Getting to Know Our Board – Laurel Johnson
My name is Laurel Johnson, and I have been a GiGi’s Playhouse Board Member since 2013. I grew up in Moline, Illinois with my parents and younger sister. I attended Illinois State University where I received my degree in Special Education. I am currently teaching special education at my old...
a small community making a huge impact
If you live in the Quad Cities, you have heard of Prophetstown, a small community of around 2,000 about 45 minutes outside of the Quad Cities metropolitan area. Prophetstown High School is home to the Prophetstown Lady Prophets basketball team and Lady Prophet, Lexi Rangel. Lexi is cousin to our...
Getting to Know Our Board – Beth Takemoto
We continue our "Getting to Know Our Board" series with an introduction to Board Member and Gala Chair, Beth Takemoto. My name is Beth Takemoto and I have been a GiGi's Playhouse Quad Cities board member since 2013. I was born in the Quad Cities and moved back in 2012. ...
Getting to Know Our Board – Elizabeth Richmiller, DNP, CPNP
November is a month of giving thanks and we at GiGi's Playhouse want to take this month to thank our team behind the scenes - our board members. Each GiGi's Playhouse is governed by a local Board of Managers. This board is made up of a diverse group of individuals...
Thank You, Interns!
This summer you may have seen me at the playhouse helping with programs or in the back office. My name is Haylee and I am a student at Augustana College where this summer I was given the opportunity to intern at the Playhouse. From June to mid-August I worked with...
1st Graders Believe!
Tara Beeler's 1st Grade class at George O. Barr Elementary took Down syndrome awareness to a new level. This inquisitive and ambitious group of students asked school faculty and students to bring in items from home that they would be willing to put into a yard sale to raise money...
Reflections of a Mother
As I listened to a young couple share their beginning story I reminisced about our painful beginning, I was reminded once again how lucky I am to have found such amazing people to share this life with. IF I could only go back 18 years and sit down with myself...
From the Heart of a Tutor
When my precious great-niece Zoey was born in March of 2013, I knew that I wanted to do all I could to support her and her family. Who could guess that through my connection with Zoey- which led me to GiGi’s Playhouse - MY life would instead be enriched. I...
Congratulations to our GiGi Prep Graduates!
On February 18, 2015, GiGi's Playhouse Quad Cities welcomed its first class of GiGi Prep participants. For the next six weeks these five amazing adults with Down syndrome attended weekly classes on Wednesdays from 9am-1pm, focusing on communication, health, fitness, and healthy cooking. The goal of GiGi Prep is to...
Quad Cities Bringing our #BestofAll in 2015
As we welcome 2015, we wanted to give you a preview of the focus of GiGi's Playhouses Nationwide. You may have noticed on our Facebook page, website and in current communications the use of many hashtags, among them #BestofAll. Our goal in 2015 is to help each of our participants achieve...
Five Instructional Strategies for Children with Down syndrome
Children with Down syndrome are capable learners who are excited and eager to learn. They just need to be given the opportunity to excel. They may learn at a slower pace, but are more than capable of learning. They are strong visual learners. This means that they understand what they...
