Pendergrass-Fairwold School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the Graduate by providing our students an opportunity to learn and practice functional skills across various community and school settings. Profiles that provide information that will assist the student and their teacher in moving forward from academic learning in the early grades to applying skills and personal preferences in the transition years are developed for each student. The profiles are also used as a tool to suggest a level of differentiation that will be incorporated within instructional activities, to provide suggested instructional strategies that will increase levels of skill performance in the areas of standards-based learning, and to provide an overview or brief description of an individual student’s current abilities and skills concerning standards-based learning tasks.
One of our greatest successes this school year has been the continued operation of school-based job enterprises. Through our Bear Bucks Café, Greenhouse, and Auto Detailing Center, our students gain real-life job skills while increasing their communication and social skills. Students participated in a resource fair and worked in the community to generalize job skills learned through the enterprises. Students showcased their talents during our 3rd annual Job Olympics.
Professional development has continued to be an area of strength at Pendergrass-Fairwold School. Our principal has earned certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and an assistant principal has completed all coursework and supervision requirements. They utilize this knowledge to train staff in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles, increasing prosocial behaviors in students. All instructional staff are also trained in Structured Teaching, a framework for providing relevant, supportive environments for all students, maximizing their independence.
We are fortunate to have continued partnership with Benedict College. Our staff assists their students with modifying instructional materials and how to utilize different modes of assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Our partnerships with Lowe’s and The Corey Mitchell Foundation provide our students with items to ensure we meet their academic and personal needs.
This school year, instructional support staff worked towards certification as Registered Behavior Technicians. It assisted teachers and administration in delivering behavior-analytic services and practice under the direction and close supervision of a BCBA. Instructional support staff will continue this work during the upcoming school year. This training will ultimately benefit the students we serve and strengthen skills that will enable paraprofessionals to provide support and build relationships with the students that we serve. Collaboration with the EXCEL Academy Unified Buddies will continue and deliver socially significant opportunities for students to participate in activities with non-disabled peers on and off campus. Identified students will be paired with targeted Fairwold students and serve as mentors in addition to collaborating during regular school events and job enterprises.
Faythe Redenburg, Principal
