BCSSSD Pioneer Press
March 2016, Edition #16
Editor: Mrs. Laura Geltch, Coordinator of Program and Community
Happy Spring!
A Message from Adell Valasek, Supervisor of Autism
Dear School Community:
We will be hosting an Open House for Burlington County Special Services School District (BCSSSD) on April 6, 2016. This event is being held alongside the Provider's Fair in our Central Gym. To learn more about the programs we offer at BCSSSD, please attend our breakout sessions at 7 p.m., which will be held in the Media Center and the Café, followed by campus tours. We will showcase our programs that serve multiply disabled students, students with autism, students with behavior disorders, and students who are medically disabled. We will have face painting for the children and giveaways. We hope you will join us for this exciting evening!
Additionally, we are hosting our 10th Annual Poster Presentation and Research Symposium this year! We are excited to host this event on Wednesday, April 20, 2016. Our program here at BCSSSD offers students the opportunity to succeed using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. BCSSSD PASC (Pioneer Autism Sensory Center) staff, Related Services Professionals, and Child Study Team Professionals will present interventions based upon empirical research and established standards for evidence based practice in order to improve the quality of life for students. Research will be judged and prizes awarded. Please join us for light refreshments, student artwork, and informational resources as you view the various poster presentations. We are proud to offer high quality programs to students with autism spectrum disorder and other related developmental disabilities. Professionals attending the event will receive 1.5 professional development hours.
-Adell Valasek
Dr. Nagy's Special Education Links
Assistant Superintendent, Special Education
Dr. Nagy's Special Education Weekly Blog
Attention Parents & Guardians: Parent Portal Letter and Parent Portal Form
BCIT/BCSSSD Board of Education Policies & Regulations
The following policies and regulations have been approved by the Board of Education. Please review and reference pertinent policies as applicable.
Policies/Regulations (Exhibit #2) (These items are available on the website.) 1st Reading
3431.1 Family Leave (Revised) 4431.1 Family Leave (Revised) R5111 Admissions (Revised: Rubric) 9150 School Visitors
7440 School Security
Policies/Regulations (Exhibit #1) (These items are available on the website.)
2nd Reading
3431.1 and 4431.1 Family Leave (Revised) R5111 Admissions (Revised: Rubric)
9150 School Visitors
7440 School Security
R8460 General Administrative Investigative Procedures (Revised) R7450.1 General Inventory (BCIT) (Revised)
1st Reading
8500.1 Offer Versus Serve (OVS)
R6660 Student Activity SOP
Policies/Regulations (Exhibit #1) (These items are available on the website.)
1st Reading
2340.1 and R2340.1 Competitions
2nd Reading
8500.1 Offer Versus Serve (OVS)
R6660 Student Activity SOP
Revised
7516 Use of Swimming Pool
8505 Wellness/Nutrition Standards for Meals and Other Foods
Burlington County Alternative School March Principal's Update
Letter from Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christopher Manno, concerning the exciting news about our upcoming move to a state-of-the-art facility during the 2016-2017 school year.
State Testing
The PARCC assessment will be administered to all students in the 9, 10, and 11th grades on May 9-13, 2016. It is important that all students do their best on these exams, as they are a requirement for graduation. In the State of New Jersey, students must pass an approved exam in order to be awarded a diploma.
Seniors
Students who have successfully completed their credits and state testing requirements are invited to attend the BCAS graduation. Please mark your calendar for June 15, 2016 at 5:00pm.
Washington D.C. Trip
The annual field trip to Washington D.C. is scheduled for April 22, 2016. In order for students to be eligible to attend they must satisfy the following requirements:
- Earn a total of 5 academic credits between March 14th-April 20th. (One must be in mathematics)
- Demonstrate appropriate behavior here at BCAS.
- Have no more than 2 unexcused absences/4 late arrivals
- The students should contact Jim Codianni, History Instructor for further information about this trip.
Attendance/Lateness
As the weather becomes nicer, it is still important that students are here each day on time. The sending school districts are very involved and require that students are present and making satisfactory progress toward graduation. If your child is going to be absent/late please notify the school nurse, Candice Esola at (609) 261-5600 X 2504.
