November 20, 2020
Dear Jardon Community
I hope that everyone has had a fun week enjoying remote learning! This week students have participated in Unique Learning Systems, music therapy, art therapy, dance therapy, social/emotional groups and special activities designed by our para professionals. All staff at Jardon is working diligently to provide our students with lessons and activities that are engaging as well as informative and skill building.
Thank you to those of you who came to family conferences! I appreciate the collaboration with caseload teachers and ancillary staff to develop Contingency Learning Plans for those students who need them. Contingency Learning Plans, or CLPs, work to implement what changes need to be made for student service delivery when the district moves through phases of face-to-face, hybrid and remote learning. If you have any questions on CLPs please reach out to me.
Finally, I hope that all of our families are staying safe and feeling supported by Jardon School. We have a short week coming up for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Please stay safe and wonderful week!
Jardon will reopen January 19th pending the number of COVID-19 cases. Learning Pod’s can reopen if the county returns to a level C
Thank you for your kindness and understanding, Megan Papasian-Broadwell, Principal
November 25-27 - No School- Thanksgiving Break
Learning Links for the Week of 11/23/20
‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE FUN AND DECORATIVE'
string tree
Let DNOM bring a little Christmas cheer into your home this year!! JOIN us via ZOOM to create your own Christmas Tree sting art.
Contactless Pickup
Come pick up you materials at Disability Network Oakland & Macomb
December 7th & 8th from 11am-3pm
Disability Network Oakland & Macomb
1709 John R Road Troy, MI 48083
Christmas Tree String Art class will be held on:December 9th From: 6:30 pm to 8 pm
If you have any questions or need help registering, please call Rob Winn at 586-268-4160 ext. 6630
FROM THE DESK OF MS. BARSHAW, TRANSITION COORDINATOR
Guiding Your Young Adult in His/Her Decisions
Last week, my brother-in-law, Michael, who you all know my husband and I are guardians of, called to let us know he would not be coming to our home for Thanksgiving because of Covid 19. At first, I said to my husband, “That’s ridiculous, he can’t stay home by himself.”
Michael comes to our home for all of the holidays. His father lives in Florida this time of year and his sister lives up North. We love having him. He brings such joy and unconditional love to our family. So, selfishly, I wanted Michael with us. But, as I have learned as a Transition Coordinator being a guardian of a disabled individual doesn’t mean I get to make all of his decisions for him. We are merely guides to helping him make safe and healthy decisions for himself.
Michael, while limited in his cognitive ability, knows that spending time with extended family during this time of increased Covid positive cases could be harmful to him and us. Thus, he had made
Respecting the adult decisions of your young adult can and will be difficult at times especially when they go against your own thinking. Certainly, I am not suggesting that harmful or unsafe decisions made by your young adult be made without intervention as his/her guardian, but there are many decisions, such as how they may want their haircut, that all adults should be able to make for themselves. Letting them make some of these decisions now while living with you will hopefully help them to make good decisions for themselves when they transition on their own.
I am thankful to be part of the Jardon Community. I wish you all a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
his decision about not coming to our home for Thanksgiving and then proceeded to tell us he would like his Thanksgiving dinner delivered to him from Bob Evans. Going without the meal would not even be a consideration (LOL).
I remind myself that Michael has made a very wise adult decision for himself even though I am heartbroken he will not be with us on Thanksgiving. And, yes, we were able to accommodate him with delivery of a Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday as Bob Evans will not deliver on Thursday.
Nurse Karen's Korner
WEIGHTED BLANKETS: DO THEY WORK?
A weighted blanket is a blanket that contains weighted balls or pellets.These blankets will help exert a firm but gentle pressure equally across the body that may help to promote rest and relaxation.
Some people describe the sensation of using a weighted blanket as being similar to a hug. There is comfort found by many people that use weighted blankets.
Some manufacturers claim that these blankets may be beneficial for certain conditions. Such as:
ANXIETY: The pressure of these blanket puts your autonomic nervous system into “rest “ mode. Calming a quickened heart or breathing. Providing an overall sensation of calm.
DEPRESSION: often involves low levels the hormone oxytocin which provides positive sensations of love and social bonding.
AUTISM: these children can experience severe sleeping difficulties.
INSOMNIA: the gentle pressure of a weighted blanket mimics the feeling of being held ( known as deep touch pressure). This type of pressure has been shown to increase the neurotransmitter serotonin which is involved in regulation of sleep and a calming effect.
Bottom line: Weighted Blankets are a type of home therapy that can provide similar benefits to deep pressure therapy.
There are a few risks to be aware of before using a weighted blanket:
1. Do Not use on toddlers less than 2 years old, as it may increase the risk of suffocation.
2. People with certain preexisting conditions such as any condition affecting one’s breathing or circulation should ovoid using these blankets.
Joke Of The Week!
How do you get a baby alien to sleep? You rocket😂
Social/Emotional learning with Ms. Renkiewicz and mr. bellini
The overall theme of this year’s Social Emotional Learning time will be Resiliency.
Through the use of the Apps: Headspace and The Daily Calm; Mr Bellini and Ms Renkiewicz (Ms. R) will guide the students through relaxation techniques and discussions to increase their personal growth in Resiliency:
- relaxation
- empowerment (personal choice-making/control of their environment in a positive manner)
- self-regulation.
Week of 11/16-20: Continue with Happiness and Gratitude
Special Olympics
Jardon is assisting Special Olympics of Michigan- Area 15 in selling Raffle Tickets: For $20.00 you get a ticket with a 4 digit number. If that number is pulled during Michigan’s evening 4 digit draw- you can win anywhere from $25.00 to $5000. Please contact Ms. R
(Coach R) at 248-658-5954 if you would like to purchase 1 or a lot.
PAES Lab is selling “Jardon Swag” Bottle Koozies for $3.50 to raise money for materials. Please contact Ms. R (Coach R) at 248-658-5954 if you would like to purchase 1 or a lot.
Credits:
Created with images by JillWellington - "cookies fox cookies royal icing" • Wokandapix - "learn word scrabble" • DarkoStojanovic - "doctor medical medicine" • DWilliams - "fabric cloth textile" • Daria-Yakovleva - "pumpkin pie autumn pumpkin" • JayMantri - "pillows linen sheets" • pixel2013 - "heart wooden heart hydrangea" • Joshua Hoehne - "Summer Hoops" • Shane Rounce - "Team building at RGB Parkour Tour back in 2014."