Brehm students travel to SLU

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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.

Emmanuel Ochenje signs with UTC

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

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

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'

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"

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

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

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

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

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

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 Robotics 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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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

Great turnout for College Fair

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

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

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

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

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

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

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'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.