Exceptional Student Services at AVMS

By: Jackie Bauerelen and Dustie Gunn-Ader

At Altar Valley Middle School we offer many programs that are part of Exceptional Student Services. Our Inclusionary Program includes co-taught classes with Mrs. Van Keuren and Mrs. Ader, and the SEAS self-contained classroom with Mrs. Jackie Bauerelen.

The co-taught classes are going very well this year, with in-person classes being on Monday and Wednesday and the remote classes being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. With all the changes this year, due to COVID-19, we were very happy to be able to offer co-teaching support to both in-person and online students. In a co-taught classroom you have the benefit of 2 teachers, the general education content teacher and the special education teacher; this has allowed for more one-on-one time for students in the learning process.

Things are going smoothly in the S.E.A.S. (Social Emotional Adaptive Skills) self-contained classroom. We are working to overcome the strain that COVID has placed on all of our students. Along with working on all academic areas we have the pleasure of working in Altar Valley Middle School’s garden. Our students are learning the nurturing skills that gardening provides. We have been working on the different stages in growing plants. Also, how plants grow in a greenhouse as compared to growing in the garden. The students eagerly roll up their sleeves and dig right into the hands on projects. They enjoy being able to plant a seed and nurture it into a plant that provides us with not only beauty, but food as well. There is no better place to learn social, emotional, and adaptive skills than in our garden!

21st Century Before and After-School Learning AVMS

By: Dustie Gunn-Ader

The middle school is in the second year of the 21st Century Learning Grant and it has been a great second year. We have held all the classes before and after-school online due to the requirements for COVID-19 safety. We have many classes being offered, Lost Carnivores, ECO-Stem gardening, Crochet, Guitar, Spanish, Art, Yearbook, Book Club, Kindness club, and tutoring. For many of the classes families are able to pick up the supplies from the school and then the students connect online with the teachers.

For example, our Crochet club has recently been making animals. The students were provided with all the supplies needed. They then worked online with Ms. Jackie to create bunnies, pigs, turtles, spiders, and many other options. Earlier in the year they had made beanies. Our Art class has been using straws to paint and creating personal interest pieces. Students can still sign-up if interested.