SPARC Club

new members join SPARC team

2009-06-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

The SPARC club recently hired some new staff members. Michelle Burchett and Michelle Barbrie. Michelle Burchett was orginaly a summer person who had taken time off to go to George Mason University and Michelle Barbrie was originally a Friday Person . We are glad to welcome them aboard.

We would like to also welcome Courtney Hirsch to our club for the summer!

SPARC's commuinty outing

2009-04-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful sunny day on Tuesday, March 31st. SPARC had taken a educational and insightful coumminty outing to Reston Community center to view some photography. Some of 5the club members were driven to the center by their parent or helper and some went on Fastran. At 10:26 Marylou called Monica because she wasn't sure where to drop Ryan off . A few minu5tes later her good friend Linda pulled up and explained that she been there before

After the parentsa nd caregivers departed . Dona welcomed the group and asked what a darkroom was and then we began a self-guided tour of the facilty . Ryan suggested that a regular SPAC meeting be held there sometime . Donna agreed and said that we have to sign up for the rooms . One other interesting aspect of the coummintry center that the club members found intereesting was an adptated swmming pool which was located at the end of a hallway and behind a black door.

After the tour of the art exhibit, the entire club ate lunch bat Buffalo wing factory, whiile there the club Celebrated Monica birthday.

REMINDER:

SPARC will not be in Session during FCPS's annual spring break which runs from Aprilm third through Aprl 14th. Please remember to canel your Metro Acess pickup's during this time .

Spring break is almost upon us now. SParc will not m

2009-03-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

I did art and book club and i play game. And also have fun on that day.

recent SPARC happenings

2009-03-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

It feels like winter ouside, but awesome things are "springing up" at our club meetings. It's been a few months since we last blogged

We had a great time despte Donna' being "Under the weather "during her absence , we played a great game of Travial pursuit"led by our paqrt time volunteer Mary Tenga and then Mary taught our grop a few signs . Mary comes from Wodson High school 's hard-of hearing department she also did an "If you were stranded.. "exercise, which harkened back to the exercises Lindsay Holbein did with the club before she left .

2009-02-24T08:08:00.000-08:00

Tsat fun

Busy, Busy, Busy

2008-12-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

The SPARC clubhouse is crazy busy as we plan our holiday party, plan for our holiday shopping trip and wrap up our Holiday CD. Yes, Rock Fans we've recorded our first CD. It's called "Put a SPRAC in Your Holiday" It should be ready to sell in a week or so....our music director, Sunny is FANTASTIC. We also had the great graphic design talent of our friend Jenn -- this is one "happening" club!!

We're also learning out the United Nations. We study all kinds of subjects of interest suggested by club members. Life-long learning can really be a blast when you're with friends!!

Let us know if you'd like a CD or any holiday cards --- we have been working hard as a team and have lots to show for it! We also have cheesecakes that are for sale and benefit our club too!

See ya on the flip side.....

My Week At Sparc

2008-11-14T10:21:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful week at sparc.

Cathy Strother

Hello from THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB!!!

2008-11-07T14:32:00.000-08:00

Well SPARC hello from the National Press Club! Monica and I enjoyed a wonderful day at the 14th Annual Tribute to Working Women Award ceremony. We met lots of really cool people. There were so many touching stories of women in our area who are changing lives!

I had the great honor of having Susan Swain present my award. We even will have pictures of the two of us! Susan Swain is the Chief Operating Officer of C-Span. She did the most fabulous job introducing me and talking about SPARC. I admit I was a little teary -- Susan was a terrific speaker. We have quite a surprise to tell the SPARC club members about from Susan so you're going to have to check our blog next week to hear the surprise!

We got programs from the event for any club members who would like to have one. I did get one autographed by Susan. The food was great, the 6 other honorees were terrific and I think the best part of the whole event is that I will be invited to come back each year to share in the special day. That's really really neat isn't it guys??!

We missed you all today but, we knew you were having a blast with Ann and Ashley and Michelle! Right??! I can't wait to see your work and hear all you learned today!

