School News - Jowonio School

Volume 17, Issue 2
October 2013
Director’s Report
Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year at Jowonio! We have had a smooth beginning as all of us get to
know each other and learn the new routines. We appreciate that many of you came to the Open House on
the evening of September 25th. I know it is a leap of faith to place your sons and daughters in the care of
others. We encourage you to get to know our staff and feel comfortable asking questions and communicating about your child. Our doors are open to you.
At Jowonio we want to help children become caring members of a community. While the common assumption might be that preschoolers are focused on themselves and unable to demonstrate empathy, our
experience and much of the child development research contradicts that. Infants show signs of agitation
when others cry; toddlers may reach out to peers in distress by patting the child on the head, offering a
toy, finding an adult. Preschoolers play with and comfort each other. In our classrooms, we see kindness
and sharing daily.
School News
We can help young children learn to take the perspective of others by the example we set and how we
talk with them about what happens at home and at school. Our nurturing presence and behavior are the
lesson. Adults, who express concern about people in distress and take the initiative to help, set a powerful example in promoting caring. We can direct children to pay attention to the body language and
words of others. Conversation is an important strategy. We can ask, “What do you think the little girl is
feeling right now?” “Tell me what happened; now pretend you are your brother and tell me how he
might feel.” We want to teach strategies of cooperation, where one’s own needs can be expressed but
also take into account the needs of others. We want, as Alfie Kohn says, to “promote a disposition of
wanting to know how others are feeling,” “to develop the habit of seeing more deeply into others”.
In our classrooms children build relationships, work together as a group, learn from each other, and
make decisions through discussion and consensus. In this process there is time to express one’s own
feelings and ideas, listen to others, and offer suggestions. As adults we can gently acknowledge the social skills and kindnesses we see. We can also express our own failings (“Oops! I am so sorry I was
grouchy today. I’d like to try talking about that again.”). All through our daily routines we have a
chance to practice caring. The range of ages and needs of the diverse students in our groups provide opportunities to take turns being helpers as well as asking for help. We operate on the assumption that everyone belongs and we will work out a way for all to be part of the group. A caring community of children and adults is a living organism, changing and growing as are the individuals who are part of it. Seeing the development of each child into a kind
Save the Date
human being is a joyous part of our work .
Ellen
Columbus Day: NO SCHOOL
10/14
Adventures in Parenting Series
Start date TBA
Thursdays, 9-10:30am
Remember to turn your
clocks back (1) hour
2a.m. November 3rd
Election Day
11/5
Family Potluck Supper/Book Fair
11/6 6:00 pm
Veterans Day-No School
11/11
Holiday Food Drive
11/12– 11/25
Parent Conferences
11/13
Social Skills Parent Workshop
11/14 & 11/217-8:00pm
Thanksgiving Break—Half Day
11/27– all kids
dismiss at 11:15
Thanksgiving Break—No School
11/28-11/29
Who’s New at Jowonio?
At Jowonio we are so fortunate to have good retention of staff, although each year we can have some changes, including
teachers or therapists who move on to some other phase of their lives. We also may reconfigure some of our teams and teachers may join a different classroom. Here are changes for the 2013-2014 school year.
Half-Day Rooms (Kangaroo and Bunny). Jasmine Pryor and Ana Knoblock have joined the Kangaroo Room; Jasmine recently completed her masters in Early Childhood Special Education and her daughters Elodie and Nyla are Jowonio grads; Ana
went to Jowonio when she was a preschooler, and she graduated from the College of St. Rose and is currently in a Masters’
program at SU. Brenda, Morley and Ewa returned in the Bunny Room and Jacqueline Taylor, also a Masters’ student, is the
new member of that team.
Mid-Day Classrooms (Koala and Dragonfly). The Dragonfly staff are all returning and the Koala Room has added Lucy Mumford 3 days a week (last year in the Ocean Room) to match Michele Provo’s time.
Full Day Classrooms (Star, Treehouse, Waterfall, Sunflower, Earth and Ocean).
The Waterfall and Sunflower teams have remained intact, while several of the other classrooms have had staff change. The
Star Room added Audrey Evans (who had previously worked in Ocean and Sunflower). Treehouse gained Emily Walker (last
year in Star) and Amy Butler (working at SU Day Care) two days a week. Ocean gained Brett Grenert (formerly Kangaroo
Room), Page Rockwell (Earth Room), and Jennifer Mckee-Martin (returning from grad school). Earth Room added Anna
Drescher, student teacher there last summer.
Bellevue Heights and Bernice Wright (our collaborating nursery schools). Bellevue Heights hired Katie Hunter, so Katie’s
spot has been filled by Christine Lenchert. At Bernice Wright Eileen Bruns joined the preschool team, working part-rime
while she gets her Masters’ in Early Childhood Special Education.
Early Morning and Afterschool. While a number of our staff are returning, Early Morning has added Andrea Engelmann and
Afterschool has added Amy Butler, Greg Kraus, and Dana Ruh.
Pooh Corner (Speech-Language Therapists). With Susan Blanchard’s retirement, we welcome Maureen Vredenburgh to the
group part-time.
Jowonio by the Numbers
