RioRancho

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Igniting Student Potential

CONTENTSAs we approach spring break we naturally begin thinking about the end of the school year and gradua�on. However, for many of our students with intellectual disabili�es, the transi�on from the world of public schools to the adult world of work can lead to fear and anxiety. Rio Rancho Public Schools is known for its inclusive prac�ces and is taking the lead in developing successful programs and prac�ces to support these students and their families during this transi�on. Jerry Reeder, Execu�ve Director of Special Services, shared the following two promising prac�ces that are making a difference in the lives of these students:

5th Annual Spring Transi�on EXPOOn March 1, 2016 the district had its 5th Annual Spring Transi�on EXPO for students with disabili�es, their families, and other interested visitors. The transi�on from public school to the adult world can be overwhelming. Public school students receive instruc�on, support services,

therapies, and transporta�on from a single source. When they eventually exit the public school system, there are major changes. In the adult world, services for people with disabili�es are handled through a variety of agencies, organiza�ons, and providers. Everything, including transporta�on, becomes a challenge.

The EXPO alternates between RRHS and CHS. This year it was hosted by the RRHS CBI and STEP (Student to Employment Program) led by teacher Trudy Adams. The previous year it was hosted by CHS CBI and BOLT (Building our Life�me Transi�on) led by teacher Ben Vigil.

The EXPO featured more than 25 adult services providers, transi�on agencies, employers, and colleges. The purpose of the EXPO was to provide informa�on about the transi�on from public school to the adult world for students with disabili�es. Par�cipants and visitors met face-to-face to share informa�on about the many op�ons available for a successful transi�on a�er

MESSAGE FROM THE ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT

Message from the Associate Superintendent

HR Tips

Policy Reminder: Social Media

Newsle�er CONTEST!

Upcoming Events

District Highlights

Do you have great news you would like included in the staff newsle�er? Please email Beth Pendergrass at bethany.pendergrass@rrps.net

Con�nued on page 2

Staff NewsletterMarch 11, 2016

high school to the adult world. In addi�on to our many local visitors, approximately 200 members of the NM Transi�on Cadre visited our EXPO. The cadre members came from schools and school districts from all over New Mexico. They wanted to experience our EXPO and learn how to host their own Transi�on EXPOs in the future. Since early planning is crucial, we encouraged families with students as young as pre-k to a�end the EXPO. Learning to navigate the crowded sea of adult services is a huge factor in the transi�on from public school to the adult world. The most successful families are those that start the process as soon as their child is iden�fied as having a disability. It's never too early or too late to start making these important contacts!

Project SEARCHProject SEARCH is an interna�onal school- to-work internship program for youth with disabili�es who have met gradua�on requirements. The Rio Rancho Public Schools has been accepted as an implementa�on site for the Project SEARCH High School Transi�on Program star�ng in the 2016-2017 school year. The RRPS Project SEARCH High School Transi�on Program will be a one-year internship program for students with developmental disabili�es, in their last year of high school. It is targeted for young adults (ages 18 to 21 years of age who have completed all their required coursework) whose goal is compe��ve employment.

The program can take place in a healthcare, government or business se�ng where total immersion in the workplace facilitates the teaching and learning process as well as the acquisi�on of employability and marketable work skills. We are very fortunate that Rust Presbyterian Medical Center agreed to be our host business.

Project SEARCH is a collabora�on of a school district (RRPS), Department of Voca�onal Rehabilita�on, Department of Health, a long term provider (Adelante), and a host business (Presbyterian Rust).

