Laurel Ruff Transition School SAN JUAN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Family Bulletin http://www.sanjuan.edu/LaurelRuff JANUARY 2017 Hello Laurel Ruff community, 2016 was a sensational year, and we look forward to an exciting 2017. Mocha & Bella our resident chickens were happy to welcome students back after their lonely and rainy holiday break. Every time our rooster Mocha crows we are reminded that 2017 is the ‘Year of the Rooster’. Laurel Ruff’s spring 2017 semester updates See the attached copy of our final master schedule and information from teacher Ashley Cameros about the new ‘CTP 101’ block. Students will have the opportunity to self-advocate for schedule changes starting January 17 (schedule change forms will be available from teachers). American River College classes start January 17, with approximately 30 students dual enrolled at ARC this coming semester. PAY IT FORWARD WEEK is Jan. 16-20 San Juan Unified invites you to participate in “Pay It Forward” week. During this time, our staff, students and families are asked to perform a good deed that will enhance our community. The receiver of the good deed is encouraged to “pay it forward” to someone else, creating a chain reaction of good acts and feelings. It is a great opportunity to help our students understand the power of empathy and their own ability to make a difference in others’ lives. Families can get behind the cause and encourage this idea at home, too. (see the attached flyer for more info.) YOU LIGHT THE WAY NOMINATIONS The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education sponsors an annual special recognition dessert to honor those who make outstanding contributions on behalf of special education students. Awardees include teachers, administrators, classified staff, transportation staff, parent volunteers, students, agency staff, community workers, etc. Nominations are due January 18th, and the event is March 9th, 7:00 p.m. at San Juan High School. We encourage members of our community to nominate individuals who have gone above and beyond to support our students (see the attached nomination form). PROJECT SEARCH NEWSLETTER – The January Project Search newsletter is attached. As we move into the 2nd semester it is time for Laurel Ruff students who are interested in Project Search to consider applying for a 2017/18 internship (stay tuned for more info in our February bulletin). DECEMBER GRADUATES – In December we gave our final congratulations to nine mid-year graduates (see the attached collages). We encourage each graduate to remain a part of our Laurel Ruff community, by continuing to subscribe to our newsletter. DISTRICT ANNUAL PARENT SURVEY – a print copy of the district’s 2016/17 survey is being sent home with each student (please contact our office if you need an additional copy). Keep track of upcoming Laurel Ruff events by monitoring the master calendar of events posted on our website (and included with this bulletin). Laurel Ruff’s next School Site Council meeting is scheduled Tuesday January 17th (agenda is attached). Site Council meetings are open to the public; agendas are posted in our office and on our website at least 72 hours before the meeting. If you have questions/needs please contact us at 971-7586 / 979-8335 (24-hour message line) or email me at jarreguin@sanjuan.edu. Your ongoing support of Laurel Ruff students and programs is essential and appreciated!

Happy 2017 to all!

Julia Arreguin, Ed.D., Laurel Ruff principal

At Laurel Ruff, our Mission is to Educate Students in The Least Restrictive Environment

As They Attain Their Maximum Potential.

SAN JUAN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Michael McKibbin, Ed.D., President Pam Costa, Vice President Saul Hernandez, Clerk Greg Paulo, Member Paula Villescaz, Member Kent Kern, Superintendent of Schools Donna O’Neil, Ed.D., Associate Supt., Schools & Student Support Debra Calvin, Ed.D., Assistant Supt., Educational Services Matthew Patterson, Director of Special Education

Mocha Ruff January 2017

2016/17 LAUREL RUFF TRANSITION SCHOOL MASTER SCHEDULE – SPRING SEMESTER January 10, 2017 through June 8, 2017

