New Outdoor Play Area

On October 20th, Birchtree’s students, staff, and families celebrated a ribbon cutting for our new outdoor active play area. We were able to install the playground equipment thanks to generous grants from the Ronald McDonald Charities of Eastern New England and the Mary Louise Billings Trust, RBS Citizens N.A., Trustee. Representatives from these two organizations attended the ceremony and cut the ribbon with help from our acting executive director, Sandra Pierce Jordan, Ph.D., BCBA-D.

The Birchtree Center’s Employee Focus Group designed the play area and oversaw its installation. Twenty-seven parent and staff volunteers help paint, assemble, and install the equipment.

The new play house and open play area allows our younger students to practice “play skills” such as pretend play and sharing toys with their peers.

A water table, sandbox, and digger toy offer therapeutic multi-sensory experiences for our students.

The play area also includes a “fun hoop,” where students can strengthen their motor skills and practice group games. During our students’ first day in the play area, several students struggled to make a basket in the fun hoop, but that didn’t concern our staff. “It takes time for our students to learn new skills,” said our acting executive director, Sandra Pierce-Jordan, “but with lots of practice and support, our students can achieve amazing things.” 

To read news articles about the play area, click here.

Investing in the Future

For over five years, members of the Seacoast chapter of Altrusa International have volunteered at The Birchtree Center. They have arrived at our school with craft supplies, creative ideas, and warm smiles, ready to help our students make holiday gifts for their families. They have assisted with school-wide projects and celebrations and have given generously of their time, talents, and resources to help our students with autism.

Altrusa members present their donation to Birchtree's students and staff

This June, the club made a $1,000 donation to The Birchtree Center in support of our programs to help older students with autism prepare for life beyond Birchtree. The donation will help underwrite practical, hands-on lessons in job skills, life skills, and more. Students are learning vocational skills by running our school library, a student store, and a micro-business crafting badges, magnets and note cards for sale. They are learning to give back to the community by maintaining garden beds at the Portsmouth Public Library and are practicing cooking, cleaning, laundry, and self-care skills using appliances and equipment at Birchtree.

Dakota takes a break from gardening at the Portsmouth Public Library

“After working with these students for many years and watching them grow, we’re excited to be involved with the students’ transition to the next phase of their lives,” said chapter president Sandy LaBonte. To read more about the Altrusa members' experiences at Birchtree, click here.

Alex is learning to use the oven in Birchtree's Life Skills kitchen.

“We’re honored that these busy professionals from Altrusa give so generously of their time and resources,” said Acting Executive Director Dr. Sandra Pierce-Jordan. “It makes such a difference when students with autism have the support of the community.”

Lauren gardens alongside instructor Emily

A Proud Day for Birchtree's Students

Every day, Zach’s instructors write a note to his parents to let them know about the progress their son is making at The Birchtree Center. Birchtree’s autism specialists measure Zach’s learning every hour of every school day, and regularly report back to his family and local school district about his progress reaching his educational and behavioral goals.

But, for Zach’s mom Annette, nothing compares to being at her son’s school, seeing her son use the skills he’s learning at Birchtree. Annette's family traveled over forty-five miles to participate in Birchtree's annual Family Open House this May.  “It was wonderful to see our son taking turns with the other children in the gym,” Annette said. She was delighted to see her son following verbal directions from his instructors as they played parachute games. “Zach seemed so proud to have us meet his instructors, see his artwork, and visit his classroom,” she said.

The Birchtree Center’s Family Open House this May allowed many parents like Annette to witness their students’ progress.  Thirty-six parents, siblings, and family members from Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire joined their students for an afternoon of learning and fun at Birchtree. They performed songs, played games in the gym, admired students’ artwork, planted seedlings for a community garden, and watched a video of recent school activities.

 

At a time of year when many students are looking forward to summer vacation, Birchtree’s students have a busy season of learning ahead of them. “Our school operates year round because students with autism are more likely to make progress when they receive consistent, seamless instruction,” explains Acting Executive Director Dr. Sandra Pierce-Jordan. Birchtree’s students will have only two week-long vacations this summer. For the rest of the season, they’ll be working with their instructors at school, at home, and in the community to learn the skills they need for full and productive lives.

