The Mosaic School for students with autism celebrated its opening at St. Frances de Chantal Parish in Wantagh with an Open House in November. Friends, supporters, and community leaders were on hand to welcome the school to its new location.

"It is vitally important that we have more schools like the Mosaic School to provide desperately needed services for children with autism," said Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby as she toured the school. Councilwoman Goosby also presented a Certificate of Recognition, acknowledging the Mosaic School as an outstanding educational institution providing much needed services to the autism community, on behalf of the Town of Hempstead.

"We are happy to have this wonderful facility to serve our students and their families. The additional space will allow us to implement new programs to serve the autism community," said Laurie Murdock, executive director and founder of the school. "The mission of the Mosaic School is to improve outcomes for children with autism and to increase the community's awareness of autism. Our hope is that every one of our students will be able to lead more independent, happy, and productive lives within their communities."

Father Greg Cappucino, St. Frances de Chantal's pastor, welcomed the dedicated staff of the Mosaic School to his parish: "We are hoping that in the future, as the school grows, it will provide for us in the Wantagh community a place for families who need support and help with their children who have such great challenges in their lives."

The Mosaic School was founded in 2004 and is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with autism and their families by providing research-based strategies proven to be effective. The school serves children from ages five to 21 years of age. Students receive an education individualized to their unique behavior and learning needs, with emphasis upon acquiring those communication, social and academic skills necessary to live and function within the family, school and community settings. Each student's program is developed in close cooperation with the family, school district, and other professionals working with the family.

The school plans in the near future to offer a program for higher functioning adolescents on the autism spectrum who need intensive training in social skills, pre-vocational and vocational skills, and functional life skills. For more information about the school and its programs, call Laurie Murdock at 765-3696.