BCSSSD Pioneer Press
December 2016, Edition #24
Editor: Mrs. Laura Geltch, Coordinator of Program and Community
Thank you,
Laura Geltch
Dr. Christopher Nagy, Superintendent of Schools
December 2016
Dear BCSSSD Community,
We have had a very productive first half of the the school year. As we approach the end of the calendar year and the half way point of our academic school year, this is a great time to look at rebalancing our personal and professional goals, and for students, the ability to make extra efforts to do a little more or better before the end of the semester later in January 2017. As we look back and give gratitude for our blessings and opportunities, we also look toward the future and plan for a better tomorrow. I found the tool below by Joyce Oddison to be helpful to rebalance our respective interpersonal wellness systems while assisting with new goal setting for the New Year.
On behalf of the Board of Education, administration and staff, I wish our staff, students and community members a Happy Holiday Season and New Year full of opportunities, engagement and flourishing.
Dr. Christopher J. Nagy
Superintendent of Schools
Click HERE for Dr. Nagy's BCSSSD web page and blog
December Greetings Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Andy Demidont
Dear BCSSSD Community,
I would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you a joyous holiday and a Happy New Year. My hope for each of you is that during this season, you will take the time to recall the extraordinary blessings and gifts you have been given. It is all too easy to be preoccupied by life's daily challenges and thus miss opportunities as to how far we have grown over the past year.
Life is short; don’t ever waste it
Life is sweet; take the time to taste it
Life is a journey; find the right path
Life is entertaining; don’t be afraid to laugh
Life is good times; make them last
Life has its bad times; put them in your past
Life is a chance; make sure you take it
But most importantly, Life is what you make it.
Unknown
The wish I have for each of you this year is that you and your families continue to enjoy good health and happiness. In every sense may “joy to the world” be experienced in your heart and in your relationships.
Happy Holidays.
Andreas Demidont
Assistant Superintendent for Special Education
Making Your Holidays Meaningful, by Tracy Moyn
Happy Holidays! What makes us happy? Research shows that gratitude and social connections are two of the best predictors of happiness. This time of year, we are reminded to express gratitude and nurture our relationships. Human connections give purpose and meaning to one's life. People who have healthy relationships and are grateful are happier in life.
Welcome to applied positive psychology. The science of applied positive psychology is the study of optimal human functioning. Positive psychology focuses on a person’s strengths and a growth mindset that promotes a healthful, flourishing and fulfilling life pathway. Positive psychology is not only about happiness, it is a balance among positivity, engagement, healthy relationships, meaning and purpose, personal achievement, and physical, mental and social vitality.
This holiday season, hold your loved ones close, be mindful of the things that bring meaning to life, and share your appreciation for life's blessings with others. Make a point to create new memories, capturing them through photos, videos, and valued family traditions. Savoring experiences with family and friends facilitates gratitude, optimism, and social emotional wellbeing.
As we approach a new year, research on goal setting indicates higher life satisfaction and productivity are realized when we achieve our New Year's resolutions. Happy New Year!
BCSSSD Board of Education Policies & Regulations
Click HERE for the 2016-17 Board of Education Meeting Notes. Please review and reference pertinent policies as applicable.
Board of Education policies and regulations online link:
BCSSSD 2016-17 District School Calendar
December 2016 BCAS Update from BCAS Principal, Mrs. Joan Barbagiovanni
Happy Holidays from the Lumberton Campus! Lumberton staff spreading Holiday Cheer!
BCSSSD Lumberton Campus December 2016 Newsletter
Click HERE
Click HERE for the 2016-17 BCPDI Online Brochure. Register today!
BCPDI Training Series - Creating and Monitoring Behavior Plans
BCSSSD's Middle School Supervisor, Mrs. Adell Valasek presented to Burlington County educators on Creating and Monitoring Behavior Plans.
Great job Mrs. Valasek!
Holiday Craft Show Preparation
BCSSSD Holiday Craft Fair
Holiday Show
Elves on the Shelf board created by Lisa Cannulli
Meals for Mittens
BCIT Westampton Campus - December 6, 2016
Thank you to everyone who attended and donated to Meals for Mittens on December 6th!
Huge thank you to Sodexo, the BCIT Westampton Culinary staff and students, and the Bible Club of BCIT Westampton for their volunteerism.
Donations of mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, socks and more will be donated to three Burlington County charities this holiday season.
Burlington County Times online photo gallery.
Literacy on and off campus in Burlington County
Literacy is a lifelong gift. It doesn’t matter who gives you this gift or the environment in which you receive it. While it is most beneficial to receive this gift early in life, it is still life-changing regardless of when you receive it. Vince and Marie Phillips, both retired educators, recognize that having the ability to read and write proficiently opens many doors for people of all ages and backgrounds. They are passionate about working with young people from all backgrounds to promote a love of reading and the ability to express one’s thoughts and opinions in writing.
