Southern Westchester BOCES Center for Special Services

News from our schools

• Support the SEPTA at our book fair at Barnes & Noble Nov. 10 & 11

  Attend the annual SEPTA Book Fair Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10 & 11, at Barnes and Noble in White Plains from noon to 4 p.m.

  There will be story readings, a treasure hunt and a coloring station. If can't make it, you can still participate and get your holiday shopping done early by ordering online at bn.com/bookfairs from Nov. 10-15. At checkout, enter Book Fair ID #12453643.

  We hope to see you there. Thank you for your support!

  News Feed - Center for Special Services

• Special Services students celebrate Spirit Week at Valhalla campus

  Students in Mr. Walsh's, Ms. Lloyd's, Mrs. Gaines-Chastine's and Ms. Culler’s classes our Valhalla campus participated in “Spirit Week” Sept. 24-28.

  Monday: Crazy Hat Day
  Tuesday: Sports Day
  Wednesday: Backwards Day
  Thursday: Pajama Day
  Friday: Blue and White Day (for SWBOCES' colors)

  Students made posters to advertise each day’s activity.  Staff also joined in and enjoyed the activities with the students.

  Principal Leslie Handler provided cupcakes, which students decorated with blue and white icing and sprinkles, and several flavors of ice cream for sundaes with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

  Kaya loved wearing pajamas to school on Pajama Day.  She said she was so comfortable! Chantay’s favorite day was Blue and White Day because she got to make an ice cream sundae! Brandon liked Sports Day best because he loves to wear his jerseys to school. Christian loved Pajama Day! He said he was very comfortable. Clarence said his favorite day was hat day because he liked seeing all the different hats, and we decorated my helmet in Occupational Therapy, which was fun.

  Elijah said his favorite day was Sports Day because he likes watching sports at home, and he got to wear his New York Yankees shirt. He also liked seeing what his friends' favoritesSports and teams were.

  News Feed - Center for Special Services

• Tappan Hill School Hosts Open House

  Parents who attended the Oct. 12 Open House at Tappan Hill School spoke with teachers, learned about the curriculum and activities, and found out about students’ daily routines.

   

  During a gathering with refreshments in the gym, Tappan Hill Principal Phyllis Rizzi announced that the school is getting a new playground. Parents clapped when she told them the news.

   

  “This playground, as you can see, is so beautiful,” she said as she showed them a rendering of it.

  News Feed - Center for Special Services

• Parents Learn about Community Resources, SEPTA at Meet and Greet

  Parents who attended the Southern Westchester BOCES Special Education PTA’s recent Meet and Greet learned about the variety of community support services available, from music therapy and recreation to special education advocacy.

  Parent Marcela Stern, a SEPTA executive board member, said the group sponsors educational and fun events for students and parents throughout the year. Topics covered at educational sessions include guardianship and transition planning. The annual book fair fundraiser at Barnes & Noble in White Plains is in November.

  “Every time that we have something like this, parents find out new information that is useful for their lives,” Ms. Stern said during the morning session. There was a second Meet and Greet in the evening.

  One of SEPTA’s goals this year is to get more families involved, said Frank Alvarez, SWBOCES’ director of special services.

  News Feed - Center for Special Services

• SEPTA Welcome Back Coffee set for Oct. 3

  Southern Westchester BOCES SEPTA invites you to the annual Welcome back Coffee on Wednesday, Oct. 3,  from 9:30-11 a.m. and again from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Rye Lake Campus, 1606 Old Orchard St., White Plains.

  Join us for coffee, learn about SEPTA’s plans for the new year and meet representatives from different Westchester organizations that provide workshops, respite, therapeutic and recreational services:

  ARC Westchester Carin Horowitz will be available to discuss overnight/weekend respite options and other support and recreational services available through their organization.

  Music Conservatory of Westchester Lisa Sandagata will talk about their programs for children and adults with special needs, including music therapy, given by certified professionals.

  Parent to Parent Mariela Adams will present on parent support systems, self-direction and resources for parents.

  North East Westchester Special Recreation Nanci Bellini, the Program director, will present about their non-profit, community-based therapeutic recreational agency and its programs, serving children and adults with developmental disabilities.

  Special Needs Advocate/ Special Needs Family Counseling Jennifer Kahn Ruoff will speak about what it means to be an advocate and other issues concerning family counseling.

  Hudson Valley Special Education Parent Center at Westchester Institute for Human Development Lulu Bencosme will speak about their services to support families with children with special needs.

  For questions, contact Cathy Fragoso at  914-366-2560 orcfragoso@swboces.org.

  News Feed - Center for Special Services

• Tappan Hill, Volunteer New York! Partnership a Success

  After six weeks working together to decorate bags and fill them with candy, a group of SWBOCES students and Volunteer New York! mentors invited Tarrytown first responders to Tappan Hill School to thank them for their service.

  The Volunteer New York! mentors are adults with developmental disabilities in the RISE program, which stands for Readiness for Integrated Service Engagement. The collaboration was a pilot project whose purpose was for the Volunteer New York! volunteers, who are in their 20s, to serve as role models for some Tappan Hill students who are approaching graduation. Those who participated are in the school’s multiply disabled program, which educates young adults who have developmental disabilities and are often medically fragile.  

  “Our goal is to connect young adults with different abilities who have already been in school to volunteer out in the community,” said Patti Colombo, RISE manager.

  News Feed - Center for Special Services

• Volunteers, Tappan Hill students 'RISE' to the occasion

  Read about a unique collaboration this summer between Tappan Hill Students and some special volunteers who are helping us say thanks to the first responders who do so much for us!

  News Feed - Center for Special Services

• Join SWBOCES SEPTA Today!

  The Southern Westchester BOCES Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) invites families of children with special needs to join and take part in events throughout the school year. Read their Letter of Introduction and complete a membership form and survey today!

  News Feed - Center for Special Services

• Take a look back at last month's Decagon Prom

  Last month the Decagon team on the Rye Lake Campus decided to go above and beyond on graduation day, throwing a prom for the graduate and her classmates.

  News Feed - Center for Special Services

• Students Graduate from Irvington High School TSP Program

  It was a beautiful day for 20 students who graduated from the Irvington High School TSP Program June 16th. 

  News Feed - Center for Special Services