Happenings at Riverview

With the help of the Recruitment and Employee Relations teams, Project SEARCH interns gain real-life experiences through coffee chats with CCHC leaders and mock interviews before embarking on job search after graduation in June.

At Cape Cod Healthcare, fostering the next generation of healthcare professionals isn’t just a mission—it’s a commitment. A series of initiatives aims to provide Project SEARCH interns—students in their last year at the Riverview School—with the tools, insights and opportunities they need to step confidently into the workforce. 

Coffee Chats

Throughout the year, Riverview students participate in Riverview Coffee Chats—a unique platform where they can interact with leaders from various departments within CCHC. These informal conversations provide an invaluable opportunity for students to hone their conversational skills and gain insights into different career paths within the healthcare industry. 

“The main purpose of these coffee chats is for our interns to practice natural conversational skills with community members,” says Amy Carroll, Project SEARCH instructor for Cape Cod Hospital. “We also get to know individuals who we see throughout the hospital and learn about their own journeys through the world of work.” 

Annual recruitment presentation and mock interviews 

In addition to the Coffee Chats, every year in late Spring the Recruitment and Employee Relations teams connect with the students before they graduate from Riverview in June and start their job searches. 

The annual recruitment presentation and mock interviews serve as a vital platform for students to refine their interview skills and gain valuable insights into the Cape Cod job market. Led by the recruitment team, the presentation covers a spectrum of topics ranging from general information about CCHC to application techniques and recruitment strategies. 

Following the presentation, students undergo mock interviews facilitated by members of the Recruitment and HRBP team. This hands-on experience allows them to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice. Moreover, it provides a glimpse into their aspirations and career goals. 

These events have led to tangible outcomes. Over the years, the organization has welcomed several Riverview graduates into the CCHC family. By providing them with the resources, guidance and opportunities they need, CCHC empowers them to thrive in their careers and make meaningful contributions to the healthcare landscape of Cape Cod.  

The recruitment team looks forward to witnessing the bright futures that lie ahead for these aspiring healthcare professionals!

To view the slideshow of photos featuring Project Search students at a recent coffee chat with Michael Lauf and attending the annual recruitment presentation at 60 Park St. in Hyannis click HERE.

HYANNIS — Riverview School, a private East Sandwich school for students with disabilities, is under contract to purchase the 40-acre Twin Brooks Golf Course on Scudder Avenue in Hyannis.

The purchase stops a proposed plan to build an apartment complex on the land.

Head of School Stewart Miller said Riverview School had searched for land for almost two years. The independent, coeducational boarding/day school serves students aged 11 to 21 with various learning challenges, such as autism, Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities.

Buying the property will allow the school to expand its offerings to students beyond 22 years old, said Miller.

“We really change the whole trajectory of lives here, and the friendships that the students form, and belonging to this community is really life-changing,” he said. “We want to make sure that we can extend our programming beyond that kind of arbitrary age cut-off.”

Twin Brooks apartment complex not moving forward

Meanwhile, plans to turn the golf course into a 312-unit apartment complex are now dead.

The decision to terminate the agreement for real estate developer Quarterra Multifamily Communities to buy the property was mutual, said Chuck Carey of Carey Commercial, who represented the sellers. Carey named “NIMBY neighbor opposition” as the reason, using the acronym for “not in my backyard.”

“No point in calling it otherwise,” said Carey. “It was totally disingenuous outcry based on the fact that some of those people have a house in the area and just enjoy the fact that they have a free grassy backyard golf course.”

Twin Brooks Golf Course in Hyannis is owned by TFG Hyannis Hospitality LLC, according to the assessor’s office.

Quarterra wanted to build 13 three-story apartment buildings within walking distance of Main Street, with 13% of the apartments set aside for affordable housing.

The Cape Cod Commission had signed off on the plan. But the project, known as Emblem Hyannis, drew heavy opposition from local residents, including the group Save Twin Brooks, which wanted to preserve the site and lodged a legal challenge in Barnstable Superior Court along with several other plaintiffs.

Dan Lee, Quarterra northeast division president, could not be reached for comment.

No concrete plans yet for Riverview

Riverview School “can only begin to dream at this point,” said Miller, adding that no fully formed comprehensive programs have been prepared yet.

“We are pleased and heartened that this property now appears to be going to a long-standing Cape institution that has many of the same values that we have,” said John Ale, a retired lawyer and Save Twin Brooks volunteer.

Save Twin Brooks now looks forward to collaborating with the new owner to continue efforts to preserve the site and restore the degraded estuary, said Ale.

The school has begun land planning work to determine how the property can best be used to further its expanded mission, said Miller, and has reached out to Save Twin Brooks, Barnstable Land Trust, and town officials to understand their hopes and concerns for the parcel.

The school received its largest philanthropic donation from an anonymous donor that will allow it to purchase the land.

Both Carey and Miller said they could not divulge the price at this time. The property is set to close on March 13, said Miller, at which point they’d be free to discuss those details.

More on Riverview School

Founded in 1957, Riverview has an East Sandwich campus on Route 6A that contains a cafe and a thrift store as public-facing businesses where students can work and interact with the community, as well as a couple of dormitories off the proper campus. All combined, it totals about 20 acres, said Miller.

“We love our campus in East Sandwich and we have absolutely no plans to do anything different there. We’ve just reached the point where we cannot further develop it,” said Miller.

The school has about 200 students and employs about 225 adults. It has three programs: middle school, high school, and GROW (Getting Ready for the Outside World). About 60% of the students are from Massachusetts.

Carey called the new agreement with Riverview a “wonderful solution” and noted that the Dover Amendment exempts educational uses from certain zoning restrictions.

The Dover Amendment, originally adopted in 1950, mandates that proposed religious and educational land uses be given more favorable treatment than other proposed uses (such as residential, commercial or industrial) under local zoning ordinances and by-laws, according to the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association, an interlocal service of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

“It’s still a benefit to the town,” said Carey.

