Blog

The evening will begin with an informational meeting from 5-6 p.m. in the conference room. This is an opportunity for parents/guardians to share with Ms. Ward, Director of Education, you thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for improving our school. Then parents/guardians/cottage staff can follow the student schedule, attending mini informational classroom sessions for 7 minutes each. We will begin the morning homeroom at 6 p.m. and end the day with 8th period at 7 p.m. From 7-7:30 p.m. we will have an Open House Reception with refreshments in the gauntlet.

Please plan to join us on Thursday, October 3, 2019 for our Villa of Hope School Open House. We invite parent/guardians, cottage staff, and students to attend.

We look forward to hosting our families and students. See you here!

It is bittersweet to see Mandell cottage close…but we know our residents at Mandell will be starting a new chapter in their lives, we are so proud of them.

Join us on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 1:15 p.m. in the Villa of Hope School Gymnasium. Teams are forming, practices underway, and good sportsmanship building as we speak. Support your team…support our students and staff!

Following the games…we will enjoy refreshments in celebration. See you there!

We are champions of breakfast at Villa of Hope School. Join us in celebrating school breakfast programs on September 25, 2019. We feature breakfast every morning, personally served by our curriculum specialists. On September 25, 2019 we will feature some different breakfast items to grab and go, along with giving our special sunglasses, pencils, cell phone card holders, and stickers.

Villa of Hope School is full of CHAMPIONS…now bringing awareness to New York State Breakfast Programs. #SchoolBreakfastNY!

The Safe Zone Club is a group of clients and staff who meet every other week to teach and discuss ways to support and embrace our LGBTQ+ community.  We communicate within the Villa of Hope agency and outside in our community. We share experiences and communicate how allies of the LGBTQ+ can support our clients and staff.

Our vision is to teach and work together with staff and peers on appropriate ways to interact, give back to our community, and create a safe environment for our clients and staff.

We have hosted speakers to talk with our Safe Zone Club participants, we hold fundraisers annually to give back to the Center For Youth, and we have built stronger relationships within the Villa of Hope agency.

Our goal is to continue our program and to teach our clients and staff by sponsoring activities, hosting meetings, inviting speakers in, and leading open discussions.

We average 20 clients and 15 staff at each meeting, many of which also participated in the Pride Parade.

Come join us, everyone is welcome!

We continue to advocate for support of 853 schools throughout New York State, and amongst our local legislators. The support from NYSED is also critical to our success!

School opens for professional development days with staff on September 3, 2019 and September 4, 2019. Students will begin the new school year on September 5, 2019.

We look forward to welcoming staff and students back to school.

Our theme will be to:

DREAM Big

Take RISKS

BELIEVE

Together we can make a difference, one student at a time, one family at a time!

Meet and Greet

Date: August 12, 2019

Time: 5:30 PM

Facilitator: Mrs. Ward, Director of Education

In Attendance

Mrs. Ward, Director of Education

Ms. Race, Assistant Principal

Ginger Calberg, Social Worker

Gavin Theofield, Social Worker

Ruth Swartswelder, Social Worker

Cheri King, Social Worker

Kerri Wemett, Social Worker

Twelve (12) Parent/Family Members

Mrs. Ward opened with introduction of all present.

Mrs. Ward shared the visual poster with the 12 talking points presented to the students in school. Each talking point described in detail with a focus on the goal of the meeting: Leave here tonight feeling we are all in this together.

Mrs. Ward shared the process leading up to tonight’s meeting since the start of her role as Director three weeks ago, inclusive of all staff.  Two team model with a focus on the following:

1. Transitions
2. Open Communication
3. Teams
4. Supports

Mrs. Ward shared the process in which students will be placed will be done strategically in collaboration with teams of staff to determine the fit most effective for each student. Priorities in order of:

1. Safety needs
2. Support and social/emotional needs
3. Academic needs

Parent questions and conversation regarding the timing and the feeling that this process is being rushed, is this NYSED driven and questioning the need to hire more staff. Mrs. Ward assured transparency and the fact that she always does what is best for students and in keeping with the momentum combining the programs is the next step. NYSED has given direction to operate under the premise of one school and that this has been in the process for the past two years.

Parents collaboratively agreed that there has been a lack of communication regarding this over the past two years. Mrs. Ward reassured transparency and collaboration moving forward. Hiring staff will take place as necessitated to offer additional courses and provide additional social/emotional supports.

Parent questions and conversation regarding the program specifics and needs being met of the scholars rather than the adult. Mrs. Ward stated that the students within each program have been integrated already throughout the summer school. Safety and social/emotional needs are being met and strategic team placement will continue as we progress forward.

Parent concern and conversation regarding the loss of the Avalon “school”.  Mrs. Ward recognized the philosophy that students come 1^st will remain the same and continual growth on the strengths of what the school already has in place.

Conversation regarding the home districts and CSE process and the Social Worker caseload changing. Mrs. Ward shared that all districts were made aware as well of programs integrating into one and offered to reach out personally if parents wanted her to.  SW caseloads will not change and the students they currently have will remain the same, small teams will remain in effect.

Parents asked for a more descriptive idea of the two team model. Mrs. Ward detailed the model:

1. Separating staff throughout the building into teams to eliminate the extra transitions
2. Team approach by floor
3. Support staff will be placed throughout the building
4. Students will be strategically scheduled by grade level and social/emotional needs

Parent questioned the following of current IEP’s.  Parents shared a current model in a public school that has a program built into the school that is specific to meeting the therapeutic needs of the students. Mrs. Ward stated that all IEP’s will continue to be followed and students needs will continue to be met with the integration of programs.

Parent shared that her son has been integrated this summer with other programs and has been very happy and successful. Other parents agreed that there are strengths in the integration of all three programs into one, however the timing is still of concern.  

Mrs. Ward shared a few of the comments made by students both positive as well as concerns during the student meetings. The idea of a student led group was acknowledged by Mrs. Ward and parents encouraged the idea as well.

All staff at the Villa of Hope receive TCI Training; there will also be refreshers and additional training provided.

Feedback: Ongoing / what type? Discussion led to schedule another meeting with families/parents a few weeks into the school year. Mrs. Ward will coordinate.

Social Workers will communicate with parents the class groupings once they are established. Mrs. Ward shared her cell phone number encouraging contact with any questions/comments/discussion at any time.

6:50 PM Meeting Adjourned