Clark Academy “Scores” an Award with ScoresUp.com

I am pleased to announce that the Kenneth B. Clark Academy (KCA) was the co-winner of January “ScoresUp” site of the month award sponsored by eCommEd. This is the first year that KCA business teacher, Mr. Gerald DeFabbia and his students have participated in the eCommEd program. The objective of the eCommEd program is to assist students in developing e-business concepts and personal skills that are essential for real success in the 21^st century workplace.

Mr. DeFabbia and his students created a website that details the “life” of KCA. The website features the “Marching Cobras” and their recent trip to Maryland to participate in the annual Martin Luther King Parade. Other items included on the website are PBIS program information, curriculum information, sports pages, extracurricular activities and cottage life information. Please visit the webpage for full detail (http://www.scoresup.com/Kca/). “ScoresUp” staff observed that the website has “…well maintained pages…and had a great launch effort.”

I am extremely pleased that Mr. DeFabbia took the incentive to become part of the “ScoresUp” family. Our participation with “ScoresUp” will pay dividends for our students in that they will acquire some of the skills required to compete in the workplace. “ScoresUp” is one of the many programs offered by GNC UFSD to assist our students with the transition to adulthood.

If you would like more information regarding GNC please go to our website (http://www.greenburghnorthcastleschools.com/). For referral information please contact Dr. Robin Levine at 914-693-3030 ext.2232 regarding day placements and for residential placement please contact either Jill Bergner, Director of Intake, at 914-693-3030 ext. 2037 or Karen Safris, Supervisor of Intake, at 914-949-0665 ext. 2301. 

The Marching Cobras

Never silent nor stationary, Greenburgh North Castle UFSD (GNC UFSD)/ St. Christopher’s award-winning student band, the Marching Cobras, made its first ever appearance at the State University of New York in Albany in November, performing in both pre-game and halftime shows as the University of Albany Great Danes football team faced the Bulldogs of Rhode Island’s Bryant University. The band’s performances capped an exciting weekend excursion for GNC UFSD/ St. Christopher’s students that included a Friday night bowling outing in the Albany suburbs, an overnight hotel stay and, on Saturday morning prior to the game, an escorted tour of the University campus by GNC UFSD staff member and University of Albany alumnus Sheldon Gomes.

“Albany will remember the Marching Cobras” said band director Terrel Stowers in an email distributed to staff at school during the week following the trip. He said the pre-game program, “…helped to set the atmosphere for what would be an exciting game. At halftime the band once again went onto the field and gave a spectacular performance. The crowd was excited and truly enjoyed the entire show.” Mr. Gomes “did a great job showing the pride and the culture of the campus,” to band members said Mr. Stowers.

According to the University website, more than 2,500 spectators attended the game, giving the Cobra’s Marching Band, musical act one of its largest audiences since beginning to perform for outside groups just one year ago. 

While University of Albany unfortunately came out on the losing end of a thrilling, come from behind contest, it was the Great Danes only defeat in their conference games this season. The weekend was a winning experience for both band and staff members. The nearly 300 mile round trip and hotel stay proceeded exactly as planned. Mr. Stowers noted the assistance of St. Christopher’s staff Nealon Green and Letisha Lewis in providing round the clock supervision as well as the work of GNC UFSD teacher Jonelle Ballard in “contacting parents and helping them understand the impact that the trip would have on the students.”

Mr. Stowers elaborated in his postgame message by saying, “We look forward to growing a relationship with the Albany campus not only so we can have a place to entertain, but also to instill a value for higher education among GNC UFSD students. The students had the time of their lives. I look forward to the future and what awaits the Marching Cobras.”

 

The Marching Cobras latest performance was at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Maryland on January 16, 2012. Please see photographs from this uplifting event that truly celebrated the life and work of Dr. King. If your child is interested in becoming part of the Marching Cobras please contact Mr. Stowers at 914-844-3526.

If you would like more information regarding GNC please go to our website (http://www.greenburghnorthcastleschools.com/). For referral information please contact Dr. Robin Levine at 914-693-3030 ext.2232 regarding day placements and for residential placement please contact either Jill Bergner, Director of Intake, at 914-693-3030 ext. 2037 or Karen Safris, Supervisor of Intake, at 914-949-0665 ext. 2301.

 

“Bridge to Adulthood”

I hope you had a restful New Year and are off to a productive new beginning. Vocational training and the “Bridge to Adulthood” is one of the focuses of the Greenburgh North Castle Union Free School District (GNC UFSD).

REACH Academy recently launched a new vocational education and training program at the Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) that includes daily internships for five seniors at the Westchester Medical Center (WMC) in Valhalla. Though less than two months old, the program is already having a dramatic impact – on students and staff – and it may result in one or more seniors being hired by the Medical Center after they graduate.

