April 2008

About Our Students

• Woodson High School’s Deaf Academic Bowl Team won a second place trophy at the Gallaudet Mid-Atlantic Regional/At Large Tournament held at West Virginia School for the Deaf in March. At this tournament, sixteen school teams composed of deaf and hard of hearing students participated in matches testing a wide variety of academic skills. The Woodson players did a fantastic job and were undefeated going into the championship match. A sophomore on the team, who attends McLean HS, was chosen as one of two "outstanding" players, and was awarded a trophy. The team will participate in nationals April 26-29.

Especially for Parents

• Career and Transition Services (CTS) will be conducting two open houses - at Kilmer Middle School on Wednesday, April 9, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. and at Frost Middle School on Wednesday, April 16, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for middle school students receiving special education services and their parents to learn more about what is available in high school to help prepare students for life after graduation. Representatives from CTS will provide information and answer questions about a variety of CTS services including: career assessment, career academy course support, office technology and procedures, work awareness and transition, job coach services, and employment and transition services. This is an excellent opportunity for students and parents to gain information needed to help plan their high school careers.
• On April 15, an information session on elementary enhanced autism services will be offered to families at Devonshire Center. For additional information and registration visit the website: http://www.fcps.edu/ss/ABA/workshops/4-15-08.pdf
• Staff will present to parents Social Skill Development in Students with Low Incidence Disabilities: Training and Strategies on April 22 from 9 am to 12 noon at the Parent Resource Center. For additional information visit the website: http://www.fcps.edu/ss/prc/workshops.htm
• The Parent Resource Center, in cooperation with assessment and summer school, early childhood/elementary education and career and transition services is offering a variety of workshops and seminars for parents and students. Visit the web site for additional information http://www.fcps.edu/ss/prc/workshops.htm. You can email the PRC prc@fcps.edu or call 703-204-3941.
  • Extended School Year (ESY) on April 21, at Dunn Loring
    9:00 am – 10:30 am morning session and
    7:00 pm – 8:30 pm evening session
  • Social Skills Development Workshop on April 22, at Dunn Loring from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
  • Life After High School on May 13, at Fairfax High School from
    7:00 – 8:30 pm. This is an evening seminar for parents and students.
• The Parent Resource Center posted their April newsletter with autism awareness as the focus. The newsletter is available at the PRC or online at the following link http://www.fcps.edu/ss/prc/newsletter.htm

Especially for Staff

• The Very Important Paraprofessional (VIP) Conference sponsored by the Office of Special Education (OSE) will be held on April 7, 2008, at Robinson Secondary School. Staff from OSE will present many sessions at the VIP conference including:

  o Addressing the Unique Needs of Students with High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome
  o Making Accommodations for LD/ED Students in the General Ed Class
  o Positive Behavior Support
  o Assessment Options for Students with Disabilities
  o Using Interactive Activities to Aid Students in Understanding Vocabulary
  o Creating Electronic Books Using PowerPoint
  o Career and Transition Services
  o Using Visual Support Systems on the Jobsite
  o Using Visuals in the Classroom
  o Stimulating Preschool Language Development
  o Many other sessions