This article originally appeared in the Cape Cod Times online, February 14, 2024. https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/local/2024/02/14/twin-brooks-housing-project-dropped-riverview-school-acquires-land/72583241007/

Written by Zane Razzaq. She writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.

The heavily debated apartment complex proposed for the former Twin Brooks golf course in Hyannis will not be built after all.

The 40-acre parcel has a new buyer: Riverview School, a boarding and day school in Sandwich for students with complex learning challenges.

Stewart Miller, the head of school, said Riverview wants to add programming for students over 21.

“This school really changes the whole trajectory of students’ lives,” he said. “But when they turn 22, that’s kind of an arbitrary cutoff, and they don’t have the ability to stay at the school. … We want to use this as an opportunity to create programming so that belonging to Riverview doesn’t need to end at 21.”

He said Riverview received its largest-ever private donation to support that work.

The golf course property was the subject of a lawsuit by the community group Save Twin Brooks, which wanted to see at least part of the land saved for conservation and recreation.

Save Twin Brooks and two other plaintiffs sued the Cape Cod Commission and developer Quarterra (formerly Lennar Multifamily Communities, or LMC), seeking to appeal the Commission’s approval of a development plan for 312 apartments.

Angela Rutzick, a spokeswoman for Save Twin Brooks, said the group welcomes Riverview with open arms.

“We don’t have any idea of what the planning is going to look like, what the buildings are going to look like,” she said. “But looking at their campus in Sandwich, we are thrilled that they’ve done such a great job there and hope that they’re going to continue to do that here.”

Save Twin Brooks hopes to work with the school to protect natural resources on the property.

Rutzick said Quarterra’s previous agreement to purchase the land expired. She said she wasn’t sure if the agreement had been renewed.

Quarterra could not be reached for comment.

Dan Lee, the company’s northeast division president, said last fall that Quarterra remained fully committed to the project, in spite of the delay caused by the lawsuit.

Housing advocates vocally supported the proposed apartment complex, known as Emblem Hyannis.

During a hearing before the Cape Cod Commission in 2022, residents testified about the hardships of finding year-round housing on the Cape. Some said increasing the inventory of apartments would help hold down rent prices.

Riverview School has a contract with Twin Brooks owner Wesley Finch to buy the land, Miller said. He said he expects to close on the sale in March.

The change of plans for Twin Brooks leaves unanswered a larger concern raised by the Barnstable Land Trust: that regional land-use policies on Cape Cod make previously developed green spaces — such as golf courses, farms, and summer camps — vulnerable to other forms of development that communities may not be expecting.

This article originally appeared on CAI - Local NPR for Cape Cod & the Islands online. https://www.capeandislands.org/local-news/2024-02-14/apartment-plan-for-twin-brooks-canceled-riverview-school-to-buy-the-40-acre-property

Written by Jennette Barnes. She is a reporter and producer. Named a Master Reporter by the New England Society of News Editors, she brings more than 20 years of news experience to CAI.

Dynamic Duo on North 3

Rose Ryder, CCH Environmental Services and Gretchen Wronski, Riverview Student

On the third floor of North 3 at Cape Cod Hospital, mentor Rose Ryder and Riverview School student Gretchen Wronski work together to make every corner sparkle and shine. The pair begin their mornings by creating a checklist: Greet patients, make beds, pull trash, sanitize high-touch areas, mop floors, clean the break room and bathrooms. Gretchen affectionately refers to her mentor as Ms. Rose.

Ryder, a Cape Cod Healthcare housekeeper, takes one student under her wing per semester to teach job skills and accountability in the workplace. Her mentorship is part of a national program called Project SEARCH, a school-to-work transition plan available to students in their last year at Riverview. The program helps young adults with developmental disabilities gain confidence, learn new skills and find jobs. As a mentor, Ryder says she takes a hands-on approach. “I don’t like to say, ‘Go off and do this.’ I enjoy working side by side with them,” says Ryder, who also volunteers a couple of days a week in the summer at Riverview.

Teaching is ultimately a two-way street, and Ryder says she learns a lot during the 2½-month mentoring period, including compassion, determination, gratitude and lots of love. “Working as a mentor is one of the best things I have done. These students are amazing.”

Gretchen explains the feeling is mutual. “I am so happy I get to work at Cape Cod Hospital. I was excited and jumping around,” she says. “Cape Cod Hospital is my favorite and housekeeping is my favorite with Ms. Rose.”

Editor’s Note: After working 23 years at Cape Cod Hospital, Rose Ryder will soon be bringing her upbeat demeanor and strong work ethic to Falmouth Hospital. We wish Rose all the best!

This article originally appeared in the Cape Cod Healthcare newsletter, The Pulse. https://www.cchcpulse.com/neighbors-helping-neighbors/the-joys-of-giving-back/

Public Invited to Learn from Leading Researchers in Field

East Sandwich, Massachusetts - Riverview School is thrilled to be partnering with Pediatric Neurologist, Margaret Bauman and Director of the University of California MIND Institute’s Autism Center of Excellence, David Amaral to host a Summer 2021 Autism Lecture Series.

Beginning Thursday, July 8, and occurring every Thursday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for eight consecutive weeks, the series will offer both special education professionals and the general public the opportunity to visit Riverview School, located at 551 Route 6A in East Sandwich, to learn about Autism from experts across the country.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Riverview will be opening its Lund Auditorium at limited capacity to the first 100 guests to register for each session.

“Riverview is honored to host this series. When Dr. Bauman and David Amaral approached me with the idea, I knew that it was a home run. Not only is it an exciting opportunity for the community to learn about autism from leading researchers in the field, but it’s a chance for Riverview to broaden its impact and showcase our innovative programming, great students, staff, and campus here on beautiful Cape Cod,” said Stewart Miller, Head of Riverview School.

