October Newsletter

J.M. has been named Student of the Month for showing extraordinary enthusiasm and growth while mastering new classroom vocational jobs. From managing daily routines to tackling hands-on tasks with confidence, he has been building these important independence and workplace skills.

A.H. is this month’s Principal Award Winner for bringing infectious positivity and a friendly spirit to our community as a bright new addition to our school. She has jumped right into learning new skills with enthusiasm, learning vocational jobs like handcrafting greeting cards and making sweet treats like chocolate-covered Oreos and chocolate lollipops. Her eager work ethic, warm smile, and knack for making new friends make her a truly deserving recipient!

Congratulations to our Sunshine Cafe Employee of the Month, who brightens every shift with a constant smile and an eager willingness to help anyone. He takes great pride in crafting everyone’s specific coffee orders to perfection while serving as a fantastic mentor to new employees as they learn the ropes. His uplifting attitude, dedication, and spirit of teamwork make him a true star in our cafe family!

October was a busy and delicious month at the Sunshine Cafe as students mastered exciting autumn recipes and essential vocational skills. Everyone had a blast learning to bake a pumpkin crumb cake topped with a sweet icing drizzle, alongside crafting a festive pumpkin-themed drink using orange soda and vanilla ice cream. Students took complete ownership of running the cafe, handling every job from room set-up and drink preparation to taking orders, delivering to tables, and bussing afterwards. They also gained valuable workplace experience operating a real cash register for customer transactions. The excitement kept rolling into the afternoon with the Snack Shack, which is open daily from 12:15 PM to 1:00 PM to serve staff and Hillcrest Academy South students. Through every order filled, our hard-working team is building real-world independence, customer service skills, and immense pride in their work!

The students were thrilled for their trip to Chili's and Marshall's! Before heading out, they practiced an essential real-world skill: distinguishing between a 'want' (something nice to have)and a 'need' (something essential). On the trip, they brought calculators to total their purchases and keep track of their spending to stay under budget. While at the restaurant, students practiced menu-reading skills and ordered their own meals from the waiter!

We started the year strong with our back-to-school crafts and All About Me projects! Since then, we’ve been exploring the elements of design and incorporating them into our artwork. Students have been experimenting with new types of lines, mixing paints to create new shades, and bringing their ideas to life through 3D forms.

We also came together for a school-wide collage and gallery wall! Students showed off their drawing skills, and their individual artwork was combined into one giant school-wide collage. Each student also received their own canvas to contribute to our new art gallery!

It’s been a wonderful year of creativity, exploration, and self-expression so far. We can’t wait to see what our artists create next!

We are excited to introduce the new look of our classroom-based business! Formerly known as Westlake Bagels, our program is expanding and has officially been rebranded as Bites N’ More. The new name reflects just how much our students are doing—from preparing and selling food to gardening, packaging products, and developing valuable workplace skills.

As Bites N’ More continues to grow, our goal is to give students meaningful, hands-on opportunities that build independence, confidence, communication, and real-world vocational skills.

Looking the Part!

Of course, every growing business needs its own brand! Students have been busy using our Cricut to create their own Bites N’ More aprons. This project allowed students to take part in building the identity of their new business while practicing following directions, completing multi-step tasks, and taking pride in a finished product. Now they can wear their new logo while they work!

From Our Garden to You

Our classroom business doesn't stop in the kitchen! Students have continued working hard in the Westlake garden, learning how to plant, maintain, harvest, prepare, and sell produce. Students are beginning to see the entire process—from caring for something in the garden to turning what they grow into a product that can be shared or sold.

These experiences help connect classroom learning with authentic job skills such as organization, responsibility, teamwork, customer service, and money skills.

Academics With a Purpose

Even our academic lessons are connected to functional, real-world experiences. Students have been working on activities involving sorting, counting, organizing, collecting data, and creating graphs. Hands-on lessons give students opportunities to practice academic skills in ways that are meaningful and can be applied beyond the classroom.

Our First Staff Lunch Sale!

Bites N’ More recently held its first staff lunch sale, serving homemade chili and cornbread! Students participated throughout the process—from gathering ingredients and following a recipe to preparing, cooking, portioning, packaging, and serving the meal.

