dciu update 12€¦ · here is a brief overview of some of our accomplishments in 2016: we launched...

DCIU Update

E A R L YI N T E R V E N T I O NDCIU Early Interventionadministrative staff are busybehind the scenescoordinating the transition toschool age activities.

H O L I D A Y C A R EF O R T H EH O M E B O U N DSchool students assembled atthe DCIU in Mortonto make holiday carepackages for dozens ofvulnerable seniors.

A V E R Y M E R R YM A R P L EThe school age programs atMarple Education Centerpresent their musical show,Winter Wonderland.

DECEMBER 2016

DRIVE | CREATE | INSPIRE | UNDERSTAND

INTHISISSUE

A Message from the Executive Director.........................................

In the Spotlight....................................................................................................

Featured Photos................................................................................................

Bread and Buddies..........................................................................................

Delco Celebrates Computer Science Education Week......

Holiday Care for the Homebound......................................................

Monetary Mindfullness at JDC...............................................................

A Very Merry Marple......................................................................................

HR Health & Wellness Corner.................................................................

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10CONTACT US!Did you participate in a DCIU activityyou'd like to see in the newsletter?Let us know! [email protected].

DCIU UPDATE | 01

A Message from the

Executive Director

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6

As we head into 2017, I hope each and every one of you had a safe and

happy holiday and a wonderful start to the new year. I, for one, am

very excited about all of the opportunity that lies ahead of us in 2017

and am very proud of everything we accomplished in 2016.

Here is a brief overview of some of our accomplishments in 2016:

We launched several new programs in 2016, including the DCIU STEM

Lending Library, the DCTS Exercise Science Program, and the DCIU

Guest Teacher Program.

The DCIU made new commitments to expand K-12 computer science

instruction through a partnership with Code.org, resulting in our

inclusion in a White House Fact Sheet.

The DCIU was awarded with several impressive grants, including a

million dollar grant for the STEAL program and a $1.3 Million Early

Grades Instructional Leadership Grant.

While these are only a few of our many accomplishments in 2016, they

are certainly a show of the drive, creativity, inspiration,

and understanding we strive to achieve here every day. Thank you all

for your hard work in making this possible and I cannot wait to see all

of the other wonderful things to come in 2017!

DR. MARIA EDELBERGEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DCIU

DECEMBER 2016

HAPPY 2017!

IN THE SPOTL IGHT

Peering in from the outside, it appears that this well-

oiled machine just runs. Each Fall, hundreds of

preschool Early Intervention students seamlessly

matriculate to kindergarten special education

programming in their school district of residence. This

feature story takes a moment to shine the spotlight on

those behind the scenes who are turning the wheels

and making it all possible; those who make not only

daily operations in Early Intervention possible, but

also large endeavors, such as this very detailed

transition to school age services, appear effortless.

Each November, the process quietly begins. Katie

Thompson, DCIU IT, runs reports from detailed

databases to provide data organized by student age

and school district of residence. DCIU EI

administrative support staff then work closely with

their school district counterparts to coordinate and

schedule an individual meeting for each Early

Intervention student who is eligible to transition to

kindergarten in the Fall of the following year. In

December, families are notified of the transition

process through letters and each family receives a

personal phone call (yes, this means over 400 phone

calls!) to schedule each meeting with school district

staff and an Early Intervention representative.

Support staff work together to organize each child's

pertinent educational record prior to the scheduled

transition meeting. These documents are copied and

Delaware County Intermediate Unit Early

Intervention administrative staff are busy behind

the scenes coordinating the transition to school age

activities for over 400 students in 14 of the 15

school districts in Delaware County.

FEATURE

EARLY INTERVENT ION

DCIU UPDATE | 02 DECEMBER 2016

categorized by school district to

facilitate the transfer of records

between DCIU and the child's

school district of residence. This

is a monumental task that our

Early Intervention administrative

assistants complete with a smile!

Along the way, many parents call

with questions and scheduling

conflicts. EI administrative staff

also conquer the dreaded snow

days which require all meetings

on that day be rescheduled. The

superb support staff troubleshoot

each individual challenge making

every effort to meet the needs of

our families and the local school

districts.