Teacher

ROOM Period 1

7:50 – 8:46 Period 2

8:50 – 9:46 Period 3

9:50 – 10:46 Period 4

10:50 – 11:46

LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH

Period 5 12:20 –1:30 on M-T-W- F No 5th period on Thursday

Period 6 1:34 – 2:30 M-Tu-W- F

12:20 to1:16 on Thursday

Laurie Hale 1

LEARNING SUPPORT CENTER Team with T.Pierce

Elective - Yoga, Relaxation & Self-Regulation skills

LEARNING SUPPORT CENTER Team with M.Hurley

swimming & A.Cameros CTP101

PREP LEARNING SUPPORT CENTER

Team with A.Cameros CTP101

LEARNING SUPPORT CENTER Team - TBD

LEARNING SUPPORT CENTER Team - rotate

LIFE MANAGEMENT

Stacey Eberhart 2 Elective - Creative Writing PREP

Helping Careers CAREER EXPLORATION

Helping Careers CAREER EXPLORATION

Elective - creative writing health & safety

Self-Advocacy LIFE MANAGEMENT

Ashley Cameros

3 PREP CTP-101 BLOCK

Community based instruction, mobility and ILS training

CTP-101 BLOCK Community based instruction,

mobility and ILS training

CTP-101 BLOCK Community based instruction,

mobility and ILS training Elective - Personal Finances Self-Advocacy

LIFE MANAGEMENT

Jacob Gerving

4 Elective - Personal Finances

Micro-Business/ Retail & Financial Skills

CAREER EXPLORATION

Micro-Business/ Retail & Financial Skills

CAREER EXPLORATION PREP Elective - Social Skills Self-Advocacy

LIFE MANAGEMENT

Arnold Klapheck

5 PREP

American River College COLLEGE EXPLORATION &

TECHNOLOGY EXPLORATION

American River College COLLEGE EXPLORATION &

TECHNOLOGY EXPLORATION

American River College COLLEGE EXPLORATION &

TECHNOLOGY EXPLORATION

Elective – ARC exploration (new / pending college students) &

Technology exploration (robotics, programming, 3-D

printing etc.)

Self-Advocacy LIFE MANAGEMENT

Andy Otten 6 Elective – Debate &

Current Events Elective – Art Workshop Elective – Art Workshop Elective – Art Workshop / Industrial arts

Elective – Art Workshop / Industrial arts PREP

Jeff Crist

7 Elective - LifeTime Sports team with APE PREP

Housekeeping, Custodial & Landscaping Academy

CAREER EXPLORATION

Housekeeping, Custodial & Landscaping Academy

CAREER EXPLORATION Elective - Housekeeping Self-Advocacy

LIFE MANAGEMENT

Tyler Pierce

8 Elective - Yoga, Relaxation & Self-Regulation skills

Broadcasting TV Occupations

CAREER EXPLORATION

Broadcasting TV Occupations

CAREER EXPLORATION

Elective - Diet Health & Fitness

Elective - Comic Book / digital publishing

Self-Advocacy LIFE MANAGEMENT

Mark Woodward

9 Elective - DMV prep Hospitality / Culinary Laurel Ruff

Café Academy CAREER EXPLORATION

Hospitality / Culinary Laurel Ruff Café Academy

CAREER EXPLORATION

Hospitality / Culinary Laurel Ruff Café Academy

CAREER EXPLORATION PREP Self-Advocacy

LIFE MANAGEMENT

Meghan Hurley

10 & POOL

ADAPTED PE Team with lifetime sports

elective

Elective – FITNESS & SWIMMING

ADAPTED PE (pull-out) & assessment / prep n/a n/a n/a

Shari Studebaker

Kaiser off

campus Project Search is located off campus at Kaiser Permanente - LIFE MANAGEMENT & INTERNSHIPS 8:30 to 3:00PM

Off campus work experience and concurrent enrollment at American River College are typically scheduled during the 2-3-4 block

OFFICE MESSAGE LINE

24- hour attendance & office message line 979-8335 - Use this number to leave a message without speaking to office staff. The Laurel Ruff parent message & attendance hot line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When leaving an attendance message please include: student name, date(s) of absence; reason for absence; your name & relationship to student.

BASKETBALL– practice starts January 18 (see the attached flyer). ALL Special Olympics paper work needs to be completed by January 20, 2017. Contact the office at 971-7586 if you need paperwork. Special Olympic physicals are good for 3 years; if it has been longer than 3 years you need to submit a new application. Practices will be held January to March at Laurel Ruff, and we will participate in two community tournaments (dates & times will be posted on our website).

LAUREL RUFF TV - student created videos are posted on our website. The TV version of Little Shop of Horrors’ has been posted for those who missed the live event last semester. We have also posted ‘School Alone’ the hilarious final production by the fall 2016 TV broadcasting block.

See the Laurel Ruff TV quicklink at www.sanjuan.edu/laurelruff to view current & previous episodes. The password to view all of the videos is RUFF1 (all caps and the digit 1).

FACEBOOK - Laurel Ruff is on Facebook -find us via the quick link posted on our website www.sanjuan.edu/laurelruff or via this direct link www.facebook.com/LaurelRuffTransitionSchool

At Laurel Ruff our mission is to educate students in the least restrictive environment as they attain their maximum potential.

