April 27-May 1: Week 34

After so many of us have been sick, I am hoping that we are all on the mend. We will have a busy few weeks ahead of us as we wrap up the year. Dates are still listed previously and I've sent reminder emails also about our EOY party and Grad party. The Aquarium on 5/13 will be a ton of fun and students will have their COF buddies tagging along with us. Our trip to Frosty's in Denton on Tuesday was a big success, and we shopped at WM for come classroom supplies and cooking ingredients for Nachos on Friday. This week, we are completing our Body series with learning about our Digestive and Respiratory Systems. For History, students are completing their Event Timelines and creating a poster for that. We are continuing to read short stories weekly for comprehension skills and usually do a writing prompt on Wednesdays. 

Cupcake war will be on 5/11 and email was sent home earlier today regarding supplies needed from home. We will buy cake mixes, frosting, eggs, butter, milk, etc...and each student will have 1 or 2 things to bring from home according to their chosen cupcake to make. We chose staff in our Dpt and Administrators to be judges. We also asked Culinary and Art staff to help judge as well. There will be a prize for most creative and most tasty. :) 

Stay safe with the yucky weather we've had recently. 

~Mrs. Morrison

April 13-17-Week 32

Busy week this week. We will be going out into the community Tuesday for shopping and gathering ingredients for our Eagle Bites Dog Treats. Friday the 17th is our next Track Meet. We will be washing our track shirts before then and will practice a couple of times this week before then. 

We won't be cooking on Friday as we'll be at the track meet. 

Important Dates:

4/17: Southlake Track Meet

4/25: Krum Track Meet (Saturday- parents responsible for transportation and participation)

5/8: Graduation party!!! More details to come!! :)

5/12: End of Year Party!! Lunches

5/13: Aquarium trip: $23 for student tickets plus $$ possible lunch afterwards.

5/14: Senior last day!!

5/21: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL AND GRADUATION!! 8PM

~Mrs. Morrison

April 6-10- Week 31

Short week and we had so much fun picking strawberries on Tuesday. Hope everyone had a great long weekend! We are wrapping up history projects and our VAT classes are over.

STAAR testing is complete for our class! Yay! They all did great! Remember our Track Meet is next week on 4/17!! Email with info was sent and here are the key details:

Track Meet scheduled for next Friday, April 17, 2026. 

Event Details:
Location: Carroll Middle School
            1800 E. Kirkwood Blvd
Time: 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM (approx)

Transportation:
Bus transportation for your students/campus.

• Pick-up from campus: 8:45 AM

• Departure from Southlake: 1:00 PM

Student Reminders: We still have most of the student's red shirts: If students took them home, please return them before the Track meet so all students are wearing the right shirt for our school.

• Bring a water bottle

• Bring a packed lunch

• Sunscreen, a hat, even an umbrella is recommended

• Other items that may be helpful: Wet wipes, fidgets, kleenex, extra snacks

-Every athlete will have a high school buddy assigned to them. Our main goal is to keep the athletes safe and accounted for at all times. 

1. Special education students who are not participating should not attend the event

2. The only non-participating students allowed to join are high school buddies

3. All participating students must have an assigned buddy. 

4. Please help remind parents, siblings, and family members that they are not allowed on the field and must remain in the stands     

5. To create a meaningful experience for the student and the high school buddy, please let the buddy take the lead. Staff should only pitch in and help out when necessary for a student's safety. 

~Mrs. Morrison

March 30- April 2- Week 30

Short week this week with Friday off and Monday off as well. We are practicing our Resume building with a template this week. This week will also be the end of our VAT class that Ms. Allison teaches from TX-Workforce. We will still be working on Daily Living, Employability and Workplace Skills daily until the end of the semester. 

Academics: Still wrapping up STAAR testing this week and working on our Body System Projects, Functional Math, $$ skills, pre-algebra skills, etc... We have finished our book: Where the Red Fern grows and will now be working on smaller short stories for comprehension and vocabulary expansion. We will also still be working on writing and grammar skills each week. In History- we are diving into our Historical Timelines with Declaration of Indpendence to begin and will continue that with important events in our history.