A major focus was completing each step as independently as possible. Visual supports, modeling, and assistance were provided when needed, but students were encouraged to take ownership of their individual responsibilities. Every lunch we prepare is another opportunity to strengthen skills students can carry into future jobs and everyday life.

More Than a Classroom Business

Bites N’ More is about much more than food. Whether students are working in the garden, preparing a staff lunch, creating products, organizing materials, or completing classroom jobs, they are practicing skills that promote greater independence at school, at work, and in the community.

We are incredibly excited to see where Bites N’ More takes us next—and we can't wait to share more of our students' hard work throughout the year!

October has been a busy, fun-filled month in Speech Therapy! Students have been learning and practicing important communication skills through hands-on activities, seasonal experiences, and opportunities to interact with others throughout the school.

Students have enjoyed participating in classroom scavenger hunts, solving riddles, and searching for hidden items around the room. These activities encourage students to listen carefully, follow directions, solve problems, and use their language skills while having fun and moving around the classroom. Students have also taken nature walks outside to explore the changing season and identify signs of fall, including colorful leaves and other items found in nature. During these walks, students have practiced observing their surroundings, identifying and describing objects, and answering questions about what they see.

With the weather getting cooler, students have also discussed the importance of choosing appropriate clothing for fall. Through conversation and real-life examples, they have worked on identifying clothing items, describing their purpose, and deciding what to wear based on the weather.

Fall-themed books have provided additional opportunities for students to work on their individual speech and language goals. Students have practiced answering questions, following directions, building vocabulary, recalling information, and sharing their thoughts about the stories.

An important focus throughout the month has been developing social communication and peer interaction skills. Students have been walking around the building conducting fun surveys, asking questions such as, “What is your favorite candy?” These activities encourage students to approach staff and peers, gain someone’s attention appropriately, ask questions, listen to responses, and practice interacting with others in meaningful, real-life situations.

Overall, October has been a wonderful month of learning, exploring, and building communication skills! Students have enjoyed participating in seasonal activities while strengthening their language, listening, problem-solving, and social communication skills in fun and functional ways.

October was the month that launched the monthly family webinars offered by the commission. I had the pleasure of cohosting, with Kristine Berlowitz, a webinar presented by DDD representative, Camille Maxwell-Nery. Westlake parents along with several supporting staff members, made up more than 1/3 of all participants in this webinar. Camille addressed with the Division of Developmental Disabilities, had to offer future Westlake graduates, along with the step-by-step process of how to apply.

We are excited to offer upcoming individual sessions with Camille at Westlake.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Ms. Jackie coordinated a fantastic celebration centered around a delicious, community-wide lunch. Tables were beautifully lined with an inviting spread of flavorful dishes and sweet desserts representing a variety of different countries. It was a wonderful feast that brought everyone together to enjoy great food and honor rich cultural traditions!

Our community came together for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, starting with a delicious potluck breakfast organized by the Sunshine Club and custom pink t-shirts crafted and sold by Westlake Bites & More. The uplifting day culminated in a festive afternoon parade featuring upbeat music and bubbles to honor and support all those affected by breast cancer. It was a beautiful display of unity, hope, and heartfelt encouragement for an important cause!

Family District Transition Series: Navigating SSI: What Families Need to Know at Age 18

Join us on Wednesday, November 18, at 7:00 PM for a virtual information session presented by Connor Griffin, Director of Health Care Advocacy at The Arc of New Jersey. Connor will provide an overview of the Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Learn about why applying for SSI at age 18 can be beneficial, who qualifies and how you can apply for SSI, when an SSI appeal is needed, and understanding how to maintain and manage SSI benefits moving forward.

• Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026

• Time: 7:00 PM (Virtual via Google Meet)

Please register using the link above to receive the virtual meeting link prior to the event.

Questions? Contact us at workshops@ucesc.og

Website: www.ucesc.org/schools/westlake_school

Location: 1571 Lamberts Mill Rd, Westfield, NJ, USA

Phone: 908-232-4181

Visit us!