The Transition Times

It is official, Winter break has begun.  The Connections staff and I would like to wish everyone happy holidays, and hope everyone has a happy and safe winter break!

I would like to thank all Connections students and staff for an electrifying fall term!  I am very impressed with the progress that was made during the Winter term.  Everyone did a fantastic job, and you all should be very proud of the progress you made.  You are on their way to reaching their goals!

Connections (and 4J) is closed from Monday, December 21 through Monday, January 4.  Connections Winter Term begins on Tuesday, January 5!  Note: Most 4J schools are closed on January 5, we are open!  Connections staff will report back to work on Tuesday, January 5.

Most Connections students now have Winter Term Schedules.  If you do not have a Winter Term Schedule (or if you would like to make changes), it is not too late!  You will be able to contact staff to schedule a meeting on January 5.  If you have questions and need to get ahold of me before January 5, please email: barbour@4j.lane.edu.

See you in 2016!

Share

Our Connections’s winter seminar and work experience schedule is out, and it looks amazing!  You can see our seminar grid right here on this page (just click on the picture to see it more clearly); you can read the description of each seminar by clicking the 2016 Winter Term seminar link above.  Most of you have scheduled a Winter Term Registration time for Thursday, December 17 at Building 2120.  Please make sure you know what time you are due to meet on Thursday.  If you need to change your time, or you haven’t made an appointment yet, please do so before Thursday!  Students who sign up for Winter Term Seminars will receive an LTD Bus Pass Sticker for January, February and March.

Please be prepared when registering for the 2016 Winter Term.  Read our Winter Term Seminar descriptions before your meeting and pick seminars that will help you reach your future goals.  Think about what you want your life to be after you age out of 4J services.  What do you want to be doing when your 22, 23 or 24 years old?  Pick classes that help you acquire those skills.  If you have any questions about classes you should be taking, please see your advocate or case manager.  Tell us what your future goals are, and we can guide you to classes that fit your goals!

Share

Our Fall Term is quickly coming to a close… but not to worry, there is still plenty of more Connections to come.  We will be announcing our electrifying Winter Term Seminars later this week!  That’s right, you will be able to find new Winter Term Schedule on this web site!  Check the website later this week, and click on the 2016 Winter Term Schedule Link.

I know what you are asking… this sounds amazing, how do I sign up?  You will need to see Connections Staff today to sign up for a Winter Term Registration Meeting on Thursday December 17!  Your registration meeting will be with Connections Staff and will be about 30 minutes.  All registration meetings will take place in the Building 2120.   Sign up for your meeting today!

The Originals opens on Monday, December 7! The store will be open each Monday and Wednesday from 12:00 pm to 12:25! Support local business and buy your snack and school supplies from your friends at the Originals!

And… don’t forget about Alumni Afternoon! Alumni Afternoon will take place from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm on Friday, December 18. We will meet at Downtown LCC, and visit Sizzle Pie for a slice of pizza! We will then go to Smith Family Books for more fun and excitement. Remember, you are responsible for buying your own slice of pizza… if you do not have money, don’t let that stop you from attending! Hanging out is free and always fun!

Share

There has been a buzz around Building 2120!  The School Store has been under construction since September, and it is about to open it’s doors!  That’s right, the name of the school store is The Originals, and it will be the best store on earth!  The Originals will open its doors on Monday, December 7.  You will be able to buy snacks, drinks, school supplies, and even lunch.  The Originals will be truly amazing!

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.

November 30- December 4:  Regular Schedule, All Seminars, Advocates and Work Experience will take place as scheduled.  

December 7- December 11:  Regular Schedule, All Seminars, Advocates and Work Experience will take place as scheduled.  

December 14- December 15:  Regular Schedule, All Seminars, Advocates and Work Experience will take place as scheduled.  Note: December 15 will be the last Advocate, Seminar and Work Experience for the Fall Term

December 16- No Connections.  Staff Grading Day

December 17– Winter Term Registration.  All Connections Students will make appointments with their advocate and/or case manager to register for Connections Winter Term

December 18– Alumni Afternoon!  Time/Place To Be Announced!

