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March - MetroAccess application session (date and time TBD)
March - Animal Assisted instruction - open house - date TBD
March 3 - School Planning Day - no school for students
March 10 - 6:30 pm ACCESS - Respite program
March 19 - 6:30 pm Parent Panel
March 26 - Lee Pyramid Art and Literacy Night
April - International lunch/fashion show (date - TBD)
April 6 - April 10 - Spring Break, no school
April 13 - Teacher Work Day - no school for students
April 23 - Parent Coffee, 10:30 am - 12 pm - Community Services Board; transitioning to life in the community
May 12 - Parent Meeting, 6:30, Department of Behavioral Health; Alternative residential options for students older than 16
May 15 - Key Center Prom - High school and older students only
May 28 - Parent Coffee, 9:30, The ARC of Northern Virginia - Residential options for individuals with disabilities
May 29 - Key Center Graduation, 10 a.m.
June - TBD - Physical therapy/Occupational therapy Q and A
A central focus of our recent fundraising efforts has been to develop a multi-sensory environment in the school and now our new calming sensory room is starting to come together! Thus far we have installed a bubble tube, a sound shell chair, some super fun mirrors and a vibrating lounger. These various tools will work together to help bring students into a state where they are better able to focus and access their education. We have held numerous fundraisers over the last 3 years and those events have enabled us to provide many additional experiences that help enhance our students' education. We expect to open the sensory room for student use after spring break.
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 In November, 2019, four more Key Center staff members earned initial Professional Crisis Management (PCM) certification. Anastasia Kosmakos, Akberet Endrias, Gregory Hoobchaak, and Ana Azucar spent three days learning the strategies and interventions of PCM, ensuring that every Behavior Transition classroom has at least one certified practitioner. We’re very proud of our staff for volunteering to undergo this training in order to help make sure our students get the highest quality behavior support.
 Student using a switch activated device to pour detergent.
From Ashli Onunaku and Caitlin Myers' classes
What a fantastic year we have had so far! Students from Ms. Ashli and Ms. Caitlin’s room often find themselves working together for various activities. The students participate is weekly group activities, in-school jobs, and various CWE’s/CBI’s (Community Work Experiences/Community Based Instruction). One of the activities enjoyed most by the students are the weekly cooking lessons. This lesson includes multiple steps from start to finish. Every Thursday a group of students takes a CBI trip to Safeway where they purchase the cooking materials. On Friday, the lesson takes place. Students use many skills during the lesson from reading and following the steps of each recipe, measuring the ingredients, and the actual cooking of the food. A recent recipe was a big hit for all students participating, nachos. The students enjoyed making their choices for the toppings, did a great job heating them up, and most importantly enjoyed the final product. Other hit recipes have included chocolate milkshakes, mini pizzas, and a potato bar.
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Plans for the Key Center yearbook are well underway! This year, families have the opportunity to purchase an ad or senior dedication for the low, low price of $12/half page or $20/full page. Watch for additional information in next week's Wednesday folder. The deadline for purchasing an ad will be February 28. You will also want to purchase your yearbook before that time, before prices go up! |
Today Key Center held its annual Sadie Hawkins valentine dance. Students have spent the last couple of weeks deciding whom to invite and whether or not they would rather go to the dance, or have a quieter experience watching a movie in the cafeteria. We were so happy that several parents were able to come and enjoy this fun time with their student!
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Key Center School is enjoying SHARE THE LOVE week! We hope you are enjoying this festive way to break up the winter blues. Our staff is looking forward to the culminating event this Friday with our Sadie Hawkins dance, parents are also welcome to attend!
Be on the look out for ways you can support Key Center School through our PTA. The executive board members are crafting up a letter and will be sending out suggestions on how to support the great things Key Center School offers our students. This went home in this week's Wednesday folder. in the next week or so. The optional event offers family members to reach out to friends, businesses, or anyone who might best support us. It doesn’t hurt to ask, please look for the information and consider this activity to help our school.
Thinking of helping others, I want to remind families to please keep students home if they present symptoms of sickness. As you likely know, as a school we have the challenge of protecting students from illnesses. The recommendation is that individuals who have symptoms should stay home for at least 24 hours after their symptoms subside without medication. Staff members are also remained to stay home when they are not feeling well, this helps minimize our students exposure to illnesses.
Parents are invited to the next Parent Coffee event which will be next month, March 19 at 6:30pm The format is a Parent Panel where all your questions about supporting our Key Center students and any family challenges can be addressed. We will have current and former Key Center family members represented so their experiences will be helpful to all in attendance.
Happy Valentines Day!
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- To like us on Facebook @KeyCtrSchool
- To visit our website
- To join our Google+ parent community (if you are a KC Parent!)
- To support us through the Amazon Smile Program (Key Center PTA)
- Sign up for grocery store rewards
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