News for students, families & friends | | |
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From the Supervisor's Desk...
As we approach the end of this school year, we want to take the time to celebrate students who are moving out of the New Horizons program and transitioning to the Life Skills Center. We wish them all the very best on this new adventure and in whatever the future holds.
Please join me in celebrating the following students as they prepare for their next adventure:
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Grace Walker
Grace is a super spunky and sassy girl. She loves listening to music, audio books, anything Marvel-related, Impractical Jokers and so much more. We are so proud of her and we are going to miss those eye rolls so much next year! Congratulations G!
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Derrick Ockert
Derrick has been such a wonderful part of our classroom. He has taken his job as man of the room very seriously. His sweet and sassy nature is infectious to all those around him. We will miss him tremendously but know he will do amazing things at the Life Skills Center!
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Katelyn Hunt
Katelyn is such a fun and hilarious girl! She loves music, Sponge Bob, books, cooking, crafts and just about anything Disney-related. Everyone is going to miss her big laugh and crazy dancing next year! Way to go Kate!
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Kelsey Lawrence
Kelsey is the definition of joy and happiness. She lights up the room with her infectious smile and laugh. She cares for all of her classmates and teachers, and she is the first person to comfort someone who is upset or sad.
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Sophia Holzworth
Sophia loves to make people laugh. She has a great sense of humor and a huge heart. She has blossomed into an amazing young adult.
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Audrey Clugston
Audrey is a social butterfly who is always looking to have a conversation with her peers and teachers. She is a world of knowledge and always has a great story to share. Audrey loves and cares for all of the people she is surrounded by.
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Carl "CJ" Woodcox
CJ is the biggest helper in the class. He is always volunteering to help both his peers and the teachers. CJ enjoys laughing and joking with others.
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Thinking about summer...
For the SCI and SXI students and families, this is just a reminder that there is a week off between the end of the school year on June 7 and the start of summer programing.
We will return back to Traverse Heights on Tuesday, June 18. Program times are 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The classroom staff has shifted, but no students will be changing rooms for the summer.
- Mr. Shannon Eno will be the lead for Mrs. Davis' class.
- Mrs. Robyn Magee will move from TA to lead in Mrs. Warner's room.
- Mrs. Andrea Hinsenkamp will be the lead for Mrs. Bedore.
- Mrs. Bump and Mrs. Carpenter are staying on in their current classrooms for the summer.
Dean Transportation will be contacting families with updated bus times when they are available.
Additional Reminder
Please watch your mailbox for the fall enrollment forms for next school year to arrive in mid-August. This information needs to be updated annually.
If you move or change your contact information over the summer, please notify the office at 231.933.3561 as soon as possible. Timely updates to this information ensure we are able to connect with you when needed and ensure that transportation at the return is routed correctly.
Respectfully,
Riley Denison
Supervisor, New Horizons
Northwest Education Services
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We're Making a Difference!
by Wendy Warner
WWarner@northwested.org
Office: 231.933.3554
| In Mrs. Warner’s classroom, practicing math skills is helping our class to make a difference. Each week, we use crayons as manipulatives to practice sorting by color or length, counting, addition and subtraction, and even graphing data. We do this not only for learning, but also to benefit the Crayon Initiative and our environment. Once each baggie is full and sorted by color, we send them to this nonprofit. They melt down the crayons, make new jumbo crayons, and donate them to children’s hospitals. We love helping other kids and learning at the same time! For more information, check out The Crayon Initiative. | |
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The focus this month is on Community Mental Health and Centra Wellness services. There are three organizations that serve our five-county region:
- Grand Traverse, Leelanau, & Wexford Counties
Northern Lakes CMH: 231.922.4850
www.northernlakescmh.org
- Antrim and Kalkaska Counties
North Country CMH: 877.470.7130
www.norcocmh.org
- Benzie & Manistee Counties
Centra Wellness: 877.398.2013
www.centrawellness.org
These organization are publicly funded community mental health service providers. In collaboration with community partners, the Community Mental Health organizations serve adults with mental illness, persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and children with serious emotional disturbance (as defined by the Michigan Mental Health Code) in their respective counties. Most of these individuals are insured through Medicaid or have no insurance coverage. They provide wellness-oriented services and support. The purpose is to help qualified individuals of all ages in their pursuit of happiness by removing any barriers towards recovery and full community inclusion in order to achieve good mental health and to fully participate in community life, utilizing all its resources in line with their individual needs, wants and desires.