There are 177 children enrolled in our East Genesee Street building, 90 boys and 87 girls. Students come
to us residing in 18 different school districts. Jowonio staff also support 17 children at Bernice Wright
Nursery School and 6 children at Bellevue Heights Nursery School. Including teachers, therapists and
support staff we have 64 full-time and 35 part-time individuals.
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We promise your child will learn something new everyday.
Some days she will bring it home in her hand.
Some days he will bring it home in his head.
And some days they will bring it home in their hearts!
Our SU Connection
Every semester we are fortunate to have a number of undergraduate and graduate students from local colleges placed at
Jowonio. We are currently the primary field site for the Early Childhood Special Education program at Syracuse University
and many of their students have class placements and student teaching with us. Most of our terrific lead teachers went
through this program, and many of our current assistants and aides are working toward their masters’ degrees while employed with us. They have been gifts to us and the children and families with whom they work! The new teacher preparation regulations going into effect in 2014 require that teachers-to-be videotape themselves doing lessons, so you may receive
in the future a permission form regarding your child’s presence in the classroom during this process. We will stay in touch
as the details of the new certification experience become clear.
Board Notes
Glenda Criss, President, Jowonio School Board
In 2013, Jowonio School started working with a consultant to create a strategic plan as well as a succession plan for key
positions in our school. Through the work, the Jowonio School Board and the Friends of Jowonio Board worked together
and decided to reorganize our structure. The Jowonio School Board now is responsible for oversight of Jowonio School as
well as marketing, public relations, and fund development while the Friends of Jowonio Board is responsible for the building and grounds maintenance. Due to our expanded scope, the Jowonio School Board is actively seeking support from people that are interested in serving on committees and/or the board. If you are interested in serving on committee or the
board, please send an email to our new board email address: board.member@jowonio.org. Please include your name, contact information, and the committee(s) you might be interested in serving.
Here is a brief description of the committees:
1. Building and Grounds: This committee is charged with addressing any issues associated with the building or grounds.
2. Finance: This committee is charged with creating the budget for Jowonio School. They also approve any major financial expenses.
3. Fund Development/Events: This committee will create a fund development plan yearly. They will evaluate events to
determine a cost/benefit analysis. They will oversee the fundraising events and will work to create a plan to cultivate
donors.
4. Program: This committee reviews Jowonio’s programs. They create, disseminate, and review data from the Parent
Report Card.
5. PR/Marketing: This committee will create and help implement a PR/Marketing strategy for Jowonio School. They
will evaluate previous strategies for effectiveness as well.
6. Strategic Planning: This committee will review the strategic plan (which will be approved by January 2014) and ensure completion of tasks. They will work on a new strategic plan, as necessary.
V O L U M E 1 7, I S S U E 2
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Parent-Teacher Conferences
Our goal at Jowonio is to work together with parents to facilitate a positive learning experience for every student. This starts
with communication between home and school, including keeping you informed about what is happening in the classroom
and how your child is progressing. The weekly class calendar as well as the Jowonio Parent Newsletter should give you information about the activities at school. And, of course, if you drop off and pick up your son or daughter, you may have few
minutes to chat. You are free to call, e-mail or send notes to the teachers, and you may request a face-to-face meeting at any
time. But twice a year we schedule Parent-Teacher Conferences as a time to focus just on your child, to have a dialogue
where teachers can learn about parent perceptions and vice versa. As you prepare for your Parent-Teacher Conference in early November, consider the following:
Talk about:
How your child is feeling about school/ what he or she shares about the classroom
Your child’s interests and favorite activities at home
Home events that have an impact on your child (e.g. new baby, divorce, move, etc.)
Progress you are seeing at home
Concerns you may have about school and your child
Positive feedback about what is going well
Ask about:
Questions you have about the day’s routines, the Jowonio approach to curriculum and to behavior, expectations
for an age level
Progress teachers are seeing in social and academic skills
Clarification of teachers’ comments
Plan about:
How you and school staff can best communicate
Ways you and school staff can approach concerns together (e.g. sensory issues, toilet training, social skills)
Decisions about future plans (e.g. length of day, transition to kindergarten)
In general, effective communication strategies are important with parents and teachers as in all relationships. This includes
giving time for the other party to respond, expressing positives, and keeping the door open to sharing concerns. Feel free to
talk with us about your experiences with our conferences and written reports. We hope to have an effective working relationship with every family!
What Did You Do in School Today?