The Laurel Ruff office is open to the public 7:15 AM to 3:30 PM

ATTENDANCE NEWS – Congratulations to the 42 students who had perfect attendance in December and 13 students who had perfect fall semester attendance. Students will be honored for these achievements with certificates and Tiger Bucks bonuses. Perfect attendance is defined as missing less than 5 class periods across an entire month based upon attendance taken by teachers for periods 0 through 6. Attendance data includes attendance verified by teachers each period of the school day, and student timecard data. Students also self-monitor attendance using a timecard system (time clocks are located in the front office and in every homeroom class). Our technology students input attendance data on a spreadsheet so we can determine who has perfect & near perfect attendance. On the last day of school at least $100 in actual cash will be awarded to students with the highest number of hours documented across the school year using timecards.

TIGER’S BANK NEWS - All students earn $10 an hour in Tiger bucks for each period of attendance. Students with perfect monthly attendance will receive $20 bonus Tiger bucks. We incorporate monthly budgeting into our Tiger Banking program. Students are charged $1000 TB’s for basic expenses based on the expected costs for living in a one bedroom apartment with a roommate. Students can conduct research to determine a lower monthly figure.

Tiger Bucks remaining after required monthly expenses can be spent at the school store / clothes closet, and for extra-curricular events (e.g. positive behavior events, Camp Ruff, etc.). Coming to school and remaining all day is an important transition skill! Our attendance incentive program is designed to increase school wide attendance and establish positive attendance habits to support future independence.

Class of 2016 December graduates

Laurel Ruff Transition School, San Juan USD School Site Council Meeting

Meeting Agenda for January 17, 2017

I. Sign-in & Approval of Previous Minutes: ACTION ITEM approximate time 2:45 PM A. Sign-in B. Review of previous minutes (from Dec , 2016) C. Laurel Ruff Site Council Membership & By-Laws review as needed II. New Business: approximate time 2:55 PM

A. Open Forum for new items (new items will move to ‘old business’ at next meeting) B. Happy New Year!

III. Site plan & budget review and actions ACTION ITEM approximate time 3:05 PM

A. School Site / LCAP ( Local Control Accountability) Plan 1. 2016/17 Site Plan & LCFF budget - review and update if necessary

(Mid-year report due February 15) 2. F&E budget $3171 allotment for Laurel Ruff

B. English Language Learner advisory committee (ELLAC) – n/a at this time

IV. Old Business: (will delete from agenda if necessary) A. Laurel Ruff Team & Committee Reports approximate time 3:20 PM

1. Safety Committee & Grounds / Safety Plan Review as necessary ♦ Site crime & safety report

2. Facilities updates 3. Health & Attendance Updates 4. Community, Climate & Culture approximate time 3:30 PM

♦ parent support updates ♦ Extracurricular events ♦ Laurel Ruff public relations

5. Assessment, Curriculum & Instruction approximate time 3:40 PM ♦ Article 24 – school leadership team & ‘collaboration’ Thursdays update ♦ curriculum & assessment updates ♦ social skills development monthly clubs / PBS events / Tiger’s bank

♦ Staff development updates ♦ Project Search updates

B. district updates approximate time 4:00 PM 1. District updates 2. SJUSD Special Education Department updates 3. Workability updates

V. Component Reports approximate time 4:10 PM

A. Certificated B. Classified C. Parents / SPAC updates

D. Community VI. Correspondence and/or Public Comments approximate time 4:25 PM VII. Next Meeting Date/Time February 14, 2017 at 2:45 VIII. Adjournment ACTION ITEM approximate time 4:30 PM

At Laurel Ruff our mission is to educate students in the least restrictive environment as they attain their maximum potential.

Hello Laurel Ruff Families: This spring semester we are offering a brand new vocational block class that will focus on community exploration. Students will learn to navigate the community around our school. Skills to be covered in the class are learning to

be safe while walking on the streets, learning to identify hazardous or dangerous situations, what to do in an emergency while out in the community, learning to identify safety and road signs, learn how to ride Sac. RT buses, and learn how to understand bus routing schedules, as well as many more community readiness skills. This block will involve walking on a regular basis to near by destinations such as American River College, Target, Walmart, .99 store, Home Depot, etc. to practice skills such as the ones listed above. Since the class is community based, we will be out in the community most days even if the weather isn’t the best. This means that dressing appropriately for the weather is advised. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Looking forward to the new semester! Ashley Cameros 971-7586 or at ashley.cameros@sanjuan.edu

Special Olympics Laurel Ruff Basketball 2017

All Special Olympics paperwork needs to be turned in by January 20, 2017

Practices: January 18 until March 17

• Wednesday evenings after school 5-7pm • Friday mornings during school (2nd & 3rd periods)

Tournaments: additional information will be provided by coaches when available.

