Our program offerings for student participants in our day program continue to grow. This year, we have re-instated a partnership with the Williamson County YMCA that will supplement one of our core tenets of Health and Wellness. Students will rotate in groups once per week to visit the YMCA to engage in sports and recreation, such as games in the Youth Activity Center, basketball, and swimming.

BrightStone is also introducing a new Social and Emotional Wellness Club. The club will be an elective offering and will meet once per week to discuss topics such as gratitude, friendship, anger, emotions, and more.

Additional program expansions for this year include a new Bible Study Group, photography class, and garden club. Renovations of our barn are also planned to include space for animal care, an ADA bathroom, a horticulture classroom, and a retail shop.

Congratulations to our amazing BrightStone volunteer, Karen Rogers, who was nominated for the Volunteer Spirit Award at the Franklin Tomorrow Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards. Karen played an instrumental part in managing and distributing our crops last year and is now leading the efforts for our new garden club and horticulture program. The new elective program currently has 19 students participating.