Up to 10 students are accepted into the program through an applica�on process. Once selected, the students are placed into the host business for one full year (following the school calendar of Aug-May) where they will par�cipate in 3- 10 week rota�ons to learn transferrable, marketable, employability skills. The program also includes a classroom por�on taught by a cer�fied Special Educa�on teacher (Gordon Douglas) and an Educa�onal Assistant (Sandra Cartwright) from Rio Rancho Public Schools. This classroom �me takes place at the beginning of the day and includes curriculum-based skills such as budge�ng, daily life skills, workplace culture and behavior. The students will then disperse to their designated internships for the remainder of the day with the help of the teacher, educa�onal assistant, and the job coach from Adelante. The overall goal of SEARCH is to promote independence and obtain compe��ve employment for our interns. The employment outcomes achieved in the Project SEARCH model greatly exceed the na�onal average for persons with intellectual disabili�es. Project SEARCH is a model that was developed at Cincinna� Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1996. Since its incep�on, Project SEARCH has grown from a single program site at Cincinna� Children's to over 400 program sites in 39 states and 4 countries, with more being added every day. It is a very successful program, and we are very excited to be implemen�ng this in Rio Rancho Public Schools.

Carl Leppelman,Associate Superintendent of C&I

Jerry Reeder,Execu�ve Director of Special Services

Message from Associate Superintendent Cont.

HR TIPSGe�ng absences filled in AesopEarly Repor�ng – Best Prac�ce: Aesop, our online system for repor�ng staff absences and for placing subs�tute coverage, is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Each duty day, Aesop starts auto-calling at 5:30 a.m.

Remember, subs have 24-hour online access to Aesop – subs can select a job at 2:00 a.m. if you enter your absence in the middle of the night. Put your absence in immediately. Give Aesop every opportunity to obtain sub coverage. The likelihood of ge�ng a subs�tute increases with early repor�ng.

Employees are responsible to report their absence and request advanced leave through Aesop. In addi�on, the employee must follow site protocols and also call the site administra�ve assistant.

Use Aesop – let it work for you!

Thank you!

“I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the

harder I work the more I have of it.”

Thomas Jefferson

Lincoln Middle School's Annual Health Fair and CarnivalWhen: March 24thWhere: Lincoln M.S Gym Time: 4-7:30

This event is open to the community. Local businesses will a�end to provide informa�on about the services they provide to our community. The event is free and �ckets for the carnival games are 5 for $1.00. There will be a free rock climbing wall, Hands-Only CPR training, break dancing and Taekwondo demonstra�ons, and the RR Police and Firemen will be in a�endance with the fire truck. We are raffling off 18 used mount bikes and 6 table tennis tables, $25-$30 a �cket.

NMAA Choir ContestWhen: April 15-16Where: Cleveland HS PAC

2016 Cleveland Storm Showcase- Show Choir Fes�valWhen: Saturday, March 19, 2016Where: Cleveland HS PACTime: 8am-6pm

NEWSLETTER CONTEST!

Read the newsle�er and email your response to the following ques�on to bethany.pendergrass@rrps.net by Wednesday, March 16 for your chance to win a prize!

Ques�on:When will the Project SEARCH High School Transi�on Program start?

Hint: The answer is in this edi�on of the newsle�er!

Policy Reminder: Social MediaSocial media can be a great tool but it is important that we monitor the way we use it. For Rio Rancho Public Schools, social media is allowing us to maintain relevance through different communica�on channels and cul�vate rela�onships on these pla�orms.

In our personal lives, social media allows us to stay up-to-date with our friends and family. It gives us a channel by which we can share good news, successes and even short falls. However, it is important in our use of social media that we are familiar with RRPS policies.

Our Employee Standards of Conduct states, “Employees shall be held to the same professional standards in their public use of electronic media as they are for any other public conduct. If an employee’s use of electronic media violates state law, federal law or District policy, or interferes with the employee’s ability to effec�vely perform his or her job du�es, the employee is subject

to disciplinary ac�on, up to and including termina�on of employment.”

In addi�on, Internet Resources Policy 479 talks specifically to an employee’s use of social media. For example, conduct that may result in disciplinary consequences up to and including termina�on or discharge include, but are not limited to, the following:

Ÿ The unauthorized pos�ng, communica�on or disclosure of personally iden�fiable informa�on of District students or other informa�on maintained by the District as confiden�al informa�on.

