Jowonio Grad Enters Princeton
We recently received the following letter, along with a generous donation, from proud parents of a Jowonio grad:

Dear Friends of Jowonio:

We are pleased to provide this contribution towards continuing the mission of Jowonio.

Our oldest son Brendan had a wonderful first few years of educational experience at Jowonio as a preschooler. After having three years in the Fayetteville-Manlius school district, we then moved to central New Jersey where this past spring Brendan graduated with honors from the Montgomery Township school district, having taken and excelled at a rigorous course of study. Last week we proudly watched him enter Princeton University as a member of the Class of 2011 the day after his 18th birthday!

We remain most grateful for the educational start he received at Jowonio in playing a part in his academic success story and his development into a kind and caring young man. And we often will still try to recall and “sign” to each other some of the simple - but yet profound - hand signs we learned from Jowonio many years ago!

Sincerely,

Drs. John and Cathryn Heath
Belle Mead, NJ

April 2008 Roots and Wings
by Ellen Barnes

Jennie and Rachel Apter live in the Washington, D.C, area, where Jennie is a Senior Communications Analyst in the health policy division of the Government Accountability Office; she recently was an extra in an upcoming Russell Crowe/Ben Affleck movie filmed in her neighborhood.

Rachel Apter Kolliopoulos and her husband Dion are the enraptured parents of daughter Ellie; they live in Arlington, Virginia where Rachel is Deputy Director of Government Relations for Best Buddies International, a not-for-profit enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities through integrated employment and social networks. Rachel and Jennie attended Jowonio at Salt City Playhouse, and their mother Dianne is a long-time supporter and currently a member of the Friends of Jowonio Board.

Steven Barash , Jowonio graduate, performed the role of Readymoney Matt in the Manlius Pebble Hill spring production of The Threepenny Opera ; Hanni Schwarzlander , whose children Carl and Casey Beach have attended Jowonio, was one of the director/choreographers of the play.

Alumnus Matthew Delmonico from Skaneatles is a “Newschaser” for Syracuse.com and the Post-Standard; as a volunteer reporter, he is able to share news tips/stories about his community. Matt is a student in the Passages program at Onondaga Community College.

Pat Druger , member of the Friends of Jowonio Board, and her husband Marvin have contributed an initial gift to the Marvin Druger Recognition Fund at Syracuse University; a beginning goal for the fund is to underwrite a lab in the new Life Sciences Complex. Marvin, known as an innovative and inspiring professor, has taught biology for over 50 years. Their grandchildren Aaron, Josh and Rachel Druger attended Jowonio, and it was their involvement here that inspired Pat to become an active member of our board.

This fall the Paul Brookes Company will publish a textbook edited by David Clark, Gail Ensher, and Nan Songer entitled Families, Infants and Young Children at Risk: Pathways to Best Practice. Gail is a professor in the School of Education at Syracuse University, in charge of Early Childhood Special Education; her daughters Kim and Lindsey attended Jowonio, have worked at Jowonio in the summer, and are planning on careers with young children. Ellen Barnes, Jowonio Director, and Lori Saile, Support Teacher , have written a chapter for the textbook on Autism in Young Children.

The Fallis family wrote to us at Christmas from Macon, Georgia where Richard is the Dean of Liberal Arts at Mercer University. Jean spent part of the year recovering from a total hip replacement and Jeffrey (Jowonio grad) continues to participate in local Democratic politics and maintain a brisk e-bay business. Jean and Richard are planning a trip to Alaska and the Canadian northwest in May.

Patrick Forget , former Jowonio Physical Therapist, continues his private practice, Family Physical Therapy, where he sees infants, children and adults with a blend of both traditional and holistic approaches. Patrick’s wife Julie is a teacher at Jowonio; they have two daughters, Kira and Elise. You can reach his office at (315) 251-1036 or e-mail him at familypt@centralny.twcbc.com .

Dr. Carroll Grant , Director of the Margaret L. Williams Developmental Evaluation Center, supported by a grant from the Kohl’s Foundation, has created Kidspeak, a puppet show to help students understand the experiences and perspective of their peers with autism spectrum disorders. Carroll has been a friend of Jowonio’s since she collected her dissertation data in our program at Salt City Playhouse, and her daughter Carrellyn Grant-Case attended the school as a preschooler and is now in high school at Jamesville-Dewitt.

Christopher Hartzeim , who graduated from Jowonio as did his siblings, was named to the All Central New York Soccer first team; Chris is a senior at Fayetteville-Manlius High School.

Dr. Martin Henley , who was involved in Jowonio’s early years at Salt City Playhouse, is a professor of education at Westfield State College in Massachusetts. In addition to college teaching, he has held administrative positions at Westfield, presented at numerous professional conferences, and published articles and books on school discipline, inclusion and violence prevention.

