The Transition Times

Great news! We have a normal schedule this week! All seminars, advocates, tutorials and work experience will take place as scheduled. We are back at Lane Community College Downtown Campus. Remember, Tuesday Classes take place in Room 104, Thursday Classes take place in room 310!

It’s a big week this week! Lane Community College Classes begin on September 29! Employment Success will begin on September 30!

Make sure you have a 3-ring binder with dividers!  You need a place to store your materials you receive in class.  You will need to bring last week’s readings and work to class this week.  A great place to store these materials is in your 3-ring binder.  Several students have been asking me to hold their work for them.  I am no longer able to do this.  As adults, you are expected to hold on to all materials and bring them to class.  If you do not have a 3-ring binder, please talk to your advocate; Connections may be able to provide one for you.  If you do not have an advocate time, please see your case manager to schedule an advocate time!

The Cooking Tutorial Wall of Fame is looking for pictures!  If you cook something at home, please take a picture of yourself holding your delicious creation!  We will be very excited to hang your picture on our wall! We are looking for our first Cooking Tutorial Wall of Fame Picture for the 2014-2015 school year!

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We have a slight change in our schedule this week.  Lane Community College is closed on Thursday, September 25 for their Fall In-service.  The downtown building where many Thursday Classes take place will be locked.  But that will not stop Connections!  Mark Your Planners!  Most Thursday Classes that usually meet at Downtown LCC will meet in the Transition Building!  Here are the Room Assignments for Thursday (note: Classes that usually meet in the Transition Building On Thursday will meet in their normal locations.  Those classes are not on this list):

10 am – 12 pm Map It: Green Room

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Budget: Blue Room

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: The Right Choice: Green Room

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Guys’ Group: Green Room

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Girls’ Group: Meet in front of Downtown LCC

Note: Girls’ group will not meet in the Transition Building.  Girls’ Group will meet in front of Downtown LCC.

A reminder about Tobacco/Vaping Use:

Connections Students are over the age of 18 and are legally able to purchase tobacco and nicotine products.  Examples of tobacco/nicotine products are (but are not limited to): cigarettes, cigars, e cigarettes, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco/dip, smokeless tobacco, nicotine gum.

If you choose to use tobacco and/or nicotine products, you must use these products off 4J campus.  You may use these products in the DS Market parking lot.  Some e cigarettes do not contain nicotine; all e cigarettes need to be consumed off of 4J property.

Some Connections seminars and activities take place off campus.  We have several seminars that take place in the community. Students are unable to use tobacco or nicotine products when participating in a Connections event.  We follow the same rules and guidelines in the community that we do in our buildings.

Using tobacco and nicotine products carry many adverse heath risks.  We do not encourage the use of these products.  We will connect you to the appropriate support if you choose to stop using tobacco and/or nicotine.

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Connections Seminars, Advocates, Tutorials and Work Experience begin this week.  Please make sure you are prepared for class.  Every Connections student needs to bring a three ring binder, pens and/or pencils, a calculator and a planner to class every day.  Your planner does not have to be a traditional planner.  It can be a cell phone, sticky notes, or something more creative.  Find a system that works for you!  If you can not bring these items, please talk to the Connections Staff.  We can help you!

News Flash: Employment Success will begin on Tuesday, September 30.  We will not have Employment Success on Tuesday, September 16 or Tuesday, September 23. 

We understand that sometimes you might need to be absent from class.  You might become ill, have a doctor’s appointment, have a circumstance where you might be out of town, or be abducted by aliens.  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 (we are not all located in the same building each day).  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

Heather (541) 954-3162   Amy (541) 953-8768

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

Desere: Phone Coming Soon!

Remember, Connections is flexible!  If you need to change your schedule in any way, just make an appointment with Connections staff, and we will make those changes!  We are there to work with you!

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Connections Orientation will begin on Monday, September 8 at 12:30 pm!  The staff and I just finished planning orientation, and it looks like it will be a lot of fun.  Orientation will take place from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm on Monday and Tuesday.  Students will sign up for a Fall Term Registration meeting on Wednesday.  The registration meeting will be 20-30 minutes.  Students that attend orientation on Monday and Tuesday will have first opportunity to register for fall term classes.  Students who are not able to attend orientation will have the opportunity to register for classes on Thursday, September 11 and Friday, September 12.  All registration meetings will take place in the Transition Building.

