stop the spread of germs by encouraging them not to eat or drink after other people.

Brehm has a long-standing policy to isolate contagious illnesses as much as possible to reduce the likelihood of infecting other students. If your child has a potentially serious illness, such as Strep or Mono, you will be contacted to bring your child home for recuperation. This measure helps the student recuperate more fully and comfortably and diminishes the risk of spreading the illness to others.

Students create beautiful ceramic art

2011-02-10T11:57:00.004-06:00

Brehm Preparatory School students created incredible ceramic pieces of art during visual arts classes. The students made ceramic sculpture figurines "loosely based on ancient artwork of different civilizations," said teacher Wade Brady.

The students began learning ceramic hand-building techniques about six weeks ago that culminated in this complex figurine sculpture project.

"The unit started out with learning how to build a coil coffee cup and a slab candle holder, and finally moved into design. It all came together for this fin

al project using all the techniques," Wade said. "It is one of the most successful projects that I have seen from my classes. I am very proud of the students and their work."

Brehm understands that a creative outlet is crucial for its students, so students are encouraged to explore the arts with our talented instructors. Brehm students produce high-quality artwork that often wins awards at local and regional art shows. Traditional art classes include:

Painting
Collage
3-D art
Silk-screening
and other creative techniques

Video released of paintball team in action

2011-02-10T11:20:00.003-06:00

Brehm Preparatory School's paintball team created a video from the footage they captured while participating in "The Zombie Conflict" at Bailey's Battlefield in Niangua, Missouri in October.

The video shows the students not only having fun, but also working together as a team.

Students visit health career fair

2011-02-10T09:41:00.002-06:00

Brehm Preparatory School students attended the 16th Annual Health Careers Showcase at John A. Logan College.

They attended sessions that introduced the specific health career, wages for those careers, and employment trends. Some of the sessions students were most impressed with were: Veterinarian Technology, Cardiac Medical Sonography, Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Services, Nursing and several other fields.

Students were able to listen and ask questions to professionals as well as students who are currently studying in these fields. They also were taken on tours of the nursing and dental departments located on JALC campus.

For more information about John A. Logan College in Carterville, Ill., visit www.jalc.edu.

How can the new dietary guidelines help Brehm students make healthier choices?

2011-02-07T08:55:00.002-06:00

By Melissa Banz, MS, RD, LDN

Dietitian, Brehm Preparatory School

Lifestyles that are focused on consuming fewer calories, eating nutrient dense (healthy) foods and being active can help you attain and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic disease and promote overall health.

The new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans reflect these strategies (for more information visit www.dietaryguidelines.gov). Below is a preview of some of the tips:

Enjoy your food, but eat less.
Consume more nutrient-dense foods
Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk
Include whole grain foods to most of your meals
Eat more seafood (and other lean proteins)
Compare foods with sodium, saturated and trans fat, added sugar and refined grains – choose foods with lower numbers
Drink water instead of sugary drinks

How is Brehm promoting these messages with your children? Brehm hosts discussion groups where students can talk about these topics over lunch on Fridays.

In January, we discussed general recommendations for healthy eating for teens, where we discussed many topics, including:

Why is healthy eating important?
What foods they should eat more of.
Strategies for a healthy weight.
We’ve looked at how healthy eating translates to their “plate:" ½ the plate should be full of fruits and vegetables, a ¼ full of whole grains and the remaining ¼ with a lean protein.
We’ve shared strategies for eating less. For example, drinking 1-2 glasses of water before a meal; eating a healthy breakfast; not skipping meals; and tracking what you eat and when you are active.

This month we will focus on identifying their individual calories needs, tracking what they are eating and comparing that to the new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Brehm also meets the Dietary Guidelines by offering a salad bar that provides a variety of green, red and orange vegetables and fruits. Students should be encouraged to fill half their plate full of fruits and vegetables before filling the remaining half with the lunch or dinner offered.

Brehm offers low fat milk and yogurt with every meal; teens should be encouraged to choose low fat dairy foods more often in order to meet their calcium needs. The kitchen staff is helping by including more whole grains and seafood to the menu and cooking with less fat and added sugar.

Melissa Banz has been a registered dietitian since May 2001, working in community nutrition. She graduated from the University of Nevada-Reno with a bachelor's of science in dietetics and then received a master's in science in community nutrition from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She currently works with the Department of Human Services as a nutrition consultant providing training, education, consultation, and technical assistance to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and other maternal and child health programs. Her experiences emphasize individualized, patient-centered counseling and training and the development of effective educational materials. For the last few years, she has been using her experience in community nutrition to consult with private businesses to help individuals and families live a healthier lifestyle.

Brehm alum to publish memoir

2011-01-31T13:32:00.003-06:00

Tessa Koller, a 2004 graduate of Brehm Preparatory School, has made a big splash in the art and fashion design worlds, and is on the verge of publishing her first book - a memoir of her life, called "Branches." The book encompasses a recent history of her life, including her struggles with heart disease and a rare disease known as DiGeorge Syndrome, and how she turned to her passion for art and fashion during her times of struggle.

The book is tentatively scheduled to be released in February 2011. Here is an excerpt from her book: "Amazingly, prayers got answered, and I started living. The second I thought life was over, it began in every way possible."

After facing the threat of a second heart surgery, Tessa said she turned to art and fashion to relieve stress.

"Painting became a mediation to calm my nerves about the surgery. As I worked on this large bod of oil paintings as well as a line of clothes, I felt as though I had transformed," she said. "I discovered what I truly wanted to do in my life. For four months straight, I did nothing but produce this work. Art and design were all I could do to get by."

Tessa is the owner of Tessko Designs.

"From drawing, illustration, photography, oil painting, and fashion design, I have found strength in creating artwork that shapes my everyday life," she said. "My mission is not simply to sell merchandise; it is to convey unique ideas through art and fashion and help people be more in tune with themselves."

Tessa has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and many other newspapers. She has had gallery exhibits of her oil paintings and drawings throughout Illinois and Wisconsin and is simultaneously promoting her clothing lines.

For more information about Tessa, her art, fashion or book, or to contact her, visit www.tesskodesigns.com.

Brehm students create art on campus

2011-01-26T15:49:00.004-06:00

Nan Novara's art class at Brehm School studied Christo Vladimirov Javacheff, whose environmental works of art included the wrapping of the Reichstag in Berlin and the Pont-Neuf bridge in Paris.

To delve deeper into the study of Christo's work, students created their own environmental works of art throughout the Brehm campus.

For more information on Brehm's art program, click here.

Brehm featured on radio

2011-01-25T09:53:00.007-06:00

Dr. Richard Collins, executive director of Brehm Preparatory School, was interviewed by Tom Miller with WJPF AM 1340.

The interview was about Brehm's upcoming workshops for educators, parents, professionals, etc. and the effort Brehm is making on becoming an educational resource for area residents.

Tom Miller is the program director of WJPF AM 1340.

Brehm to host workshops for educators

2011-01-24T13:13:00.003-06:00

Accomplished and award-winning educator, C. Wilson Anderson Jr., will present a series of dynamic and informative educator workshops at Brehm Preparatory School in February.

Educators, home school teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals and others are invited to attend these workshops, as well as psychologists who want to learn more about reading, curriculum and effective curriculum delivery.

On Wednesday, February 2, C. Wilson Anderson Jr. will present “Teaching the Subject Matter to Students who are Struggling with Reading, Written Expression and Spelling” at Brehm Preparatory School’s Dining Facility from 1pm to 4pm.

This practical, individualized workshop helps teachers modify textbooks, materials and curriculum presentations without watering down curriculum content. Teachers will gain skills to meet the needs of ALL students, especially those hard to reach and teach, and the "fall through the cracks children.” Teachers bring their classroom texts. Appropriate for grades 1-12. This workshop is eligible for graduate level credits through Baker University.

On Saturday, February 5, C. Wilson Anderson Jr. will present “Multisensory Teaching in Reading, Written Expression, Spelling, Arithmetic and Vocabulary” workshop at the Brehm Preparatory School’s Dining Facility from 9am to noon.

Over 90% of the teachers are visual learners, yet their students are one-third tactile-kinesthetic learners, and one-third auditory learners, and one-third of the students learn the way the teachers do! The students can’t change the way they learn best, but teachers can change the way they teach and meet the academic needs of all of their students.

Participants will be lead through a series of multisensory activities and strategies that are appropriate in the regular classroom. Participants will have the opportunity to lead and practice these activities. This is a “hands on” workshop for teachers, parents, paraprofessionals, and other people who want to learn more about meeting the academic needs of students who don’t learn like their teachers did.

Those who attend these workshops at Brehm will be eligible to receive CPDUs from the Illinois State Board of Education. All participants are requested to bring a novel or textbook that is difficult for their students.

The cost of these workshops is $50 for each workshop. Reservations are required as space is limited. Checks may be written to Brehm Preparatory School.

C. Wilson Anderson Jr., MAT, is a fellow of the Orton-Gillingham Academy. He is the president of Education Consultants of the Midwest, Inc. He was a junior and senior high school English and social studies teacher in Minnesota for 28 years. Anderson received a bachelor’s of arts from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., and a master’s in special education from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. He has been honored by the Minnesota Association for Children with Learning Disabilities as a General Educator of the Year, served as the president of the Orton Dyslexia Society (now known as the International Dyslexia Association), worked as a LD Specialist and director of teacher education for the Menninger Clinic Center for Learning Disabilities.

For more information about these workshops, please contact Dalus Kulich, Coordinator of Communications, at 457-0371 ext. 1309 or dkulich@brehm.org.

Introducing Brehm School’s new dietitian

2011-01-19T11:34:00.008-06:00

By Melissa Banz, Dietitian, Brehm Preparatory School

Research indicates that good nutrition for students can lead to better academic performance, prevent childhood and adolescent health problems (such as iron deficiency, low calcium intake, dental caries and obesity), and improve behavioral problems.

Also, establishing healthy habits now lowers your child’s risk for future chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Children who learn to live healthy, live longer, more productive lives.

My name is Melissa Banz, and I’m a dietitian working with Brehm to enhance the school environment to ensure that it supports a healthy school nutrition environment. I have conducted reviews of the menus and food supplies to ensure that they meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture.

We are also working on ways to promote healthier choices to students. I’ve already talked to some students about healthy eating during our new “Lunch and Learn” discussions.

I look forward to working with the students at Brehm to bring about some exciting additions to the menus and school environment! Please support us this New Year as we work to promote these healthier choices throughout the school.

Check out what’s on the menu:

Lean meats – Each day there will be at least one lean meat choice: skinless chicken breast (baked or grilled – not fried), vegetarian (meatless) entrée or low fat cold cuts.
Fruits and vegetables – Each day, the salad bar features fresh berries and other delicious fresh fruits and vegetables. When canned fruits or vegetables are provided, they will not have any added sugar or salt. Hot vegetables will be served seasoned – not buttered.
Whole grains – Grains will fill a quarter of your child’s plate with at least one serving of whole grain rich food, like whole grain pasta, bread or brown rice. These will be seasoned – not buttered.
Milk and dairy products – Low fat varieties of milk will be offered at every meal. In addition, the salad bar will offer low fat cottage cheese and yogurt.
Other foods – Low fat or fat-free dressings, sour cream, gravies and other condiments will be used when available. Products and cooking methods will aim to reduce the amount of saturated and sodium provided during lunch and dinner meals.

Brehm FBLA attends conference

2011-01-14T15:54:00.002-06:00

The FBLA (Future Leaders of America), a newly chartered club this year on campus at Brehm School, attended the 57th Annual Southern Area Conference on Thursday, Jan. 13.

Eleven members attended and eight members took part in the competition portion of the conference.

Students were given a choice from a wide variety of competitive events to choose from. All events were related to Business and Business Procedures. The competition consisted of events from computer generated tests to public speaking.

The Brehm students, all dressed in business attire, made a great showing for our school. More than 500 students showed up for the conference. Nineteen schools from the southern half of Illinois were represented.

The students participated in activities where they were able to get to know other students from all the other schools. Out of all of the competitors we had one student who placed third in the Business Law field - Stephen T. CONGRATULATIONS STEPHEN!!!

The students are looking forward to going to the State Conference which will be held March 25-26 in Decatur, IL.

The members are going to be doing fundraising activities in order to raise the money in order for them to be able to attend. For more information about Brehm's FBLA, please contact Mary Hart at mhart@brehm.org.

Five key ways to avoid a power struggle with your teenager

2011-01-12T14:06:00.009-06:00

By Theresa Miller, Director of Residential Life,

Brehm Preparatory School

Have you asked your teenager to complete a simple chore and somehow ended up with your darling angel yelling, slamming doors, with giant teardrops falling? Somewhere in the middle of that exchange some key elements played out.

You were hooked into a power struggle with your teenager. It is OK, it happens to us all. Although, we all recognize that power struggles occur, if you know what to look for, you may avoid a big one! Most kids escalate on some type of continuum. Recognizing these five key points may help you avoid getting into a power struggle with your teenager!

The first key in avoiding a power struggle is to remember that it takes two to create one. If you do not engage in the struggle, it will not occur.

As difficult as it may be at times, remember, it is not personal! Teenagers know exactly what buttons to push and how to get a rise out of you. They are trying to avoid whatever it is you are asking of them. If they get you hooked on something else, it no longer is about what you asked. You must remember that neither one of you will feel good about the interaction if you allow yourself to get off topic and get in a power struggle.

As adults, we must remember that it is our job to model appropriate ways to navigate difficult situations. What better way to show your teenager how to deal with difficult situations than by keeping your cool in a difficult situation? Parents should stay calm (we all know that can be very difficult at times) and address the issue at hand in a calm but firm manner. If it continues, set limits and disengage. If you are able to remain calm, the power struggle never occurs!

The second key in avoiding the continuum of escalation is when your teenager starts the basic questioning tactic, “Why do I have to sweep the floor," “Where is the broom.” These are reasonable questions and deserve a reasonable answer. Your teenager may have swept the floor ten times and you feel they know exactly where the broom is. However, it is important, especially with kids that may have some learning disabilities, to answer the questions consistently and with a reasonable answer. If you respond to these questions with provocative statements such as, “because I told you to, or because I said so,” it may be the catalyst for a power struggle. The goal is to get them to complete the task, not engage in a verbal volleyball session with you!

The third step in the continuum is those challenging questions that seem to get the power struggles started. Comments such as, “You can’t make me,” “What are you going to do,” or “Why don’t you do it.” As much as we would like to say, “because I told you to,” or, “I do enough around here; you need to do something,” the goal is to get the task done, and for both sides to feel good about the interaction! When your teenager becomes non-compliant, it is important to set limits.