Chilis and Boba Tea on Tuesday for our Community outing and that should be fun! No dog treats work or cooking this week as it's a short week!

~Mrs. Morrison

Here is the latest information I have for our first track meet next Tuesday (3/24)! I am also attaching the t-shirt order link again for any staff member, parent, or community member who would like to order. Student shirts were delivered to the campus today. We are keeping student shirts on campus until the event.

Keller Track Meet

When: Tuesday 3/24/26

Location: Keller ISD Athletic Complex

                500 Pate Orr Road N

                Keller, TX 76248

Time: 930am-1pm. Opening ceremonies start at 10am.

*Students need to bring water and a packed lunch. They may also consider bringing sunscreen.

Shirt order link: https://willowjanedesigns.com/collections/argyle-special-olympics

March 23-27: Week 29

Busy Week: Staar testing all this week and next week to get it all done. Track meet on Tuesday: bring sack lunch, water bottle and possible sunscreen if needed. No CBI this week due to the track meet. We will be making sandwiches this Friday for an easy cooking activity that students can do independently. Continuing our current projects from last week and we will be posting pics soon on this site. 

~Mrs. Morrison

March 16-20- Week 28

Hope everyone had a wonderful Spring Break last week! We are starting new projects in Science and Social Studies: We will be learning about the Human Body and bodily systems starting with the Nervous System this week. For History/Gvt/Econ: We are creating timelines for important American events from the Revolutionary War/Declaration of Independence to present day.

For Friday's cooking activity, we will be exploring some African foods as we completed our Africa Projects before Spring Break. Math is functional: $$ and algebra, banking, etc...ELA- we are still reading Where The Red Fern Grows and completing vocabulary and comprehension related to our reading. 

Next week, we will be eating out in the community for lunch on Tuesday. Students will need $$ next Tuesday. 

~Mrs. Morrison

March 2, 2026- Week 27

Short week this week and it's SPRING BREAK!! I know we're all excited about that. We do not have school this Friday- the 6th and students do not have school on the 16th Monday after Spring Break. 

We are focusing on our functional Academics this week since it's a 4 day week. Not Eagle Bites or cooking but we will begin our practices for Special Olympics Track on Thursdays during Talon Time for the next several weeks. :)

~MRS. MORRISON

Feb 23-27-Week 26

Happy Monday! Finishing up our Africa Projects and working on Pollution still. Reading and vocabulary are still based on the book: Where the Red Fern Grows and we are working on our functional Math skills daily. Vizzle this week is Topic 3 for Job Seeking Skills: Interviews.

We will be presenting our Africa topics starting this week also: We will be doing a class activity related to each presentation. 

Ainsley- ART (this week)

Brayden- Food (presents this week and next week we will eat African food next Friday)

Sam- Storytelling/Folk Tales (next week)

Andrew- Music/Dance (next week)

Mattea- Textiles/Clothing (next week)

For their Pollution Projects: We are wrapping up this week and will be building our Water Filter Kits. Pics will be posted! 

Cooking this Friday will be for lunch in the classroom and will be: Eggs, sausage and pancakes! 

~Mrs. Morrison

Feb 16-20- Week 25

Happy Monday!! We are going out in the community Tuesday mornings now to shop for cooking ingredients and work based learning items for our Dog Treats. This week on 2/17 we will be eating at Chic Fil A for lunch before returning to campus in 4th period. Students will need lunch money please Tuesday. 

*We will be cooking spaghetti and meatballs on Friday afternoon. We are shopping for these ingredients on Tuesday before eating lunch. 

*This week is Kindness week:

Mon- Wear joggers

Tues- Wear Red

Wed- Wear Neon

Thurs- Wear PJs

Fri- Wear Sports or Jersey attire

Vocational/Functional: Doing Vizzle Unit 4: Topic 2-Resumes. 