Like most apparent “instant success” stories, of course, many hours of planning, effort, and collaboration took place long ahead of any accomplishments. The story began last May, when Kerry McKenna, a District Transition Specialist at Clark Academy, took the lead in writing a grant proposal to the state’s Developmental Disability Planning Council for funding to implement a Project SEARCH program for REACH Academy students. Project SEARCH, a nationally-acclaimed organization, provides education and training to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through innovative workforce and career programs. Its primary goal is to see graduating students secure competitive employment.

Providing effective vocational training for disabled students has long been a goal for    GNC UFSD and St. Christopher’s, and Project SEARCH was seen as well-matched to the District and St. Christopher’s existing educational, residential, and transitional goals. The proposal was successful and the Council awarded GNC UFSD a multi-year grant to launch a Project SEARCH program to be implemented with the support of the WIHD; a 200-person organization whose broad mission includes promoting well-being among people with disabilities. WIHD is based on the grounds of Westchester Medical Center, less than a 15-minute ride from the Jennie Clarkson campus, where REACH Academy students’ residential cottages are located.

Planning for the program started during the summer and was completed in early fall.  A key element involved WIHD coordinating with WMC to create internships in medical and administrative departments where REACH Academy students would receive daily training and experience in a real-world work setting.  WIHD would also provide a classroom at its facility so that students could spend the entire school day on the WMC campus, moving easily between the classroom and their internships.

The students selected to take part are all seniors who have completed the course work for their diploma (either a local diploma or IEP diploma) and need a vocational component to meet their graduation requirements. Donna Pasini, a REACH Academy teacher, Laurie Dellolio, a teaching assistant, and Todd Jenkins, a job coach were selected to lead the first class of seniors in the program.

GNC UFSD’s Project SEARCH program started for students on Monday, October 31, 2011.  Now, on a typical school day morning, the students ride by bus from the Jennie Clarkson campus to the WIHD facility. Work begins in the classroom   with   transitional training, instruction in life skills, or study of subject matter pertaining more directly to the internships. Later, students are taken to their internships, which are in one of three fields: clerical work, assistive technology, and outpatient medical services. In addition to the teachers and job coach, other staff from GNC UFSD and St. Christopher’s train and supervise students in the internships. Afterward, students return to the classroom to discuss or review what they did or learned at their “jobs.”  At the end of the school day, students board the bus for the ride back to the Jennie Clarkson campus.

GNC UFSD and St. Christopher’s staff and other officials are already noticing significant results. “The students are doing good work, I mean really good work, and they are very dependable,” said Naomi Brickel, the project coordinator in WIHD’s Transition Resource Center. “They bring a lot of positive energy with them. It’s extremely fulfilling to see them functioning so well. It is inspiring for us to be involved with them. The internships are not only giving students real-world experience, it’s giving them confidence and self-esteem. You can see it in their attitude and even their body language. They stand up straighter”, Ms. Pasini said. One of the students, who has been interning in outpatient medical services, has performed so well that the Medical Center may consider hiring him after graduation. “There were no expectations that the internships would lead to something permanent at the Medical Center. That isn’t their purpose,” said Ms. Pasini, “but if it works out that way for the student, it would be wonderful.”

 

If you would like more information regarding GNC please go to our website (http://www.greenburghnorthcastleschools.com/). For referral information please contact Dr. Robin Levine at 914-693-3030 ext.2232 regarding day placements and for residential placement please contact either Jill Bergner, Director of Intake, at 914-693-3030 ext. 2037 or Karen Safris, Supervisor of Intake, at 914-949-0665 ext. 2301. 

 

The District’s Current Activities

During my tenure at the New York State Education Department I had the opportunity to develop and implement the most comprehensive transition research study regarding students with disabilities in the country. The overall goal of the Model Transition Program (MTP) was to increase the use of sustainable, evidence based transition practices and identify their impact on vocational related outcomes for students with disabilities.

The individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides guidelines for programs and services for students with disabilities including the mandate of transition planning. Transition planning focuses on the identification of opportunities and supports for life after high school. The focus of transition planning in general assists students to live, learn and earn in their community. Based on the strengths and needs of students, transition planning may include specific courses, job shadowing, housing, benefits, social relationships, internships, college, vocational school, supported employment and ultimately competitive employment. Thoughtful and systematic transition planning is critical to the lives of our students based on the shrinking job market and the plummeting employment rate of people with disabilities in our State and Nation.

