October/November 2017
Welcome to Our E-Newsetter!
Parent ​ ​ Update ​ ​ from ​ ​ the ​ ​ Executive ​ ​ Director
October ​ ​ 2017

Dear​ ​CTC​ ​Parents,

Hello​ ​again!

On​ ​October​ ​18th​ ​we​ ​held​ ​a​ ​meeting​ ​at​ ​Fair​ ​Lawn​ ​with​ ​the​ ​HSA​ ​to​ ​address​ ​any​ ​questions​ ​or concerns​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​suggestions​ ​from ​parents​ ​about​ ​both​ ​campuses.​ ​Laura​ ​Del​ ​Duca​ ​(our Oakland​ ​Principal)​ ​and​ ​I​ ​were​ ​both​ ​in​ ​attendance​ ​and​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time​ ​ever​ ​the​ ​meeting​ ​was streamed​ ​on​ ​Facebook​ ​Live!​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​take​ ​this​ ​month’s​ ​update​ ​to​ ​review​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​questions and​ ​answers​ ​that​ ​were​ ​provided:

  1. Question:​​ ​What​ ​should​ ​a​ ​parent​ ​do​ ​if​ ​they​ ​are​ ​concerned​ ​about​ ​how​ ​long​ ​their​ ​child​ ​is traveling​ ​in​ ​a​ ​school​ ​van​ ​or​ ​bus​ ​(in​ ​one​ ​case​ ​a​ ​parent​ ​said​ ​it​ ​is​ ​taking​ ​as​ ​long​ ​as​ ​100+ minutes​ ​one​ ​way).​ ​​Answer:​​ ​Unfortunately,​ ​the​ ​CTC​ ​Academy​ ​has​ ​no​ ​control​ ​or​ ​oversight of​ ​the​ ​transportation​ ​that​ ​each​ ​district​ ​provides​ ​for​ ​our​ ​students​ ​-​ ​it​ ​is​ ​between​ ​the​ ​district and​ ​the​ ​families.​ ​However,​ ​if​ ​there​ ​is​ ​an​ ​issue,​ ​parents​ ​should​ ​contact​ ​the​ ​district​ ​case manager​ ​to​ ​express​ ​their​ ​concern(s)​ ​and​ ​request​ ​a​ ​change.​ ​If​ ​the​ ​bus​ ​company​ ​is picking​ ​up​ ​multiple​ ​students,​ ​the​ ​request​ ​may​ ​be​ ​to​ ​reduce​ ​the​ ​number​ ​of​ ​students​ ​they pick​ ​up,​ ​to​ ​in​ ​turn​ ​reduce​ ​the​ ​length​ ​of​ ​time​ ​for​ ​each​ ​student’s​ ​trip​ ​to​ ​school.
  2. Question:​​ ​Can​ ​the​ ​school​ ​provide​ ​the​ ​parents​ ​with​ ​a​ ​monthly​ ​calendar​ ​of​ ​activities​ ​going on​ ​in​ ​the​ ​school.​ ​​Answer:​ ​​Great​ ​idea!​ ​We​ ​will​ ​use​ ​this​ ​monthly​ ​newsletter​ ​as​ ​a​ ​means​ ​of providing​ ​that​ ​information.​ ​See​ ​the​ ​calendar​ ​below​ ​and​ ​thanks​ ​for​ ​the​ ​suggestion!
  3. Question:​ ​​The​ ​first​ ​ever​ ​Program​ ​Information​ ​Night​ ​that​ ​was​ ​held​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Oakland​ ​campus on​ ​10-11-17​ ​was​ ​very​ ​informative​ ​about​ ​the​ ​curriculum.​ ​Can​ ​the​ ​school​ ​hold​ ​a​ ​“Back​ ​to Therapy”​ ​night​ ​so​ ​we​ ​can​ ​get​ ​a​ ​deeper​ ​understanding​ ​of​ ​how​ ​therapy​ ​is​ ​provided? Answer:​ ​​Based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​discussion​ ​that​ ​followed​ ​after​ ​this​ ​suggestion​ ​was​ ​made,​ ​it​ ​was agreed​ ​that​ ​this​ ​information​ ​would​ ​best​ ​be​ ​provided​ ​one-on-one​ ​so​ ​each​ ​family​ ​could​ ​get a​ ​more​ ​detailed​ ​understanding​ ​of​ ​the​ ​specific​ ​therapy​ ​services​ ​their​ ​child​ ​receives. Therefore,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​include​ ​this​ ​information​ ​in​ ​the​ ​discussions​ ​that​ ​occur​ ​during​ ​the November​ ​individual​ ​parent​ ​conference.