Science: Pollution and water filter kit, 

History: Africa and Culture projects, 

ELA: Where the Red Fern Grows reading and vocabulary with writing prompts/sequencing, 

Math: functional, pre-algebra, geometry, $$ skills, real-world math.

~Mrs. Morrison

Feb 11-13, 2026- Week 24

Not a lot going on this week as it's such a short week. We will be having a Circle of Friends Valentine Party tomorrow/Thursday during Talon time and our COF members are bringing things in for students. If students would like to bring something in for Thursday or Friday to share, that would be great!

*Wear Red on Friday: Pep Rally!!!

**Friday, for our cooking and kitchen activity, we are making Valentine cookies, etc... in the afternoon, so again, if students would like to bring in something to share just with our class Friday, they are welcome to do so!

***Community Based outings will be on Tuesdays starting next week from this window: 10:15 through 1pm. We will only be gone that entire time if we are eating out in the community after shopping, which we will be doing next week on 2/17 after we shop for our cooking and work based learning ingredients. $15 needed for their lunch on 2/17. Please remember, on Tuesdays going forward, if students come in late during that time, we will not be on campus and they will have to wait in the office or in another self-contained classroom. (only on Tuesday mornings) We will not eat out in the community but once a month or so, but it allows them to be more independent and budget their $$ to order, etc... I will send a reminder for next Tuesday.

** Students will be emailing parents from now on when they will be going out to eat in the community on Tuesdays: remember once a month or so. This teaches them how to correctly email with proper format and professionalism, and it's a reminder also for them and you that they need $$ and it needs to be in a wallet or purse please like young adults typically carry! :)

ELA- Where the Red Fern Grows- comprehension and vocabulary
Science- Pollution in our Environment- water filter project and kit
History- Africa continent: will also be studying a few countries next week: Egypt, Zimbabwe, etc...
Math: Functional, Pre-Algebra, $$, paystub math, menu math, etc...
Vocational/Functional- Vizzle online Curriculum: Resumes, also Coping Skills, Daily Living skills, cooking and interpreting bills, job skills, checklists, etc...

~Mrs. Morrison

Feb 2, 2026- Week 23

Can't believe we had 5 days off last week due to the weather. Hope everyone stayed warm and didn't have any loss of power or busted water lines, etc...

This month: we are working on our African/countries projects and Pollution projects and functional math skills. We are still reading Where The Red Fern Grows also. 

 We will also be changing our Community Based Outing times to Tuesday around 10:30-12:30 if needed. We were rushing a lot doing outings/shopping on Wednesday afternoons during 6th and 7th periods. It created a narrow timeframe where students didn't have the time to really focus on our learning targets while off campus, and we had to rush to be back before 4pm. New times will begin in the next few weeks as I have to reserve the Suburban for transport ahead of time. 

Remember that Monday and Tuesday next week- are student holidays (staff have prof. dvpt on Tuesday next week). We're making quesadillas on Friday also!

~Mrs. Morrison

January 20, 2026- Week 21

Back from a 3 day weekend!! No big news this week. We are finishing up their President Projects and their Machines. They will be racing their kit cars they made today and we will take pics and videos of that for sure and post on our site! We are still reading "Where the Red Fern Grows" and will continue that for several more weeks and use that to guide our comprehension skills and vocabulary weekly, etc..

We are preparing to slide into our Pollution and Africa projects later this week and the next week or so for Science and Social Studies. We will continue to work on our functional math: pre-algebra skills, $$, shopping, geometry, measurements, etc... In 1st period- we will discuss different jobs outside of high school, transition needs, coping skills, etc...

This Friday, we will be making fruit salad for our cooking activity. :)

~Mrs. Morrison

January 12, 2026- Week 20

VAT starts back this week on Mondays and Fridays during 3rd.  We'll be going out again in the community this Wednesday afternoon also.  Monday- 1/19- there is no school. We are making pudding on Friday for our cooking activity. 

