The Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School

There's nothing like Community Day at the O-School!

From shared laughter and meaningful connections to hands-on activities and unforgettable moments, these scenes capture what makes our community so special. Thank you to everyone who helped make the day a success and for reminding us that the best memories are made together.

Community Day is almost here!

A huge shout-out to everyone who's been rolling up their sleeves this past week hauling bricks, digging, moving materials, planning, and making the magic happen! Your hard work is transforming our campus and bringing Community Day to life.

We can't wait to celebrate with our incredible O-School community!

It's about that time!

Only a few more weeks until we welcome 35 (amazing!) campers to Camp O 2026! We can't wait.

As we come to the end of June and Great Outdoors Month, we’re reminded of the importance of spending time in nature, caring for our environment, and appreciating those who work every day to keep our parks, trails, and open spaces safe, accessible, and beautiful. Here's to enjoying the outdoors all year long!

LGBTQI+ Pride Month

June is Pride Month! At the O-School, we stand with our LGBTQI+ community, honoring the history of resilience and celebrating the pursuit of equality, justice, and love.

Thank You O-School Parent Association!

In addition to the thoughtful ways the Parent Association showed appreciation to our staff during Faculty Appreciation Week this spring, the parents also treated the O-School’s clinical and educational teams to a delicious taco truck lunch as an end-of-year thank-you!

We are incredibly grateful for our parents and the many ways they support the O-School, our mission, and our dedicated staff. Your generosity and partnership mean so much to our community!

Thank you!

On June 19, we observe Juneteenth, commemorating the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas were finally informed of their freedom. As we honor this important moment in our nation's history, we remain committed to equity, justice, and opportunity for all.

The O-School celebrated Juneteenth with an afternoon of food, music, fun, and creative arts and crafts activities. It was a wonderful opportunity for students and staff to come together, reflect, learn, and celebrate.

Here are a few photos from the day!

The O-School works hard to provide a traditional school experience in a therapeutic setting. In addition to individual graduations, celebrating each student's unique journey of resiliency and growth, the O-School's holds an 8th Grade and High School Graduation Ceremony, honoring these two important milestones.

Congratulations to the O-School Class of 2026! We are so proud of all you have accomplished.

Here are a few scenes from the day.

Graduation is often viewed as a celebration of accomplishments, diplomas, and the exciting journey that lies ahead. While the milestone is familiar, every student's path is uniquely their own. At the O School, we honor those individual journeys by recognizing each graduate with a personalized graduation ceremony that reflects their growth, resilience, and achievements.

For many of our students, graduation represents far more than academic success. It is a testament to perseverance, self discovery, and the courage to overcome challenges along the way. It marks not only the completion of a chapter, but the beginning of a future filled with new possibilities.

As one graduate shared:
"When most people think about graduation, they will often think about the grades, the diplomas, and moving on to the next chapter. But for me, getting here has meant much more than that..."

They continued:
"This school taught me more than academic subjects. It taught me how to advocate for myself. It taught me that asking for help is not weakness but strength. It taught me that growth doesn't always happen in giant leaps—it often happens in small, courageous steps that nobody else notices..."

And perhaps most powerfully:
"Here at the O-School I learned that progress is not about being perfect. It's about showing up, trying again, and refusing to give up on ourselves."

We couldn't be prouder of our graduates and all they have accomplished. Congratulations to the Class of 2026! Your courage, resilience, and determination inspire us all.

The O-School was thrilled to have the opportunity to preview the Obama Presidential Center and experience this incredible new addition to our community! Here are a few photos from our visit.

We are proud to welcome the Center to Woodlawn and honored to be its neighbor. The excitement surrounding this transformative space is inspiring, and we look forward to exploring future opportunities to partner with the Obama Presidential Center to support, engage, and strengthen our community for years to come.