SUMMER 2017 The Woodland

The newsletter for and about Woodland Developmental Center

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Building gets some polishing We start the new year with a building that is clean, bright and has had a few improvements. We have new carpeting in the Living Diana Maison, Principal Brian Jex, Assistant Learning Center, which is always nice and gives a fresh feel to the Principal place where we teach so many of our independent living skills. Please also take a look at our South Courtyard, which has been 499 Range Road cleaned and weeded. Marysville, MI 48040

I am always so pleased to be reminded how our staff, students Main Office:(810) 455- and parents work cooperatively to provide the best possible 1011 environment for learning. To report an absence: (810) 364-7757

Busing: (810) 364-7757

Online The Woodland Word is available online at www. sccresa.org. Click on the Woodland Developmental Center button on the RESA homepage.

Lunch menu Lunch menus are available online at www. sccresa.org (Click on Spring musical fills gym with TV theme songs the Woodland button Woodland’s spring on the left-hand side of musical took the homepage) or in the center stage at the school office. Marysville High School Performing Arts Center. The theme of the event was TV theme songs. The arts The Woodland Developmental are a regular part Center is operated by the of the curriculum at St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency. Woodland. The Woodland Word | Summer 2017 2

Completion Ceremony brings out many smiles Six Woodland Contacting Developmental Woodland Center students If you have questions about Woodland, you of completion can call the office fromreceived the certificatesschool directly at 455-4011. June 8 during the For questions about annual Completion busing, call the transportation Ceremony. Earning department at 364-7757. This is also the number students Robert, you should use to report Cody,certificates Kenyatta, were an absence for your MacKenzie, child. If you would like to Nicholas and Sarah, speak with your child’s representing four teacher, you can be classrooms. connected by calling the office.

Parent mentors now available If you are a new Woodland parent or a parent just wanting more information or guidance, we are happy to connect you with a “parent mentor” who can answer Baylee, Peyton make progress through MOVE your questions and Classrooms 105 and 119 are proud of the skills share their experiences their students are gaining using the Mobility and knowledge. Please Opportunities via Education (MOVE) curriculum. call Diana Maison at This edition highlights Baylee from room 119 and (810) 455-4376 for further information. Peyton from room 105.

Baylee began her career at Woodland in an SXI classroom. With the support from the team at Visitors asked to Woodland, Baylee was able to move to a SCI Baylee Peyton sign in at office classroom. Baylee uses a pacer to allow herself Parents and other maximum independence in the classroom and throughout the school. She has a basket Woodland visitors are attached to her pacer that allows her to be responsible for her own belongings such as reminded that they must her backpack and notebook. Baylee also uses the basket to carry her trash to the trash sign the sign-in sheet can and put her dishes after lunch away. when visiting the school. This helps us ensure the Room 105 loves to brag about Peyton. Peyton is standing for all her transfers. She safety of our students. is standing at the hygiene support station for her personal care, standing to get into her activity chair, standing to get on and off the bike and to get into her pacer. She is standing after long breaks from school and when ill. Peyton is MOVE-ing her pacer to right. She is improving with her yes and no responses. Peyton works hard to maintain her posture and head control. She is also making improvements with Eagle Eyes. The Woodland Word | Summer 2017 3

Woodland recognized for environmental efforts Mark Morley, Calendar second from right, Aug. 4 and Jim DeMeester Break Aug. 7 Green Guardian Break schoolaccepted award the first at Aug. 11 spring. They got Break itEarth on behalf Fair this of the Aug. 14 students in room Staff Professional 216. With them is Development Pine River Nature Aug. 21–Sept. 4 Center Operations Break Coordinator Sept. 5 Sarah Nelson, Classes resume left, and assistant Oct. 9–13 coordinator Carrie Break Kloka. Oct. 17 Classes resume FROM THE FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR Nov. 20–24 Break What’s in a school lunch? Nutrition! Nov. 27 Most of you have heard about the meal requirement changes to our Staff Professional national school lunch program over the past few years. Do you know Development what they are and why? Here are some quick facts about our school Dec. 25–Jan. 5 lunch program that will make you feel good about the meals being Break served to our children. Jan. 26 Break Jan. 29 Sarah Hill and calories based on their age. Growing bellies grow at different rates forSchool ages lunches and sizes. are age specific. We provide appropriate portion sizes Staff Professional Development School lunches are balanced. We ensure that all students receive a well-balanced meal Feb. 16–23 including grains, protein, fruits, vegetables and dairy in every school lunch! Break March 30-April 6 School lunches offer a rainbow of color. It’s no secret that fruits and vegetables come Break in an assortment of colors but did you know that each color tends to provide different May 14 and 18 Break and vegetables to ensure all varieties of nutrients are served in a week. May 25 and 28 vitamins and nutrients? Our lunches ensure that we balance a specific variety of fruits Break Sodium is on its way out. High sodium in a diet can lead to high blood pressure, which can damage the heart and kidneys. That is why we have made adjustments to lower the June 8 Break June 15 Schoolamount lunches of sodium include served more in our whole lunches grains. without Whole affecting grains provide flavor. a variety of nutrients Break June 25–29 taught in the classroom, not on their growling stomachs. That is why our school lunches Break haveand fiber. replaced Fiber all helps grains keep with children whole fullergrains. longer so that they can focus on what is being

