MARCH

 

STAFF SHOWCASE: Mrs. Poland-Paraeducator

Mrs. Poland is in her second year as a Special Ed Paraprofessional at the Dover Alternative Program.  She graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a BA in Psychology in 1996. She worked for a county mental health organization in Vermont as a Residential Counselor and then as a Behavioral Interventionist in a school before moving to New Hampshire to raise a family.  She lives in Dover and enjoys relaxing at the beach or simply spending time with her husband and three children. 

Community Theme: Decision Making

 

The students worked on decision making skills as a group this month.  Wednesday community building activities were based on this theme.  Student levels were earned or lost based on choices students made within the school or while at home or in the community.  Students came to an understanding that reinforcement and privileges are not solely based on actions here at school but that how they function in other places are also considered heavily.  Next Month: Empathy

 

SLEDS:

As part of transition skills class and incorporating Math, Science and Literacy, students engaged in building sleds or snowboards to race.  Students were limited to the use of one roll of duck tape, plastic trash bags and assorted cardboard pieces to construct their sled or snowboard. Some worked in teams and some worked as individuals. Staff transported students to Bellamy Fields in Dover so they could race and see how their contraptions held up. What a great time! Prizes were awarded for various categories such as most creative.

PARENT CONFERENCES

Parent conferences were held in March. During transition skills class, students followed a recipe and baked cookies for their parents/guardians to enjoy during the conferences. The Dover Alternative Program had a good turn out and staff spent quality time with family members explain our curriculum and program.

 

Dover Middle School: Related Arts

Several teachers and some of our students continue to facilitate 8th grade related arts classes with some of the Dover Middle School Oasis students. In addition, a few of the 8th grade students have begun a slow transition to the Alternative Program to prepare them for their 9th grade year. Students walk over to our program following their related arts class and take three academic courses with us. At lunch time they are escorted back to DMS to finish their day. Other students, from various programs, are also spending time at our program as they look to the best program to meet their needs as they enter high school.