It is difficult for young children to recall and describe what they did during school, even though they are active and busy all
day long. They may lack the words to tell others about their activities or by the time you pick them up they have moved on to
other things. Our Jowonio classrooms send home to families a weekly schedule that will let you alert your child to what is happening when they get to the classroom as well as suggest specific questions you can ask when everyone gets home. All classroom teams meet weekly to plan a theme, goals within the curriculum to focus on, and the specific activities and materials to
meet those goals. You’ll see the goals noted on the schedule. When my children were young, I used to keep the schedule on
the refrigerator, so we could point out what was planned for each day. And then it gave us a way to talk after the fact.
“Tell me about your field trip to the pumpkin farm.”
“Did you get a chance to hike on Sarah’s Path? What did you see there?”
“I see the teachers were reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear…Do you want to read our copy tonight?”
“Tell me about this drawing in your backpack.”
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School Closings
If the Syracuse City School District is closed due to inclement weather, Jowonio is also closed. If Syracuse City
Schools close after the school day has begun, Jowonio will also close.
Please watch to your local T.V. station as we will be listed as “Jowonio School” under the school closing and delay list.
If we close after the school day has begun, the classrooms will call parents/guardians to come pick up their children.
Please note: their will be NO AFTERSCHOOL available that day. If your child is bussed, the bus company will
promptly come and drive the children to the specified drop-off destination on the Transportation Authorization Agreement.
Therefore, we need to know how to reach you during the day should a closing arise. Please always make sure we
have the most up-to-date contact information in the office.
Parking Lot Safety
Cooperative Federal Credit Union
Parking lots are dangerous for young children, especially
with a lot of people coming and going at the same time.
Drivers using cell phones are limited in their attention to
the people walking to or from their cars. Add to the situation rainy, snowy or icy conditions when there is decreased visibility for both pedestrians and vehicle drivers,
and you have a recipe for disaster. Children are shorter and
hard to see from a driver’s point of view. They should
always be escorted through the parking lots, whenever
possible holding an adult’s hand. We know it can be challenging to get children’s cooperation, especially when they
are excited about the transition in or out of the building.
Develop a routine with your youngster so that after you
park your car, help your son or daughter exit the vehicle,
and holding hands watchfully cross to the building entrance. We want everyone to get through the parking lots
safely!
Jowonio is part of the field of membership of the Cooperative Federal Credit Union, and as such, all families and staff
are able to join. The Credit Union offers checking and savings accounts, loans, mortgages, and financial education,
and they provide all this is a friendly manner. You can find
them on the web and visit their three offices: Westcott
Street, South Avenue, and N. Salina Street.
Share and Recycle
In the lobby of Jowonio is a “Please Take” area, where
individuals can put toys, clothes, books, and art/craft materials for classrooms and families to take. We are happy to
have any contributions that are safe and usable. We also
have a bin of books for adults …The Book Swap…Bring
in any novels or non-fiction that you are happy to pass on
and feel free to take anything that interests you.
E-mail group
We have set up a “Jowonio Parent 2013-2014” email group. Jowonio will use this group to send out information pertaining to the school weather it is an upcoming event or an interesting article, etc. We have sent a few emails out already, if you did not receive any emails from this group, contact connie.lutz@jowonio.org and she will add you to the
list.
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Out and About: The Experiential Learning from Field Trips
At Jowonio we are fortunate to have vans so classrooms can take field trips as often as every other week. Trips provide an opportunity for children to learn about and make sense of the world around them. Direct experiences are more
powerful than the two-dimensional ones, and the more first-hand exposure to these experiences and the use of all their
senses, the richer their understanding. A field trip starts with a frame of mind that is about observation and inquiry, on
noticing details, on wondering how things are connected. Field trips have greater impact when there is preparation
before-hand through books, pictures, discussions. For some children there is great anxiety going someplace novel, so
any way adults can prepare them for what they will experience is helpful, including describing what they may see and
giving them visuals for the expected sequence of events.
During the trip, adults can help children pay attention to salient features of the setting or event and ask pertinent questions, supply words/vocabulary for what they are seeing, relate what they are experiencing to things that are familiar.
Children are more likely to take in information when they experience it through all senses. And after the field trip,
they can make the experience more meaningful if children document it by dramatizing it, using language to discuss
and write an experience story, and represent what they saw through the use of art materials. Taking pictures and creating books will be a source of review for children about the experience.
