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đź’ś Happy Valentine's Day! đź’ś
đź’ś Happy Valentine's Day! đź’ś
LOVE
LOVE
For the month of February, when love is a common theme, we asked our students to reflect on the activities they love the most. Activities that bring us joy not only help to combat our stress levels, they replenish our energy and provide us the strength and resilience to then do our important work in the world. When we are joyful, our whole body benefits, especially our heart and our mind.
For the month of February, when love is a common theme, we asked our students to reflect on the activities they love the most. Activities that bring us joy not only help to combat our stress levels, they replenish our energy and provide us the strength and resilience to then do our important work in the world. When we are joyful, our whole body benefits, especially our heart and our mind.
In the words of our students, here are the activities that bring the most joy to their lives.
In the words of our students, here are the activities that bring the most joy to their lives.
Charles - Usually in the evenings after work or after school, I play guitar. I feel like I have talent when I do it and I love to hear my own playing.
Quinn - I make an effort for cooking on a regular basis because I love cooking so much. I have learned to cook more food by myself since joining the Transition Program. I am able to do this activity almost every day. I love cooking so much because I eventually want to live by myself.
Charlie - I always like listening to music and singing because I like it a lot and it makes me feel calm when I am upset or when I am bored it helps me with my boredom. I like doing it everyday. I just like performing and it helps me get through the tough times that a day brings.
Max - I work on some of my goals that I have for myself. I want to do this activity everyday. I love it so much because I feel awesome when I do it.
Alex - I love horseback riding and bike riding and any activity outside. Sunshine is the horse that I ride, she is very gentle. All of the staff are very friendly at Equestrian Connection. I also enjoy spending time with my dad when we bike ride. I go horseback riding on Friday night, two times a month. After horseback riding I go to Patty’s house for pizza and hang out. I go bike riding at least 4 to 6 times a month. They both make me feel happy, calm and strong. I feel free when I am riding. “I feel good when riding.”
Luke - I love having Kidz Bop dance parties. I listen to Kidz Bop on my headphones and dance along to the music in my living room. I am able to do this most days. I love it because it’s fun, I like to sing along to the songs while I dance, and it makes me feel happy.
Liam - I love dancing to songs like “Dancing with Myself," “Love Story," and “The Longest Time.” I like to listen to the songs on youtube. I go crazy and shake my whole body. It is good. I like to dance everyday. I love this so much because it makes me feel good and excited. I like to think about the music when I dance.
Yulissa - I love dancing. I like to dance at home to Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendez. I dance everyday. I love this because it’s fun to dance. I like to dance with the music.
Here are some pictures of Alex participating in the activities that make him so happy.
February Calendar
February Calendar
Important Events for the Month of February, 2021
Important Events for the Month of February, 2021
Wednesday, February 3rd - Non-attendance day for all students (Staff Planning Day)
Monday, February 15 - No School (Presidents Day)
Friday, February 26th - Non-attendance day for all students (Staff Institute Day)
Student Spotlight - Charles
Student Spotlight - Charles
Charles is one of our more experienced students. He is talented, creative, and extremely kind. He is most passionate about his family, music, movies, and celebrating holidays and traditions. Charles is such a great friend to all at Transition.
Charles is one of our more experienced students. He is talented, creative, and extremely kind. He is most passionate about his family, music, movies, and celebrating holidays and traditions. Charles is such a great friend to all at Transition.
Enjoy our Student Spotlight Interview for February!
Enjoy our Student Spotlight Interview for February!
You have been very successful at maintaining paid employment! Tell us where you work.
I work at Party City
What do you like most about your job?
What I like most is when it’s Halloween and when almost half of the store changes for the season.
What are some new skills you have learned while on the job?
I have gotten better at customer service.
What are some important skills that you improved upon during your time with us at Transition?
Making new friends.
How has receiving transition services helped you to prepare for adult life?
Developing good communication skills.
What advice do you have for current and future Lake Forest Transition students?
I would say stop worrying and enjoy it for the time you have at transition.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time at Transition?
A lot! The parties, going to Popeyes on Mardi Gras, going to Didier on my birthday, going bowling, and going to Abt.
Recipe of the Month
Recipe of the Month
One of the virtual community trips that Alissa's class took this month was an exploration of Germany. This trip inspired the class to select the Dutch Baby Pancake for a new recipe to try when cooking at home.
Cooking at Home
Cooking at Home
Alex's gluten free ravioli
Gillian's butternut squash ravioli
Charlie's Dutch Baby Pancake
Quinn's french toast
Luke's tostada
Charlie's french toast and scrambled eggs
Alex's fajita
Liam's tostada
Gillian's tostada
Coping With Karen
Coping With Karen
Our staff psychologist, Karen Lapinski, offers great advice to help us cope through the many challenges we are faced with everyday.
Our staff psychologist, Karen Lapinski, offers great advice to help us cope through the many challenges we are faced with everyday.
This month, Transition students are learning about self-talk, and how self-talk can influence their perceptions, feelings, motivation, and overall well-being. I wanted to share some of the discussion points and visuals since they might be helpful to incorporate at home.
Everyone engages in self-talk from time to time. This is our inner voice that tells us how we’re doing and what we’re thinking. Sometimes that inner voice is positive, sometimes it’s negative, and sometimes it’s just neutral.
People who worry a lot sometimes engage in negative self-talk to an extreme degree. Often, it is to a point where it cripples the individual from doing things or even just feeling good about themselves.
Have you ever noticed your inner negative voice? It would be nice if it would just disappear but it doesn't. Instead, you have to retrain your brain to stop the negative talk and turn it into something more positive.
Here are some simple tips to eliminate the negative voice by making it more positive (or just neutral).