You must go through an intake to determine eligibility. To become a client, students must have an Intellectual Developmental Disability that can include ASD or other physical impairments which happened before the age of 22 years. They have to need assistance in at least three areas of functioning such as: learning, speech, mobility, capacity for independent living, self-direction, self-care, and economic independence. Begin the intake process by calling your county’s specific agency. School information and most recent testing is needed to show diagnosis and demonstrate need. If it is determined that services are needed, clients are assigned to a case manager and will develop an Individual Plan of Service.
If your student is qualified for respite care through CMH, check out this summer camp opportunity:
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Summer Resources (Each bold title is linked to their website)
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Benzie/Manistee
- Kalkaska/Antrim
- Grand Traverse/Leelanau/Wexford-Missaukee
We have compiled a list of local places, organizations and activities that might make participation and navigation a little easier for you and your student - from formal team sport opportunities to casual, quick visits:
Accessible Options (wheelchair and mobility equipment-friendly locations)
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Sleeping Bear Dunes Accessibility Program – The track chair program is meant to be used by park visitors who need assistance to experience a rustic hiking trail.
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Timber Recreation Area - Accessible trail that leads to a fishing pier
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TART Trail - Miles of paved trails with a variety of parking locations
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Traverse Area Community Adaptive Sailing - Adaptive sailing is a program that is inclusive to individuals with all abilities, including but not limited to those with physical and/or cognitive delays, senior citizens, veterans and those with critical health concerns.
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The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park - Free tours and wide pathways
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Joy 2 Ride Benzie - The program allows individuals who are physically unable to pedal/ride a bike the opportunity to enjoy Betsie Valley Trail using a specially designed wheelchair bike and "volunteer pilots.”
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Traverse Height Elementary School - After school hours use of paved trail and adaptive swings; 933 Rose St., Traverse City.
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Veterans Memorial Park - Paved trail with adaptive swings in Elk Rapids
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Grand Traverse County Civic Center - Paved trail with adaptive swings, also the home field to the Dream Team baseball program
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Grass River Natural Area - This trail, found in Antrim County, has 1.5 miles of boardwalk trails, including the Perception Pathway which features Braille interpretive signs and a guiding rope.
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Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail - 27 miles of paved trail
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TC Curling's Wheelchair Curling Program - Jeff Snover would like to get people hooked on curling. He is in a chair and tried out for the Paralympic Team in 2022. Call or email him if you or someone you know would like to learn about the program. 706.726.3170 Jdsnover@gmail.com
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Ongoing Community Supports
Salvation Army - Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau counties
1239 Barlow St., Traverse City, MI
231.946.4644
Open 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday (closed daily 12-1 p.m.)
Salvation Army - Emmet, Charlevoix, Antrim counties
712 Pleasant St., Petoskey, MI
231.347.3531
Open to the public for walk-ins 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., M-F (closed daily 12-1 p.m.)
Salvation Army - Wexford, Missaukee, Kalkaska counties
725 Wright St., Cadillac, MI
231.775.7131
Open 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday-Friday Food Pantry 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Father Fred Foundation - Most of Northwest Lower Michigan
826 Hastings St., Traverse City, MI
231.947.2055
Open 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Wednesday
The Northwest Food Coalition - Provides a complete list of where to locate meals or food pantries in your area. Visit the website or call 231.642.4702.