  4. Question:​ ​​Is​ ​there​ ​a​ ​way​ ​that​ ​the​ ​school​ ​could​ ​inform​ ​parents​ ​when​ ​significant milestones​ ​are​ ​achieved​ ​at​ ​school​ ​(the​ ​example​ ​of​ ​telling​ ​time​ ​was​ ​mentioned)​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as a​​ means​​ for​​ parents​​ to​​help​​ maintain​​ that​​ skill​​ or ​​ability.​ A​​nswer:​​​ We​​ will​​ be​​ meeting​​ with all​ ​staff​ ​who​ ​make​ ​these​ ​entries​ ​and​ ​ask​ ​them​ ​to​ ​be​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​report​ ​on​ ​the​ ​achievement​ ​of milestones​ ​in​ ​the​ ​daily​ ​notes​ ​that​ ​are​ ​sent​ ​home​ ​each​ ​day.​ ​A​ ​parent​ ​can​ ​then​ ​contact​ ​the Principal​ ​to​ ​set​ ​up​ ​a​ ​time​ ​to​ ​visit​ ​and​ ​learn​ ​more​ about ​how​ ​they​ ​can​ ​help​ ​to​ ​maintain​ ​the​ ​skill or​ ​ability.
  5. Question:​ ​​Can​ ​the​ ​school​ ​hold​ ​an​ ​open​ ​house​ ​at​ ​Oakland​ ​near​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​school year​ ​in​ ​which​ ​parents​ ​of​ ​children​ ​who​ ​are​ ​moving​ ​up​ ​from​ ​Fair​ ​Lawn​ ​can​ ​get​ ​an orientation​​ that​ ​includes​​talking​​ to​​ parents​​ of​​ some​​ of​​ the​​ Oakland​ ​children?​ A​​nswer: Yes.​ ​We​ ​learned​ ​a​ ​great​ ​deal​ ​this​ ​past​ ​year​ ​as​ ​our​ ​first​ ​class​ ​of​ ​students​ ​moved​ ​up​ ​from Fair​ ​Lawn​ ​to​ ​Oakland.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​result,​ ​we​ ​plan​ ​to​ ​do​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​things​ ​going​ ​forward including​ ​offering​ ​individual​ ​orientation​ ​meetings​ ​with​ ​every​ ​family​ ​of​ ​a​ ​student​ ​who​ ​is moving​ ​up​ ​to​ ​Oakland.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​also​ ​offer​ ​an​ ​orientation​ ​meeting​ ​at​ ​Oakland​ ​for​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the parents​ ​that​ ​will​ ​include​ ​an​ ​opportunity​ ​for​ ​Oakland​ ​parents​ ​to​ ​share​ ​some​ ​of​ ​their experiences​ ​and​ ​observations​ ​with​ ​the​ ​new​ ​parents.
  6. Question:​ ​​Can​ ​the​ ​rotation​ ​of​ ​staff​ ​serving​ ​a​ ​student​ ​be​ ​staggered​ ​by​ ​discipline​ ​rather than​ ​happening​ ​all​ ​at​ ​once?​ ​​Answer:​​ ​We​ ​will​ ​look​ ​into​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​case​ ​of​ ​the​ ​parent that​ ​raised​ ​this​ ​question​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​our​ ​normal​ ​policy​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​staggered​ ​rotation.
  7. Question:​​ ​Since​ ​more​ ​than​ ​half​ ​of​ ​the​ ​parents​ ​who​ ​participated​ ​in​ ​this​ ​meeting​ ​were​ ​on Facebook​​Live,​​can​​ we​​ always​ ​use​​ it​​ going​​ forward​​ for​​ parent​​ meetings?​ A​​nswer: Absolutely!

You​ ​can​ ​also​ ​watch​ ​the​ ​full​ ​hour​-​long​ ​meeting​ ​on​ ​ Facebook​ ​at​ ​ CTC ACADEMY'S HSA CONNECTION . Click on the PHOTOS tab to access the live video feed.

We​ ​look​ ​forward​ ​to​ ​the​ ​next​ ​meeting​ ​and​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​hear​ ​your​ ​great​ ​suggestions​ ​and important​ ​questions​ ​and​ ​concerns.​ ​Thanks​ ​so​ ​much​ ​to​ ​all​ ​who​ ​joined​ ​us!