Early Intervention is grateful for

the support of our administrative

support team; our administrative

support staff are there for the

families we serve, every step of

the way - from the initial intake

call, to the scheduling of an

evaluation followed by the

mailing and filing of necessary

paperwork.

These special folks maintain our

databases, arrange student

transportation, order supplies,

process invoices, provide a smile

and a sticker to building visitors -

in short - they do it all! Early

Intervention is proud to shine this

month's spotlight on them!

IN SHORT - THE EI ADMINISTRATIVESUPPORT TEAMDOES IT ALL.


THIS MONTH'S FEATURE

On November 15th, Haverford

High School's Best Buddies

members ate dinner at the

Quarry Center Panera Bread

Company in Havertown.

Accompanied by friends and

family, members and faculty

came together to support Best

Buddies and their mission to

create an inclusive environment

for all students. The proceeds

from this night are going towards

improving the chapter and

funding future events.

On November 18th, Haverford

High School's Best Buddies

chapter celebrated their annual

Thanksgiving Feast. The club

strives for an integrated school

for kids with and without

intellectual and developmental

disabilities.

The Thanksgiving Feast is open

to all members of the club and is

just one of many Best Buddies

festivities. During the lunch, the

students build friendships and

break social barriers.

Moreover, this year Haverford

Middle School created a chapter

of their own and got the chance

to attend this year's feast!

The middle school students took

advantage of the rare

experience of meeting future

peers and getting a glimpse of

the high school chapter they will

soon be a part of.

Overall, the students enjoyed a

potluck Thanksgiving lunch and

were thankful for the many

friendships that came out of Best

Buddies.

DECEMBER 2016| 05DCIU UPDATE

THE STUDENTSBUILD FRIENDSHIPSAND BREAK SOCIALBARRIERS.

BREADANDBUDDIES

Students, teachers, administrators,

and government representatives

took to their computers between

December 5th and December 9th in

honor of Computer Science

Education Week.

During the week, people around the

world signed up for an Hour of Code

with Code.org to show that anyone

can learn the basics to be a maker, a

creator, and an innovator.

DCIU encouraged people to share

how they were celebrating

Computer Science Education Week

for a chance to win a STEM day for

their school with the DCIU STEM

Innovation Center.

Over 100 users tweeted in support

by showing off their classrooms and

students participating. Lynnewood

Elementary School took home the

prize, though, and will enjoy a free

STEM day loaded with activities in

the spring!

DelcoCelebratesComputerScienceEducation Week

Issue 27 | 234

COMPUTER SC IENCE

ED WEEK


HOLIDAY CAREFOR THEHOMEBOUNDS T U D E N T S M A K E H O L I D A YC A R E P A C K A G E S

This holiday season most of us

will be surrounded by loved

ones, merrily shopping for gifts

and generally savoring seasonal

delights at parties. But, what

about those with no visitors

and no family to celebrate?

This year, non-public school

students from Blessed Virgin

Mary School in Darby

Township and St. Eugene

School in Clifton Heights

assembled to spread some

comfort and warmth to the

elderly in our community who

need care most.

Organized by DCIU staff

Tracey Wolf and Carolyn

Wilson Reilly, these students

came together on December

12th at DCIU in Morton to

assemble and gift wrap baskets

of warm fleece blankets,

reading glasses, nonperishable

foods, and assorted gift cards.

Employees from JEVS at Home,

the largest non-profit home

care provider, then hand

delivered the care baskets on

December 19th. Aurora Kripa,

CEO at JEVS at Home said, "So

many of the elderly in our

community are in dire need of

comfort and warmth. They are

struggling financially and the

holidays make their challenges

more apparent and poignant."

They are not alone. Experts say

more than 26 percent of the

total population in the five

county region are in similar

circumstances. Twelve percent

are considered to be living in

deep poverty - the highest in

the United States.

Thanks to the bright and caring

students at Blessed Virgin

Mary School and St. Eugene

School, their holidays are just a

little bit brighter this year.

The students worked quickly and efficiently to create

some absolutely beautiful baskets for the elderly. They

worked in an assembly line fashion, with some students

carrying baskets to different stations across the room

and some students placing goodies in the baskets. On

top of the wonderful work they accomplished, they did

it all with a smile!


