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Transition
Program
The Brentwood School is moving forward in the area of transition
planning in order to meet the needs of our student population in an
ever changing socio economic global climate. The Department of
Education has stressed the importance of secondary education programs
assisting students in the facilitation of transition. Each Individual
Education Plan includes a transition page; however, The Brentwood
School is taking this initiative beyond the Individual Education Plan.
As an alternative school, our goal is to educate students beyond
classroom academics. Becoming productive and positive members of
society is a critical element in a Brentwood School education.
There are several programs and action steps that provide our students
with the proper tools to be successful in their post secondary
transition such as College Visitation Programs, Transition meetings,
Vocational Rehabilitation Referrals, Senior Seminar course, Work Study
and “Learning a Living” opportunities, and weekly counseling to meet
IEP transition goals.
During the 2004-2005 academic school year, the guidance counselors
organized a program for juniors and seniors to visit different
educational opportunities around New Hampshire. On each visit, the
students were able to tour the school facilities, sit through an
information session, and collect materials about the programs offered.
Brentwood School students visited two year programs, technical
programs, four year private school programs, and public universities in
the state of New Hampshire such as Southern New Hampshire University,
UNH Manchester, McIntosh College and Atlantic Culinary Institute, as
well as New Hampshire Community Technical College Manchester.
Senior Seminar is a course that was designed in 2004 in order to teach
high school seniors many of the important life skills not learned in
the academic setting. Some of the transition topics that were covered
during the first year of senior seminar were budgeting, apartment
rentals, balancing checking accounts, applying for jobs, writing
resumes and cover letters, interviewing skills, self reflection
exercises, community roles and service, voting and car registration,
insurance plans, credit cards, and other life skills necessary to live
and function independently.
In order to gain the necessary experience and skills to maintain
employment, all Brentwood School students have the opportunity
to participate in the Learning a Living or Work Study programs. These
programs reinforce the importance of socially
appropriate behavior needed when becoming a member of the work force.
The students are able to earn credits for being hired and completing
the tasks of their position. Each of these programs help students
develop relationships with employers in the community, learn the
necessary skills to meet the requirements of their job as well as the
expectations of their employer, and implement time management planning
into their daily lives. These skills are critical in post secondary
transition.
The Brentwood School counseling staff works with the sending school
districts to provide a time and place for Vocational
Assessments/Evaluations to be completed by our students. The assessment
information provides the students and staff with a completed interest
and skill inventories that aid in transition planning, course
selection, and the college/education training process. Referrals to
Vocational Rehabilitation are made after vocational assessments are
completed. Vocational Rehabilitation counselors are able to meet with
students and
help students develop employment skills, resources, and find job
coaching or training.
The Brentwood School’s focus on post secondary transition for all
students is reflected through the transition meeting. These meetings
allow the Special Education teams to develop comprehensive transition
plans including goals and benchmarks for each student to strive to
meet. Each transition program offered at The Brentwood School is a
viable option for all students. These meetings ensure that each team
member is on the same page and aiding the student in moving toward an
achievable post secondary goal or goals.
Transition is a key component in a high school education. As The
Brentwood School builds its transition services, each student’s life
education becomes more complete. The team meetings help connect the
students with resources and referrals that enable the students to
access services after receiving their high school diplomas. The
transition program at The Brentwood School strives to provide students
with the proper tools to have a successful life after high school.. |
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