The key to setting limits is to make sure you keep the directives clear, simple, reasonable, and fair. Obviously, “Do it, or your grounded until you are 18,” is not really reasonable or fair. You may feel like it is in the moment, but is your teenager really going to be grounded until they are 18? I don’t think so! A more productive response may be, “You can have some free time when you finish sweeping the floors.” Then walk away! You have now placed the free time in your teenager’s hands. They get to do the fun things when they finish sweeping the floor. They are making the choice!

The fourth key to avoiding power struggles is not what you say, but how you say it! How you frame things can help kids appreciate what you need from them.

For example, “Sweep the floor, NOW!” is very direct and does not allow your teenager to feel like they have any control over the situation. Another approach might be to say, “Would you prefer to sweep the floor or mop?” This allows your teenager to make choices and participate in the decision making.

Also, using “I” messages can help frame things for your teenager. For example, “I need you to sweep the floor, so I can get dinner ready for us.” If the interaction continues to escalate, use this communication model: I feel _____________ because ________________. So, I need you to ______________. This model helps to structure what your feelings are, the reasons for the feelings (specific to behaviors or situation), and what you need to happen to get it resolved. This is a perfect opportunity to model effective communication for your teenager!

The fifth key to avoiding power struggles is to be consistent! All kids want predictability! They want to know what to expect. If you give in and allow teenagers to skip doing chores because you do not want the argument, guess what? You will be doing those chores until they head off to college. As difficult and as challenging as it may be in the moment, being consistent will help teenagers make positive choices and feel good about themselves in the long run! It will only take a couple of times of implementing consequences, before teenagers realize it is easier to just do the task!

Recognizing these five keys may not eliminate all the power struggles with your teenager, but it will certainly help! None of us are perfect! Remembering that it takes two for a power struggle to happen, will help you disengage. Answering reasonable questions with reasonable answers will assist in keeping the interaction calm. Setting limits will let your teenager know what could happen. Recognizing how you frame directions will teach effective communication and allow your teenager to be part of the process. Finally, being consistent will decrease the escalating interactions because they just aren’t that much fun anymore!

Theresa Miller is the Director of Residential Life at Brehm Preparatory School in Carbondale, Illinois. She has more than fifteen years experience working with adolescents; the majority as the Associate Administrator for a licensed residential children’s home. Before working in residential care, she worked with victims and witnesses of violent crime (children and adults) at the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office and also in the Investigations Unit at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. She has a Master’s Degree in Education and has served on many boards, task forces, and committees throughout the region that address adolescent issues and concerns. Theresa was the recipient of the Minerva Award in 2007 (an award given to a female in the community for outstanding community service and leadership). She received instructor certifications and taught through the Illinois State Police Training and Standards Board and the Non-Violent Physical Crisis Prevention Institute. In addition, she has successfully completed Conflict Resolution Training, Leadership Training, and other supervisory training courses.

Alumnus represents Brehm/OPTIONS in College Fair

2011-01-10T13:29:00.002-06:00

On Friday, December 3, 2010, Assistant Director of Admissions Richard Ventura was accompanied by Brehm and OPTIONS alumnus and Atlanta native, Natalie Pereless, to the post-secondary fair at Mill Springs Academy in Alpharetta, Georgia. OPTIONS was an exhibitor in the fair.

Both Richard and Natalie represented OPTIONS, answered questions and handed out literature to those in attendance - 100-125 students and their families.

“Being asked to represent OPTIONS was a tremendous honor," Richard stated. “It was exciting to see Natalie interact with the students at the fair. As an alumnus, she was able to give them the insight about the OPTIONS program that they were looking for.”

The event was hosted by Susan Day, director of counseling at Mill Springs Academy. Susan invited OPTIONS to exhibit at the fair after meeting an OPTIONS representative at the CHADD conference held earlier this month in Atlanta, Georgia.

OPTIONS (Optimizing Potential Through Individualized, On-going, Nurtured Successes) Program at Brehm is a comprehensive transitional program for students with learning disabilities who have graduated from high school, earned their GED, or who have chosen to defer graduation in order to participate in a transitional program.

Coats donated to basketball players

2011-01-03T14:14:00.001-06:00

E.T. Simonds Construction Company donated coats for the Brehm Prep Basketball players.

Thank you E.T. Simonds Construction Company!

Brehm helps Boy Scout Troop 66 earn vintage merit badge

2011-01-03T13:11:00.004-06:00

Boy Scout Troop 66 of Carbondale, Ill., recently visited Brehm to utilize the school's fully-equipped workshop to earn carpentry badges.

In the last 99 years, there have been many changes in the Boy Scout merit badge offerings. As society has changed, the Boy Scouts of America has adapted by revising the requirements, implementing name changes, adding new merit badges, and in some instances, eliminating some badges altogether.

For the 100th Anniversary Celebration, four vintage merit badges are being released for the centennial celebration year only, giving Boy Scouts the hands-on opportunity to experience the exciting past of Scouting while learning how the world has changed in that 100 years.

The historical merit badges (carpentry, pathfinding, signaling and tracking) will count toward a Scout’s rank advancement. However, Scouts must start and finish all requirements within the year 2010. After December 31, 2010, these merit badges will go back on the “retired” list.

The boys of Troop 66 took advantage of the opportunity to earn the retired carpentry badge by using tools and equipment at Brehm School to help them.

Troop 66 was chartered in 1960 with First United Methodist Church in Carbondale.

Brehm students travel to SLU

2010-12-29T09:47:00.004-06:00

Recently, Andrea Keene’s anatomy students had the opportunity to take a field trip to St. Louis University.

The topic of the day was the cardiovascular system. Students were able to sit in on a lecture and participate in a question and answer session. After an hour of discussion, all students took part in a lab where they dissected a pig heart.

For some students, this was their first opportunity to be an active part of a dissection.

“This enables students to hear a different perspective of the

body, to see how the components of different animals resemble their own and have the chance to dissect to a clear and orderly fashion,” said Andrea Keene, faculty member.

Field trips such as this help to give students the self-confidence (and interest) that they can be successful and achieve their full potential.

In memory of Carey and Tom Walsh

2010-12-21T14:51:00.005-06:00

Dear Brehm Family,

Carey and Tom Walsh were part of the Brehm family. Their deaths within a week of each other due to cancer is very hard to fathom. Several of us at Brehm/OPTIONS were able to visit with them and their family while they were in the hospital. It was hard to see both of them so ill, but family surrounded them.

Our hearts go out to Charlene who lost both a daughter and a husband. She has been exceptionally strong and was focused on caring for them. She also comforted others in the family. Please remember Charlene and extend a hand if you have a chance.

The Walshes have been with us since the early 90s. Carey as a Brehm student and extension person at OPTIONS. Tom and Charlene served on the Brehm Board of Trustees, and Tom was a founding member of the Brehm Foundation Board. We also remember growing up with Carey’s sisters – Catherine, who is now an M.D., and Collene, who is in medical school at Washington University.

We will celebrate the memories and plan to have a memorial service on campus in the Spring. We will let you know the date and time once we plan it.

Memorials may be made to The Brehm School Foundation at 1245 East Grand Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901. Their obituaries are below.

Sincerely,

Richard G. Collins, Ph.D.

Thomas H. Walsh

Thomas H. Walsh, 69, of St. Louis, formerly of Monticello, died at noon Thursday (Nov. 18, 2010) at Barnes-Jewish Medical Center, St. Louis, from complications following a second bone marrow transplant for leukemia.

A funeral Mass was held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 22, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Ivesdale, with the Rev. Tom Donovan officiating. Burial followed in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Ivesdale. Visitation began at 4 p.m. Sunday at Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, 215 E. Washington St., Monticello.

Mr. Walsh was born March 12, 1941, in Decatur, a son of Vincent T. and Catherine A. "Kaley" Delaney Walsh. He married Charleen Zmija Aug. 5, 1972. She resides in St. Louis. Also surviving are two daughters, Dr. Catherine Ann Walsh of Albuquerque, N.M. and Colleen Walsh Lang of St. Louis.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Carey Marie Walsh, on Nov. 11, 2010; and his sister, Mary A. Walsh, in 1989.

Mr. Walsh attended Monticello schools and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1963. He served as a communications officer aboard the USS Pollux in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War (1963-1968) and later did graduate studies in agriculture at the University of Illinois, where he met his wife, Charleen Zmija. They later became members of the University of Illinois President's Council. He was a third-generation farmer and landowner in the Ivesdale and Monticello areas. He was a member of the Piatt County Farm Bureau and served as a commissioner for the Kankakee Drainage District for many years. Mr. Walsh, former president for Tatman Village, Monticello, served on the board of directors for more than 30 years, since before it opened in 1980. He also served on the Kirby Hospital board since 1982 and worked on plans for the new hospital that broke ground recently. He also served as a member of the First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust Advisory Board since 1973. He was a former president of the Monticello Rotary Club and a fourth-degree knight in the Knights of Columbus. Mr. and Mrs. Walsh were also active members of St. Philomena Catholic Church, Monticello. He maintained his involvement with Tatman Village, Kirby Hospital and the Monticello Rotary Club after retiring to St. Louis and throughout his illness. He served as a member of the board for Brehm Preparatory School, Carbondale, and treasurer of The Brehm School Foundation.

Mr. Walsh enjoyed traveling with his wife throughout their marriage, including trips to Japan, China, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Costa Rica and Alaska, and throughout the continental U.S. He took great pleasure working on the farm, sharing coffee with friends, and taking pride in the accomplishments of his daughters.

Mr. Walsh was a loving father, a loyal husband, a faithful friend and a dedicated member of the Monticello community. Condolences may be offered online at www.mackey-wrightfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be made to The Brehm School Foundation (618-457-0371 or rwilliams@brehm.org).

Carey Marie Walsh

A wake for Carey Marie Walsh, 36, was held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, at Mackey-Wright Funeral Home in Monticello. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 22, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ivesdale, with burial following.

Miss Walsh died at 2:03 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010, at Barnes-Jewish Medical Center, St. Louis, from complications following a bone marrow transplant.

She is survived by her mother, Charleen Zmija Walsh of St. Louis, formerly of Monticello. Her father, Thomas H. Walsh, died on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010, also at Barnes-Jewish Medical Center, St. Louis.

She is also survived by two sisters, Dr. Catherine A. Walsh of Albuquerque, N.M., and Colleen Walsh Lang and husband Edward Lang of St. Louis; her maternal grandmother, Florence Zmija of St. Louis, formerly of Lansing; her aunt and uncle, Melanie and Jerry O'Rourke of Phoenix, Ariz.; first cousins, Jennifer, Daniel and Patrick O'Rourke; and many cousins.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Vincent and Catherine "Kaley" Delaney Walsh; her maternal grandfather, Joseph E. Zmija; and her aunt, Mary Walsh.

Memorials may be made to The Brehm School Foundation. Contact info: 618-457-0371 orrwilliams@brehm.org.

Miss Walsh was born Aug. 19, 1974, in Urbana. She graduated valedictorian in 1993 from Brehm Preparatory School, Carbondale. She then attended Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, where she was awarded a bachelor of arts in psychology in 1998. Miss Walsh also earned a Library Technical Assistance (LTA) certificate with high honors from the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn in 2001.

Miss Walsh was an active member of Brehm's Options program, where she dedicated herself to the program's activities, community service and volunteer work. She interned nearly 680 hours at various community businesses and organizations, including the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, the Carbondale Park District and the SIU School of Journalism. She supported her college alma mater, and would often attend volleyball matches, plays and concerts at the university.

Miss Walsh was also a dedicated staff member of the Carbondale Public Library until her death. Her accuracy, memory and organizational skills made her an especially valued colleague at the library. She traveled widely during her life, visiting England, Japan, China, France, Ireland and Kenya, among other locales.

Miss Walsh's warmth, generosity, sense of humor and steel-trap memory were treasured by her friends and family. She was fiercely independent, quick to laugh, and she delighted in the achievements of her sisters and other family members. Miss Walsh was also an avid fan of popular culture, books, cinema and the color purple. Condolences may be offered online at www.mackey-wrightfuneralhome.com.

Brehm participate in Lights Fantastic Parade

2010-12-21T14:26:00.003-06:00

One of the many Brehm School traditions is the annual participation in Carbondale's Lights Fantastic parade. This year, students chose a "Hillbilly Christmas" theme for their entry in the parade. Students and staff worked on the float for weeks leading up to the parade.

Harvard's 2010 Dyslexia Foundation Teleconference Webcast now available online

2010-12-21T13:44:00.003-06:00

On Friday, October 15, 2010, Brehm Preparatory School, one of the nation’s leading schools for children with learning disabilities, hosted the 2010 Harvard Medical School 2010 Dyslexia Foundation Conference. The Webcast videos from that teleconference are now available on Brehm's Web site.

The link will direct users to watch it online or purchase DVDs of the teleconference.

The videoconference took place from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the Brehm Preparatory School Student Activities Center. It was geared towards teachers and parents who wanted to hear the latest information on practical application and scientific foundations on literacy, reading and dyslexia.

The Dyslexia Foundation sponsored this yearly event. The title of this year’s conference was “A Recipe for Successful Teaching & Learning: Literacy, Reading, Dyslexia from Research to Practice.”

Topics covered were: historical perspective of Dyslexia research, helping struggling readers achieve the highest levels of literacy, phonological awareness, practicing what research has proven, MRI studies and executive function and implications for reading, learner assessment and program evaluation.

The conference took place at the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center Harvard Medical School, however Brehm Preparatory School was the only satellite location in the Midwest that hosted live feeds directly from the Harvard event.

The Dyslexia Foundation’s mission is to promote scientific breakthroughs in the early detection, prevention and remediation of dyslexia and related reading difficulties; to disseminate new findings and deploy new evidence based approaches; and to prevent the suffering caused by reading failure and unlock the full potential of children and adults with dyslexia so that they may personally succeed and contribute to society.

Brehm Preparatory School is a 501 (C) (3) located in Carbondale, Ill. with a mission to empower students with complex learning disabilities to recognize and achieve their full potential.

Conference schedule

8:30-8:45 - Introduction
8:45-9:45 - Welcome and Brief Historical Perspective of Dyslexia Research
9:45-10:45 - Reading Research and Reading the Research: Helping Struggling Readers Achieve The Highest Levels of Literacy
10:45-11:15 - Break
11:15-12:15 - An Update on Research and Practice: Phonological Awareness, Reading and Literacy: Reading Achievement in Preschool Through Elementary
12:15-12:45 - 2010 TDF Award
12:45-1:45 - Lunch 1:45-2:45 - Practicing What Research Has Proven; Teaching Reading To Middle and High School Students
2:45-3:45 - What Else Can the Brain Tell Us? MRI Studies and Executive Function - Implications for Reading
3:45-4:15 - Closing Remarks
4:15-4:30 - Learner Assessment and Program Evaluation.

For more information, contact Joseph Viscomi, Director of Information Services and Technology at Brehm, at 618.457.0371 or jviscomi@brehm.org.