Other Area Resources
Homelessness - Prevention and Support
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Students hard at work preparing food for some very special people! | |
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For Teacher Appreciation Day, Riley and her team planned for students to make a special meal for their teachers. Central High School, Courtade Elementary, East Middle School and Traverse Heights students each got the day off from their traditional schedule to practice other skills. Everyone worked on taking turns, pouring, measuring, cutting (with assistance) and mixing.
Each student also made a garden stepping stone. The stones were given to all staff who are a part of the New Horizons program.
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A special THANK YOU to these individuals and community organizations that support extracurricular learning for our students!
We are grateful for your partnership with our school!
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Free Laundry Service for Those in Need
TC Laundry | 1131 S. Garfield Ave.
1st & 3rd Thursday of each month
8: 30 - 11:30 a.m.
Eastfield Laundry | 1122 E. 8th St.
2nd & 4th Thursday of each month
8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
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Important Dates to Remember
Monday, May 27: No School, Memorial Day
Friday, June 7: Last Day of School
Tuesday, June 18: First day back for SCI and SXI students
June 28 through July 8: No School - Summer Break: Holiday and Cherry Festival
Tuesday, July 9: Summer Return from Break
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Community Bulletin Board
The following events and ideas are NOT sponsored by Northwest Education Services. Contact Lisa Poortenga in the school office to add something.
Do you have something to share before the end of the school year?
Email Lisa Poortenga and let her know.
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In an effort to keep our students healthy, we appreciate your cooperation in following the guidelines for attendance at school. We ask that you keep your child home if they have any of the following symptoms:
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- High fever (usually 100 degrees or more)
- Sore throat that has lasted longer than 3 days
- Persistent cough
- Red eyes with drainage, itching or burning
- Any undiagnosed rash
- Head lice (may return after treatment)
- Extreme fatigue and/or irritability even in the absence of the above symptoms
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We follow the
24-hour rule!
If your child is sent home because they are sick or displaying one of the listed symptoms, they need to stay home the next school day. They may return to school once they have been symptom-free for 24 hours without the use of Tylenol or Motrin.
Thank you for your help in keeping other students and staff healthy!
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Many students in our center-based programs use multi-modal communication. Learning signs to support spoken or augmented communication can increase comprehension and communication. However, it is important to note that American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete language in and of itself. These signs are taken from ASL and are used as a visual to support spoken and augmented communication. | |
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What's for Lunch?
North Ed partners with Traverse City Area Public Schools to provide breakfast and lunch for our students. You can find the school menus linked below.
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Policies & Procedures
Student / Parent Handbook | Procedural Safeguards Notice
Attendance
Students are expected to be in school on a consistent basis; however, we know illness, appointments and therapies sometimes happen during the school day. If your child will not be in school, you must notify the school office or their teacher directly by 9:30 a.m. Please call 231.933.3560.
If your child will be out of school for an extended period, please let your child's teacher know so we can determine if there is a need for continuing their education outside of school during this time.
Extracurricular Involvement
If you would like your child to participate in any school-run, parent-initiated, extracurricular activities (sports, choir, school dances, etc.), you must give notice to your student's teacher three weeks prior to the event start date. We must have time to assemble the IEP team to determine if any additional supports are needed for safe participation.
Parents: Sign Up for Text Alerts
Northwest Education Services uses text messaging to inform our school community of school closures and other emergencies. Click the link School Closings & Alerts to learn more about how we communicate and keep you informed.
How to Sign Up:
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Text any one of these words to the number 67587: subscribe, optin, or yes
- Repeat this process for any wireless phone numbers that you wish to include
- You’ll receive a confirmation text message when you sign up
NOTE: If your cell phone number is not on file with the school, you will not be able to receive text messages. Text messaging service is limited to contact numbers tied to North Ed staff and student databases and is not available to the general public. If you are unsure whether your phone number is on file, contact the New Horizons office at 231.933.3560.
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New Horizons
933 Rose St., Traverse City, MI 49686
Tel. 231.933.3560 | NorthwestEd.org
Northwest Education Services
1101 Red Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684
Tel. 231.922.6200 | NorthwestEd.org
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