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VOLUME 6 ISSUE 8
THE
MAY 1, 2015
MIDLAND MONTHLY
Special Persons Day
The school was filled with lots of visitors on April 2 for Special Persons Day! There were
grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, cousins, siblings and friends here to join in the
classroom fun and enjoy our Spring Concert (see page 2).
There are some people in
life that make you laugh
a little louder, smile a
little bigger and just
make you feel a bit better.
A special person is
someone who
understands your past,
believes in your future
and accepts you
today for who you are.
The best feeling in the
world is when you look at
that special person and
they are already smiling
at you.
THE MIDLAND MONTHLY
Page 2
Music filled the April air!
Our annual Junior and Senior Choruses’ Spring Concert was held on Special Persons’ Day. They began by
singing “The Midland School Song” together. The Junior chorus performed “The Snow is Piled so High,”
“Spring is Coming,” “Friendly Owl” and “Easter Parade”. The Senior Chorus presented “What a Wonderful
World,” “Appreciated” and “Let it Go.” Two of our students shared their musical instruments. Colleen B.
demonstrated what she has learned on her guitar. Nathaniel M. played an original composition on the piano.
Junior Chorus
Senior Chorus
Nathaniel M.
Easter Parade
Colleen B.
Lovey William's uniquely smooth singing style along with his excellent guitar playing provided the
perfect atmosphere for our annual Earth Day celebration. The majority of his music can be classified
as “classic soft rock”. He also plays blues, folk, pop, country, alternative, jazz, reggae & standards as well
as some of today’s hits. Unfortunately, the chilly April air kept us in the gym, but as you can see from the
pictures it didn't put a damper on anyone's spirits as the all the students and staff danced and sang along.
THE MIDLAND MONTHLY
Page 3
More Music filled the April air!
Classroom Close-Up, NJ taped a segment
entitled “Musical Mentoring” at the Midland
School on April 30, 2015. The segment
featured the relationship between the students in the Midland School and Somerville
High School Choruses. This special collaboration has been lead by our music teacher
Linda Lara and the Somerville Choral
Director Karen Gorzynski for 6 years.
The day included a joint rehearsal session,
lunch and then a concert featuring each
choir as well as their combined work.
Now taping its twenty-second season,
Classroom Close-Up, NJ features innovative
programs going on in public school
classrooms. Each half-hour program shows
how caring school professionals inspire and
motivate students. Classroom Close-Up, NJ
is a twelve-time Emmy award-winning show.
It is a co-production of the New Jersey
Education Association and NJTV with
additional funding by PSE&G.
Classroom Close-Up, NJ airs on NJTV every
Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and
Saturday at 5:30 a.m. Consult your local
television guide for the NJTV channel. Air
dates for this segment will be October 11,
October 17, November 15 and November 21.
THE MIDLAND MONTHLY
Page 4
Parent Resources
Hold these dates for a series of Live Webinars
on the
Division’s System Reform
DDD’s System Reform: Understanding What It Means for Someone Entering
DDD Services:
This webinar will provide an update on the system reform currently underway at DDD
and an overview of the process of entering into the DDD system for the first time. Information
regarding “life span” of an individual receiving DDD services- from intake and eligibility to
care management to accessing services to disenrollment (as applicable) will be covered.
This webinar is designed to provide information to students with intellectual and
developmental disabilities, their families, and school personnel.
Dates and Times Available:
• Saturday, May 16, 2015 – 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM
• Friday, June 5, 2015 – 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM
• Monday, July 13, 2015 – 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
DDD’s System Reform: Understanding What It Means for Someone Who Is Currently
Receiving DDD Services:
This webinar will provide an update on the system reform currently underway at DDD
and an overview of how these changes will affect people who are already receiving services
through DDD funding. Information about continuing needed services, accessing new services and shifting to the Support Coordinator model of care management will be provided.
