Creative You Recap

Creative You had a little something for everyone this week! Participants made flower vases, frozen pops, maracas, cookies, terrariums, and bookmarks!

 

We had some major fun in the sun with a water balloon fight, time spent at the pool, and a carnival, complete with a bouncy house, of course.

We really got in touch with our creative side when we visited the Children's Discovery Museum for a fun and learning filled field trip.

Creativity went through the roof as everyone showcased their talents at the talent show.

To see more pictures from the week, please visit our Facebook page.

Around our World Recap

From Greece to Mexico to the great state of California, our participants experienced it all this week at Via West. We made tamales and tortillas, Japanese fish kites, Mexican pot dolls, Chinese chicken salad, and origami.

We also learned how to do an original Mexican hat dance!

We took an exciting field trip to the Mission in Santa Clara, and then we indulged in quite the feast at the Yiassoo Greek Restaurant in Cupertino.

We learned Spanish words and Chinese characters, played games from Mexico and Asia, and took a nice California horseback ride in the Via West Corral. Somehow, we still had enough energy left for the dance and the talent show! To see more pictures from this session, please visit our Facebook page.

Medieval Madness Recap

Hear ye, hear ye fair knights and ladies of Via West! Medieval Madness week is sadly over, but such fun was had by all! Participants ate giant turkey legs by the fire and jousted and decorated the maypole during an unforgettable Renaissance Fair.

Everyone learned how to embroider, make candles, and ride a horse just like in the olden days. After learning our own Shakespeare play for a performance, we took a field trip to picnic and watch others tackle the Bard's work at the Shakespeare Festival.

For more pictures, please visit our Facebook page.



Party in the USA Recap

Happy Birthday America! Via West celebrated Independence Day in style with a square dance, a cookout, and America's favorite past time - BASEBALL!

Participants had some fun in the pool, learned about Betsy Ross and the American Flag, made hamburgers and potato salad, sang patriotic songs, and played a Jeopardy game comprised of questions all about our great country.

Everyone had a fantastic time at the San Jose Giants baseball game, and it was so much fun to "oooh" and "aaah" over the fireworks display at the end.

Another highlight of the week was horseback riding in the corral on campus, and who could forget the talent show?

Cheer and Sports Recap

Via West just held its first children's weekend of the summer, and participants had a blast! After checking in on Friday morning, participants split up to learn cheer routines and to practice shooting hoops for the big tournament on Sunday. Everyone worked super hard and was then treated to a movie night on campus to relax and hang out with friends.

On Saturday, we practiced, practiced, practiced, and we ended the day by tearing it up on the dance floor with the "Athlete's Ball." Sunday was the culmination of everyone's hard work with the Cheer & Sports Tournament. The cheerleaders performed 3 flawless routines and were given pom poms to take home. 15 teams played 3 on 3 basketball games and were given souvenir basketballs. Everyone was awarded a ribbon and went home tired but happy!

Cruise Away Recap

Via West treated participants this session to a fantastic and fun-filled "cruise" complete with games, a casino night, luau, and, of course, a lot of time spent lounging in the pool. Participants took an exciting field trip to the Kaiser Famer's Market to buy lots of lush produce which was later used to make delicious smoothies.

  

On Friday, 17 more participants came on board for the weekend. They joined in on Polynesian Bingo, a camp out under the stars, a disco, and everyone's favorite: the talent show.

We took a second field trip to Golfland USA where everyone was able to try for a hole in one. The rest of the day was spent trying to earn as many tickets as possible in the arcade!

For more picures, please visit our Facebook Page!

Via West Summer Officially Under Way

Nurse interns arrived at Via West Campus eager to begin training on May 29^th.  Nursing students will complete an eleven week community health nursing curriculum at Via West this summer. Adding an extra layer of care for participants with medical issues, the internship also increases the pool of nurses who are comfortable and competent meeting the special needs of children, teens, and adults with developmental and physical disabilities.

 Nurse Interns

75 other counselors, volunteers, unit directors, program staff, and health care staff arrived on May 31^st for general staff training. Led primarily by Director Leslie Davis and Associate Director and Health Care Manager Sandy Keefe, the training will lasted four days and encompassed everything from behavior management to special diets and independent living skills. There was a parent panel where the staff had the opportunity to meet with current Via West participants and their parents and learn firsthand the type of expectations our families have when they come to our programs.

All Staff

The first Via West session begins today, June 4^th, and the excitement of the staff is high. “Our staff is amazing – so flexible – so loving – but above all really smart,” says Via West Director Leslie Davis. “We are very lucky!”

Click! Click! Click!

Via Services is looking for a volunteer photographer to take photos during our summer programs for children and adults with special needs at our Via West Campus in Cupertino. This is a part time position requiring a commitment of 20 hours per week. The schedule may vary throughout the summer.  Please note that this internship/volunteer opportunity may be “job shared" – and each person can take half of the commitment.  If you are interested volunteering for this position, please contact Leslie Davis at ldavis@viaservices.org.

Via West Expands Age Range for Lights, Camera, Action! Weekend

Due to the large number of interested people of all ages, we have decided to expand our age range for our exciting Lights, Camera, Action! weekend on April 20-22.  

Via West Campus is partnering with Angels on Stage to provide our young adults with an outstanding performing arts experience. You’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in backstage work as you build sets, create costumes and practice singing and dancing. On Sunday morning, you’ll dazzle friends and family members with a musical extravaganza that we’ll capture on film. You’ll take home a printed program and certificate of completion, and receive your DVD in the mail.