Remember​ ​that​ ​I​ ​am​ ​always​ ​available​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​with​ ​you​ ​regarding​ ​any​ ​issues​ ​or​ ​suggestions you​ ​would​ ​like​ ​to​ ​make,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​concerns​ ​or​ ​questions​ ​you​ ​may​ ​have.​ ​Of​ ​course,​ ​the Principals​ ​and​ ​their​ ​staff​ ​are​ ​always​ ​there​ ​for​ you ​as​ ​well.​ ​But​ ​don’t​ ​hesitate​ ​to​ ​contact​ ​me​ ​if​ ​there​ ​is something​ ​that​ ​you​ ​think​ ​requires​ ​my​ ​attention.​ ​My​ ​number​ ​is​ ​201-797-7440​ ​ext​ ​3258​ ​and​ ​my email​ ​is​ ​​ kberger@ctcacademy.org​.


Regards,


Ken​ ​Berger
Executive​ ​Director 

Parent Reminder!
Don’t forget to sign up for a Parent/Teacher/Therapist conference! They are taking place the week of November 6th through the 9th; conferences can be scheduled before and after school hours and  conference call conferences  can be accommodated. If you have any questions about scheduling please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher.
NEW In Our Parent Portal
Please check out the Education Corner on the Parent Portal including Academic Calendars, Curriculum Information, Monthly Themes as well as a School Syllabus.

**If you need the password for Parent Portal please email info@ctcacademy.org and put "Parent Portal Password" in the subject line.
Transportation and Bus Safety
Keeping students safe while riding on the bus is everyone’s responsibility: parents, CTC and the case manager who ultimately is the person to address any concerns and issues.
The regulations clearly state:
  • Strollers and Wheelchairs must be forward facing
  • The stroller/wheelchair must be secured with a 4 point tie down system
  • The occupant must be secured with a 3 point shoulder restraint system
  • Anything that could become a projectile including oxygen tanks must be secured
  • Car seats should be secured as per the manufacturers’ instructions

Other things besides the above regulations that are often included in a student’s IEP include bus aide and air conditioning.
If a parent or CTC personnel notice the above regulations or IEP recommendations are not being followed, the case manager should be contacted who will then reach out to their districts’ transportation coordinator/commission. The transportation company may also be contacted directly to resolve these concerns.

For further information you can visit the following website:  www.travelsafer.org .
Tips From The Social Work Department

If you are looking for a fun family outing, Chuck E. Cheese offers “Sensory Sensitive Sundays” the first Sunday of the month at select locations. Click HERE for details.

Dads, mark your calendars for the NJ Statewide Parent to Parent 5th Annual Conference for Fathers of Children with Special Needs on November 11th.

Click HERE for more information and to register.
Another Amazing CTC Grandparent's Day!
Equipment We Love!
Patti Procino, Equipment Coordinator - Oakland

 MOTOmed gracile12

Movement therapy for children with special needs...

The pediatric model from RECK medical devices is a motorized movement therapy device that may fulfill the special needs of children with physical limitations. The MOTOmed enables children and small adults to train in a physiological joint position. This may avoid an unnatural straining of joints. The height adjustable foot allows for The MOTOmed gracile12 to grow along with our students.

The MOTOmed gracile 12 is also available as a combination device for leg and

arm/upper body training. The MOTOmed arm/upper body trainer can be swiveled in and swiveled out of the training area. The arm/upper body training specifically strengthens the arm, upper body, shoulder and the auxiliary respiratory musculature.
Mark Your Calendars
November 2: 1pm student dismissal
November 3: Family Fun Night/Ice Cream Social (@OAK)
November 7: Education Series "The Journey of Acceptance" (@FL)
November 14: Mom's Time Out / Guided Meditation and Chat (@FL)
November 15: Holiday Express (@OAK)
November 22: 1pm student dismissal
November 23-24: School Closed (@FL and OAK)
November 30: History Fair (@OAK)

December 8: Respite Night (@OAK)
December 12: Mom's Time Out / Yoga & Chat (@FL)
December 19: Holiday Show (@OAK)
December 20: Holiday Show (@FL)
December 25 - January 1 School Closed (@FL and OAK)


We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. And we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving we ask that you come together with people around the world for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give. No matter how big or how small, your donation will make
a huge difference to our
CTC Academy family.

*Be sure to select #Giving Tuesday as the purpose for your donation.
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Supporting CTC Academy when you shop at Amazon is as easy as clicking the image above and selecting CTC Academy as your charity of choice.

With Amazon Smile, 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases will be donated by Amazon to help our organization. Sign-in once and Amazon will remember CTC Academy for future purchases!
Joining us at the Oakland Campus

Estefany Herrera - Teaching Assistant
Kristen Perkalis - Teacher
Michele Polidoro - Teaching Assistant
Jessica Vicari - Teaching Assistant
Joining us at the Fair Lawn Campus

Kaitlyn Kardos - Occupational Therapy
CTC Academy | info@ctcacademy.org | www.ctcacademy.org