Students who have a fall term schedule will receive a fall term LTD bus pass sticker.  The sticker will give you unlimited access to LTD buses in September, October, November and December.  Retuning students are able to put a new sticker on last year’s Connections ID.  If you are a new Connections Student, or you lost your ID, you will need to make an appointment with Lori Arnold or Nick Moore to get a ID at Eugene Station.  Your ID will cost $3 (you will need to pay LTD).

Our Fall Term schedule has been released!  The schedule looks amazing. We have Art of Giving, What Are You Going To Do With Your Life, I Lost My Keys, King of the Castle and much more.  Please click on the link that says 2014 Fall Term, and start planning your schedule today!

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The wait is over and the 2014-2015 school year is about to begin!  Connections is back, and we are getting ready for an exciting (and electrifying) school year!  We are looking forward to working with all of you!

We would like to welcome Desere Doan as a new Connections Teacher for the 2014-2015 school year!  Welcome Desere, we are looking forward to working with you!  Josh Barbour and Jasmin Quitta-Vetro will also be Connections teachers, Lori Arnold with be the Connections Transition Specialist, and Heather Williams and Amy Caprile will be Connections Instructional Assistance.  Nick Moore, Terry Falkenstern, Mary Jo Erickson, Tyler Tjernlund and Johnna Shotridge will also work with Connections Students as 4J Transition Specialist.  We would like to congratulate Cathy Meyer on her retirement, and thank her for her years of teaching in Connections.  You will be missed this year Cathy!

We have some exciting plans for Connections for the 2014-2015 school year.  You are going to like it!  We would like to encourage all new and returning students to attend one of our Information Meetings.  Connections Information Meetings will take place on Wednesday, September 3 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Thursday, September 4 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  Both information meetings will take place at the Transition Building located at 2120 Bailey Hill Road (formally the Pathfinder Building).  The Connections Staff will present the same information at both meetings, please attend the meeting that best fits your schedule.

Connections Student Orientation will take place on September 8, 9 and 10 (times TBA).  Both new and returning students are encouraged to attend orientations.   The student orientation will be three half days and will provide students with the opportunity to get to know staff and peers, become familiar with expectation and set personal goals.  Students will also have the opportuity to register for Connections Fall Term seminars, advocates and activities.  Students who attend orientation will receive a Fall Term LTD Bus pass.  But don’t worry, we are flexible!  If you can not attend student orientation, we will be holding make up orientation sessions on September 11 and 12.

Connections Fall Term will begin on Monday, September 15 when we begin our weekly seminars and advocate sessions.  Seminars and Advocates will take place at the Transition Building and Lane Community College.

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We would like to thank everyone for a fantastic 2013-2014 school year.  Students should be very proud of the progress they made this year, you all came a very long way!

Looking for something to do this summer?  The City of Eugene Parks and Recreation Division offers some outstanding summer programing.  They are offering a limited number of scholarships; once you are accepted, they will pay  50-75% of your fees (up to 150% for the year). Here is a link to their scholarship application:
https://www.eugene-or.gov/FormCenter/Recreation-Services-5/Recreation-Scholarship-Application-FY15-275

Here is a link to the Parks and Recreation Summer Guide: http://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?NID=132 I learned how to Stand Up Paddleboard through Parks and Recreation a few years ago, and it was fun!  I strongly encourage you to take advantage!

Cathy, Jasmin and I have been meeting to plan the 2014-2015 school year.  We have some amazing activities planned for you next year.  It will be legendary!  Here are some important dates:

Wednesday, September 3 and Thursday, September 4: Connections Information Sessions.

Monday, September 8 to Wednesday, September 10: Connections Orientation.  Note: All students (new and returning) are strongly encouraged to attend Orientation.

Monday, September 14: First day of Fall Term!

If you have any questions this summer, please email me: barbour@4j.lane.edu.  See you in September!

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The Connections Moving On Celebration took place on Tuesday, June 10 at The Campbell Center and it was a huge success!  Thank you to all the family, friends and Connections alumni who came to celebrate the achievements of our amazing students.  The Connections staff is very proud your accomplishments; we look forward to keeping in touch with you and hearing of your success to come!

