May

2021

"Spring is proof that there is beauty in new beginnings." - Matshona Dhliwayo

GROWTH AND NEW BEGINNINGS

"The start of something new brings the hope of something great, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE." - Author Unknown

As we approach the end of another school year, we are making plans for the 2021 Transition Graduation Ceremony to honor our amazing graduates. There are so many wonderful accomplishments to celebrate!

Our graduates may be ending one important chapter of their lives, but they have many exciting adventures and opportunities ahead of them.

This is a great time for all of us to consider any new beginnings and opportunities that may be coming our own way.

As much as we sometimes want things to stay the same, there is beauty in new beginnings. When we find ourselves facing these beginnings, we must remember that they are opportunities for us to grow as a people.

New beginnings are a chance to become a version of ourselves that didn’t exist before. These opportunities are filled with lessons, experiences, and wisdom that can change our lives if we choose to accept them.

In the words of our students...

What new beginnings are happening in your life right now? What is ending as this begins?

Sean: I am tech diving now which is changing my whole diving routine. My recreational diving is pretty much ending as I start a new complicated form of diving. I am also starting to meet a lot of new people.

Charlie: My filming of the new play is happening and time to rehearse is finishing up.

Quinn: After Special Olympics Basketball ended, Special Olympics Track and Field started.

Charles: I’m doing better at work, got a raise and more hours.

Luke: I am working at Eggsperience, I am doing Special Olympics track and field, and my brother is graduating from college.

Gillian: What’s new in my life right now is that we are updating the first level of our house so we are currently living in a hotel.

Alex: I started at a new school. I am going horseback riding on Fridays. My sister is moving.

Yulissa: I am taking karate classes and I will be doing horseback riding soon.

How do you deal with fear when you’re trying something new?

Sean: I try not to think too much about what I'm afraid of. I keep an open mind and don't think about it too much. I just jump in and do it.

Charlie: I deal with fear by just going into it and trying it out. And if I don’t like it, then I don’t like it.

Quinn: I like to talk it through with my teachers or parents or friends or family.

Max: I sometimes feel scared when I am afraid and I sometimes like it when I am afraid. For example, like on a roller coaster.

Gillian: I deal with fear when trying something new by either taking a deep breath or talking to my parents.

What are some things that you did for the very first time this school year?

Sean: I started wreck diving. I started a new job and learned how to use new machines. I got a new truck.

Charlie: I met Nick and also tried some new foods in cooking. I also built some stamina when I was back in person.

Quinn: I wore a mask for the very first time this school year after I started coming back in person again.

Max: I went to a new school for the first time without my brother being in the same building with me.

Luke: I did school on the computer and I used the kitchen at West Campus to make my lunch.

Gillian: The thing that I have done for the very first time this school year is a new internship at Wagner Farm.

Alex: I played on the track team. I did online school.

Yulissa: This was the first time I had school from home and I also started karate and have earned a yellow belt!

What motivates you to keep growing as a person?

Sean: Enthusiasm, passion, and determination to achieve my goals. To achieve all the things I want to do.

Charlie: Hearing positive feedback makes me feel motivated to grow as a person.

Quinn: Me leveling up in Reading Plus helps me grow as a person.

Charles: My family and my friends.

Mathew: My family and passion for wanting more in life.

Gillian: My motivation to keep growing as a person is the fact that I am a role model for kids with my disability.

2021 GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT

Congratulations to our 2021 Transition graduates! Our graduation this year will be virtual (link:

meet.google.com/tfe-ywpm-wbk) on Friday May 28 12:30pm to 1:30pm. We would love to have you join us.

graduation 2021.pdf

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Thank you for the amazing work you do with students every single day and the many ways you give of yourselves to make LFHS a special place for all.

MAY CALENDAR

Important Events for the Month of May, 2021

Wednesday, May 12th, is a Staff Planning Day only. This will be a Non-Attendance Day for students.
There will be no school on Monday, May 31st for Memorial Day.
The week of May 31st, we will be following the Finals Schedule. The schedule of the shortened school days will be shared at a later date.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

John Demet

John Demet, a student at Lake Forest High School, was one of eleven students chosen for the 2021 Infinitec North Technology Achievement Award for his use of assistive technology to gain independence with communication.

