Mankind’s Future?

How newly-discovered “adepts” may change the world

By Nicholas Hagan, Berkeley Center freshman

Any history textbook will tell you about the engineering marvels of Ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece. You probably know of the highly advanced philosophical and mathematical achievements of the Greeks and the Chinese, among others. You may even know of the rich cultural traditions of the Northern Europeans. Looking back to these ancient years, today seems pretty dull: People now spend most of their time watching TV or surfing the internet, employees work dead-end jobs just to get by, and the ultimate goal of your average worker seems to merely be having enough money at the age of retirement to spend all day fishing. What is mankind achieving now? What good does one contribute to the human race by flipping burgers at a MacDonald’s, in hopes of earning enough money for a high-definition TV?

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Thespians Unleashed, at Brevard

By Janet Hrezo
The CIP Drama Class in Melbourne presented “Thespians Unleashed” for students and staff on Friday, July 25th, 2008.

David Kates opened the show with a monologue from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Peter Snell was a majestic King Henry V. Andrew Barbour and Jens Hansen were both writers and performers as each acted in original works. Movies were represented as well with Jarrett Suhr’s comic piece from “Little Shop of Horrors” and Eric Rose’s dramatic scene from “A Few Good Men”.

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Berkshire Students Become Certified Nursing Assistants

Berkshire Center students Jaclyne Parese, Courtney Ramsdell, and Beth Kemp successfully completed an intensive 5 week Certified Nursing Assistant program.

Instructor Mary Ellen Adams prepared study guides for these students every night as a reference for them to have when studying for all their exams and hands on testing. Since the completion of the program the students are not only Certified Nursing Assistants but also have their certification in Alzheimer Care, Clinical Care, and Infection Control for Assisted Living Facilities.

Bloomington Orientation Update

By Jim Walsh, Bloomington Center

Last Friday, the new students at the Bloomington Center gave Power Point presentations of their Person-Centered Plans.

Highlights included a poetry reading with pictures, a dramatic recording of an original comic strip, some hilarious “awkward stage” junior high pictures, and each student’s vision of their life ten years from now.

After the presentations we had a picnic with burgers on the grill, some crawdad-under-rock peeking in the neighboring creek, and an intense/sweaty game of soccer.

CIP Alumni Finds Niche with Fitness

Sam Smith is motivational fitness trainer who helps people diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism, and other Nonverbal Learning Disabilities. Sam believes he can motivate people to stay in shape, build confidence and stay healthy as they grow as individuals.

Sam graduated in 2008 is now an active alumni of the Berkshire Center in Lee, MA. He is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and teaching others the benefits of doing so. He received a Physical Fitness Certificate at Berkshire Community College with classes in Physical Education. Fitness is a big part of Sam’s life because it helps him get a complete power-performance sports/conditioning workout for ice hockey.

View Sam Smith’s personal training website here

Power and Transformation

We are well on our way to creating an awesome community here at CIP Berkeley! We met with new freshman students as a group and showed them some of the previous student PowerPoints (PPTs) that they did for their Person-Centered Plans.

Some PPTs featured audio recordings of students reading text out loud, and it was great to hear the personal inflections when they described their goals and visions. Some students with gifts for music or voice were singing song clips into their PPT slides in lieu of background music, while yet another student included a video clip of herself announcing her candidacy for Student Government before a group of prospective voters.

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Cognitive Flexibility

I spent a several hours with Dr. Stark here at the Brevard Center. He hooked me up and scanned my brain in five different ways and then integrated it all together and had some preliminary results (yes, I do have a brain!)

He is working with several students with several forms of Bio-feedback and nutrition. It turns out that I am hyper-connected at 28 hertz. That explains the buzz in my head and the spike on the graph that shows that I spend and inordinate amount of time and energy hyper-vigilantly tracking data and thinking.

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Berkshire Students Strive for Nursing Certification

Here at the CIP Career Center located in Lee, Massachusetts we are very proud to let all of you know that we have three brave students:  Jaclyne Parese, Courtney Ramsdell, and Beth Kemp and their dynamic instructor Mary Ellen Adams embarking on an intensive five week program as Certified Nursing Assistants. Upon completing the course these students will have a leg up in this exciting and in demand occupation as CNA’s, and be eligible to take their state exam.

These students and the instructor are up to there elbows and down to their ankles in homework, tutoring and class time from 9 to 9 every day.  What a beautiful sight it is to see such fortitude and determination. It is amazing to see such dedication and commitment from these students, and to see their progress performing the hands-on skills.

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Alumni Taking Action, Creating Social Network

Jamie Oates, an alumni of The Berkshire Center in Lee, MA, is in the process of creating a social network community for young people with learning differences.

Jamie made some great friends while at school, but after she left she began to realize that it was more difficult to meet new people. She believes that developing a social network in New England is a pressing need for young adults with learning differences. Jamie most recent activity is planning a Boston Duck Tour, date TBA. Anyone who is interested in joining or helping with the development process can contact her below.

Jamie Oates
Snow322@hotmail.com
617-935-1679

Academic Excellence at Brevard

Chris Kennedy, a second-year student at CIP Melbourne, received his Associate in Arts Degree from Brevard Community College in May.

Chris had struggled academically before coming to CIP but maintained a 4.0 grade point average at BCC and was accepted into the college’s Honors Program. In August, he will attend the University of Central Florida to continue to work on his B.A.

Chris, 24 years old with a Non-Verbal Learning Difference, has served as Student Senate President for the past two years and earned the respect of both students and staff. His generosity to others, patience, sense of humor, and commitment to personal growth make him an excellent role-model for his peers.

Congratulations, Chris.