(810) 455-4289 • [email protected] – Sarah Hill, Food Service Director The Woodland Word | Summer 2017 4

Health policies work to benefit everyone Lakeport field A few reminders as we begin a new school year. Please take a few moments to look over the School Health Policies. Especially note that trip looks at your student must be home for 24 hours after their last episode of nature vomiting and/or diarrhea, or elevated temperature, without the use This summer at of medications. Students sent to school before the 24-hour period Woodland School will be sent back home to help prevent the spread of illness to other your student has been students. Students released from the hospital after illness or surgery studying Pure . require a release from the physician to return to school. Please contact On Aug. 9, students Louann Rinke the school for further details. It is also extremely helpful if you inform will take a field trip to Lakeport . the school when your child is out due to illness. This information helps us monitor other The Franklin Delano students for illness and report accurately to the health department as required. Roosevelt (south) unit of Lakeport State Park is a – Louann Rinke, BSN, RN, School Nurse day use area, one mile (810) 455-4364 • [email protected] south of the camping area and is adjacent to . Students will enjoy a picnic, bird Retirement plans still include Woodland kids watching, lawn games Karen Schneider was in the nursing program at and relaxing. Students should bring a sack St. Clair County Community College when she did a lunch. A box lunch will practicum at Woodland. She never left. Julie Burge be provided to students had taught for a couple of years in Lapeer schools receiving a school when she took a teaching job at Woodland. That lunch. Questions should was more than 35 years ago. be directed to Jen Egan at (810) 455- 4439. Both are retiring this year after decades working with the children and staff at Woodland. Karen said, Karen Schneider Julie Burge “I just can’t imagine doing anything else with my Water makes life.” Julie said, “I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to get to know all the kids and do all kinds of different things.” exercise fun Students will be outside Karen is a teacher aide from St. Clair who spent nearly 30 years at Woodland before for physical education, retiring this summer. She had worked in several classrooms, retiring from room 101 participating in water activities on Aug. 16. with children ages 3 to 7. “They’re like little sponges,” Karen said. “They all have a smile Student should bring a on their face. They’re just a delight to be with.” bathing suit and towel. Woodland will have Julie has worked in virtually every area at Woodland, in different classrooms through pools, sprinklers, water the years. In that time, she also taught music and art. Among her lasting memories play activities, sponge of Woodland? “The progressiveness of the programs for kids, and everyone being toss, and adult and supporting of what you’re doing, professionally and personally,” Julie said. “It’s always child water slides. been a great place to work.”

Karen has no set plans for retirement beyond camping, traveling and spending time with her grandchildren. Julie and her husband, Chuck, retired last year from Woodland. The see how things go. Karen also plans to continue volunteering with Special Olympics and Fort Gratiot couple plan to spend more time with their grandchild. After that, they’ll just and everyone is here for you. It’s just a very unique place to work.” Unified Sports. “The Woodland staff is a family,” she said. “They’re here for everybody Julie said she is sure she’ll visit Woodland from time to time.: “It’s just part of your life.” The Woodland Word | Summer 2017 5