~Mrs. Morrison

January 6th, 2026 Week 19

Welcome Back!!!! 

New semester and New Year! We are right back to our routine and starting a new Book for the next several weeks: Where The Red Fern Grows. If anyone objects or has concerns about our new audiobook, please let me know.  I will include it in our list of Book Studies under audiobooks if all parents approve.

For the next few weeks: 

Science- We will be studying and building Simple Machines 

ELA- Reading, Writing, Vocabulary with our new book

History- include more project based learning with researching presidents of America. Students will also create a visual example of what they've learned about their President. 

Math- continues to be functional and with real world activities: fractions, money, pre-algebra, purchases, menu math, etc...

Eagle Bites Work Based Learning will continue this semester. Students are learning valuable job skills making, bagging, delivering and selling. 

Updated goal progress will be emailed this week for the past 9 weeks.

Happy New year! ~Mrs. Morrison

December 15, 2025: Week 18

Busy and quick week this week. Remember our class party is Thursday the 18th and Friday is a half day. Grades will be done Friday and updated goals will be sent home by Jan 9th. I will always send through email unless you request a printed copy. I sent home the list last week of what students wanted to bring Thursday. We're making dorito tacos for lunch that day. 

Friday- since it's a half day- we'll eat in the classroom again so students can bring microwave lunches if they want to! :)

12/10/25- Reminder: We have had all students bringing in microwaveable food each day for lunch almost every day this week so far, and it's cutting into our 3rd period  class 15 minutes or more for everyone to heat up their food on time. If they don't get down to the cafeteria in time, there's sometimes not a table or seating is limited. So, I would prefer that students only bring things to heat up in our microwave on Fridays as we can eat in the classroom most of the time on Fridays. Hope that makes sense. I told students today that going forward, bring things from home that don't need to be heated up or bring them warmed up in the mornings. Fridays only for the microwave!

Cash only this Friday for the Mall trip- $30 total needed. We've had issues with debit cards/credit cards not working. Thank you!! :)

December 8, 2025- Week 17

Mall Trip this Friday: Students will need $30 ($15 for gift and $15 for lunch)

Buddies will be coming with us so it should be a fun day for them. 

Party on the 18th: Please send in food items to share with the class. I will send home a list that students want to bring. (eating lunch in the room)

19th: Half Day. Then a break until the 6th!! :) 

*Grades and updated goals will be complete next week and progress is sent digitally by email*

Holiday Hugs,

Mrs. Morrison

December 1, 2025- Week 16

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving Break was restful and amazing!

This week until 12/19 will fly by I'm sure: we will wrap up the semester and have a few things going on the next few weeks-

12/12: Flyer coming home today about our Mall Trip to Denton on 12/12 next week. We will be doing a Secret Santa Gift Exchange and students will be shopping/buying a gift for $15 and we will then eat lunch at Ci Ci's Pizza. Students will need $15 for gift (they will receive a gift also) and $15 for lunch. They'll have change sent home. CiCi's is $9.99 now. Yikes. I remember when it was $4.99 for the buffet. :) COF buddies will be attending also to hang out with our students and to eat lunch with them.

12/18: Our class party- they will exchange gifts that they buy at the mall trip: We'll ask for students to bring in party snacks to share and I will bring in something for us to cook for lunch that day as well.

12/19: Half Day- early release.

Still working on Native American Cultures in History, and we've finished our "The Giver " reading. We will be reading short Holiday passages, comprehending, etc..and working on grammar, sequencing, etc... Ecosystems are ongoing in Science and we will begin Pollution and environmental impacts in January. We're working on transition skills 1st period: Daily Living, Job Skills, Simulated Applications, etc..Math is still functional and some equation/algebra/geometry skills also.

