Welcome Back to School!

Mrs. Mintz Ms. Cummings

Ms. Rosenthal

MHS 2011-2012

Introducingour new colleagues:

Mr. CartyMrs. BoczonMs. Caprio

Skybox Schedule• All of our students follow the A Day – B Day block

schedule.

• The Skybox schedule was designed to maximize the space in the Skybox which means that not all of our 21 students are here at the same time.

Related Services

Many of our students have additions to their daily schedule which include:

• Speech Therapy w/ Mrs. Kyrk or Ms. Lawrence• Adapted Physical Education, Music and Movement and

Leisure Skills/Knitting w/Mrs. Niedt• Occupational Therapy/Yoga w/Ms. Ratliff and

Ms. Koblin• Counseling with CST

Additions to the Academic Curriculum: Transitions and Learning Strategies

The goal of this course is for students to function with optimum independence and success in a variety of current and future environments.

The course is divided into 7 non-sequential units of study:

• Preparation for Learning

• How We Learn

• Study Skills

• Daily Living Skills

• Self-Advocacy

• Personal-Social Skills

• Occupational Guidance and Preparation

• Postsecondary Education and Training.

Transition and Learning Strategies

Concepts and skills are introduced, reinforced, and extended upon throughout the year in other content areas.

Community Based Instruction and on or off campus structured learning experiences provide opportunities for generalization of skills.

Lessons and activities will include:• awareness of personal likes/dislikes• expression of hopes and dreams for the future • awareness of personal talents and challenges• strategies to support individual learning style• daily living and vocational assessments• direct instruction with faded supports• career exploration• volunteer/employment opportunities

Work Study and Community Based Instruction (CBI)

Freshman and Sophomores:

• are involved in Work Study opportunities within the school community - MHS and Board of Education Office

A Work Study block offers application of skills learned in our Transitions and Learning Strategies course. Work Study, in all settings, focuses on assessing student skills and interests, learning transferable vocational skills, environment-appropriate social skills, problem solving, and self-advocacy.

• experience CBI with monthly outings to the Montgomery Shopping Center and Princeton Fitness and Wellness Center

Our goals for these outings are functional application of academic skills, social skills, and awareness of community resources for practical and leisure purposes.Permission slips and medical forms must be returned by Friday October 7th.

• Additionally, students have the opportunity to work in the MHS cafeteria and in the school store during part of their Unit Lunch period.

Work Study and Community Based Instruction (CBI)

Juniors and Seniors

• Students are currently involved in Work Study opportunities within the Montgomery Township community; our goal is to continue to develop and expand into other sites as they become available and are appropriate for students.

• For the first marking period, students are working at Rite Aid Pharmacy, Orchard Hill School, and Princeton Fitness and Wellness Center. Students are provided district transportation and are accompanied to each location by a TIA who acts a their job coach.

• Additionally, students have the opportunity to work in the MHS cafeteria and in the school store during part of their Unit Lunch period.

Life Skills• Hygiene and Personal Appearance• Time Management • Self-Advocacy• Responsibility and Reliability• Rule Following• Conflict Resolution or Problem Solving• Understanding verbal and nonverbal social cues• Understanding the culture of a work setting

(including how to accept feedback from supervisors, peers, and community members)

• Appreciation of the role of a job coach and a willingness to be supported until “natural supports” can be faded in

History

Students will participate in lessons and activities whichfurther their understandings and connections to world inwhich they live. • Who are you?• Where do you live?• What is your role in family, school and community?• Why should you become a productive citizen in society.

Students will examine the past locally, nationally and globally in orderto see how the events of the past have shaped the present.

All students will • review geography• expand on map skills• relate current events to personal interests

HistoryStudents will be exposed to MHS World Studies

and U.S. History (I & II) curricula through

lessons and activities:

• Social climate and world culture during key time periods

beginning with Renaissance• Major historical conflicts and events • Influential figures and groups• Growth of the United States, changes in government and

key historical documents.

Math

Students will extend their personal understandings of math in everyday life through discrete and practical applications:

• Time• Calendars• Money• Budgeting• Schedules• Measuring tools• Use of a calculator

Math Students will also be exposed to MHS Elements of Algebra and Geometry curricula through lessons, practice, and functionalapplications of :

• Decimals and Fractions• Percent• Integers and Exponents• Shapes, Points, Lines, Angles• Equations and Inequalities• Graphing

English

• Students will continue to increase personal skills related to reading, writing, and speaking throughindividual and small group remediation sessions. • Students will apply developing skills to academic assignments and functional life tasks

through discrete and practical opportunities:

• Personal narratives

• Informational essays

• Reading and filling out forms

• Messages and letters

• Communicating choices

• Following written instructions

• Reading community information and safety signs

English

Students will also be exposed to MHS Introduction toLiterature and Composition, Elements of Literature and Composition(I & II) curricula:

• Mythology• Shakespeare• Short Stories• Poetry• Historical Fiction• American Literature

Students will use a variety of reading and writing strategies to extend their personal understandings of fiction, informational, and real world texts.

• Incuded in all units: remediation of language and or writing challenges

• Real world writing, spelling, and expanding vocabulary are essential pieces of the MHS curriculum

Applications of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology

Students are introduced to concepts as they explore topics related to:

• Science Safety and Tools• The Scientific Method• Measurement: length, area, volume, speed• Energy: forces and motion• Matter: describing what we can see and diagramming or modeling

what we can’t see• Energy: states and changes in matter• Pure substances, mixtures, and solutions• Reactions• Characteristics of Life• Genetics and Heredity• Ecosystems

Special Education PTA (SEPTA)

• Membership Dues - $10 for the year

• General Meetings – 3rd Tuesday of each month, 7pm, UMS Media Center

• SEPTA High School Subcommittee – 2nd Monday of each month, 7pm, MHS Skybox

Communication• amintz@mtsd.us• After School: Thursdays 2:15-3:15

• pcummings@mtsd.us• After School: Wednesdays 2:15-3:15

• abonfiglio@mtsd.us (Ms. Rosenthal)• After School: Wednesdays 2:15-3:15

• hboczon@mtsd.us• After School: Wednesdays 2:15-3:15

• scarty@mtsd.us• After School: Tuesday 2:15-3:15

• acaprio@mtsd.us

• After School: Tuesdays (room B 1119) 2:15 -3:15

Classroom Webpage: http://www.mtsd.k12.nj.us/mintz or go to MHS Faculty WebPages, scroll to Mintz/Cummings/Rosenthal