Joan Barbagiovanni
(609) 261-5600 X 2501
BCAS Monthly Staff and Student Update
I. Student accomplishments, recognition, awards, activities, assemblies, programs, etc.
Eddie Peek from the Rancocas Valley Regional High School District has been selected as the Burlington County Alternative School Scholar of the Month. Eddie is a serious student and is consistently the top credit earner in the school. Congrats to Eddie and thank you for being here!
Jorge Gomez from the Rancocas Valley Regional High School District has been selected as the Burlington County Alternative School Citizen of the Month. Jorge is a leader in the kitchen as a student worker, and works well with the middle school students in the cafeteria. Jorge can be seen supporting staff on a daily basis. Thank you for being here, Jorge!
Romeo Page and Brandon Russell were chosen as the Middle School Student Spotlights this month.
BCAS Recent Graduates
- Alyssa West of Bordentown Regional School District
- Anthony Murphy of the Cinnaminson School District
- Dana Adams of the Lenape Regional High School District
- Margaret Gurley of the Moorestown School District
- 25 students visited Cuba Libre in Philadelphia for an authentic meal and Salsa lessons with Spanish Instructor, Matias Campanini.
- Middle School school students participated in an essay contest based on the life of Alice Paul in celebration of Women’s History Month.
II. Employee accomplishments, recognition, awards, professional development, etc.
- Lisa Cleary completed her coursework to earn her Supervisor Certification
- Mark Gromen was selected as the Staff Spotlight for the Middle School Newsletter
- Bobbie Downs presented on “Mindfulness and Yoga in the Alternative Classroom” at the National Alternative Education Association Annual Conference in Ponte Vedra, Florida
BCAS April 2016 Information Session
(Teen Suicide and Depression Issues)
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
6 - 7 p.m.
Burlington County Alternative School
1000 Briggs Road, Mt. Laurel, NJ
RSVP: Melissa Manno via email: mmanno@bcsssd.k12.nj.us
A note from Nicole Margiotta
Dear BCSSSD Community,
Those of you who are on Facebook, please "like" our pages and visit them regularly; feel free to add comments on items. When referencing our "Sign Me A Story" series, please reference it with hashtag and written exactly like this (#SignMeAStory).
Save the date: April Sign Me a Story: April 16, 2016, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Burlington County Library
Burlington County Times article on January's "Sign Me A Story": http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/news/local/photos-stories-signed-for-hearing-impaired-at-burlington-county-library/collection_80a11f08-bbaf-11e5-a646-97fa88dbb421.html
Here are the two Facebook links...
Thank you all for supporting our pages! Please pass the links along to anyone who might be interested!
Thank you,
Nicole Margiotta
Supervisor, Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Assistive Technology
Lumberton Campus "In the Loop" March 2016 Newsletter
BCPDI Workshop Series
Click HERE for the Burlington County Professional Development Institute (BCPDI) online Workshop Series Brochure
Congratulations to Mrs. Adell Valasek for her BCPDI Instruction!
Meet Ryan, by Kimberly Scheetz, BCSSSD Occupational Therapist
Meet Ryan.
Ryan is a preschool student who was born with a rare disorder that affects his ability to communicate effectively. It has long been a belief of Ryan’s teacher and therapists that he is a bright student and that the roadblock preventing Ryan from effectively “showing us what he knows” was his inability to effectively communicate even though he was so desperate to do so. Ryan was evaluated by Kristy Davies, AAC Specialist for the Educational Services Unit at BCSSSD, and an iPad with the communication app LAMP Words for Life was recommended.
The iPad and app were provided by the South Jersey Kid's Trust, a philanthropic organization which provides equipment to medically fragile students. Upon receiving the device, Ryan's speech therapist, Ms. Kleinkaufman, programmed the app with a custom vocabulary relating to Ryan's school environment. As Ryan mastered the vocabulary, new words were added using the app's Vocabulary Builder feature. As Ryan adjusted to using the device in Speech Therapy, Ms. Kleinkaufman collaborated with Ms. Graven-Eells on ways to use Ryan’s ACD (Assistive Communication Device) effectively in the classroom and forwarded some literature on other ACDs- in-the-classroom tips and techniques.
