NEWSLETTER February 2018IN THIS ISSUEEvents/Attendance/ Greetings .......... pg1

Mindfullness / Classroom Updates .....pg2

Parent Resource/CHIP/ Staff MVP .......pg3

Student Recognition .............................pg4

Image of the monthKahlil and Kaedin – Enjoying the activities at The Winter Wonderland Event on the last day of school before the break

Greetings From Dr. Cashaw

Families, Students and Staff,

Happy New Year GTSS Family! As we return from a restful winter break, we are excited for all the success that awaits in 2018! We are energized by our mission to consistently provide opportunities for our students to achieve their full potential. As our students make progress with their academic, social, and behavioral goals, we celebrate their success along with their families. It is equally rewarding to see our GTSS team grow profession-ally, while you guide and support our students’ growth. I am honored to be a part of such an amazing team and look forward to watching the success unfold in our GTSS community throughout 2018. Many thanks to the vocation team and our student, staff, & family engagement team members for producing our quarterly newsletters to record and highlight all the success.

Dr. Cashaw

Upcoming Events2-7-18 GTSS vs TCA (home)

2-14-18 GTSS vs The Bridge School (Wells Fargo Center)

2-14-18 Family Fun Night at Wells Fargo – 76ers play The Miami Heat

2-19-18 President’s Day – no school

2-25-18 GTSS vs Carson Valley (home)

Perfect AttendancePlease congratulate the following students & families for perfect attendance during the first quarter of school

Sincere BobbDevon EspenschiedMalakai GrahamDavonne Moreland –TaylorJohn Reid

Sydney RosarioBenjamin SingletonZion Spotwood Sadiah Wilson

CLASSROOM & ACTIVITY UPDATESThe Green Tree BoutiqueThe grand opening of the Green Tree Boutique in December, 2017 was a hit. The Green Tree Boutique has a wide variety of shoes and clothing in many sizes, all of the items are either new or slightly used. The boutique is the only store in town that has quite a bit to offer at a great price. All LS/AS/US students shop according to their II free days. For example, if a student has been II free for 3 days, he/she can select three items. If a student has been II free for five days or more, he/she may select 5 items. Students who do not use the S.A.M system are provided the opportunity to shop, as well.

Thanks to the generous donations from staff and Plato’s Closet, we have been able to provide several of our students with great clothing, coats and footwear. The store is open every Wednesday from 12:30-2:30 and can be open at a more convenient time, by request. We welcome donations of clothes, bags, hangers and footwear.

MINDFULNESS QUOTES

We have been challenging the students with a weekly mindfulness quote. We help the students pull apart the quote and figure out how it applies to their lives. Doing this has opened up the students minds to other points of view and opinions. Some of the quotes we have used in the past few weeks are listed below:

“When given the choice between being right and being kind….CHOOSE KIND”

– WAYNE DYER

“If you can Change your Mind – you can change your life “– Wanda Gregg

“Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”

-Mother Teresa

December Was Random Acts of Kindness MonthMs. Gena’s Class learned to Choose Kind from reading the book Wonder by R.J. Paleceo

PARENT RESOURCE &

ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR CHILD

Bowling NightWhen: Saturday February 17, 2018Where: Thunderbird Lanes

5830 Castor Ave Philadelphia, PA 19149Time: 3:00pm- 5:00pmTickets: $7 for Kids 12 & under$9 for Adults

CHIP HAS BEEN REAUTHORIZED

UNTIL 2022Good News!

I am relieved Congress has finally reauthorized this critical program after months of uncertainty for the Pennsylvania families who access health care for their children through CHIP,” Governor Wolf said. “I am thankful to those in Congress who have made CHIP re-authorization a priority.

“CHIP provides high-quality health insurance for over 180,000 children across the commonwealth. For 25 years, CHIP has been widely supported across party lines, and I am proud we have secured the funding to celebrate CHIP’s 30th anniversary in 2022.”

-Governor Tom Wolf

SUPPORTS BROKERING AND SUPPORTS COORDINATION ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Time: 10:30 AM-12:30 PM

Location: Bushrod Library 6304 Castor Avenue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19149

Topic/s: SUPPORTS BROKERING AND SUPPORTS COORDINATION ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Speaker/s: Stacey Figueroa, will be discussing what SUPPORTS BROKERING AND SUPPORTS COORDINATION ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES is and who these services will benefit as well as how these services are provided.

STAFF MVP’SSeptember 2017

Clinton NelsonSafety

Kelley CoadyExcellence

Abby BoydCompassion

Betsy BasgallIntegrity

October 2017Betsy Grove

Safety

Evan PattishallExcellence

Abby BoydCompassion

Aleasa WalkerIntegrity

November 2017Jason Burgess

Safety

Debby WeberExcellence

Nalana ManlyCompassion

Malik SmithIntegrity

AcademicExcellence

Congratulations to Kysheem May and Christian Starks-Kint for securing

part-time jobs at McDonalds.

Congratulations to the following students who have secured

internships at St. Joseph’s Villa.

Congratulations to the following students who are interning 5 mornings a week at Einstein

Medical Center.

Congratulations to the following students who go out on Monday to

serve Meals on Wheels.

Congratulations to the students participating in our new Horticulture Program. Watch all the spring herbs

and veggies grow!

Cierra GadsonJaelyn WashingtonKysheem May

Kathy MyersJair Smith

Zion Spotwood Milek Clark

Kathy MyersHoward Hassell

Marqwan MarableDavonne Moreland-Taylor

Kathy MyersCierra GadsonVictoria Santana

Nathan MorrisonCarissa Boggi

Congratulations to the following students who have completed levels within Lexia

since the start of the school year:

An extra round of applause for the following students who have completed two levels within Lexia since the start of

the school year:

DREAMBOX Congratulations to the DreamBox student

of the week for December 4th Antwyne Davis

Week of December 11thCongratulations – Justin Martinez

Week of January 1stCongratulations Sydney Rosario

1.Omar Burnett2. Makhai Eason3. Tonieyo Alleyne4. Michael Spurell

5. Micah Sanchez6. Michael Jones Jr.7. Kathy Myers

1. Justin Martinez 2. Antwyne Davis