Monday, October 21, 2013

...AND WE'RE BACK!


The semester is well underway and we have certainly been busy since the students' return! I apologize for the delay in posts, but I am so happy that the I am able to share the exciting new developments here at Threshold. It is certainly an unforgettable time in the program's 30 year history. 

To start, students have moved into the new Wilbur House. Wilbur House, formally Crockett Hall, has undergone an extensive renovation. Wilbur House is now home to 24 Threshold students, is completely accessible, and holds Threshold's teaching kitchen. Students and staff alike now have a place to hold events, teach, and be together as an entire student unit. We are very lucky that so many people have played such vital roles in making this dream a reality. 


In other news, Threshold students are becoming very involved in sports and social organizations throughout the university. We have student representation on Lesley University's Women's Tennis team, Track and Field, and the Ultimate Frisbee team. Students are also participating in the Disney Club and Lesley University's Dance Team. In a couple of weeks a new club will begin called Circle of Friends. This club will be a social outing club that will combine Lesley University undergraduate students and Threshold students. I am particularly excited about this club as a Threshold student will be a student representative on the club's Executive Board.

In addition to all the great university-wide programming, Threshold has also sponsored several events for students to participate in. Over the past few weeks students have attended the Dedication of the new dorm, spent time with their family and friends during Family and Friends Weekend, attended the Head of the Charles Regatta, danced at HONK! Fest, decorated pumpkins, made candied apples, played in Threshold's weekly Saturday basketball games, and have watched several sporting events. Threshold is lucky to have creative and involved staff members to make these events popular among our students. 



 As the year continues there is much to look forward to and I look forward to keeping you all up-to-date on the activities and programming that Threshold students participate in! As always, please let me know if there are any ideas or suggestions you may have to add to our programming schedule! 




Wednesday, June 5, 2013


Threshold Residence Life - Summer Update


Things at Threshold are finally settling down for the summer. We are all settled into our temporary space on Mellon Street and construction on the new Wilbur Hall and Oxford House are well underway, as you can see below. 





















The end of our 2012-2013 brought several exciting events, the highlight being the Threshold Graduation! Twenty-five students received their certificates from President Moore, Jim Wilbur, and members of Lesley University's Board of Trustees. The ceremony was full of music, wonderful student speeches, and an inspirational key note speech from Michael Kersjes. For more information and pictures of the ceremony visit: http://www.lesley.edu/threshold/graduation/. 

Students entering their second or Bridge year at Threshold will have the opportunity to travel with the program next summer. Threshold will bring its first group of current students abroad to Paris, France. The success of the Threshold Alumni trips has been astounding and we are excited to expand travel experiences to more students. If you are interested about learning more about this trip, please email me (malden@lesley.edu) as there are spots still available to eligible Threshold students. 

Well, I think that sums it up for now.  I will be posting construction pictures and other updates, so please keep checking the blog. Carla, Ricky, Yadira, and myself are already excited for what next year will bring and planning for activities has already started! 

I hope all the readers of this blog are having a wonderful and relaxing summer! 

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Spring has Arrived!?!?

I can't believe that this will be my last blog post of the Spring 2013 Semester. I honestly don't know where the time has gone. As I reflect on the last ten months I am amazed at all we have done here at Threshold in such a short time and though our time together is winding down there is still so much more that students will do before departing for their summers off campus. This blog post will focus on just that. It is such a busy time of year that I thought it would be good for all of the readers to see just how grandly we end our year together at Threshold.

Threshold End of the Year Social Events 

April 13 - Field Day - This event is for all current and alumni Threshold students. We meet in a local park and spend the morning playing football, baseball, relay races, and sometime there is a water balloon fight.

April 15 - The Boston Marathon - Current students have the opportunity to join one of our former GRA's for a day full of Boston tradition. Students will depart and watch the Boston Marathon Parade and some of the race itself.

April 16-21 - Lesley University QUADFEST - All week events are hosted by Lesley University's Campus Activity Board ranging from bands, comedians, carnivals, and movies. Threshold students will be aware of the events and are invited to attend. In the past the Saturday's Quad Carnival has been quite popular.

April 20 - Threshold's Annual Semi Formal - This evening is as glamourous as any red carpet event and nearly as famous. Over 150 current and alumni students will dine and dance at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge. This event is one of the most anticipated events that Threshold sponsors by both students and faculty!

April 22 - Boston Red Sox- This is our annual trip to see the Boston Red Sox take on the Oakland Athletics. This is personally one of my favorite events of the year!

April 25 - Evening of the Arts - A night of student talent and artistic display! Threshold students share writings, dances, a theatre performance, and art pieces that they have been working on in their elective courses. Also, students have a chance to prepare their own routines and share them with the audience during the second half of the show.

April 26 - End of the Year BBQ - Students share one last meal all together and reflect on the memories that have been created since we started way back in September. Please send positive thoughts for a warm evening with no rain. Don't worry though, we have a back up plan if the weather isn't on our side.

April 27-28 - 'Real Life' - Threshold students have been working diligently with our Drama Therapy interns developing, writing, casting, and rehearsing a play that addresses social communication and peer conflict mediation all with a comedic twist. The play promises to bring laughs and insight for all who attend.