I hope everyone enjoys the next few weeks as we get ready for the Holiday Season!
~Mrs. Morrison

November 17, 2025- Week 14

Hi Parents:

Just a quick reminder to please let me know if you're picking up students early for any reason so we know. We do go out Wednesday afternoons and if we don't know someone needs to be picked up early on that specific day- we won't be on campus during 6th and 7th periods. Just want to make sure everyone is aware. :) 

** Wednesday is Thanksgiving Lunch in the cafeteria if students want to enjoy that instead of bringing a lunch that day. $5 per tray

**Thursday: I thought it would be fun to make our lunch (grilled ham and cheese) and have students bring in different dips as we have quite a few big bags of chips leftover. Mrs. T and I will bring a dessert for them if they all bring in dips to share.

**Friday: Field Trip to the Gaylord is this Friday 11/21 and students will need $20 as we're going to lunch afterwards. I would prefer that they keep track of their $$ in a wallet or purse so we can work on independent ordering and paying, etc.... Should be a lot of fun! We'll be back around 1:30 or so.

**This week in class- we're still learning about Native American Cultures and discussed the Wampanoag Tribe who greeted the Pilgrims in 1620- We are also working on Thanksgiving Menu Math and adding totals, collecting change, etc...

Hope everyone enjoys the week!

~Mrs. Morrison

November 10, 2025- Week 13

A cold start to the week....

Almost time to Gobble Gobble!!! Should be a fun week: We are still doing our VAT class on Mondays and Fridays. We are making our Dog Treats Thursday for this week but will not make them next week as we will be off campus on the 21st- see below:

**Nov 21st: Next Friday: Gaylord trip: Students need $20 that day in a wallet or purse please. Email sent this morning. :)**

1st period: Working on our Transition Binder: Jobs after High School, Coping Skills, Safety and Vocational Skills, personal information, etc...

We are working on grateful activities and starting to learn about Ecosystems in Science and Native American Cultures for World Geo/History in North America. 

We are still finishing up "The Giver" for ELA, and will watch that Movie this Friday. 

For Math: Functional, Menu Math, Paystub math, interpreting bills and receipts this week. 

**Cooking this Friday will be a Fall snack mix for the class to enjoy and they can bring some home to share with family also.** Greenhouse plants are hanging in there- we'll be checking on them this afternoon after our cold night- will post pics also on the pic tab.

Please let me know if you need anything!

~Mrs. Morrison

November 3, 2025- Week 12

November is finally here. This month before our Thanksgiving break, we will be going to the Gaylord on Nov 21st. More details to come. 

Nov 7th: Spirit Day: Super Hero vs Villians

Nov. 21: Gaylord Field Trip

**Tgiving Break: Nov. 24-28**

**Cooking Microwave food this Friday- so please send in a microwave  meal for your teen to cook for lunch.** This is an independent lunch activity for them to pick something they want and heat it up to have for lunch. It's easier if it comes from home and they pick what they want. :)

~Mrs. Morrison

October 27, 2025- Week 11

We have a busy week: 

10/29-Wednesday- Community outing for shopping.

10/30- Sp. Olympic Tournament in Watuga- bring to school by 7:45 and pizza party afterwards in class.

10/31- COF party during all lunches- making nachos and mummy dogs- Please bring the requested items sent home on Friday for a fun party! 

This week, we are also finishing our planting project and transferring their seedlings into bigger planters to go into the Greenhouse. We will also be working on their small pumpkins they received at the Pumpkin Patch last week. They are decorating them this week and will bring them home on Friday. We'll be doing a fun Estimation Activity on a large pumpkin I'll bring in. We'll take pics and always post on this site under the Pics tab. They are finishing their Country Projects and still reading The Giver. :)

This week is Red Ribbon Week also: Black out Pep Rally on Friday!

Upcoming Events: Red Ribbon Week! 

