The Transition Times

Is there a better way to spend a spring afternoon than outside grilling?  I don’t think so… The students in Light My Fire have been grilling up a storm!  They have grilled, hot dogs, hamburgers, vegetable kabobs, pizza and chicken thighs.  Last week’s chicken thighs were really something special!  You have proven you have the skills to grill in Building 2120… now start practicing those skills at home!  Your challenge is to grill at home, take a picture and get on our Cooking Tutorial Wall of Fame!  Amaze your friends and family by cooking dinner on the grill!

Employment How students: We will be meeting at Tom Keeting’s office for class and work crew at 10 am Wednesday.  Tom’s office is located on the third floor of the Atrium Building.  The Atrium Building is located at 99 W 10th Ave.  Tom’s office is Suite 397.  Please see Josh if you have any questions.

Couch to 5k: We are now on Week 5 of our training!  Please complete the following work outs:

Week 5 work out 1:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Week 5 work out 2:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
• Walk 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)

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Can you believe how fast the year is going by?  April ends this week, and on Friday it is May… before you know it, it will be June, and Summer break will begin!  Do yourself a favor, start thinking about your summer plans now.  If you start planning now, you are guaranteed to have an amazing summer.  Start putting in applications for that summer job, plan on taking classes at LCC (summer is a great time to start because the classes will be smaller), take a class with Eugene Parks and Rec, or save money to take a trip.  Talk about your plans in advocate this week.  Tell me what you are thinking, and lets get a big list of plans on this website!

Are you thinking about attending ABSE classes at Lane Community College? You can join ABSE during the spring term! Please attend a LCC ABSE orientation at 1:00 pm on April 27 and April 28 at LCC Main Campus or 9:00 am or 5:30 pm on April 29 and April 30 at the Downtown Campus. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Caprile: Phone: 541-953-8768 or email: caprile_a@4j.lane.edu.

LCC is closed on Friday, May 1… But Connections is Open!!!  Please attend all your seminars, advocates and work experiences this week.  It will be Electrifying!

Couch to 5K.  You are scheduled to complete work outs 1 and 2 of week 4.  They are both the same:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

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DCDT stands for the Division of Career Development and Transition.  It is a national organization focused on students transiting from High School to Careers, College, Independent Living..  The DCDT Organization is organizing a HUGE conference in Portland, Oregon on November 5-7 2015.  Teachers, Transitions Specialists, University Professors and Researchers, Students and Parents from all over the United States and all over the world will be attending the DCDT conference.  And they want to hear your story!  The conference organizers are have asked students to present there experience with transition at the conference.  What works well?  What are your goals?  How are you reaching your goals?  What can schools do better to help you become prepared for adult life?  You do not have to be a current student to present at DCDT.  DCDT want to hear from Alumni as well!

If you are interested in presenting at the DCDT conference, please make an appointment to see Josh this week.  Proposals to present are due on April 30.  Josh will help you put together a proposal to present at this event.  If you are interested in attending but not presenting, there are scholarships available for you to attend.  Please see Josh, and let’s make it happen!

Couch To 5K: Your homework assignment is to complete workouts 1 and 2 for week 3.  Workouts 1 and 2 are the same: Please complete a Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:

• Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)

Remember to update goal guide when you complete your workouts.  If you complete the workout, you will be prepared for our workout on Friday!  If you have any questions, please refer to the Couch To 5K website: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml  

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Did you know that the Center for Disease Control recommends that you get at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week?  You don’t have to do 150 minutes all at once… just exercise 3 times a day for 10 minutes at a time.  What is aerobic exercise you ask?  Aerobic exercise (also called cardio) is anything that can make your heart beat faster or make you breath heavier.  It could be going on a brisk walk, walking up stairs, riding your bike, dancing, etc.  We have had some very nice days in Eugene… get outside and have some fun!  For more information join the Over The Hills and Through The Woods on Monday at 12:30 pm and/or Couch To 5K on Fridays at 1:30 pm.  The Center for Disease Control also has a fantastic website: http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html 

If you attend Couch To 5K… remember your challenge is to complete Week 2 Workouts 1 and 2.  Week 1 and 2 workouts consists of a Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternating 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for 20 minutes.  Please update goal guide after you complete your workout!

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The spring term is off to an excellent start. Attendance has been outstanding, seminars have been electrifying and students are working towards their goals. A few reminders:

1. All Couch to 5K students must make an appointment with Josh for Monday or Tuesday to set goals on Goal Guide. Your appointment should take no longer than 7 minutes.
2. We are about to begin Week 2 of the Spring Term. Your schedule may not be perfect and may need some adjustments. If you do need to change your schedule, please fill out a drop/add form that can be found in the student lounge. You will need to get your instructor’s and case manager’s signature before we can make an official schedule change.

All Morning Connections Schedule Classes will be canceled on Thursday, April 9. Instead, please attend the Career Expo Workshop at Lane Community College. The expo will feature workshops, representatives from vocational rehabilitation, and the opportunity to network with employers. The Expo will take place at Lane Community College Main Campus, Center for Meeting and Learning. Go the Expo with Connections Staff! Meet Connections Staff in the Downtown LCC Lobby at 9:15.  Ride Bus 82 at 9:30 am with Connections Staff!

For more information on the Career Expo: http://incight.org/employment/jobseekers/tapping-fresh-talent-eugene-2

Keep in mind, only Thursday AM classes are canceled on April 9. We will have a regular schedule on Thursday Afternoon. All afternoon Connections seminars, advocates and tutorials will take place as usual.