April 29 - Second Year Student Banquet - Threshold honors the Class of 2013 with a special banquet held at the Tavern in the Square in Porter Square. This is where second year students receive their yearbooks and have the opportunity for them to get them signed by peers and Threshold faculty and staff.

May 3 - Graduation -  We will send 25 Threshold students onto a new chapter in their lives this year. While we are so proud of our graduates' accomplishments, we will be very sad to see them go.

After I write down all these events, it is even harder to believe that we are at the finish line. One thing is for certain, we will certainly be keeping ourselves very busy. I have highlighted the 'main events' for the end of the semester, but regular Residence Life programming will still continue (Girls Group, Trivia Club, and movie nights) until the semester ends.

Please look for an update in late May with a lot of pictures of all of these happenings! It will be exciting to share them with all of the readers. Also, I will update the blog throughout the summer with news about 2013-2014 school year. As always, please share any comments, suggestions or questions with me.

I hope you all are having a wonderful and very happy Spring!!





Monday, February 18, 2013

February Update

Tyree and Casey enjoy some fun in the snow
We certainly have had quite an interesting February so far! Threshold has made it through a second severe weather incident, Winter Storm Nemo (without loosing power or good attitudes!!). It was nice to see several students outside enjoying all of the snow, sliding down the large snowbanks, and having snowball fights. It is amazing how good energy can really turn an intense and potentially scary storm into a wonderful and positive memory. 





  


Conner, Madison, and Charlie enjoy ice skiing in Harvard Square
While the storm was certainly an adventure, Threshold students have ventured on other endeavors around campus and the city. Students have gone ice skating, attended the musical Jersey Boys and are now getting ready for Director Jim Wilbur's annual trip to see the Boston Bruins play at TD Garden next week. Also, second year students are gearing up for a whirlwind day trip to New York City where we will see the Lion King on Broadway. 




Alex and Mike are trying to explain to me what in the heck is going on.


Threshold had its famous Super Bowl Party earlier this month and it was very well attended and VERY fun! We had a a split of students routing for either team, so it made the game exciting (and a little loud at times). I was also very happy that I learned a thing or two about football thanks to some of our very football savvy students. 







Students route for their favorite teams, and enjoy some snacks! 

















Now that the Spring Semester is well underway, so are weekly student activities. Girls Group, Guys Group and the new Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy club are among some of the things we do to help take much needed breaks after long days of classes, internships and studying. Many Threshold students attended the Student Club Fair that was held for all students who attend Lesley. As of now we have Threshold representatives in Lesley University's Dance Team, Community Service Club, Gospel Choir, Meditation Club, and a student on Lesley University's Mens Track and Field Team. It is so nice to have so many students reaching out and taking advantage of what the college has to offer.

It is just unbelievable that soon students will go on their Spring break and then return for only six weeks before graduation and the beginning of the summer. Looking ahead though, there are still so many things to look forward to and to get excited about. The Semi-Formal and Evening of the Arts in April, the End of the Year BBQ, and continued creative programing that is prepared by the amazing GRA staff are just some of the activities that will continue to make this semester fly by.

Thank you all who make these experiences happen! Without all the help, support, and dedication that Threshold is lucky to have, none of these rich social experiences and memories would be possible.

As usual, please let me know if you have ideas, questions or comments. I can be reached at malden@lesley.edu.

Thanks for reading!!


Thursday, January 10, 2013

A Happy 2013 to All!



Hello to All!

It is certainly quiet around here without students and faculty around, a bit too quiet. Here in the office we are so excited that everyone will be returning very soon. I hope that this post finds all the readers happy, healthy, and relaxed as 2013 begins to unfold. I am very excited about what this year will bring for Threshold's Residence Life calendar and the activities that will be available to students.

Already this year I have been able to travel to Disney World with current students. This trip was made possible by Cara Gorham's (Director of Threshold's new Alumni Center) leadership and dedication to expanding travel opportunities offered to current and alumni students. 20 current and alumni students attended the trip and it was an absolute blast! Whether it was laughing and dancing during a Disney parade or riding a roller coaster, we all enjoyed our time together very much. Below are some pictures of our trip.

All students who attended the trip get ready to depart

Cinderella's Castle in Magic Kingdom 


The spectacular light show at Disney Studios 

The staff enjoy some quality bonding time with Rafiki from the Lion King
Getting ready to watch the fireworks at Magic Kingdom
Students (or is that Donald Duck?) enjoy Downtown Disney

Cara, Chelsea, and David pose in their new T-shirts 

If you think that this trip looks like fun, please keep in mind that Threshold will continue to travel with students. Alumni students will travel to Italy this May and current students will have a chance to travel to Paris in May of 2014 (more details to come), not to mention other smaller scale trips that will happen throughout the semester. 

Current students will return to campus on Sunday, January 20, 2013 and classes and internships will resume on the 22nd. Students will be given their schedules on Monday when they return. As the semester begins students can look forward to Jersey Boys, a trip to New York City, a ski trip, and continued weekly activities such as girls/guys group, workout club, dance, and brunch club. Also, this semester students will have a chance to lead their own activities with guidance from  Residence Life staff. For those that choose to lead an activity they will have a chance to win prizes at the end of the semester for their leadership efforts. 

Well, I think that is about it for now. As always any questions, suggestions, or comments are welcomed and encouraged! 

I will see most of you on the 20th!