2013 Christmas Party Recap

December 17, 2013 WCS Transition II programs from each high school in the county gathered for a great time to celelbrate the holidays and Christmas. The students really enjoyed getting together and seeing their peers and get a chance to socialize together. The party included dancing, food, crafts and this year Independence hosted a prop photo booth with a Christmas theme. Everyone was able to stand infront of a fireplace scene (Santa stuck in the fireplace) and hold Christmas theme props on a stick  to add extra holiday cheer. All of our students had a great time. They really enjoyed the dancing and photo booth.
All of us here at IHS Transition II program want to wish each of you a great and joyous holiday season this year!

As the saying goes...A picture is worth a thousands words...so here's a bunch of pictures to fill in those words...Happy Holidays!!!

New Job Site for 2013

Independence High School Transition II program: New Job Site for 2013

  This semester one of our students, Jose Cantu, began work at a new job sites to the Williamson County School District this year;  Embassy Suites in Franklin, TN. WCS and Transition II programs are excited to add Embassy Suites to the growing list of great businesses throughout our county that are supporting our students by providing them with real world job experiences. This semester we work at Tractor Supply, Our Thrift Store, Embassy Suites,  and WCS Central Office.

Jose's job responsibilities at Embassy Suites include House keeping, Banquet services and facilities services.
Jose really enjoys working at Embassy Suites and the people that he works with each day. For now, Jose works there two days a week. We asked Jose how he likes his new job "It's cool, it's the best!" What is his favorite job at Embassy Suites, "Towels, cleaning and stocking chips and water."

The one thing that we always see when Jose returns from work each day at Embassy Suites is a big smile!

 

Thoughts for the New Year

IHS Transition II class and teachers

IHS Transition Teachers, Marie Wicks, Maria Griego

Dr. Jay Whitlow and Lauren Huffmaster

 

 

Thoughts for Christmas

 

I would like to take a minute to reflect on the WCS Transition II program.  In honor of the new year, I think it is important for us to reflect upon the successes of this year.

Yesterday there was a gathering of about 75 students, teachers, families, and community members.  The schools worked together to provide music, a photo booth, crafts and presents for everyone. 

As I looked around, I saw students with significant needs, students with severe behaviors, students with intellectual disabilities, and physical disabilities all on the dance floor smiling, laughing, dancing and singing.  The students found friends on the dance floor that they may not have ever met before.  Everyone was happy, everyone seemed at peace. 

In the past two years I have attended many of these types of parties and I don't remember one "melt down" or major incident occurring.  Among friends and peers we see the best in our students.  When attending such events we see our students' joy and laughter, their desire to participate.  We see them for their abilities. 

As we move forward in our year, we will find ourselves dealing with difficulties, in those moments I hope we can remember our successes and the purposes held before us. 

In my class, I recognize a significant decrease in negative behaviors this year.  This is a major success!  The students, the families, the administration, and the teachers around my students did not give up!  We believed in one another, worked as a team and are now seeing major results.  It took time but our efforts make a difference.

Last week we started a new job placement with some of my more difficult to place students.  These students have great strengths to offer but there are issues that keep them from finding employment.  At this new job site, I saw focus, excitement, and productivity like I have not seen before from this group of students.  On their first day at this job site these students felt successful!  I love this.  This is what Transition II is all about. 

To the outside observer walking into my class, the students may only seem to be working on crafts or playing on the computer.  When I look at my class, I see a group of individuals learning to work together.  I see students increasing their ability to focus over an extended period of time.  I see students learning how to express themselves and what is important to them through a blog and personal journals.  I hear students learning how to advocate for themselves and make themselves heard in appropriate ways.  I see students thriving in a community when only last year that same community seemed scary and overwhelming. 

There are so many successes I have observed this year, so many reasons to be thankful.  As you reflect on your year I hope that you also will find growth and joy in the lives of those who surround you.