• Zebra Jamboree Tournament Sunday February 19 at La Sierra Community Center

• Special Olympics Northern California Tournament

Saturday & Sunday March 18-19th at CSUS Contact coaches Meghan Hurley or Jeff Crist at 971-7586 for additional information.

LAUREL RUFF TRANSITION SCHOOL 2016/17 MASTER CALENDAR of EVENTS

• January 13 - Friday Clubs after lunch • January 16 – no school, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday • January 16-20 – Pay it Forward Week • January 17 - Laurel Ruff site council meeting at 2:45PM • January 18 - Special Olympics Basketball practice after school 5:00-7:00PM Laurel Ruff MP Room • January 20 - CBI Friday • January 20 - Special Olympics Basketball practice during 2nd & 3rd period Laurel Ruff MP Room • January 25 - Special Olympics Basketball practice after school 5:00-7:00PM Laurel Ruff MP Room • January 27 - Special Olympics Basketball practice during 2nd & 3rd period Laurel Ruff MP Room • January 27 - PBS event after lunch (talent show) • February 1 - Special Olympics Basketball practice after school 5:00-7:00PM Laurel Ruff MP Room • February 3 - Special Olympics Basketball practice during 2nd & 3rd period Laurel Ruff MP Room • February 3 - Friday Clubs after lunch • February 7 - SJUSD Community Advisory Committee CAC meeting, 6:30 to 8:30, Kenneth Avenue Annex, 4825 Kenneth

Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608 • February 8 - Special Olympics Basketball practice after school 5:00-7:00PM Laurel Ruff MP Room • February 10 - Special Olympics Basketball practice during 2nd & 3rd period Laurel Ruff MP Room • February 14 - Laurel Ruff site council meeting at 2:45PM • February 15 - Special Olympics Basketball practice after school 5:00-7:00PM Laurel Ruff MP Room • February 17 - Special Olympics Basketball practice during 2nd & 3rd period Laurel Ruff MP Room • February 17 - CBI Friday; PBS event after lunch • February 19 - Zebra Jamboree basketball tournament at La Sierra community center • February 20-24 – no school, February Break • February 28 - Jump Rope For Heart, 8:00-8:30AM, Laurel Ruff north blacktop • March 1 - Special Olympics Basketball practice after school 5:00-7:00PM Laurel Ruff MP Room • March 3 - Special Olympics Basketball practice during 2nd & 3rd period Laurel Ruff MP Room • March 3 - Friday Clubs after lunch • March 7 - SJUSD Community Advisory Committee CAC meeting, 6:30 to 8:30, Kenneth Avenue Annex, 4825 Kenneth Avenue,

Carmichael, CA 95608 • March 8 - Special Olympics Basketball practice after school 5:00-7:00PM Laurel Ruff MP Room • March 10 - Special Olympics Basketball practice during 2nd & 3rd period Laurel Ruff MP Room • March 15 - Special Olympics Basketball practice after school 5:00-7:00PM Laurel Ruff MP Room • March 17 - CBI Friday • March 17 - Special Olympics Basketball practice during 2nd & 3rd period Laurel Ruff MP Room • March 18-19 - Special Olympics basketball tournament at Sac State • March 21 - Laurel Ruff site council meeting at 2:45PM • March 29 - Laurel Ruff preview day 2017 - campus open to visitors all day - Laurel Ruff Preview day flyer • March 31 - PBS event after lunch • April 4 - SJUSD Community Advisory Committee CAC meeting, 6:30 to 8:30, Kenneth Avenue Annex, 4825 Kenneth Avenue,

Carmichael, CA 95608 • April 5 – minimum day dismissal at 12:10 • April 5 – Laurel Ruff Open House & Info Night, 4 to 6:30 • April 10-14 – no school, Spring Break • April 18 - Laurel Ruff site council meeting at 2:45PM • April 20 - Project Search open house 5:30 to 8 PM at Kaiser (flyer pending) • April 21 - CBI Friday • April 28 - PBS event after lunch • May 2 - SJUSD Community Advisory Committee CAC meeting, 6:30 to 8:30, Kenneth Avenue Annex, 4825 Kenneth Avenue,

Carmichael, CA 95608 • May 12- Friday Clubs after lunch • May 16 - Laurel Ruff site council meeting at 2:45PM • May 19 - CBI Friday • May 26 - PBS event after lunch • May 29 – no school, Memorial Day holiday • June 7 - Graduation Class of 2017 • June 8 – minimum day, dismissal at 12:10 – LAST DAY OF SCHOOL • June 19 to July 20 – extended school year summer program

Monitor our website www.sanjuan.edu/LaurelRuff for updates

Celebrate "Pay It Forward” week from Jan. 16-20

San Juan Unified invites you to participate in “Pay It Forward” week from Jan. 16-20. During this time, our staff, students and families are asked to perform a good deed that will enhance our community. The receiver of the good deed is encouraged to “pay it forward” to someone else, creating a chain reaction of good acts and feelings. It is a great opportunity to help our students understand the power of empathy and their own ability to make a difference in others’ lives. Families can get behind the cause and encourage this idea at home, too.