Brehm staff members published in SEEN magazine

2010-12-21T10:43:00.002-06:00

M. Brad Sims, M.S., CCC-SLP, and Dr. Brian Brown recently had articles published in SEEN magazine.

SEEN (Southeast Education Network) magazine is primarily read by educators in 12 southeastern states: West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas, and has more than 100,000 readers per issue. SEEN focuses on presenting resources, ideas and techniques to help educators to become more effective while growing personally and professionally.

Brad Sims' article was about how to work with adolescents to do household chores. Brad Sims is the Coordinator of Speech-Language Pathology at Brehm School. He brings six years of experience as a teacher of students with special needs and another 21 years as a speech-language pathologist.

Dr. Brian Brown's article was about dealing with intense feelings. Dr. Brian Brown is the Associate Director of Brehm School in Carbondale, Illinois. Dr. Brown has 22 years of experience working with students who have complex learning diffi culties and other comorbid related issues. Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D in Educational Psychology in Counseling, is a Licensed Social Worker, and holds a School Social Work Certification.

End of the year is near

2010-12-20T14:24:00.005-06:00

2010 is quickly coming to a close! You may be considering an end-of-the-year gift to a charitable organization. We hope you will consider contributing to one of our school campaigns.

Annual Giving Campaign - Goal $300,000

More than 10 years ago, parents established the Annual Giving Fund to provide student and faculty support not possible through our fixed operational budget. Today the Annual Giving Campaign provides unrestrictive and designated funds for student programs such as the Robotics Team, soccer, Paintball Club, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), photography, theater productions and more.

Annual Giving provides funds for staff-faculty development including certification training, advanced courses, and peer visits to other special-needs schools.

Additionally, campus development like the new Walking Trail, sand volleyball court, and healthy lifestyle equipment and programs are funded.

Annual Giving includes in-kind gifts like our John Deere Gators, mower, TVs, furniture, and snow blower.

We have currently raised $110,000 and our goal is 100% participation by current parents, faculty and staff, and board members.

Foundation Scholarship Campaign - Goal $60,000

The Brehm School Foundation has set a goal to raise scholarship aid based upon need. Scholarships will benefit families who otherwise would not be able to send a child to Brehm or OPTIONS. Scholarships will also further diversify our campus and help ensure the future of the school. To jump start the process, the Foundation will match each donation for the first $30,000. Our endowment goal is $2 million by 2013. We currently have $500,000 in hand. The Foundation accepts one-time gifts, multi-year pledges, asset donations, and planned giving.

Basketball Campaign - Goal $200,000

A Basketball Committee was formed this year to assist the Basketball Program which includes the Prep, Varsity, and Junior Varsity teams. The program provides opportunities for student-athletes with complex learning disabilities from across the U.S. as well as international students from nations like Nigeria, Cameroon, Australia, Canada, and Latvia. Our students have achieved national success in a number of invitational tournaments and games with other high schools and junior colleges throughout the U. S. These students have received athletic scholarships to Division I and II universities including Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Oregon, and Tennessee-Chattanooga.

There are 3 easy ways to make your contribution:

1. Via Credit Card, online now (click the donate button)

2. Phone Brehm at (618) 457-0371

3. Send a check via US Mail by Friday, December 31st, 2010 to:

Brehm Preparatory School

1245 E. Grand Avenue

Carbondale, IL 62901

This program is one of many efforts to enhance the overall positive health, culture, and spirit of our students. A student running club, 5K walk/run, and nutritional health program have been initiated this past year. Designated gifts to basketball and athletics have greatly benefited the well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. This year the campaign has raised $121,000.

Your support is an integral part of our achievements with students at Brehm and OPTIONS. We utilize and appreciate every single donation, at every giving level.

For more information on these campaigns and the needs they meet, please contact Russ Williams, our Coordinator of Development, at (618) 457-0371, ext. 1308, or by email at rwilliams@brehm.org.

Happy holidays to you and your family!

Dr. Richard Collins

Executive Director

Helping your child manage their feelings more effectively

2010-12-07T10:29:00.004-06:00

By Dr. Brian Brown, Associate Director, Brehm Preparatory School

Scientists would love to be able to know exactly when the next volcano was going to explode, spew lava and hot gases into the air, and endanger everyone within miles. So, too, would parents like to be able to predict when their child is going to explode with their frustration or anger.

A step toward knowing for the child and parent is understanding the physiological cues that are precursors/signals that something is amiss internally. By recognizing our physiological cues early, we can implement strategies that allow us to manage our feelings more effectively.

Physiological cues are the body’s physical response to feelings or emotions. We all have physical responses to various emotional states. Becoming in tune with what our body is physically feeling can act as an early warning system. And, if the child is aware of this early warning system, it can tell the child when and if he needs to implement a specific strategy.

Think for a moment the last time you were becoming frustrated or angry. What sensations did you feel in your body? For some, it may be a tightening in their stomach, a warming of their skin, or even a flexing of muscles in various parts of the body.

I am amazed at how often when I ask kids what they were feeling in their body, they are able to identify their physiological indicators rather quickly. Our kids at times aren’t sure of the type of emotion they are experiencing (i.e. anxiety vs. anger), but they often know immediately that they feel something physical in their body.

The first step in using the physiological cue system is for the parent to identify their own physiological cues for themselves. By doing this, the parent is able to then share their own cues with the child to help facilitate the child’s own recognition. Once this has been accomplished they are then ready to sit down with their child and ask them what their physiological signals are as they are beginning to become angry or are having increased anxiety.

At times, their early physical cues are one set of symptoms, and once they are fully angered they are aware of another set of physical symptoms. Write these physical symptoms down for both - as they are becoming angry and when they are overwhelmed with the anger. The strategies they implement for each state may be different.

The next step is developing a set of strategies that the child can use when they recognize their physiological cues. The key in a child being able to manage their feelings more proactively, is once the early warning system has been triggered and recognized, implementing specific strategies that allow the child to take control.

When the child begins to feel their physiological cues, they need to check out what may be causing them. They may be misperceiving an interaction or misunderstanding what is being asked of them.

A simple strategy to use is paraphrasing back to the person their understanding of what is being said to them. This allows the child time to process what is going on in the situation and allows them to check for accuracy their understanding. For example, “So, what I are you saying is that I haven’t done anything you asked of me today,” may receive a response by the parent of, “No, you did pick up your clothes off the floor, but you haven’t emptied the trash or walked the dog, and I need you to do that for me now.”

Another strategy is to ask clarifying questions. Sometimes kids jump to conclusions in their minds, and by stopping and asking clarifying questions they head off the worst-case scenario that is bouncing around in their mind.

When a child is overwhelmed with their anger, they need to utilize other strategies. One of the best is the communication model, “I feel _______ because _______ I want/need _________.” This model helps the child structure their feelings, reasons for the feelings (specific to behaviors or situation), and what they need to do or want to have happen to get it resolved.

At times, getting space/timeout is needed to allow the child to deescalate. Talking about using this strategy ahead of time, and identifying a couple of places the child can go, allows for it to be seen positively. The child needs to have input on where they want to take space/timeout, and the parent can also identify a place. The parent may be the one asking for space/timeout too, and that can be planned for and discussed. Anytime a person takes space/timeout, the expectation is for that to be relatively brief (5 to 10 minutes), and the individual needs to return to process the situation. Often times the follow up processing may begin with the use of the communication model.

Recognizing your physiological cues allows a person to take control of their feelings in a more proactive way. Developing individual strategies can take many forms beyond what has been discussed here. Finding the strategies that work best for the individual is the key. Parents must understand that everything being discussed here to use with their children can be used by them, too. In fact, using the cue system and various strategies for themselves can help them be more effective in dealing with their child and life in general. A parent, who is modeling the use of the cue system, reinforces for the child the value of using the system.

Dr. Brian is the Associate Director of Brehm School in Carbondale, Illinois. Dr. Brown has 22 years of experience working with students who have complex learning difficulties and other co-morbid related issues. Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D in Educational Psychology in Counseling, is a Licensed Social Worker, and holds a School Social Work Certification. He serves on the Illinois North Central Association State Board and has received the Southern Illinois University Alumnus of the Year Award from the School of Social Work.

Find all "Brehm School Experts" articles here.

Celebrating Hanukkah

2010-12-07T09:16:00.002-06:00

Brehm students, who wished to do so, celebrated Hanukkah recently.

Students enjoyed lighting the candles, eating latkes with applesauce, gelts and playing with dreidels.

"I had a great time at our first Brehm Crazy Night for Hanukkah," said Pam Altman, supervisor of boarding services. "We even had a few non-Jewish students in attendance, and together we tried to learn a bit about the Jewish rituals."

Making this celebration possible were:

Vicki Fox, who came up with the idea for the celebration and donated candies.
Sherri Laurens, who donated the Menorah, dreidels and glow sticks.
Elizabeth Jacobs, who donated the latkes and applesauce and the Happy Hanukkah sign, napkins and plates.
Craig Wielansky, who donated chocolate gelts.
Jennifer Deare, who donated money to be used for the festivities.

Brehm/OPTIONS staff meet Deion Sanders

2010-11-30T11:22:00.003-06:00

Before the Atlanta Falcons honored Deion Sanders at halftime of their game against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, November 11, 2010, Deion was spotted by Char Reed (OPTIONS Coordinator) and Richard Ventura (Assistant Director of Admission at Brehm School) in Olympic Park in beautiful downtown Atlanta, Georgia, on November 9.

Char and Richard were in Atlanta for the CHADD conference being held the week of November 9 -13. Deion was in Olympic Park the morning of November 9 answering questions for the general public and news media.

Brehm alum tops music charts

2010-11-29T14:07:00.002-06:00

Zachary Rusk, a 2005 graduate of Brehm School, made it on the Top 100 Chart of the International Association of Independent Recording Artists, which recognizes and honors artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in sound recording by monitoring chart activity as published in various reporting charts from around the world.

According to the IAIRA, Zach Rusk's "Second Wind" song reached the number 97 position in early November on at least one of the charts monitored and verified by the IAIRA. Because of that achievement, Zach's song is eligible for certification as an International Top 100 song.

According to Zach's Web site (www.zachrusk.com), Zach "utilized his outlet of piano as a coping mechanism to deal with his diagnosis of Tourrette Syndrome, OCD, ADHD, Aspergers, and Scoliosis, where rods and screws were fused into his spine. Never did Rusk consider his outlet of piano to become his passion and the rock of his salvation."

Zach is currently enrolled at Simon Graduate School of Business in New York, and plans to further his education at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass.

Emmanuel Ochenje signs with UTC

2010-11-29T11:54:00.003-06:00

Brehm Preparatory School senior Emmanuel "Manny" Ochenje signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

"What I like best about Manny is as a person," said UTC head coach John Shulman. "He's a wonderful young man looking for a home and he found that here. There were a lot of big names mentioned with him in this process, but, in the end, he knew what he had here and we are thrilled to have him join our family."

A native of Nigeria, Manny is a 6'9, 210 lb. forward/center ranked #1 in Illinois by Chicago Hoops. He plans to major in business at UTC.

Brehm students and staff celebrate Thanksgiving

2010-11-29T11:37:00.003-06:00

Brehm School students, faculty and staff celebrated Thanksgiving prior to Thanksgiving Break with a potluck-style lunch in the Dining Facility.

Tables were filled with turkey, breads, side dishes, desserts and more provided by Brehm staff and faculty and the Brehm Food Service staff.

Brehm art students decorate pumpkins

2010-11-23T12:13:00.002-06:00

Brehm Preparatory School art students decorated pumpkins for the Fall Parent and Family Weekend recently. The pumpkins were put on display outside throughout the campus.

The students did a tremendous job and enjoyed the art project.

Brehm campus enjoys 'Big Ball Game'

2010-11-23T12:02:00.002-06:00

To enjoy one of the last beautiful fall days and to have some fun before Thanksgiving break, students, faculty and staff participated in Coach Douglas' famous "Big Ball Game."

"It is a great stress releaser," said Terri Douglas, Coordinator of Educational Services.

Paintball team completes "Zombie Conflict"

2010-11-23T11:40:00.004-06:00

The Brehm Paintball Team participated in "The Zombie Conflict" recently at Bailey's Battlefield in Niangua, Missouri.

"Our kids did well all weekend," said Wade Brady, paintball team leader. "Our students worked together, virtually problem-free, all weekend. They did a great job and had a lot of fun!"

Bruce Barron signs to the University of Oregon

2010-11-23T08:56:00.003-06:00

Bruce Barron, a 6'4 senior point guard on the Brehm School prep basketball team, signed a letter of intent with the University of Oregon.

Bruce is a native of Carbondale, IL.

Brehm Varsity Basketball team scores a win

2010-11-18T16:42:00.002-06:00

The Brehm Preparatory School varsity basketball team defeated Caledonia Christian School at home on November 16 with a score of 31-45.

"Team Brehm has once again succeeded through a great amount of effort, commitment and cooperation," said Brad Siemer, head varsity basketball coach at Brehm. "Thanks to all of those who helped in the many successes here at Brehm!"

The varsity basketball team will play Westwood Baptist on December 9 at home.

Brehm students are keeping the school green

2010-11-18T13:38:00.003-06:00

Brehm Preparatory School students are keeping the school green.

In 2008, Brehm initiated a recycling program on campus with recycling containers in every dorm, outside, in academic buildings and the administration building. This was possible due to the support of Jackson County Health Department.

"We have a recycling dumpster from the Jackson County Health Department on campus, and, in order to keep the dumpster, we have to meet requirements," said Pam Altman, supervisor of boarding services at Brehm Preparatory School. "The last three years, we have completed four activities and participated in educational sessions throughout the year. These activities have benefited the campus because we have received two benches made out of recycled milk jugs. They are located in front of Christy Hall and Dorm 5."

The first activity the students have participated in each school year is a campus cleanup. This year, the students held their campus cleanup prior to Brehm's Fall Parent and Family Weekend, which was held November 5-6.

"It is an opportunity for our teachers, dorm parents, staff and students to pitch in and pick up trash and recyclables around campus to make the campus look its best for our parents," Pam said. "This year, some teachers had a great idea to reward students who participated in the cleanup with stickers, so we had students covered in stickers by the time they were done."

Other recycling events the students participate in include: recycling skits, trashformations and another event that has yet to be determined.

"These events will provide us with another bench or money to purchase recycled items and hopefully raise awareness around campus to reduce, reuse and recycle," Pam said. "From September 2009 until August 2010, we have recycled 12,820 pounds of materials!"

For more information, contact Dalus Kulich, Coordinator of Communications of Brehm, at (618) 457-0371 or dkulich@brehm.org.

Pep rally held

2010-11-18T11:46:00.004-06:00

Brehm Preparatory School students, faculty and staff attended the first pep rally of the school year for both the Varsity Basketball Team and the Prep Basketball Team.

The teams were introduced, coaches spoke about their outlook for the upcoming season and the players ran drills.

Photos provided by students in Brehm's PACT (Photograph and Computer Technology) Department.