Jowonio alumna Beth Hogle graduated from East Syracuse-Minoa Schools and is a freshman at Morrisville State College; Beth’s brother Bobby is a student at East Syracuse Minoa Schools and has made the honor roll.

As a support for All Saints Elementary School, Jowonio Art Teacher Iver Johnson worked with Walt McDermott from the Printing Center to create four tapestries for their 2008 St. Patrick’s Day float; reflecting the parade theme, “Cornerstones of the Community”, Iver painted 19 th century scenes of railroads, firefighters, police and Erie Canal boats.

Chris Kliewer , Ph.D. is a professor of Special Education at the University of Northern Iowa where he teaches and writes about his special interests in literacy development and inclusion of children with significant disabilities; Chris’s new book, Seeing All Kids as Readers: A New Vision of Literacy in the Inclusive Early Childhood Classroom , has been published by Paul Brookes.

As part of Celebrate Newspapers Day, students all over central New York were asked to submit self-portraits and some were reproduced in a special section of the Post-Standard; the self-image contributed by Vincent Lamicela , Jowonio grad and 6 th grader at Jamesville-Dewitt Middle School, was one of those chosen for publication. Vincent’s brother Carl was a student in the Rainbow Room and his mother Sonja served as President of the Jowonio School Board and as a staff person for Friends of Jowonio.

This summer Sherry Lehr Fohr and her family, husband Christian and daughters Nanina and Annika, came from Heidelberg, Germany, to visit her parents Bob and Sue Lehr, brother Ben (Jowonio grad) and sister Penny and family, Dee, Danielle and DeForest (both grads). Sherry, who taught for Jowonio, is teaching on-line classes for the University of Maryland . Bob and Sue , both retired from SUNY Cortland, have been renovating their home on Tully Lake and writing a book about their experiences. Their gift to Jowonio, the wonderful sculpture in the front of our building, gets rave reviews from those who drive by!

Nancy Lipsitt , whose son Max Newman is a student in the Star Room, is a clinical psychologist interested in the social-emotional development of children; she has been instrumental in creating a group that includes many of the private elementary and secondary schools in the Syracuse area, to increase community knowledge of these options, collaborate on common concerns and foster a dialogue in our community about educational and parenting issues.

Jon Mason , alumnus and son of Jowonio teacher Elaine Mason , is in Shanghai, China, this year teaching English as a second language and traveling widely in Asia; Jon graduated from Syracuse University with wide-ranging interests in film, international relations, and business. One of Jon’s roommates in Shanghai has been Paul Henley , who taught at Jowonio for a number of summers, and whose parents John (now Director of Elmcrest Children’s Center) and Diane were early staff members at Jowonio in Salt City Playhouse.

We had the pleasure of a surprise visit from Scott May all the way from Juneau, Alaska! Scott taught at Jowonio in the 1980’s and then moved to Hawaii, Australia, and then Alaska. Scott and his wife Carol and daughter Mikayla live with a glacier in their backyard, and he teaches elementary physical education and coaches track (where his team flies all over the state for meets). To contact Scott (maybe he’ll share his pictures of humpback whales and bears down the road!), e-mail him at smay21@mac.com .

Lauren O’Connor , who worked as a teacher aide at Jowonio, is the Lemoyne College women’s lacrosse coach; while her team made the NCAA post-season tournament 4 out of the last 6 years, the new rules have qualified them as an independent rather than a member of the MAA Conference, which will make the possibility of NCAA play very difficult.

Kate O’Hara , long time teacher at Jowonio and parent of graduates Julianna and Mia , is a senior outreach specialist at the Girl Scout Council of Central New York; her daughters attend Edward Smith School.

Jowonio and West Genesee graduate Becca Priest is living in Rome, New York and working for the Developmental Services Organization as a member of their Speakers’ Bureau, where she trains staff and also surveys individuals living in group homes regarding their satisfaction. In the summer she will move into a new house being built by United Cerebral Palsy in Rome and in September she will be a freshman at Mohawk Valley Community College. Becca can be reached at pussycat226@aol.com .

Ana Riley , graduate of Jowonio and Nottingham High School, received a scholarship to attend Wells College in Aurora, New York, where she is playing on the tennis team.

Several Jowonio alumni were acknowledged in the 2008 Scholastic Art Awards, where over 4500 works of art from 91 area junior and senior high schools were submitted for review by professional artists and educators; they included Emily Frank , Jamesville-Dewitt Middle School (Director’s Award for Best Junior High Artwork and Mixed Media, Gold Key); Rhimmon Simchy Gross , Fayetteville-Manlius High School (Silver Key Award, painting); Sarah Green , Jamesville-Dewitt (Honorable Mention, Photography Portfolio); Megan Wagner Flynn , Jamesville-Dewitt High School (Honorable Mention); and Patrick Niedzwiecki , Westhill High School (Gold Key, Fine Arts Portfolio and Silver Key, Drawing).

