Accomplished special education administrator to take over in August
Walker has named Mary Howard, Ed.M., as the new Director of Beacon High School.
An accomplished administrator with three decades of experience working with Massachusetts children, youth, and families, Howard will join the Beacon community in August as we prepare for another successful academic year of providing a safe, nurturing environment in which students can learn, thrive, and grow.
“Walker is fortunate that Mary has chosen us as her new professional home, and we are confident her passion and strengths-based approach will...
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Event raises $375,000 for Walker
The Walker community celebrated the strength and resilience of Walker families at the annual Lives In Bloom Gala Saturday, May 11, at the Westin Boston Waterfront. Four hundred guests filled the Grant Ballroom in joyous celebration of the Walker mission.
This year Walker honored the Hamel family – Paul, Cheryl, Michael, and Matthew – with the Walker Distinguished Community Leadership Award for their commitment to bettering the lives of our citizens, especially children, youth, and families. Michael Hamel graduated from...
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Walker Family Fun Day provides needed relief
Fourteen years later, Ken and Susan Meharg still remember how Walker helped their family while their then nine-year-old adopted son was a student here and enrolled in the residential program.
Through Ken’s business, New England Trade, the Mehargs continue to show their gratitude by helping current students and their families forget some of their challenges, even if only for a few hours. The Mehargs sponsor the annual Walker Family Fun Day, which turns the Needham Campus into a carnival complete with a bounce house, mechanical bull, cotton...
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Walker School students tour Red Sox home
Baseball is full of traditions, and one that is taking hold on Walker’s Needham campus over the past four summers is a tour of Fenway Park for some of the children in our Summer Program.
This year 10 boys, accompanied by Day Program Coordinator Kevin Vacaro and Day Treatment Specialist Brian McCarthy, enjoyed “America’s Favorite Ballpark” on a bright, sunny day – a perfect day for baseball!
The students sat atop the Green Monster seats, got a sense of what the view feels like from the bullpen for a relief pitcher, sat high on the...
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Excitement builds as new academic year approaches
Life at Walker is never dull. Graduation season blends right into the summer term at Beacon High School, where students attend classes until the end of July. On the Needham campus, children participating in our Summer Program head off on field trips, nature walks or excursions to local swimming holes, or participate in arts and crafts projects. And there always is the buzz of young boys and girls splashing in inflatable pools and racing around the playground.
But as we move closer to September and summer fades into fall, there is a...
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An enthusiastic group of old and new Friends of Walker celebrated summer on Tuesday, August 14, at Dillon’s on Boylston Street, and raised more than $500 for Walker Programs. The Friends of Walker provide critically important help through fundraising, volunteering, and hosting fun activities for children and youth. Want to get involved? Visit www.walkerschool.org/help/friends
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Volunteers provide help on Needham Campus
Walker welcomed 16 volunteers from Liberty Mutual to our Needham Campus for the nationwide Serve With Liberty event in June. In celebration of 100 years, tens of thousands of Liberty Mutual employees across the globe participated in a day of service to help the communities and neighborhoods they call home.
Under the direction of Sonny Decues of the Walker Facilities Department, the hard-working volunteers painted the first-floor corridor and a stairwell in The Walker School on Walker’s Needham Campus, as well as a self-soothing...
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Twenty-one receive diplomas at commencement ceremony
On the first full day of summer – temperatures soaring into the mid-90s and the Needham campus awash in brilliant sunshine – 21 students received diplomas in front of proud parents, grandparents, friends, and staff at the Walker School’s annual graduation ceremony.
Several students, showing confidence that perhaps was once unimaginable, spoke to the gathering with heartfelt words about how Walker has transformed their lives. One student said, “I hope Walker is here for decades to come to help future generations.”
Walker School...
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Walker community honors Dr. Richard Small, Ph.D., raises more than $387,000
The Walker community celebrated the career of Dr. Richard W. Small, Ph.D., in grand fashion at the annual Lives In Bloom Gala Saturday, May 12. Four hundred guests — including Dr. Small’s family, friends, and colleagues – filled the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel to pay tribute to the man who built Walker into a world-class array of child and family welfare advocacy programs during his 27 years as executive director.
The Gala crowd helped ensure that Walker will continue to grow, lead, and innovate, with a generous outpouring of...
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Walker’s Playground of Possibilities is finished! The spectacular new play area opened on April 16. Thanks to everyone who made it possible! Want to help? Making a donation to support the playground is easy!
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