treatment of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
On November 30, the Smithtown High School East Leadership Club visited The Martin C. Barell School to learn more about NSSA’s school program. For seven years, Smithtown High School East students have been hosting dances for our students and clients at their school, so we have an excellent long-standing relationship with these amazing students.
When the Smithtown students arrived in the morning they were given a tour of the school by Stacey Agosta, NSSA Senior Behavior Intervention Specialist, then split up into smaller groups to spend time interacting with students in their different classrooms. Our teachers explained what the students were currently working on so the high schoolers were able to participate in the activities. They also brought craft projects to do with the students.
Afterwards, members of the Leadership Club shared a pizza lunch with the NSSA friends they have made over the years at their school dances.
We are so grateful to the students of Smithtown High School East for taking an ongoing and active role in the lives of our students and adult program participants at NSSA. We look forward to more wonderful events that these students host each year for their friends at NSSA.
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Each December The NSSA Parent Association hosts a holiday party complete with pizza, dessert and live music.
Teachers and direct support professionals enjoy the festive atmosphere while students and clients enjoy lunch and dancing.
Some of the adult clients have been practicing for weeks to put on a Holiday Singalong, led by teacher assistant Shelley.
Teachers got in the act, too.
And everyone else came to watch and sing along!
As if that wasn’t enough, on Friday, SANTA surprised the boys in Classroom 1 by showing up with gifts for everyone in the room!
It was quite the way to end 2017…and now classrooms are empty and quiet waiting to be filled again after New Year’s with happy excited voices and activity.
Here’s a little video for you…have a Happy New Year.
Everyone looks forward to Halloween at NSSA. Students, clients and staff have fun dressing in costume for the day’s activities.
The Halloween party is a big success with games, activities and treats. Adult clients do a great job running the different stations. And this year some of the younger classrooms went trick-or-treating in the administrative offices.
Students kept busy with games and activities.
And as always, everyone enjoyed the Costume Contest contestants’ efforts.
Til next year!
The students and faculty of Smithtown High School East, once again, hosted an evening of dancing, food and fun at their Hollywood-themed event for NSSA adult clients, consultation students and Barell students aged 14 and up.
Attendees arrived by walking up a red carpet and into a gym filled with high school students dressed up and ready to dance with our students and clients.
It’s so great to see our students and clients having a great time with the Smithtown East students and one another.
The high school also served a fun pizza dinner that was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Many thanks to Stacey Agosta for helping to set this up, DJ Matt Figuccio for the dance music, NSSA teachers for accompanying their students and Smithtown High School East for their graciousness and hospitality in putting this event on for us once again.
Jack Licitra of South Bay Arts is passionate about music. NSSA was fortunate to be introduced to Jack by a staff member and now he’s bringing his love of music to our students and clients.
Jack came to the Martin C. Barell School in April with enough bongos in tow for each class to have a 15-minute trial session. From this brief trial, NSSA staff were able to determine which students and clients would enjoy and benefit from ongoing drum classes at Jack’s studio.
Some clients and students have enjoyed music classes in the past and they have been used as reinforcers for skill acquisition and appropriate behavior. It’s also a good group activity and practice for following group directions and remaining on task. Music classes are also an excellent way to teach and develop new leisure interests and skills that our students and clients can enjoy during their down time.
The happy faces and enthusiastic drumming indicated that this exercise was a beneficial one and some of our students and clients will be attending and enjoying future drum classes at South Bay Arts in Bayport.
Smithtown High School East once again hosted a Winter Dance for NSSA students and clients who were over 14 years old.
The cafeteria was decorated with a winter theme, refreshments were served by Smithtown High School students, DJ Matt Figuccio kept the dance floor jumping…and there were smiles everywhere.
Thank you to Smithtown High School East with providing our students and clients with another evening of fun and friends!
2016 ended at NSSA with a flurry of holiday activity.
From the end-of-year luncheon hosted by the Parent Association, complete with pizza, live music by Fish and dancing for staff, students and clients…
Who doesn’t love pizza?
Singer Fish entertained us with classic favorites and dance tunes
“May I have this dance??”
And a child shall lead them…onto the dance floor.
Thank you, NSSA Parent Association, for this fun luncheon!
To a holiday craft led by Tori Ardito…
Tori explained the process to teachers who in turn helped students select and color pictures.
Students chose their favorite picture to color.
And got right to work coloring.
Candles decorated with the students’ artwork was wrapped up and sent home as holiday gifts.
The finished product.
Thank you to Tori for leading the students in this fun craft project!
And…there was even a surprise visitor…
Thanks for stopping by, Santa!!!
It was a busy but fun and festive end to the year…and we look forward to more good times in the year ahead!
Several years ago we made the acquaintance of a darling young man named Tyler Fazzari. Tyler arrived at NSSA, shortly after celebrating his 10th birthday, to donate almost $1000 that he had raised for us through his organization BirthdayBack. BirthdayBack is dedicated to inspiring people to use their birthdays as an opportunity to give back. It started with Tyler’s desire to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy and has since developed into something much greater. Since starting the organization, Tyler and BirthdayBack have raised over $50,000 for various local organizations!
In recognition of his generous achievements, we nominated him for the “Leader of Tomorrow” honor at Long Island’s Association for Fundraising Professional’s Annual Philanthropy Day. We were so pleased and proud to hear that he would be the recipient of the award!
We would like to share Tyler’s good news and to say THANK YOU again for all that he has done for NSSA, and for so many others. We are deeply grateful for Tyler’s friendship.
At this time of year, we remember all the people and organizations that have been a friend to us by making a donation, raising money on our behalf, volunteering at an event, or spreading the word about NSSA and autism awareness. We are so thankful and grateful for the wonderful people who support our organization and mission.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends!
Classrooms 1 & 2 had a surprise visit this week from a Barell parent and brother who came in to read a story to the classes…
…and brought cupcakes to decorate and eat.
Some students enjoyed decorating…
…while others preferred eating!
But everyone participated and had a good time!
Hope you enjoyed being a guest at our little impromptu party!
November 5, 2016 was the night of NSSA’s 18th Annual Wine Tasting at the elegant Garden City Country Club.
We had a wonderful turnout of friends old and new. Families, staff, volunteers, local residents – everyone added to the party atmosphere.
Guests were greeted by our friendly and helpful staff. A new system made check-in and bidding much easier for guests.
Games of chance were manned by enthusiastic volunteers.
There were plenty of wonderful prizes to be won.
We thank Fidele Miranda & Empire Merchants for the wonderful selection and delicious wines.
We are so deeply grateful to everyone present at this year’s Wine Tasting & Auction. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we have reached our goal and will be able to purchase two new vans. This will make a significant difference in the lives of our students and clients. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Thanks to everyone who attended, sponsored, donated, and worked so hard to make this year’s Wine Tasting a success….and a special Thank You to Champagne Event Sponsors Mary Beth and Pat Miranda for another fabulous event!