It was such a fantastic day and I hope you all know how much I truly appreciate that you gave me this special day. It is a day I will always remember and I made lots of new friends. I have to say it was neat to make new friends but also to have one of my oldest and dearest friends Monica with me to share the day...so again, thanks guys!

Okay, the last big piece of news is that we met Alison Starling and she wants me to email her and and she said that maybe she would set up a visit to SPARC so she can do a story about YOU ALL!!!!!! How much more exciting can it get?!!!

I don't know if the Tribute to Working Women will be on the Channel 7 news but, there were video camera running the whole time...so maybe?!

See ya Thursday!
Donna

Art Therapy with Ann

2008-11-07T09:24:00.000-08:00

Today we had an Art Therapy lesson with our friend Ann. She discussed Fibonacci, an artist 800 years ago, and then we drew our own pictures based on Fibonacci principals. Ryan made thousands of Fibonacci jokes and we all laughed our heads off. We always enjoy Ann's lessons. After Ann left, the club had a mini art show and we talked about what inspired us and how we can release our emotions through art. We are looking forward to our next art therapy session in two weeks.

Holloween: Trick or Treat

2008-10-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

We passed out candy and stickers to the little boys and girls from stroller fit. It was fun. The kids had to come knock on different doors to get their treats. Their costumes were very cute and interesting. The duck and tiger costumes were the top two toddler costumes for the day. Hopefully we get to do this again next year.

What's Happening!?

2008-10-30T14:41:00.001-07:00

Wow, the SPARC club has been hopping! We've hosted a Southern Living Party as a fundraiser. Thanks so much to Pam for helping us find some great gifts and earn some money too! The SPARC club members really put on a terrific spread for that luncheon. The chocoloate fountain was sooooo good!

We had a great brainstorming and practice session with our music director Sunny. Yup, The SPARC Club is working on a CD to sell for the holidays....Donna is going to announce a contest to name the holiday CD. The winner will receive a free CD and all our gratitude. Help the SPARC club come up with a special name for this first of what we hope will be many CD's!! Some names so far are 1) Put a SPARC In Your Holiday 2) Holiday that SPARCles 3) SPARC Your Holiday
You can vote for one of these or give us your idea!!

As you saw below, SPARC held a Family and Friends Night at Magill's Restaurant in Annandale. It was so awesome to see everyone's families come out for a night of fun, food and friends. We had lots of new friends come join us too. Donna and Monica gave us the highlights of upcoming events. We began our cheesecake fundraiser as well.

Contact us through this blog or visit our website www.sparcontheweb.org to contact Monica or Donna with Album names or orders for cheesecakes!

We'll be seeing ya......

2008-10-28T08:29:00.001-07:00

October 28, 2008
SPARC has been doing a lot of celebrating . Last night , the club held Family and Friend s tnight "Thr SPARC members and their friends and families gathered toger for a few hours of information and fun. We also began our cheesecake fundrasier. Ryan's mother, Marylou ,gave a speech about the fundrasier . Jeff and Ahmed were rememberd as well.

October 17, 2008

2008-10-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

Everybody had a wonderful time during Art Therapy with our friend Anne Burdell . Today's art lesson opened with the therapist describing how to use a brayer which is a tool you roll on a painting to make a certain design . Then the whole sparc group made leaf prints .

After Art Therapy, Monica discussed how SPARC may be getting a slight makeover in the form of a course- selection sheet. However this policy is in the planning stages and will not be implemented until 2009 , This is similar to the job chart which began in the summer. The
Dona was out of the clubhouse today in order to go to Richmond to prepare a speech During lunch , Monica and the members placed a telephone call to Donna and each membered contributed to the conversation.