The MTP identified five successful transition strategies based on research findings. These five transition strategies that are evidenced based propel schools to perform at a high level of effectiveness with students are as follows:

1. School administrators support various levels of transition strategies
2. Data related to transition strategies are collected, reviewed and reflected on by the school community.
3. Career development activities are developed and expanded that include job search training, soft skills training, specific job skills training, internships, job shadowing, volunteering, paid employment and specific and realistic IEP transition goals.
4. Parents/Guardians engage in the transition process.
5. Collaboration with community-based partners to implement transition strategies that include colleges, vocational training schools, independent living centers, businesses and local community agencies is meaningful.

Transition activities create the bridge to adulthood for our students. A life of independence is predicated on our students and their families actively participating in a wide variety of these activities. Each of the GNC programs work with students and their families to identify and develop the student’s talents and skills to achieve their personal goals. This allows students to not only earn a diploma but also have the skill set that allows them to use their diploma as they move on to new environments and situations. Another important aspect of transition planning is connecting students and their families to service systems that can provide support after graduation from school.

A special thank you to Mr. Kerry McKenna, District Transition Coordinator, for collecting and organizing the following summary of the many transition activities that are underway at our three academies:

Kenneth Clark Academy

-       18 referrals to ACCES-VR

-       5 College visits

-       7 students participated in the Certified First Response class with Westchester Community College

-       Students are in the process of registering for the College Success class offered at Westchester Community College offered Spring 2012 semester

-       17 college applications completed

-       3 students participated in St. Cabrini internship program

-       Marine Recruiters visit to campus

-       4 students participated in the Monroe College Jump Start Program

Greenburgh Academy

-       4 student’s participated in the Certified First Response class with Westchester Community College

-       5 College visits

-       14 college applications completed with 12 interviews

-       2 Career School visits

-       6 referrals to ACCES-VR

-       Four students participated in Andrus Nursing Home internship program

-       Army recruiter visit to campus

-       Plan to attend college fair for Hispanic students at Pace University

-       56 students participated in the Security Guard Certification program

-       Students are in the process of registering for the College Success class offered at Westchester Community College offered Spring 2012 semester

 

REACH Program

-       5 students participated in Project SEARCH internship program at Westchester Medical Center Campus

-       1 student participated in the agricultural enterprise program in the organic garden at the Jennie Clarkson campus

-       1 student participated in the Jump Start program at Monroe College (Saturday College)

-       6 students have active ACCES-VR applications

-       4 referrals to OPWDD

-       All upper classmen are divided into Transition Teams and are meeting weekly with Transition Specialists and have participated in four career-based field trips

-       Vocational and life skills are addressed for all students in the REACH Customer Services classes

-       A number of students regularly volunteered at the Dobbs Ferry Senior Citizen Center

 

20 students from all 3 programs were invited to a winter Holiday luncheon held by the Dobbs Ferry Senior Citizen Center to thank them for their volunteer work.

If you would like more information regarding GNC please go to our website (http://www.greenburghnorthcastleschools.com/). For referral information please contact Dr. Robin Levine at 914-693-3030 ext.2232 regarding day placements and for residential placement please contact either Jill Bergner, Director of Intake, at 914-693-3030 ext. 2037 or Karen Safris, Supervisor of Intake, at 914-949-0665 ext. 2301. 

Measuring Success

Our education system in New York State is constantly under fire primarily based on student results in urban school districts; more specifically, in those schools immersed in poverty. We have been inundated by the many ramifications of “Race to the Top”, which is the federal initiative to increase accountability that is attached to hundreds of billions of dollars for those states that comply with specific standards; New York was awarded $700 million. These standards include but not limited to teacher and principal evaluation tied to student performance and implementation of common core curriculum. Other layers of accountability include Annual Yearly Progress measures, Regents examination results, graduation rates and post-secondary placements to name just a few. The aforementioned metrics are highly valuable and provide standards for our students and schools. These measurements are easily quantified but do not provide parents, teachers and the community with a full profile of our students, their many achievements and our schools. Test scores in many cases are valuable and should not and cannot totally define student achievement and the overall effectiveness of schools or school districts.

The construct of not totally reducing the achievement of students to standardized tests was seen at a recent high school basketball tournament in Westchester County. The first round pitted the District’s Greenburgh Academy (GA) against a local suburban high school. The outcome at first glance appeared fairly predictable. The suburban high school profile was in direct contrast to GA. GA is comprised of students with learning differences and nearly 100% of the students qualify for free lunch. Most are overage and under credited and all hail from urban areas that feature limited resources and have been in multiple middle/high schools that have failed them. Most of our students have not received proper athletic training and experience. Needless to say the suburban high school players have had very different life experiences. Moreover, GA fielded a team of eight players compared to the full roster of their opponent. Surprisingly to all but perhaps the GA community, GA pulled off a 53-52 upset. For many of the GA Crusaders this was their first time wearing the uniform of a school athletic team and it was a night they will remember.