• Upcoming Events: SENIOR NIGHT/BLACK OUT

• Monday 10/27 - Pajama Day- Wake Up Drug Free 

  • Girls Golf (Argyle Red) @ Denton Invitational, Turtle Hill GC     

• Tuesday 10/28 -  Disney Day- A World Without Drugs 🏰

• Wednesday 10/29- Y2K Day- Leave Drugs in the Past 

  • PTO Luncheon “Nacho Average Luncheon”- All Lunches, Auditorium Foyer

• Thursday 10/30 - Twin Day- Pair Up Against Drugs 👭

  • FB (JV) vs Grapevine; AWAY - 6:00pm

  •  FB (9th A) vs Grapevine; HOME - 7:00pm

  •   FB (9th B) vs Grapevine: HOME - 5:30pm

  •   VB (Var) Bi-District- AHS Vs. Brewer @ Mansfield Summit, 6:30 pm 

• Friday 10/31 -   Halloween!- Scare Drugs Away 🎃 Costumes allowed but no masks, no weapons and faces cannot be covered!

  • Black Out Pep Rally- Talon Time

  • FB (Var) vs Grapevine; HOME 7:00pm - BLACK OUT 

  • Midnight Madness- Basketball Season Kick Off- Pep Rally- following the Football Game at AMS gym. 

**If you are coming Thursday to the Tournament- please let me know. You're welcome to take them from there but they will have Pizza back in the classroom afterwards. 

~ Mrs. Morrison

October 20, 2025- Week 10 (new 9 weeks)

Hope everyone enjoyed their Fall Break

This week is busy: 

We have our last Bowling practice on Tuesday 10/21 

We have the Pumpkin Patch trip on Thursday 10/23: permission slips coming home. Students will need $23 for the patch and pizza/lunch afterwards.

We will not be making Dog Treats this week as we will be gone Thursday which is the day we make them. 

Remember the 30th- we will be leaving at 8am for the Bowling Tournament and need students up here by 7:45 that day!

So glad the weather is cooling off! :)

~Mrs. Morrison

October 6, 2025- Week 9

This week is the last week this grading period. Remember we are off school all next week. Oct 13th-17th.  I will be on campus next week Thursday and Friday for Professional Dvpt and Teacher Work Days. Please let me know if you would like a conference scheduled on 10/17 and we can set that up for the afternoon. Students are still working on their Country/Continent projects, observing and learning about Plants, Life Cycles, etc...and weather impacts. They are currently still working on Menu Math for Taco Tuesday's Menu and will be creating and delivering Dog Treats later this week. They are reading "The Giver " still and started CH 6-10 this week. 

Grades and updated goals will be complete by Friday- Oct. 10th and I will send home updates through email. Please let me know if you need paper copies of Goal Progress. 

I hope they enjoy their Fall Break next week! We will send home permission forms for the Pumpkin Patch soon for Oct. 23rd. 

Also- Seniors- turn in their Josten forms this Friday!  

Sincerely,

Mrs. Morrison

October 1, 2025- Week 8

Hi all,
Just a quick reminder about a few things going on this week and next week:

1. Make sure you have sent Rachel Burnett from TX- Workforce legal documentation for our VAT class starting in October- (this Friday was supposed to be the 1st class) They are still needing documents from a few students before the class can begin. I have sent her email in Parent Square and she has sent emails too I believe. Let me know if you have any questions or reach out to her. :)
2. October 13-17 is Fall Break so no school/no students. Teachers have Professional Dvpt on the 16th and 17th.
3. October 17th in the afternoon- if you would like a conference, please let me know and I am happy to get that scheduled as I will be on campus all day the 17th.
4. October 23rd- we are going to the Pumpkin Patch and out to eat at Pizza Hut. More details to come- I know students will need $10 for the pumpkin patch and $11-12 for Pizza Hut afterwards. Forms will be coming home soon.

**Grades are wrapping up and I wanted to remind you that our grades in Step 2/Academic Life Skills are typically around 80-85 as we mark progress on IEP goals and I input grades into Skyward as it's required. Be looking for goal updates soon as we're nearing the end of the 9 weeks. I will send those to you digitally unless you request paper copies to be sent home.

