Presented by College & Career Transition Dept. Coordinator, Daniel Montesano and Director of School Operations, Christopher Leonard

Chris Leonard Director of School Operations

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About

Sage Day is a private, accredited, therapeutic school in Northern, New Jersey for students grades 4 through 12 who need a different learning environment. Typically, our students have been diagnosed as suffering from depression, school phobia, school avoidance, anxiety disorder and other issues. They are often described as being emotionally “fragile.” By joining our supportive community, students find renewed confidence and success.

Sage Day In-district Services are designed to fill the gap in service between traditional in-school support and an out-of-district placement. Our skilled clinical team will work with the child study team, academic staff and administration to provide a seamless counseling experience for the student. With the right therapeutic relationship and counseling, students will gain the support, strategies and insight they need in order to make progress in school and to better manage their emotional lives.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT US AT WWW.SAGEDAY.COM

Three Campuses

WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER THREE CAMPUSES:

SAGE DAY BOONTON H.S SAGE DAY ROCHELLE PARK H.S SAGE DAY MAHWAH MIDDLE SCHOOL

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT US WWW.SAGEDAY.COM

Today’s Agenda

•  The Sage Day approach

•  Is there an IEP in college?

•  How to show support ( as a parent and a school district)

•  Tips from our Clinical Directors

•  Common road blocks for the special education student

•  Determining college readiness

•  College and alternative pathways

•  Advantages of community college

•  Resources

•  Q&A

Meet The Presenter

Daniel Montesano, Coordinator of the Sage Day College and Career Transition Department

Dan has worked at Sage Day since 2010 serving for three years as an Associate Teacher. He also served for two years as Head Coach of the Sage Day Rochelle Park Basketball team and established himself as a strong role model and a person on whom students can rely for solid advice. Assuming the role of Career and College Coordinator in September 2013 he has formed effective counseling relationships with our students, has assisted some students with the college search and application process while helping other students explore and begin to select alternatives that best fit their needs and aspirations. We are also extremely pleased to share that Dan has already established a growing internship program helping to place our high school students in internships in local businesses near our Boonton and Rochelle Park campuses. 

Mission Statement

Parents and School Districts are the first to be concerned about transition. Transitions can be a difficult part of life, but are made easier with the right thought and preparation.

At Sage Day, our goal is to ensure that every student graduating has an individualized plan of action. During this webinar we will review ways to support those students with special needs transition smoothly after high school.

The Sage Approach

Sage Day and Public School Districts share a common goal: We all want our students to be successful after high school. Unfortunately, in some public school environments, students can fall through the cracks when they are unsure of their next steps. Here is the Sage Day approach in an effort to prevent that from occurring:

The Sage Approach Continued…

Freshman Year

Our students engage in seminar classes and identify short, medium and long term goals (clubs, sports, class selections.)

Sophomore Year

Students formulate a plan of action and determine if college is the best next step for them or if there are other options out there (PSAT)

Junior Year

Meet with students and open up other avenues if they are not ready for college (PSAT/SAT/ACT)

Senior Year

Meet with students once a week to track progress and assist with applications, financial aid.

Is There An IEP In College?

•  Once you reach higher education, you will no longer have an IEP; the laws of IDEA 2004 do not apply once the student is in college. However, under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), colleges must provide “reasonable accommodations” to those in need. In other words, it’s up to you to document your learning disability and request accommodations from your institution.

•  Some colleges do take the IEP into account in order to work with students based on the IEP and provide comprehensive accommodations and services. Some of those schools are:

Mitchell College

Dean College

Centenary College

Kutztown University

St. Thomas Aquinas

Common Road Blocks For The Special Education Student

•  Lack of awareness of all the options available.

•  Lack of confidence.

•  Fear of failure, struggling to identify strengths and skills.

•  Poor time management and organizational skills.

•  Trying to find a place to “belong” to.

•  Seeking the school based on “best name” rather than “best fit.”

•  Fears: living on their own, time management, homesickness, choosing a major, disliking roommate, college won’t be what he or she expects.

How To Show Support

•  Provide resources for students to explore options:

- Interest Inventories

- Career Assessments

- Constant Availability

•  Help students understand their IEP.

Parents School Districts

•  Encourage your child to begin

thinking about life after high school

early in their academic career.

•  Let your child explore options and

find their own way, but remain

supportive.

•  Investigate all of the options with

your child for transition, including:

- Vocational/trade schools

- Community colleges

- 1-2 year certification programs

- Direct entry into the workforce.

Tips From Our Clinical Directors

“Discussing upcoming transitions early with students is essential. Making students aware that it is ok to discuss it early is helpful for them.”

“I find that many students and their families believe that getting an acceptance to college is the golden ticket of transition. An acceptance letter to a four year college doesn't magically impart college readiness skills on a student.”

“We work with parents and students to help them understand that graduating from school is only a beginning. Whether a student attends college, has a job or does volunteer work mistakes will happen and that is ok. Turning 18 is not a sign that adulthood has been achieved. We encourage and assist students to connect with mental health and counseling services and tutoring programs.”

Determining College Readiness

Some questions to ask yourself:

•  How are the student’s overall grades?

•  Does the student display college readiness?

- Time management skills

-  Test taking abilities

- Organization

•  What are the student’s strengths and weaknesses?

•  Quality of socialization skills?

•  How does the student handle stress?

•  Degree of independent living skills?

Eighty percent of Sage Day graduates transition directly to college, but the other 20 percent are not forgotten. We make sure they are set up with the skills to interview for a job, attend a trade school based on their interest, or have some type of action plan.

{ Case Studies }

College & Alternative Pathways

Advantages of Community College

Myth: Community college is not “real” college.

Fact: Community colleges offer traditional 100 and 200 level courses that students would be taking at a 4-year college. Community colleges also offer a variety of courses that students can eventually use to transfer to a 4-year college.

Myth: Community college is for students who didn’t do well in high school.

Fact: Community college offers students an easier transition from high school for students of all academic backgrounds. Students who performed well academically in high school still opt for community college for an easier transition personally, socially, and academically.

Myth: Once I have my associate’s degree, I won’t be able to do anything with it.

Fact: Once students complete their coursework at community college, they can pursue a variety of paths, including transferring to a 4-year college, getting a job in their chosen field of study or pursuing a certification in their chosen field.

Sage Student Testimonials

“One piece of advice I would give to current seniors preparing for college would be to take a chance. The transition to college is different for everyone, but it is the same in one regard

– it is a time of change and uncertainty.”

- 2011 graduate -

“I think that all students should consider community college. It is an affordable and good option. Some people ( including me before starting BCC think of community college as the

easy way out, but it really is not.”

- 2012 graduate -

“I went into the automotive field because it was the most interesting to me. There is a lot to learn in a short time, which will help me get used to working in the real world.”

-2013 graduate -

Resources

•  www.fafsa.ed.gov – Financial aid

•  www.collegetoolkit.com – Provides helpful resources for college bound students.

•  www.fastaid.com –Helpful scholarship links.

•  www.connection.naviance.com/sageds – Sage Day’s Naviance page

•  www.collegeboard.org – Registration for SAT and PSAT

•  www.collegeacademicsupport.com – Website listing colleges that specialize in students with learning disabilities.

•  www.fairtest.org – Website listing colleges that are SAT/ACT optional

Q&A

Thank you so much for your participation in today’s webinar. We will take questions at this time.