SMEC students and staff from the ISP II and TSP classrooms enjoy a parachute game together. (Photo Courtesy Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative)
NEW BEDFORD — The classrooms of the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative (SMEC) united on June 2 to celebrate the inaugural Arts, Music, and Physical Movement (AMP!) event.
The special education collaborative’s diverse student population converged at SMEC’s Transitional Services Program (TSP) on Bridge Street in Fairhaven, for a day spent exploring creativity, getting their bodies moving and making memories together.
“I liked AMP Day,” said TSP student Ayden Akell. “I got to draw all that I wanted and used lots of colors. I was able to move around too!”
From painting masterpieces and dancing with vibrant ribbons, to playing outdoor games, the energy and smiles were plentiful throughout the first-ever 2026 AMP! event.
“It was super, super fun!” said TLC student Marcel Young.
The event was coordinated primarily by three dedicated SMEC staff members — Adapted Physical Education Teacher Paula Silva, Art Educator Nicole Winning and Music Instructor Sara Achorn.
“All individuals deserve to experience as much as they can and when the collective creative professionals of AMP! combine and share their magic together,” said Silva. “The atmosphere heightens and the integration to share space together allows their gifts and the magic erupts, allowing all to feel, see, and hear how their body can grow and develop when caring community shows up!”
SMEC has pledged to continue the tradition annually, into the future.
“I was really excited to work collectively in our therapeutic arts for AMP! Day,” said Achorn. The melding of art, music, and physicality is so important to a child’s development and sense of community. We connect with other people through the art we consume, the music we sing, and the way we move around the world. These are the things that bring us together and create community. After a lifetime of creating music and sharing the arts with others, I am so delighted to be a part of a team at SMEC that values in the arts and movement the way I do. I look forward to making this bigger and better every year!”
SMEC students stood at easels, experimenting with colors under the bright spring sun.
“As the art teacher who goes to every SMEC classroom I have always wished that classrooms knew each other more,” said Winning. “We are each a spoke in the wheel that is SMEC. AMP! was a fun way to support this vision while invigorating all the joyful ways we learn in school.”
SMEC students exercised their minds and creativity as they tried new modes of expression and met students from other classrooms in SMEC’s 11 distinct school programs located in 10 different locations across the South Coast.
“It was truly wonderful to see our whole school community come together for a day of art, music, movement, and fun,” said SMEC Student Services Director Kim Wilmot. “I loved watching some students gravitate toward the activities that brought them joy and others challenge themselves to try new things. It was also great to watch different classrooms merge — new friendships were made and old ones were renewed as students and staff traveled between activities throughout the morning and came together for our closing circle.”
Throughout the morning, Wilmot witnessed many smiles, heard waves of laughter, and noted the event’s true sense of community and togetherness.
Following this school year, Director Wilmot will be taking the reins from current SMEC Executive Director Catherine Cooper, who has led the Collaborative for the past two decades.
“This year’s first AMP! was an amazing experience for everyone involved,” said Executive Director Cooper. “AMP! is a tradition worth preserving and evolving. It unites us as a collaborative and highlights the dedication of our staff and the potential of our students and members.”
About SMEC
The Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative is a public education collaborative established in 1975. SMEC is an extension of 10 public school systems, which make up its membership. The present membership includes the Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, Rochester and Old Rochester Regional public school districts. SMEC accepts students for enrollment in its programs from school systems throughout Southeastern Massachusetts. The Collaborative’s programs and services are locally based and locally directed and are designed to supplement the special education resources of its member districts. SMEC offers a variety of services for students with special needs aged 3-21 as well as adults with developmental disabilities. To learn more about the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative, visit smecollaborative.org.
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PLP student Braelynn Correira navigates an obstacle course with support from SMEC paraprofessional Naomi Cooper. (Photo Courtesy Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative)
TLC student Dylan Forgues takes a swing at SMEC’s first AMP! event. (Photo Courtesy Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative)
| MLC student Martin Mathieu, his mom, Pam, paraprofessional Mary Lou Medeiros and OTA Clarissa Dume enjoy a free-drawing activity. (Photo Courtesy Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative) |
ECP student Leandro Vieira experiments with colors. (Photo Courtesy Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative)
ECP student Mason Carreiro and BCBA Jaclyn Clifford create a musical instrument together, (Photo Courtesy Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative)
APE Teacher Paula Silva leads SMEC classrooms in a Drums Alive activity. (Photo Courtesy Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative)
TLC student Jordyn Delvalle adds color and detail to a Keith Haring inspired Canvas. (Photo Courtesy Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative)
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