Spectrum Insights News

Spectrum Insights Newsletter for
September 12

Monthly updates on all the activities associated w/ Spectrum Insights and related events in the Ottawa Area.
If you would like have your event listed in the next newsletter please contact The Program Director
John Anderson: John@spectruminsights.ca
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October 7 Social Group
Spectrum Insights has a new home!
We found a larger space to run our socials. As much as we loved running our socials out of Astolot, our little group is growing and I felt it was time to find a new venue with a larger space.  We are still in Old Ottawa South, just up the road from Astolot near Bank & Sunnyside at the Sunnyside Wesylan Church on 58 Grosvenor.  The space is larger, if you look at the photos on our social Group page, you will see we now have a lounge, 5 rooms to run board games in, a small chill out room to play music in.  A kitchen, a projector and screen for epic movie nights!  A sound system for dance parties!  I am very stoked, I think the kids will love our new home!
The times are still the same, 6-9 pm and we will continue with the same format, Group Games, Pot luck, movie nights and board games.  I will post a list of activities soon.
We would love to have everyone come and see our new space but we would like to have it for ourselves the first 2 Fridays to get a sense of the space and how the group manages.  So in December, please join us for a Family night and Xmas Party!
The social nights for 2016/17 will be on the following dates and final yearly itinerary will be posted soon:
  • October 7 Pot Luck & Games Night
  • November 4
  • December 2 Family Pot Luck & Xmas Party
  • January 6
  • February 3
  • March 3
  • April 7
  • May 5
  • June 2

Sonia Dubuc
Sadly Sonia will not be available to continue with us for the fall social group.  Sonia is fabulous, and always will be.  She added a lot to the group and was fantastic with the kids, a wonderful support to me and a great mentor to our volunteers Charly & Gabriel!  Sonia has promised to come in and visit the group and I hope to have her back at Spectrum Insights one day.
On that Note, I would like to welcome Liam to the team, he will be replacing Sonia this year:

Liam Pignat
Liam has been working with children and youth with ASD since 2011. He has just graduated from Algonquin College’s Child and Youth Worker program and is now starting his Bachelor of Social Work with a Minor in Disability Studies at Carleton University. Liam has worked with children and youth on the spectrum in camp, school, centre based and in home settings. He is very excited to be working alongside John at the new Spectrum Insights Location. In his spare time, Liam enjoys soccer, reading and collecting comics and discovering new music. 

I hope everyone had a great start back to school and a wonderful summer.  The Just For Girls camp was fantastic this year w/ Laura leading it.  We learned a few things running the group.  Laura observed that the 1-5 ratio is not the best as girls tend to pair up so one can potentially be left out of the group.   We decided that a group of 6-10 would be a lot better as it allows the girls to pair up. The larger group gives a better social dynamic which we discovered this summer when we joined both camps into a group of ten, the kids had more fun and better social opportunities.  This year I hired Maria Mentiady to help the run program w/ Julia Zayed.  Some of you may know Maria as my intern from the Koinonia social group.  Maria is very mature, responsible and also in University taking courses to become a teacher.  Julia Zayed will be the leader and Maria assisting.  I will Join the first 2 socials to mentor Maria and Julia.
 
Details on the social:
  It runs October to June 2nd Friday of the month starting October 14 The cost is $210 (I apologize, there has been increase) 6-10 girls and 2 leaders - Julia Zayed will be leading the group and Maria Mentiady my intern from the Koinonia social group will be assisting. 
 
The activities planned: The Loft Board Game Lounge and Dinner Dinner and a movie St Laurent Mall Shopping and Dinner (TBA) Sledding and hot chocolate (January or Feb) Montana's for dinner and class at Michaels (TBA - Either cake/cupcake decorating or jewellery making or improvised explosives..sam and victorias idea!) Bowling & Eats at East Side Marios or Pizza Hut Trampoline & Dinner at Boston Pizza  
Ideas we are researching to finalize the schedule: Ottawa 67's Hockey game Pumpkin Carving contest (at our social group location) Yoga Class Paint Night Escape room  

To finalize your registration, please send an EFT to: John@spectruminsights.ca Drop off a cheque made to John Anderson at the next social group on October 7th.
Or
Message me privately for our mailing address.

John Anderson
John@spectruminsights.ca
613.220.5920

 
For more information on our programs, please visit our website:
http://www.spectruminsights.ca/
or contact our director: John Anderson John@spectruminsights.ca 613.220.5920
(after 6pm is best...email any ol' time!