January 2013

Parent’s AssociationNewsletter ALL THAT JAZZ

We’ve Joined Forces!The Berkshire Hills Music Academy is a very busy place. In the coming months, while the search continues to find an Executive Director, the staff will be even busier. To help insure that everyone in the Berkshire Hills Community - Staff, Board, Parents and Stake holders - is kept abreast of all that is happening, the Parent’s Association Newsletter and All That Jazz have been combined. The Parent Association will publish the combined newsletter, as needed, and at least bi-monthly, to keep everyone well informed of the latest news and activities at BHMA.

It’s hard to believe that we could already be thinking about semester break - just a few weeks into winter. But March will be upon us quickly, and with March comes semester break and Parent’s weekend - March 15 & 16. There will be a coffee house on Friday evening, for all those in the area. On Saturday, March 16, there will be a full day parent meeting for all who can attend. The meeting will take place at the Academy from 9 AM to 3 PM.

To help further the housing option discussions that were held in December, Theresa Varnet will join us for a half day session. Theresa will discuss guardianship and alternatives as well as special needs trusts. The trust discussion will include the details of establishing trusts and possibilities for using them to help fund housing for your son or daughter.

Also on the agenda for the meeting is a detailed presentation on the summer extension program at BHMA. Mallory Finne and Ruth Mikulski will be on hand to lead that portion of the meeting - providing details on a vocation pilot program

that will be in place for Summer Extension par-ticipants, and further details on the extension program.

Theresa Varnet has been an advocate for persons with dis-abilities for over 40 years. In addition to being a lawyer, she is a certified teacher, licensed social worker and the parent of a disabled adult daughter. She has served as Social Services Director in a residential school for children with multiple disabilities, Coordinator for a Special Education Cooperative and as a Citizen Advo-cacy/Disability Rights Coordinator.

DR. THOMAS ARMSTRONG IS NAMED 2013 BHMA VISIONARY AWARD RECIPIENT AND COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Dr. Thomas Armstrong has accepted the BHMA Visionary Award and will deliver the commence-ment address at this year’s graduation.

THERESA VARNET TO ADDRESS PARENTS AT MARCH PARENT MEETING

January 2013Page 2

Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D. is an award-winning author and speaker with nearly forty years of teaching experience from the primary through the doctoral level. He is the author of fourteen books including: The Power of Neurodiversity: Unleash-ing the Advantages of Your Differently Wired Brain; Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom; In Their Own Way; Awakening Your Child’s Natural Genius, and 7 Kinds of Smart.

Thomas Armstrong not only understands the strengths and special gifts of our sons and daughters and others like them, he has made it his life’s work to help others understand as well. We are very pleased that Dr. Armstrong has accepted our visionary award and we are excited to have him join us as commencement speaker.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS HIGHLIGHT STUDENT TALENTS, INCREASE AWARENESS & RAISE CRITICAL FUNDS FOR BHMA

Two very special events were held for the Academy in 2012. These events, an Hermes Fundraiser at Kay Bernon’s home on Nantucket Island, and a Burberry/Vogue Fundraiser held at the Burberry Store in Boston, MA raised more than $95,000 for the Academy. Additional generous donations of more than $10,000 from BHMA trustees, and grants of $15,000 each from the Leach Family and Mr. & Mrs. Donald Dwares helped the Academy raise more than $145,000 and surpass fundraising goals for 2012.Burberry, Boston MAMore than 200 of Boston’s finest converged on The Burberry Store in Boston’s Back Bay in December for a beautiful evening on hehalf of

BHMA. Guests were treated to Champagne and hors d’oeuvres, wonderful entertainment by BHMA Troupe members, and an opportunity to shop for the holidays and support the Academy. Ashley Bernon chaired the event for the Academy. Burberry and Vogue co-hosted the event, and contributed more than $7800 to BHMA.