This webinar is designed to provide information to adults with intellectual and
developmental disabilities who have already been receiving DDD-funded services,
their families, and service providers
Dates and Times Available:
• Tuesday, May 5, 2015 – 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM
• Thursday, May 21, 2015 – 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
• Wednesday, June 17, 2015 – 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
• Saturday, August 15, 2015 – 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
To register for either of these important session please go to:
http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/ddd/news/news/index.html
THE MIDLAND MONTHLY
Page 5
The Choice is Yours
The April Social Skills theme was– Telephone Etiquette
Congratulations to the Students of the Month
209– Andrew P.
218– Blair B.
210– Ethan M.
219– Emma B..
222– Bryan D.
212– Brian T.
220– Dominique G. & Ally L.
May Social Skills Theme– Making and Keeping Friends
APP of the Month
Autism iHelp
by John Talavera
Autism iHelp is a vocabulary teaching aid. It was inspired by the need for specific
language intervention tools for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder that focuses
on their unique strengths and weaknesses with expressive vocabulary. Autism
iHelp Language Concepts targets fundamental vocabulary, building concepts in a
variety of formats. By utilizing real-life photographs and activities involving
categorization and sorting skills, this app requires the learner to demonstrate more
than just basic understanding of targeted vocabulary. One review states that “This
app is great for speech therapy on the go. This is wonderful for my kiddos that are working on
different levels of categorization. I love the bright but simple pics and the data tracking options.”
The Apps can be purchased separately for $12.99 or as a bundle for $49.99.
May Nutrition Theme – Drinks of Champions
Spring is here, you are spending more time outside and you are exercising more. The warmer
weather also brings increased thirst. During May we are reminded to drink lots of WATER. This is
always important, but for those times that you are looking for something else to drink, consider this
list of the “8 Healthiest Drinks” from fitnessmagazine.com:
3.
1.
2.
Green Tea
Mint Tea
1%
reduced
fat milk
5.
4.
Soy Milk
Hot
Chocolate
7
6.
Low Sodium
Tomato Juice
Cranberry
Juice
8.
Orange
Juice
THE MIDLAND MONTHLY
Page 6
May Calendar
Saturday, May 2- Special Olympics Track and Field—Bridgewater High School
Tuesday, May 5- iPad Games– 3-4:30PM
Crafts and Music- 3-4:30PM
Movies at Midland– 3-5:00PM
Wednesday, May 6-Volleyball– Parent Spectating 1:45PM
Thursday, May 7-Yoga- 3- 4:30PM
Drums Alive- 3- 4:30PM
Exploring Colors– 3-4:30PM
Social Skills at Dinner-3- 5:30PM
Friday, May 8- Prom “All that Glitters” 6:45 to 10PM Soriano’s, Bridgewater
Tuesday, May 12- iPad Games– 3-4:30PM
Zumba– 3-4:30PM
Movies at Midland– 3-5:00PM
Wednesday, May 13– Somerset County Teen Arts Festival– RVCC- 9:30 AM to 12PM
Girl scouts/Cub Scouts– 3:15PM
Thursday, May 14- Midland Run (rain date Friday, May15)
Exploring Colors– 3-4:30PM
Social Skills at Dinner-3- 5:30PM
Friday/Saturday May 15/16- Respite
Tuesday, May 19– iPad Games 3-4:30PM
Movies at Midland– 3-5:00PM
Thursday, May 21– Drama Club Play- “The Voice” 1:40PM
Exploring Colors- 3- 4:30PM
Social Skills at Dinner-3- 5:30PM
Friday, May 22/Monday, May 25- NO SCHOOL– Memorial Day Weekend
Wednesday, May 27– Girl Scouts/Cub Scouts/Midland Cookies/Boys’ Life Club– 3:15 PM
Thursday, May 28– “Reading is Fun”- 10:20 AM
Dad and Me Evening- “We shore love our Jersey Dads!” 6-8:00PM
DON’T FORGET–
Graduation is Friday, June 12 at 10:30AM
200 Wing Awards Assembly is Wednesday, June 17 at
1:45PM
The Last Day of School is Thursday, June 18– 1PM dismissal