South Metro Newsletter

As we move closer toward summer break and navigate through GMAS testing, I would like to take the time to thank the staff. Over the course of this school year, we have had some great bonding moments and celebrations that we have shared with our students. Members of our team have received LSCI (Life Space Crisis Intervention) training and certification as well as monthly facilitated NME (NeuroSequential Model in Education) refreshers.

I would like to take this time to thank my administrators for their continuous commitment to ensure that the building runs smoothly, staff is given the assistance that is needed, and more importantly provided a safe space for our students.

To my teachers and paraprofessionals, you have shown amazing agility as we have made several changes and adjustments to accommodate and service our students with fidelity. South Metro GNETS classroom staff has mastered the ability to connect with each student individually and has shown that they are dedicated to our student’s progress.

Over the past year, our clinical team has not only bonded with our students, they have also strengthened the connection with families, caregivers, and their communities. With the help of our Community Parent Liaison, we have been able to connect South Metro GNETS families to community resources, providing Wraparound Support and monthly parent workshops.

Parents thank you for your patience, assistance, and resiliency. We understand that life gets overwhelming and sometimes it's hard to juggle everything. For this reason, we fully appreciate your assistance and cooperation throughout this school year. It truly takes a village.

Lastly, to our students, I am proud of your accomplishments that were made throughout the year. For the students that will be transitioning to an outpost site or reintegrating into their home school, I would like to congratulate you and encourage you to keep up the good work. To our students that will be returning to Ash Street Center, I hope you have an amazing summer break and I will be looking forward to you exceeding all of your goals for the 23-24 school year.

In all, everyone's effort has been successfully productive at Ash Street Center and JBH, where “Every Student Matters & Every Moment Counts!”

Have a wonderful summer!

Sincerely,

Derrick Gilchrist

Mr. Nunley, Student Support Facilitator (SSF), is always there to help and support both students and faculty! We are so thankful to have you at JBH!

As we close out Teacher Appreciation Week (a week early) I wanted to take this time to say I appreciate each and every one of you! Thank you for all that you do! ~Ms. Spencer

JBH is pleased to have been selected for a Project Learning Garden Rejuvenation Grant Award where we received soil, amendments, and an irrigation system. And thanks to Lowe's for their donation of beautiful herbs and vegetable plants. Thanks Captain Planet!

The faculty and staff wore colors of the day showing their support of Autism Awareness🙂

Parents Preparing for Summer

Hello Parents and Guardians,

Summer is time where students and teachers take a break from education to reset and prepare for the next school year. This means us as working parents must decide how to keep them safe, comfortable, and busy during the summer time.

Here are some helpful tips to help prepare you for Summer 2023:

1. Maintain A Schedule can help maintain a daily schedule, right down to meal times and bedtime, as much as possible. This helps to delay behaviors and provides comfortable for your student and helps them to be more cooperative throughout the day.

2. Make it Visual schedule can help student’s who struggle and panic over transitions can benefit from having a posted schedule that outlines what will happen for the day or week. Depending on your student’s developmental levels pictures can be added to help. Click here for useful tools to create a schedule.

3. Make A Plan, try to schedule as many activities as possible, as early as possible, and keep your student posted on any changes. Creating activities does not have to be challenging it can be as simple as “Going to dinner at Grandma” or “Shopping trip at Walmart”. You can also use useful tools like Meetup groups or Eventbrite to locate different events in your community.

4. Get Outdoors going outside is tool to use to help decrease the amount of screen time students receive during the summer break. Even if camp isn’t in the cards, try to find something your student enjoys—riding a bike or scooter, playing tag, or splashing at the community pool, water park, or beach—and do it. Also try reaching out to you local Recreation Centers to review their events and activities, Click here for Clayton Co. Parks and Rec and Henry Co. Parks and Rec.

5. Maintain or create a behavioral system to help your student understand the expectations of them and the rewards they can earn for good behavior. You should choose two or three most desired positive behaviors to nurture with consistent and positive reinforcement, and try to ignore as many of the negative ones as possible. This teaches kids the definite rewards of desired behavior, and that acting out gets them nothing.

6. Find Support It can at times be difficult to find camps or programs to help support your child’s social needs however programs like Georgia Parent to Parent can assist you with finding programs, support groups for parents, and programs tailored to meet the needs of students with developmental, emotional, or behavioral problems.

7. Mimic Home Routines when traveling When traveling try your best to mimic the same routine for your student as best of you can. A great example would be instead of renting a hotel for your getaway or vacation plan to rent a apartment or a house. This way you can keep your routine and decrease extra stimulation for your student.

8. Work with Your Child’s Strengths and Interest finding activities or programs that meet your student’s interest or strengths increases their chances of wanting to participate in the activities. Talk with your student and identify their strengths and interest can help you when it comes to researching programs and summer camps to enroll your student into.

9. Pinpoint Your Child’s Anxieties It is important to figure out your child’s fears. One way to do this is to ask open-ended questions rather than yes or no questions. Once you have the information the goal will be to teach your student that her feelings of anxiousness are uncomfortable but encourage him or her to push through it.

10. Prepare Yourself for Some Tough Times Even with the best-laid plans, you may see some regression and worsening behavior over vacation. Give yourself some grace for not being able to magically avoid it. And be ready to hold your ground in as calm, firm, and consistent a manner as possible. Yelling or becoming physical only escalates things, while giving in teaches your child that if he screams loud enough, he’ll get what he wants. Self-care by taking time for yourself. Do not be afraid to get a babysitter or ask for help from a family member. Then come back and continue to move forward.

I hope these tips were helpful and if you would like more tips or information visit Child Mind Institute at the link -> https://childmind.org/article/strategies-for-a-successful-summer-break/

You can also visit our Parent Corner on our school website resources, self-care tips, and activities for you and your family: https://009.clayton.k12.ga.us/for_parents/parent_resources/parent_s_community_resource_corner

Last day of school (students - Clayton): Wednesday, May 24th, 2023

Last day of school (students - Henry): Friday, May 26th, 2023 (Early release)

Exceptional students survey due: Tuesday, May 30th, 2023

First day of next school year (students - Clayton and Henry): Wednesday, Aug 2nd, 2023