This intensive, year-round instruction makes a big difference to Birchtree’s students and their families. “After a week of school vacation, our son is ready to get back into his Birchtree routine,” said Bob, father of thirteen-year-old Steven. “He just loves it here."

Dodge for a Cause



On April 20th, approximately 250 students from the University of New Hampshire came out to show their support for children and youth with autism by participating in a dodge-ball tournament to benefit The Birchtree Center.  The Tau chapter of Alpha Xi Delta organized the event in celebration Autism Awareness Month.

Twenty-three teams participated in the tournament.  After three hours of dodging, pelting, chasing, and cheering on their team-mates, team Pi Kappa Alpha emerged victorious.  Of course, the real winners of the evening were the children and youth with autism served by The Birchtree Center. The event raised over $1,000 to benefit Birchtree’s autism programs!

After the event, the chapter's Philanthropy Chair Freda Katunda, Financial Vice President Kathleen Leahy, and chapter member Erika Swanson visited The Birchtree Center to present their generous donation.  Acting Executive Director Dr. Sandra Pierce-Jordan accepted the contribution on behalf of our students, families, board, and staff.

"The sisters of Alpha Xi Delta enjoyed putting on this event for the kids," said Philanthropy Chair Freda Katunda.  "Though we were tired by the end of the night, we felt great that we could help the kids over at the Birchtree Center. We look forward to many visits come this school year!"

Thanks, Alpha Xi Delta; you are Birchtree heroes!

Birchtree Video

Our new five-minute video, Danny's Story, tells the story of one Birchtree family in their own words.  We produced the video thanks to a generous pro-bono donation from Heartwood Media. 

Heartwood's video experts came to Birchtree to help us plan our story, film our programs in action, and interview Danny's parents and instructors.  It was a pleasure working with the Heartwood staff, from planning to post-production, thanks to their upbeat attitude, fun sense of humor, and commitment to our educational mission.

Of course, Danny's story is but one of many stories we could tell about the impact that Birchtree's programs have on families living with autism in northern New England.  You can read about some other Birchtree families' experiences by clicking here.

The Silver Linings at Birchtree

 

On March 31st, The Birchtree Center's students with autism enjoyed a concert by The Silver Linings, a group of twenty-four singers and instrumentalists from Oyster River Middle School.

During their visit to Birchtree, the seventh-grade musicians performed a half-hour program under the direction of music teacher David Ervin.  Birchtree's students smiled, clapped, and moved to the rhythm of current hits and classic tunes including "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and "Imagine."

After the concert, our students got the chance to thank the performers and look more closely at the instruments.

Birchtree's music instructor and music therapist, Virginia Macdonald, helped prepare our students to attend the concert.  During their music lessons in March, students listened to recordings of songs on the program. 

The concert provided the perfect conclusion to Music in Our Schools Month and reminded us all of the power of music to foster communication and learning.  We thank The Silver Linings for helping our students with autism practice the skills they will need to enjoy a lifetime of music appreciation.

Birchtree's "Angels" Speak

We call them our "Altrusa Angels"--the local professionals from the Altrusa Club of the Seacoast who volunteer regularly at The Birchtree Center. With help from these caring volunteers, our students develop their social skills and make beautiful holiday gifts for their families. Here's what the "Altrusa Angels" have said about their work at Birchtree . . .

"I always leave Birchtree feeling enriched. It's not about what I do for the children, it's what they do for me! I am so happy to be a part of Birchtree." -Marilyn

"I would just like to say that I love doing projects at Birchtree with the children. While doing the activities such as valentines and Mother's Day gifts, I can only imagine how Mom feels upon receiving the gift, knowing that her child can indeed do this for her. It is just a feel-good experience for me and I leave singing to myself and knowing I did something really nice for someone." -Sue B.

"I have always enjoyed working on the various holiday projects with the Birchtree children and it has truly enriched my life." -Sue C.