Next week- we begin our Community based instruction and I've scheduled it for Wednesday afternoons during 6th/7th periods. We will be going to Wal Mart most of the time together as a class to shop for cooking ingredients and Dog Treat ingredients to continue their work based learning business.
We are starting a unit on Internet Safety this week and have already had some interesting conversations. I'll send home info about that soon to give an update on their Internet Digital Citizenship Quiz.  Have a great week! Keep checking our class site out as we update weekly with info and links. :)

Thank You,
Marie Morrison

September 22, 2025- Week 7

Happy Monday!  We are in week 7 already and time is flying by! This week on Tuesday, we will still be practicing our Bowling for our Sp. Olympic Event in October. 

*ELA- We have started our Book: "The Giver" also and will be reading that for several weeks. Open House is tonight the 22nd from 6-7:30. Hope you can come. 

*Science/SS-We are still learning about the Bill of Rights as we discuss the Constitution and our 3 branches of Gvt. Today- Monday- We are starting our plant/gardening project and will be planting our chosen seeds this afternoon. We are very excited for that and will post pics soon! 

*Math- Functional, money related, algebra skills, and using Menu Math, Grocery Store Math weekly to learn real-world math skills. Students are learning functional math through their WBL activities also. 

*Cooking- Walking Tacos on Friday! Yumm!!!

*Transition- 

**Daily in 1st period we are discussing appropriate Coping and Social Skills, Vocational skills, adult living skills, etc....Our VAT class for workplace learning with TX Workforce will be on Mondays and Fridays during 3rd period. This will begin in October, so we are excited for that opportunity weekly. I will send out any info as quickly as I can. **Please respond to TX Workforce if they are still needing residency documents as it's required now to participate in the VAT class.**

**"Eagle Bites Dog Treats" has been great so far and students are learning some really valuable skills like: measuring correctly, creating a uniform and consistent product, adding $$ for orders and change, following directions and job descriptions each week, Interpreting a spreadsheet and implementing good and appropriate social skills/customer service. We will soon start going out into the community to shop after taking inventory weekly to replenish our supplies. More details to come!  If you have any questions or concerns, holler at me! Have a great week! 

~Mrs. Morrison

 September 16, 2025-Week 6

*Happy Tuesday everyone!! I hope you all enjoyed the 3 day weekend! We are starting our 2nd week of Work Based Learning and it was a great experience for the students. I am attaching a link to our Class Site so you can see a few pics of them making the Dog Treats and what the packaging looks like that they made. We made 96 treats last week and it was a big hit with staff here at AHS. :)

https://sites.google.com/argyleisd.com/step2academiclifeskills/home

*This site link is also in my email signature for you to click on as needed. We will continue to add to this site and will include class activities, cooking, projects, etc....

*TX Workforce will also be meeting with me this Wednesday to determine class time for their VAT instruction which is for vocational and employability skills training that you all filled paperwork out for already. Please be sure that you are completing any other requests like: release information or proof of residency from them to proceed with this valuable training. More info to come on that once finalized.

*In our 1st period Daily Living/Transition class, we are exploring job interests, safety awareness, discussing our hygiene checklist and discussing coping skills, appropriate stress responses, etc....

*In History/Geo/Gvt- We are discussing the Constitution and Bill of Rights while learning about the 3 branches of Gvt.. Their state projects are complete and they all did a great job researching facts, etc...

*The last several weeks, we worked on our large Mammal projects and students worked very hard researching the facts, adaptations, life cycles, etc...to complete for their chosen mammal. This week, we are starting our next Project based learning theme of Plants, gardening, etc....and will be putting in a Fall garden in the greenhouse here. Students chose the plants they wanted from our list and we will send more info/pics later once those seeds have germinated. Have a great rest of the week!

Thank You,

Marie Morrison

STEP 2/Academic Life Skills

Sept 5, 2025- Weeks 4/5

4th week down!! We've had a great week! We cooked this afternoon and made cinnamon rolls. Students did great following the directions and enjoyed that as a treat before getting on the bus. Next week, we begin making our Dog Treats to sell to staff. This is our Work Based Learning Business for them to learn valuable job skills. More info to come and I'll send pics out next week!