Brehm Robotics hosts demonstration at Boeing

2010-11-17T14:28:00.006-06:00

In October, The Megahurts traveled to Boeing's executive offices in St. Louis to host a Robotics demonstration.

In 2010, Boeing joined the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Program at Brehm Preparatory School as a financial and technical sponsor.

“We view the excitement created by FIRST as an opportunity to positively influence the perception of math and science by young people,” said Rick Stephens, Boeing senior vice president of human resources and administration. “For more than 10 years, our employees have inspired participants through their experience applying teamwork and technical skills to creatively solving complex problems. Expanding our involvement with FIRST will help us encourage more students to experiment with technology and make new discoveries as the future workforce of our industry.”

The demonstration allowed current Brehm Robo tics Team members to show what they accomplished during the 2009 - 2010 FIRST Robotics Competition Breakaway (which is the game for the 2010 FIRST Robotics Competition, where two alliances of three teams each compete on a 27' x 54' field with bumps, attempting to earn points by collecting soccer balls in their goals. Additional bonus points are earned for each robot not touching the field at the end of the match).

Students from Brehm, along with mentors David Gitz, Jonathan Cohen, Joe Strusz, Joe Viscomi and engineering students from Southern Illinois University's ATMAE (Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering) Club, designed, built and shipped a custom-built robot that competed in a modified version of soccer.

The students traveled to two regional events and competed against nearly 100 teams in total during the competition season. Last season was the fourth competition for the school. Every year, the students learn new skills and take positions of leadership to help the team finish their task.

If you would like to learn more about our team, visit us on the web at http://megahurts2219.com or contact Joe Viscomi at Brehm Preparatory School at (618) 457-0371.

FBLA raising money to support March of Dimes

2010-11-17T10:14:00.002-06:00

The Brehm Preparatory School's Future Business Leaders of America Chapter is raising money to help support the March of Dimes.

The March of Dimes is one of the best known charities in the country.

Each year, more than 500,000 babies are born prematurely, nearly half for unknown reasons and premature birth is the number one killer of newborns. One in eight babies born in the U.S. is premature. Many of these infants have life-long disabilities such as cerebral palsy, retinopathy, asthma and learning disabilities.

The Brehm FBLA Chapter will be asking for donations through the month of November. We will be planning other fundraisers to help raise money for the March of Dimes. Thanks to all for their support!

Daniel Daudu visits Brehm

2010-11-16T17:16:00.002-06:00

Daniel Daudu, a former Brehm Preparatory School student and basketball player, visited Brehm during Parent and Family Weekend in November.

Daudu is a freshman at the University of Indianapolis in Indiana, majoring in Economics, and plays for university's basketball team as a guard. Originally hailing from Ikeja, Nigeria, Daudu has played on both the Nigeria Junior and Senior National teams and was named Most Valuable Player of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders in South Africa.

Daudu is pictured with Faye Ikner, Brehm's Admissions Executive Assistant.

Large turnout at Parent and Family Weekend dinner and entertainment

2010-11-16T17:02:00.003-06:00

The Fall Parent and Family Weekend dinner and entertainment on Saturday, November 6 was a success.

The event was held from 6-9pm in the gym of the Student Activities Center. The theme was "Around the World."

For dinner, guests enjoyed:

Shrimp fried rice
Vegetarian egg rolls
Fortune cookies
Hamburgers
Soy burgers
Chicken fajitas
Italian bread and dipping oil
Amaretto cake
Meatless pasta
Peanut stew
Sweet potato wedges
Chocolate chip cookies

Attendees also enjoyed the following games/entertainment:

Sumo wrestling
Soccer challenge
Quarterback challenge
Bounce house
Rock Band on Wii
Mini golf
Rock climbing

Sumo wrestling a big hit at Parent and Family Weekend

2010-11-16T14:50:00.004-06:00

The Brehm Preparatory School's Student Council was the spotlight of the Fall Parent and Family Weekend dinner on Saturday, November 6, with their Sumo Wrestling contest.

Brehm rented Sumo Wrestling suits for the evening, and the Student Council members served as promoters of the event - finding attendees to wrestle, serving as referees during the matches, encouraging wrestlers and the crowd, etc.

The wrestling event was a fund-raiser for the Student Council. Barbara Drew, advisor for the Student Council and MC of the evening's event, said more than $600 was raised for the organization.

"We had a blast doing it," she said. "Student Council members worked very hard to ensure that the students, staff, faculty, parents and family members had a wonderful time during the Sumo Wrestling event. And, it paid off.

"Also, without the support of the parents and family, staff and faculty, we couldn't have had such a successful fund-raiser."

Part of the money raised will be used for Student Council activities, and the other part will go toward the Lydia Walthes All-Star Award.

"This will be the third year we will give the Lydia Walthes Award," Barbara said. "It is a $500 cash award given to a Student Council member who exhibits many of the same qualities we cherished in Lydia - passion, fun, knowledgeable, hard-working, personable, friendly, and so on."

The Lydia Walthes Award is usually given out during Prom, which will be held Friday, April 29, 2011.

BPA holds dinner in new Chili's restaurant

2010-11-11T13:57:00.002-06:00

The Brehm Parents Association held their off-campus dinner at Chili's in Carbondale on Friday, November 5.

Chili's in Carbondale was not scheduled to open until Monday, November 8, but the restaurant staff and management were gracious enough to open for the BPA only on Friday evening from 6:30-8:30pm.

89 people RSVP'd for the dinner at Chili's, however, close to 100 people attended.

Inaugural BPA 5K Walk/Run a success

2010-11-11T11:02:00.004-06:00

More than 70 people signed up for the Brehm Parents Association 5K Walk/Run that was held on Sunday, November 7. The race wrapped up an eventful Parent and Family Weekend at Brehm.

T-shirts were sold for $8 to commemorate the inaugural BPA 5K Walk/Run. The shirts were available prior to the 9am start of the race.

The race began at the Brehm School Student Activities Center, then went east on Grand Avenue, north on Giant City Road, west on Walnut Street, south through Today's Technology's parking lot to the Super Block Recreation Fields, west toward Lewis Lane through the Super Block, south on Lewis Lane, east on Grand Avenue, and around the Brehm campus and Walking Trail to end up back at the Student Activities Center.

Below is a list of the Top 10 runners:

James Wooldridge - 18:42
John Reed - 21:33
Chris Schroeder - 25:24
Austin Wielansky - 27:36
Jensen Venskus - 30:10
Jeff Vincent - 31:26
Allison Wooldridge - 32:22
Paul C. Peter - 33:00
Dr. Richard Collins - 34:00
David Schroeder - 34:00

Great turnout for College Fair

2010-11-10T16:02:00.003-06:00

Brehm School held a College Fair during Parent and Family Weekend from 5-7pm on Friday, November 5, and from 9am-noon on Saturday, November 6, in the gymnasium of the Student Activities Center.

The following colleges participated in the event:

Lee University, who provides extra assistance for students with learning disabilities, including extra time on tests, tutors and other forms of assistance.
Beacon College, who offers A.A. and B.A. degrees exclusively for students with documented learning disabilities. Recognizing that individuals learn at different rates and in different ways, Beacon College provides quality educational and social experiences that value diversity, ensure student engagement, cultivate critical thinking skills and intellectual curiosity, and develop employment potential.
Augsburg College's CLASS (Center for Learning and Adaptive Student Services), which illustrates its commitment to student success at Augsburg College by providing those academic services needed to accommodate individuals with learning, attentional, psychiatric, or other cognitive disabilities. The foundation of CLASS, however, is deeply rooted in the promotion of student independence and the personal realization of one's full potential.
Mitchell College's Learning Resource Center, which is a full-service, comprehensive academic support program for students with learning disabilities/ADHD. It offers three levels of support services: Comprehensive Support (Level I); Enhanced Support (Level II); and Entitled Support (Level III). Level I and Level II supports are a fee for service basis and are available to students with documented learning disabilities/ADHD.
OPTIONS Program at Brehm, which is a comprehensive transitional boarding program for post-secondary students with complex learning disabilities, attention disorders and/or executive functioning deficits. OPTIONS is a holistic program offering instruction and assistance for students who need to further develop the independent living, social, employment and academic skills necessary to live more independently.
St. Louis Life, which offers a variety of structured activities that include employment, social activities, continuing education, daily exercise, recreation and health-conscious meal planning. Our goal is to help the residents lead fulfilling, independent lives of work, friendship and accomplishment.
PACE at National-Louis University is a two-year, post-secondary certificate program for students with multiple learning disabilities and non-verbal learning disabilities. PACE works with the whole student in the areas of vocational training, academics, life skills and social. National-Louis also offers a dual enrollment program for the "collegeable" student.
Vincennes University's STEP program is an intensive academic support program providing comprehensive services for learning disabled students in the university mainstream. STEP is designed to help students be more successful in their college courses. Student strengths, rather than deficits, are the emphasis. Compensatory techniques, rather than remediation, are the thrust.

For more information about the College Fair, contact Dalus Kulich, Coordinator of Communications, at dkulich@brehm.org.

Happy Halloween from Brehm

2010-11-01T10:33:00.002-05:00

Brehm students, faculty and staff celebrated Halloween early on Friday, October 29, by dressing up in costume.

Happy Halloween from everyone at Brehm Preparatory School!

Inaugural BPA 5K Walk/Run to be held November 7

2010-10-28T17:04:00.003-05:00

Brehm Parents Association is planning a 5K Walk/Run for Sunday, November 7 to wrap up Fall Parent and Family Weekend. The race will begin at 9 a.m. in front of the Student Activities Center.

“We have more than 20 students who are running in the mornings before school, so, as a way to end a great weekend, we wanted to have the parents show our children support for taking action on their health,” said Maureen Wielansky, BPA President. “We hope it will give families time to bond with their children before they leave for home.”

Maureen said she hopes the 5K Walk/Run will be an annual event.

“I can see this as a great fundraiser for the school,” she said. “We could open it to the community, have sponsors and sell t-shirts.”

Maureen said she will participate in the 5K Walk/Run this year.

“I have participated in numerous 5Ks, and I love the length – not too long or too short,” she said. “Races are a great way to learn how to compete against yourself, so instead of the kids trying to beat someone else, they become more dedicated to self-improvement.”

All students, parents, family members, staff and faculty are invited to participate in the inaugural BPA 5K Walk/Run.

To sign-up, please e-mail Dalus Kulich, Coordinator of Communications at Brehm, at dkulich@brehm.org or call (618) 457-0371 ext. 1309.

There is no cost to participate in this year’s 5K event, however, to purchase a long-sleeve t-shirt commemorating the event, the cost is $8 to be paid prior to the race. Please make checks payable to Brehm Preparatory School.

Brehm students attend Halloween Dance

2010-10-28T13:44:00.004-05:00

Brehm Student Council sponsored a Halloween Dance for all students on Wednesday evening.

The dance began at 7 p.m. in the Student Activities Center gymnasium.

Students, staff and faculty dance the night away in costume to music chosen by the Student Council.

The dance was the final event in the Student Council's "Horror Wednesdays" series. The first event was a showing of the classic "Psycho" on October 13. On October 20, the students watched "Poltergeist."

Students celebrate Halloween early

2010-10-27T11:50:00.002-05:00

Students donned their costumes today during school in honor of the Costume Party and Dance they will have tonight, beginning at 7 p.m.

The Brehm Student Council is putting on the party and dance for their fellow students at the Student Activities Center.

Brehm participates in For Kids' Sake fundraiser

2010-10-22T13:59:00.002-05:00

This fall, Brehm participated in the For Kids' Sake fundraiser.

For Kids' Sake is a comprehensive fundraising program that supports orphanages and schools in Bangladesh.

From October 6-15, Brehm students collected spare change for the fundraiser, which helps more than 3,000 school children and orphans Bangladesh.

Another way Brehm students are helping their peers in Bangladesh is by participating in the 11th annual For Kids' Sake Art Show and Silent Auction. Brehm has been participating in this event since 2000.

This heart-warming event auctions children's artwork from Southern Illinois and Bangladesh, and all of the proceeds go to support the Bangladeshi children.

This year, the Art Show will be on display from November 12 - December 10 at nine local businesses, including: Longbranch Coffeehouse, White and Borgognoni, Thai Taste, Global Gourmet, Arthur Agency, Town Square market, Hair Brains, Harbaughs' and Tres Hombres.

For more information, visit www.forkidssake.net.

Brehm soccer players face off against faculty

2010-10-20T08:43:00.002-05:00

The Brehm soccer team ended their season with a match against faculty recently.

Staff and students filled the sidelines to cheer each side on during the afternoon match.

The faculty took the early lead with a 2-0 score, but the student soccer team quickly rallied back with two consecutive goals to tie it up, 2-2, by halftime.

Faculty scored two goals in the second half to clinch the 4-2 win.

Brehm students 'walk where Lincoln walked'

2010-10-19T10:10:00.008-05:00

On October 16-17, Lance Williams' US History and Government classes traveled to Springfield, IL, on a two-day field trip to "Walk Where Lincoln Walked."

The field trip was part of the classes' "Lincoln Research Project," and helped students learn more about our nation's 16th president and do on-site research for their research project.

"This field trip is the beginning of what will become my classes' 'Lincoln Research Project,' which will continue throughout the year and culminate in a student-made documentary on our 16th President," Lance said. "The field trip allowed students a hands-on, on-site experience of the life of Abraham Lincoln. The students had a blast, and I believe we got some history buffs out of the trip."

The field trip consisted of a visit to:

New Salem, IL
the Lincoln Home
the Old State Capitol
the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
the Lincoln Tomb

"We were the last tour at the Lincoln Tomb, and being so, the students were asked if they wanted to help fold the flags in front of the tomb!" said Lance. "It was quite a cool experience for the students."

Students attend Civil War Days

2010-10-19T09:35:00.003-05:00

Brad Siemer's U.S. History class at Brehm School attended the sixth annual Civil War Days at John A. Logan College recently.

The students listened to Barry Hancock, associate dean for community education at John A. Logan College and Michael Jones from the John A. Logan Museum, who spoke about John A. Logan and Southern Illinois during the Civil War.

Students also visited several "stations" at the event, including:

Civil War Medical Doctor
Life of a Civil War Soldier
Firing of Cannon
Robert E. Lee
Southern Flags
Civil War Re-enactors
Members of the 31st Illinois Volunteer Infantry
Lincoln Impersonator
Women in the Civil War

The keynote speaker, Donald T. Phillips, also addressed the students. Phillips is the best-selling author of major works of nonfiction, including Lincoln on Leadership, The Founding Fathers On Leadership and Martin Luther King Jr. On Leadership.

"The students and I enjoy Civil War Days at John A. Logan College because we both can learn through the living history experience while in an exciting environment," said Brad.

The Civil War Days event was held from 9a.m.-2p.m.

