In these final days of the school year, staff members are devoting time to reflect on how things went and are taking stock of what they’ve learned. Equally as important, we also are celebrating our accomplishments and the many ways our students, staff, and caregivers contribute to our success. To that end, we thought we’d share a few school-year highlights from three of our schools, achievements that are all points of pride. Thanks, too, goes out to all of you, our supporters, for the confidence you’ve placed in our programs.
Until next time,
Paul Stein
Executive Director
Looking Back at the 2024-2025 Academic Year
HIGHLIGHTS FROM DEARBORN ACADEMY: A PREMIER THERAPEUTIC DAY SCHOOL IN NEWTON
Music Room Remix
The music room got redesigned! Dearborn’s talented student musicians now have an incredible space to learn and play in!
College Admissions
Dearborn had more college admissions than ever; our eight graduates were accepted by 17 schools:
Framingham State
UMass Boston
Salem State
Suffolk University
Mass Bay Community College
Brandeis University
Champlain College
Clark University
Connecticut College
Northeastern University
Simmons University
Union College
University of Massachusetts – Amherst
University of Massachusetts – Lowell
University of Vermont
Bunker Hill Community College
Roxbury Community College
Exposure Response Prevention Training with Dr. Lisa Coyne
Our clinician team got trained in ERP (Exposure Response Prevention) by Dr. Lisa Coyne from New England OCD. Dr. Coyne continues to consult with us regarding our students with OCD, and she provided training to our entire staff so that everyone improved their skills and knowledge regarding this treatment for the many students we serve with OCD.
Dearborn Academy is sharing our expertise regarding working with students with school avoidance: our team provided training at several conferences, including the Massachusetts Partnership for Youth Conference titled:
“Attendance Today for Success Tomorrow: Addressing School Avoidance” and The Special Education Directors Leadership Institute, sponsored by the Accept Collaborative.
DEARBORN STEP: SFC’S SHORT-TERM EDUCATION PLACEMENT PROGRAM
As the school year comes to a close, the Dearborn STEP Program proudly reflects on a year filled with growth, creativity, and community connection. This year, we had the privilege of serving students from 18 different school districts!
An exciting development this year was the renovation of several new student spaces within the building. These updated areas were designed with student needs in mind—offering more welcoming, functional, and flexible environments that promote both learning and connection.
Creativity thrived throughout the program, with a noticeable buzz of excitement around art projects. Students eagerly engaged in hands-on, expressive work that brought color and imagination to our classrooms and…doors!
LESLEY ELLIS SCHOOL: A YEAR OF CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY, AND CREATION
At Lesley Ellis School, SFC’s Independent Day School in Arlington, this year was filled with powerful learning experiences that showcased the heart of our community — curiosity, empathy, and academic exploration. In a moving interdisciplinary project, 7th and 8th graders reflected on the essential question “What does it mean to Never Forget?” by designing memorials honoring the victims of historical atrocities and writing persuasive letters to advocate for their construction. Our thriving performing arts program also took center stage, with joyful performances that included a sweet and spirited kindergarten play, a hilarious 6th grade twist on The Wizard of Oz, and the 8th graders’ always-anticipated — and always uproarious — annual improv show. And at the Massachusetts Middle School Science & Engineering Fair, our students soared — nine qualifiers, six top winners, and a shining example of our robust STEAM program in action. These highlights represent just a few of the many ways Lesley Ellis continues to foster meaningful, mission-driven learning in a warm, inclusive community.