Following is the Schedule of Events:

July 8: What is Autism? - Charles Nelson, Ph.D., Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard University

July 15: Exploring the Brain-Gut Connection in Autism - Tim Buie, M.D., Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard University

July 22: Healthy Relationships on the Autism Spectrum (HEARTS): A friendship and dating relationships intervention co-created with autistic people - Emily Rothman, ScD, Boston University

July 29: Technology and Autism - Matthew S. Goodwin, PhD, Northeastern University

August 5: Transition to Adulthood: Navigating the Challenges and Finding Opportunities for those who have Autism Spectrum Disorder in Massachusetts - Julie M. O’Brien, M.Ed., LMHC, Lurie Center, MGH

August 12: Epilepsy and Autism: What is the Connection? - Sarah Spence, M.D., Boston Children’s Hospital

August 19: Biomarker Development in Autism - Dr. Jamie McPartland, Yale Child Studies Center

August 26: Panel: The Future of Autism Research and Treatment - Extended Q&A: Everything you wanted to know about autism and couldn’t find someone to ask - David G. Amaral, Ph.D., UC Davis, The MIND Institute - Margaret Bauman, M.D., Boston University - Other panelists TBA

For further information on the lectures and speakers, or to register to attend any of the sessions, please visit https://riverviewschool.org/autism. For those unable to attend, the lectures will be recorded and offered shortly thereafter on the School’s website.

Riverview School in Sandwich and Stonehill College in Easton have launched an innovative partnership bringing the College’s master’s degree program to Riverview’s scenic campus and providing expanded graduate degree opportunities for residents of Cape Cod and the surrounding towns. The partnership will offer a Stonehill Master of Education degree in Inclusive Education leading to Massachusetts licensure in special education, grades PK-8 or 5-12. The master’s degree program can be completed in approximately 18 months and caters to working professionals. Classes will be taught at Riverview’s 22-acre scenic campus in Sandwich by Stonehill faculty one weekend a month, Saturday and Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning in September 2021. Stonehill is offering a special partnership rate to Riverview staff looking to expand their education toward a graduate degree, with incentives to join the Riverview staff and receive tuition support. For non-Riverview staff, the cost is $2,500 per three-credit course plus fees. Applications are being accepted now. For more information, visit the program HERE. Dean of the May School of Arts & Sciences at Stonehill, and Sandwich resident, Peter Ubertaccio, encouraged the initial conversation that lead to the new partnership which taps into overlapping expertise at the two institutions. “An independent co-educational boarding and day school, Riverview has been serving adolescents and young adults with complex language and learning challenges for 63 years with a commitment to pedagogical excellence known worldwide. More recently, Stonehill developed a dynamic Inclusive Education program designed to reach all learners,” says Ubertaccio. “Stonehill’s educational mission is aligned with the work of Riverview, and we are thrilled to be able to bring our progressive master’s degree program to Cape Cod, where we see enormous potential,” said Director of Graduate Education at Stonehill Elizabeth Stringer Keefe. Riverview Assistant Heads of School Deanna White and Maria Cashdollar said the school is excited to offer its outstanding staff an opportunity for graduate study right on campus. “At Riverview, our staff members are dedicated to helping students with learning and cognitive challenges find competence in academic, social, wellness, and independent living pursuits,” said Deanna White. “In partnership with Stonehill, we can now offer them access to a graduate program that builds on their professional experiences and expertise. That helps them, our students and our school.”

Media Contact
Martin McGovern | Stonehill College | mmcgovern@stonehill.edu | (508) 565-1070 

About Stonehill College
Stonehill is a selective Catholic college located near Boston on a beautiful 384-acre campus in Easton, Massachusetts. With a student-faculty ratio of 12:1, the College engages over 2,500 students in 80+ rigorous academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences, and pre-professional fields. The Stonehill community helps students to develop the knowledge, skills, and character to meet their professional goals and to live lives of purpose and integrity.

About Riverview School
Riverview School in Sandwich is a private Massachusetts-DESE-approved boarding/day school for students with complex language, learning and cognitive disabilities, ages 11-21. Riverview offers middle & high school programs, as well as a post-high school transition program.

CAPE COD — Bead by bead and stitch by stitch, Elena Coln is making a nice nest egg for herself, selling crochet and beaded items on Etsy and at several Cape Cod stores.

The 23-year-old lives on the Cape and has a job coach through Cape Cognitive Behavioral Institute. Clinical Director Dr. Kristen Mulcahy says Coln has a natural gift when it comes to crafting, combined with business savvy.

To see the news segment and full article, click HERE

A partnership between the Riverview School and Stonehill College in Easton will bring a new graduate degree opportunity to the Upper Cape.

Slated to begin next fall, the college will be using the Riverview School as a satellite campus for a master’s of education program that centers on inclusive education. Students who complete the program will obtain state licensure in special education in either preschool through 8th grade or grades 5 through 12.

Click HERE to read the full story.

Riverview Adapts and Inspires Amid Pandemic

COVID-19 hit the United States in the middle of Riverview’s Spring Break. Students and staff were on vacation, and like everyone else, learned that School would be delayed in re-opening for a few weeks. Weeks turned into months, and through trial and error, resilience and determination, Riverview became highly-proficient at remote teaching. But nonetheless Riverview administrators and trustees worried about how the pandemic would impact students. Students were very confused by the events. They looked to their families and teachers for answers that nobody had. “Their world was being pulled away from them. They needed each other. They needed us. They needed to feel supported,” said Riverview Residential Instructor, Ryan Murphy. Residential staff quickly learned how to use Zoom, Kahoot and a plethora of other online tools to teach independent living skills, hold dorm meetings, instruct cooking demonstrations, lead dance parties, host game nights, and much more. Staff juggled their own children’s schoolwork and their own emotions about the future and their families, with concern for their students. According to Riverview Reading Skills Instructor Alyce Mallaghan, “I just couldn’t let my students regress. I couldn’t let them loose the momentum we had worked so hard to build. I had to dig and find out what they were excited about, and do whatever it would take to keep them engaged.” Adaptation was the challenge, and Riverview staff members rose to the occasion. Kerry Macurdy, Riverview’s Work Experience Coordinator and her team had to be especially creative. How could students learn transferable vocational skills without going to internships and worksites? In an effort to replicate the authentic work experience, Riverview reached out to its community partners for guidance and support. They responded enthusiastically by sending employee manuals, tableware and linens for hospitality management training, and hospital equipment so students could learn materials management and sanitation practices as close to the industry standard as possible. Riverview created workspaces and developed lessons around employer codes of conduct and professionalism based on the employment manuals. Every staff member rallied and learned how to meet their goals…differently. The Admissions Department started holding Virtual Information Sessions and Zoom Roundtable Discussions, the Advancement Department held its first ever Virtual Gala, the 8th Grade Stepping Up Ceremony and the Graduations were virtual. Everyone adapted; especially the students. Teacher, Elizabeth Clancy-Coleman expressed that Riverview students had become good digital citizens; how to be safe online, the responsible use of technology, and social skills for interacting with an online community. “These are skills that will serve students long after this is over as they navigate independent living and working,” she said. Head of School, Stewart miller agreed. “The Riverview spirit has persevered through adversity. While the world experiences a lot of uncertainty right now, it is clear that Riverview is for certain. The pandemic has put into perspective a whole new appreciation for the certainty of what Riverview makes possible for our students and their families,” he said.

