Transition Newsletter March 2023

It's March! There are so many fun things to look forward to this month. Spring Break, March Madness, St. Patrick's Day, and (hopefully) warmer weather to name a few.

So this month, our newsletter is all about fun!

We all create valuable connections and memories by participating in enjoyable activities with others. While we spend much of our day focusing on individual goals here at West Campus, we also make sure to include fun. We celebrate special achievements, holidays, and birthdays. We participate in social groups so we can build friendships and learn more about each other. We explore rec/leisure opportunities like basketball, bowling, card games, and dance parties. We have also organized social events with our peers at Lake Forest College and other Transition Centers.

This month, we want to highlight how our students like to have fun as well as their wonderful senses of humor. Please enjoy videos of some of the students telling their favorite jokes and riddles throughout the newsletter!

A quick reminder that our virtual Transition Master Facility Plan event will be held on Monday March 13. Please use the button link below to RSVP.

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We asked some students what they like to do for fun. Here are their answers.

Emerson: I like to relax, hang out with my friends, talk with Ani, and watch TV. My favorite show is America's Funniest Home Videos.

Quinn: I like to watch Chicago sports (Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs and White Sox).

Max: I like listening to music, fixing cars, singing and dancing, Night Core (techno artist), and swimming.

Jane: I like to swim, play tennis and soccer, watch movies, listen to music and go to the beach.

Irving: I like drawing and listening to music.

Tyler: I like to cook, watch movies, play board games and sports, art, be with my family and friends and travel.

John: I like to swim and watch movies.

Alex: I like to cook, listen to music, dance, play sports and be with my family.

Elliana: I like to swim, watch movies and TV, be with my family and go to the park.

Nicolette: I like to read, cook, swim, watch movies and TV, play board games and sports, and go to the park.

Hannah: I like to read, cook, listen to music, dance, sing, swim, watch movies and TV, play sports, be with my family and friends, travel and go to the park.

Tommy: I like to read, cook, listen to music, dance, sing, swim, watch movies and TV, play games and sports, art, be with family and friends, travel and go to the park.

JJ: I like to listen to music, watch movies and TV, be with my family, cooking, watch anime, and play video games.

What do you call a

cow on fire? Roast

beef! (John and Anna)

IMPORTANT DATES FOR MARCH

March 24th through March 31st

• Spring Break. No school for staff and students.
• School will resume on Monday, April 3rd.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR APRIL

Friday, April 21st

• Embedded Emergency Day
• No school for staff or students (unless an emergency day is taken prior to this date)

Dear Transition Families and Young Adults,

It is hard to believe that it is March and we are making plans for summer school-Extended School Year (ESY). ESY will be held at West campus for our young adults attending Transition.

Your young adult has been recommended to attend Extended School Year this summer by their IEP team. This year, ESY runs from June 5-June 28, Monday-Thursday from 8:00-12:30 pm with no school on June 19th. We are beginning our staffing and curricular materials preparation for this summer, so we need to know whether your child intends to participate in ESY this year.

If your student is planning to participate, we ask that you complete and return the enclosed registration and emergency information sheet to your child’s IEP Facilitator or Dr. Jenny Sterpin at jsterpin@lfschools.net no later than April 7. Forms can be sent back via email or hardcopy.

If your young adult is not planning to participate, please email your child’s IEP facilitator and Dr. Sterpin at jsterpin@lfschools.net.

Linked below you will find the student registration and emergency form, and the NSSRA summer camp details.

If you have any questions regarding extended school year, please do not hesitate to reach out either by phone or by email.

• Student Registration and Emergency Form 2023 LFHS ESY

• NSSRA Information and Registration

Happy March, everyone! I hope you have had a great winter season! Even with a fairly mild winter, I am definitely looking forward to spring. 🙂

March is all about fun, and I wanted to focus this month on activities that can bring fun, joy, and excitement into our lives. Taking the time to schedule and engage in activities that you know you enjoy is a type of self-care–a tool which can also boost our mood. At the Transition Center, we spend time talking, exploring, and engaging in recreational and leisure activities to get to know our interests and what we find fun and enjoyable–everyone is different and has different interests.

Engaging in fun activities is also a way that we connect with others. Indeed, one way that we build new connections and friendships is by considering common interests. Engaging in a fun activity like going out to eat at a restaurant or doing a puzzle or craft are awesome ways to enjoy some free time, but it can be even MORE fun to do these activities with a friend who shares a common interest in that type of activity. Some ideas of fun self-care outings to do (and to invite a friend along to) might be:

• Going for a walk/workout
• Going to a museum
• Trying a new restaurant
• Going to a sporting event
• Playing a sport or game
• Going to a concert or theatrical performance
• Checking out an art exhibit
• Visiting a movie theater
• Going to a bowling alley
• Going on a shopping trip or window shopping
• Doing an arts and crafts project
• Exploring a new city
• And so many more…!