Paintball team prepares for battle

2010-10-19T09:18:00.002-05:00

The Brehm Paintball Team spent many hours this weekend preparing for an upcoming battle - "The Zombie Conflict."

"The Zombie Conflict" will take place October 23-24 at Bailey's Battlefield in Niangua, Missouri.

Also, a Paintball Team presentation will take place during Fall Parent and Family Weekend on Saturday, November 6 from 3:30 to 4:30pm at the Paintball Field at Brehm.

Place your orders now for BPA fundraiser

2010-10-19T08:18:00.004-05:00

The Brehm Parents Association fundraiser is coming to a close in November, so orders need to be placed soon.

The BPA is utilizing Innisbrook to raise funds. Innisbrook offers:

Designer gift wrap printed on recycled paper
Gift wrapping accessories
Chocolates
Candy
Candles
Magazine subscriptions
Soup mixes
Kitchen utensils
Gift items
Makeup
Much more

"I love the quality of the gift wrapping paper at Innisbrook," said Maureen Wielansky, BPA President. "It is durable, easy to maneuver and plentiful, plus they always have beautiful styles. Some papers are even reversible. It is the only paper I will use."

To support the BPA through their Innisbrook fundraiser, log onto www.innisbrook.com and enter Brehm's school code - 104400. Innisbrook will credit the school with a contribution of 40 percent of your total product cost. Products you order will ship directly to you (or wherever you'd like it to be sent).

The Innisbrook fundraiser will be available 24/7 until the middle of November.

For more information, please contact Dalus Kulich, Coordinator of Communications at Brehm, at dkulich@brehm.org or visit bpa.groupsite.com.

Brehm soccer team wraps up season

2010-10-14T09:27:00.002-05:00

The Brehm soccer team wrapped up another spectacular season this week.

Highlights include winning the match with Westwood Baptist of Poplar Bluff, Mo. 4-0 on October 7 and having a terrific season that included hard work and practice, but also a lot of camaraderie and fun times.

BPA creates Groupsite page

2010-10-13T16:20:00.003-05:00

The Brehm Parents Association would like to invite you to be a part of their online networking group - bpa.groupsite.com.

BPA President Maureen Wielansky started the site.

“We wanted to have a place where parents could connect, share resources and support each other,” Maureen said. “Groupsite is great for e-mailing everyone when you have a question as well as sharing a resource, such as a great Web site. It is also a place where the BPA can keep parents in the loop.”

There are currently 40 members of the BPA’s Groupsite.

“Right now, we are working on getting all the parents to sign into our Groupsite; we only have about 20 percent of our parents signed up, so our communication has been limited,” Maureen said. “We are starting our preparations for Parents’ Weekend, such as staff appreciation, social events and our upcoming race on the Sunday morning of Parents Weekend, so it is essential to have as many of our parents as possible participating in these conversations.”

Maureen said that overall BPA participation has been high, and she is hoping that the Groupsite will keep the momentum going.

“Many parents have signed up and are willing to help, we just want to make sure we are in communication so that is why the parents need to opt into our Groupsite,” she said.

The Groupsite contains a group calendar, discussion boards, profiles of members, file storage, photo galleries and more for members. If you are interested in joining, please visit bpa.groupsite.com or e-mail Dalus Kulich, Brehm Coordinator of Communications, at dkulich@brehm.org.

OPTIONS students celebrate diversity

2010-10-13T10:37:00.002-05:00

OPTIONS students explore cultures through cuisine every Wednesday evening. This past Wednesday, students enjoyed "American BBQ."

Culinary Diversity Night is a themed dinner where each standard apartment prepares a complex dish from various cultures. Two of the apartments host the dinners. The recipes are predetermined by staff and given to students during meal preparation.

Culinary Diversity Night began this school year on September 1 with a "Hawaiian Luau" theme, followed by:

"Into the Garden" on September 8
"Greek Toga Party" on September 15
Spanish Tapas on September 22
Swiss Fondue on September 29

Students prep the food on Tuesday evening and cook on Wednesday.

The "American BBQ" menu included:

Honey BBQ Chicken
BBQ Short Ribs
Marinated pork chops
Fresh homemade pineapple salsa
Mesquite BBQ Beans
Sweet and Spicy Coleslaw
Crusty Cornbread
Fried Apple Pie a la mode
Homemade Ice Tea

"It is necessary for us to have prep work on Tuesdays to allow our students to see the time and effort needed to make a meal of this size. This, in turn, allows them to have an appreciation for their specific menu item and enjoy the entire culinary experience," said Jeff Vincent, Independent Living Counselor at OPTIONS. "Culinary Diversity Nights are themed to allow students to explore, prep and cook specific ethnic/American cuisines. Every week students have a specific recipe that breaks down which apartment will have the main entree, side item, dessert and beverage.

"Our students have been amazing in their participation this year and will continue working each week on complex themes and recipes throughout the year."

OPTIONS (Optimizing Potential Through Individualized, On-going, Nurtured Successes) Program at Brehm is a comprehensive transitional program for students with learning disabilities who have graduated from high school, earned their GED, or who have chosen to defer graduation in order to participate in a transitional program.

Brehm to host Harvard's 2010 Dyslexia Foundation Teleconference

2010-10-07T11:05:00.002-05:00

On Friday, October 15, 2010, Brehm Preparatory School, one of the nation’s leading schools for children with learning disabilities, will host the 2010 Harvard Medical School 2010 Dyslexia Foundation Conference.

The videoconference will take place from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the Brehm Preparatory School Student Activities Center.

It is geared towards teachers and parents who want to hear the latest information on practical application and scientific foundations on literacy, reading and dyslexia.

This conference is eligible for Continuing Education credits. Forms will be available on-site.

The Dyslexia Foundation is sponsoring this yearly event. The title of this year’s conference is “A Recipe for Successful Teaching & Learning: Literacy, Reading, Dyslexia from Research to Practice.”

Topics covered will include: historical perspective of Dyslexia research, helping struggling readers achieve the highest levels of literacy, phonological awareness, practicing what research has proven, MRI studies and executive function and implications for reading, learner assessment and program evaluation.

The conference will take place at the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center Harvard Medical School, however Brehm Preparatory School will be the only satellite location in the Midwest that will be hosting live feeds directly from this Harvard event.

The fee to attend the teleconference is $20 for those who wish to eat lunch provided by Brehm or $15 for those not eating lunch provided by Brehm. There is an additional fee of $25 for those who wish to receive ASHA Continuing Education credits.

The Dyslexia Foundation’s mission is to promote scientific breakthroughs in the early detection, prevention and remediation of dyslexia and related reading difficulties; to disseminate new findings and deploy new evidence based approaches; and to prevent the suffering caused by reading failure and unlock the full potential of children and adults with dyslexia so that they may personally succeed and contribute to society.

Brehm Preparatory School is a 501 (C) (3) located in Carbondale, Ill. with a mission to empower students with complex learning disabilities to recognize and achieve their full potential.

Conference schedule

8:30-8:45 - Introduction
8:45-9:45 - Welcome and Brief Historical Perspective of Dyslexia Research
9:45-10:45 - Reading Research and Reading the Research: Helping Struggling Readers Achieve The Highest Levels of Literacy
10:45-11:15 - Break
11:15-12:15 - An Update on Research and Practice: Phonological Awareness, Reading and Literacy: Reading Achievement in Preschool Through Elementary
12:15-12:45 - 2010 TDF Award
12:45-1:45 - Lunch
1:45-2:45 - Practicing What Research Has Proven; Teaching Reading To Middle and High School Students
2:45-3:45 - What Else Can the Brain Tell Us? MRI Studies and Executive Function - Implications for Reading
3:45-4:15 - Closing Remarks
4:15-4:30 - Learner Assessment and Program Evaluation.

For more information or to attend this conference, contact Dalus Kulich, Coordinator of Communications at Brehm, at 618.457.0371 ext. 1309 or dkulich@brehm.org. Log on to www.dyslexiafoundation.org for a full conference schedule and list of speakers.

What is your communication style?

2010-10-07T08:30:00.004-05:00

Shown at the board is SLP Deb Browne.

Photo by Lara Mazzone.

Students in several social-pragmatic language groups brainstormed and identified their “communication styles” recently.

This activity helps students begin to see their behaviors from the outside, as others see them.

Each student either underlined or a drew a symbol by descriptors for the various ways they communicate and received careful feedback from Speech-Language Pathologists and other students.

Styles suggested ranged from more positive styles like open, honest, playful on the left, to the more negative styles of gruff, argumentative, and rigid on the right side. Guess which words represent your child’s style?

During group and individual sessions, we discussed what situations bring out the best and worst in us as well as what styles we like to be around. The activity lays a fun foundation for understanding the “impression making” concepts. Through impression-making work, students realize the “ongoing idea of them” in other people’s minds, and how the impressions get created by what they say, what they do, and how they look. This provides internal motivation for many behaviors we want to develop.

Goals related to impression making and perspective taking are part of the Brehm Speech-Language Department’s use of the “social thinking” curriculum developed by SLP Michelle Winner.

A typed list was provided as an accommodation for those with visual processing difficulties who might find the colorful writing too chaotic.

Paintball season underway

2010-09-27T09:19:00.002-05:00

The Brehm School Paintball Team spent the weekend training for their upcoming season.

Students set up camp later afternoon on Friday on Brehm’s campus. After going over the training schedule that evening, the students enjoyed a movie and then went “lights out.”

On Saturday, students had breakfast, a warm up and pep talk and broke into stations, which included “hand signals,” “bounding overwatch,” “crawling positions” and “executive functioning and paintball.”

Following a half-hour break, students broke into four more stations: “preemptive thinking,” “radio communications,” “woods walk/observation” and “tactical.”

Paintball team members enjoyed MREs (meals ready to eat) for lunch and broke into the last three stations for the day: “target practice,” “snap shooting,” “hasty attack” and “sliding.”

After practicing for a couple of hours, the students ate dinner and sat by the campfire before lights-out.

On Sunday, team members ate breakfast, broke into four more stations (“hasty ambush,” “follow the leader,” “zig zag” and “fugitive”), had lunch and put their skills to use in a two-hour long skirmish.

Student Council holds primary elections

2010-09-22T09:33:00.002-05:00

Campaign season for the Brehm School Student Council is in full swing.

The weather was warm and sunny as students gathered in the lawn of the amphitheater area behind the Student Activities Center for speeches given by the candidates for Vice President and President of the Student Council.

Following the speeches, primary elections were held to narrow down the field of candidates.

OPTIONS driver find success with music

2010-09-16T08:27:00.003-05:00

James Anderson, a driver for the OPTIONS (Optimizing Potential Through Individualized, On-going, Nurtured Successes) Program at Brehm School, has shared his love of music with Brehm students for years, and now he is sharing it with the world.

James is a member of the Gospel group “Rapture 7,” which is receiving national attention after one of the songs - "Somebody's Knockin'" - off their new album “Security” was featured on the season 3 finale of True Blood – a series on HBO.

“We are blessed to have our music used on such a popular series,” James said.

James said he uses music to connect with the children he transports at OPTIONS – a comprehensive transitional program for students with learning disabilities who have graduated from high school, earned their GED or who have chosen to defer graduation in order to participate in a transitional program.

“The students all have a love for music, and I love all genres of music, so we use music as a way to bond,” James said. “Through our love of music, we all share in a moment of listening enjoyment during our driving times.”

Rapture 7 members include:

James – keyboard, lead guitar, songwriter and recording engineer from Carbondale, IL
Warren Grigsby Jr – lead vocals, songwriter, and business manager from Marion, IL
Leo Wilson Jr. – bass player, songwriter, and recording engineer from Carbondale, IL
Shamar Jordan – keyboard from Centralia, IL Ed “Bam Bam” Baker – drums from Chicago, IL
Daryl Frazier – lead and background singer and songwriter from Carbondale, IL
Bobby Simon – lead and background singer, songwriter and equipment technician from Carbondale, IL
Darren Grigsby – background singer, back-up drummer and songwriter from Marion, IL
Carl Hughlett – lead vocals, background singer and songwriter from Carbondale, IL.

Cooking up fun on Wednesday afternoon

2010-09-15T15:14:00.002-05:00

Brehm School students cooked up a good time in Dorm 5 with some cooking lessons from Tamiko Foster, recreation staff worker.

Dorm 1 dresses in style

2010-09-15T08:26:00.002-05:00

There's no doubt that the students in Brehm School's Dorm 1 have style, and they showed it on Wednesday for their "Dress Up Day."

Rec activities keep campus hopping

2010-09-14T16:26:00.002-05:00

Students at Brehm School enjoyed the beautiful weather on Tuesday during their recreational activities.

Students could choose from flag football, walking, golf and swimming.

The recreation program is designed to encourage students to participate in structured activities that teach them new skills. Students have fun, develop balance in their social interactions, increase their self-esteem, gain new experiences, learn to plan and set goals, increase their awareness of leisure resources, and develop culturally and emotionally.

BPA Ambassador Program off to a great start

2010-09-10T13:43:00.006-05:00

The Brehm Parents Association’s Ambassador Program is off to a great start this school year. The program pairs family members of returning students with new student families. The “Ambassadors” answer questions about the Brehm experience and other questions that arise regarding Brehm and the Carbondale area.

“Parents who have had their children enrolled at Brehm volunteer to speak with new families about what to expect at Brehm and to address any concerns that new parents may have,” said Diane Field, BPA member. “We all understand how difficult of a decision it is to send our children away when they are still so young. By speaking with someone who has already done it, it is hoped that new parents will feel less anxious about their decision.

“It is also a chance for new parents to ask questions that they might not want to ask the administration,” Diane continued. “For example, new parents may want to know how van runs work and what types of activities our children participated in during that time. Or they may want to ask, ‘What type of clothes should a new student bring with them?’ ‘How is the food?’ Anything that new parents want to know about, our Ambassadors are happy to discuss.”

Diane said she remembers how the Ambassador Program helped her when she was a new Brehm parent.

“Hearing a friendly voice reassuring me that things were going to be fine, really helped me get over my fears of sending my son away to Brehm,” Diane said. “Plus, I learned some valuable information about how most of the students from Chicago take the Amtrak together from Carbondale to Chicago over Thanksgiving - how they stick together during the trip, with the older ones looking after the younger ones. I would never have considered letting my son take the Amtrak when he was a freshman until I heard that from my Ambassador. It’s been a great experience for Andrew and hearing this from another parent gave me the courage to let him take this big step toward independence. This type of information you only learn from other parents.”

Maureen Wielansky, BPA President, remembers her Ambassadors.

“We had the sweetest and most patient family,” Maureen said. “We sat on the phone for an hour asking questions and they answered every one of them. We also talked at Move-in Weekend and they checked-in with us throughout the year.”

Diane said that the BPA’s Ambassador Program serves “as the parent-to-parent welcome wagon.”