Here are a few suggestions to consider for Jan. 16-20:

• Acknowledge a student, staff, or parent for their efforts, kindness, or support. • Return someone else’s shopping cart to the front of the store. • Give a well-loved book to someone who would benefit from reading it. • Give your services for free to someone who could use a helping hand. • Smile at someone. You’ll see that many people will quickly loosen up and return

a smile. • Participate in a cleanup day. Cleanup days are a fantastic way to help preserve

Mother Nature. • Encourage others with Post-it notes. • Give a homeless person a gift card for food. • Let others in the line go in front of you.

View additional ideas for preschool, elementary, middle and high school students as well as adults on the district website – www.sanjuan.edu. The week’s activities are part of a larger outreach effort to highlight inclusiveness and support for all our students, families and staff with the theme of #SanJuanForAll. We encourage you to share your own stories of kindness on social media using the hashtag #SanJuanForAll.

Thank you for your support. Together we can change the world – one good deed at a time!

January 13th, 2017

Quarter 2, Issue 4

Project SEARCH, (916) 973-4872

What our Interns have to say:

`

Interns held their first

“employment

planning meetings” to

discuss employment

opportunities and

steps needed to gain

employment.

This year’s goal is 70%

hired!

At the end of

December we said

good bye to Kyle S.

who officially

completed the Project

Search program and is

working at Safeway.

During his time at

Project Search he

learned the skills

necessary to get a job and keep it.

Good job Kyle, you will be missed!

Project Search would

like to welcome the

newest member of

our team – Ricardo

Orellana. He has

been working in

Special ed for 5 years

as an instructional

assistant.

Welcome to the

team!

1.

“My goals for employment

are: to be an excellent

worker and to work for the

postal service.” – John W.

“My goals for employment

are to work as a

receptionist or in an office

setting.” – Petar O.

“My goals for employment

are to work at the Dollar

Store or grocery store so I

can earn money and live

with roommates or on my

own.” – Terry K.

Project SEARCH Partners:

Upcoming Intern Birthdays:

Sina J. – January 1st

George S. – January 17th

Alicia B. – January 27th

Current Events

2 TYPE TITLE HERE

Upcoming events

January 16th No Interns

February 17th Last Day of Internship

About Project SEARCH

Our interns participated in Project Search’s second annual ugly sweater contest. Thank you to all who

stopped by and participated!

Written by: Rain Williamson

The Project SEARCH

Program is a unique,

one year school-to-work

program. Project Search

provides total

workplace immersion

through a seamless

combination of

classroom instruction,

career exploration, and

hands-on training

through worksite

rotations. The goal for

each student is

competitive

employment. Project

SEARCH gives real-life

work experience

combined with training

in employability and

independent living skills

to help youths with

disabilities make a

successful transition from

school to a productive

adult life.

Project SEARCH

2025 Morse Avenue

Sacramento, CA 95825

Across from LL7

Phone

(916)973-4872

E-mail shari.studebaker@sanjuan.edu

- rainwilliamson@futures-explored.org

- ricardo.orellana@sanjuan.edu

”Growth is never by mere

chance; it is the result of forces

working together.”

James Case Penney

Questions or suggestions? Want

to get involved? Contact us!

YOU LIGHT THE WAY AWARD NOMINATION FORM

Nominee Name __________________________________School Site_____________________ Home Address _________________________ City Zip ____________ _____ Parent Volunteer _____ Classified Employee

_____ Teacher _____ Community Worker _____ Administrator _____ Student

_____ Other How has this nominee contributed to special education in the San Juan Unified School District in a manner that is above and beyond what a person in the role normally does? Please give examples and specify the number of years. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Submitted by: Name _______________________________ Position ___________________________________ Address __________________________________________ City ______________ Zip ________ Phone (Day) _______________________________ (Evening) ____________________________ Please return form no later than Wednesday, January 18, 2017, to:

KATHY OLCESE, SPECIAL EDUCATION 4825 KENNETH AVENUE, CARMICHAEL, CA 95608 Phone (916) 971-7953 or (916) 979-8921 FaxEmail: kathy.olcese@sanjuan.edu