The Shirley Aninias School

Here are some fun arts and crafts projects our Manhattan and Queens students worked on today. Our Queens students made “cameras” and took snapshots of all their friends! Our Manhattan students started gearing up for flag day and learned how to draw The Statue of Liberty!

Happy Friday, SAS community! To wrap up Bucket Filler Week, the Brooklyn Class held an award ceremony and presented each student in the school with their own unique Bucket Filler certificate. Much to their surprise, the Brooklyn Class discovered that the Manhattan students crafted their own certificates for them as well! Each student at SAS ended their week feeling good about celebrating kindness and being a positive member of our school’s community!

This week the Brooklyn Class is celebrating Bucket Filler Week! Every day this week, the Brooklyn Class will be engaging in activities that are meant to spread kindness throughout SAS and the community. Today, the Brooklyn Class set up a snack stand at our local park and gave out free snacks and cold waters to people in the community as an act of kindness. Keep it up, SAS!

In honor of Asian-American Pacific Islander month, the students at SAS had a taste test with all the fruits from various Asian countries! They tried pomelo, guava, lychee, rambutan, Asian pears, dragonfruit and lady finger bananas. Swipe to find out what everyone’s favorite was 😊 Are you Asian-American? Comment down below where you or your family is from!

In accordance with Mental Health Awareness Month, the Brooklyn teachers collaborated to discuss coping strategies using CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) techniques. CBT has proven to be greatly beneficial as it guides students to shift into a more positive mindset and set them up for success!

This week, the Brooklyn class took a meaningful walking trip to the 9/11 Memorial as an extension of our Memorial Day lesson. We read an article highlighting how many veterans and active service members from the armed forces came to support those in need when tragedy struck our city. To honor those who lost their lives and those who fought to support others, our class placed white roses on the memorial. It was a powerful reminder of the bravery and sacrifice that continue to shape our nation’s history.

Today our students from the Manhattan class went to Tribeca Greenmarket to get ingredients for their smoothie! Prior to their walk to the farmers market, the students decided what they were going to purchase using Google Slides! These visual supports are so helpful for our students because they are adaptable for all learning styles. Say hi if you see us in our bright orange pinnies in the community!!!

Thank you Patrick, the Co- Founder of for visiting The Shirley Aninias School today! Spectrum Designs is non-profit organization that specializes in custom apparel and promotional products. More than 50% of their workforce is on the Autism Spectrum! We admire all of the work they do for the neurodiverse community and can’t wait to check them out in action. Visit their website www.spectrumdesigns.org for more information!

Thank you Tracey Spencer Walsh for having Shirley on your podcast this afternoon! The “It’s Special” podcast was created by Tracey to educate the neurodivergent community about special needs, law, and civil rights. You can find the upcoming podcast with Shirley and Tracey on Apple, Google and Spotify podcasts! It was also amazing to see Heather Ironside from the Gateway School!

Happy Teacher Appreciation week! We are so thankful for all the educators and therapists at SAS, they go above and beyond for our students every single day!

On April 12th we had a great time watching our students show they put on for us and afterwards we had the opportunity to check out our students amazing artwork that they have been working very hard on.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from our lucky little leprechauns at SAS! We also made gooey, green slime with our friends and practiced taking turns adding all the different ingredients. Sensory play is so important here at SAS so our students can experience all different types of textures.

February is Black History Month! To kick off the first day of learning about important black figures, we are learning about Simone Biles. Simone Biles is widely known as one of the most decorated gymnasts in the world. She was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) at a very young age and is very vocal about her ADHD and what she does to treat it. Here at SAS, we embrace all learning styles and utilize our students’ strengths to help them reach their learning potential!

The students at SAS are getting ready to learn all about our past presidents that have shaped our country! Our students in the Brooklyn class are working on their presentation skills and learning fun facts about the history of our country.

What a wonderful year it has been! Thank you 2023!

Fact: Neurodiversity is an umbrella term that encompasses lots of different ways that our brains can be different from one another. Some of the other neurotypes include Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, ADHD, Dyscalculia, OCD, and others.

We believe that this differences in our brains allow us to connect with each other in unique and meaningful ways.

Our Principal and Founder, sharing invaluable insights on navigating challenging behaviors in the classroom with a focus on understanding and supporting neurodivergent learners.

Be Kind Wherever Possible.

At SAS, teachers eagerly engage with children, creating a nurturing atmosphere where every child feels valued and supported.

By fostering strong bonds, we ensure that each student receives personalized attention and has a sense of belonging.

Join us for a Spooktacular Halloween Bash! Get ready for a howling good time! Don't miss out on the magic of Halloween night and send your RSVP to Douglas at [email protected]

Our commitment to understanding and supporting neurodiverse children sets us apart.

Our curriculum is designed with flexibility in mind, allowing us to tailor it to accommodate individual strength and interests.

At The Shirley Aninias School, we are not just educating, we are empowering. Join us on a journey where diversity is not just accepted but celebrated!

We rely not just solely on structured ABA programs; we also place equal value and support on individual differences. This fosters a culture that appreciates diverse ways of thinking and learning.

SAS Curriculum Night was a success! It is always a pleasure to mingle with our families. We’re especially lucky to have new faces join us this year!

We got to share the variety of curricula we implement across our classrooms. Each of our exceptional students receive an instructional plan that is tailored to their individual strengths.

Our warm and inclusive environment empowers neurodiverse children to embrace their talents, build self-confidence, and achieve their full potential.

Our inaugural year embraced our students’ individuality, fostered friendships, and made meaningful academic and social/emotional progress.

This past year has been a testament to the power of unwavering dedication and the steadfast belief in dreams coming true.

I’d like to wish all of our exceptional students, families, and school community a great start of the school year!!!

Unlocking Potential: Join us in fostering a world where every unique mind shines bright. Discover our inclusive education that celebrates differences and empowers every student to thrive