Happenings & Stories
Celebrating our Students’ Accomplishments!
We’re kicking off the month with something special! HDS Foundation will be spotlighting our amazing B.R.I.D.G.E.S. & THRIVE students and the awesome accomplishments they’ve achieved this year! From big milestones to personal victories, these students shine bright...
A Recipe for Success: Learning at Flanigan’s
Students took a fun and educational trip to Flanigan's Restaurant. Before going to eat, students reviewed an adapted menu and completed a menu math activity. The final question on their worksheet asked them what they would like to order and to calculate their total....
B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students Navigate Success at Dolphin Mall
The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students visited Dolphin Mall to practice real‑world independence skills! They used the mall directory to locate stores, planned routes with peers and navigated the mall using teamwork and problem‑solving. Students also practiced budgeting and...
A Special Thank You Video!
We are proud to share a special thank you video from the College of Education and Human Services at the University of North Florida (UNF) highlighting the HDS Foundation’s continued support of the UNF THRIVE program. [video width="1920" height="1080"...
Creativity, Teamwork, and Kindness in Action
The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students proudly completed their Rock Snake Project—and what a journey it was! They kicked things off by planning for a Community Based Instruction trip to Dollar Tree, where students researched supplies, created a budget, and prepared for their...
A Delicious Lesson in Independence
Our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had the sweetest day at Yonutz Sunrise as they grabbed a yummy dessert to kick off Spring Break! Students explored many donut options, practiced taking their time to make choices, and then independently ordered and paid at the counter....
A Day of Discovery at the Weston Community Garden
What a great day for B.R.I.D.G.E.S. programs in Broward to come together! Students spent the morning exploring the Weston Community Garden, where they were warmly welcomed by Ms. Gina and Ms. V. Students learned about the different parts of the garden, including the...
Honoring Miami Culture on 305 Day
Students took a break from testing to celebrate Miami 305 Day in a fun and meaningful way. They began by watching a short video that explained the importance of the day and how people across the community celebrate Miami and its culture. They also discussed several...
Ordering, Budgeting, and Thriving Together
Last week, students headed to La Rural Mexican Grill for a fun and enriching Community Based Instruction experience! Before the trip, students reviewed the menu and selected their lunch choices—bowls, burritos, nachos, and more. They wrote down their orders ahead of...
Where Learning Meets the Great Outdoors
Our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class visited Peace Mound Park for a digital scavenger hunt filled with teamwork and exploration. Students worked collaboratively to locate park landmarks, complete challenges, and capture photos along the way building communication, cooperation,...
Dream, Plan, Achieve: Goal Setting in Action
After wrapping up an engaging unit on goal setting and future planning, the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class explored the difference between short‑term and long‑term goals and how they connect to students’ academic, career, and personal lives. Using Xello, a student‑centered...
The Student Café is officially OPEN!
The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students kicked off their student‑run breakfast business with a hands‑on shopping trip to Sam's Club. Each group used a shopping list, learned how to navigate a wholesale store, scanned a membership card, and independently checked out their...
Preparing for Employment Through Real-World Experience
Each week, the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students head to Old Navy to continue developing and refining their workplace skills. They’ve taken on a variety of responsibilities, including sorting clothing by size, organizing racks, folding display items, pulling pieces without...
Budgeting, Safety, and Social Skills in the Community
Last week, students had a great time during their Community Based Instruction fieldtrip to Palm Springs Mile! While visiting Burlington and Dollar Tree, students practiced real‑world budgeting and independent functioning skills. They located clothing and shoe sizes...
Students Spread Kindness Through Service!
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students recently took part in a heartwarming community service project, creating Kindness Kits in the spirit of Valentine’s Day and in preparation for BCPS’ Day of Service and Love, honoring the lives lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. ...
Building Independence Through a Fun-Filled Valentine’s Celebration
The HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class had a wonderful Valentine’s Day celebration filled with love, learning, and creativity! Students enjoyed themed activities like reading about the history of sweethearts, completing a math activity, and decorating their own Valentine bags...
A Sweet Lesson in Life Skills and Independence
To get ready for Valentine’s Day, the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students took a fun and hands‑on budgeting trip to Target. Each student received a $12 budget and chose 13 goodies, one for every classmate. Some picked playful Valentine‑themed fidgets, while others went with...
Football, Fun, and Food: Super Bowl Party Highlights
The HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class had an extremely successful annual Super Bowl Party. Students started off the day completing a variety of Super Bowl themed activities including reading an article about the Super Bowl, predicting who they thought would win, and completing...
Students Score Big in Super Bowl Party Prep
In preparation for the annual HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Super Bowl Party, students took a trip to Publix to shop for all the food, drinks, and desserts for the big day. Students were divided into small groups and given visual shopping lists, then navigated the store by...
B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students Lead with Fitness + Nutrition
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students powered through a challenging workout at Cross Fit led by trainer Vanessa and gym owner Dominic, who shared great insights on staying active, eating well, and building healthy daily routines. The session included a full warm‑up, strength...
Mini Golf Adventures Strengthen Social and Life Skills
This week, our students enjoyed a fun and engaging leisure day at Monster Golf. After learning the rules, they played alongside their classmates, practiced teamwork, and built social skills in a relaxed, supportive setting. The excitement didn’t stop there, the...
Dining with Purpose: Students Build Life Skills at Outback
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students enjoyed a Community-Based Instruction (CBI) visit to Outback! Students practiced real-world skills by previewing the menu and planning their meals within a set budget.At the restaurant, students ordered independently, used polite manners,...
Budgeting in Action: Students Take on Online Ordering
Our students practiced real-world skills with a Publix online ordering adventure! In class, they completed a scavenger hunt to navigate the website and used the “order ahead” feature to pick their lunch, all while staying under a $15 budget. Students entered their...
Dressing for Success: B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students Prepare for the Workplace
As part of a new year initiative, HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students took an important step toward workplace readiness by shopping for professional attire to wear during worksite visits. Students visited Ross Dress for Less, where they practiced real-world skills by...
Courage, Community, and Confidence on the Ice
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students hit the ice at Pines Ice Arena for a day of skating, socializing, and building confidence!Each student received ice skates and a skating aid, giving them the chance to try a new leisure skill in a safe, supportive environment. Many students...