The following is a list of interesting trips to take in the fall.
 Abbott Farms
3275 Cold Springs Rd, Baldwinsville (315)638-8900
 Baltimore Woods
4007 Bishop Hill Rd., Marcellus (315)673-1350
 Beaver Lake
8477 East Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville (315)638-2519
 Cayuga Nature Center 1420 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca (607)273-6260
 Critz Farms
3232 Rippleton Road Cazenovia, Phone:(800)-442-3225
 Highland Forest
1254 Highland Forest Rd., Fabius (315)683-5550
 Labrador Hollow
Rte. 91, Tully (607)753-3095 ext. 217
Favorite Fall Books
Here are some wonderful stories that entertain and educate, capturing fall’s natural beauty:
Apples and Pumpkins (Anne Rockwell)
Chipmunk Song (Joanne Ryder)
Frederick (Leo Lionni)
Mousekin’s Golden House (Edna Miller)
My Favorite Time of Year (Susan Pearson)
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever (Steven Kroll)
The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree (Gail Gibbons) The Tiny Seed (Eric Carle)
The Year at Maple Hill Farm (Alice & Martin Provensen)
“Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to
sit still and watch the leaves turn.”
Elizabeth Lawrence
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Being Part of our Community: the Jowonio Parent Teacher Group
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome each of you and your families to the Jowonio School. As members of the
Jowonio School Board, one of our major undertakings this year is the formation of a Parent-Teacher Group (PTG). We are
very excited about this opportunity, and there are many ways for you to get involved. The PTG is composed of moms and
dads, aunts and uncles, grandparents, caregivers and friends who care about our children and their education. We are people
who have come together to work towards common goals. The organization will meet a variety of needs including special
events, community building activities, student activities, and classroom support. While fundraising is not the primary focus,
these events and activities do help us raise funds and supplies which enrich the classroom experience for the betterment of all
students’ education. We are welcoming and friendly. It is important to note that come September all parents, guardians and
caregivers of Jowonio students are automatically members of the organization and are welcomed and encouraged to participate
in its activities.
We are currently seeking active members who are willing to volunteer their time in order to enhance the educational experience of every child at Jowonio. As a newly formed group, we have many officer and committee positions to fill. THIS IS
WHERE YOU COME IN!!! As busy moms ourselves, we understand that everybody’s time is valuable and limited. To that
end, we have worked very hard to find ways for everyone to participate no matter how much or how little time they have. We
feel strongly about this because all the research shows when parents get connected to the school, children do better.
How much time are we talking about?
Volunteering doesn’t mean a huge time commitment. We have tasks that can be performed in the evenings, during the school
day or ones that don’t involve coming into the school at all. We pledge to honor your time constraints and won’t push you to
commit more than you want or are able to.
What exactly is required of me?
The work we do covers a broad spectrum. We can match volunteer opportunities to your interests and abilities. We encourage
creative ideas, and we’re thrilled to have people take on tasks that meet their skills and interests.
I am not interested in becoming an active member of a PTG. Are there other ways for me to get involved?
Yes!!! If we can get every Jowonio parent to commit Just 2 Hours to helping out, we can do amazing things for our kids and
our school. This year, we are launching a program called 2 Hour Power Pledge that emphasizes that all help, any help makes a
huge difference for schools. We’d love your 2 Hours, and --Really! We promise! – there’s no obligation beyond helping out
in this small, but important way. We know that doing more is not a fit for everyone. Participating in our 2 Hour Power program is easy. Simply check the 2-Hour Power box on the Volunteer Form along with your areas of interest; this form was put
in your child’s cubby and there are copies near the front desk. We’ll then be in touch with opportunities that fit your interests
and availability.
Becoming involved is very easy and it really makes a difference! We hope you will join us. Complete the Volunteer Form
and return it to your child’s teacher. As always, please feel free to call or email if you have any questions or concerns.
Thanks in advance,
Kelly Wichmann
Jowonio School Board
315-350-0723
Jennifer Rubin
Jowonio School Board
315-730-1654
Kwichmann22@gmail.com
luv2shopalot@gmail.com
“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
—John Andrew Holmes
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Morning Routines: Getting from Here to There
Are your mornings challenging as you try to get everyone dressed, fed and off to school? Transitions can be especially hard
for young children because the goals that adults have do not meet their needs or motivations. They may prefer to stay in bed
until they are ready, sit around in their pajamas until they are ready to get dressed, and eat breakfast when they are hungry.
Adults may feel the same way but we have trained ourselves to move past these urges. Have empathy for your child’s needs as
you try to come up with a plan that will start the day happy rather than grumpy for all concerned. Establishing a routine that
is predictable can reduce a struggle each day.