Ÿ Use of personal websites, social media, or electronic communica�ons for conduct that otherwise violates District policies (e.g., harassment, bullying).

Please be sure to familiarize yourself with these policies and remember to always use good judgement.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Project Unify Mini Prom

Rio Rancho Public SchoolsElementary District Art Show

April 11-16, 2016

IGNITING STUDENT POTENTIAL THROUGH ART

The show will be on exhibit April 11-16 at the RRPS Training Center. A recep�on will take place on Wednesday, April 13 from 5-7pm at the RRPS Training Center, 500 Laser Rd. NE.

Ques�ons? Please contact the Elementary District Art

Show Coordinator: Heather.Armstrong@rrps.netPhone: 505-338-2526 Ext. 208

DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTSSpread the Word to End the Word!Cleveland High School recently held a "Spread the word to end the word" campaign in partnership with Project Unify and Best Buddies.

The purpose of the campaign was to encourage people to stop using the "R" word. Students and staff pledged to support the elimina�on of the derogatory use of the r-word (retard) from everyday speech and to promote acceptance when it comes to people who have intellectual disabili�es.

The school had an incredible turnout with over 800 students and staff signing the pledge form. Some classrooms even made support banners that students signed and hung up in their classrooms. We hope that this is a posi�ve step in the right direc�on to help end the use of the r-word!

Barbara Smith Becomes a US Ci�zenBarbara Smith, Math Interven�onist at Puesta del Sol Elementary, was a fi�h grade student when her family moved from Canada to the United States. She said, “Like many people who immigrate to the United States from other countries, we were looking to improve our lives.” Barbara has spent many years enjoying the freedoms and opportuni�es America has to offer and just recently became a ci�zen of the United States. Her ceremony was held at Puesta del Sol Elementary.

The boy scouts played the role of the honor guard bringing the flags on stage

so that the campus could take part in the Pledge of Allegiance. The music teacher worked with a group of fi�h grade girls who sang the Na�onal Anthem. The Vice President of the Student Council gave a speech on the different paths a person could take to ci�zenship. Finally a fi�h grade class closed out the assembly by singing, “Proud to be an American”.

In her speech to students and staff, Barbara stated, “As one of our country's newest ci�zens I am looking forward to enjoying all of the rights and responsibili�es that my ci�zenship has to offer. It is my hope that my contribu�ons will in some way make a difference to my newly adopted country.”

Congratula�ons Barbara!

SVE 5th Graders Go to MarsSandia Vista 5th graders went on a mission to Mars! Each class built a habitat and solved the problems of sanita�on, transporta�on, food, water and air. Each class was judged by amazing volunteer judges who had their work cut out for them. Following the judging the habitats were open for other classes to visit. A good �me was had by all the SVE astronauts!

Karen Boulanger Receives Women in Technology AwardCongratula�ons to Karen Boulanger, Execu�ve Director of Informa�on Technology, who was recently recognized as a winner of the 8th Annual Women in Technology Award. Karen was one of six New Mexico women recognized at the 8th Annual Women in Technology Celebra�on on Thursday, March 3rd at the Sandia Golf Club Event Center. Each year the New Mexico Technology Council and its partners recognize women leading the way in their industry and encouraging more young women to take the next steps on a path toward careers in technology and the sciences.

Michelle Garmon Named Digital InnovatorMichelle Garmon, teacher at Sandia Vista Elementary School, was recently named a local innovator by PBS. She entered the contest with a video of how she uses her webpage to inform parents, extend the school day with video lessons and inspire wri�ng using “qr codes” so parents can use their cell phones to listen to their kindergartner reading their own wri�ng. “The PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators program is a yearlong, free professional development program designed to foster and reward a community of highly engaged, tech-savvy K-12 educators who are using digital media and technology in classrooms.”