We’d like to express our special thanks to Ashley Bernon, Burberry, Vogue and everyone who honored BHMA with their support. To read more about the event click on the link below:http://tinyurl.com/BurberryBHMA

Hermes, Nantucket, MADespite summer storms that kept guests inside for most of the evening, the Hermes event on Nantucket was both beautiful and successful, raising nearly $88,000. Hermes created a custom designed, silk signature scarf for the event. The scarf and other Hermes items were modeled for attendees and available for purchase at the event. Troupe members entertained and parents explained the special impact of BHMA on their families.

Burberry Photos by Michael Blanchard

January 2013 Page 3

CONGRATULATIONS STAFF & TRUSTEES

The parent association would like to extend its congratulations to Jackie Deiana on her promtion to Residential Advisor, and to Justin Crespo on his new position of Weekend Supervisor. Jackie and Justin do a great job at BHMA and we’re happy to see them gaining new responsibilities.

We would also like to wish Eugene Makowicz success in his new endeavors.

Trustee President, Kay Bernon has announced the election of three new Board members. Theresa Varnet, Frank Connor & Jon Shipp

Theresa Varnet is a lawyer and life-long advocate for people with special needs. Theresa splits her time between South Carolina, Illinois & Massachusetts. In addition to the credentials reported on page one, she is an active volunteer in the National, State and local chapters of The Arc, is a member of TASH, AMI, The Autism Society, past member of the Devel-opmental Disabilities Council in MA and KY, and past member of the Governor’s Advisory Panel on Special Education in KY.

Frank Connor is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Textron Inc. He is a past member of the Williams Syndrome Association Board of Trustees and serves on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee for FM Global, a large property casualty mutual insurance company. Frank’s son Tim is a member of the Academy’s Extended Learning Community and Performance Troupe.

Jon Shipp is a consultant specializing in strategic planning and executive coaching for medium sized businesses and non profits. Jon is also experienced in business process redesign and

IT systems project management. He is a Board member for HBS Community Action Partners. Jon’s son, Adam, is a member of the Class of 2013 at the Academy.

GROWING PAINS (& PLEASURES)

New Office SpaceParents who attended the December parent meeting were surprised to find the coffee and danish set up in what used to be the Fitness Room. The growing vocation department at BHMA has displaced the fitness equipment to make much needed room for Ruth Mikulski. However, fitness is still a priority at the Academy and students have several opportunities each week to exercise through dance classes, walking groups, and Special Olympics.

Justin Crespo Jackie Deiana

January 2013

Executive Director SearchBHMA Search Committee members hope to have an Interim Director in place within the next few weeks, and a permanent Executive Directoridentified within 6 months. Led by Board member, Jon Shipp, the search committee is working with staff and professional Search execu-tives to define job descriptions and identify the perfect candidate for each position.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Would you like to be among the first to know whenever BHMA is in the news? Simply set “Google Alerts on your computer for “Berkshire Hills Music Academy” and you will get an email notification each time BHMA is in the news.

REMINDERS

Graduation is May 19th. Are you prepared?May 17 -19 is Graduation weekend. Parent meetings will be scheduled beginning on Thursday, May 16. Hotel Room and Dinner reservations MUST be made well in advance to insure the best location and price. If you have not yet done so, make your reservations today!

Attention Class of 2013 ParentsTraditionally, the parents of graduating students join together to purchase a “Class Gift” for the school. Previous gifts include, the podium in the Great Room, the Computer Monitor in the Great Room, Outdoor Benches, BHMA road sign etc.

Please bring your ideas for a this year’s class gift to the March parent meeting.

2013 Student YearbookEach year BHMA provides students with a beautiful yearbook. Please help us insure that we have many photos of all our students and activities. Send copies of great photos you take (or have taken) to Terry (Marlyn’s assistant)at tmonkaba@williams-syndrome.org. Thanks!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Special Olympics Winter Games

BHMA’s Bowling and Basketball teams will compete in Worcester, MA on March 10 & 11. Bowling Coach, Jennifer Tetreault reports a strong team of 18 Bowlers - the biggest team in the school’s history! Please join them in Worcester if you are available. They would love a BIG cheering section.

Students Shine at Winter Concert!

From top left:Emmy Gainza,Carol MalerichMarco DiSantoM a t t C l o u g h l e yAmelia BookerBHMA Chorus