Selected as a 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020 NASET (National Association of Special Education Teachers) School of Excellence

Maryville Jen School Holiday Issue December 2019

Principal’s Address: Greetings and Happy Holidays,

In just a few short days we will be holding our second quarter awards ceremony, recognizing students for their accomplishments in the areas of academic success, vocational achievement, sportsmanship, and perfect attendance. It is hard to believe our first semester is over and half the school year is already finished.

It has been a great first half of the school year! Jen School is growing in numbers and opportunities for our students. Students have worked on a variety of academic classroom projects to building ramps for community members in need, creating video podcasts, to winning the John Martin Sportsmanship Trophy. The Jen School Faculty and newly formed Advisory Council have also been very busy working on plans to expand our Career and Technical training opportunities for our students.

As we head into the winter holidays, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who help make Jen School such an amazing place. I especially want to thank the faculty for giving the most precious gift of all, the gift of themselves, of being present every day for our students.

To all the students, parents, and friends of the Maryville Jen School Family, my heartfelt wishes for a joyous and peaceful holiday season to you all.

Be safe and Happy holidays,

Ann M. Craig Director of Educational Services/ Principal

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Social Media

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INVEST By: Heather Lischett – Assistant Principal

This week, the INVEST students, in the spirit of giving, went shopping for Toys for Tots and donated several gifts to children of service men and women this holiday season. This activity was done for the “teamwork” unit in our Soft Skills curriculum, and the mission was for the crew and staff to break into teams and purchase gifts for a specific age range within a given budget. The team that came closest to the budget was declared the winner! Ms. Moisette led her team to victory with a total that was $0.11 off from their given budget. Two students then delivered the toys to a designated drop off zone this past Tuesday. The students spoke of how good it felt to do good for others this holiday season, and it was great to see the students able to pay some kindness forward.

By: Moisette McNerney – Teacher

Gratitude and giving are the virtues being examined by the Jen School classrooms during the months of November and December. Teaching students an attitude of gratitude requires helping them to look at their situations from a point of appreciation rather than from a deficit. Small, everyday actions in the classroom can have an impact on our students’ lives. Offering small doses of appreciation regularly can have a huge impact on our students’ lives. Just a small offering of appreciation can build bonds and improve student self-worth. Giving, and the motivations behind it, are complex, deep, and a highly personal thing for everyone. By teaching our students to live with a generous heart, we hope to help them learn that giving encourages happiness, cooperation, and a social connection. In order to help students construct their knowledge of gratitude and giving, the classrooms will be reading The Gift of the Magi. The classic O.Henry short story, first published in 1905, is about a young husband and wife struggling to give one another the “perfect gift” at Christmas. Illustrating sacrifice and generosity, this story continues to teach the true meaning of giving: love and selflessness.

Health Beat: Vaping By: Tracy Mullen – School Nurse What is Vaping? Vaping is the act

of inhaling and exhaling aerosol or

vapor produced by a vape

device. Because of the rise in

popularity of JUUL, a specific type

of vape device, many teens and

young adults use the term

“JUULING” (pronounced Jeweling).

How Does Vaping Work? Vape devices, known as e-cigs, e-hookahs,

mods, vape pens, vapes, tank systems and Juuls, contain 4 basic

components: a cartridge or a tank to hold e-liquid (or e-juice/vape

sauce), a heating element known as an atomizer, a battery and a

mouthpiece to inhale.

Is Vaping Safe? The short answer is that vaping isn’t considered safe

for teens and young adults, especially since their brains are still

developing. Vaping is a relatively new phenomenon. As a result, long-

term studies that examine its impact on teen and young adult health

and behavior have yet to be concluded.

Risks include: Exposure to nicotine and exposure to toxic

substances. Dependence. Injuries and poisonings can occur especially

from those with poor quality batteries, or if they are stored

improperly or modified by the user, they can explode.

For more information, go to the cdc.gov

C L A S S R O O M C O R N E R

grat·i·tude - /ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/ the quality of being thankful giving - /ˈɡiviNG/ providing love or other emotional support; caring

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Jen Events Thanksgiving Luncheon By: Mark Trerotola – Teacher Photos: Aimee L. DeBat – Des Plaines Community Foundation This year’s Thanksgiving Luncheon was another one for the books. Classrooms came together to cook a feast fit for royalty to honor Jen School’s volunteers and constant supporters. Among them in attendance this year were various Maryville departments, school district representatives, Advisory

Board and Maryville Board members, and community partners. Jen School cherishes this opportunity every year to thank its supporters, because without you, we could not do what we do for our students. If we didn’t say it clear enough then, THANK YOU for your unwavering support of Jen School. The Jen School students and staff wish you the Happiest of Holiday Seasons!