Share

We have a short week this week…We will be on a regular Connections Schedule on Monday, November 23, Tuesday November 24, and Wednesday November 25. Connections will be closed on November 25 and November 26 for Thanksgiving Holiday. Connections will be back in Session on Monday, November 30…and it will be electrifying!

You know what they say about Oregon… If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes.  Last school year, we did not have any snow…the year before, we missed 6 days due to snow.  I don’t know what is in store for us this year, but it is best to be prepared!

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 Josh at (541) 912-3618.  If you choose to text me, please leave your name and a phone number where I can call you.  My red phone will not allow me to respond to texts in a timely manner  (the Red phone will allow me to read them).

Share

Share

First, the Transition Times would like to acknowledge Davan for traveling to Portland to present at the DCDT Conference. Davan spoke in front of teachers and school personnel from all parts of the United States (one woman was from Guam) and shared his high school and Connections experience. He did a fantastic job and got a standing ovation at the end of his speech!

We have good news and bad news this week.  The bad news is that Connections will be closed on Wednesday, November 11 in observance of Veteran’s day (all 4J Schools are Closed).  Have fun Wednesday, be safe and street smart.

The good news is that we are 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? That is for you to decide.  We want to hear your ideas.  Contact Connections Staff for your suggestions for Alumni Afternoon. Let’s make it LEGENDARY!

Wednesday (November 11) is the only Connections Day off this week.  All Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday advocates, seminars, and tutorials will take place as usual.    

And it is still November, which means it is still track your spending month!  Update your spending plan, and make sure you know where your money has been (and where it is going).  It is a November to remember (your spending)!

Share

The Connections Board of Directions have declared the month of November as track your spending month.  What does it mean to Track your spending you ask? 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, use an app on your smartphone (e.g. You Need A Budget) or follow the envelope method.  Just don’t rely solely on keeping track of your spending in your head (it never is as accurate as you think it is)! If you 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)!

Calling all Connections work site volunteers! You have set goals for your worksites in October. Now you are tracking your goals using Goal Guide! Please bookmark Goal Guide on your smart phone and remember to update your goal guide account as soon as your shift ends at your worksite! Remember it is very important to keep a record of your accomplishments that you can share with your vocational rehabilitation counselor and job developer! If you do not have a smart phone, you can still update Goal Guide at your worksite. Please make an appointment with Josh for an accommodation.

Remember, Connections has a short week this week. We have a regular schedule on Monday, November 2, Tuesday, November 3 and Wednesday, November 4. Connections will be closed on Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6. Please remember all other 4J schools and Lane Community College will be open on November 5 and 6. If you attend another 4J school or LCC, please plan on attending class on Thursday and Friday this week!

Share

Our schedule for November is a little bit crazy… you might want a planner to keep track of our schedule for November!  What is a planner you say?  A planner could be anything you use to keep track of important dates, meetings, reminders.  It could be a traditional paper planner with a calendar, it could be your electronic calendar on your computer that syncs with your cell phone (works best for me), it could even be sticky notes on your binder or fridge!  Use whatever method works best for you!  Just use something besides trying to keep all these changes in your head (never works as well as you hope it does).

Here is our schedule for the Last week in October and November:

October 26 through October 30: Normal Schedule.  All advocates, seminars and work experience take place as scheduled.

November 1: Daylight Savings Time Ends!  Don’t forget to set your clocks back 1 hour!

November 2 through November 4: Normal Schedule.  All advocates, seminars and work experience take place as scheduled.

November 5 and November 6: No Connections.  Connections staff will be at a professional development conference in Portland.  Note: Lane Community College is not Connections.  LCC will be open.  If you attend LCC, please attend LCC classes on November 5 and 6!  

November 11: All 4J schools, including Connections will be closed to observe Veteran’s Day holiday.  Lane Community College will also be closed on November 11.

November 26 and November 27: All 4J schools, including Connections will be closed to observe Thanksgiving.  Lane Community College will also be closed on November 26 and 27.

Share

Share