Soaring Heights School students in State College supported Comfort Cases in the spirit of Christmas.
 
Comfort Cases is a national organization that aims to give each child in foster care a book bag or overnight bag filled with toiletries, a change of clothes and other items needed to move to a new home.
 
Students donated money and items in conjunction with Northwest Bank in Bellefonte, PA so children in need received Comfort Cases in time for the holiday season. Students raised funds, shopped for, packed items, and delivered them to the Northwest Bank in Bellefonte, PA.
 
Photo 1: Lincoln S., Bank Assistant Catherine A., Talon H., Margaret S., Vance W. and Kaden N.
 
Photo 2: Kaden N., Laura T., Talon H., Vance W. and Lincoln S.

Students and staff of Soaring Heights School in State College continued their participation in the Travis Manion Foundation service project by singing Christmas carols to the residents of the Hollidaysburg Veterans’ Home.
 
Students and staff sang a variety of seasonal Christmas songs and also created and handed out homemade Christmas cards for all 340 residents.
 
Since the fall of 2019, Soaring Heights School students and staff have participated in a number of service projects to give back to active military and veterans in the community through the Travis Manion Foundation.
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First row L to R: Gigi B., Randi T., Austin S.  Second row L to R: John Dibert, Ewan S.

​Soaring Heights School students visited the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg, PA on Friday, December 6, 2019 for a remembrance of the lost sailors, soldiers and Marines during the attack on Pearl Harbor Naval base and surrounding military installations on December 7, 1941. This attack forced the United States into the second World War. 
 
Students and faculty visited the Battleship Pennsylvania 14-inch guns memorial outside on the ground of the museum and learned that the 14-inch guns displayed were not on the Battleship Pennsylvania and had been switched out with new guns prior to the attack. These displayed guns were on the island though as the attack commenced. The Battleship Pennsylvania was damaged during the attack but was repaired and later participated in at least seven battles during the Second World War.
 
Pictured left to right: Jessica J., Logan S., Lincoln S., Devin H., Aydan M., Margaret S., Haidin C., Kaden N., Angelica L., DeAnn P., Vance W.

​Students and staff at Soaring Heights School in State College recently invited several local veterans to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal as part of their service project for the Travis Manion Foundation.
 
Students thanked the veterans for their service and prepared a holiday meal that they all enjoyed together. 
 
Pictured L to R: A. Johnson, Gavin C., Lee Waite and Kaden N.

​Students and staff at the Soaring Heights School in State College, PA recently visited the Tannenbaum Christmas Tree Farm in Centre Hall, PA.
 
During their visit, staff and students took to the field to learn about growing trees for the holiday and creating wreaths from the boughs of the trees. Each student then created, decorated and displayed their own wreath in the classroom for all students and staff to see!
 
Pictured: Gavin C., Angela F. and James I. display their wreaths at school and Antonio Y. decorates his wreath at Tannenbaum Christmas tree Farm.

​Soaring Heights School staff participated in the 12th annual Autism Speaks Walk at the People’s Natural Gas Field in Altoona on Sunday, October 6, 2019. The State College staff raised funds for the Autism Speaks Walk Fundraiser over the past year through various fundraising programs. They assisted with set up, organization and clean up after the program. All proceeds go to Autism Research and help for local families.

​Students visited Bear Meadows Natural Area located south of Boalsburg on Friday. The area contains a bog surrounded by steep mountains and hiking trails. The bog, which covers 320 acres, has been forming since the end of the last glacial period 10,000 years ago and is surrounded by an old growth forest of boreal species typically found much farther north. Students hiked and inspected various plants, insect and animal life in the area. Students then wrote about their experiences and how they will preserve the area.

Soaring Heights School will now host a monthly presentation in October and November 2019.

On Monday, October 28, Jordan Stephenson will conduct a presentation on living as an adult with autism. Jordan is a young woman with autism that has recently graduated from Penn College with a Bachelor's in Applied Technology with a concentration in Occupational Therapy. She currently puts her talents to use working in an autistic support classroom in the State College Area School District. Jordan has spoken on a variety of panels including presentations during Penn State Diversability Month and at the National Autism Conference at Penn State. She also speaks annually at the State College Area High School post-secondary parent luncheon.

Dr. Melissa Hunter will host the second training on Monday, Nov. 4. She will present an overview of autism and its impact on the person and the family.

Each training will take place at Soaring Heights School - State College from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Soaring Heights School is located at 180 Regent Court, Suite 50 in State College. 

An RSVP for each individual planning to attend a presentation is preferred, but not required. Individuals can RSVP by calling 814-325-2131.

For additional information about the ASD presentations, call Soaring Heights School Program Director John Dibert at 814-325-2131.

​Soaring Heights School in State College has announced a fall series of educational presentations for parents and community members interested in learning more about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD.) 
 
Soaring Heights School will host a monthly presentation in September and October 2019. Each training will take place at Soaring Heights School - State College from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Soaring Heights School is located at 180 Regent Court, Suite 50 in State College. 
 
Dr. Melissa Hunter will host the first training on Monday, September 23. She will present an overview of autism and its impact on the person and the family. 
 
On Monday, October 28, Jordan Stephenson will conduct a presentation on living as an adult with autism. Jordan is a young woman with autism that has recently graduated from Penn College with a Bachelor's in Applied Technology with a concentration in Occupational Therapy. She currently puts her talents to use working in an autistic support classroom in the State College Area School District. Jordan has spoken on a variety of panels including presentations during Penn State Diversability Month and at the National Autism Conference at Penn State. She also speaks annually at the State College Area High School post-secondary parent luncheon. 
 
An RSVP for each individual planning to attend a presentation is preferred, but not required. Individuals can RSVP by calling 814-325-2131. For additional information about the ASD presentations, call Soaring Heights School Program Director John Dibert at 814-325-2131.