All 4J schools are closed on Thursday, December 8 Due to icy roads and dangerous driving conditions. Be safe out there today!
Connections will be back on Friday, December 9 with a full school day!
Mark Your Planner! Alumni Afternoon will take place on Friday, December 16! We will be going to Killer Burger/Sizzle Pie, Level Up and Emerald City Comics.
We will post details of Alumni Afternoon Next week. Spread the word! All Connections Alumni and Current Connections Students are welcome to attend!
In case of snow: Connections is part of the Eugene 4J school district. If 4J is open, Connections is open. If 4J is closed, Connections is closed. The 4J web site (www.4j.lane.edu) will have the latest information on school closures. I will post a message on this website if we are delayed or closed for the day.
In case of a 1 hour delay: All 9 am seminars and advocates will be canceled. We will have a regular schedule starting at 10 am.
In case of a 2 hour delay: All 9 am and 10 am seminars and advocates will be canceled. We will have a regular schedule starting at 11 am.
Sometimes Lane Community College will be closed and 4J will be open. In that case, Connections will be open. If you have classes or advocates that take place at LCC, please talk to your teacher about what to do if LCC is closed.
If you have any questions, you can always call Connections staff. If you choose to text us, please leave your name and we will be happy to text you back!
Connections staff has been working hard on our Winter Term Schedule! Remember, Connections Registration will be on Thursday, December 15. You will be able to sign up for a registration time beginning on Tuesday, December 6. You will be able to pick up copies of our Winter Term Schedule and Seminar Descriptions on Wednesday, December 7. Here is our Winter Term Schedule below:
I hope everyone has had a fantastic Thanksgiving Break! We only have a few more weeks of the Fall Term. Let’s finish strong! Here is the schedule for the rest of the term.
This Just In! Mark your planners. There will be no Connections on Monday, December 5 for Staff training. This day was not on our calendar in the beginning of the year. Please make sure you mark your planner for Monday, December 5. Please keep in mind that LCC does not follow the 4J or Connections Schedule. LCC will be in session on Monday, December 5 (in fact, that is the first day of finals on Main Campus). If you attend LCC, please attend class on December 5.
Alumni Afternoon will take place on Friday, December 16. Alumni Afternoon is a time where we invite past students back to Connections for a fun activity. But what will we do? The Student Council will be talking about Alumni Afternoon on Wednesday. If you have an idea, please talk to your representative on Student Council today!
Here is our schedule for the rest of the term:
November 28- December 2: Regular Schedule, All Seminars, Advocates and Work Experience will take place as scheduled.
Monday, December 5: No School: Staff Professional Development
December 6- December 9: Regular Schedule, All Seminars, Advocates and Work Experience will take place as scheduled.
December 12- December 13: Regular Schedule, All Seminars, Advocates and Work Experience will take place as scheduled. Note: Tuesday, December 13 will be the last Advocate, Seminar and Work Experience for the Fall Term
Wednesday, December 14: No Connections. Staff Grading Day
Thursday, December 15: Winter Term Registration. All Connections Students will make appointments with their advocate and/or case manager to register for Connections Winter Term
Friday, December 16: Alumni Afternoon! Time/Place To Be Announced!
We have a short week this week…We will be on a regular Connections Schedule on Monday, November 21, Tuesday November 22, and Wednesday November 23. Connections will be closed on November 24 and November 25 for Thanksgiving Holiday. Connections will be back in Session on Monday, November 28…and it will be electrifying!
Your challenge is to be prepared!
Be prepared for the weather! It is fall in Oregon, and the weather can be unpredictable. Be prepared for frequent rain, overcast skies and cooler temperature. Many of our seminars (e.g. It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time, Geocashing, and Connections Collective) take place outside. Bring a raincoat, waterproof shoes and clothes that will keep you warm even if you get wet!
Be prepared for your morning commute. You now know the bus route to the Building 2120 and Downtown LCC. Give yourself enough time in the morning in order to catch the bus that will get you to class on time! Get to that bus stop early to make sure you don’t miss your bus!
Be prepared for your day! Make sure you get enough sleep at night. Make sure you eat breakfast and pack a lunch. And make sure you have your LTD bus pass, you don’t want to be without it if you need it!
Be prepared for your future! Winter Term is going to begin sooner than you know. If you are interested in going to ABSE at LCC, let’s talk to Amy about arranging a visit. If you are interested in taking classes at LCC Main Campus, let’s observe a class so you know what that class will be like. If you are interested in working, let’s set up a meeting with your transition specialist!
Many students have goal guide goals that they are tracking at their worksite. Your challenge this week is to update your Goal Guide Account when you complete your goals! You can access your goal guide account on your smartphone or tablet (I made mine look like an app on my iPhone). You can also access your account on your computer at https://connect.cognitopia.com/apps/goalGuide! Once you sign in, just go to your dashboard, choose the goal guide app and update your goals!
