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Banyan Bulletin
Parent Newsletter for Banyan High School
Strong roots. Strong minds.
To educate students with learning disabilities by identifying individual strengths and abilities, continuously monitoring individual progress, and adapting the curriculum to to meet each students changing educational needs.
Principal's Pen - May 12 - 18 is Special Education Week
Each year New Jersey honors students, their educators, parents, schools, and the school board members that contribute to the high quality special education services in our state.
Created by resolution of the New Jersey Legislature, the second week in May is designated Special Education Week in New Jersey. This year Special Education Week in New Jersey falls on May 12-18, and the theme for Special Education Week 2024 is “Diverse Learners, Big Dreams.”
Included here is the proclamation from Governor Murphy:
Whereas more than 232,599 children receive special education instruction and services in New Jersey's public and private schools; and
Whereas many parents, teachers, child study team members, and school administrators generously give their time and energy to support the learning needs of students who receive special education; and
Whereas, since 1985, the New Jersey School Boards Association and ASAH have sponsored Special Education Week in New Jersey; and
Whereas, the theme for Special Education Week 2024 is "Diverse Learners, Big Dreams"; and
Whereas the public-school districts and the private schools of New Jersey make a major contribution to the public welfare by preparing thousands of exceptional persons to participate as citizens of this state and as member of society;
Now, therefore, I, Philip D. Murphy, Governor of the State of New Jersey do hereby proclaim:
May 12 through May 18, 2024 as Special Education Week.
Classroom Spotlight: Executive Functioning Slide Shows & Underground Railroad
Reading Comprehension
Mrs. Cont’s Reading Comprehension class has been analyzing nonfiction vs. historical fiction. After reading a nonfiction text about the Underground Railroad and how quilts were used to convey messages to runaway slaves, the students used this knowledge to create their very own Underground Railroad quilt!
WBL Classes
Our WBL classes have been working on Executive Functioning Slideshows in Google Slides. These have been a way of reviewing and concretizing ideas we've discussed all year. It's been fun to see what students focus on and highlight. Students created presentations with information and ideas about our three executive functioning skills corresponding to the three units we covered this year. Students utilized the design feature of Google Slides and included images, themes, colors, and fonts that make their presentations pop. These skills then be generalized into the academic classrooms within the high school and ultimately into the workplace.
And Introducing.......Meredith Soto - WBL Assistant
I love the Banyan community and look forward to continuing to grow and learn from all the wonderful students and staff that I feel honored to work with every day.
Thank you to ALL of our Banyan Families!! You made our week so special!
Annual Prom Nail Salon Trip
We are planning our annual trip to the nail salon in preparation for prom! The trips will take place on May 20, 21, 2024. Please fill out the survey below if your child is interested in getting their nails done. Please see the attached flyer for details.
Please note: This trip will be taking place during the school day.
Student Council Giving Back!
Student Council had been working diligently to support both our school community and the community at large!
As a group, The BHS Student Council decided to donate a portion of the fundraiser money collected so far to the Little Falls UMC Food Pantry. The council has also agreed to donate the other portion of the monies raised to the Class of 2024. We hope to keep raising more money for good causes during the fun events we have planned for the remainder of the year. The council would like to thank everyone who has helped make our first two events a success.
We are so proud of our students and their generosity!
Planning for Transition: Executive Functioning and the Workplace
Executive function is the “Management System of the Brain”. This begins developing in early childhood and continues into your 20’s. Executive Functioning challenges are very common in neurodiverse people.
There are three main areas of Executive Function which we need in everyday life, work and school:
Working memory
Cognitive flexibility (also called flexible thinking)
Inhibitory control (which includes self-control)
People struggling with executive skills may have trouble:
Paying attention/focus
Thinking before acting and speaking
Organizing, planning, and prioritizing
Breaking complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps
Managing their time
Following multi-step directions in proper sequence
Starting tasks and staying focused on them to completion
When rules or routines change
Set shifting- switching focus from one task/priority to another
Keeping track of their belongings/materials
Word and idea generation
Understanding different points of view
Regulating emotions and fixating on things
Self-monitoring (keeping track of what you’re doing/hearing/reading and using that information appropriately as well as evaluating the quality of your work)
Organizing thoughts when writing or speaking
Below are some examples of how Executing Functioning challenges can impact work:
Missing deadlines
Knowing when/how to prioritize tasks
Difficulty shifting between responsibilities
Distracted during meetings or while doing work
Speaking up at inappropriate times
Procrastinating
Often being late
Banyan Occupational Therapists, School Psychologists, Social Workers, Behaviorists and Special Educators work with students to implement strategies which help with social skills and behavior management as well as academic, time management and organization skills
PTSO Parent Corner: Latest Information
We would like to invite all of our parents to join our PTSO for Banyan High School! The PTSO hosts many events for our families, such as the upcoming Bingo, and provides events for our students. If you would like to join, please use the links below:
Here is the link to the PTSO membership on Google Form
Our next meeting is May 14th at 7 PM, virtual.
PTSO are collecting dues and payment will be accepted via paypal and check/cash. Checks made payable
To Banyan High School PTSO
Paypal: BHSPTO@banyanschool.com
Suggested amount $45
Please join us for the upcoming PTSO meeting on 4/23 at 7:00 PM.
Using Language & Executive Functioning Skills in Speech
Students have been enjoying spring themed activities in speech! The students have been improving their vocabulary and listening skills, inferencing and identifying hidden meanings, identifying feelings, and interpreting idioms/common expressions. Additionally, students have been practicing a variety of functional skills including perspective taking, problem solving, functional reading comprehension, and executive functioning, such as organizing and planning ahead for events. All lessons are tailored to students’ needs!
Below is a link to a Spring Jeopardy game if you are interested in playing at home:
Important Upcoming Events
Here are some important upcoming events:
- Stokes State Forest Trip - Schoolwide May 14 for the full day. Please pack brown bag lunch. Please complete the permission forms using the link below: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10GixcggxkKNjGNVdhWSoOULQ-AUsO4y8/view?usp=sharing
- PTSO Meeting - May 14 at 7:00 PM, virtual. The link will follow.
- ARC Parent Presentation - Guardianship, May 15 at 10 AM virtual. The link is as follows: https://zoom.us/j/4517517055
- Voices in Harmony Concert - May 19 at 3 PM at Bergen PAC
- Prom - May 22 at 6:30 PM at The Grand
- Memorial Day Weekend Break - May 27 & 28
Banyan High School
Website: www.banyanschools.org
Location: 471 Main Street, Little Falls, NJ, USA
Phone: 973 785-1919
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Banyan-School/100063632976200/