IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Spring 2016

S P E C I A L E D U C AT I O N Special Education Written By: Vanessa Strassner C ITSC YO HO F MC O L KE DI ST ES RI POR C TTNE NEWS WS cKeespor tBorough rentwood The vision of the Pittsburgh Cares grant, which is part of the HandsOn Network affiliate located in Pittsburgh, is to engage members of the community to impact populations and stimulate change. This was a grant initiative that was instituted last school year as part of the District’s goal in addressing mental health needs within the student body. Students focused on social responsibility, community, impact, sustainability, and collaboration as part of the task to look at mental health issues and how to address them within the context of the school day. Due to the overwhelming interest in the grant ideals, 20 new students were trained this year with a total of 40 students in high school who will assist with the grant projects this year. Last year the students worked on creating a collaborative culture through modified lunch schedules, beautifying the school grounds, working with the school garden club to build school spirit, and to create awareness of mental health and to stop the stigma. This year the students are focusing on holding a bake sale to share the proceeds with a local group working with those with mental illness, holding an Amazing Race where an obstacle course in gym class p rovides stations that provide information on mental health, holding a basketball game shoot out for students while teaching about mental health statistics, and sponsoring a ball pit in the ACR. The ball pit would join students together in the pit where they would answer ice breaker questions regarding mental health awareness concepts. Overall, the students want to build on the framework started last year of student awareness and acceptance so that the message of change is heard by more individuals. Special Education Written By: Vanessa Strassner Transition can be challenging for students as they move throughout their day and school career. One of the ways that the PA Department of Education, the United Way, and other local and state stakeholders have assisted students and families in this process is the development of the Secondary Transition Guide and Planning for the Future Checklist. This guide provides supports in the areas of employment, health, community living, recreation, post-secondary education and financial supports and services. The guide encourages students to practice navigating the path to adulthood by setting personal goals for post-secondary training and education, employment, and independent living. To further define the areas that students should ask questions about, the Planning for the Future Checklist was developed. This checklist begins at the start of age 14 and becomes part of the dialogue shared during Individualized Educational Planning meetings. The goal is to encourage student engagement and investment in the planning process. The checklist encourages students to meet with agency and school supporters, take time to talk about information learned from any assessments about their personal abilities & interests, ask about accommodations and technology that can be used to meet school, work & other life goals, use the IEP to create the right goals to help get ready for life after high school (transition), and to build on what was started the year before. For more information on the Planning for the Future Checklist, The Pennsylvania Secondary Transition Guide or to explore in more detail the transition process please click on the Brentwood Borough School District website under the special education tab and the specific transition links. 92 92 Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall

IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Spring 2016 | Page 94