We also had our 1st Circle of Friend's Meeting today during Talon Time and it was a big success! They had a lot of fun socializing, dancing and playing basketball. Next week is Homecoming. We do not have a booth this year at the carnival but kids can still enjoy the parade if they want to watch or enjoy dressing up each day for the themes. Have a great weekend!!

Sept 3, 2025- Week 3

Happy Wednesday everyone! Yesterday, we had our 1st Bowling practice in the morning for Special Olympics. Here are the dates coming up that we will be going to practice: 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 10/07, 10/21 All Tuesday mornings. Please have students wear socks on these days as they change into bowling shoes and need to have socks on to do so. Students did great and with this many practices, they should do awesome on the Event Day!! Woo-Hoo!

Also, We are all well-established in our routines and working hard. We have started our Project Based Learning in Science and History and they are still completing their 1st project in those subjects. Spirit Days have begun and I'll send another message with those days listed as well. ARDs are starting so you will start to receive messages regarding parent input and will hear from our Transition Rep: Mrs. Bowen about all things transition. ARDs are virtual so let me know if you ever want to come in person.

Have a great rest of the week!! Grades are also uploaded- most will always be 80 as we make progress on goals- grades are for participation and required. Goals mark real progress!

August 19, 2025- Week 2

Just checking in for the week as we are in our 2nd week of school. I have a few things coming home today that are important and really need to be filled out and sent back this week. Students have been doing great following our daily schedule in class, turning things in, completing their classroom jobs and got their pictures taken today. :)

- Community Based Instruction forms (2) One is a permission form for us to go out into the community to implement our instruction when we shop for cooking ingredients, shop for our work based learning business, practice buying lunch with our own money, etc... The 2nd CBI form is for emergency contact information that all staff keep with them when we leave campus for this instruction. CBI outings are only 1-2 times per week depending on our work based learning schedule. ( I will send out more info once our CBI schedule is complete and we start going out)

-Photo Release: this is for permission to have any photos taken while students are participating in our events on and off campus. Argyle loves to share and promote what students are accomplishing every week while in school. I will take pics as well to share with you as parents, so it's a lot of fun for us to send those out to you so you can see what your teen is up to here in my class while working on becoming an adult.

-TX Workforce Solutions Application. This is VERY IMPORTANT to get filled out and sent back asap as our Transition Rep wants to begin our off campus work based learning activities for our students. This is a great opportunity, even for 9th graders to begin learning how to navigate their job skills we work on in class and use those skills in an actual work site where they are supervised and assisted. These outings will only occur once per week usually and we will have a schedule in place for both our WBL and CBI outings to ensure we are still in class learning our academics and transition skills.

My goal with this class is to help your teens become independent, learn good job skills, necessary social skills and to understand proper etiquette, hygiene and daily living skills. Cooking, technology, following a schedule, following verbal and written directions, etc...are all must haves in my class and to be a successful adult.

I will also want to schedule meetings with each of you as parents before your teen's ARD to discuss post-secondary options and what I can help you with while they're still in school. Be looking for info to be sent home preiodically regarding transition, employment skill outings pics, etc...

Also, special Olympics paperwork is all back I believe, so thank you for sending it back!
Let me know if you have any questions or are not sure about paperwork being sent home. I have loved getting to know all of my students!

~Respectfully,
Mrs. Morrison

August 13, 2025- Week 1

Group message through Parent Square. When I send out a quick reminder or class update- I will use Parent Square usually. You can still text me if it's important, but the district wants us migrating to Parent Square as it documents parent/school communication. This platform replaces Remind 101. Students are doing well today and getting into the routine. We have noticed a little bit more relaxation and less nervousness. I want them to have fun at school and sent home my welcome letter and a rule contract for them to sign and for parents to sign. Please send those back as well as the Special Olympics application. This will be a fun event for your teen to participate in as we can do it as a class with our Transition Rep. Bowling is the 1st competition we will compete in. Happy Wednesday!