Riverview Director of Facilities, Rich Garnett (pictured) discusses implementing groundbreaking sanitization protocols to help combat the virus.

The health and safety of students and staff at Riverview School is the foremost priority of the School’s trustees, administrators, and every person intimately connected to the world renown learning community.
One of the people at the forefront of that charge is Rich Garnett, the School’s Director of Facilities. Rich and his team are responsible for the safety and upkeep of Riverview’s 19 dormitories, 5 academic buildings, 2 administrative buildings, cafeteria, gymnasium, and the School’s two businesses; Café Riverview and Second-View Thrift Store. In addition, they maintain 22 acres of grounds, and a fleet of 24 vehicles.
Rich’s safety training is unmatched. He’s earned his Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 Card, which is a certification that states he is trained to maintain a safe work environment. He has also earned his OSHA Competent Person Trained, a certification that prepares him to oversee a crew’s safety in a group environment.
Rich says that he never misses an opportunity to learn something new, and has certainly proven that during this challenging and ever-changing time of COVID-19. Rich has been following the situation very closely since March when initial guidance was shared, and has made it his mission to learn everything that he can do to minimize risk at Riverview. As a result, he and his staff have earned the latest safety training certifications and executed groundbreaking sanitization protocols to combat the virus at the School.
“Maintenance staff has taken best practices cleaning and sanitation webinars. We’ve purchased the best sanitizing equipment available; including negative ion foggers, electrostatic foggers, and bleach misting sprayers. We have met or exceeded all guidance from the Dept. of Labor Standards, Department of Elementary School Education (DESE), Early Education and Care (EEC), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for sanitizing, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), and building operations. And we stay on top of it all by checking for updates several times a week,” said Rich.
One cutting edge procedure that has been implemented at Riverview is the use of electrostatic foggers. After daily cleaning and bleaching, all of the classrooms, dorms, administrative offices and common spaces are then fogged with Bioesque solution, an all-natural botanical biocide. The product has a 2-minute dwell time (how long it takes to effectively sanitize) and its active ingredient is derived from thyme oil. It can be used on food surfaces, and Rich chose it because he felt it was the best option for limiting student and staff exposure to toxins; as well as its short dwell time.
Additionally, Rich has seen to it that 50 hand sanitizer dispensers be installed in dorms and school buildings, that all HVAC systems are on 100% make up air to bring the maximum amount of fresh air into the buildings, and much more including:
• Installing 13 Merv filters in the HVAC per the recommendation of the American Society for Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE - the group that is responsible for all air quality and design code guidelines) to filter out COVID particulate;
• Fitting UV-C irradiators into the Heath Care Center return air ducts to sanitize the return air prior to recirculation;
• Ensuring there are 2 additional custodial staff working on weekends to clean dorm bathrooms;
• Mounting a multitude of new COVID-related signage for spacing, handwashing, masks, exits;
• Putting up separation barriers to keep pods from mingling.

Beyond sanitization practices, Riverview staff, students and their families have all agreed to a social contract that includes strict adherence to masking and social distancing. There is very limited interaction beyond living and learning pods. Staff and students are tested regularly, as well as self-attest every day. And if anyone exhibits symptoms, a quarantine protocol is implemented immediately.
When asked, Rich responded that he feels that the School is doing everything right when it comes to maintaining health and safety during the Pandemic. “We are all doing our best navigating the Pandemic. The students are so happy to be back together even though they’re distanced. They are learning and growing. Our work is meaningful. Their smiles tell us that.”

Head of Riverview School, Stewart Miller recently participated in a webinar with Epidemiologist, Dr. William Greendyke. They discussed Riverview’s Reopening Campus Plan and Dr. Greendyke answered frequently asked questions regarding masking, testing, and rationale for students quarantining before returning to campus. Dr. Greendyke also offered a high level overview of COVID-19 and effective prevention strategies.

On Friday, June 12, 2020, Riverview School held its 22nd annual “Village of Dreams” Gala. However, this year’s event was very different than any other Gala the School had ever held.

Instead of a beautifully decorated 80x190 sq. ft. tent, flower arrangements, live music, delicious food and 400 gussied-up guests; this year’s 2,664+ attendees tuned in to watch the Gala via YouTube from the comfort of their homes. And they sure showed up! Collectively they continued to extend their support of the School’s mission of providing a caring community for adolescents and young adults with complex language, learning and cognitive challenges, and came together to raise $860,000; resulting in a Riverview Gala fundraising record!

It took a lot of out of the box thinking and reimagining to make the event the incredible success that it was. Long before the pandemic was on anyone’s radar, Riverview contracted with audio visual company, Events United, located in Derry, NH to provide A/V services at the Gala. When COVID-19 prohibited an in-person event, the company was quick to adapt and suggested that Riverview use their “Studio Lab,” a virtual event space for the Gala. Riverview then secured long-standing Gala auctioneer, John Terrio as the host.