Congratulations to Amanda, Ashlie, Bill, Brie, Kaylee, Leo, Max, Nick, Nova, Pamela, Sasha, Schuyler, Todd and Zeb.   You all will be sorely missed!  We would like to thank Nick, Amanda and Schuyler for their amazing and moving speeches.  We would also like to thank Connections Alumni Hailey and Kyle for being a part of our celebration and introducing our students.  The Connections staff was honored to celebrate with all of you last night.  We wish you best of luck in the future!

So come celebrate with us one last time!  As you know, the last seminar, advocate and work crew will take place on Friday, June 13… but as the Cat in the Hat says, that is not all, oh no, that is not all.  We still have Connections Activities on Monday, June 16 and Tuesday, June 17.  And yes, Alumni are welcome!

Here is the schedule for June 16 and June 17:

Monday, June 16: Connections Goes To Putters!

12:30 pm: Meet at The New Downtown LCC Building

1:00 pm: Get on Bus 41 (Bay F)

1:20 pm: Arrive at Putters.  Play Golf, have fun!  Connections will pay for first round of Golf for students who attended Connections during the 2013-2014 school year (Sadly Connections is not able to pay for Alumni).  Connections does not have the ability to pay for food, video games, laser tag, etc.  

3:03 pm: Get on Bus 43 back to Eugene Station

3:25 pm: Arrive at Eugene Station: Dismissed!

Tuesday, June 17: BBQ at Transition Building

12:00 pm: Meet at At Transition Building

Enjoy, free food, board games, outside games, movie, video games!

3:00 pm: Dismissed

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Time flies when you are having fun!  I can not believe the end of the school year is almost here.  The key word is almost.  We still have outstanding events and activities planned for the end of the school year.  The schedule is below!  You don’t want to miss it, it is electrifying!

Monday, June 2 to Friday, June 13: Normal Schedule.  All seminars advocates and tutorials will take place as scheduled.

Tuesday, June 10: Moving On Celebration: Location: Campbell Community Center 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Friday, June 13: Last Seminar and Advocate for the Spring Term

Monday, June 16: Connections is Going to Putters!  Time and Meeting Place TBA.

Tuesday, June 17: Connections End of the School Year BBQ with food and games.  Alumni Welcome!  11 am to 2 pm.  Location: Transition Building

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I hope everyone had a fantastic Memorial Day!  The weather seems to be almost perfect each day. Put down that video game controller and go outside!  Is there anything more perfect than an Oregon Summer?  I don’t think so!

As you already know, the Moving On Ceremony will take place on June 10 at the Campbell Center.   Please remember the Moving On Celebration is special; every year, I wear a tie.  Make sure you wear Appropriate Attire to Moving On! What is “Appropriate Attire” you ask?  It means wearing clothes that you would wear to an interview!  Think, Dress for Success!  Guys, please wear khaki or dark pants and a collared shirt (no blue jeans please).  Girls, please wear pants or knee length dresses with sleeves (no tank tops please).  Most importantly, make sure your clothes are clean and smell good.  If you need assistance finding appropriate attire, please ask Connections staff.  We would love to help you!

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I would like to thank everyone for attending the Mix It Up Assembly last week.  The Mix It Up was a huge success and a good time was had by all!  I would especially like to thank  Kyle and Nicole for their amazing speeches and telling us what life is like after Connections.

Congratulations to Bill Grimwood!  Bill will be receiving a Turnaround award on Wednesday.  The Turnaround Award Program is sponsored by Colleen Belotti that recognizes students from all over Eugene who have overcome great obstacles and achieve their goal.  Congratulations Bill!  We are all very proud of you in Connections!  Way to go!

Mark your planner!  We will have no school on Monday, May 26 in honor of Memorial Day!  All 4J programs are closed on Monday, May 26.  Enjoy your 3-day weekend!  What will you do with your time?  Note: Friday, May 23 is a school day…  In the beginning of the year, Friday, May 23 was a Furlough Day.  However, 4J added that day back on the calendar to make up for the days missed in December and February due to snow.

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