On Wednesday, December 14th,

the students at the Juvenile

Detention Center were

introduced to real life fiscal

responsibility. Danianne Memory

of TD Bank visited the detention

center and introduced the

students to many monetary

concepts they will face in adult

life.

Students learned how to "read" a

check and make sure that it is

written correctly so it can be

easily cashed or deposited. They

were introduced to why having a

personal account, either checking

or savings, is important and how

to maintain the records for those

accounts. Danianne briefly

discussed credit scores and the

importance of having a good

score. She deftly fielded many

questions about how no

score is just as negative as having

a poor score. She then explained

how to earn a good score.

The students sat with rapt

attention when Danianne

provided a sample personal

budget and many were shocked to

find out how expensive it is to

maintain the lifestyle to which

they are accustomed. Danianne

ended the presentation by talking

seriously to the students about

her "regular" job at TD. She is a

store manager who is responsible

for hiring and firing the staff at her

branch. Danianne informed the

students that TD believes in giving

second chances and will consider

someone with a record for

employment. She continued on to

tell the students not to give up and

that just because they hit a "speed

bump" at this age doesn't mean

that they can't attain the life they

dream of. They just have to work

for it.

"Don't give up.Just becauseyou've hit a speedbump doesn'tmean you can'tattain the life youdream of. You justhave to work forit."

- D A N I A N N E M E M O R Y , T D B A N K

MONETARY MINDFULLNESS AT JDC


Directed by Ms . Liza Raspa , Art & Ms . Cindy Rietz , Music

arple Education Center

School-age Autistic Support, Life

Skills, Multiple Disabilities, and

Intensive Life Skills Programs

presented their winter show to a full

house of family, friends, and peers

on Friday, December 16th.

The different classes entertained the

audience with holiday favorites, like

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,"

"Winter Wonderland," "Frosty the

Snowman," "Jingle Bell Rock," and

many, many more.

Students amazed the audience with

their talent! In addition to our

Marple Education Center's Winter Show, Winter Wonderland

M

Marple EducationCenter School-ageAutistic Support,Life Skills, MultipleDisabilities, andIntensive Life-SkillsPrograms presenttheir winter show:Winter Wonderland!

favorite holiday hits, they rang

jingle bells, used boomwhackers,

danced, and some students even

played the guitar! It was a

wonderfully fun event for everyone.

This was definitely a result of the

hard work of the students and the

incredibly devoted staff at Marple.

Their dedication and preparation

definitely paid off with the excellent

performance and decorations.

Great job everyone!

Other Holiday Activities at Marple

The holiday spirit at Marple

THANK YOU STUDENTS FORNEVER CEASING TO AMAZEUS WITH YOUR TALENT!

Education Center didn't end with

the show, though! On Tuesday,

December 20th, MNHS Show Choir

performed for the students. On

Wednesday, December 21st, the

students all enjoyed a fun sing-a-

long of familiar holiday songs that

they learned in music class. Then, on

Thursday, December 22nd Santa

Claus himself came by to give out

gifts to every school age child as part

of the "Secret Santa Gift Giving"

event. What fun!

A VERY MERRY MARPLE


GETTHATFLU SHOT!

If you haven't gotten your flu shot yet, don't worry. It's not too

late! Since there are still a few months left in the flu season, a

"better late than never" approach is especially true in this case.

Since the flu season tends to peak in January or February, don't

wait another day to protect yourself. It takes about two weeks

for the vaccine's protective benefits to kick in. If you're still not

convinced getting the vaccine is worth your time, here's a final

fact you should know: For people with a history of

cardiovascular incidents, a flu shot cuts the risk of a heart attack

or stroke in half. That's no shot in the dark!It's not too late!

HR HEALTH &

WELLNESSCORNER


The DCIU offers all employees the opportunity to enroll in a tax sheltered annuity (403B) plan. A 403B is a retirement plan that

allows public school employees to make tax deferred contributions to annuity contracts or custodial accounts. The employee

elects to make contributions to an approved vendor by use of a salary reduction agreement. For information, please contact

Joanne Matteucci at 610-938-9000 ext. 2003 or [email protected]

TAX SHELTERED ANNUITY (403B) ENROLLMENT

dciu update 12€¦ · here is a brief overview of some of our accomplishments in 2016: we launched...

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