Ms. Graven-Eells has integrated the device into the classroom routine, including morning circle, group activities, and book reading. Additionally, the device is used to help Ryan transition from one task to the next throughout the day.
The BCSSSD program has a unique weekly collaborative therapy session which brings OT and Speech services into the classroom setting. During Ryan’s inaugural Integrated Therapy session with his ACD, the therapists and the classroom staff learned together about the device and were humbled and amazed at Ryan’s rapid learning and the ease with which he navigated the device and the speech program. Ryan was then encouraged to take his device with him to all of his therapy sessions, including Physical Therapy, to the nurse’s office and to his PE, Art and Music lessons. Everyone was supportive and excited about the brand new world that was beginning to dawn for Ryan.
During a classroom lesson Ms. Graven-Eells was using the Dr. Seuss book, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish to launch units in literature and science and to prepare for the classroom’s upcoming trip to the NJ Adventure Aquarium. Ryan had previously been using his ACD to create short rehearsed phrases. However, the classroom staff were given the gift of a teacher’s dream when the spontaneous phrase, “one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish” erupted from Ryan’s ACD! Ryan had demonstrated the ability to create original complex phrases as he gained familiarity with his device. The staff immediately shared the serendipitous moment with Ms. Kleinkaufman who sat down with Ms. Graven-Eells and worked to expand Ryan's language goals, to help him explore a richer, more complex vocabulary, and varied sentence structure and grammar, including plurals and verb tenses. Additionally, Ms. Graven-Eells has been instructing Ryan to type words into the device as part of his instruction in early reading and writing skills. Ryan can now type his name and it can be heard aloud.
Ms. Kleinkaufman spread the good news with Mrs. Niehaus-Scheetz who saw how she could incorporate fine motor planning, finger isolation and word processing skills into Ryan’s Occupational Therapy sessions to help Ryan communicate more efficiently and effectively, and practice his typing skills in order to use the ACD's text-to-speech feature.
Ryan has been using his ACD to take an active role socially, introducing himself to others, telling his peers whose turn is next in a game, exchanging social greetings, sharing his feelings, as well as saying thank you. In honor of Read Across America, the Cat in the Hat visited BCSSSD and Ryan ran up to him in front of the entire school and said "Happy Birthday, Cat in Hat!" loud and clear, using his ACD. There are some who might argue that the use of an ACD may deter a student from using his/her own verbal skills to communicate; that its use would create a dependency or complacency. To the contrary, the classroom staff has noted that Ryan has been more clear in his spoken words than ever before.
Meet Ryan. Plan to sit and stay for a while. He has a lot to tell you.
Annual Poster Presentation Research Symposium
https://www.smore.com/511pz-bcsssd-annual-research-symposium
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2016, 06:00 PM
BCSSSD Westampton, Main Gym, 20 Pioneer Blvd., Westampton, NJ 08060
BCSSSD Resource Fair & Open House
Event Details:
Bringing Community Resources Together to Support Families with Special Needs
Are you unsure of what resources can benefit your child with special needs? Join us on Wednesday, April 6 from 6:00-9:00 pm at the 2nd annual Pediatric Special Needs Resource Fair sponsored by BCSSSD School & Family Association, BAYADA Pediatrics and the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities.
- Discover a wide-range of medical, behavioral, recreational, and advocacy-related resources
- Connect with representatives from state agencies, non-profit and social services organizations, local providers, and other valuable contacts
- Leave with a comprehensive Resource Fair Guide of over 50 local resources
Questions or to RSVP: contact Tara at tmontague@bayada.com or 856-722-9900
Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/777665492339421/
Wednesday, Apr 6, 2016, 06:00 PM
BCSSSD Westampton Campus, Main Gym, 20 Pioneer Blvd, Westampton, NJ, United States
A note from Tara Montague, SFA President
Our next SFA meeting is Wednesday, May 4th, 7 p.m. in the Media Center on the Westampton campus. You can use the C-9 exit in the back next to the greenhouse to enter.
