June Newsletter

Feb 19, 2025

Message from the Administrators

As the school year winds down, let’s take a moment to reflect, appreciate and celebrate many moments and milestones that our school year has brought us.

The Westlake School community is proud to acknowledge and celebrate the following 2024-2025 Westlake School graduates: Azan C., AJ M., Ashanti F., Matias M., Kimmeon O., As well as Jonathan D. who is moving onto the UCESC Work Readiness Academy.

We thank you for allowing us to be part of your amazing journey filled with personal growth, incredible achievements and countless moments of joy, pride and inspiration and look forward to seeing where your exceptional dedication and resilience take you as you begin your next chapter.

We also would like to honor, acknowledge and congratulate our school Social Worker Ms. Phyllis Sandrock and teacher, Mr. Bob Carten , who after a combined 5 plus decades will be retiring at the end of the school year. The Westlake School Community will miss both Ms. Sandrock and Mr. Carten’s commitment to academic excellence, preparation of social emotional tools for student’s well-being and lasting contributions and the profound impact they have made on their students for years to come. Thank you, Phyllis and Bob - we wish you a rewarding and fulfilling retirement just like your educational career! :)

The School year provided a vast number of opportunities for students to get involved and participate in special events such as the March Madness Basketball game and cheerleading, Westlake School Carnival, Annual BMW Car Club Race, Westlake Parent Association fund raising and social events and the “Wicked” themed Prom, to name a few.

As the school year comes to an end, we would like to thank all of our Westlake School staff for their continued, unwavering support in providing an inclusive and supportive learning environment for our students to thrive and grow to reach their fullest potential and all our students families and sending districts for your ongoing teamwork and collaboration allowing us to have the privilege to work with your kids.

Till Next “School Year” My friends, Be Good to Yourself….and Each Other!

Claudine T., Stacey K. and Bobby P.

Westlake Information

Dates to Remember!

June 18: Westlake Graduation
June 30: ESY Begins
July 4: Fourth of July - No ESY
Aug 8: Last Day of ESY

June Spotlight!

Student of the Month!

We are so proud of J.M., he had an awesome school year! He was in a new class where he made new friends! He also made many advancements in his academics!

Principal Award Winner!

K.M. is our newest student and our Principal Award winner! She has worked hard on her transitions and learning how to make chocolate pop and curl ribbons!

Staff of the Month!

Ms. Donna is one of our BCBA's. Her caring nature shines in the way she interacts with the students and the staff!

Westkake Graduation!

On June 18th, Westlake celebrated our graduates! This year we had 4 students graduating, as well as one student moving on to UCESC Work Readiness Academy. During their time at Westlake, they learned not only academic skills but important job skills. We are going to miss everyone and wish them luck in the future!

Work Based Learning!

After making the Thank You Bags, our WBL students got to hand them out. We are very grateful to have our students working at Walgreens, Clark Library, Overlook Hospital, Suplee, Clooney & Company, Lido Cafe, Cranford Movie Theater, Complete Care, and more.

Westlake Annual Carnival!

Westlake School Carnival was a fun day for all! There were lots of games, bounce houses, and fun snacks. The Carnival committee worked to plan a whole day of activities for our students. The volunteers from Goldmen Sachs ensure that games were running smoothly and all the students were having fun!

Behavior Department's Guide to Fun Summer Activities!

As summer approaches, check out some fun places to go as a family that are inclusive for families with autism and other disabilities. This summer, families can enjoy sensory-friendly events at various amusement parks.

**Six Flags Great Adventure** in Jackson, NJ will host sensory days on select weekdays in June and July, featuring low crowds and reduced noise. They also offer a Ride Accessibility Program, which allows individuals unable to wait in line to use a pass to skip queues for attractions. **Adventure Aquarium** in Camden will have a sensory-friendly evening on August 17, from 5 PM to 7 PM, providing a calm atmosphere for exploring marine life.

**Sesame Place** includes special accommodations like a sensory guide, quiet rooms, and sensory-friendly character meet & greets, along with their Ride Accessibility Program.

**LEGOLAND New York** offers a similar ride accessibility program, enabling guests with disabilities to bypass lines to enhance their experience. Additionally,

**LEGOLAND Discovery Center** has locations in Somerville and at the American Dream Mall, both featuring disability access programs. The indoor water park and indoor amusement park at American Dream also provide accessibility options, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all guests. These programs work together to create enjoyable and inclusive environments for children with autism and other disabilities.

Westlake Prom!

Ms. Karen did an incredible job planning and setting up the perfect night. The Prom Committee transformed the hallway and our cafeteria into the land of OZ. All of our students, alumni, and staff had am amazing night dancing and have Wicked themed snacks! It was so fun to see everyone dressed up!

⭐

Please see our instagram for more photos!

🧹👑🌟

Ms. Schiumo's Class!

This month has been full of engaging activities. To celebrate the end of the school year, our class attended the Westlake Carnival. The students had a wonderful time participating in the activities and enjoying social time with their peers.

In reading and social studies we focused on the monthly themes of Diversity and Tolerance. Our take away was that everyone needs love and deserves peace. We then worked together to create a beautiful wreath highlighting these values.

Our math and life skills lessons centered around the basics of earning, spending and saving money. Students explored real-life scenarios and applied their knowledge with a visit to the Sunshine Cafe. They used calculators to update their earnings from the Jewelry Shop.

In science we conducted a seasonal comparison of rainfall between fall and spring. The students made predictions, analyzed the data and discovered that spring had a higher accumulation of rainfall. We want to thank Ms. Sandrock for providing the materials for us to complete this project.

It has been a productive and meaningful school year for our class. Our students have shown growth in so many areas and we are extremely proud of all that they have accomplished.

Ms. Marshall's Class!

The students in Ms. Marshall’s class have been hard at work from late May into June, transforming our outdoor space. They've successfully leveled and replaced an old garden bed with a brand-new, three-tiered planter! We’re excited to see it bloom with colorful flowers, crisp lettuce, and vibrant peppers in the coming weeks. We’ve also added a tree next to our benches to commemorate Arbor Day!

On June 6th, the class joined in the fun at the school’s annual carnival. A huge thank you goes out to the teachers, administrators, and volunteers who made the day such a success—W84 had an amazing time! A highlight for many was the Kona Ice Truck, where students enjoyed customizing their own syrup flavors.

As the school year winds down, students are rehearsing for the upcoming talent show. Our class will be performing a lively rendition of Ghostbusters, featuring a student DJ, and a bell performance—it’s sure to be a hit!

Finally, we want to extend heartfelt congratulations to our classmates Abdul and Azan, who will be graduating on June 18th. Their smiles and energy will be greatly missed at Westlake, and we wish them all the best on their next adventure.

BMW Car Club of America Trip!

On June 3rd, a group of staff and students visited the BMW Car Club of America. Students got to ride in the cars around the track! Some staff even got to drive a car!

Celebrating Westlake Staff!

In June, Westlake staff had many reasons to celebrate each other. We have 3 special breakfasts over the last few weeks to show these staff members how important they are to everyone. We celebrated the retirement of Mr. Carten and Ms. Sandrock. They have played a very important role at Westlake and we are going to miss them!

We also celebrated Ms. Sara who will welcome a baby in the fall!