Happenings & Stories

HDS 24th Anniversary

HDS 24th Anniversary

HDS Companies 24th Anniversary. HDS Companies is honored to commemorate our 24th Anniversary – a pinnacle milestone as a privately held and nationally recognized Technology and Services corporation, and Minority Women Owned Business Enterprise. For 24 years, our...

LinkedIn Future Employment

LinkedIn Future Employment

In preparation for their post-secondary journey, the students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. program, have spent time focusing on job skills to help prepare them for future employment. Facilitators Donna Mansolillo and Kathy Gorman-Gard provided opportunities for the students...

Lunch at the Park

Lunch at the Park

The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students enjoyed a beautiful day at the park having a delicious lunch from Chik-Fil-A for their Community Based Instruction (CBI) fieldtrip. The day before heading to the park, students reviewed the Chik-Fil-A menu and decided what they wanted to...

BurgerFi Community Based Instruction

BurgerFi Community Based Instruction

“Redefining the Way the World Eats Burgers” proved to be true for the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students when they headed to BurgerFi for the Community Based Instruction (CBI) activity. When the students arrived, they were greeted by a server who made them all feel welcome as he...

Autism Awareness 2022

Autism Awareness 2022

April is Autism Awareness Month and on April 2nd we celebrate World Autism Day. Autism is a developmental disability that can cause social, communication and behavioral challenges. This month we shine a light on the 1 in 59 people who are diagnosed with Autism...

Board and Brush Creative Studio

Board and Brush Creative Studio

Decisions, decisions, decisions! The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students put on their creative hats during the Community Based Instruction (CBI) field trip this week at Board & Brush Creative Studio in Weston. Before heading out on the CBI, students had to make decisions...

Wings in Weston

Wings in Weston

The B.R.I.D.G.E.S students enjoyed their weekly Community Based Instruction (CBI) activity at Wings In Weston. Students were able to work on decision making skills, calculating tip and most importantly problem-solving skills. A situation occurred when a student wanted...

Publix Scavenger Hunt

Publix Scavenger Hunt

A Scavenger Hunt at Publix?  This is exactly what the B.R.I.D.G.E.S class did for their weekly Community Based Instruction (CBI) field trip, and they had a blast! Before heading to Publix, students were very busy in the classroom going on a virtual field trip to see...

Mac n Cheese in a Mug!

Mac n Cheese in a Mug!

Mac n Cheese, an all-time American favorite meal! The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had a chance this past week to participate in a 2-part activity making Mac n Cheese. In preparation for this Community Based Instruction (CBI) students had several steps to complete before...

Tarantella Ristorante & Pizzeria

Tarantella Ristorante & Pizzeria

This weekend, students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class enjoyed a wonderful evening celebrating the end of school year at Tarantella Ristorante & Pizzeria in the Weston Town Center. The students all came dressed for a night on the town and they all looked great! Once...

Pizza Party!

Pizza Party!

As the year comes to an end, we are so proud of our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students and their accomplishments this school year. HDS Foundation Board Member, Meagan Bouscher and HDS Foundation Program Manager Liz Falk, enjoyed time celebrating with the students and finding out...

Weston Diner

Weston Diner

This week, students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class went to the Weston Diner for their weekly Community Based Instruction (C.B.I.) fieldtrip, to enjoy a delicious lunch! Many of the students had never been to the Weston Diner and were very excited to go and experience the...

Career Day

Career Day

As students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. program begin to prepare for graduation, facilitators Ms. Donna Mansolillo and Ms. Kathy Gorman-Gard wanted to invite guest speakers in various careers to come and share their career journey with  their students. When the teachers...

Job Fair

Job Fair

This week, five of our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had the opportunity to attend the Plantation High School Job Fair. Mrs. Karla Lama, the facilitator  of the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class, worked with the students on discussing the necessary components of a resume and proper...

Budgeting at Chik-fil-a

Budgeting at Chik-fil-a

Last week, the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students Community Based Instruction (CBI) field trip was a favorite of all, a trip to Chick- Fil- A. After having to wait patiently, as their bus arrived a ½ hour late to the school, students finally made it to one of their favorite...

Time for Lunch!

Time for Lunch!

"Lunch hour is the Best Hour of the Day" was the motto for the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students this week! Both classes headed to local restaurants for their Community Based Instruction (CBI) field trip. Mrs. Karla Lama and Mrs. Courtney Henry’s class had the chance to...

Lucille’s American Café

Lucille’s American Café

Lucille's American Café, a Weston restaurant known as a great place for friends to come and enjoy their delicious classic favorites! The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students got to do just that this past week on their weekly Community Based Instruction (CBI) field trip. After...

Celebrating the End of School Year at Japan Inn

Celebrating the End of School Year at Japan Inn

After a great year of a variety of Community Based Instruction (CBI) fieldtrips, our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. classes enjoyed a delicious lunch at Japan Inn for their end of year luncheon! Students were given a special cooking show, as the chefs did their best to create an...

Mother’s Day Gifts

Mother’s Day Gifts

The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students combined an educational Community Based Instruction (CBI) with honoring their mothers for Mother’s Day.  In preparation for making a gift for Mother’s Day, facilitators Mrs. Karla Lama and Mrs. Courtney Henry, discussed the importance of...

Spring Gardening

Spring Gardening

This week the students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class visited Home Depot for a little Spring Gardening. Prior to the trip, students learned about the variety of plants you can buy and which plants are compatible with each other. For example, some plants need full sun,...

Building a Healthy Lifestyle

Building a Healthy Lifestyle

The B.R.I.D.G.E.S.  Community Based Instruction (CBI) for this week focused on building a healthy lifestyle by learning about the many programs the Y.M.C.A. in Weston offered. Students were given a tour of the facility and had the opportunity to ask questions....

The Cybrarium

The Cybrarium

Have you heard about the Cybrarium located in downtown Homestead, Florida? Well, today our B.R.I.D.G.E.S students had a real treat spending the morning at the Cybrarium, a one-of-a-kind library that offers an exciting blend of cutting-edge technology and a traditional...

Budgeting at IHOP

Budgeting at IHOP

What a special treat our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students enjoyed as they headed to IHOP for their early morning Community Based Instruction (CBI) trip! As the students reviewed the menu prior to heading out to IHOP, they couldn’t wait to order all the delicious breakfast...

Learning How to Use an ATM Machine

Learning How to Use an ATM Machine

A.T.M.s are located all over the community to make banking easier for everyone. This week, the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had the opportunity to learn how to use an A.T.M. at the local Bank of America branch. As part of the HDS Foundation B.R.I.D.G.E.S. grant, students...