Welcome Back

Dear Families,

We are excited to welcome your child to a new school year in our Pathways Program! The Pathways Program is designed to teach students important life skills such as self-management, resilience and daily living skills aligned with academic areas. You might be wondering what this means, or how it will impact your child. Let’s take a closer look.

The Pathways Program provides academic instruction aligned to the Essential Element Standards, life skills instruction organized by thematic units and community based learning opportunities. Learning goals and activities are designed to complement a developmental approach to learning in the following domains: Career Planning, Communication, Daily Living, Home Life, Money Management, Self-Care, Interpersonal Relationships, Safety and Work Readiness. Students in the Pathways Program will be provided with opportunities for career exploration, community-based instruction and vocational training to assist with developing age‐appropriate skills for a successful transition to adulthood.

We know from years of research that kids are much more confident and resilient when they are given independence and responsibility. Educators see this firsthand every day, and we work hard to create opportunities for kids to problem-solve, discover new ideas and interests, and to try, fail, and try again. As a classroom community we will aim to unearth and identify key concepts in the social development process that will assist the students as they navigate their way into their place in the world. Our goal is to develop the essential building blocks of a successful adult.

As a parent, it may seem faster or easier to do things for your child, but helping them become self-sufficient will allow for greater results in the long run. To maximize this opportunity for your child, we are asking families to assist us in reaching this goal in the following three ways:

WAIT BEFORE HELPING- In our classrooms, whether in person or online, we will encourage students to ask for adult or teacher help as a last resort, not a first. It’s normal to want to help with schoolwork when your child doesn’t know the answer or something is difficult, but encourage them not to give up too quickly. It’s amazing how resourceful they can be when immediate assistance isn’t available.

ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENCE AT HOME-Your child will progress by leaps and bounds when they are independent at both home and school. Outside of their schoolwork, let them explore, play, discover new hobbies and develop new skills-even quirky ones. They don’t need adults to always educate or entertain them. Some boredom is good-they’ll figure it out. And remember: whether they’re biking, baking, babysitting, or reading on-line, that is learning too.

LET YOUR CHILD LEAD-Your child will be organizing their work, managing their time, and setting regular goals in this classroom. They should be able to explain and continue to carry out these methods as they apply to everyday life skills. Ask them for regular updates and let them lead!

For some students, this will be second nature. For others, it will be very challenging. Don’t give up! By working together to support this initiative, you’re giving your child incredible tools and confidence that will serve them for years. When adults step back, kids step up.

I am looking forward to working with the future leaders, movers and shakers of this community. Here is to a great school year and even greater memories.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Cappliello-Perez

Mrs. Mansaray-Bangura

Ms. Cespedes

Mr. Hickey