"The reaction of these children to a new challenge is inspirational. They conquer their fear and uncertainty to be part of a special job that brings pride to all around them." -Beth

"As a volunteer with Altrusa, we have assisted the Birchtree students and staff in making valentines, Mother's and Father's Day presents, holiday plantings and cards for the students to take home to honor various celebrations. The children each add their own personal touches and sign their names to their cards and gifts. These visits with the children are fun, intense and expose the gifts of patience, love, cheer and inspiration. They have taught me lessons -take nothing for granted... be grateful for the daily mundane... think twice about the meaning of surrender. Giving support to others has great value. My reward is measured in something profound."  -Natalie

"I truly enjoy working with the children at The Birchtree Center and I come away with the great feeling of doing something so worthwhile and rewarding. To see the smiles on the children's faces is simply awesome." -Norma

"Over the years I have watched their progress and applauded their accomplishments. They always make me smile and I am happy to be among them. What I did not expect was the enrichment I would receive in my life. Jessie, one of the Birchtree teachers, told me at our first meeting that “you will fall in love these children" .... and I certainly did! The dedication and hard work of the staff always amazes me, as does the love and support of the parents and siblings of the students....it is beautiful. Everyone associated with The Birchtree Center has grabbed a piece of my heart and will always have it." -Kathleen 

"I, too, come away after one of our visits feeling that my life has been enriched by the time spent with the children and their wonderful teachers. It is both joyful and inspiring for me to see how these kids have grown and progressed over the last several years. I am so proud of them. What a delight to be even a small part of this special place!" -Sandy

About The Altrusa Club of the Seacoast

The Altrusa Club of the Seacoast is the local chapter of Altrusa International, Inc., a worldwide organization of over 14,000 members of professional ladies and men who do various community service and literacy projects in their cities and towns. Our group, the former Portsmouth Altrusa Club, has expanded to include members from the Greater Seacoast area: York, Kittery, Eliot, Dover, Stratham and Rochester. Our club was chartered back in the early 1940s and early projects included "Baskets for Britain" during WW II, when packages of bandages and other war needs were sent to the troops overseas, much the same as our current club has sent packages more recently to our soldiers in Iraq.

Several years ago, Dr. Barbara Frankel, one of the founders of The Birchtree Center, came as a guest speaker to one of Altrusa's semi-monthly meetings and introduced us to Birchtree. She told us of Birchtree's upcoming move to a new location in Portsmouth.  Looking for a way to be of service, many of our members donned their painting clothes and joined in with the staff and other volunteers to paint and clean and get the new school rooms, offices and gym ready for the kids. Later that year, she invited us once again to join them as they hosted an Apple Festival fundraiser.

We were hooked! What a great group of teachers, parents and children to get to know and spend time with! Over the last few years, it has become increasingly apparent to us that whatever we do to help out at The Birchtree Center comes back to us tenfold in smiles and love and good feelings. It is easy to see why we love what we do as "Altrusa Angels" at The Birchtree Center, and we hope to enjoy a long and happy association with this wonderful school.

The Gift of Music

Birchtree's students gave their families the gift of music during our Winter Concert on December 23.   Seventy-two Birchtree parents, guardians, grandparents, siblings and friends gathered to watch Birchtree's students with autism play their instruments and perform seasonal favorites including "Let it Snow" and "Frosty the Snowman."

For many Birchtree students, this was their first experience making music in front of a large audience.  Music instructor Virginia Macdonald worked closely with students and their instructors to develop musical performances to showcase the talents and abilities of every student.  Students played bells, percussion instruments and a guitar.  Some sang or vocalized, while others signed or made motions to the music.

Instructors helped students prepare for this potentially overwhelming event by holding frequent practices and a school-wide dress rehearsal.  During their rehearsals, students worked not only to master the songs but also to develop social skills such as listening, turn-taking, and "tuning in" to their fellow students.

All our students were able to overcome their challenges and participate successfully in the concert.  Many parents had tears in their eyes as they witnessed their children making music in ways they never thought possible.

Students performed in front of a wintry backdrop created by students and staff under the direction of art teacher Joshua Wiggin.  At the end of the concert, everyone joined in a rousing chorus of "Jingle Bells," and we went home with tunes in our heads and joy in our hearts!

To read a Foster's Daily Democrat story about the concert, click here.  To read a Portsmouth Herald story about the concert, click here. 

On behalf of the students, staff, board
and volunteers of The Birchtree Center,

warm holiday wishes 
to you and all your loved ones!