Hello families! It has been great seeing everyone come back after the break ready to get back to the routine! I love seeing all the smiles walk through my door in the morning!

Class Dojo: Yesterday, I sent out invitations for you to join our class on class dojo. Thank you to those who have already joined! I am making the transition to Class Dojo because I am no longer able to add new subscribers to the blog. I will continue to post on both platforms until the end of the year or until everyone is signed up, whichever comes first. Next year, I will use Class Dojo exclusively. If you haven’t joined yet, please do! I don’t want you to miss out! If you missed my inviation, you can join by the QR code that was sent home with students today. At a later date, students will also be able to join. Information will be coming home shortly.

Amelia’s Prom – the most anticipated event of the year – will take place May 15th. Information is coming home today and is in your student’s folder. I am encouraging all of our students to attend – it is such a wonderful event. Those who have gone just love it and the pictures are fabulous! Please reach out to Eman Naura at Fordson High School should you have any questions. (Her contact information will be on the letter coming home today)

Classroom Curriculum – We are continuing to work our way through two topics. Social Boundaries and 5 Against the Law. Social boundaries teaches students about the appropriate talk and touch with people in different social circles (family, friends, coworkers, strangers). 5 Against the Law teaches students about social behaviors that are safe and those that are harmful to others which could result in job loss and/or police involvement. We will wrap these units up this month

April Student Learning Objectives:

• Personal Hygiene – I can wear clothes appropriate for Spring weather
• Daily Living Skills – I can use a fork and knife to cut and eat my food
• Job Skills – I can work with people I might not like
• Leisure Recreation – I can find something to do when there is down time
• Cooking – I can use the microwave to make a small meal

CBI:

Students will be sitting at individual tables with their friends to give them a different experience. This provides a more adult-like experience and also allows us to work on different skills than if we sat in one large group.

• April 8 – Panera Bread $
• April 15 – Leo’s Coney Island (breakfast or lunch choices) $
• April 22 – Panera Bread $
• *Menu’s will be sent home the Friday prior to the trip

Skills covered:

• Ordering from a menu
• Restaurant etiquette: using utensils, napkin in lap, keeping voices at an appropriate level
• Leaving a tip
• Having a conversation with a friend – what kind of questions can we ask?
• Paying a bill
• Leaving a tip
• Manners – making sure we say please and thank you to our waiter or waitress

Weekly Schedule:

• Monday – Work Sites
• Tuesday – CBI/Early Release
• Wednesday – Classroom
• Thursday – Strength Training w/ Ms. Jackie
• Friday – Zumba w/ Ms. Patti

Important Dates:

• April 18 – No School – Good Friday
• May 26 – No School – Memorial Day
• May 29 – Department Wide Field Day – details to follow
• TBD – Transition Program Picnic – celebrating our exiting students

Hello families! Here is our classroom news for the first week of March! Can you believe Spring Break is two weeks away? This year is going fast! Here’s what you need to know:

Ramadan: We understand that students may be tired when they come to school. We are doing our best to accommodate students who are fasting by implementing extra breaks throughout the day and providing alternate activities during lunch. Students are still expected to participate in classroom lessons and to attend job sites when scheduled.

Curriculum: We are about to begin curriculum that deals with social boundaries, relationships and behaviors. I understand that discussing relationships can be a sensitive topic, and want to assure you that any curriculum regarding relationships will be approached in a way that is both age and developmentally appropriate. My goal is to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate their personal relationships in a healthy, positive, and respectful manner. The relationships we will be talking about are: family, friends, support person, co-workers and acquaintances, and strangers. Students will learn to identify which type of behaviors are appropriate/not appropriate for each.

March “I Can” Statements:

• I can wash my hands before eating
• I can interact with my friends appropriately
• I can complete a task from start to finish
• I can choose how I will spend my free time
• I can make decisions about what I eat based on my health needs

Weekly Schedule:

• Monday – Job Sites
• Tuesday – Yoga with Ms. Jackie (March Only)
• Wednesday – Classroom Day
• Thursday – Strength Training with Ms. Jackie
• Friday – Zumba with Ms. Patti

Upcoming Dates:

• March 11 – Parent Teacher Conferences – Sign up link sent out on Remind
• March 24-31 – Spring Break – No School
• Every Tuesday – Early Release – 1:50 p.m. dismissal

Have a great weekend!

~Mrs. Camp

Hello Families!

Just a few comments and/or reminders to start off our week!

New Student – We want to welcome our new student Ali. His first day was Friday! We are so excited to have him and look forward to getting to know him and his family!

Cell Phones – Students are doing a great job turning in their cell phones in the morning. Their cooperation has been refreshing! No one has argued or complained….and they are talking to each other instead of looking at a phone during leisure time!

Yoga Class – For the next three Tuesdays, the students will be participating in a yoga and stretching class with Ms. Jackie. Students who wish to participate should come to school in comfortable clothing or they may bring a change of clothes for the class.

Parent Teacher Conferences – March 11 from 2-5 p.m. I will set up a sign up this week if you would like a conference with me.

