Insights Newsletter

In November, Kim Snair’s primary students celebrated “Thankful Day” with a heartwarming event focused on gratitude and family. The day provided a wonderful opportunity for students to reflect on what they are most thankful for while spending quality time with their families and strengthening their social skills. 

Parents and family members were invited to join their children at the School, where they worked together to prepare traditional Thanksgiving dishes such as mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. This hands-on activity encouraged teamwork and offered students the chance to practice vision, communication and social skills. Students highlighted their motor skills and integrated orientation and mobility concepts as they navigated the kitchenette and classroom environments with support from the educational team and families. 

Following the food preparation, the students and their guests gathered for a special presentation. Proudly wearing their handmade turkey hats, students took turns using their voices and communication devices to share what made them feel thankful. Their excitement was visible and the room was filled with pride as they expressed thanks for their families, their favorite lessons and school experiences. The Children’s Garden, sensory play and cooking classes were among the favorites mentioned during the show. 

Ms. Kim’s Thankful Day celebration extended beyond the Thanksgiving holiday. It was a reminder of the importance of community, family and the small moments that bring us joy and reinforced the values of connection and appreciation within our WPSBC community.

Students Participate in Day of Code

 

Representatives from APH were on-site to showcase several innovative products, including:

 

●  Code Jumper—A tactile, sound-based coding system that lets students create projects through physical modules. It connects auditory cues with coding logic.

●  Code and Go Mouse—A playful tool where students program Colby the mouse to race through a maze to reach his cheese. It teaches sequencing and directionality.

●  CodeQuest—An interactive iPad app where students help an astronaut navigate a grid-style game board to reach his spaceship. This game introduces algorithms and problem-solving.

 

Throughout the event, students also practiced essential orientation and mobility skills as they navigated the space and engaged with the tools, strengthening both their physical and social confidence. The activities encouraged collaboration and social interaction, while also offering an opportunity to explore new assistive technology.

 

The Day of Code not only sparked curiosity and excitement but also highlighted the importance of accessible learning tools in empowering students. By blending creativity with technology, WPSBC continues to create opportunities that help students develop the skills they need to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

Primary Program Winter Village
The Primary Program hosted its second annual Winter Village celebration, an event designed to bring families together as we kick-off the winter holiday season. The teachers welcomed families into the classrooms for a day filled with fun, laughter and meaningful connection. Together, students, families and members of the educational teams decorated gingerbread houses that reflected the unique identity of each student. It is a favorite day among the staff and families alike, to have the opportunity to promote students’ growth and creativity while building family relationships in meaningful and accessible ways. 

As we celebrated the joys of the season, the day concluded with a luncheon for families, hosted by the Primary Program and Dietary departments. It was a visible reminder of each individual's impact on the learning and growth of our youngest students and our collective power when we come together as a community at WPSBC. 

Middle Program Winter Wonderland
The Middle Program Winter Wonderland event was a true holiday spectacle, filled with festive fun, laughter and skill-building

activities. Our Middle Program students and their families enjoyed a day of crafting personalized ornaments, decorating photo frames and meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The social interactions during this event helped build confidence in social situations and allowed students to practice polite conversation, turn-taking and expressing themselves in a group setting. The day concluded with a luncheon, prepared by our dedicated dietary team, where families gathered to celebrate the season and continue strengthening community bonds. This event was a perfect example of how fun activities can serve as a platform for building essential life skills while celebrating the joy of the holiday season.

Secondary Program Holiday Market
The Secondary Program Holiday Market was an incredible success, filled with student-made creations that showcased not only the creativity of our students but also their growing vocational and social skills. Families explored market booths filled with unique items like snow globes, coasters, cookie mix kits, painted plates, ornaments, cookies, hot chocolate kits, t-shirts and candles—all handcrafted by our talented students!

For our students, the Holiday Market served as an important career education experience, providing them with the opportunity to practice customer service skills, manage sales and enhance their organizational and communication skills in a real-world setting. Students navigated the market space, assisting with sales, gift wrapping and ensuring a positive experience for customers.

This event was a perfect example of how the students' hard work, creativity and dedication were celebrated, while also providing valuable opportunities to build important life skills.

We were thrilled to welcome back Kelsey Tainsh, an extraordinary para snowboarder and motivational speaker, to kick off the new year with a powerful message of resilience and perspective. Kelsey’s life has been a testament to the strength of the human spirit. At just five years old, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Despite the severity of the diagnosis, Kelsey overcame this obstacle and emerged as a healthy, happy child. Her childhood was filled with joy, and she even became a champion athlete. However, at 15, Kelsey’s world changed when the tumor returned, and she suffered a severe stroke that left her paralyzed on the right side of her body.

At that point, Kelsey faced unimaginable challenges and became filled with fear and self-doubt. With the encouragement of her teachers, family, medical team and friends, she fought to regain her independence. Kelsey refused to accept a life of limitation, instead deciding to push forward and rebuild herself, both physically and emotionally.

For a long time, she was unable to walk, and it took months of physical therapy before she could take even a few steps. Yet, despite the odds, Kelsey graduated magna cum laude from the University of Florida and went on to work for one of the most recognized companies in the world, The Coca-Cola Company. Her success didn’t come without struggle, but it was driven by one powerful belief: "We always have a chance. Things can always get better."

Kelsey’s message is that resilience is built not just through physical recovery but through the mindset we choose in the face of adversity. She shared how her stroke, while devastating, ultimately became a turning point in her life—one that taught her the incredible power of perspective. She realized her attitude could transform her experience in that dark time. By shifting how she saw the challenges before her, Kelsey changed her life and future.

As Kelsey said during her talk, “When we're having a hard day, that's when it's so important to remember why we do what we do.” Her words resonated deeply with educators, parents and staff, inspiring us all to begin the year with renewed purpose and gratitude. Life is not just about surviving difficulties—it’s about finding happiness every day and helping others along the way.

As we embark on 2025, let’s carry Kelsey’s message of strength and positivity forward. Let her story remind us that no matter the obstacles we face, we always have a chance to make a difference. By changing our mindset, we can change our outcomes, and in doing so, we can find purpose, joy and fulfillment in every day.

January marks Braille Literacy Month, an important observance that highlights the significance of braille for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The month is celebrated in honor of Louis Braille, the French inventor of the braille system, whose birthday falls on January 4. Braille, which revolutionized reading and writing for the blind, remains a critical tool for literacy, independence and equal access to education and information.

One of the standout events during Braille Literacy Month is the Braille Institute’s Braille Challenge, an annual competition designed to encourage and celebrate young braille readers and writers across the United States. The Outreach team hosted this regional event at WPSBC on January 28 this year, and the competition brought together students to demonstrate their skills in a series of tests that include braille reading comprehension, spelling and speed. The challenge is rigorous, aiming to motivate students to refine their braille skills while highlighting the vital role the language plays in achieving academic success and personal empowerment. Students were given the opportunity to compete on-site or within their schools. They also had the opportunity to talk with a young adult who was a former Outreach student and National Braille Challenge winner.

The Braille Challenge not only serves as a platform for students to showcase their abilities, but it also emphasizes the continued need to promote braille literacy. In addition to the competition, the event draws attention to the ongoing efforts to improve braille education and ensure that blind and visually impaired individuals can fully participate in society. This fosters a strong sense of community and pride in the accomplishments of young braille users nationwide!