To our WRA & Project SEARCH Community,
The new school year is here and we could not be happier to be back in session working with your children. We hope the first few weeks of the new school year are treating you and your family well. We know this can be a busy, and sometimes stressful season, as we all re-adjust to new schedules and routines. We have hit the ground running here at the WRA, catching up with former classmates and staff as well as getting to know all of the amazing new additions to our program this school year!
Later in the newsletter you will be introduced to some of our new staff at the WRA, but we do want to let you know that Nicole DellaVecchia, our new Social Worker, will be reaching out to all of our families to introduce herself over the first two months of the school year. Nicole will also be on hand for Back to School Night to share information about a new Parent Workshop Series we will be offering for the first time.
Our days this month have been focused on and filled with, self discovery, empowerment and team building. We have also been working on establishing an understanding of what our work together this school year will look and feel like. Students have been hard at work creating, exploring and discovering who they are today and who they would like to become in the future. Our classroom teachers have created engaging and innovative lessons for our students to practice their critical thinking, interpersonal skills, communication, and teamwork. Students have participated in a variety of hands-on work based learning assessments to help guide internship placements, as well as a variety of preference assessments to encourage and support that self advocacy and student voice be at the forefront of what we do each and every day. Our students have gained familiarity and confidence each day as they establish and practice their new routines and procedures. We cannot wait to watch them all continue to learn and grow this school year. We are honored to be a part of their unique and individualized journeys.
Our Work-Based Learning Experiences will be launching over the next two weeks. Each student will be assigned at least two internship experiences & will be placed in the community at least 3 days per week. We have sent paperwork home for parents/guardians to sign and return. Please keep an eye out for it. Our talented team of Teaching Assistants are looking forward to supporting our students in the field! Students at Project SEARCH have also started their first internship rotations! See more in our SEARCH update below.
We are confident this is going to be a successful year rich in learning and growth. We look forward to seeing our WRA parents and guardians at Back to School Night tomorrow night (Tuesday, October 1st) beginning at 6:30pm. Our building is located at 970 Suburban Road in Union (we are the school building next to the church).
Please enjoy the rest of this September edition of our newsletter.
Sincerely,
Josh Bornstein, Director
Rachel Richer, Supervisor of Instruction
UCESC Work Readiness Academy
New Attendance Reporting Email!
In the event that your child will be absent, arriving late, or picked up early, please send us an email at AttendanceWRA@ucesc.org. You may also call our main number at (908) 633-2704. If it is before 8am, please leave a message.
The Project SEARCH interns the Class of 2025 have started their year-long journey at Overlook Medical Center in Summit! Lauren Yedvab, Overlook's Chief Operating Officer, stopped by to greet and welcome the students on behalf of the hospital's leadership team. The first internship rotation started the last week in September and will run for approximately twelve weeks. This is the 9th Project SEARCH cohort at Overlook since the program first launched in 2016.
For more information about Project SEARCH, please visit:
https://www.ucesc.org/schools/the-work-readiness-academy/project-search
Back by popular demand, the WRA will once again be showcasing our pets on one of our bulletin boards during the month of October. If you have a pet at home and feel comfortable sharing a picture of your child with the pet, we would love for you to participate. Please email the picture to Sharlene McQuade at smcquade@ucesc.org. Please also include the name of the pet!
Barks & Meows,
The WRA Bulletin Board Team
About the Work Readiness Academy
The Work Readiness Academy serves students ages 18-21 with disabilities and provides a comprehensive employment training experience that incorporates both classroom-based instruction and community-based work-learning experiences. While in the training classroom, students work cooperatively with similar aged peers to learn critical skills related to employment and socialization. Students also work on career exploration and planning, including the development of a person-centered, post-secondary vision and plan with clear goals and action steps. Program staff remain on-site during the internships to provide and fade support and assistance as needed. Students also participate in field trips focused on career discovery, independent living skills, recreation and independent travel training.
For more information or to make a student referral, please email Rachel Richer at rricher@ucesc.org
Email: jbornstein@ucesc.org
Website: https://www.ucesc.org/schools/the_work_readiness_academy
Location: 970 Suburban Road, Union, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-633-2704
