Southern Westchester BOCES Center for Special Services

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year at the St. Matthew’s in White Plains.

Our educational training includes academics, social development, job training and student employment. White Plains provides us with the opportunity to run a community-based school program. Our students are young adults who have the opportunity to work for pay, learn important job and social skills while continuing their academic growth. Our student workers provide services to the communities where they learn. Our employers include but are not limited to local delicatessens, churches, pizzerias, clothing outlets, Visiting Nursing Services, the YMCA and even the New York Power Authority. In addition, some students work in our facility preparing lunches and helping with maintenance.

 We have four high school classes and one middle school class. The high school classes include two TSP-DD classes and one AIIM class. Our middle school class is part of the AIIM program. These classes are primarily set up for students with behavioral problems and with those on the Autism spectrum. The high school program has departmentalized classes in the morning. Each student will participate in a schedule that includes: ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Cooking, Office Skills, Activities of Daily Living and Social Skills. As the students transition to their different classes, they are able to interact and learn from all of the teachers in the high school.

Students are also involved in learning about their school community, which offers many rich opportunities Students work in the local YMCA located right across the street. They also have Physical Education classes there. We are able to visit shops and eating establishments to learn ADL skills (Activities in Daily Living). We enjoy the Farmers Market located a few blocks away. Students learn to navigate the community, travel, train and develop independence under careful supervision.

 We at St. Matthew's look forward to enriching the lives of our students as they serve the community where they learn. We look forward to working with you and your child to achieve their goals.

Sincerely,

Will Guterman
Principal 

St. Matthews celebrated a western expression of enthusiasm as our cowboys and cowgirls celebrated the end of the school year. The afternoon was filled with sing -a-longs,  line dancing, smiles, and a delicious BBQ.  We ended our festival with a school-wide birthday celebration.

 "We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails..."

                                                                                           ~Dolly Parton