Many Connections students have been using My Life to facilitate your IEP meeting! Facilitating your own IEP is great practice for job interviews and meetings where you will have to self advocate on your own. Your challenge is to become familiar with your My Life Portfolio so that you are ready for your next meeting! Connections Staff have been getting tons of complements on student’s self advocacy at IEP meetings this year! Keep up the great work!
Many of you have classes at Lane Community College Downtown Center. Many of you utilize the tables in the hallway when you are waiting for class to begin or eating lunch. Everyone has been doing a fantastic job following hidden rules at Downtown LCC. We just wanted to remind you of the following:
Mark Your Planners! We will have no school on Friday, November 11 in observance of Veteran’s Day. All 4J schools and Lane Community College are closed on November 11. What will you do with your three day weekend?
The Connections Board of Directions declared the month of November as track your spending month! Tracking your spending is the process where you keep a record of where you spend your money. There are several ways to track spending; you can keep receipts, keep a ledger, monitor your bank account online or follow the envelope method. Keep track of where your money goes. You will be surprised how much money you can save! After all, it is a November to Remember (your spending)!
Connections is bringing Alumni Afternoon back! You asked for it, you got it! Alumni Afternoon is a time where we invite the Alumni back to Connections and do a fun activity. What will we do? When will we do it? The Student Council will make decisions about Alumni Afternoon over the next few weeks. If you have any ideas for Alumni Afternoon, please check in with one of your representatives on Student Council!
Your homework is important! Part of being a Connection student is tracking assignments outside of class. We will ask you to do homework/away work at times to enhance what we are doing in the classroom and give you opportunity to practice. Connections homework is meant to be practice for the real world. For example, you live in your own apartment you have homework when you need to pay bills on time, balance your budget or complete your chores. If you get in the habit of completing your homework outside of class in Connections you will develop strong habits for when you need to do it in the real world.
This Just In… Students who complete their homework between October 31 and November 4 will get a coupon for a free item in the School Store! Complete your homework this week and enjoy your free item!
You’ve been warned! The flu season is here, and it is time that everyone protects themselves from the flu (and other illnesses)! Please follow these steps:
The environment is a very important issue for our planet. Connections wants to do our part to make sure the items that we use are sustainable and do not drain our Earth’s precious resources. The Student Council has noticed that trash has not always been disposed in the correct receptacle. Our trash cans are now properly labeled… Please dispose of your trash and recycling in the proper container.
The Large Dark Blue Square container is for paper recycling. This would include, paper, cardboard, and paper cartons.
The Lighter Blue Cylinder Container is for plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans. Please only throw away plastic and/or glass in this container.
The Grey Cylinder Container is for non-recyclable trash. Please put all food scraps, plastic wrapping and anything else that can not be recycled in this container.
Your Attendance has been outstanding! Many students have earned a free coupon for the school store for perfect attendance last week. Student Council will be voting on our next opportunity to earn a free coupon on Wednesday. If you have any suggestions, please talk to your representative on Student Council!
Who wants a free item from the Originals School Store? The Student Council voted and decided… Students that have perfect attendance from October 17 to October 21 will earn a coupon for a free item for the School Store! What is perfect attendance you ask? Perfect attendance is defined by the following actions:
Does perfect attendance mean I can not take a break? Absolutely not. If taking a break is part of your plan, you may take a break and still have perfect attendance. Let’s earn those store coupons this week!
Looks like the weather has turned, and we are in for a rainy fall. Please be prepared for rainy and cold weather each day. Many of your Connections classes take place in the community. Connections activities will take place in the rain, wind, or with hail the size of basketballs! Please be prepared with a waterproof jacket with a hat or a hood each day! If you do not have one, please talk to your advocate!
We have a short week in Connections this week. All 4J schools including Connections will be closed on Friday, October 14 for Oregon school’s statewide inservice day. Remember, Lane Community College is not part of 4J School District. LCC will be open on Friday! If you attend LCC, please go to class on Friday!
Great News! The Originals School Store will be open this week! The Originals is a student run school store that has snacks and school supplies for great prices! The store will be open Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 12:00 pm to 12:25 pm. If you are hungry, buy local and support your friends at the Originals!
The student council is in full swing! The student council is your student government. However you do not have to attend Student Council to have an opinion on our school. If you have an agenda item for Student Council, please mark that agenda item on the clipboard in the hall. This week, we will be talking about the 1 year Anniversary Celebration of the School Store! Yup, that’s right: Big Party!
And remember, the show goes on…Please make sure you attend all seminars, advocates and work experiences (even if you know there will be a substitute). If you are not able to make it, please make sure you contact staff to let them know you will not be attending.
