Wonderful article from the New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/health/autism-college.html?emc=edit_tnt_20161119&nlid=52369145&tntemail0=y&_r=0
Coursework and Employment Experiences Come Together
Graduating College Steps at SVC student, Stephanie, has spent two years taking classes and working toward an employment goal to work in the field of early care and education. This semester, she engaged in a "Chemistry of Cooking" course, as it connected so well her academic and employment interests. Here is her summary for a final project for the semester:
- Your major: College Steps- this will apply to my work experience.
Describe how you plan to apply this course to your work experience: I could use the skills I learned in this class to have the children at the daycare cook/make cookies, brownies, or the ice cream. (As long as my boss is there.)
What the project would be: I would make the ice cream with them because it was the easiest one to make out of the recipes.
What would be done: If I were to do this project with the kids I would have them make the pizza or the ice cream. I would begin by asking them what they think the salt and sugar does to the ice cream. After they answer, I would then show them videos (like the ones we watched) to see if their answers changed. I would finally explain to them the how salt and sugar affect the ice cream.
College Steps an Active Participant in Giving Tuesday
College Steps and Living for Giving were proud to partner with local campuses to participate in Giving Tuesday events. Some of our work was published in an article in The Rutland Herald.
Commencement Remarks at SVC
The following remarks were recently shared by provost Jay White at the 89th Commencement of Southern Vermont College in Bennington, VT.
"For the second year in a row, we are pleased to award certificates of higher education to graduates of our College Steps program, which started here at SVC in 2013. The students receiving certificates today had to meet a number of criteria set by the regional College Steps organization within a two-year time frame.
These criteria include completing specific academic, vocational independent living and campus life requirements, including four semesters of coursework (which may be transferred to further their college studies), and completion of an internship. These students have participated in many campus activities including the Sarnoff Speech Contest, Choral Ensemble, Vermont Reads events, Mountaineer Events Board, The Looking Glass, Anime Club, Homecoming, fundraisers to benefit our local food pantries, bake sales to benefit local child care centers … and more.
I would like to echo the sentiment from the students who mentor the College Steps students and say that this is a wonderful experience for both parties: as one student mentor said, “Not only do I feel I am helping the College Steps students grow, they are helping me grow.”"
Art Student Graduating College Steps at SVC
College Steps student, Lorraine, did an excellent job with the presentation of her art work last night. After taking many art classes at SVC, Lorraine is graduating this weekend and moving into a work experience at the Cake Gallery with Meike Thomas. Congratulations, Lorraine!
College Steps at Norwalk Community College
Please visit this link for a nice piece done on College Steps program at Norwalk Community College. A special thanks to Tim, Rachael and Lauren for helping to facilitate this. A wonderful representation of the College Steps model working really well!
Link: http://connecticut.news12.com/news/non-profit-group-works-to-help-teens-with-learning-and-social-challenges-1.11687658?pts=127060
Reflections on My College Experience
By: Billy Conley
I am pleased to announce that I am graduating on May 14, 2016. I have learned Personal Financial Management, Organizational Management Theory, Fundamentals of Economics, and Quest for Success.
In Quest for Success, I learned all about what college is all about. In Personal Financial Management class, I learned about stocks, marketing, budgeting, W2s, and other forms. In learned in Organizational Management Theory about running a business, how to work with a group, and I learned about different parts of different businesses. In Fundamentals of Economics we have learned so far about supply and demand, increases and decreases in supply, and increases and decreases in demand.
My college experience was well worth four semesters of full, exciting, complicated, fun, helpful and complex experiences. I learned more, I understand all of it, and more information than I ever had to take in all at once. Some of it was extremely hard when others were very easy to do at those times. Work is work, and class is class and fun is fun.
College Steps is sort of like doing and internship and classes, homework, and classwork, and assignments. College comes with more responsibilities to do and follow at the same time as your College Steps experience goes on throughout your two years at Southern Vermont College. Your College Steps experience will be the best time you have ever had.
Southern Vermont College is a very safe, trusting, and in my opinion, this college is the best where I am concerned. There are a lot of events during the day, and at night, and in the evenings, too. You can be on campus full time, or your can be a commuter just like me. I travel about 45minutes to an hour one way, so I have a long ride; the total is 90 minutes to two hours each day I come to campus, total. The college has basketball, softball, soccer, and lacrosse teams. The college has a wide selection of classes which run from health, business, nursing, math, science, history, English, art, music and others which are the subjects and classes offered to students.
Mentors are there to help students and support them. They are out there day and night helping as their work. Darcy is good with what she does, which is helping students and mentors all five days of the week. In college it is always a plus to meet new people, especially at Southern Vermont College.
Great Resource to Combat Cyberbullying
The folks at Affordable Colleges Online have also taken on the responsibility of educating students with disabilities on the negative impacts of cyberbullying by creating an in depth guide on the matter.
You can check out our entire guide here at this link: http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/cyberbullying-awareness/
This resource is very helpful for not only individuals with disabilities, but all students.
Peer Mentor Blog
What is a peer mentor? As a member of the NCC Peer Mentor team I have learned that it encompasses a series of abilities from every spectrum. At times one can be both a friend and a tutor. But, most importantly, a person who meets a variety of students with different personalities who can make your day with a smile or an action that shows that the College Steps student is growing academically and socially!
Jessica Gomez, second semester as a Peer Mentor.
Another day on campus....
Another great day on campus - today, these smiling faces have completed an exam, given class presentations, written articles for the school paper, worked in employment experiences, taken driving lessons, and are enjoying some social time before getting on the bus to do it all again tomorrow. Just another day in the life of college students!