While many other schools and non-profit organizations scrambled to create virtual events and attempted to take the standard format of their in-person events and translate those events into virtual, Riverview chose not to use most of the typical programming formalities of an in-person Gala and transformed the event into a fast-paced, fun, interactive performance-based event that included the entire Riverview community in a way that had never been done before. Riverview recognized quickly that what the community wanted (and needed) was a “celebration” and a way to come together as a community, regardless of being physically separated.

One of the most creative ways that this was done was by incorporating celebrity video plugs for the event from Rosie O’Donnell, Carly Simon and Brian Williams, and pre-recorded celebrity performances aired during the live event by Rick Astley, Sting and John Legend!

The Gala included many silent auction items donated by generous individuals, sponsorships and a raffle. This year’s raffle attracted a lot of attention. A wonderful donor bought the school a 2020 Mini Cooper to raffle off! One thousand, $50 raffle tickets were sold and the lucky winner was drawn right on stage during the live event. When the winner ended up being a current Riverview family, the Almys’, it was very exciting for all.

Another way that the School tied in components that were specific and meaningful to the community, was by having students Zoom in Live throughout the evening. The Gala centered the theme of the evening around well-recognized and beloved staff member, Music Director, Greg Simpson, who playfully interacted with the celebrity performances and performed a meaningful song at the end with students dancing and singing along.

According to Stewart Miller, Head of Riverview School, “We were able cast a much wider net to include alumni, families, and Riverview friends from all over the world who wouldn’t have been able to attend an in-person event. Including the students was a very special component. Seeing them having fun, dancing and singing along with the performances, reminded everyone of exactly why our mission is so important.”

If you are interested in volunteering or donating items or experiences for the 2021 Gala and auction, please contact Erin Soderstrom at 508-888-0489 x302 or esoderstrom@riverviewschool.org

Missed it? You can still watch it HERE.

Thank you for making the event a success!

Picture Above: Student, Madison Lavoie meets with her Advisor, Dr. Michael Shields at Riverview School

While the Riverview Student profile is diverse, there is one thing that every student has in common. They benefit from consistent social skills teaching. Whether navigating relationships, managing day-to-day emotions, or learning how to initiate a conversation, Riverview students are entrenched in social skills coaching all day, every day.
Riverview School’s innovative Advisor Model ensures that all Riverview employees, from the dining hall staff and the administrative team to the classroom teachers and residential instructors, are trained in social thinking concepts and language and therefore feedback given to students is consistent, timely, and generalized all day long.
Michelle Mendes, Riverview’s Clinical Coordinator, is responsible for offering support, modeling, guidance and supervision to the School’s team of 7 Advisors, all of whom are Licensed Clinicians specializing in working with adolescents and young adults with special needs.
The objective of Riverview’s Advisor Model is to support each student with their unique social goals. Each student is assigned an Advisor who provides social/emotional support and help with self-advocacy, self-awareness, stress management, anxiety and problem solving skills. Advisors do this by observing students, creating success plans, and by identifying and teaching strategies that the student can use themselves; and that staff and families can use when working with the student.
The Advisor serves as a liaison between Riverview’s Academic, Residential, and Language and Social Development teams to provide support, resources and consultation when needed. They are also liaisons between home and school, communicating weekly with families. And, they lead social groups and lunch groups to teach students about conversation skills, social activity planning, and community service.
Advisors facilitate “conflict corners,” where students sit and work through social challenges on the spot and learn about other social thinking best practices such as “perspective taking,” “big problems versus small problems” and “zones of regulation.”
“Zones of regulation” is a concept that asks students to “check yourself at the door.” This means that students are asked to identify how they are feeling emotionally and place a tag with their name in the corresponding red, green or yellow zone on the wall. When a student puts their name in the red zone, it helps their teacher to know that they needs some immediate support. The teacher then suggests strategies that the student can use to feel better and/or encourages the student to check-in with their Advisor. This practice helps students to further develop insight into their emotions.
According to Mendes, “One of the things that makes Riverview unique is our ability to be creative and to individualize resources and class success plans. In-the-moment teaching and problem solving also sets the School apart. Our students don’t have to sit with what’s bothering them.” Madison Lavoie, a Riverview Senior, echoes this. “If I’m worried about something, I can meet with my Advisor and that takes away my stress. Then I don’t have to think about it all day.”
Riverview’s commitment to social skills training and its innovative Advisor Model help to ensure that students are socially successful, and in turn prepared to live their happiest lives.

photo above: Advisor, T.J. Cedeno photographed working with student, Cassidy.

We see, hear, smell, taste, and touch…then use the information our brains gather through our senses to live our lives and interpret feelings. Most of us have grown accustomed to this phenomenon without thinking much about how our senses inform our choices or how they help us to regulate our bodies and emotions.

For the many Riverview students who struggle with sensory processing disorder, it is not that simple. Students with sensory processing disorder have trouble receiving and responding to stimuli that comes through their senses. As a result, these students can be over responsive or under responsive to things in their environments. Certain sounds, textures, smells, and tastes make it difficult for some students to participate in seemingly routine activities and tasks of daily living. Some students stim or flail because they need to feel their body in the world around them, known as one’s sense of proprioception or “sixth sense”.

While most of us take sensory integration for granted, Riverview Advisor T.J. Cedeno does not. He continually studies the latest developments in sensory processing and is skilled in helping our students to better understand their emotions. In turn, this engages students’ senses in ways that are helpful and normalizing rather than overstimulating.

When T.J. began working at Riverview, one of the trends he noticed was that when students were having trouble regulating, they often went to “reflection.” At the time, reflection at Riverview was simply a space where students could be separate from a larger group to engage in a quiet task before returning to their classes or activities. T.J. felt that this practice was a missed opportunity for students to explore different strategies which would help to regulate feelings and behaviors in ways that are transferable to real life; an opportunity for greater reflection and self-awareness, as was originally intended.

Wanting to make a difference, T.J. created a “sensory cart” for the School. He presented extensive research on how he felt the cart could be utilized, as well as a plan for moving forward, and his initiative was approved.

