Happenings & Stories
2022 HDS Spring Holiday
Autism Awareness 2022
April is Autism Awareness Month and on April 2nd we celebrate World Autism Day. Autism is a developmental disability that can cause social, communication and behavioral challenges. This month we shine a light on the 1 in 59 people who are diagnosed with Autism...
Board and Brush Creative Studio
Decisions, decisions, decisions! The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students put on their creative hats during the Community Based Instruction (CBI) field trip this week at Board & Brush Creative Studio in Weston. Before heading out on the CBI, students had to make decisions...
The Cybrarium
Have you heard about the Cybrarium located in downtown Homestead, Florida? Well, today our B.R.I.D.G.E.S students had a real treat spending the morning at the Cybrarium, a one-of-a-kind library that offers an exciting blend of cutting-edge technology and a traditional...
Budgeting at IHOP
What a special treat our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students enjoyed as they headed to IHOP for their early morning Community Based Instruction (CBI) trip! As the students reviewed the menu prior to heading out to IHOP, they couldn’t wait to order all the delicious breakfast...
Learning How to Use an ATM Machine
A.T.M.s are located all over the community to make banking easier for everyone. This week, the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had the opportunity to learn how to use an A.T.M. at the local Bank of America branch. As part of the HDS Foundation B.R.I.D.G.E.S. grant, students...
Mentorship Month
January is a time to recognize the great mentors who have made a difference in the lives of others. The HDS Foundation recognizes eight of our programs dedicated and respected mentors that make a positive impact each day with their students. As one of the pillars of...
I’m Lovin It!
McDonald’s Golden Arches is what the students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class were looking for when they went out on their first Community Based Instruction (CBI) for this school year. They were so excited to order their food using their McDonald’s Gift Card and enjoy...
Team Building at Regional Park
The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students enjoyed a beautiful day at the park, working on team building skills. This year, facilitators Donna Mansolillo and Kathy Gorman Gard have focused several of the Community Based Instruction (CBIs) on getting the students outside and...
Career Day
As students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. program begin to prepare for graduation, facilitators Ms. Donna Mansolillo and Ms. Kathy Gorman-Gard wanted to invite guest speakers in various careers to come and share their career journey with their students. When the teachers...
Job Fair
This week, five of our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had the opportunity to attend the Plantation High School Job Fair. Mrs. Karla Lama, the facilitator of the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class, worked with the students on discussing the necessary components of a resume and proper...
Budgeting at Chik-fil-a
Last week, the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students Community Based Instruction (CBI) field trip was a favorite of all, a trip to Chick- Fil- A. After having to wait patiently, as their bus arrived a ½ hour late to the school, students finally made it to one of their favorite...
Wings in Weston
The B.R.I.D.G.E.S students enjoyed their weekly Community Based Instruction (CBI) activity at Wings In Weston. Students were able to work on decision making skills, calculating tip and most importantly problem-solving skills. A situation occurred when a student wanted...
Publix Scavenger Hunt
A Scavenger Hunt at Publix? This is exactly what the B.R.I.D.G.E.S class did for their weekly Community Based Instruction (CBI) field trip, and they had a blast! Before heading to Publix, students were very busy in the classroom going on a virtual field trip to see...
Mac n Cheese in a Mug!
Mac n Cheese, an all-time American favorite meal! The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had a chance this past week to participate in a 2-part activity making Mac n Cheese. In preparation for this Community Based Instruction (CBI) students had several steps to complete before...
Holiday Party
Who is my Secret Elf?....was the question the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had been thinking about for the past week! After the Community Based Instruction (CBI) to Walmart where students purchased gifts for their Secret Elf, they had to keep it a secret until the day of...
Secret Elf
“Tis the Season for Shopping” was the theme for the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. classes this past week in preparation for their holiday Secret Elf Gift Exchange. Students headed to Walmart for their Community Based Instruction (CBI) to find the perfect gift for their friends....
Spring Gardening
This week the students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class visited Home Depot for a little Spring Gardening. Prior to the trip, students learned about the variety of plants you can buy and which plants are compatible with each other. For example, some plants need full sun,...
Building a Healthy Lifestyle
The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Community Based Instruction (CBI) for this week focused on building a healthy lifestyle by learning about the many programs the Y.M.C.A. in Weston offered. Students were given a tour of the facility and had the opportunity to ask questions....
2022 Presidents Day
Time for Lunch!
"Lunch hour is the Best Hour of the Day" was the motto for the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students this week! Both classes headed to local restaurants for their Community Based Instruction (CBI) field trip. Mrs. Karla Lama and Mrs. Courtney Henry’s class had the chance to...
Lucille’s American Café
Lucille's American Café, a Weston restaurant known as a great place for friends to come and enjoy their delicious classic favorites! The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students got to do just that this past week on their weekly Community Based Instruction (CBI) field trip. After...
Peace Mound Park
After the holiday break, the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class participated in a Team Building Community Based Instruction (CBI) at Peace Mound Park, a burial ground for the ancient tribes of the Tequesta Indians. The activity was designed as a Scavenger Hunt to bring the teams...
It’s Movie Time!
What a great morning we were able to share with the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class! Today they headed out on their Community Based Instruction (CBI) to the Showbiz Movie Theater in Homestead to see the newly released movie “El Canto”. The students were so excited to be able...
Friends, Food, and Fun at the Park!
Our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students enjoyed a beautiful day at the park enjoying a day filled with friends, food, and fun! This was the first Community Based Instruction (CBI) for our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students and they had a great time! Students enjoyed playing soccer,...