“It is hoped that the Ambassador Program provides the reassurance to parents who are sending their children away to a boarding school for the first time, that their children will be safe, well cared for by a remarkably devoted staff and that their children will be challenged academically, socially and emotionally,” Diane said.

Diane’s advice to new parents: “Know that there will always be someone at Brehm, including Ambassadors, who will be available to help you. And, try not to dwell too much on how much you will miss your child!”

Maureen’s advice: “Talk to your dorm parents. Keep in contact with your Ambassador. Contact the BPA if you need any help. And, remember that the Brehm staff is top-notch, so the kids are safe and will be fine.”

Rep. Shimkus tours Brehm School

2010-09-09T10:11:00.002-05:00

Congressman John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, toured the Brehm School campus on Wednesday, September 8.

Rep. Shimkus met with Dr. Richard Collins, Executive Director of Brehm; Stacy Tate, Chair of the Brehm Board of Trustees; Russell Williams, Coordinator of Development at Brehm; Walt Tomczak, Chief Administrative Officer at Brehm; and Dalus Kulich, Coordinator of Communications at Brehm.

Following a tour of the campus, Rep. Shimkus spoke to faculty and staff in the Student Activities Center.

Chores without tears: Working SMART

2010-09-07T14:23:00.003-05:00

By Brad Sims, M.S., CCC-SLP, is the Coordinator of Speech-Language Pathology, Brehm School

Under optimal conditions, getting an adolescent to do household chores can be . . . well, a chore. It may even be a responsibility many of us have come to avoid as much as our little darlings would like to avoid whatever job we assign to them. We know that having our children share in household tasks is a good idea, but does the game plan need to change if your child struggles with learning, psychological, or attentional challenges? If you are questioning whether the benefit is worth the effort, read on. While the suggestions that follow may be applied by anyone teaching any adolescent to do household tasks, they are particularly important for helping adolescents struggling with more complex issues. Let’s work SMART!

Show and tell the process. A direction to “sweep the garage” or “clean your room” is never enough. Teach each task step-by-step. Think out loud as you demonstrate so the process is clear. Explain what you are doing and why you are doing it while you are doing it; do not assume your child already has that knowledge. Consider printing step instructions; make a mnemonic (like SMART) even supplement with “before and after” photos for comparison if that is helpful. The best way to teach the task depends upon the specific learning needs of the individual. While one may learn best by seeing the task modeled, another may benefit much more from verbal rehearsal of the steps involved.

Motivate for success. Motivation can be suppressed by a sense of impending failure: “I can’t do this.” “I don’t know how.” “It’s going to take me all day.” It is important to know your child’s abilities and make sure the task is appropriate. As you reinforce the value of the work to the family, guarantee your guidance when needed to ensure success and efficiency. Recognize initial effort and successive approximations on the road to mastery.

Allocate time for work. Consider being flexible with task time to adapt to schedule changes or important events, but the general rule of “work before free time” should prevail. Recognize that just because your child can tell time does not mean he has a notion of how long a given period of time is. Build time awareness by making a game out of estimating the length of time for each task completed to expectations. (Each write down a time estimate; compare at task’s end to see who is closest to the actual estimate. See who can come closest to telling when one minute, three minutes, or five minutes has elapsed.)

Reward your worker. Keep the experience positive, not punitive. Award points toward a reward when tasks are completed willingly, promptly and correctly. Rewards should be tangible, e.g. extra computer time, allowance, etc. For adolescents who have problems with sustained attention, distractibility or impulse control consider chunking tasks and rewarding completion of each chunk to ensure successful completion. When consistently successful at that level, combine chunks into the complete task.

Teach new tasks. As a task is mastered, introduce a new one. Switching tasks helps fight the tedium of always doing the same job; it adds variety and teaches new skill sets. As new skills are acquired, more complex tasks are possible requiring more responsibility and bringing a greater sense of accomplishment and independence.

As a final note--start early! Very young children love to be helpers. The experience of doing chores helps to build skills of time management, organization, prioritization, and problem-solving. It provides a context for developing a work ethic, self-discipline, and a sense of community and shared responsibility--all components crucial to the development of independent living skills. Because we are talking about something that is not only a skill set, but a mind set, we must be clear to our children early on that we value their participation in the work of the home.

M. Brad Sims, M.S., CCC-SLP, is the Coordinator of Speech-Language Pathology at Brehm School. Brad Sims brings six years of experience as a teacher of students with special needs and another 21 years as a speech-language pathologist. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences. Brad’s breadth of experience includes teaching and curriculum design, consulting, and diagnostic and therapy services in public and private schools, hospitals, rehabilitation programs, and private practice settings.

Find all "Brehm School Experts" articles here.

Students visit Giant City State Park

2010-09-03T14:51:00.003-05:00

Brehm Preparatory School students enjoyed the beautiful weather during a trip to Giant City State Park on Friday.

Surrounded by the park's spectacular natural splendor and infinite outdoor recreational opportunities, the students, faculty and staff wrapped up the first week of school with a great time in the great outdoors.

Faculty wrap up week-long teaching strategies program

2010-09-03T09:23:00.005-05:00

Faculty at Brehm School are wrapping up a week-long program on practical classroom and direct teaching strategies by Education Consultation of the Midwest, Inc.

C. Wilson Anderson Jr., MAT, President of Education Consultants of the Midwest, Inc., taught the program using the Orton-Gillingham Approach.

According to Wilson, the Orton Gillingham approach “grew out of the work of Dr. Samuel T. Orton and Anna Gillingham. Dr. Orton, a professor of neuropsychiatry and neuropathology at the Neurological Institute of Columbia University, was a pioneer in focusing attention on language differences by bringing together neuropsychiatric information and principals of remediation.

“The structure of the approach often helps to organize the student's general ways of learning and working ... This approach can be valuable to any child. To the dyslexic child it is often essential.”

The faculty participated in three separate programs this week:

Students participate in team building activities

2010-09-01T16:44:00.005-05:00

Orientation Week activities

The Student Activities Center at Brehm was alive with activity today. Students participated numerous exciting activities designed to encourage a sense of community among all of the students during Orientation Week.

Faculty and staff also participated by supervising, motivating, and assigning tasks, however students were asked to do the work in each activity.

The activities included:

Calculating the wing span of students combined
Perform forearm planks for 30 seconds
Bus push

Brehm Food Service staff focus on students' wellbeing

2010-09-01T12:40:00.004-05:00

To Claudia Glasnovich, the Aramark Food Service Director at Brehm, and the other Food Service staff members, Brehm students are their main focus.

“At the center of everyday responsibilities and fiscal realities, there is one focus that drives you – the wellbeing of your children. That focus drives us, too,” Claudia said. “We focus on nurturing the overall wellbeing and growth of Brehm’s students.”

Food service staff members include Angela Childer, lead cook; Katie Tomczak, salad prep; Tyler Palmer, cook; Jeff Fairbanks, cook; Elzie Hudspeth, cook; and Savannah Gallon, salad prep.

“We understand that good nutrition is essential for sound academic achievement and the long-term health of our nation’s students,” Claudia said. “At Brehm, we are constantly promoting healthy eating, physical activity and healthy choices to our students.”

Food Service staff also focus on Brehm employees and the larger Brehm community. Claudia said that she and her staff have provided services during countless activities at Brehm, including teacher workshops, Move-in Weekend, Parents Weekend, conferences, meetings, and more.

“We work to strengthen the bond between Brehm School and its far-reaching community,” Claudia said.

Brehm’s Food Service department’s Top Ten Nutrition Commitments:

Serve nutritious menus that exceed current USDA requirements for all students (including those with special dietary needs)
Offer foods that are rich in key nutrients: whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and low or non fat dairy products
Serve high-quality, safe foods that have no added trans fats and are low in total fat, salt and sugar
Promote breakfast participation and expand availability
Offer healthy, nutrient dense snacks
Source high-quality, environmentally responsible, local produce and products
Enable healthy lifestyles through nutrition awareness and education
Create a healthy school environment -- composting, recycling, green cleaning
Advance employee knowledge and sensitivity to health and wellness education
Provide legislative advocacy on behalf of students

Brehm junior recognized for volunteering

2010-09-01T08:23:00.004-05:00

Matt (center) is seated with his parents, David and Melissa.

Matt, a junior at Brehm School, spent time this summer volunteering in the Fairfax County Virginia Therapeutic Recreation Services summer camps.

These camps offer children with disabilities a fun summer experience in a safe environment. The program included field trips, games, crafts, special events and the opportunity to build lasting friendships.

Matt supported both the counselors and the campers and did such a great job that he was given the “Volunteer of the Summer Award” in appreciation for “dedicated services and commitment rendered to improve the quality of life for individuals and disabilities.”

Congratulations, Matt!

School year begins at Brehm!

2010-08-31T15:32:00.005-05:00

Move-in Weekend at Brehm School went off without a hitch this past weekend. And students attended their first full day of school on Monday.

Faculty and staff say things are going smoothly as students dive into another school year.

Brehm Parents Association readies for a new school year

2010-08-28T16:27:00.001-05:00

The school year is about to begin at Brehm School, and the Brehm Parents Association is working hard to ensure the organization builds upon years past to serve as a voice for parents to help each other and help the school.

“The BPA’s goals are to support the parents with the challenges of raising a child with complex learning disabilities while supporting their children,” said Maureen Wielansky, BPA president. “The way we do that is to raise money for activities and items.”

Diane Field, BPA member, said the overall goal of the BPA was to “foster a sense of community amongst the parents.”

“Our parents come from all over the country and many parts of the world. We all share this experience of sending our children away to Brehm, and through the BPA, we can share information about the experience,” Diane said. “This is also our way to become involved with the Brehm community, and work with the administration and teachers to achieve the goals that we have for our children.”

The BPA is about supporting families and staff, Maureen said.

“The BPA would like to give ongoing support to families by providing recourse and facilitating connection throughout the entire year. This connection will further enhance our experience at Move-in Weekend, Parent and Family Weekend, and Graduation,” Maureen said. “Also, the BPA supports the staff by enhancing their jobs. We raise money for equipment and activities that also further the staff’s experience at Brehm. Our staff is top-notch and need our support. We give gifts to the staff and provide meals during the year.”

To Diane, the BPA provides parents and families a way to share their children’s experiences.

“If a common theme develops, then together, as a group, we can approach the administration and open a dialogue. The administration has always been open to hearing from parents and receptive to our ideas,” Diane said. “For instance, the College Fair, that happens over the Fall Parent and Family Weekend, came about as a result of this type of cooperative relationship.”

Maureen said her term as president of the BPA has given her the chance to pay back what the BPA has done for her.

“Brehm has given our family something we didn’t see possible; a high school experience in a safe environment, where our son can grow while maximizing on his strengths,” Maureen said. “In any other school, he would have been a number. But, at Brehm, they treat him like a rock star, and he is safe and that combination is worth every cent!”

Maureen encouraged all parents at Brehm to keep the lines of communication open with other parents and the staff and faculty at Brehm.

“As parents of children with complex learning disabilities, we have suffered in silence until we came to Brehm. We want for our parents what Brehm gives to our children – connection, community and support,” Maureen said. “Transition out of secondary school is scary, and we need each other. We want to create a forum where parents can post resources that they find useful, be able to ask for support and to get to know each other, so when we see each other in person, an instant bond is formed.”

Parents of Brehm students are automatically members of the BPA. However, parents who are wishing to play a more active role in the BPA may want to become BPA board members.

“We desperately need board members. Right now, Diane and myself comprise the executive board,” Maureen said. “In addition, this is Diane’s last year at Brehm and my second to last year, so we need parents who are ready to carry on the tradition of the BPA.”

If you are interested in learning more about the BPA, Maureen and Diane will have an exhibit at Move-in Weekend.

“We look forward to meeting and welcoming new students and parents at Brehm,” Diane said.

Helping your child read more fluently

2010-08-25T08:44:00.010-05:00

By Terri Douglas, Coordinator of Educational Services, Brehm School

Reading fluency has a strong correlation to reading comprehension, according to the National Reading Panel report in 2000. If your child is not reading fluently, they may have trouble with reading quickly enough.

Ask yourself these questions about your child:

Are they pausing to sound out each word or three or more words in each sentence?
Are they having trouble pronouncing the words correctly, or adding, deleting, and/or substituting words?
Do you notice a lack of inflection and expression where needed?
Are they not pausing at key points and punctuation?
Do they not have a cadence to their reading?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, then your child may not be a fluent reader. Fluency is what allows decoders to become readers for meaning.

Here are some strategies to help improve your child’s reading fluency:

Like a bird I sing. Songs have a natural cadence and inflection to them. If your child has a favorite song, then print out the lyrics and read them together. Just like practicing a song, the lyrics may need to be read several times. Get the whole family involved for a grand production. Try writing your own lyrics as well. Poetry is also excellent for fluency.
To be or not to be. Reading plays is another good way to practice fluency. Again, plays require practice, focus, and timing, and the key is to do this with the child. Get others involved.
You’re cooking now! The reading of recipes allows for short passages with natural pauses that create emphasis and meaning. Always read the directions together first, and talk about the sequence and order. More importantly, it is fun and gives a purpose to reading. This is true of using all directions. So if you don’t like to cook, then build something. Try having the child dictate his or her directions on how to do something and then practice reading the directions back to you.
Using a software program that can read to your child (optical character recognition) can be helpful. Most of these programs will highlight the sentence being read, and some may put the sentence in one color and the word in another color. This helps with focus and tracking. Most programs allow the number of words read per minute to be adjusted. Read the passage together a couple of times and then set the words where the student can read aloud with the program comfortably. Set goals or play games to increase the speed. For the parent, one goal might be to improve by 10 words per minute, while a goal for the child might be to improve by 1 word per minute. The idea is to keep moving up. One word per minute over the course of a week is a good goal. This approach will not help with inflection, but it is a fun way to address speed. Children respond well to computers.
Neurological impress is when an adult sits next to the student and whispers the text into the child’s ear while the child reads from the same text. This can help with inflection and pauses that help provide meaning to the reading.
Have fun! Read to your child, listen to books on CD, and listen to your child read. The more exposure and interaction with reading, the better reader your child will become. How your child feels about reading is hugely important.

Terri Douglas is the Coordinator of Educational Services at Brehm. She has worked in the education field for more than 20 years. A native of Nebraska, she received her Bachelor of Science degree from Hastings College in Elementary Education and Special Education. As a member of the Carbondale community, she earned a Master’s Degree in Education and is currently working on a second Master’s Degree in Administration from Southern Illinois University. Terri holds teaching certification as a Learning Behavior Specialist I, which qualifies her to teach K-12 students. Additionally, she makes presentations regularly at local, state, and national conferences and workshops. In the year 2000, The Wal-Mart Foundation recognized Terri as Teacher of the Year.

Find all "Brehm School Experts" articles here.

Megahurts brochure available on-line!