Upcoming Dates:

• March 24-31 – No School – Spring Break
• Every Tuesday – Early Release. Dismissal at 1:50 p.m.

Weekly Schedule:

• Monday – Job Sites
• Tuesday – CBI (Yoga class March 4, 11, 18)
• Wednesday – Classroom
• Thursday – Strength Training with Ms. Jackie
• Friday – Zumba with Ms. Patti

Hello! Unfortunately, the cell phone usage in the classroom has gotten out of hand. Going forward, students will place their phone in the phone bin at the start of class and will be able to retrieve it at the end of the day until further notice. If you need to get a message to your son/daughter, please call or text the classroom phone at 313-701-7985.

Hello Families! Friday turned into a very busy day for us and I was not able to get this out to you before we left! We had a great time on Valentines Day, the pizza was delicious and it was a great time for the students to socialize. Again, thank you for the thoughtful donations to our classroom that make these events happen!

CBI: We did not go out on CBI today due to the temperature. Our plan was to split up the time between Barnes and Noble and Target, which means we have to walk between the two stores. With the temps in single digits this morning we decided it was in everyone’s best interest to stay back. Hopefully we don’t have to many of these types of days left!

Blue Folders: Information coming home on the left side of the blue folder needs to be returned to school. Information on the right side is for you to keep at home. There are just a few families who are returning information that was meant for you to keep.

Upcoming Dates:

• Feb 25th – No School – Professional Development Day
• March 24- 31 – No School – Spring Break

Weekly/Recurring Classroom Activities:

• Monday – Job Sites *Students going to Goodwill may go to Bellacino’s for lunch ($)
• Tuesday – CBI ($) / Early Release
• Wednesday – Job Sites *Students going to Goodwill may go to Bellacino’s for lunch ($)
• Thursday – Strength Training with Ms. Jackie
• Friday – Zumba with Ms. Patti / Express Poultry Job Site

Just in case there is a snow day tomorrow (no promises!)….

Valentine’s Day is Friday! We will have a pizza party followed by cupcakes! Students do not need a lunch but should bring a drink and their usual snacks. Students are welcome to bring cards and/or candy to pass out, but it is optional. A note with a list of names was sent home last week. In addition, our groceries were delivered and we will enjoy a pancake breakfast that morning!

No School: President’s Day Monday, February 17th.

I hope everyone stays safe and warm with the approaching weather. Please watch the news stations and phones for school closures.

Hello! I hope everyone enjoyed the day off yesterday! We have a few events next week, please see below for details:

February 11th – Tuesday – CBI trip to Panera Bread. The students selected the items they would most likely order, and we made our own “menu” to select from. Prices are rounded up on the menu just to provide an easier way of estimating prices. Students have been successful bringing in a $20 bill and bringing home change if you don’t want to worry not sending enough money.

February 14th – Friday – Valentine’s Day Pizza Party. We will have cheese pizza from Jets. This will be FREE to the students thanks to the many donations from our families. We are so thankful for you! If students would like to bring cards or candy to exchange, they may do so. I will send a list home today with student names if that is helpful. Some parents just like to write who the card/candy is from and leave the “to” field blank, but that is up to you.

February 17th – Monday – President’s Day – No School

February 25th – Tuesday – Professional Development – No School

Here are some pictures from our cooking class today. Students made individual pudding cups that will be topped with cool whip for our movie snack! Everyone had a part! This is something simple that students can do with minimal guidance at home! To see their smiles and laughs as their independence grows, is one of the best parts of my job!

In today’s lesson, students practiced:

• opening packages
• pouring
• measuring
• finding the right utensil (whisk, spatula)
• stirring/using a whisk,
• counting (six scoops per cup),
• food safety (hand washing/no licking the utensils!)
• food storage

Hello families! The students did an excellent job shopping at Old Navy today! The theme was “athletic wear/athleisure” and the students learned where and when that type of clothing is appropriate and when not to wear it (a job interview!). All students were asked to participate whether they were purchasing an item or not. Today’s objectives:

Objective 1: Find an item of clothing that you LIKE and that is in your size

Objective 2: Try on clothing in fitting room – determine whether too small, too big, or just right

Objective 3: Determine the price of the item, and whether you want to purchase the item

Skills worked on:

• Finding correct department: mens vs. womens
• Finding correct size
• Using a fitting room
• Determining whether an item fits, is too big or too large
• Looking at price tags, determine price
• Looking for sales
• Scanning an item when unsure of the price
• Budgeting: determine whether you want to spend the money on the item or if you have enough money
• Understanding that you might not find what you are looking for, or your size might not be available

It was a great learning experience and the students had a great time! There was one special student who was so excited about her “find” she was giggling in the fitting room and I could hear her say “I love this so much”. That one moment made the entire trip for me!

I asked everyone to wear what they purchased tomorrow so we can get a group picture, I will try to post those tomorrow!

Everyone brought home a receipt so you are able to make returns if necessary.

Here is a group shot from our trip to Henry Ford College last week. The students had a great time, worked hard, and loved being on the campus!