Stop the Thought - When you begin to hear yourself making a negative thought to yourself, stop it right away.
Change Negative to Positive or Neutral - All statements are just a matter of perspective. You can easily turn your negative thoughts into better ones that won't bring you down. Instead of thinking, "I looked like a complete idiot today when I didn't say anything to Lisa," you can think, "I got shy today in front of Lisa. It happens to everyone. Next time I'll try to say something to her."
Eliminate the "all or nothing" statements - Many negative self-talk statements start with "I'll never," "I can't," and "I'm always." Instead of saying, "I'll never finish this project. It's too long," you might think to yourself, "This is a big project. I'll have to work a lot longer on it, but I'll get it done at some point."
Take out the should've, could've, would've statements - These statements just make you regret and feel guilty. Instead, encourage yourself to think "Next time, I'll try to..." Make sure it is "try to," because all you can do is try.
Here's an example of changing the thought:
Negative: "I definitely failed that exam. I'm never going to pass math."
Positive/Neutral: "I didn't do as well as I wanted on the exam. I will try to study more for next week's test."
Transition students in Nick's class are working on aspects of the Zones of Regulation curriculum. Another way to think about positive and negative self-talk aligned with this curriculum is in terms of "inner coach" and "inner critic."
The next step will be for students to learn how to incorporate positive self-affirmations into their thinking. These can help to boost self-confidence and ease the mind of worry. Stay tuned for more on positive self-affirmations next month!
Speech Language Tips
Speech Language Tips
There are many ways to encourage your student to improve their language skills. Our Speech-Language Pathologist, Samantha Medland, offers these tips that can be easily used in everyday situations.
There are many ways to encourage your student to improve their language skills. Our Speech-Language Pathologist, Samantha Medland, offers these tips that can be easily used in everyday situations.
TIPS FOR COMMUNICATING WHILE WEARING A MASK OR PHYSICAL DISTANCING
TIPS FOR COMMUNICATING WHILE WEARING A MASK OR PHYSICAL DISTANCING
Now that we are back to in-person learning, Transition staff and students may need a reminder about communicating clearly while wearing a mask. Sometimes that takes practice. Here are some tips for communicating clearly while wearing a mask.
Make sure you have your communication partner’s attention.
Face your partner directly, and make sure nothing is blocking your view.
Talk a little louder.
Talk a little slower.
Use your hands and your body language.
Ask your partner if they understood you; if not, say it a different way or write it down.
Move to a quiet place if you can.
Vocational Spotlight
Vocational Spotlight
Gillian - Wagner Farm
Gillian - Wagner Farm
Glenview Park District's 18.6 acre Historic Wagner Farm is one of the last working dairy farms in Cook County and is open to the public for recreation and learning. The farm provides a unique opportunity for families to learn about farming heritage and experience first-hand “the way things used to be.” In addition to cows in the pasture, Historic Wagner Farm has chickens, draft horses, and pigs as well as a restored farmhouse and barn .
Gillian has been fortunate to take an internship this year at Wagner Farm that she absolutely loves. We talked to Gillian about her experience at the farm and this is what she said.
How long have you worked at Wagner Farm?
Since the end of October.
What caused you to want to work at a farm?
My internship at the horse stable was over so I wanted to work at a farm with other animals.
What tasks do you do on a typical day at the farm? Which one is your favorite?
I collect eggs, take care of the animals, help with crops if needed and cutting wood for a fence if needed. My favorite tasks are collecting eggs and spending time with the animals.
Is there a task that you do at the farm that you didn’t expect to do?
Yes I didn’t expect to help build a fence and work with wood.
What is one piece of advice you would give a student who wants to intern at Wagner Farm?
Wear old clothes because some jobs require you to get very dirty.
How do you think working at Wagner Farm is preparing you for what you will do after you graduate from Transition?
Wagner Farm is preparing me for working with animals in some way whether it’s continuing at Wagner or at a barn or somewhere else with animals.
Socializing the chickens
Denver the cow
Dividing chives in the greenhouse
Collecting eggs
Shoveling snow
Cutting rails for a new fence
Transition Pets
Transition Pets
One of the perks of working from home has been spending more time with our families, including our pets! We have also enjoyed getting to see each other's adorable pets through group chats and meetings. We thought it would be fun and uplifting to continue featuring the pets of our Transition Program here in our newsletter.
Annie
Annie is Alex's family cat. She is currently 13 years old. Annie was 5 years old when they got her from a friend who could not keep her due to allergies. She is very sweet and loves hanging around Alex.
Kobe
Kobe is Max's sweet dog. He is 9 years old. Max tells us that Kobe likes to take lots of walks. He also loves to cuddle and play tug of war.
Tux
Tux is Charles' brand new shorthair kitten. Charles tells us that Tux is very playful, fun, and friendly. Of course, being a kitten, Tux sometimes gets into trouble by chewing on wires and other tempting dangling items. He sure is cute, though!
Transition Activities
Transition Activities
CNN 10 - Current Events
"Fan" Club
Reconnecting after Winter Break
Social Group
Daily Agenda
School Connect Curriculum
Social Group
Virtual community trip to Clevelandwith fun and inspiring music
Morning Check in
Germany Community Trip - Jamboard
Celebrating a new job opportunity for Sean! Socially distanced air hugs!
Cleveland Community Trip - Jamboard
Vocational Meetings
Transition Seminar
TA Zach and Liam's in-person proxy
Virtual community trip to the farm
Helpful Resources
Helpful Resources
Each month we like to share various helpful resources for parents of our transition students. If you have any questions or know of a resource we may share for the next month, don't hesitate to contact your class teacher or the Transition Coordinator.
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