This was not only a victory for the GA Crusaders but a victory for the administration, staff and families of GA. When hard work, dedication, focus and perseverance are taught the sky is the limit. This game will quickly fade from our memories but is one of the many first steps that teach our students that they can compete with students that have had privileges they could never imagine. It is now time for our students to prove that they can compete with their rivals not only on the court but in the classroom, the world of work and in social situations. I have great faith in the GA staff and have confidence in the GA student body that they will succeed beyond our expectations!

If you would like more information regarding GNC please go to our website (http://www.greenburghnorthcastleschools.com/). For referral information please contact Dr. Robin Levine at 914-693-3030 ext.2232 regarding day placements and for residential placement please contact either Jill Bergner, Director of Intake, at 914-693-3030 ext. 2037 or Karen Safris, Supervisor of Intake, at 914-949-0665 ext. 2301.

Changing Seasons

There are clear signs throughout the District that we are once again in the midst of fall and preparing for another New York State winter. The first IEP updates are being developed by staff, teachers are calculating grades in preparation for the first report card, tryouts for winter athletics are underway and the fall foliage has all but disappeared.

I’m pleased to report that the transition to our three new schools has gone well with some growing pains. The transition from Greenburgh Academy in Yonkers to the two new sites, Abbott House in Irvington and Jennie Clarkson in Valhalla, has been relatively seamless. Both staff and students have adapted well to their temporary homes. They have required in some cases sharing of resources including classroom space. However, the entire staff has responded to the transition in a positive manner and continues to provide excellent education to our students. A committee has been formed to locate a permanent home for the Greenburgh Academy staff and student body.

We have had a relatively good transition for REACH Academy, Jennie Clarkson campus, to St. Anthony’s of Padua in West Harrison. The student body at REACH Academy is significantly different than the former students enrolled at St. Anthony’s of Padua. The first three months have been an adjustment period for our staff, students and community. Providing an education for our students outside the boundaries of the Jennie Clarkson campus has been challenging in that the same resources available at the Jennie Clarkson campus are not available at St. Anthony’s of Padua, i.e., the acres of green space, the cottages and immediate access to Agency staff. However, St. Anthony’s of Padua is an outstanding facility with spacious classrooms and related space. The staff has skillfully utilized St. Anthony’s of Padua and as a result, students are receiving an outstanding education. As you may know, GNC UFSD received a $5,000,000.00 award to build a new modern school on the campus of Jennie Clarkson for the REACH Academy. Ground breaking is scheduled for this summer.

The next edition of the Superintendent’s Corner will feature transition activities at each of our three academies.

If you would like more information regarding GNC please go to our website (http://www.greenburghnorthcastleschools.com/). For referral information please contact Dr. Robin Levine at 914-693-3030 ext.2232 regarding day placements and for residential placement please contact either Jill Bergner, Director of Intake, at 914-693-3030 ext. 2037 or Karen Safris, Supervisor of Intake, at 914-949-0665 ext. 2301.

Moving into 2011-2012

Welcome to the Greenburgh North Castle UFSD and another new school year. The 2011-2012 school year has started extremely well even with the many transitions we experienced this summer that included moving Greenburgh Academy from Yonkers to the Abbott House Campus in Irvington and to the Jennie Clarkson Campus in Valhalla, as well as moving the REACH Academy from the Jennie Clarkson Campus in Valhalla to St. Anthony’s of Padua in West Harrison. The tasks related to these moves were daunting and to some virtually impossible to complete in less than a month. However, I had full confidence in our District staff, administration and Agency staff that these tasks would be completed in a timely manner. The moves were successfully completed and the schools opened with very little delay. I want to personally thank our parents, students, community members, staff, administration and Agency staff for their patience and support as we continue through these transitions. 

Having worked in a variety of school districts and at the New York State Education Department in several capacities, it is clear that very few districts could have accomplished this incredible task of moving two schools to three new locations. It is my pleasure to continue leading this outstanding District as we prepare our student body for career paths that include secondary placements such as college, vocational training programs, internships, supported employment and ultimately competitive employment. In the next Superintendent’s Corner the feature will provide updates regarding our three new schools.

If you would like more information regarding GNC please go to our website (http://www.greenburghnorthcastleschools.com/). For referral information please contact Dr. Robin Levine at 914-964-5496 regarding day placements and for residential placement please contact either Jill Bergner, Director of Intake, at 914-693-3030 ext. 2037 or Karen Safris,  Supervisor of Intake , at 914-949-0665 ext. 2301.