The sensory cart that T.J. built contains items that appeal to a broader range of sensory need. Materials include tools that help students to regulate balance and space such as rockers and tension-release bands. Other material including weighted neckties help students to feel “grounded”, fostering a greater sense of self-awareness. Large liquid and sand timers visually engage students, pulling attention from distracting concerns. Beanbags, which T.J.’s partner lovingly sewed for him, are filled with rice and drops of calming essential oils to appeal to students’ sense of smell. White noise machines play soothing sounds to recenter students’ focus on a task at hand. There are tools that interest, and in turn help, students with a wide variety of sensory needs as well as students seeking regulating strategies that are transferable to a life after Riverview.

T.J. says that when he first built the cart he was concerned that people would not use it. That was not the case. “I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that it was checked out 61 times in 4 months”. Students and staff eager to use the cart need only ask T.J. or another advisor for a key to unlock the cart which is kept secure when not in use. Teachers have requested access to the sensory cart for entire classes of students. Advisors utilize the cart most often during individual meetings with their students. T.J. says that he has noticed the middle school and high school students using the cart differently than the GROW transitional program students. “While the middle school and high school students primarily use the cart mid-day to release energy, the GROW students use it more often as a way to calm themselves and take mental breaks,” he says.

One middle school student has found the cart so helpful that they use it every day at around 1:00 p.m. when they feel their medication beginning to wear off. This student particularly enjoys the vibrating tube which provides a soothing grounding sensation. “Increased sensory training has been a game changer for them. When they return to class, they are relaxed and ready to finish out the school day with improved focus and determination,” said Middle School Head Teacher, Torie Murphy.

T.J. is encouraged by these results and the feedback he is receiving from both students and staff. He says that he feels supported by the Riverview community. “One of the great things about Riverview is, if you make a case about something new you want to implement, they will often give you the reigns and let you try. It’s empowering and it feels really good,” he said.

So what does T.J. want to do next at Riverview? “I want to create more sensory carts so that they are accessible to all of the students all of the time. My ultimate goal is to create a large space dedicated to sensory training and mindfulness so that we can share and educate students on the benefits of being self-aware and purposeful in their thinking. A larger space would mean bigger, better programming and material such as sensory-conscious seating, swings, and meditation groups that more students and staff could be involved in.”

The sky’s the limit, T.J.! Thank you for bringing your passion to our team and students. We are grateful for your expertise, and look forward to seeing what else you dream up.

DESK BEFORE

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Executive Functioning Skills are directly taught and reinforced across academic, residential and community settings at Riverview School.

This year, one of the focuses of the Language and Social Development Department was to better support our students in strengthening the underlying executive functioning needs that are critical for everyday activities.

In order to do this effectively, academic and residential staff participated in trainings to ensure that we are intentional with our approaches and consistent with our language. In a short amount of time, we have been able to accomplish so many exciting things!

• Classroom / Vocational: Students have gained a better understanding time concepts and elapsed time.

• Dorms: Systems were implemented to promote more independence with room care and organization.

• Community: The students are generalizing skills, as well as planning and budgeting.

At Riverview, we strive to empower our students with the skills they will need to be more independent in the world. This important work will bring them one step closer to achieving this independence.

***DESK AFTER

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Two Sandwich based organizations are working together to provide opportunities for Cape residents at the beginning and toward the end of their lives. Decatur House, a Sandwich assisted living residence, provides internships for current students and recent graduates of Riverview School, which offers both a middle/high school program and a post high school GROW (Getting Ready for the Outside World) transitional program.

“The partnership provides Riverview students a chance to learn meaningful skills in landscaping, housekeeping, and kitchen duties, and provides a pathway to employment,” reports Sarah Tribuzio, Decatur House Vice president. “The interns bring life and youthful energy to our community, in addition to providing useful services.”

Read full story HERE

Riverview School is in the processing of evolving our educational philosophy from a “three-legged stool” model (Education, Social Emotional, Independent Living) to the above model that incorporates Wellness and Vocational into our core programmatic pillars. This is an exciting and dynamic time at Riverview as we begin to embark on our strategic planning process. We are pleased to share with you former Riverview Trustee Bill Simon's Ted Talk about the importance of Physical Education. This talk certainly resonates with our focus on Wellness. Bill and his wife, Cindy, who is a Riverview Trustee Emeriti, are Founders of UCLA Health’s Sound Body Sound Mind and have been fantastic partners.

HARWICH – Getting every kid on a team into a game is one thing, but at Monomoy Regional High School ensuring that kids have a team to be part of is a mission Special Education Teacher Shana Grogan took to heart, resulting in the creation this year of the new unified track team.

Grogan, the Students Having Opportunities for Recreation and Employment (SHORE) teacher, said that plans were in the works last year to form a team, but couldn’t be completed in time for the spring season. This year, after extensive meetings with Special Olympics of Massachusetts, Monomoy administrators and athletic director Karen Guillemette, everything was ready to go. But first it was time to train.

“Unified track is perfect for my kiddos and general education kids that want to participate in a team sport and also help out kids with intellectual disabilities,” said Shana Grogan. “We pair our neurotypical kids with our intellectually disabled kids and it just forms a bond and a partnership.” Read more

Project Adventure was founded in 1971 by educators who wanted to bring the tenets of Outward Bound into an educational setting. The teachers began inventing cooperative games and developing team-building initiatives to motivate their community of learners to achieve both academic and social growth through challenging adventure activities and focused reflection.

Riverview School is proud to announce that it has recently invested in the program! Athletic Director, John Benkis, who has been teaching the program at a summer camp for the past 4 summers and who is now leading the program at Riverview says, “My favorite part of Project Adventure is that kids realize that they need to communicate with one another and work together to solve problems. In today’s day and age of electronics, a lot of kids don’t collaborate toward common goals. That is an important life skill.”

Project Adventure supports the social and emotional learning practices that John describes. By creating safe and engaging adventure learning environments, students learn about goal setting, decision making, managing emotions, and engaging in social relationships.