ST. CLAIR COUNTY RESA ASBESTOS HAZARD EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACT (AHERA) 2016 NOTIFICATION Training Table Restaurant The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that each year, district workers and The Training Table building occupants receive notification about asbestos activities such as response actions restaurant inside and inspections. The purpose of this correspondence is to meet those requirements and Woodland is open familiarize you with the asbestos related activities that have been conducted in St. Clair to RESA staff and County RESA during the past year. Woodland parents. Please call (810) 455- MANAGEMENT PLANS 4434 a day ahead to In 1988, St. Clair County RESA contracted with an environmental consultants firm to conduct make reservations. inspections and develop asbestos Management Plans for asbestos containing material (ACM) within all district owned buildings. These Management Plans are located in the administrative Hours: Tuesdays and office of each building and are available to the public for review. A copy of each building Wednesdays management plan is also located at the Maintenance Building. 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES Price: $4.75 adults, The AHERA regulation requires periodic surveillance of the condition of ACM every six $3.75 clients months. The regulation also requires Reinspections conducted every three years by Michigan Accredited Inspectors. St. Clair County RESA has contracted with an independent consulting Salad bar is served firm, Nova Environmental, Inc. to conduct the Reinspections. The next Reinspection is each Tuesday. The scheduled for 2019. Previous Reinspections and six month periodic inspections can be menu changes each located in the buildings’ Management Plans. Wednesday. ASBESTOS ABATEMENT St. Clair County RESA has not performed any asbestos abatement projects within the last year. Questions regarding asbestos removal projects or any asbestos-related issues can be Safety drills addressed by Mr. Russ Witherspoon, Supervisor of Maintenance, at (810) 455-4151. required at school PESTICIDE CONTROL ACT Woodland, like all NOTIFICATION OF PESTICIDE APPLICATION other public schools, is required to conduct Public Act 131 of 1993 amends the Pesticide Control Act to require school administrators to 10 safety drills each notify parents and guardians of their right to be informed prior to application of pesticides at year. Public schools are the school required to conduct five fire safety drills spread This is to notify you that the St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency, (RESA), throughout the school contracts with an exterminator for a monthly service, which is provided on the second year, two tornado safety Thursday of every month. If necessary, the State Licensed Pesticide Applicator will use gel drills and three lockdown baits (and occasionally liquid spray) on the interior perimeter of the building. Liquid pesticide drills. One of the tornado spray is not used in or around any building while it is occupied by students. In addition, the safety drills must take company sprays the exterior perimeter of the building annually in the spring. place in March. The drills can’t take place A record of dates of all pesticide applications is available in the Buildings and Grounds office. on the same day of a state-mandated test. At If you would like prior notification, please request a Prior Notification Form from: least one of the drills is required during a lunch Russ Witherspoon, Supervisor of Maintenance or recess period, or at P.O. Box 1500, Marysville, MI 48040-1500 another time when a (810) 455-4151 significant number of the students are gathered but not in the classroom. Contact Assistant Principal Brian Jex with questions about drills. The Woodland Word | Summer 2017 6

MATP Games give lessons in motor training Students participated in the MATP Games at the Macomb Intermediate School District in July. MATP stands for Motor Activities Training Program.

The Motor Training Activities Program is a part of the Special Olympics commitment to offer sports training to all individuals with special needs, regardless of ability level. The emphasis is on training rather than competition.

The MATP trains Sun Daze lets participants in motor- based recreation Woodland kids activities and enable them to take part in a enjoy outdoors program which is age The Sun Daze in July brought and ability appropriate, a number of typical beach beneficial and fun. activities to the back yard of Woodland. Instead of The MATP trains students actually heading to participants in six basic the beach, the beach came motor skills designed to them. Sun Daze is one of to relate to specific a number of programs this sports and daily living summer behind Woodland. skills: Mobility, Dexterity, Striking, Kicking, Manual Students also participated Wheelchair, and Electric in Pure Michigan outdoor Wheelchair. stations, which let them choose from a number of Students received award different fun activities. ribbons for participation.

Local students find a LINK at Woodland St. Clair County middle and high school students are again working and playing this summer with fellow students from Woodland Developmental Center through the LINK program. This volunteer program brings county students in on Thursdays through Aug. 17. Students chosen for the program are “linked” to a Woodland student with a disability. Woodland’s Lisa Koehn, who coordinates the program, said, “This will be a valuable learning experience for students who might want to go into teaching, the medical field, or who need hours for community service.”