2010-08-24T11:06:00.003-05:00

The Brehm Robotics Megahurts #2219 information brochure is now available on the Brehm Web site.

The brochure contains information about the Megahurts community, their vision and history, and how to become a supporter.

The Megahurts joined FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 2006 to inspire students in Southern Illinois to pursue careers in science related fields. The program has become an integral part of Brehm School and has been a motivating force for students.

For more information about Megahurts, view the brochure, follow them online on Twitter at twitter.com/megahurts2219 or www.megahurts2219.com, or contact Joe Viscomi at 618.457.0371 or teammegahurts@megahurts2219.com.

OPTIONS Program underway

2010-08-20T14:13:00.004-05:00

OPTIONS students wrap up orientation with a

lunch from Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches.

The 2010-2011 school year at the OPTIONS (Optimizing Potential Through Individualized, On-going, Nurtured Successes) Program at Brehm is underway. And, staff and faculty treated the OPTIONS students to subs and other goodies from Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches in Carbondale on the last day of orientation.

“We wanted to do something for our students before jumping into the school year,” said Char Reed, OPTIONS coordinator. “And, Jimmy John’s is a student favorite."

Regular classes at OPTIONS begin August 19 for the program’s 36 students – its largest enrollment to date.

“The start of the new term is hectic and nerve-racking. The lunch is an opportunity for all of us to slow down, enjoy one another’s company and recharge to start the year strong,” Char said.

2010-2011 Student Handbook available on-line!

2010-08-16T13:25:00.004-05:00

The 2010-2011 Brehm School Student Handbook is now available on the school's Web site.

The purpose of this handbook is to provide our students with useful information that will help them easily navigate through their time at Brehm School.

The Handbook contains information such as:

School Calendar

Academic Schedule

Grading System

Dorm Expectations

Student Clubs and Organizations

Dress Code and much more.

Each student is expected to read the Brehm School Student Handbook carefully.

Contact dkulich@brehm.org to receive a password for this password-protected document.

Parent-to-Parent Survival Guide available on-line!

2010-08-16T10:50:00.004-05:00

The 2010-2011 Brehm School Parent-to-Parent Survival Guide is now available on the Brehm Web site.

Brehm Preparatory School takes great pride in its “family model” concept of support. When a student enrolls at Brehm, his or her parents, siblings and grandparents are also embraced as part of the extended family. Although Brehm’s overriding responsibility is to its students, family support is a crucial component of its mission.

With that in mind, we are pleased to offer the Parent-to-Parent Survival Guide for your use as a navigational tool. It is written by parents, for parents, to help you and your child make the transition to life at Brehm. We know it will prove useful in helping you understand the organizational and operational aspects of Brehm.

Contact dkulich@brehm.org to receive a password for this password-protected document.

2010-08-12T16:55:00.006-05:00

Work is underway for a walking trail at Brehm Preparatory School. And, by the time students return to Brehm at the end of August, the trail is expected to be completed.

The first phase of the Walking Trail project includes a 1/3- mile track around the Brehm Pond. Future plans include building a longer trail around the 26-acre field on the back part of the Brehm campus.

“The Walking Trail is part of our Healthy Lifestyle Program to give students and staff options for getting exercise on campus,” said Walt Tomczak, chief administrative officer at Brehm. “The Healthy Lifestyle Program gives Brehm students and staff access to nutritional information as well as have the opportunity for physical activity to live an active and healthy lifestyle.”

A five-foot wide trail path has already been cut around the pond, and one layer of crushed gravel has been put down. After that layer is compacted, a topcoat of finer gravel will be added to complete the path.

The Walking Trail begins on the west side of the Brehm pond and wraps around the tranquil waters on the south side of the campus.

Other additions to the Walking Trail are in the works.

“We plan to put ten exercise stations around the trail,” Walt said. “Also, three small bridges need to be built along the trail, and trail signage needs to be installed.”

For more information, or if you would like to contribute toward the construction of one of these projects, or memorialize or honor a loved one in your family – maybe a student, alumni, parent or grandparent – by placing their name on a bronze dedication plaque at the project site, please contact Russell Williams, Coordinator of Development, at (618) 457-0371, ext. 1308 or send an e-mail to rwilliams@brehm.org.

Helping You and Your Child Express Feelings

2010-08-02T10:39:00.000-05:00

By Dr. Brian Brown, Associate Director, Brehm School.

There are times when each of us gets overwhelmed with our feelings, and as a result, we handle life situations less effectively. This can be particularly true when it comes to dealing with our own children because while we love them, they know all the right buttons to push to elicit emotional reactions from us. This issue is often pronounced within families where there are children with complex learning disabilities, ADHD issues, or other language-based difficulties. The complex learning issue can have a direct impact on all involved, especially when the child attempts to communicate feelings. There are a number of things families can do to help facilitate and navigate those moments when feelings are intense.

When someone is experiencing strong feelings, their ability to communicate clearly is often reduced. We have all walked away from an argument and later thought, “I should have said…” A child experiences the same thing, although that child’s ability to communicate feelings may be additionally impacted by a learning issue. As a result, our kids may act out their frustration, anger, hurt, or pain by raising their voice, using inappropriate language, slamming doors, name-calling, or a variety of other actions. This type of venting tends to be nonproductive and, of course, escalates the situation. Parents can help their children in these moments by redirecting them to use a specific communication model.

The use of the communication model: “I Feel…Because…I Want/Need…” can be particularly useful in providing a framework for both the child and the parent to follow. The process is simple but does a variety of sophisticated things to help kids and parents express their feelings. The model helps ground children temporally or across a sequence of time. For example, “I am angry” is present tense, what I am feeling currently in the here and now. “Because she is talking about me behind my back” is past tense, identifying what has occurred previously that resulted in my current feelings. In the “Because” step, we look for communication to be specific to behaviors or circumstances. The child or parent should not use descriptive words such as; “He is being a butt” or “She was acting like a witch.” Rather, they should focus on the behaviors of the event. The next step, “I want her to stop doing that and need someone to sit down and help me talk to her,” is future tense and focuses the individual on what must happen to move toward resolving the problem. The use of this model can open up more effective communication and provide a tool for parents and kids to fall back on in the heat of the moment.

The first step is to review the communication model with your child when things are going well and talk about using it to be heard when feelings are involved. As the parent, you need to utilize this communication process and model its use for your child. Practice by incorporating it in everyday situations with your child. For example: “Lisa, I’m getting frustrated because I have asked you three times to pick up your clothes in your room and bring them downstairs. I need you to stop your texting and go and pick up your clothes.” By doing this consistently, you demonstrate how to effectively use the process, even when the issues are routine. When your child’s emotions begin to escalate, prompt them to use the model by simply stating, “You feel…”, allow them to fill in the blank, and then prompt with, “Because…” Finally, prompt your child with “You want or need…” You will be surprised how this helps to structure your child’s communication and results in settling down the intensity of the feelings.

When your child uses the communication model, it’s important for you to paraphrase what you understood your child to have said. Paraphrasing is putting into your own words the meaning of what another has communicated. An example of paraphrasing may be: “So what I hear you saying, Michael, is that you are angry because your brother always gets to do what he wants to do first, and you want to have a chance to do something you want to do. Is that right?” Checking for accuracy in this way gives your child the opportunity to expand on his or her thoughts and feelings. It also allows your child to confirm that you understood. It can be very powerful for a child to know that they have been heard, and at times, this alone calms the intensity of the feelings in the moment.

While using the communication model takes some time and energy to master, the benefits received by all involved can be significant. Using the model in isolated instances will not produce the desired results, but integrating its use into the way the family communicates can lead to some wonderful changes. Parents need to tell their kids that it is normal to get frustrated, angry, hurt, or sad in life. But being able to share those feelings in a way that allows others to understand them is an important step in becoming an adult and, ultimately, in getting one’s needs met.

Dr. Brian is the Associate Director of Brehm School in Carbondale, Illinois. Dr. Brown has 22 years of experience working with students who have complex learning difficulties and other co-morbid related issues. Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D in Educational Psychology in Counseling, is a Licensed Social Worker, and holds a School Social Work Certification. He serves on the Illinois North Central Association State Board and has received the Southern Illinois University Alumnus of the Year Award from the School of Social Work.

Find all "Brehm School Experts" articles here.

Brehm's Annual Giving Campaign a success!

2010-07-28T10:20:00.005-05:00

Thank you!

We would like to thank the hundreds of alumni, parents, grandparents, friends, corporations and foundations who helped us reach our goal of $300,000 during the Brehm 2009-2010 Annual Giving Campaign.

We've already started the 2010-2011 Annual Giving Campaign. Your donation makes our unique education possible. Annual Giving gifts help Brehm support a strong faculty, provide funds for student programs, improve our campus, and purchase equipment to meet our student educational and holistic challenges for the upcoming 2010-2011 school year.

Brehm Hosts SOAR Summer Program

2010-07-12T09:44:00.004-05:00

For the first time, this summer through August 17th, Brehm will be the host of a SOAR summer program. This 21-day program was designed to help students explore their own gifts and strengths, to develop life and social skills, to have fun and take advantage of the Southern Illinois region.

Students are able to participate in a wide variety of activities such as: woodworking, pottery, photography, arts & crafts, canoeing, paintball, fishing, sports and much more. The course also offers a service-learning component, allowing campers to give back to the community. On weekend, students capitalize on on Brehm's location by taking excursions to nearby St. Louis, Louisville and Chicago to theme parks, museums, zoos, planetariums and more.

Students practice archery on Brehm's campus.

SOAR participants were the first to use Brehm's

brand new sand volleyball court.

Students stop for a group shot at one of the many

hiking trails in the Carbondale region...

... along with a little exploring...

Another famous Carbondale landmark- Jeremy "Boo" Rochman Memorial Park

(more commonly known as Castle Park).

SOAR (success oriented achievement realized) is a accredited American Camp Association dedicated to serving youth with learning disabilities or AD/HD. It is a nationally recognized program that has successfully enriched the lives of young people for more than 30 years by placing special emphasis on providing each youth with opportunities to discover and develop his or her own learning abilities.

The next session begins July 18th. Those who are interested can contact Kylie Cyr, Admissions Counselor at admissions@soarnc.org or 828.456.3435.

A Letter from the Assistant Director of Admissions

2010-07-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

I would like to introduce myself as Brehm School's new Assistant Director of Admissions. In this position, I will be working closely with Donna Collins, Director of Admissions and Dr. Richard Collins, Executive Director.

For the last five years, I have been a part of the Brehm family, working as a substitute teacher, teacher's aide and transition specialist. Throughout this time I have seen Brehm's campus and student population grow, becoming more diverse and distinguished. As the Assistant Director of Admissions, I will be able to continue to see the growth of Brehm and our current and future students.

I look forward to moving forward with this coming school year and working one-on-one with new old old members of the Brehm family.

Until then, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Richard L. Ventura, M.S.

Assistant Director of Admissions

rventura@brehm.org

618.457.0371

Brehm Graduates Reflect and Give Thanks (3 of 3)

2010-07-01T05:51:00.004-05:00

“I have matured dramatically, become much more social, made better grades, felt better about myself and others, and learned to be more independent. If it weren’t for Brehm, I would be at the same maturity level as I was in public school…. For ten long years in public school, the teachers never even attempted to explain how to socialize or how to interact properly…. Brehm took me above and beyond by teaching me my own potential.”

– Jordan

“Brehm has taught me lifelong lessons. I’ve learned how to get rid of all of the prejudices that common people have and, instead, celebrate the differences among human beings. I’ve learned how to respect, love, and care with NO boundaries. I would like to thank Coach Aaron Lee for giving me the opportunity to be part of this family, for his love, support, patience, and leadership on and off the court. I would like to thank all of the teachers for their patience and availability in transmitting knowledge. I would also like to thank my advisor, Mrs. Marian Appiah-Kubi, for her endless love, kindness, respect, advice, and (over)care :-p. I would like to present my regards to Mr. Douglas, Mrs. Douglas, and Mrs. Amanda Clough for their undeniable support, love, and attention. I would like to give nursing and the kitchen staff a shout for their motherly love and for making sure that I was healthy and well-nourished. The final thanks goes to Dr. Collins for giving me the opportunity to take advantage of a great educational and social program which also helped me get a full ride scholarship to Vanderbilt University. I am incommensurably happy to say that I have accomplished my goals here at Brehm and that I am ready to face new challenges at the college level and be useful to society.”

– James

“I am so happy today because I am graduating, a feat I didn’t think possible just 9 months ago. A lot has changed in my time here. I have grown up a lot. There was a time last year when it appeared I would not make it and I would have to leave Brehm. But then maturity kicked in, and I changed my life forever. I took the help that was being offered to me. Here I am today graduating high school and moving onto higher education. The last few years have been filled with obstacles and a few great triumphs. I want to thank the following people for all of the time and effort they have invested in me: My dorm parents, Jason, Ed, Kristin, and Joe, for all of the times you talked with me and helped me figure out the big parts of my life. I want to thank my amazing advisor, Chrissy Strusz, who helped me apply for college…. You are awesome, and I cannot thank you enough. I want to thank my teachers, who made this such a great learning experience. I want to thank my amazing family for all of their love and support despite the odds against me. Mom, Julie, Dad, Gaga, and Grampy, thank you for everything you have done. Thank you to everyone who has made this process possible.”

– Daniel

“I would like to thank several people, some who were my teachers, and others who I met and got to know well. Each one has helped me become the man I am today. They showed me who I could be and helped me get there. Thanks to: Terri Douglas, Nancy Bagshaw, Judy Carter, Deb Browne, Shelly Greenball, Francine Clebowicz, and Joan, and all of my teachers. Each one of you has helped me individually to become more than I thought I could be. I would also especially like to thank my parents, who always believed in me and were the starting point of my success. Thank you all for seeing my talents and potential. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me such a bright future.”

– David

Memorialize or Honor a Loved One

2010-06-25T07:40:00.001-05:00

Help us reach our goal by June 30th and memorialize or honor a loved one.

Your donation makes our unique education possible. Annual Giving
gifts help Brehm support a strong faculty, provide funds for student
programs, improve our campus, and purchase equipment to meet
our students educational and holistic challenges.

Hundreds of donations have been made by alumni, parents, grandparents, friends, corporations, and foundations totaling over $275,000 during the 09-10 Annual Giving Campaign.

With only days left for this years annual campaign, we are less than $25,000 from our goal of $300,000!

We are currently developing plans for a walking trail on our campus. We also have plans for the construction of a labyrinth garden for the benefit of our students.

If you would like to contribute toward the construction of one of these projects we would like to memorialize or honor a loved one in your family -- maybe a student, alumni, parent or grandparent -- by placing their name on a bronze dedication plaque at the project sites. Donations or pledges toward these projects or other designated or undesignated gifts made before June 30th will help us reach our 09-10 Annual Giving goal.

