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In this issue:
November 7th - 10am
Dr. Sheri Fleming, Program Manager, Prevention & Intervention Services, OSDE.
Topic – Trauma Informed Practices.
click here to register
Instructions for registering for ALTed Talks: Only teachers will register and enter participation comments/questions in the ALTed Talks chat. Please project ALTed Talks on to a screen in your classroom.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR MICROPHONE IS MUTED DURING THE PRESENTATIONS.
Life Skills Review: A list of life skills topics to determine what areas students need more training can be found here.
What are other Alternative Education Programs doing for life skills? Here is a webinar that might help you with ideas. District presenter: Debra Webb-Elk City, Elizabeth Pasons-Mooreland, Shannon Turner-Broken Arrow, Chase Caldwell-Poteau. Life Skills webinar link.
Graduation Plan: This document may be used to develop a plan leading to graduation.
There are many grant opportunities available for enhancing arts in your classroom.
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OK Capitol Art Field Trip- Applications are currently being accepted for tours scheduled September 1, 2023, through May 30, 2024. In addition to submitting a grant application, schools must complete this form to request a guided tour. Grant Amount - Up to $1,100 per field trip. Each school site may apply for one Capitol Art Field Trip Grants per school year.
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Arts in Alternative Education-two $5000 grants per school year; funding from the Arts in Alternative Education Grant can be used to reimburse expenses such as teaching artist fees, select teaching artist travel expenses, contracted administration or technical fees, and consumable supplies. For more examples of allowable expenses and unallowable expenses, see the program guidelines see link above.
Lincoln Academy - Enid Public Schools
August Field Trip - Fishing, Park Clean-Up and a Cook-out.
We took our student body on a fishing trip to Meadowlake, a local park with a pond. The students learned how to set up a rod, hook and bobber. They learned how to bait the hook, cast out, reel in and release the fish properly. After fishing, the student helped clean-up trash from around the park; we wanted to teach them to leave things better than what you found. We finished the day with a good ol'fashioned hot dog cookout, complete with chips & cola. It was a Great Day to be a Survivor!! Many of our students had never had the opportunity to go fishing nor enjoy a cookout with friends. Watching them laugh and make happy memories in a safe and worry free environment was not only a joy but an inspiration to keep doing what we do for our Alt Ed Kids!!
  Black Diamond Academy – Sallisaw Public Schools
September Field Trip – State Capitol
This year not only did we get a chance to go on the Senate floor, we got to sit at the desks where the Senators sit!!! It was great. Out of this visit, I reached out to all of the government officials to see if any of them could meet with the students while they were there, none of them were able to, however our State Representative did reach out. He is visiting the school on Monday to speak to BDA for an hour and then going to visit with a government class 6th hour. Great things are happening at Sallisaw Schools and Black Diamond Academy!!!
  Key Academy – McAlester Public Schools
Equine Therapy
McAlester Public Schools’ Key Academy combines life skills, academics and service learning using classroom experience and equine assisted services.
Each week, Key students go to the equine facility Monday through Wednesday, with Key teacher and TEAM instructor Mandy Carter. Carter is a certified English teacher, therapeutic riding instructor, and equine specialist in mental health and learning.
The first few weeks of each 9 weeks are reserved just for Key, so students can become familiar with procedures, the horses and the activities in which they will participate with other students. During this time, we learn where each student will be the most effective, and how to widen their comfort zones. The students learn that every step, every instruction, every request and every job is built around safety, and that safety comes from a climate of mutual respect. The program’s strength comes from its ability to clearly illustrate what respect LOOKS like, even if we can’t always define it in words.
As routine and safety habits are established, students from elementary, upper elementary, middle and high school grades join the program, and Key students become their mentors and support system. During these sessions, students participate in activities that include and combine social skills, communication, physical activity and academics. In addition, Key students get to know attending students through interaction and interviews, and each year have created a product based on these activities. One such product was a short story written and illustrated by Key students and featuring a group of littles as the main characters and heroes. Another product was a newspaper featuring articles about each of the littles. This year, we’ll make decoupage collages featuring photos of sessions taken by our Key students.