Figure out what is most important for your child in the morning and allow as much time for that as possible, even if it
means waking him up earlier.

Structure the pre-departure events at the same time and in the same way every day; kids are more cooperative when they
know what to expect.

Create a visual schedule to post as a reminder of the routine.

The night before take a bath, together put out preferred clothes to wear, decide on snacks/lunch to bring, and prepare the
backpack.

In the morning avoid power struggles over non-critical issues; offer reasonable choices without arguing (“Do you want to
put your coat or boots on first?”) and save long discussions for the evening.

Motivate your children by rewarding them with more of your attention; read one story, sing songs, watch part of a favorite
PBS show.

Make a playlist of favorite songs for your iPod that will take the amount of time you and your child need to get dressed,
eat breakfast, and get in the car or meet the bus.

Empathize with your child’s needs (“I know some days it’s hard to get out of bed.”)

Make the moments before you leave memorable, with hugs, kisses and smiles.
put boots on
bus
Health Notes
With cold and flu season upon us, it is important to remember guidelines about school attendance when your child is ill or recovering.
Please do not send your child to school sick! Sick children are unhappy at school and they can expose other children to their
illness, including some of our students who have reduced immunity. Also do not give your child Tylenol or Motrin immediately before school in hope they can make it through the day. When the medication wears off, they feel poorly and can have a
recurrence of their fever. Meanwhile they have been exposing others to their illness.
Schools including Jowonio use the following guidelines as a reason for a child to stay home from school:
*Fever (greater than 100 degrees) *Rash associated with fever/change in behavior *Drainage/discharge from the eye
(pink eye) *Diarrhea *Vomiting *Specific infections (e.g. pertussis, strep throat, impetigo) until treated and child is
released to return to school by doctor
Many of us at Jowonio are parents and know the difficulties presented when a child cannot attend school as planned. However,
please know that for the well-being of everyone here at school, you will be asked to take home sick children who present any
of the signs of illness listed above. Children can return to school after he/she has been fever-free for 24 hours. Remember that
the most effective way to prevent disease transmission is to wash your hands frequently. Please read the Jowonio Parent
Handbook for other details around health issues.
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Ingredients for Quality Inclusive Schooling
In the 1980’s when Jowonio began to include a wide range of children in classrooms together, nowhere in the literature or in
practice had professionals documented this model. Our administrators, teachers, and parents each day welcomed all children
into the school, including those with autism and physical challenges, and worked to develop creative and effective teaching
practices. Everyone learned, contrary to the commonly held beliefs about the learning potential of those with significant
needs and the commonly held beliefs about the capacity for empathy on the part of typical peers. As children graduated from
Jowonio, their parents advocated with their home schools to continue inclusive programming; as a result, in central New
York, many school districts have developed innovative “least restrictive” models. These early students and many who have
followed them have had a more accepting life because of the vision of so many teachers and parents.
At Jowonio, the “Big Ideas” that have inspired us and informed our practice include the following:

All children belong and are welcomed into the learning community. Students with many learning styles, needs and gifts
have a right to a high quality developmentally appropriate education with individualized accommodations.

The “least dangerous assumption” is that all students can be competent with the right supports; these supports should be
responsive to each person’s needs and strengths, aim for independence, and be “only as special as necessary”.

Children learn through warm and nurturing relationships with adults and peers. We want students to become caring human beings. When they understand and value themselves as well as understand and value the differences in others, they
become comfortable and confident in their interactions, and are not constrained by stereotypes.

We understand children’s behavior as communication and the primary intervention is prevention. Children develop appropriate social skills through consistent and warm responses from adults, positive redirection, and teaching in an environment that meets the needs of each student rather than requiring readiness for a standard teaching approach.

A partnership with parents is critical in appropriately supporting individual students and creating an effective school.