SPARC may be getting a makeover in 2009 in the form of a course-selction sheet. The poupose of this is to allow the club members to be more flexibility to choose their activity. However, in order for this to become a reality, Monica is trying to get volunteers to help in the various stations

More to come next week,

Ryan Cotnoir,

Sparc Member

2008-10-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

I'm very proud to be part of Sparc .It give me lot of opportunity , exprime my self, give me life easy .I dont feel any difference between me and normal people .I love sparc and people help Sparc.

my name is Hazem

oct 16, 2008

2008-10-16T08:38:00.000-07:00

I love sparc. plus I want to go out more.

cathy

October 16th 2008

2008-10-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Greetings, There are a lot of wonderful events coming up at SPARC in the next few months. The first event of the fall will be our Southern Living Party . The purpose of the party is to let community members purchase kitchen items for their house they can also purchase holiday gifts for family members and friends.

10 16

2008-10-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

today we were reading a book about holween stories halloween we are also dong a scavenger hut affter lunch today will play some kind of game. als0 on October 27 Were having friends and family night .magill's at 7pm if you would like to come please call sprac at 703-3386185 the day affter that we are having a party for some if you would like to come please call thinks,
justin pierre and elise club members

Ellen and her thoughts on SPARC

2008-10-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

I like SPARC A LOT! We are having so much fun today, so much fun that Kyle fell asleep!! We have soooo much coming up like: family and friends night, the southern living party, and lots of other fun events. Everyone should come to SPARC! We are all really good friends and always have a lot of fun with one another. We are looking very forward to the CD that we are going to be making. We are currently reading a scary Goosebumps book for Halloween. I like it a lot! It is funny and scary!! We always do a lot with food, it is always really yummy- I love to cook! But I love to eat even more and SPARC is the best place to do it! We are sooo proud of Donna and Monica for winning the Woman of the Year Award... GOOOOO SPARC!

Our Acitvities

2008-10-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here it comes! We have some awesome activities coming up, and we want you all to be there! We always are ready for a surprise guest! Come on in and join us for food and fun! Get a chance to meet and talk with Donna and Monica! Take the opportunity to let them get to know you! When we throw a party, we throw a really good party, and we are ready for everyone to be here!

10/14/2008

2008-10-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

Today donna goldberson won woman of the year award. we started making the food for are southern liveing party on october 21 if you would like to attend please sprac 703--3386185. a lot of the sprac club members were very happoy that donna was chosen by wjla ch. 7 as o of the winnters for woman of the year.if your interrested in learning how you can help out sprac and like some more info about us please go to are web site at sparcontheweb.org

Club Meeting October 9, 2008

2008-10-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

Hello!!! Welcome to our first Sparc Blog. We meet three times a week at Southgate Community Center at 12125 Pinecret Road In Reston Virginia . Our mission is to provide life-long oppotunities for disabled young adults to function independently in the coumminty.The club meets Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, please send a bagged lunch with you wjen you visit us .

The second goal of Sparc is to incerase social interaction with peers. This goal is reinforced throughout the SPARC day This goal is also accomplished in the form of a morning meeting in which club members greet each other and have a three -to-five minute self-directed conversation about what each member did the night before.

The overall tone of SPARC is designed as a typicial workday. The agenda for a particular day is put on a meassage the the club excutive director leaves. The activities vary from one day to the next creating a refrshing change from sitting at home and being bored .

The activities SPARC offers are based on a challenge-by -choice model. This allows club members the flexibillity to choose which activities they wish to participate in that day. All the activities at SPARC are tailored according to the indivisual's needs

SPARC is free and the only fee is a monthly activity free that the participants pay in order to cover outside activies which occur at various times throught the month. These include Music and Art threapy. In art, a hands -on approach is used to prevent fustration. The most commom method used during art sessions is hand-over -hand and for those who have use of the hands brushes and paints are used. We even used blow-pens !

If you have a young-adult daughter or son who you think may benifit fron SPARC, please feel free to visit and browse the club's Internet website at www.Sparcontheweb.org . If you wish to contact the SPARC directors please feel free to contact them at Donna.Goldbranson@Sparcontheweb.org or Monica.Benteler@sparcontheweb.org they welcome your inquires anytime .

Sparc Club Member

Ryan