07 Dec Back to School: YOU bring CATA to the Classroom!
Because of your support, students with special needs are tapping into their talents and building life skills in CATA workshops.
At Lee High School, students Liam and Cam are learning science-themed dance steps in a CATA workshop. “We’re just like the planets!” says Liam. “What do planets do?” asks Beth, a CATA faculty artist. Liam and Cam start their Solar System Dance—orbiting each other and using their arms to show the pull of gravity.
For hundreds of students with disabilities, CATA is a vital part of their school curriculum. Children and teens from Great Barrington to Dalton to Pittsfield to Cheshire to North Adams count on weekly CATA programs as a way to express who they are, build life skills, and meet their educational goals.
“CATA school programs help students grow and develop across every facet of their life,” says Jeff Gagnon, CATA Program Director. “We work closely with school administrators to understand students’ needs and interests, and then design arts programs that support their goals and connect to their classroom curriculum.”
In dance, music, juggling, yoga, acting, and painting, students build strong social and communication skills, work on balance and coordination, relieve stress, and develop self-confidence and well-being.
As students’ needs have grown since the pandemic, so have CATA programs. “Demand for CATA has skyrocketed,” says Jeff. “Teachers, administrators, families, and students are asking for more CATA programs than ever. This year, we’re working to reach over 300 students with disabilities across nine school districts.”
“When you have a child with special needs, it’s important to know that there’s an organization that does so much to support individuals with disabilities,” say Terri and Terry Coughlin, who are parents of a young CATA artist. “Through CATA, we get to see parts of our daughter that we might not have known.”
CATA Faculty Artist Wes Buckley leads a music workshop at a local elementary school.
Building social skills:
“A student in my classroom had a goal of successfully engaging in cooperative play with others,” says Suzan Hyndman, a teacher at Pittsfield High School. “In CATA, he was fully engaged with his classmates—and having a ball! I am so grateful for CATA. It’s the highlight of my students’ week. Each workshop is a breath of fresh air that allows them to experience meaningful, real-life connections.”
Connecting with curriculum:
“There are so many ‘aha moments’ with CATA,” reflects Amy Mandel, a special education teacher at Colegrove Elementary School in North Adams. “During music and dance workshops, my students are now able to pick up the pattern with musical instruments and their own body movements. This skill is so helpful to reinforce the pre-math skills we teach. My students take parts of their CATA activities and bring it back to use in the classroom.”
Nurturing social & emotional well-being:
Recently, CATA has expanded workshops for students in alternative learning programs. CATA faculty have developed trauma-informed approaches for students who require more support and a personalized learning experience.
“CATA has been perfect for my group,” says Meghan St. John, a teacher with the Positive Options Program in Pittsfield. “Through CATA, they’ve found a gateway to comfortable social interactions that otherwise would likely not take place. It’s an outlet for them to decompress. And they’re very proud of the work they create.”
“CATA school programs are an investment in our community’s future,” says Jeff. “These workshops give young CATA artists the same opportunities for creative exploration as their mainstream peers. Everyone deserves access to the arts.”