Once a year, the Infinitec Coalition recognizes students who excel using assistive technology to access the curriculum and demonstrate functional independence at school.

John began using a high-tech, dynamic display speech-generating device during the 2015-2016 school year. His vocabulary size and communication device use have continued to grow throughout his high school career. Assistive technology has allowed John to access the school environment and curriculum, as well as participate in classroom discussions, social activities, and extracurriculars. It has additionally given John the independence and autonomy in making choices regarding his learning, environment, recreation/leisure choices, and education.

Congratulations John!

SPECIAL THANKS

Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Learning Disabilities Association and LFHS Foundation

The LFHS Foundation in partnership with the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Learning Disabilities Association, funded an iClass Inboard wheelchair lift to support the work of the Lake Forest Transition Program. This Wheelchair lift van will be stationed at West Campus and will allows us to continue promoting independence in transitioning to adult living activities, introducing students to new vocational experiences while increasing independent living skills, and providing families and students with resources that support the transition into the community and/or adult services. This lift will allow students in the transition program increased access to community-based instruction and vocational experiences and Lake Forest staff will be able to further meet the individualized post-secondary goals of our students by having the ability to adapt each student's daily needs and schedules.

Many thanks to the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Learning Disabilities Association and LFHS Foundation for supporting our ventures!

COOKING PHOTOS

Charlie making a Denver Omelette

Charles making a Denver Omelette

Charlie making Mac N Cheese

Gillian making couscous for Chopped Salad

Yulissa's Pasta

Gillian's Chopped Salad

Gillian chopping shallots

Making Shrimp Scampi

Finished product

Charlie Chopping Avocado

Charlie's Avocado Chicken Caesar Salad

Quinn Chopping Lettuce

Quinn Chopping Avocado

Quinn's Avocado Chicken Caesar Salad

Yulissa's BLT

Alex's BLT

Yulissa's Walking Taco

Alex's Walking Taco

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Our recipe of the month, intruduced to us by Gillian, is Chopped Salad with Creamy Basil Dressing. Instead of making the dressing from scratch, we used a bottled green goddess dressing, and instead of arugula we used spinach. This recipe is not only nutritious and delicious, but very beautiful.

Chopped Salad with Creamy Basil DressingChopped Salad with fresh arugula, dried cranberries, crunchy red peppers, feta cheese, sweet corn, and couscous tossed with a creamy basil dressing. Chopped Salad with Creamy Basil Dressing One of my favorite restaurants to go

COPING WITH KAREN

Our staff psychologist, Karen Lapinski, offers great advice to help us cope through the many challenges we are faced with every day.

Transition Newsletter May 2021 - Google Docs.pdf

SPEECH 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.

Get some fresh air! Social distancing doesn’t mean you have to be stuck indoors! If the weather permits and you have a yard or uncrowded outdoor space to take advantage of, get outside and try these activities to support communication.

Social Skills: Discuss personal space, the new rules of social distancing, making conversation with others while respecting social distancing practices.
Social Skills: Initiating, maintaining, and ending conversations appropriately. Model turn-taking skills in conversation
Language: Practice talking about and describing what you see, discuss feelings, and if you like or do not like what you are doing
Compare and Contrast: Talk about the differences between winter, spring, summer, and fall. The colors are changing, the weather is warmer, different animals are outside!

VOCATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Upscale Rummage and Furniture Warehouse in Libertyville

The month of April brought a new beginning for Alissa's class as they began working at a recently added vocational placement. The Upscale Rummage and Furniture Warehouse in Libertyville is providing our students with a wide variety of job skills to practice. During the first week, our tasks included moving and unloading boxes, sorting through donated electronics, alphabetizing and shelving books, as well as measuring, folding, and labeling linens.

Quinn, Charlie, and John are doing a great job making the most of this new opportunity!

Historic Wagner Farm

Gillian continues to enjoy her vocational placement at Wagner Farm in Glenview. With spring comes much crop work. Gillian is learning all about growing plants from seeds. Wagner Farm is starting a sensory garden this year. A sensory garden is a garden that has a collection of plants that are appealing to one or more of the five senses: sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. Gillian has been working with other student farmers helping to put the garden together.