Inclusive programming is best with a team approach in which we all-- administrators, teachers, support staff, and parents—solve problems together.
Our goal in each Jowonio classroom is to ensure that a wide range of children are successful participants in the educational
and social life of the community. We want to provide a quality early education for all students, including those who may
need more support. Sometimes these supports are people…the special education teachers who modify activities to address
the learning styles of each child; the assistants who help individuals participate; and the speech, occupational and physical
therapists who address the students’ specific communication, sensory and motor challenges.
Other times the supports that allow children to be involved in day-to-day activities are adaptive equipment and special teaching materials. Teachers and therapists may create the materials themselves, based on a child’s interests and goals. A
thoughtful and rich classroom set-up can assist everyone. For example, visuals such as schedules, signs where materials belong, and sequences for activities can all children in successful participation. Singing and signing the transitions in the
schedule help students pay attention to the teachers’ message. Active children may find it easier to concentrate at circle time
in a cube chair; a quiet corner with a beanbag chair can be a space for anyone who needs to relax. Purchased equipment,
often expensive, may need to be adapted to the size and needs of a student. A tricycle, for instance, with hand controls or
special foot supports allows a child with motor coordination issues to join classmates on Trike Town or in the gym When a
student has limited spoken language, it is essential that we find alternative ways for him to express his thoughts and needs;
communication boards, signing, or an iPad with speech applications may let a child have interactive relationships and be a
full part of daily life in the classroom. Our goal is to have these supports be only as typical as possible and to foster independence in all students.
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Sometimes Humor can Save the Day!
As in this piece written by Alyson & Craig Beytien, parents of a son with autism….
You might be a parent of a child with autism if…
You can name every zoo or train museum in a six state radius
You’ve put your child between 2 couch cushions, laid on top of her, and called it therapy!
You can open up ketchup packets while driving
You have a swing INSIDE your house
Your child’s wardrobe consists of a) nothing with buttons; b) all one color; c) only sweat pants; d) all of the above.
Your pediatrician asks You “What do you think we should do?”
You break into a sweat if the phone rings while the kids are in school
You know there is a huge difference between Burger King fries and Wendy’s fries
You know at least four of the following acronyms: IEP, SLP, OT, PT, ASA, DAN, GFCF, ABA
You can name all of the Thomas the Tank Engines
You think ketchup counts as a food group
You consider successful toilet training to be on par with winning the lottery
All your neighbors have you on speed dial
You do not know the meaning of the word relax
You can recite phrases and songs from all of the Disney films
Your idea of a family holiday dinner is chicken nuggets, Lucky Charms, and lemonade
And most of all, you know that the true meaning of the word JOY is housed within a glance, a sound, a word, a touch.
When inclusive practice is fully embraced, we abandon the idea that children have to become “normal” in order
to contribute to the world. Instead we search for and nourish the gifts that are inherent in all people. We
begin to look beyond typical ways of becoming valued members of the community, and in doing so, begin to realize the achievable goal of providing all children with an authentic sense of belonging.
--Norman
Kunc
I have a Brother/Sister with Special Needs...
Each sibling of a child with a disability or chronic illness is unique. However, many of them share similar needs. Most siblings agree that during their childhood, they wished for the following:

Open communication within the family about the nature of their sibling’s specific disability and how to best support
him/her

Ways to cope with stressful events, including peer and public reactions, unexpected disruptions to family plans, extra
home responsibilities