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We are back and ready for an electrifying Connections Spring Term!  Remember to be prepared for seminars… Don’t forget to bring your 3-ring binder, pencil/pen, calculator and planner!  Please make sure you dress appropriately for your seminar’s activities.  The following seminars might have special dress requirements. Please check in with the following teachers if you are enrolled in any of these seminars:

Couch to 5K: Josh

Employment: How?/Building 2120 Work Experience: Josh

Green Thumb Work Experience: Jasmin

Next Step Recycling Work Experience: Heather

Over The Hill And Through The Woods: Jasmin

Restore Work Experience: Amy

Salvation Army Work Experience: Heather and Lori

Remember, your attendance is very important.  As adults, you are expected to know your schedule and attend all of your classes.  We understand that life happens and sometimes you are running late or will be absent.  If you are late or absent, please contact the Connections Staff who is teaching your class.  If you have more than one class, you might have to make more than one phone call.  Do not send a message with a friend to tell us; we need to hear from you directly.  Below are the phone numbers you need to know:

Josh: (541) 912-3618        Lori (541) 915-8493

Desere: (541) 953-0147      Heather (541) 954-3162

Jasmin (541) 954-7133   Nick: (541) 915-4082

Amy (541) 953-8768

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We wanted to thank everyone who came to the Beach Party and made it a massive success!  A good time was had by all.  Thank you to the Plan An Event Class who organized the event, and a big thank you to those who stayed late and help clean up after it was over!

The Connections staff would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Spring Break.  Connections will resume on March 30, when our Spring Term begins!  The Connections staff will be back to work on March 30 as well.  If you have any questions before March 30, please email barbour@4j.lane.edu.

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Last Thursday, the Connections 2015 Spring Term Seminars were announced!  And they look fantastic!  Brand new classes like Raised By Wolves, Urban Survival Guide, and Over the River and Through The Woods will be taught along side Connections classics like Employment How and Play Fair.  You can now pick up a copy of our Spring Term Schedule in the Building 2120 Student Lounge.  Please make sure you have a registration time for Thursday, March 19 at Building 2120.  You will receive your Spring Term LTD bus pass on Thursday when you register for Connections Classes.

Don’t forget, the Plan An Event Beach Party will take place on Friday March 20 from 11 am to 2 pm.  And now a word from our Plan An Event promotions committee:

Iiiiiiiiit’s heeeere! That “““Beach”””* Party we’ve been talking about for a while now is right around the corner! This Friday (20th) from 11am-2pm! You’re gonna get your rocks socked off!

The Twitter account was updated with pretty much the same info, so you reading this are a step ahead of the curve.

*Heavy quotes added at the request of the Entertainment Committee

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The Eugene 4J School District wants to hear your input on what changes should be made in 4J. The 4J administration want to know what is working for students, and what needs to be changed. All Students and Families are invited to participate in a listening group from 12 pm to 1 pm Wednesday, March 11 at Educational Support Services (also known as the The Mothership). Educational Support Services is located at 200 North Monroe Street. If you are riding LTD, please take the 51 bus and get off at 1^st and Monroe Street. All Connections students are invited to share their feedback at Practice your self-advocate skills! Have a say in how our school district makes decisions!

Time flies when you are having fun.  Our Winter Term is quickly coming to an end…but not to worry, we have Spring Term right around the corner!  We will be announcing our Spring Term Schedule later this week, and let me tell you, it is going to be electrifying!  The new schedule will be announced on this site (http://blogs.4j.lane.edu/connections/) later this week

Spring Term Registration will take place on Thursday, March 19 at Building 2120.  You will attend a 20 minute meeting with Connections Staff on March 19 to register for Spring Term Classes.  Once you have a schedule, you will receive your LTD sticker that will allow you to ride LTD bus for April, May and June.  Don’t miss out, you can sign up for a Registration Time with Connections Staff all this week!

Winter Term has been amazing, and it is not over yet.  Here is our schedule for the remainder of Winter Term:

Monday, March 9 through Thursday March 12 Regular Schedule.  All Seminars, Advocates, Tutorials and Work Crews will take place as planed.

Friday, March 13: Staff In-service Day. All 4J schools are closed for staff professional development. Keep in mind, Lane Community College is not closed. If you are a LCC student, please attend class!

Monday, March 16: Regular Schedule

Tuesday, March 17: Regular Schedule (Last day of Fall Term)

Wednesday, March 18: Staff Grading Day.  No Connections Seminars, Advocates or Tutorials. Keep in mind, only Connections is closed. All other 4J schools are open on Wednesday, March 18. Lane Community College will also be open. If you are a LCC student, please attend class!

Thursday, March 19: Registration For Spring Term: No Connections Seminars, Advocates, Tutorials or Work Experience. See Connections Staff to sign up for a Registration Time Today!

Friday, March 20: Connections Beach Party! The Plan An Event Seminar has been working very hard in planning our Electrifying Beach Party! The Beach Party will take place from 11 am to 2 pm and will feature games, food and fun! Check the official twitter feed for latest updates! bit.ly/TransTweet

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The Plan An Event class has voted to move the Beach Party to March 20!  The beach party will be awesome, the class has a lot of great food, games, movies and activities planned.  You do not want to miss it!

And now a word from the Plan An Event Promotions Committee:

Due to unfortunate complications, the Beach Party is moved to the 20th. Don’t worry, it’s still the same time, same place! Alumni still invited!

Also, the Twitter account actually got updated.

bit.ly/TransTweet

Thanks right!  Same time: 11 am to 2 pm.  Same place: Building 2120.  Same price: Free.  All Alumni and Connections Students are welcome to come!  And yes, it will be electrifying!

Our twitter account is now being updated.  Twitter is a great tool to get the latest information.  You don’t need a twitter account to see the updates.  Just copy and paste the address into the navigation bar and you will be able to see all our latest tweets!

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