 

--LH

 

 

Today     in  the  morning   we go to  clean  the  Table

We  Cooking    Carmel Popcorn for  Christmas Party at the  AX Center  today  we have  fun today at the christmas party we  Did at  the  christmas party   we   have lot  dacning

we  eat lunch   we have a great  today

Today       we  Did  in the morning go to  I   do  the Mail  with

  Jose and Coach chad  and Nila    we  do   put the mail in  Teacher  mailbox.

      we have a store  call   the  coffee  shop   in   IHS

we have    at the   coffee  shop     is  Ice  Coffee and  Hot tea

and  hot cocoa  too

 

Community Outing: Christmas Shopping

The past couple of weeks the IHS Transition II students have been learning about spending money and how to save money through the use of coupons found in the newspaper, social media sites, and websites. Then they figure out items they would like to buy for parents, siblings, and/or friends. Each student made a list of items and the stores at the Coolsprings mall that they would shop at before they went to the mall. Today, we all checked our list twice to see if Mom, Dad and siblings were nice. We headed out to the Coolsprings Galleria to do our shopping. These students did an excellent job with finding great deals on many different stores. Each student was able to purchase great gifts for their family members. No parents we won't tell you what you got for gifts either, HA!

Also, some of our staff and students had a little fun with their shopping like Jordan. A little ride on the mall carousel and hanging out with the big guy himself; Santa Claus. Jordan knows all the important people. He has all the big time friends. Jordan make sure the big guy has us all on the nice list, please!

Also, Today the IHS Transition II students and staff really found themselves diving into the Christmas and Holiday spirit with making the props for the photo/prop booth.  They are working on a Photo/Prop booth for our upcoming Transition II County wide Holiday party. To kick it off the students and staff made the props for the photo booth and had a little fun with the props as well. Just 19 days away from the big guy showing up with gifts for all us  that are on the nice list.....Happy Holidays from IHS T2 students and staff!

 .

Today     we Did  in The Morning   go to   clean  the    tabel

 and The  windeo    The Bus frongt   put  us up       favorite   go to Downtown Frankiln 

     we go in the morning    to the  coffee  shop   get  coffee and  hot   Tea      and apple  cried 

 Today    we Did  in the    go  to  clean  the  table  8:15     we  going on the   Bus

we  go to   drop  Jose  at the  hotel in  cool  spring

 we   going  to    Sam's  Club  to  shopping  for   Mrs.  Dawn Bunch  Coffee    shop in   school  IHS    we   not have  enough  time  go  to walmart  Today

we work on the   Christmas List  Today

 

 

 

Our Work at Tractor Supply

On Monday, a few of our students worked at Tractor Supply Co in Thompson's Station. The students help with organizing the clothes, boots, dust along with fronting and labeling all products throughout the store.

Here's Jose organizing all the men's shirts by size and color. All shirts are to be placed by light colors to dark on the racks.

Kaylea working at tractor supply. She is really enjoying dusting the display racks.

 

 Nila sorting the clothes by size at Tractor Supply Co. Each student did a fantastic job with their assignments yesterday. They all seemed to enjoy the job. We even ate our lunches in the breakroom just like the employees do. Afterwards we went to the Longview Rec Center to workout. It was a great day.

 

Thanksgiving Lunch - Recap

All of us in IHS Transition II program hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family this past week.
What a great Thanksgiving lunch we had just before the break. Thank you to everyone that attended the celebration. The students and staff had really had a great time with each of you at our celebration. The staff also enjoyed getting the opportunity to talk with you and share in some great food that our students prepared. It was delicious!



Thank you to all the students that prepared the food. Thank you to Coach Vic Wharton for the great music as well.


 Preston enjoyed the food as well and the good times with friends and family.

Jose and his family enjoying our time together.

 Jordan's family and friends were here in the celebration. Did we mention the food was delicious!

 Nila and Mrs. Defatta having a great time at the Thanksgiving lunch.

Thank you to our Transition II leaders for coming to the Thanksgiving lunch as well.

Coach Gates meeting with Jordan's grandparents and relating to them the wonderful job that Jordan does in the program.













Coach Vic provided the music entertainment with some great guitar playing.

One special extra event at the Thanksgiving lunch was our Christmas fundraiser; Premier Jewlery. If you would like more information about our Premier jewlery fundraiser please contact Mrs. Huffmaster. They make wonderful Christmas presents!