A big thanks and shout out to

for always being hard working, motivated, willing to try new assignments.... and recently for helping out by volunteering on short notice to fill in for an absent student worker at our new worksite at the Metropolitan Learning Center in Bloomfield where he shredded documents.  Very cool!

Posting student images

If you do not see video or photos of your child working posted but would like to do so, please contact me at jtyner@crec.org to update your child's Photo Permission Form.

New from Science News for Kids

Four-winged dinosaur

Hind wings helped a small dino make tight turns in midair

The Dog House

We have a new community based worksite, The Dog House, located in Manchester, serving as an additional site for delivering shredding on a weekly basis for use as pet bedding.

Hard at work in the Campus Work Center

Working hard at McCarthy Concrete

Working hard at Faith Lutheran Church

Working hard at the Glastonbury Harvey & Lewis Opticians

Working hard at Shell

Science News for Kids

Building Stonehenge

A new study of ancient crops may identify the laborers behind Britain’s most famous stone monument

Science News for Kids

Making rocks into magnets

Lab experiments show how certain types of stones can morph into magnets

More from Science News for Kids

Learning in your sleep

Sleeping people can be taught to make connections between sounds and smells 

Interesting from Science News for Kids

Tiny fossil tells big tale

Scientists use a single finger bone from ancient, humanlike Denisovans to study their connection to modern people and Neandertals

New to the Vocational Program

has been eager to get started, joined the formal Vocational Program at the beginning of September, and is doing a great job in the Campus Work Center.  Programming is expanding to include independent campus mobile tasks and community work assignments.  Great start!

Spot Light: Student of the Summer

Eddy C

10th year Voc. Dept. student

Favorite job: delivering shredding to the West Hartford Puppy Center

I'm really good at: helping my co-workers load the van and unload the shredding.

I've made a lot of progress in: staying on-task, helping others, talking about problems before I get really upset.

Something interesting about me: I'm a helper.  I like to help staff.  I like directing traffic and being a monitor.  I have been doing very well over the past few months.  I'm happy.

Welcome Back!

The Vocational Dept. staff extend a warm welcome to all our returning students and their families.  We are looking forward to another great year.

2011-2012 Vocational Department Awards

Congratulations to our June 2012 awardees:

Rachael C:  Most Consistent Campus Worker

Fumi F:  Mastery of All work Center Bench Assignments

Kevin B:  Successful Independent Campus Mobile Work

Artie J:  Successful Extended Transition at FAVARH

Yeoan G:  Most Improved Campus Worker

Zac W:  Most Improved Community Worker

Chris C:  Most Motivated Community Worker

Pat R:  Best All-Around Campus Mobile Worker

Rachel D:  Increased Attendance and Participation

DJ:  Most Professional Community Worker, Increased Customer Assistance at Big Y

Steven P: Successful Transition to Increased Work Schedule

Jeremy M: Strongest Work Focus in Campus Bench Work

Anna P:  Increased Task Ability in Campus Bench Work

Maggie W:  Most Supportive of Fellow Students at Community Worksites

Sean T:  Increased Maturity and Work Focus

Maggie W:  Increased Productivity

Kevin B:  Increased Productivity

Chris C: Increased Productivity

Rachael C:  Increased Productivity

New for the summer

The Country Diner in Enfield has been added to our community worksite opportunities for the summer.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to our June 2012 Graduates.  The Vocational Department wishes you all the best as you move forward and hopes that you will stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.

New from Science News for Kids

FOR KIDS: Cool Jobs: Like Mother Nature
Scientists observe what works best for animals, plants in efforts to build better products
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/339836/title/FOR_KIDS_Cool_Jobs_Like_Mother_Nature

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FOR KIDS: Cool Jobs: Wide world of robots
The machines can help with everything from surgery to disaster response
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/341055/title/FOR_KIDS_Cool_Jobs_Wide_world_of_robots

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FOR KIDS: How creativity powers science
Some of the best ideas come not from poring over the facts but from a walk in the woods
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/341056/title/FOR_KIDS_How_creativity_powers_science

A nice article from our Faith Lutheran worksite

Student of the Month

is doing a Great Job collecting the office white paper from the Main Building and the Annex independently.  Great Job of being polite and getting the work done quietly!