Child care is available but needs to be requested by Monday evening so we can prepare.
Please let us know if you have any questions. We hope you can join us. We will be discussing continuing leadership of the SFA at the meeting.
Best wishes,
Tara Montague, SFA President
Peggy Dugan, SFA Vice-President.
BCSSSD Band ROCKS Mt. Holly St. Patrick's Day Parade!
Spring has SPRUNG at BCSSSD! Our Greenhouses are all in BLOOM!
Ms. Warren's class celebrated Dr. Seuss Read Across America Day by reading to other students in Mrs. Jeitner's class.
Welcome Cat in the Hat! Students Celebrated Dr. Seuss's Birthday on March 2nd!
National School Breakfast Week! Our Westampton & Mt. Laurel campus students participated.
Students create original T-shirt Designs!
Our Automotive students hard at work detailing and washing cars!
Lumberton Campus hosted an art exhibit, luncheon, and concert in honor of Black History Month. Exquisite work!
BCSSSD Annual Reunion Dance: Friday, April 15, 2016
BCSSSD Annual Reunion Dance
RSVP:
(609) 261-5600, Ext. 5504
Questions?
Call Janice Strug, Ext. 5501
Friday, Apr 15, 2016, 06:30 PM
BCSSSD Westampton, 20 Pioneer Blvd., Westampton, NJ 08060
BCSSSD Educational Foundation Annual Golf Outing
Monday, Aug 1, 2016, 07:30 AM
Medford Lakes Country Club, Oak Drive, Medford Lakes, NJ, United States
Jump Start Store
Dear parents and staff,
Students will be provided with the opportunity to shop at the Jump Start Store two times per month this year. Sign-up will be done on a first come/first served basis, so please stop in to schedule your preferred shopping times.
We are in need of the following items:
- Household items
- Knick Knacks
- Clothing: blouses, shirts, coats, & belts
- Dishes
- Glasses
- Wallets
- Purses
- Silk flowers
- Candles
- Holiday Decorations
Thank you for your support!
-Mr. McHugh & Mr. Zielinski
2015-2016 BCSSSD Pioneer Press Newsletters
Camp Discovery Spring Break Mini Camp: March 28 - April 1, 2016
Camp Discovery Summer Camp. Click link below for more information.
Revised BCSSSD 2015-16 District Calendar
Letter from Dr. Christopher M. Manno, Superintendent of Schools
BCSSSD Parent Corner
Please share your story as a parent or guardian. What does the Burlington County Special Services School District mean to you and your family? How has your child benefited from attending BCSSSD?
Thank you for your time and consideration. --Laura Geltch
Do you have a story to share?
Our students and staff are unique and truly outstanding Burlington County community members. It would be my pleasure to share student, family, and parent stories with our school's community.
Please contact me if you would like to share your story.
Thank you,
Program & Community Coordinator
BCSSSD
Like us on Facebook!
BCSSSD School and Family Association (SFA)
https://www.facebook.com/BCSS.SFA?fref=ts
NEW PAGES:
Burlington County Deaf & Hard of Hearing-D/HH Education Initiative
ESU Augmentative Alternative Communication & Assistive Technology
Box Tops for Education
Thank you! - BCSSSD Staff
New Special Event Form!
Thank you,
Laura Geltch
Program and Community Coordinator
Burlington County Health Department Information: 2015-16 School-Aged Children Immunization Clinics
Letter from Burlington County Health Department:
Referral Form from Burlington County Health Department:
Emergency Closing/Delayed Opening Procedures:
In the event of a campus emergency or inclement weather, staff members will be contacted via email, phone message, and text message. In addition, we will post a Special Alert Message on our website.
Staff Members, Help us Contact You.
Have you moved? Have you changed your phone number or email address? Please make sure to update your information with BCSSSD Personnel.
Students will be contacted using information stored in Genesis, our electronic student database. Parents should be reminded to ensure their contact information is up-to-date. Any changes should be reported to the main office of the student's school.