Any one of these fun activities can be so much fun whether done alone or with a friend. We hope you make it a point to practice good self-care this month and make some time for fun for yourself and/or your student!

Knock knock! Who’s there?

Boo! Boo who? Don’t cry,

it’s a joke! (Nicolette and Anna)

Laughing with Friends! It is fun to tell jokes and laugh with the people around us. Try some of these jokes out with the people around you.

Speak clearly

Speak slowly

Give your friend extra time to answer the jokes.

OR

Have a friend read them to you and make a guess.

1. Riddle: What has to be broken before you can use it?

Answer: An egg.

2. Riddle: I’m tall when I’m young, and I’m short when I’m old. What am I?

Answer: A candle.

3. Riddle: What month of the year has 28 days?

Answer: All of them.

4. Riddle: What is full of holes but still holds water?

Answer: A sponge.

5. Riddle: What question can you never answer yes to?

Answer: Are you asleep yet?

6. Riddle: What is always in front of you but can’t be seen?

Answer: The future.

7. Riddle: There’s a one-story house in which everything is yellow. Yellow walls, yellow doors, yellow furniture. What color are the stairs?

Answer: There aren’t any—it’s a one-story house.

8. Riddle. What can you break, even if you never pick it up or touch it?

Answer: A promise.

9. Riddle: What goes up but never comes down?

Answer: Your age.

10. Riddle: A man who was outside in the rain without an umbrella or hat didn’t get a single hair on his head wet. Why?

Answer: He was bald.

Why does a Kleenex dance?

It’s got a little boogie in it!

(Jane and Dana)

What does it mean to have fun at work?

A friendly, engaging, and supportive workplace will create a fun environment for all to experience. In other words, if people are engaged and excited about their work, they will naturally learn, develop, and perform as the best employee they can be.

This month, I want to highlight Max, a/k/a DJ to the Max, for being dedicated to his DJ Technician Assistant trainings. Not only is Max working and setting up the equipment for Charizma Entertainment in Northbrook, but he is growing with fun and unique experiences.

Max is working with people who keep him engaged and encourage creativity while at the same time train for specific skills. His fun work environment is implementing best practices while allowing learning and skill development at an appropriate pace for his individuality.

Max continues to progress in terms of skills. Since his vocational trainings have started he has mastered cord identification, song selection, setup of play lists, and prep/set up of equipment for the DJ’s events.

DJ to the Max is growing and having the best time every week! Congratulations, Max, on the work you are doing and the fun you are having alongside Charizma Entertainment Owner, Marz, and DJ Scotty K of 99.5!

Work Training

Fun play!

What’s a cat’s favorite

color? Purrrrrple! (Alex and JJ)

Greetings From the Nurses Office.

We made it to March and we are officially out of peak cold and flu season, and well…COVID is still hanging around. It is a good time to start thinking about making an appointment for that yearly check up. With that being said, we need to stay diligent to keep the spread of germs down. Here are a few quick tips for staying healthy:

• Wash your hands frequently

• Stay up to date with your immunizations

• Cover your coughs and sneezes

• Get plenty of rest

• Stay home when you are not feeling well

I won’t go on and on like winter. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me by email at llandsverk@lfschools.net or phone at 847-235-9716.

Stay Healthy!

Nicolette and Laurie showing off

their special handshake

in the trophy room at LFC

Why didn’t the teddy bear

eat his lunch? Because he

was stuffed! (Elliana)

Luke, Jane, and Morgan

having fun in the community

Knock knock! Who's there? Hoo!

Hoo Who? Are you an owl? Hoo

Hoo Hoo! ??....an owl? Hoo hoo

hoo! ...????? (Quinn and Emerson)

Would You Rather - Snack Version

brain break after math instruction

Thank you for attending our Transportation Parent Series on February 27. Please see instructions and links for applying for an RTA Reduced Fare Permit below.

~ Please complete this survey about future Parent Series Events ~

Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) serves Social Security Disability beneficiaries in Illinois. In cooperation with the sponsorship of Illinois DHS - Division of Rehabilitation Services, IATP WIPA will be hosting 10 WISE events from January through May 2023. In an effort to make WISE events more convenient for beneficiaries and their families, they are hosting them multiple times a month both during the day and the evening. Please see the dates / times and Zoom links below to register in advance:

The annual Opening Horizons Conference will be held on April 21st. This is an opportunity to come to UWW and become more familiar with the process of requesting disability services at the college level. During the event you can expect to hear directly from our staff, as well as from students who are currently utilizing our services! Registration opened February 6th.

Robert H. Farley Jr. offers workshops and seminars to parents, organizations, and agencies on a wide variety of topics related to disability advocacy and disability services.