New from Science News for Kids

FOR KIDS: Animal buddies

Humans aren’t the only animals that benefit from friends
Joan Silk, UCLA

 

Congratulations!

to Pat R.  He has settled in to his daily math class at MLC and has an excellent job in a short period of time of establishing his reputation as an excellent student.   As a result, staff at MLC have reached out to expand Pat's participation with the addition of a independent science study project as well as an invitation to attend MLC's Career Fair.

Congratulations!

to two of our new vocational students who were promoted to the community based work program this week.

Congratulations!

to Artie J who continues to participate successfully 2 mornings a week at FAVARH as a part of his transition plan.  Artie is one of River Street School's 12 June 2012 Graduates, and one of 8 who will be leaving as graduates of the Vocational Department.

New from Science News for Kids

FOR KIDS: Flipping icebergs
Capsizing icebergs may release as much energy as a bomb
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/339846/title/FOR_KIDS_Flipping_icebergs

New from Science News for Kids

FOR KIDS: Squeeze power
Under pressure, plastics produce energy
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/339577/title/FOR_KIDS_Squeeze_power

FOR KIDS: Dino drama
Scientists study skulls to determine whether Triceratops and Torosaurus were two different species
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/339580/title/FOR_KIDS_Dino_drama

New from Science News for Kids

Early toehold on land
A five-toed fossil now holds the record for smallest, oldest foot ever found
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/339480/title/FOR_KIDS_Early_toehold_on_land

Twist and shake
A new look at the shape of the San Andreas Fault suggests future earthquakes may be stronger than previously thought
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/339483/title/FOR_KIDS_Twist_and_shake

New from Science News for Kids

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/03/ancient-flower-blooms-again/

A Big Welcome

to our newest workers:

Student of the Month

Rachel D

1st year Voc. Dept. student:  joined us in July 2011

Favorite job: disassembly tasks

I'm really good at: liking to try new assignments.

I've made a lot of progress in: working with less help from staff.

Something new I'm doing: working without classroom staff sitting with me

Congratulations!

to Pat R, one of the Vocational Department's newest students, for being accepted into the 8th Grade Algebra class at CREC's Metropolitan Learning Center in Bloomfield, CT, just a 10 minute ride from River Street School.  Pat will be attending the class daily and began on Friday, March 2.  Congratulations also to Pat's teacher, Debbie, for  her hard work in creating this opportunity for Pat.

New from Science News for Kids

Flashes of light on the moon’s surface come from cooling, superhot liquid
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/338377/title/FOR_KIDS_Moon_twinkles

Blood vessels in dog paws keep their temperature just right
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/338237/title/FOR_KIDS_No_frostbite_for_dogs

Planet hunters have found hundreds of exoplanets, but none just like Earth
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/338639/title/FOR_KIDS_Worlds_beyond_the_solar_system

An interesting article from Science News for Kids

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/02/a-ghost-lake/

Check out National Geographic

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

We've also added the site to our "Important Links" list (right hand side of our home page).

Check out National Geographic for Kids

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

We've also added the site to our "Important Links" list (right hand side of our home page).

Team work: a great way to stay focused

New from Science News for Kids

FOR KIDS: Electronic skin
Tiny, nearly invisible devices stick to skin, ‘talk’ to computers
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/337743/title/FOR_KIDS_Electronic_skin


FOR KIDS: The brain behind the game
Top athletes watch and learn from their teams, coaches and opponents
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/337716/title/FOR_KIDS_The_brain_behind_the_game

New community assignment cycle coming up soon

The next cycle of community worksite assignments will begin on Thursday, January 19, 2012.  Notices to parents should be on their way by Friday, January 13.

Our current enrollment and particpation

We currently have 56 students participating in Vocational Department programming.

54 students participate daily in bench/production activities in the Campus Work Center.

25 students participate weekly in 9 campus-based mobile assignments:  restocking the Front Office drinks coolers, delivering the campus mail, light maintenance in the Vocational Building, delivering/picking up magazines from classrooms, checking ADL suites for problems, collecting white paper from office areas for recycling/shredding, watering plants, light maintenance and re-shelving materials in the Campus Work Center, and creating and delivering silk flower arrangements to sites throughout the Campus.

27 students participate weekly at 19 community based worksites/assignments.

3 students participate weekly in Community Experience trips to a variety of sites (resource, recreation, consumer and restaurant related).

Our new look

Hope you like the new look.  Let us know

New from Science News for Kids

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/337381/title/FOR_KIDS_Fins_as_early_legs__