The majority of students attending from other McAlester sites have special needs, ranging from physical to emotional, social and learning. The blending of these students with Key students results in multiple benefits for all involved. While the horses are a huge incentive, and excellent teachers in their own right, this is not a horse program. We ride periodically, but we are not giving riding lessons. We are an educational tool, an extension of the classroom, a safe haven, an escape from stress that offers tools to cope with that stress, and a bridge between school and life.
Below are testimonials from teachers and administrators.
“(Recently) I was able to experience our local TEAM program during equine assisted services activities. Our multi-life skills students were given the opportunity to experience this program at the beginning of the year; however, due to my schedule, I have only seen this program twice this year.
I was skeptical at the value of this program, but after I was able to see first hand the multiple learning experiences that were occurring, my mind changed. Our students are typically never ones that interact with other students due to fear of rejection, social cueing mishaps, and being differently-abled to handle social situations. Not today. I saw one of our students overcome fear and complete the entire hour of equine without being socially outcast. I witnessed a timid student who usually refuses interaction ready to do so today. Our super hyper active student calmed to work with the animals and the peer from Key that was with him. Our physically challenged student accepted assistance from her kind peer mentor.
I asked our students what they enjoyed most about the experience, thinking that it would be the horses. Although they did say they loved being with the animals, the most important part for them was seeing the student peers from Key. The Key students did an outstanding job keeping our students on task, re-directing verbally and non-verbally, showing courtesy, physically showing our students how to complete a task, and praising our students for a job well done. The Key students are the reason these multi students had a great day today. I told the Key students thank you, but I truly feel that those making decisions for this program need a thank you as well. It was a refreshing day!”
Dawn Hotubbee
McAlester High School
SpEd Transitional Skills Teacher
Seeing is Believing
“When I first came to McAlester, I had administrators tell me about the T.E.A.M. equine program and how our alternative education students were attending. Being a person who had been around horses, I was skeptical about how it works and if there was truly a need for our students to attend this program. Once I became the Director at KEY, I delivered our students to a session and observed. My perception was NOT the reality. The way Mandy sets up this program and watching kids overcoming fears and learning the importance of discipline was amazing. Seeing students who have not been around horses and how they initially reacted and responded, to 6 months later, commanding horses compassionately but firmly as well as the confidence they had in that environment is amazing. I would hope this program will continue to expand and grow as our need for student therapies is also growing at an alarming rate. Seeing was believing!!”
James Singleton
McAlester Public Schools
“Equine therapy is an amazing program that gives children of trauma an opportunity to connect and begin to heal. Childhood trauma is a real issue in our society and it always has been. Our prisons are full of people that no one has taken the time to help them deal with the trauma they have experienced. The only way childhood trauma can be overcome is through psychotherapy and sometimes medication. Equine therapy is a form of psychotherapy at its finest and the children have no idea it is even taking place.
Amanda Carter has a gentle, kind, and loving approach to children and horses. She approaches each child with care and compassion while helping them learn how to be respectful, gain confidence, and act responsibly. It is a process that allows children to gain her trust while they gain the trust of the horses they are grooming, riding, and understanding. It is very impressive to watch the process. First, they learn to trust their teacher and the other children in their group. Then, they learn how to approach and treat the horses. Finally, they get the experience of riding the horses and being in control of their horses. All of this culminates in them learning how to do the same with their own lives.
Children of trauma often feel as if they have no control over their lives. Being with Ms. Mandy and her horses gives them a sense of purpose and a sense of control over their interactions with each other, the horses, and Ms. Mandy. A softness and gentleness comes upon even the toughest of children as they go through this process. It is amazing to watch and quite beautiful to behold. My grandson has experienced a lot of childhood trauma. Watching him change from an angry, unhappy, sad, and frustrated child into a mature and contented young man has been a miracle. I credit Mrs. Carter and her horses for a lot of this transformation. She gave him an outlet that allowed him to relax, understand his trauma and come to terms with it. He gained a sense of purpose and belonging.
I wish every child in our schools could experience equine therapy. All of them could benefit from being with Ms. Mandy and her horses. It is a program of value and I am personally eternally grateful that my grandson has been a part of it. It has literally helped change the trajectory of his life. I cannot give enough praise for Mrs. Carter and her program.”
Kathy Hunt
Puterbaugh Upper Elementary Principal
 
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