Former principal of Burlington Township High School, Marie is now the administrator of the Burlington County Professional Development Institute (BCPDI) and the Burlington County School Crisis Response Team (BCSCRT), two programs sponsored by the Educational Services Unit of BCSSSD. Vince founded the Burlington County Alternative High School in 1993, formerly hosted on the Pemberton campus of Burlington County College (now RCBC). After retiring, Vince began volunteering as a teacher at the Juvenile Detention Center in Pemberton. He was assigned to work with the students who needed more individualized attention due to their advanced or deficient skills. It was here where Vince met John (his name has been changed in this article to protect his privacy), who quickly distinguished himself as a bright, insightful young man with tremendous potential. Vince and Marie describe meeting him as life altering.
John was transferred to Burlington County Jail to await trial where he was going to be tried as an adult for his crime even though he was only 17. Vince and Marie received permission to visit him and soon met his infant daughter and the baby’s mother. John took full responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty to his crime. John’s sentence hearing was four years later, during which Vince and Marie advocated for him. Due to the seriousness of the crime, John accepted there would be significant consequences for the choices he made; however, Vince and Marie advocated for consideration of his young age and the fact that John was a first time offender.
Vince and Marie continued to visit and correspond with John. Since he dropped out of school after his freshman year, they encouraged him to take advantage of every educational opportunity while incarcerated. While incarcerated, John developed a love of reading, and his writing skills improved tremendously due to the letter writing with the Phillips. Marie stated, “It’s never too late to instill a love of reading. John was not successful in school, but has now begun reading magazines cover to cover and all types of books. He thought he was stupid and had no faith in his abilities. Letter writing has now become his primary way to communicate because he doesn’t have access to a computer and email. He writes often and uses a dictionary and thesaurus when he reads the letters we send him! He is a sponge—he absorbs everything he reads.” To John’s credit, he has recently earned his GED and is scheduled to enroll in college level courses in the spring. This is especially impressive when you consider that he was reading at an elementary level when he dropped out of school.
Vince and Marie have been introduced to a totally different world since meeting John. Whenever they visited him at the Youth Correctional Facility, they observed the impact incarceration has on entire families and the hardships everyone related to the prisoner must endure. “There were so many young children there to visit their fathers or other family members but there was nothing to do while they waited for the inmates to be brought to the visiting room. We realized having books in the waiting area would give the kids something to do and encourage parents and children to read together.” Vince and Marie sought and received permission to donate a cart and children’s books to the visiting area and delighted in seeing children and parents reading to each other. This also brought to light another issue: there were a number of inmates who were deficient in their literacy skills, mostly from lack of exposure to reading materials. John stated “There aren’t a lot of books here but we are allowed time each week to visit the library in the facility.” Once again, Vince and Marie requested and received permission to donate reading materials to expand the facility’s library offerings. John is working with the other inmates in an effort to identify areas of interest to encourage reading for pleasure.
Marie stated, “Let’s not assume all inmates are throwaways – many want to be rehabilitated". She went on to explain, “We’re not trying to save the world or suggest that there shouldn’t be consequences for one’s actions. We just want people to realize that just because someone has been imprisoned, it doesn’t mean they are not human beings with potential. We need to look past the mug shot and see the person. John was a kid who made a bad decision. His life is forever altered because of it and he will never forgive himself for the pain he has brought to the families impacted by his actions. We are so proud of the way he has accepted responsibility and how hard he is working to change his life for the better.”
Interview by Laura Geltch
Elementary Campus celebrates with their festive annual Poetry Trees
Related Service Corner with CST & Related Services Director, Mary Jean Kneringer
Give a Hoot!
Save the date: 2017 BCSSSD Educational Foundation Annual Golf Outing
Medford Lakes Country Club
ESU (Educational Services Unit) has a NEW Facebook page!
link: https://www.facebook.com/Educational-Services-Unit-134704423658284
BCSSSD Westampton Campus Video on YouTube
BCSSSD Upcoming Events
Open House & Resource Fair - Westampton Campus
March 30, 2017, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Alumni Dance - Westampton Campus
April 28, 2017, 6 - 9 p.m.
Poster Presentation Research Symposium - Westampton Campus
May 25, 2017
In the News
Adaptations by Adrian - Adaptive clothing for wheelchair users
Check out this website for adaptive clothing featuring back-openings with hook and loop closures, side zippers and wide band elastic waists for easy dressing, fashion and comfort.
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BCSSSD is on Facebook! Follow us today! Click HERE for link to our Facebook page.
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Burlington County Health Department Information: School-Aged Children Immunization Clinics
Click HERE for the link to the Burlington County Burlington County Health Department (BCHD) / School-Age Children Immunization Clinic.
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.
Employee Data Change Form: EMPLOYEE DATA CHANGE FORM 12.2.14 EDCF.pdf
Note: Staff are required to submit a signed EDCF when requesting changes to their personnel profile.
EDCF should be sent to personnel: bcsssdpersonnel@bcsssd.k12.nj.us or BCITPersonnel@bcit.cc
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.