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October 2007 "Roots and Wings"
by Ellen Barnes

Dianne Apter, member of the Friends of Jowonio Boardandformer Jownio parent, and her business partner Cynthia O’Connor facilitated the Literacy Impact Task Force, a central New York community-wide effort to raise awareness about literacy issues and set common goals as indicators of literacy; former Jowonio parent Joe Vargo, whose daughter Ro is a volunteer in the Kangaroo Room, was a member of the Task Force.

Maryanne Argento, parent of Jowonio students Lisa and Julie, appeared on Live with Regis and Kelly as one of the show’s “Mom’s Dream Come True” winners. Maryanne was nominated for the show by a Syracuse Post-Standard reader who saw the article about her adoption of seven, soon to be eight, children, most of whom have special needs.

Baby boom at Jowonio! In the last six months there have been five new additions to our staff family: Nicholas, son of Earth Room teacher Jennifer Barr; Dylan, son of Speech-language Pathologist Alissa Friedman; Elise, daughter of Bunny Room teacher Julie and former Physical Therapist Patrick Forget; Isaac, son of Speech-language Pathologist Allison O’Brien; and Vivianne, daughter of Rainbow teacher Jed Kissane.

Kevin Bray’s talent as a runner was highlighted in a feature in the Syracuse Post-Standard; Kevin is a member of the varsity track team in Phoenix.

Two former Jowonio staff have received new appointments as administrators in the Syracuse City School District: Alice Brogan was named Vice-principal at Van Duyn Elementary and Margaret Morone-Wilson was appointed Principal at Van Duyn.

The Van Ry-Capozzi family has moved back last year to Central New York from Colorado; Jennifer is working part-time as a Support Teacher at Jowonio, sons Jaiden and Kieran are students with us, and John Capozzi, a massage therapist, has begun work at the innovative CNY Healing Arts Center, offering alternative therapies to women.

Roger Cherry graduated in June 2007 from East Syracuse Minoa High School among the top ten students in his class, a National Merit Scholar, and the winner of the Joan Colvin Starfish Award to a senior who has made a difference by giving back to friends, family and community; he is a freshman at Houghton College.

Brittany Cook, Jowonio alumna, graduated in June 2007 with her Regents diploma from Birdlebough High School in Phoenix, New York; she is an accomplished cartoonist.

Cory Denson and his sister Michela, former Rainbow Room students, were featured in a documentary on inclusive education entitled It’s Elementary. Filmed at Edward Smith School, and in students’ homes, the documentary was the senior film thesis of Andy Genovese and Samantha Grogin from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.

Bethany Graves Devos was ordained in October 2007 at the Pitcher Hill Community Church in Salina as a minister in the Reformed Church of America; Bethany was a teacher at Jowonio.

Exceptional Family Resources is fortunate to have three Jowonio parents as staff or Board members: Sharon Salvo, whose daughter Ellie attended Jowonio, is an Advocacy Coordinator; Anne Winschel, mother of alumna Holly, is in charge of grant-writing and compliance; and John Scott, Elizabeth’s father and Rehabilitation Counselor at NYS Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, has joined the Board of Directors.

Jill Gillette, former Jowonio physical therapist and parent of Hunter and Dakota, earned her doctoral degree in physical therapy from Des Moines University. Jill is a department chair at Interactive Therapy Group.

Kristin Botwinick Guillory, whose son Danny attended Jowonio, was awarded the Lionel Grossman Memorial Award at the Enable Shining Lights Celebration in April 2007 for her social work with the STARS program, teaching social skills to students with autism.

An August newsletter arrived from the Hartman-Souder family in Nigeria with news about their service projects through MCC Nigeria; Jowonio grads Valerie (4 th grader) and Greg (Kindergartner) enjoyed playing and traveling in Africa during their summer break and are now back at school. They can be reached at hartmansouder@gmail.org.

Amanda Hopkins, former teacher at Jowonio, is working as a Special Education Teacher in Herkimer, N.Y. where she is participating in the start-up of a Universal Pre-K program; she and her husband have a son, Jonathan, whom they are hoping to adopt and is currently placed with them through foster care.

Cynthia Johnson, administrative assistant at Jowonio and parent of alumna Kristen Johnson, was named Outstanding Volunteer of the Year from the East-Syracuse Minoa Service Unit of the Girl Scout Council.