Don't miss out on this fun filled weekend!! Call Molly at 408-243-7861 to register.  Private pay spots are still available.  To see the entire respite brochure, click here!

 

 

First Respite Weekend a Great Time for Everyone!

The first respite weekend of the 2011-2012, "Homecoming and Sports" was last weekend and gave parents and participants a first look into the new programing features Via Services will be offering during sessions.

 Danielle Samson, a Speech and Language Pathologist led a hybrid iPad/social communication session.  This activity built on former iPad sessions and was geared thematically to our dance to help participants with social communication options they later used that evening.  Counselors also built social communication by teaching our participants a few dances, including the classic Electric Slide!

Counselors instructing participants

The College of Adaptive Arts performed their amazing combination of dance, cheer and song for and with our participants.  The exciting pep rally showcased performances by the "Showboaters" and the "Spirit Squad", choreographed dances, cheers led by CAA founder DeAnna Persai, and group activities.  Thank you DeAnna and CAA for a wonderful show!

The Collage of Adaptive Arts "Showboaters"

After a delicious dinner, ladies from San Jose State Sigma Omicron Pi Sorority came to Via West to help prepare our female participants for their special night.  The SJSU students did hair, makeup, nails, and helped the ladies pick out their perfect dress for the evening.  Once everyone was dressed and looking their best, corsages and boutonnieres were pinned on and a formal picture was taken.

Sigma Omicron Pi Sorority at Via West

Doing nails

Hair Salon

Ready for the dance

Beautiful flowers for every participant

Via West Director Leslie Davis pinning flowers on participant

Group shot before going into the dance

Finally, at the Homecoming Dance, professional DJ Randy Lira from RPM mixed it up on the dance floor!  Randy has worked for years with the Special Olympics and gave our participants a high energy mix of new pop and old classics.  Randy has a unique way of involving everyone in the fun and has a knack for touching everyone in a special way.  Thank you so much for your show Randy!!

Y-M-C-A!!

DJ Randy Lira handing out glow necklaces

To see all the pictures from this weekend, please visit our Facebook Page!

Via West Launches Counselor-in-Training Program

On October 1, 2011, eight veteran Via West participants completed a four-hour training course to become Counselors-in-Training, or CITs.  Stacey Hall, Anne Berry, Kelly Anderson, Jenni Pencer, Charlie Colby, Julie Paulsen, Jessica Codromac and Samuel Hinojosa worked closely with associate director Sandy Keefe, junior counselor Ava Romero and unit director Ashley Rice to master the skills and knowledge they need to serve as coaches and mentors to their peers.

All eight passed the course with flying colors, and will begin serving as CITs during the children’s Healthy Halloween session on October 21-23 at Via West. Some will work closely with counselors and unit directors in the lodges, while others will contribute their expertise during sports, creative arts, dramatic arts and other programs. 

The CIT program is just one more example of Via’s commitment to promoting competence and independence among the clients we serve.  For information about the next CIT training course in the spring, please contact Sandy Keefe at skeefe@viaservices.org, or 408-867-1115, extension 106.

Back Row: Stacey Hall, Ava Romero, Sandy Keefe, Anne Berry, Kelly Anderson

Front Row: Jenni Pencer, Charlie Colby, Julie Paulsen, Samuel Hinojosa, Jessica Codromac

Via West is Hiring!!!

Via West Campus is currently hiring counselors, unit directors, nurses and program staff for scheduled weekend programs that run from October 2011 through April 2012. We are particularly interested in bringing onboard students and/or graduates in professional fields, including recreation therapy, kinesiology, adaptive physical education, special education, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, audiology, physical therapy, child and adolescent development, and nursing.

Via staff members from nursing, occupational therapy, adaptive physical education, recreation therapy and speech language pathology are actively involved in these weekend programs, so students will have the chance to see how professionals provide education and training to our clients. Staff members are expected to live on campus, receiving room and board, throughout the weekend. We are a non-smoking facility. Staff members can choose the weekends they work, and are given first priority for summer positions as well.

We are holding open houses for potential staff on Sunday, September 25 from 10A-1P and again on Wednesday, September 28 from 5-8P at Via West, 13851 Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino. Applicants will learn about the program, tour the campus and have a personal interview for hiring purposes. If you would like to attend an open house, please email Sandy Keefe, MSN, RN, Associate Director, at skeefe@viaservices.org and fill out an online application at http://viaservices.org/content/camp-costanoan-application.

FREE Weekend Sessions Available Through Grant from Autism Speaks!!!!!

Big news!!! Thanks to a grant from Autism Speaks, we are able to send 26 autistic participants to the Via West Campus this fall FOR FREE!!!!

Too good to be true?? Nope! If you know a participant diagnosed with Autism and would otherwise not able to afford a session at Via West Campus, then send them to our website!  All you have to do is fill out our financial application and send it in to Molly Young at myoung@viaservices.org with a note that you are interested in the Autism Speaks Campership.  For more information about our Fall and Spring schedule, please check our website at www.viaservices.org.

See you soon at Via West Campus!!

End of the Summer!!!! Recoup, refresh, and review

Wow! those 10 weeks really flew by didn't they?  To all of the counselors, staff, and volunteers that worked up at Via West this summer... THANK YOU from everyone at Via Services.  Your dedication and hard work makes Via West Campus the great place that it is.  We wish everyone safe travels back home, and hope that you will keep Via close to your heart.  Don't forget to check out our Facebook page for pictures from this summer.  Here are a few of our favorites!!

We hope to see everyone next summer for another amazing time at Via West Campus!!