Recognition by their parents of their own strengths and accomplishments

“Quality time” with their parents on an individual basis

Contact and support from other siblings of children with special needs and their families, knowing there are others who
share a similar journey
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Friends of Jowonio
foj
NEW JOWONIO GEAR IS HERE!
Adult & Youth T-Shirts $10
jowonio Community
Adult & Youth Long Sleeve T-Shirts $10
Sidewalk Campaign
Unisex Thermal Shirts $20
Leave your mark on our new
front sidewalk! Sections of the
sidewalk are available for Personalization
$100 and $200 levels. Contact
Kristen ext. 201 or
Travel Coffee Mugs $8
Kristen.antonacci@jowonio.org
Adult Ringer T-Shirts $12
Adult Baseball T-Shirts $15
Women’s T-Shirts $10
Water Bottles $5
Tote Bags $5 & $20
Start thinking about what you
would like to say and how you
will leave your mark at Jowonio!
Ornaments $5
Cookbooks $5
Blankets $20
Lunch Bags $5
Canvas Bags $20
Draw String Back Packs $5
Save The Date
Infant Onesies $10
Scholastic Book Fair
Stuff the Bus was a huge
success again this year!
Thank you for all of
your generous donations
to stock the school with
much needed supplies!
Please consider designating Jowonio as
Special Thanks to our
a recipient of your United Way
Jowonio Cleaning Crew!
contribution. Write “Jowonio School”
Designate
Jowonio
as Your
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United Way
Beneficiary
During school hours
Tuesday, 9/5
Wednesday, 9/6
Thursday, 9/7
Special Book Fair Event
Wednesday, 9/6
During Potluck Dinner!
on the line provided on the donor card.
The United Way dollars are used for Jowonio’s
annual scholarship fund. Last more than $12,000
was donated through individual write-in designations! With your help, our scholarship fund can
continue to support
During the summer break, our
Jowonio Cleaning Crew was hard at
work making improvements to our
school. including new paint, stripping & waxing the floors and lots of
detail project work. Many thanks to
S C H O O L NE W S
Ben, Brett, Connie,
Jason, John, Mike, Page & T for mak-
Friends of Jowonio
foj
2013 Jowonio Open !
On Monday, August 5th, 88 golfers teed up for Jowonio at the 2013 Jowonio Open, held at The Links at Erie Village. The highlight
of the day was the ball wash station by the
Treehouse Room kids who raised $57!
Dave Tyler, Joe Lore and Matt Gardner, Co-Chairs of the Tournament
Treehouse Kids Ball Wash
ensured that everyone had a great day and
enjoyed the course, contests, raffle & silent auction.
1st Place Team
Graem Anderson, Nancy Anderson, Al Mundo & Mike Chelbus
2nd Place Team (tie)
Joe Lore, John Cirando, Honorary John Centra & Anthony Farone
Graem Anderson’t 1st Place Team
2nd Place Team (tie)
Steve Snyder, Rob Ventre, Doug Cadwell & Mike Powell
Men’s Closest to the Pin
Dan Goetzmann
Ladies Closest to the Pin
Nicole Squire
Men’s Longest Drive
Dave Tyler’s Team
Chris Pasquale
Ladies Longest Drive
Joanne Hoefler
Special Thanks to our Generous Sponsors
Developmental Evaluation Center, Delmonico Insurance Agency,
Empire State Container, Fucillo Automotive Group, F.P. Kessler, Jr & Associates, Fust Charles Chamers, Gannon Pest Control,
KeyBank Team
Jowonio & the Syracuse Crunch Hockey!
Support Jowonio on
Saturday, December 14th
as the Crunch take on Rochester!
Tickets available in the Friends office for $15.
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H O O L InterNE W S
Volunteers will also be selling “pucks” before theS C2nd
mission. Chuck-A-Puck on the ice for a chance to win a prize
from Tully’s!
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S C H O O L NE W S
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S C H O O L NE W S
Child and Family Support Team
FAMILY CORNER
Jowonio…It’s Not Just a Preschool!
Since school began you may have noticed that there is more to Jowonio than classroom teaching and hard-core playing going
on. Jowonio has always been, and continues to evolve, not just as a preschool but as a community school. We serve a large
and diverse group of children but our community of family and friends are just as important to the mission of Jowonio as are
the kids. While the building is bustling with child-centered activities every day, it also serves as a meeting spot for parents,
local nonprofit and advocacy groups, college classes, seminars, and recreational classes. We collaborate on workshops, resource distribution, student training and community planning with countless local agencies, and our school community keeps
getting bigger and stronger as a result.
All parents and caregivers are encouraged to spend time in your child’s classroom, but outside of the classroom there are also
things going on every day in which to be involved. For some this might include joining us for occasional school-wide events
such as Pot Luck or March Follies, while others might enjoy a day of gardening, helping with a playground improvement project or writing an article for our newsletter. Bring the whole crew to a family fun event on an evening or weekend or during a
school vacation, or join us at an evening event such as a workshop for parents offered by Jowonio staff, or a CNY Autism Society of America meeting.
Thanks to generous grants from the CNY DDSO/OPWDD, the Family Support Team is able to offer supportive and educational programs and services throughout the year for parents. This could include a parenting group, info and referral for community services and resources, inclusive events for families or respite assistance. Our partnership with Panera of Fayetteville
