Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Important.


“Hi! How are you today?”

It’s how he greets us every morning, each member of the Madonna Workshop staff, one by one. It’s as though his workday can’t begin until he’s asked each employee how he or she is doing. “Hi, how are you today?”

A simple gesture to be sure, but five simple words mean so much on a slow, early morning. What better way to start the day than to know that someone cares enough to inquire about your wellness? In fact, until Maurice makes his rounds of “Hellos” and “How are yous,” it’s as though our workdays can’t begin either.

Maurice embodies a genuine kindness which extends far beyond his daily greetings and those of the Workshop staff; his thoughtful actions reach our highly valued client base at Madonna via sharing, teamwork, and above all, friendship.

As with any workplace, keeping employees engaged and occupied is an important facet of our daily routine. In order to adhere to this principle,

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Special Olympics with Coach V


Diane Vaiskunas, Coach V. as she is called by students and teachers alike, has been a fixture at Madonna School for 34 years. Since first working with Madonna students as a YMCA swimming instructor, her energy and devotion have never slowed down. Coach V. now directs all Special Olympics activities at Madonna.

To Coach V., Special Olympics means more than just physical exercise. She describes practice and games as social events that build team spirit and offer learning experiences that are useful well beyond the court. Special Olympics, coach says, gives students “something to be proud of no matter the level of skill.” Participants get a ribbon whether or not they finish first and, most importantly, they have a lot of fun competing. 

One of Coach V.’s favorite experiences with the Madonna students
link to the official
Madonna School Website