What’s Happening at Jen?

CAAEL Update By: Donna Hoffman – School Psychologist CAAEL continues to be a positive motivator for our Jen School students. We are currently in the middle of the volleyball season and may have a chance to make the playoffs this year!! More importantly we have regularly had 6 -12 students eligible to play in our weekly matches and all have demonstrated excellent sportsmanship.

Sportsmanship is emphasized regularly by Coach Dan and our students have bought into this philosophy of CAAEL. The Jen School team was rewarded during the Flag Football tournament held at Jen School on October 1st with the trophy for excellent sportsmanship. This award was voted on by the other teams in attendance. We later found out that Jen School ended up as one of the Division winners of the football season as well! Way to go Jen students!

CAAEL has also sponsored other rewarding experiences for our students. On October 24th around ten students traveled to Soul Harbour ranch in Barrington. This ranch’s mission is to enrich lives with animal therapy. Our students were able to interact with the mini horses, donkeys, and even dogs who live at the ranch.

Then on November 20th, five Jen School students traveled to Sullivan House in Chicago to compete in a CAAEL Academic Bowl. Jen School was asked the day before to fill in for a team that had to back out. With no prep time beforehand, our Jen School participants earned a whopping 590 points! This was only 2 questions shy of tying first place SEAL (School of Expressive Arts and Learning); the competition went down to the wire in the lightening round. CAAEL staff running the event remarked on how no teams had ever gotten as many points as these two teams did that day. We are so proud of our Academic Bowl participants who worked together to answer very challenging, and sometimes random, questions.

Next up on the CAAEL horizon will be volleyball playoffs right after winter break (keep your fingers crossed) and then the start of basketball and bowling seasons soon after. Coach Dan has been busier than ever this year, but is enjoying the large number of eligible CAAEL participants!!

Monthly Yoga Pose By: Tracy Mullen – School Nurse & Yoga Instructor

Plank Pose

From half lift exhale and plant your palms on the mat with your index fingers facing the top of your mat and fingers spread. Step your feet to the back of your mat and come on to the balls of your feet. Your elbows should be directly under your shoulders. Engage your abdominal muscles to squeeze your belly button toward your spine and maintain a neutral back. Contract your quadriceps (thigh muscles) and gluteal muscles to firm your legs. Keep your shoulders drawing away from your ears and your heels over the balls of your feet.

Benefits:

Strengthens your core and increases muscle definition in abs, shoulders, chest, legs and back. Increases metabolism from increased muscle strength. Reduces back pain, as you strengthen your core the body becomes less reliant on the overuse of the back muscles. Gives you a better posture from strengthening your upper body muscles. Improves balance from manifesting stability. Improves bone and joint health due to low impact weight bearing exercise. And, boosts mood and relieves stress, during physical activity the brain releases the neurochemical substance endorphins which are known to increase feelings of happiness and decrease feelings of stress.

~Namaste

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Staff Spotlight Ms. Ashley Jenkins Interview by: Kyiare Murray – Student

Ms. Ashely joined the Jen School team earlier this year and is a paraprofessional and job coach. This is her first job in an alternative school. Ms. Ashley states, “I love the change in structure for me. I have worked with kids and young adults for four years. I love excitement and being active. Mostly, I love helping young adults plan and make good actions toward their future and goals.” Jen School welcomes Ms. Ashley to the team!

Kyiare: How do you like working at Jen School?

Ms. Ashley: Overall, I like working at Jen School. The job is very unpredictable and

interesting. It also opens my eyes to the daily struggles students face.

Kyiare: Have you developed any relationships with students?

Ms. Ashley: Yes, I have a good relationship with the students in my class, and I also have good

relationships with students from other classes as well. I like for all students to know that I’m always a

listening ear if needed.

Kyiare: How do you feel about being a job coach?

Ms. Ashley: I feel good being a job coach in INVEST because it helps develop work ethic in students. It

also gives students a taste of what working a real job may consist of.

Kyiare: How do you feel working in Mr. Kaleem’s class?

Ms. Ashley: I like working in Mr. Kaleem’s class because I can help prepare the older kids for graduation. I also like keeping them motivated to keep

pushing toward that goal.

Kyiare: Do you enjoy being a part of CAAEL?

Ms. Ashley: Yes, I love being a part of CAAEL because it keeps me active. I also enjoy watching the students play against other schools. Overall, it’s a

good program and the students deserve the opportunity given.

From Jen School