One of the Project Adventure activities that Riverview uses is the “Triangular Tension Traverse.” Six sections of square 8 foot aluminum tubing are set on edge and stabilized by support feet to give participants the ‘wobbly’ feel of walking on a wire cable. (If a student is not ready to try that, a special insert is added; modifying the challenge to allow participants to walk on the 3 inch wide flat edge of the tubing instead). Students hold a hand line, which is attached to the gym wall to circumnavigate the triangle while being spotted by other group members. Student, Reid K., said of the exercise, “I learned to work as a team member and become a better listener. It was hard for me to listen to them (his teammates) before because I knew how I wanted to do it. But after listening I realized that they had some good ideas too. I’m more open to other people’s ideas now.”

John says that the one of his favorite parts of the curriculum is that teams are required to fill out “full value contracts.” This encourages good listening skills, being cooperative, and being patient. He also likes the “challenge by choice” aspect of the program; where students decide for themselves what their comfort levels are. “We had a young woman who was not comfortable trying the challenges. So every day for two weeks, she was a spotter. Then, after seeing how everyone else was approaching the activity and learning from their mistakes and successes, she decided that she wanted to give it a try, and she did great!”

Over the winter, Riverview piloted the program with GROW students and it went very well. So well in fact, that they just launched 5-week spring program for high school students.

John is inspired by the progress he’s seen to date. He said that a lot of trust building is taking place, and that teamwork and cooperation skills have taken off. In fact, he’s enjoying the program so much that he has decided to go back to school and earn his Master of Education in Physical Education with a concentration in Adventure Education. Way to go John! We look forward to many adventures with you over the next several years.

For the first time in school history, the Varsity Boys track team competed in the MIAA Spring Relays held at Apponequet HS on Sunday. The Helmsmen had two teams race in the Sprint Medley featuring Miles A., Keegan H., Andrew K., and Jonathan D. on one squad and Matty G., Matt F., Jack L., and Daniel A. on the other squad. Racing in the 4 *200 for Riverview were Jacob H., Omar M., Thomas P., and Elliot T. Congratulations Team!!

The mission of the Barbarians Youth Rugby club is fairly simple: We aim to introduce the great sport of rugby to as many kids as possible. Rugby is a culture as much as it is a sport - an inclusive culture where players of all shapes, backgrounds, races, sexes and abilities can not only play the sport, but excel at it. We are proud to have brought that culture to our club and we work hard to ensure that all of our teammates participate and have fun. Which is why, when one of our coaches suggested we hold a clinic at Riverview School in Sandwich, MA, our coaches and players all jumped at the chance.

Riverview is a private school for students, aged 11-22, with complex language, learning and cognitive challenges. It is a very special place that gives students an environment and the support to learn both academics and life skills, gain independence, express themselves and participate in our society as active citizens. These are kids that may not be given the same opportunities as typical kids their age because people underestimate their abilities. From what we learned out on the pitch with them - DO NOT underestimate these kids!

We ran a number of fun drills to give the students, most of which have never seen a rugby ball, a feel for our sport. They quickly mastered the basic concepts: passing the ball, passing the ball while running, running into space and avoiding opposing players. We even had them run relay races while performing complex ball handling (how many of you can run while threading a rugby ball though your legs?). They handled everything we threw at them with big smiles and I think we spotted a few budding rugby stars. It was truly remarkable to see kids, many who are naturally shy, coming out to play with a bunch of strangers who refer to themselves as Barbarians!

We are very proud of our club. All of you (named at the bottom of this post) have given the Riverview students an experience they will never forget and we truly believe that you have helped give those kids a little more confidence to try new things. Everyone had a ton of fun and we have already been asked to find a time to come back.

At the end of every practice session we always ask our young Barbarians to tell us what they liked about practice. We asked the same question at Riverview. It was heart warming to receive a toothy smile and the answer - “EVERYTHING - I liked everything!”. Mission accomplished. Rugby is truly a unique team sport/culture and we are just ambassadors - very proud ambassadors.

Thank you Riverview School.

Thank you to our Barbarians: Coach Daniel, Chief Steve, Coach Alan, Coach Ryan, Coach Rubin, guest Coach Jen, and our players : Joey, Kyan, Brogan, Adam.

The Riverview Boys Cross Country team earned their first official MIAA victory in school history yesterday at Sandwich Hollows defeating Pope John II 32-27. Sophomore John D. was the top runner for Riverview taking second place against PJP and 6th overall in 17:35 after passing several runners on the final hill up into the finish. Senior Captain Matty G. was next with taking fourth in 18:45 and looks ready to return to his top racing form from a year ago. PJP’s third runner was next but he was followed by a long string of Riverview runners that clinched the victory. Placing in the top ten for Riverview and cementing the victory were Juniors Jacob and Daniel, freshmen sensation Matt, Senior Co-Capt. Jack, and sophomore Miles. Also finishing for Riverview were Thomas, Johnmichael, Tolu, and Elliot. Both Thomas and Tolu lowered their times from last season on the course by over 4 minutes!!

Hanna M. continues her assault on the races top five runners and grabbed fourth place overall in yesterday race at 20:17; lowering her own Riverview course record by an amazing 4 minutes! Taisia M. also finished for the Helmsmen.

Students hailing from nine foreign countries will call Riverview School “home” this fall

East Sandwich, MA – On Monday, September 10 at 8:15 a.m. Riverview School, located at 551 Route 6A in East Sandwich, MA, will ring the bell to announce the first day of its 61st school year.

In Riverview tradition, the entire student body will gather for a joyous Convocation Ceremony. Head of School, Stewart Miller will welcome them to what promises to be a year of transformation, growth, learning and adventures. Students representing 8 foreign countries: Dubai, Bermuda, Germany, Burundi, the Dominican Republic, Singapore, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and South Africa will participate in a special flag ceremony.

