Work Readiness Academy

Dear Work Readiness Academy Students and Families & Other Supporters!

We hope you all enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing summer with family and friends. Our staff is thrilled to begin another exciting year. We are looking forward to welcoming our returning students in just a couple of weeks, and we are equally eager to meet the new faces joining our community!

Be sure to check out the summer edition of our newsletter below, which features:

• ESY Highlights: A quick look back at the fantastic moments and accomplishments from our extended school year summer program.

• School Year Prep: Important notes and updates to help everyone get ready for day one.

• Back to School Night: Save-the-date details, including specific times and schedule info.

Enjoy these final days of summer break—we can't wait to see you all very soon!

Warmly,

Josh Bornstein, Director

Rachel Richer, Supervisor of Instruction

UCESC Work Readiness Academy

Back to School Forms

Parents/Guardians of returning students must complete all required school forms online through our Genesis Student Information Portal. You should have received an email from the Genesis portal earlier this month with instructions to access your parent account. If you do not receive an email from Genesis with your login information, please email contact_us@ucesc.org or please feel free to contact our school secretary Danielle Marchesani at (908) 633-2704 or at dmarchesani@ucesc.org.

Parents/Guardians of new students were sent paper copies of the required school forms.

Please note that all forms must be completed online prior to the first day of school on September 3, 2026. Your timely completion of these forms is essential to ensure we have the most accurate information for your child.

Transportation

You should be receiving information about your child’s transportation provider and route in the next two weeks. If you have not heard anything by Tuesday, September 1st, we recommend that you contact: Your resident school district special services department or transportation department; OR

The UCESC transportation department at (908) 233-9317, then press 6.

New Cell Phone/Device Policy

Under the new NJ State law and Policy 5516: Students are prohibited from using personal, internet‑enabled devices on school grounds during the school day.

Students are still allowed to bring personal cellphones or devices to school but will only be able to use them for instructional purposes. Cellphones and devices will not be allowed during the student lunch period. Students will be assigned a district-issued Chromebook to use daily in class. These devices will not be sent home.

Project SEARCH - Wednesday, October 7 from 6:30 to 8:00pm (Virtual Only)

Work Readiness Academy - Thursday, October 8 from 6:00 to 8:00pm

(In Person Only)

Our ESY students had a busy summer gaining valuable hands-on experience at our Work-Based Learning (WBL) sites, including Cranford Swim and Tennis Club, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, ShopRite, Hilton Garden Inn, and the Can Do Snack Cart at Overlook Hospital - Union Campus. Throughout the summer, we intentionally targeted three foundational employability skills: greeting others, building work stamina, and asking for help when needed. Students had opportunities to practice these skills in authentic workplace environments while receiving feedback and support from WRA staff. These experiences provided a strong foundation as we prepare to build upon each student's employability skills, confidence, and independence during the upcoming school year.

The incoming Project SEARCH Class of 2027 cohort participated in travel training orientation at the end of July with Louis Hoffman from Come Ride with Us New Jersey. The interns spent the morning learning in the classroom and then toured the Summit Train Station and rode the Atlantic Health shuttle to Overlook. This month the interns have been participating in individualized training using New Jersey Transit.

The Work Readiness Academy serves students ages 18-21 with disabilities and provides a comprehensive employment training experience that incorporates both classroom-based instruction and community-based work-learning experiences. While in the training classroom, students work cooperatively with similar aged peers to learn critical skills related to employment and socialization. Students also work on career exploration and planning, including the development of a person-centered, post-secondary vision and plan with clear goals and action steps. Program staff remain on-site during the internships to provide and fade support and assistance as needed. Students also participate in field trips focused on career discovery, independent living skills, recreation and independent travel training.

For more information or to make a student referral, please email Rachel Richer at rricher@ucesc.org

Email: jbornstein@ucesc.org
Website: https://www.ucesc.org/schools/the_work_readiness_academy
Location: 970 Suburban Road, Union, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-633-2704