Jowonio staff have been busy sharing their knowledge with others. In May 2007 Lori Lawless, Support Teacher, with Ellen Donovan and Mary Mastin, former Jowonio teachers now working at Ed Smith School, presented a workshop on Understanding Children’s Behavior and Approaching Change for the annual Exceptional Family Resources conference. During the summer 2007 Krista Williams, School Psychologist, taught a Syracuse University course Positive Approaches to Challenging Behaviors. Lisa Neville, our Occupational Therapist and parent of three Jowonio grads, was the October speaker at the CNY Autism Society of America, discussing Sensory Issues with Children. Sylvia White, a Physical Therapist, spoke at a Syracuse University graduate education class on the role of physical therapist with young children. Carol Spartano, long-time Jowonio Support Teacher and mother of 4 graduates, is the first presenter at the 2007-2008 Pizza Series, sponsored by the CNY Coalition for Young Children; her topic is Positive Approaches to ChallengingBehaviors. Ellen Barnes, Director, and Lori Saile, Support Teacher, are again instructors for the Syracuse University School of Education course, Teaching Children and Youth with Autism.

Hesham Khater, Jowonio alumnus, was featured in a March 2007 article published in Jerk Magazine, a Syracuse University student publication, about facilitated communication; Khater articulately describes his frustration with his inability to talk and the importance of others seeing him and his intelligence through his unique way of communicating.

Stacia Klim, graduate of Jamesville-Dewitt Schools and Jowonio, received recognition as an All-CNY Scholar in Foreign Language for her achievements in French; she plans a career in international law at American University.

Craig Knoblock, in the founding class at Jowonio, and research professor at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering, won a Virtual Earth Award from Microsoft to support his project fusing existing online resources with aerial maps. Craig lives in El Segundo, California, with his wife Claire, and children Alex and Margaret.

Sam Kraemer, senior at Nottingham High School in Syracuse and Jowonio graduate, participated in a lacrosse tournament in Sweden; initiated by an exchange student who had lived with Sam and his family, the tournament was the second ever hosted there.

Byron Lee, Jowonio graduate and student at Skaneatles High School, was lauded for his performance as Egeus in the school’s well-reviewed spring 2007 production of Midsummer Night’s Dream. Byron is planning work on an Eagle Scout community service project on Sarah’s Path, our nature trail.

Sarah Lund, alumna of Jowonio and Manlius Pebble Hill and currently a student at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, received a full-time internship in the media department of advertising and public relations firm Latorra, Paul and McCann.

Norman Miles, whose son Mark attended Jowonio and whose wife Judy has been a long-time teacher with us, became a film producer this year when he created a production company and filmed a documentary entitled Jesus: The Lost Years, based on a book by Paul Perry. The film will be shown in limited release with the DVD available for purchase.

Diana Millett, who taught for Jowonio’s ENRICH team, and whose daughter Olivia was a Kangaroo student, has a new baby in her family: Jackson Willard Millett, born 9/13/07. Jackson joins siblings Olivia, Sean, and Elliott, and parents Diana and Kris, living near family in DeRuyter, N.Y.

Suzette Oswald, who taught at Jowonio, has now returned to us as a substitute; Suzette and her husband Ray Roberts are the parents of baby Duncan and reside in the village of DeRuyter, N.Y.

Dave Pasinski, former Jowonio School Board member and parent of grads Mariah and Micah, has been selected to serve on the 2007 Ethics Committee for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization; Dave has worked for 14 years with Hospice of Central New York and contributes to a number of local and national publications.

Elliott Regan graduated in June 2007 from Manlius Pebble Hill and is attending SUNY Geneseo; Elliott’s mother Kate taught at Jowonio and he and his brothers Forrest and Kieran attended Jowonio.

Maggie Lamond Simone, regular columnist for Family Times and mother of Jowonio grad Renny, has earned awards from Parenting Publications of America for her honest and funny take on motherhood; she has been published in several anthologies and recently has a contract for three children’s books.

Syracuse Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Spring 2007 concert highlighted the talents of four Jowonio alumni: Sierra Messina-Yauchzy and Danielle Umstead on the violin, Alyson Bittner on the viola, and Forrest Regan on the contrabass.

Genta Trebicka, who attended Jowonio as a preschooler, became a naturalized U.S. citizen last year. Genta was born in Albania and came to to Syracuse when she was three years old. Her mother Ida, a gifted pianist, teaches in the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University.

Sue Watson, former parent and volunteer at Ed Smith School, was honored by Parents for Public Schools of Syracuse, Inc. in May 2007 at its Celebration of Excellence. Sue’s sons Bobby and Josh attended Jowonio.

Nicole Willett, Jowonio alumna, is working in Washington, D.C. for Senator Hillary Clinton on issues of foreign affairs.

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