Riverview School has a long tradition of educating students from foreign countries. According to Maria Cashdollar, Assistant Head of School and Director of Education at Riverview, “International families come to Riverview for the same reason as national and local families, to offer their children the best possible learning environment and opportunities. Many foreign countries don’t have services for special needs, and in some countries, learning challenges are still very much misunderstood and stigmatized. All of our parents are looking for a school that is willing to partner with them to help their children obtain full and meaningful lives.”

Riverview School, an independent coeducational boarding/day school, provides a caring community for adolescents and young adults with complex language, learning and cognitive challenges. The School is committed to developing student competence and confidence in academic, social and independent living skills.

Hyannis resident Abby Tetrault recently competed in the USA Special Olympics games in Seattle, Washington, participating in four events total while representing the LIFE community with her usual positivity. She went with the flow, adjusting to last-minute changes with a smile on her face, all while embracing her role.

During the 100 meter dash, Abby placed in fourth out of the nine states. In the 400 meter dash – an event Abby not know she was participating in until leaving for Seattle, but nonetheless embraced – she placed with a bronze medal, coming in third out of a possible nine.

In the 4×100 meter relay, her team came in fourth out of ninth. And finally, Abby secured a gold medal in the turbo javelin! It was an amazing showing for a girl who worked hard with all her trainers and took this opportunity seriously.

All in all, Abby made new friends, was kind and generous to her teammates, and came away from this experience with a whole new set of experiences and skills. Said Abby: “It was exciting and awesome to get to meet people from all over the United States.” She was thrilled to “have the opportunity to show my abilities to the world and my friends and coaches to show I can do it!” Congrats Abby on an amazing week, and thanks for representing this community with such aplomb.

HYANNIS - Abby Tetraul’ character is reflected in her demeanor.

Tetrault, 27, diagnosed with an intellectual disability at age 5, almost always wears a calm, relaxed smile.

When she steps up to the starting line or is about to begin an exercise during workouts, her eyes focus with determination, but ther’ always a hint of a smile.

When she finishes, her breathing is heavy, but she is glowing with a sense of accomplishment.

She loves to run, and i’ not long before sh’ ready for more.

Keep reading here.

EAST SANDWICH — Anna Sampson, co-president of the 2018 graduating class of Riverview School, invoked Vincent Van Gogh on Sunday to describe her classmates’ ability to persevere when faced with obstacles and adversity.

“If you hear a voice within you say, you cannot paint; then by all means, paint and that voice will be silenced,” Sampson said, quoting the famous Dutch painter. “Together, we have silenced that voice over and over again, every time we get out of our comfort zones, every time we surprise ourselves by never giving up.”

Read full article here

Read article here

Riverview’s Program Review by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is in. We are proud to inform you that the School was found to be in compliance with all standards and that all requirements were found to be fully implemented.

Find the report here.

At senior project night at Mashpee Middle/High School on Monday, Brianna Cheatham, foreground, dances with Riverview School students for her “Dance Heroes” project.

Read the full story here.

Michael Poulin was recently recognized as Rivervie’ all-time leading scorer in varsity basketball. Between 2014 and 2018, Poulin scored 721 points. His coach, Jean Russell said, “Michael is one of the most versatile, elegant and selfless players that I have ever coached.” He was recognized during Rivervie’ sports awards ceremony, where it was announced that his #15 jersey would be retired in his honor. Way to go Michael!

Riverview kicked off our “Mindful Moments Month” by welcoming guest, Tim Donohue of Mindful Skills for Daily Life, who spent the day working with students and faculty on mindfulness practices and meditation.

“It was a joy to be in such a welcoming and positive atmosphere. The teachers and students were enthusiastic about learning mindfulness skills, which can be very helpful in coping with the stresses of daily life. My goal is to teach students how to bring these lessons into their lives, and not just during the classes.”

Riverview students and faculty have been challenged to complete 5,000 “Mindful Moments” by April 30 as part of the wellness initiative. Mindfulness posters and kits are now strategically placed all over campus and include instructions for journaling, coloring a mandala, mindful eating, walking meditations and more.

Riverview School was recently written about in Ingress Magazine, a national magazine for teens, produced by teens. Journalist, Clare Mulroy wrote, “The Light in Their Eyes” a beautiful 6-page feature story about our students and their experience living, learning and experiencing a typical teenage experience at Riverview School.

Ingress Magazine specializes in pursuing the raw, intimate stories that capture the human experience, focusing primarily on human interest and social journalism.

Art work from Riverview students, Sarah Burns, Maxine Chu and Will Sandstedt, is being featured in the Cape Cod Museum of Art’s “Through Young Eyes Exhibit.” The trio, along with students from other Cape Cod schools, has had their pieces displayed in the gallery since mid-Feb.

Read article here.

Riverview’s new website was recently featured on Communication Arts website as their “pick of the day.” Check it out here. This is quite an honor—many thanks to our designers at Visual Dialogue. The site features a full-browser, auto-play intro video, created by Big Ocean, to quickly give site visitors a feel for what the school is all about. While it was a challenge to tell the Riverview story in a one-minute intro video, we believe the result is an authentic portrayal of the school. The designers also wanted to give parents a positive introduction to the school, with a bold, bright layout and great imagery. Primary photography was done by Ben Gebo.

“When students at the Riverview School find themselves struggling with self-confidence, technology teacher and coach Kenneth Merrill is there to give them a boost…” read article

“Cameron Vendetti values his Boy Scout friends. So much so, that during his senior year of high school, when he lived a half-hour away at Riverview School in East Sandwich, Vendetti stayed with his Brewster Troop 77….” continue reading

“When Liam Lennon arrived at Riverview School he was, in his own words, “cynical, bitter and an introvert” and preferred the company of a good book and a quiet room over that of his classmates….” continue reading

Cafe Riverview included in Cape Cod Magazine’s “Eat, Drink and Be Healthy” article.

“A Cape Cod school has started running a business so their students who have intellectual challenges can get job training for the future and it’s blossomed into a bustling cafe and restaurant….” continue reading

“The students do much of the work at the shop…. They sort, size and tag donations at an offsite processing center and then merchandise the clothing, books, toys and knick-knacks in the store.” read more