Camelot Center Scoop

From the Principal

Here we are at the end of the third quarter and heading toward the home stretch. There are many things to look forward to in these last few months of school. We have several special events for parents coming up.

CHA Family Night features one of our most popular programs – a panel of high school students and their parents who will be able to “tell it like it is.” They will share their experiences and give you insight on what comes after elementary school. The program is here at Camelot on Thursday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. See related article with more detailed information. Mantua is hosting another event of interest to families. They are holding a Technology Night on Wednesday, April 9 at the school. You received a flyer about this. Attendees will have the opportunity to see demonstrations of technology for deaf and hard of hearing students and adults presented by The Northern Virginia Resource Center the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons. Find out what new in technology. We are planning another Center Social for the students on April 16 - a music program presented by Brendan Lins, our preschool instructional assistant and musician.

I am sure you have heard that there is no summer school as in the past, but summer services will be provided to students receiving ESY (extended school year) services on their IEP's. One of the ways these services will be offered will be during a 4 week period (July 7 – August 1) at Mantua Elementary School . This will be discussed at IEP meetings. Please give me or your teacher a call if you have questions about summer. Lesley Kravitz, our social worker, has also compiled a listing of summer activities which we have in the Center Office. Let me know if you are seeking activities for your child this summer.

Again, I encourage you to think about going to the AG Bell Convention in Milwaukee from June 27 – 30. I will be going and would love to see some of you there too.

Enjoy the spring weather when it finally arrives and let me know if there is any way I can assist you.

Donna Grossman

CHA Family Night on April 17

The Camelot Hearing Association will present their second Family Night of the year on Thursday, April 17 beginning at 7:00 p.m. The program, “ What Comes Next? Moving on to Secondary School,” will feature a panel of high school students, most of whom formerly attended Camelot Center . They are Laura Battisti, Ben Fraser, Graycen Carroll, Tara Leeth, and . The evening will begin with a pizza supper until 7:30, when the program will begin. There will be child care for children who will be treated to a child-friendly movie and popcorn while the families attend the program. It would be appropriate for upper elementary students to attend this program. Come prepared to have all your questions answered. Send in your RSVP today and plan to attend.

Monthly CHA Meeting 

Plan to join other Camelot Center parents at the monthly CHA meeting held the first Wednesday of every month in the Center Conference Room. The next meeting will be on May 7 from 12 until 1 p.m. Bring a bag lunch and help with the planning for the end of the year and next year. The Camelot Hearing Association needs your participation.

Mark your calendars.
Pencilmania 

Each year, the Camelot student government sponsors a one week pencil sale. This highly popular event is organized by Mrs. Lavine, the SCA sponsor. The students do much of the work and the actual selling of the pencils. There is great enthusiasm by both the buyers and the sellers and this gives the students a taste of the world of business. We are pleased to recognize the Camelot Center SCA officer and representatives who helped with the event. They are: Megan Lengel, Quimari Sawyer, Maya Caceres, Katie Gay and Alex Calderon.

AG Bell Family Convention Scholarships 

AG Bell is offering a scholarship for families who have never attended an AG Bell Convention before. Families who have never attended a convention before and who meet the scholarship criteria are urged to apply. The convention will be held in Milwaukee , Wisconsin from June 27 to 30 th . There are educational and social activities for adults and children. Because it is a national convention, there is an opportunity to meet other families who have children with hearing loss as well as to interact with deaf adults. Experts in the fields of hearing loss, audiology, and education will present lectures and classes to increase your knowledge. An AG Bell convention provides families exposure to cutting-edge information from world renowned experts on hearing loss, and gives an opportunity to form long-lasting relationships to support you on your journey with your deaf child. A scholarship application is attached to this newsletter. If you would like to attend without the scholarship, you can get a registration packet in the Center Office. Please note that the scholarship applications are due by April 15.

Parent Resource Center Workshops

The Parent Resource Center is presenting two workshops of interest to parents of students with disabilities in the month of April. They are:

Social Skills Development – Tuesday April 22, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Dunn Loring Center

What Are Extended School Year Services?
Monday, April 21 from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. or 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Both workshops will be held at the Parent Resource Center , 2334 Gallows Road , Room 11. Look for more information in the Tues packet.

Celebrate Communication in May

The Northern Va. Resource Center for Deaf and hard of hearing persons will sponsor its annual “Celebration Communication” event at George Mason University Cultural Center on Saturday, May 10. The all day event features information on hearing loss from organizations and businesses dealing with deaf and hard of hearing people. Fairfax County Public Schools will have a booth. You will receive additional information in May but mark your calendars now.

News of Our Staff

Stephanie Halvorson, 6 th grade teacher, is about to take possession of a hearing dog named Loki. Loki has been trained as a working dog and will begin living with the Halvorsons in a week. Loki made his first visit to Camelot on Friday, April 4 th , and will be accompanying Mrs. Halvorson to school each day when she returns from cochlear implant surgery in late May.

Lesley Kravitz , our social worker, was honored with an Outstanding Performance Award by the social worker administrators. This included a financial award of $1000, which she has donated to her schools and to NVRC.

Becky Lane , kindergarten teacher, was accepted into the George Mason University Special Education Leadership Program. She has already begun attending classes.

Lynda Peterson , Bright Beginnings for Babies teacher, has announced that she will be retiring at the end of this school year. Although Lynda isn't officially on our staff, I know that many of you know her because she worked with your children when they were babies.

Several of our staff members have begun studying for the Listening and Spoken Language Specialist certification for Auditory Verbal Educators. They will be taking the exam during this year either in June at the AG Bell convention or in September in D.C. Those staff members are: Barbara Brown, preschool teacher; Pat Swanson, preschool teacher; Becky Lane , kindergarten teacher; Debbie Bailey, 4/5 grade teacher; Rachel Cohen, audiologist.

It is a tribute to Camelot Center that so many staff members are pursuing this certification.
Parents Please Note  

Please send a note with your child if there is any change in riding the bus, such as picking up a student rather than going on the bus. We do need either written and verbal communication with you before we keep the children from taking the bus. So, please just jot a brief note for any changes to your child's schedule. If you do forget the note, a call to the office will suffice. The office number is 703-645-7100. Thank you for your cooperation.

April info

Wednesday, April 9 – Technology Night – Mantua Elem. – 7:15 pm
Demonstrations of latest assistive technology for deaf hard of hearing persons

Thursday, April 17 – CHA Family Night – 7:00 pm – Camelot Library
Teen/Parent Panel – “What Comes Next – Moving On to Secondary School”

May preview

May 7 - School Nurse Day

May 7 – CHA Meeting – Noon in Center Conference Room. Bring a bag lunch and join the group.

May 9 – 6 th Grade to Camp Hemlock

May 10 – Celebrate Communication at George Mason U, Cultural Center

May 16–International Night 7– 8:30 pm

May 23 – Hat and Shades Spirit Day

May 26 – Memorial Day – NO SCHOOL

APRIL

Last Updated on
April 14, 2008