For more information, please contact Russell Williams (see below.) Please consider making a contribution to Brehm today!:

Via Credit Card online now (click the donate button to the right.)
Phone Russell Williams, Brehm Coordinator of Development, at (618) 457-0371 ext 1308 (or email rwilliams@brehm.org)
Send a check or credit card information via US Mail to: Russell Williams, Coordinator of Development, Brehm Preparatory School, 1245 E. Grand Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901

Thank You!

Parent: Brehm School is a Life Changing Experience

2010-06-21T09:22:00.003-05:00

Another Proud Brehm Parent talks about how Brehm helped her son, who has learning disabilities. Brehm is a unique family style boarding school for students with complex learning disabilities, grades 6 through 12. Brehm's teaching staff has an average of 12 years of experience — specifically teaching students with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder.

Brehm students go on to college, find fulfilling careers and become successful entrepreneurs. Find out more at www.Brehm.org

Brehm Graduates Reflect and Give Thanks (2 of 3)

2010-06-17T08:57:00.004-05:00

“I want to thank Dr. Collins and Donna Collins who gave me a great experience that will stay with me forever. I want to thank my dorm parents, Ingrid and Jason. You guys have done everything for me here, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. I want to thank the other dorm parents and the teachers here for everything you have done. Thank you to Chrissy Strusz for helping me out with everything. You’re the best advisor I could ask for. I want to thank the recreation staff for driving me and the rest of the students to all the places we needed to be…. A big thanks to the students, friends, and peers at Brehm; without you all, Brehm wouldn’t be the same. Thank you to Miki; you are the greatest thing that has happened to me. Lastly, I want to thank my parents and my brother, Warren. Without you guys, I wouldn’t even be at Brehm. I love you, Mom and Dad. Thank you.”

– Eli

“When I came from Nigeria, I did not know what to expect from the people I was going to meet. But since I have been here, this has been a home away from home. Though it has not been easy, especially this year, with the help of the great people here, I have being able to overcome all obstacles. I want to say thank you to all of the staff and teachers. I know there is nothing I can do to repay everything they’ve done for me. May God bless you richly. To my coach and teammates, I have had a wonderful two years with you, and I have learned a lot from you…. I say a special thanks to Mr. Charlie, Brian Taylor, Mrs. Sabina, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas, Amanda, and Dr. Collins for all their help and support. I will miss Brehm. I know I have to move on, but every place my foot has tread upon and every student and staff member here at Brehm will always be in my heart, most especially James. Thanks, Brehm, for the great opportunity to be a better student, a better man, and a better basketball player.

– Daniel

“I would like to thank Amanda for helping guide me though my first year. I wouldn’t know what to do without her coming into my life. Next, I would like to make a big shout out to Dr. Brian Brown for being there for me when I needed him. Thanks to Pam Altman for scheduling the recreation on the weekends and during the week. I appreciate Mark Denzer for taking me on the SOAR Trip while he was here. Brian Taylor was awesome for spending the extra time at Long Branch with me his first year. I would especially like to thank Theresa Miller for problem-solving with me during some rough times and John Barnes for the support you have given. Now, I want to shout out to the faculty, especially Chrissy Strusz. Chrissy has taught me a lot about life and how to manage it and teaching me how to use the computer and camera. Chrissy has been a big inspiration to me…. Charlie Travelstead, John Bertsch, Mike Hosmon, and Bud Childers have been giving me a lot of advice and support throughout my time here. Finally, I want to thank Barb Drew for all of the support and aid she has given. And to Mike Hanson for teaching me new strategies in math…. I will miss you all, and I hope for the best of luck in your future. Thank you.”

– Steven

“I’m an outsider by choice, but not truly. It’s the unpleasantness of the system that keeps me out. I’d rather be in a good system. And that’s exactly what I got here at Brehm. If it hadn’t been for newfound friends and a plethora of fabulous teachers, two great parents, and most of all, a very caring brother, I most likely wouldn’t be here today. As far as teachers go, I really want to thank three of them: Mrs. Suzy Lanning-Ventura, Mr. Richard Ventura, and Lance Williams. Those teachers are the ones who helped me through the hard times in school. The friends I want to thank, some of whom are up here with me today, are Neil, Eli, Hillary, Anna, and especially Dan. These guys saw me through the hard times and were always there to help. I can’t thank them enough. My mother and father have been the driving force behind my time here at Brehm. I’d also like to thank my dorm parents, Jason, Ingrid, and all of the dorm assistants for their patience with me. But most of all, I need to extend a thanks to my little brother, Austen…. Things have been looking up steadily for me. Next year, I’m headed to a transition program in Buffalo, New York. And from there, it’s on to one of the best schools in the country, RIT, where I hope to bring out the best of myself and really push myself to the limits of what I can do with my designs. But if it hadn’t been for Brehm, none of this would have happened. And so now, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for your time, caring, and kindness. Thank you.”

– Dylan

“I want to say thank you to Dr. Collins for letting me come to Brehm School and giving me a really great experience. I want to say thank you to Brad Sims for helping me out with everything. I want to say thank you to my dorm parents and staff, Jason, Ingrid, Kristen, Jay, and Ed. They helped us with everything. I want to say thank you to the recreation staff. I want to say thank you, teachers, for teaching me and helping me with my work. Thank you to Ellie . You are really my best friend ever. I want to say thank you to Mom and Dad for sending me to school. It was awesome. I love you, Mom and Dad.”

– Jonathan

“Before I came to Brehm Prep, I was just a basketball player. My old school didn’t really care about academics like Brehm does, and I really didn’t know how to study for a test or speak up to advocate for help. When I first came to Brehm, it was a big change in my life. I thought I was going to lose friends because I went to a different school. As my first year went by at Brehm, I started to make new friends, find ways to help myself study for tests, and also advocate for extra time on work or just ask for help with something I didn’t understand…. For my successful years at Brehm, I have to thank the teachers here who spent their free time to make sure I got the help that I needed. I’m so grateful to have teachers who care this much about their students and also our academics.”

– Bruce

“When I first came here in 2006, I was put in dorm 3 with Aaron Lee as my dorm parent. That year, I was scared of being away from home. I called home every night saying that I wanted to leave this place. But I continued coming back and continued to live my life as a Brehmie. The next year, I was put in dorm 2 and knew what to expect…. I want to thank everyone, students, staff, and teachers alike, for making my years here so meaningful. I also want to thank my family for helping me. Next year, I am going to come back to Carbondale to be a student in Brehm’s post-secondary program called OPTIONS.”

– Will

Graduates Reflect and Give Thanks (1 of 3)

2010-06-15T13:24:00.009-05:00

“First, I’d like to thank my Mom, who has helped me to go on my college visits from spring break to summer. I would like to thank my aunts and uncles from California, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, and my grandparents from Eaton, Ohio and New Jersey for all of their support that they gave me all through the years that I’ve been at Brehm. And they are happy that I will be moving on to college in August…. I’d like to thank Barb Lawrence for helping me with time management, working independently, and working with me on paraphrasing. I’d like to thank to my friend, Steve, for giving me advice for what I missed in Literary Perspective Studies and for helping me to catch up.… I’d also like to thank Brad Siemer for being my basketball coach for the 2009-2010 basketball season. And he is one of the coolest teachers that I knew for 3 years…”

– Randy

“I have made a lot of progress during my five years at Brehm. I feel like I’m able to control the way I react to my emotions. I would like to thank all of my friends, especially Austen, Thomas, Casey, Bradley, and Nakita for helping me out. I also want to thank my parents, my teachers, and dorm parents for helping me reach my goals in life. I will miss everybody who has helped me along the way.”

– Amanda

“In any ordinary world, I can’t help but to stand beneath the dignity of others, be stranded in constant struggle within a competitive world, sweating in a sea of pride and glory, swimming to the unending finish line. Performing an act of selfishness through the lens of another human being, I don’t want this illusion of contradicting the truth behind my intent. It’s within this struggle that you can lose who you are. I want to see the outcome based upon the decisions I’ve built and the aftermath of the character I directed through the years I continued taking breaths. I want to be a leader, a helping hand for others, not to be recognized in selfishness but rather a different side that society hasn’t seen. This would have never happened for me if it wasn’t for Brehm. I used to be more than just difficult to my parents and others surrounding me, a hyperactive individual acting impulsively everywhere I went. I am so blessed to have gotten the opportunity to experience the journey that Brehm has given me. Through this experience I have learned to deal with my struggles appropriately and successfully using the tools and strategies that teachers and staffs have taught me. After long practices, I end up here on this stage. I want to show my deepest appreciation to Sara and her family, Sam and her family, and my past relationships because they have led me to be who I am — Brehm students, my teachers, and best of all, I want to thank my family for being there for me through everything.”

– Greg

“Over the last two years, I have met some great friends and created fun memories. When I think of Brehm, I think of the caring teachers. I have learned to recognize and deal with problems thanks to Marian, Mr. Siemer, and Ms. Hart. I feel Pam and Theresa are nice people to be around because they went out of their way to help me. Ms. Blessing has inspired me to enjoy math more. Lisa, Casey, Ellie, Jack, and Zane are important because they’re always there for me whenever I have a problem, and we have fun hanging out together. My parents were kind throughout the time I was at Brehm. I am excited to move on to the next step.”

– Alex

“When I first came to Brehm, I had difficulties with language, making friends, and with American culture. I met with the administrators and my advisor, Mr. Brad Sims. He gave me positive reinforcement to have the confidence to be successful in school and in life. I feel privileged to have had Brad Sims as my mentor and friend. I would like to thank the staff and teachers who supported me through my school years here at Brehm.”

– Rishi

“I started my long journey back in August 2004 in the 7th grade, and I am excited to be graduating. When I first started, the kids and staff where extremely nice to me, like these two students, Jos and Tim, who treated me as their younger brother…. Brehm has helped me in many ways. The biggest I’ve seen since I’ve been at Brehm is my ability to read. I’ve become more independent in many different areas like completing homework and doing basic chores. I have learned how to use my strengths of creativity and visual learning in basically everything I do. I have become more social and have a good group of friends. Thanks to my teachers for helping me become more independent and understanding when something did not make sense. Thanks to my dorm parents for helping me with every day living, like chores, homework, and so much more. To the recreation staff, thanks for making my weekdays and weekend recs fun and entertaining. I especially like the many trips I took to St. Louis. Thanks to my friends, Tim, Josh, Kole C., Parker, Noah, and Alex S. for accepting me as one of their friends and always letting the laughter flow each and every day. Thanks to my family for always being there and helping me when I needed the help the most. Mom, thanks for all those times you helped with my homework over the years and the meetings you’ve gone to. It helped me better myself in all those ways. Thanks, Dad, for helping me improve my reading skills, my boy scout questions, and a lot more...”

– Kevin

“I transferred from a Christian Baptist school where I was really struggling to Brehm Preparatory School where my academic struggles ended. There is a lot of love on Brehm Campus. You may not feel it at times, but it is there. I thought there was a ton of love at my old Christian Baptist school, but now that I have been at Brehm for two years, I see that there is so much more love here. Well, high school is finally over. I would like to thank God, my parents, relatives, Sebina Geer, my advisor Ms. Keene, Pam Altman, and all of my teachers that I have had for two years at Brehm Preparatory School…. Now, it is time for me to go to college, Gardner Webb University, a Christian university located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. I know the things that I have learned throughout my high school years will help me in college.”

– Thomas

Brehm, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, is a unique family style boarding school that empowers students, grades 6 through 12, with complex learning disabilities to recognize and optimize their full potential. Brehm offers a unique holistic program that individually addresses each student’s academic, emotional, and social needs. Eighty-eight percent of Brehm graduates continue on to colleges, junior colleges, technical or vocational schools across the country.

Brehm has a rolling admission. Contact admissions today by calling (618) 457-0371 or email: admissionsinfo@brehm.org

Congratulations Brehm Class of 2010!

2010-06-08T13:22:00.024-05:00

Proud parents, families, and friends celebrated
with our new graduates this past weekend!

The Class of 2010 has graduated and the Brehm campus becomes quiet until the fall......

or does it?

Although our newest graduates have left campus to use the skills and knowledge from their years of work at Brehm, our fiscal year continues until June 30th.

There is still time for you to honor this year's class of bright and talented graduates with a tax deductible gift to the 2009-2010 Brehm Annual Giving Campaign.With only 20 days left and $38,000 to go, we need your help to reach our 2009-2010 goal. There are 3 simple ways to make your tax deductible contribution or pledge:

Brehm Business Club Goes on a Field Trip

2010-06-02T07:41:00.009-05:00

Brehm School's FBLA club (Future Business Leaders of America) went on a field trip to "My Favorite Toys" in the Carbondale University Mall last week.

Fourteen FBLA students were met by Samuel and Suzanne Cox, the store’s owners. Samuel and Suzanne started the independent specialty toy store for children and adults almost five years ago. Between the two of them, they have 50+ years as educators and advocates for the development of children and adults with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders (ADD).

Sam spoke to the group about how he and his wife started the business and what the day-to-day business responsibilities are like. Sam strongly suggested that before you decide to start a business, you should feel very passionate about it, save enough money, and always budget for slower periods of time (especially the first few months or years.) The students were very interested and asked some very impressive questions.

In between helping customers, Suzanne gave a fun demonstration of a couple of the unique toys they sell. The students definitely enjoyed themselves.

Thank you, Samuel and Suzanne, for this excellent opportunity for Brehm students to learn more about the business world.

Brehm School Alumni become business owners, teachers, college professors, entrepreneurs, nurses, reporters, I.T. specialists, graphic designers, social workers, sculptors, artists, brokers, and more. Eighty-eight percent of Brehm graduates continue on to colleges, junior colleges, technical schools, and vocational schools.

Read more about Brehm’s FBLA Club:

The Brehm Chapter of FBLA is Up and Running

Brehm Students Welcome New Student Organization

The End is Near!

2010-05-28T13:00:00.001-05:00

In just a week, Brehm will be saying goodbye to our graduates. On Friday, June 4th, we will hold our annual commencement ceremonies at 5 p.m. in the Student Activities enter.

Beginning at 4 p.m., graduation photos will be taken in East Academic. Parents should have received an information packet from Lifetouch with package and pricing options.

This year, like every other, Brehm students have been accepted to college, universities and transition programs across the nation.

Some of these achievements include:

Dan S. - Lynn University and was awarded a $6,000 scholarship
Steve G. - OPTIONS Post-Secondary Program
Greg C. - Full Sail University and was awarded a $10,000 scholarship
Randy A. - Lincoln College and was awarded a $6,000 scholarship
Mike L.- University of Tennessee and was awarded an athletic scholarship
Oto O. - University of Minnesota and was awarded an athletic scholarship
James S. - Vanderbilt and was awarded with an athletic scholarship
and several more!

Congratulations to the Class of 2010!

For additional information regarding graduation, please contact Brittany Morlan, Coordinator if Communications at bmorlan@brehm.org or 618.457.0371.