The Transition Times

Great news!  We have a full week this week.  All advocates, seminars, tutorials and work crews will take place as scheduled.  And, it will be electrifying!

We are very proud to announce that Connection’s Alumni Daniel Lindsey won the Oregon Association Of Vocational Special Needs Personnel Student of the Year award in Hood River Friday Night.  Daniel won the award based on his hard work and positive attitude at his position at Trader Joe’s.  We are very proud of Daniel, and we are sure we will see him at the next Alumni Afternoon!

Other good news, Brian Naghski won the Oregon Association Of Vocational Special Needs Personnel Teacher of the Year in Hood River.  Many of you know Brian from South Eugene High School!

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You may have noticed some new signs around the building… The Plan An Event Seminar has been planing a Glow In The Dark Dance on Friday March 7!  The Plan An Event Promotion Committee has written the following message:

“Come to the Glow in the Dark Dance Party and Cerebrate the Glow, on March 7th from 5:00pm-8:00pm. A can not miss event planed by our students forour students” 

Mark your planners…This not to be missed event is completely student run and studnet organized.  It should be amazing!

Don’t forget, we have a short week this week.  We will not have Connections activities on Thursday, February 20 and Friday, February 21.  Keep in mind, that LCC is not Connections, and LCC will have classes as scheduled.  What will you do with your 4-day weekend?

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Welcome back from the snow!  It has been a crazy winter so far.  Thank you for everyone being flexible and prepared.  Looks like there is rain in the forecast this week.  Make sure you are prepared by dressing appropriately for the weather!

We have some weeks with unusual scheduling ahead… Mark your planner, and be prepared!

Thursday, February 13:  No Pay To Play or Guys Group.  All other Connections Seminars, Advocates, Tutorials will take place as usual.

Monday, February 17: All 4J Schools (including Connections) are closed for President’s Day

Thursday, February 20: Connections is closed due to Staff Professional Development

Friday, February 21: Connections is closed due to Staff Professional Development

And now a word about our student lounge:

We are very happy that so many students are choosing to hang out in the lounge.  We have heard a lot of lively and fun conversations, and we are happy that so many of enjoy using the lounge.  Remember, the lounge is not a party room, is a place you can wait if you arrive early for your class.  Please remember the following facts:

1. The Student Lounge is for quiet activity.  You may read, play video games with headphones, listen to music with headphones, do homework.  You may also quietly talk to friends.

2. Be inclusive.  The lounge is for all Connections students.  Invite students that you do not know well to sit at your table. Include everyone in your conversations.  Please do not exclude anyone.

3. There are classrooms next to the lounge area.  Voices and Laughter carries throughout the building.  Student conversation and laughter have been disrupting classes

4. The lounge is a place you can wait if you arrive early for class.  You are not able to use the lounge if you are scheduled for a class at that time.  If you choose not to attend your scheduled class, you must leave the building.

5. You may listen to music with your headphones.  Please do not play music without headphones in the Transition building. Please do not sing along to music as you listen to your headphones.  It is too disruptive.

6. You do not have to wait for classes in the Transition Building.  You can wait outside, across the street at Churchill Market, wait at the Skate Park.  Please do not wait at the playground next to the skate park.  The playground is designed for children and you are an adult.

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All 4J Schools (Including Connections) have a 2 hour delay for Monday, February 10.

Connections will begin at 11:00 am on Monday, February 10.  All 9 am and 10 am classes are canceled.  Connections will have a normal day from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Connections Staff.  Travel Safe, and we will see you in the Transition Building!

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The 4J school districts has closed schools on Friday, February 7, 2014 due to hazardous weather conditions.  Connections will not be open on Friday, February 7.  All advocates, seminars and tutorials have been canceled for the day.

Enjoy your snow day, and we will see you on Monday, February 10!

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Fact: Using positive thinking is powerful.  If your mind anticipates happiness, joy and success before a task or activity, you are going to find happiness, joy and success when it is time to do that activity.  Your challenge is to try this!  Think positive thoughts as you enter class this week, I bet that you will be happier, learn more and feel better about yourself in class.  The best part is that thinking and feeling positive is contagious.  If you are positive, other people around you will be positive as well!

We have a full week this week, and it is going to be electrifying!  I am ready to be positive this week!  Are you?

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An accommodation is the process of adjusting or adapting something.  Connections is able to provide students with several classroom accommodations.  These accommodations are designed to help students with disabilities have equal access to the curriculum.

If you feel you need a Classroom accommodation, please follow the following steps:

1.Talk to your advocate.  Discuss appropriate accommodations.

2. Schedule an appointment with your case manager.  Your accommodation must be listed on your IEP.

3. Talk to each of your teachers before class about your accommodation. Make sure they know that you will be receiving the accommodation in class.  Do not wait until class begins.  You need to check in with your teacher before class.

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Your challenge this week is to set clear boundaries for yourself!  Remember, setting boundaries is determining what you feel comfortable with, and what you do not.  Think about what makes you feel good and what puts you on edge.  Recognize situations that make you feel uncomfortable, and practice saying no. Remember, you do not have to be in situations that make you feel uncomfortable!  For more information and practice, please attend Escape The Drama Seminars on Mondays at 10 am and Thursdays at 12:30 pm!

We are very lucky to have space in the new Downtown LCC Building.  Please remember to be respectful in the building.  If you arrive to class early, please be quiet as you wait at the tables outside room 107.  Noise travels very far in that building.  IF you do not think you can be quiet, please do not enter the building until it is time for class.

Great News: Amy has a new work cell phone.  Amy’s new number is: 541-953-8768

And, if you are in Mod Your Recipe: Our Recipe was a complete success!  Your flexibility and positive attitude worked, and your bars are ready to eat!  Check out your creation!  Make sure you stop by the Mock Apartment and get your bar today!

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The Connections Winter Term has begun and it has been electrifying!  Classes have been amazing!  Enthusiasm has been off the charts!  I can’t wait until this week, when we get to do it all over again!

The only think that would make it better is if everyone was prepared for class…Please remember that you need to bring your pencil/pen, 3 ring binder, calculator and planer to every class! Your planner and your calculator can be your cell phone!  

Speaking of planners… Make sure you mark your planner that all 4J schools are closed on Monday, January 20 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Lane Community College will also be closed on January 20.

Your schedule may not be perfect.  If you would like to add or drop classes, please complete the pink drop/add forms that can be found on the resource shelf in the Student Lounge.  You first must get the signature of the staff that teaches the class you would like to add or drop.  You then must get your case managers signature.

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We hope everyone had a restful winter break.  Connections’ Winter Term begins on Tuesday, January 7!  We have great things in store for Winter Term, and we are very excited to get things rolling again!  Hold on to your hats, this is going to be the best winter term yet!  It might even be the best term yet!

This Just In: Friday’s Community Challenge and Monday’s Girl’s Group will take place in the New Downtown Lane Community College Building.  Please meet in the lobby of the New Downtown Lane Community College Building at 1:30 pm on Friday for Community Challenge and 2 pm on Monday for Girls Group.  We will then walk together to the classroom.  If you get there early, please be respectful of the classes that are in session and keep your voice at a low volume.

More Software Testing Opportunities:

Researchers from the University of Oregon are back to test more software! They are looking for 5 software testers on Thursday January, 9 from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.  Please see Josh if you are interested in participating.  It is a great opportunity, take advantage while it is here!

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