supplies us with fresh bread every Monday morning, which is available to all families. You will see flyers for upcoming food
and toy drives and we appreciate your donations as well as any time you can spare to help organize.
If you have a little time to offer we would love your participation in the Jowonio Parent-Teacher Group (PTG), which helps to
develop fundraising projects and promote and organize classroom and school-wide events. We can always count on our parent
and family volunteers to bring new ideas and unique cultural experiences to the classroom and school. So please share your
energy and creativity with us!
Our door is always open, so please feel free to stop by the Family Support Office to say hello. All of our services are also
available to Jowonio families at our Bernice Wright and Bellevue Heights collaborations, so please stop by or call anytime.
We look forward to meeting you! Melissa Hyman, Emily Vercelloni
A Thanksgiving Tradition at Jowonio
Every year at Jowonio we have a wonderful community event that takes place. Our warm
giving families and staff donate food throughout the month of November. With the help
of the students from Manlius Pebble Hill and our Family Support Team, baskets are assembled and delivered to current families, alumni families and some staff that are in
need. Every year somewhere between thirty to forty baskets are delivered, complete
with a turkey and all of the fixings for a great meal. We ask that you help in anyway that
you are able. Bins will be set up in the hall for donations of non-perishable food items.
We accept cash and gift cards to local area grocery stores. If you would like to receive a
basket, please call Emily Vercelloni at extension 149. Your need will remain confidential.
Thanks to everyone that makes this such a success.
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S C H O O L NE W S
Family Support Events
This summer was full of fun activities for Jowonio students and their families.
Thanks to our grant from OPWDD, 10 Jowonio dads attended the second annual Dad’s Night Out at the Chiefs baseball game on July 23 rd. The guys enjoyed the game and a barbeque dinner catered by the stadium.
Calling all Jowonio dads: there is a new group forming by and for Jowonio
dads and friends to meet up, go to a game, grab a bite or a drink, hike, etc….all ideas are welcome. If interested, check it
out by going to Meetup.com and click on Syracuse D.O.N.’s (Dad’s Only Nights) to sign up…Or contact John Soltys at
Jowonio: john.soltys@jowonio.org
For the sixth year in a row we sent families to The Wellness
GIFTS Retreat in Bath, NY, also thanks to our grant from
OPWDD. This summer 14 families, including Jowonio students, their parents and siblings, along with a handful of alumni
families, attended this program over two different weekends.
They were provided with lodging, meals, one-to-one aid support, access to swimming pools, miniature golf, wagon rides,
and lots of family activities.
On July 14th we held an Ice Cream Social, starring our own
Star Room’s Anita and Aaron leading music and singing as
well as Hal the Magician, on our outdoor stage, and served
ice cream donated by Byrne Dairy.
Thursday, October 17th,
On November 14 and 21
from 6:30-8:30pm at Phoewe will present a Social
be’s Restaurant, we will host
Skills and Sensory ChalPlease keep an eye out for some exciting a networking evening for
lenges workshop presented grant-funded events for parents coming up
parents of Jowonio children
this fall:
by Jowonio Support
with diagnoses of Autism
Teacher Carol Spartano
Spectrum Disorder or Senand OT Lisa Neville.
We look forward to seeing you at these and sory Processing Disorder.
more fun family events this year!
th
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st
S C H O O L NE W S
Things to Think About
Recognize Good When It Happens
Focusing on what’s wrong can diminish all that is going right. Before bed, play the “three good things” game. Both you and your
child list three good things that happened today and describe how
you feel about them. You may be inspired to list three good things
you anticipate tomorrow, too…By nurturing an upbeat approach, you
give your child the key to a healthier, happier, more productive life.
The Power of Talking to Baby
According to a longitudinal research study by Hart and Risley, the
greater the number of words children heard before they were three,
the higher their IQ and the better they did in school. TV talk not only
didn’t help, it was detrimental. By making parents and caregivers
aware of the importance of talking with their young children, the
number of words they are exposed to can increase dramatically.
Simple Things You Can Do to Help Protect the Earth
Put on a sweater, rather than turning up the heat
Drive less, walk and bike more
Reuse and recycle
Protect the landfill by disposing of things properly
Paper nor plastic, but take reusable bags to the grocery store
BYOB: bring your own reusable bottle for water
Turn off the lights except for the room you are in
Plant a tree, for the soil, the birds, climate change & the air we
breathe
Get off the list for catalogs and flyers you don’t use
The Best Gift: Memory Boxes
A favorite gift from my brother has been a yearly collection of quotes that he has recorded from his three children. He writes them on small pieces of paper, dates them,
and put them in a jar on the kitchen counter. At the end of the year, he types them
(“The World according to Joe”) and shares them as a gift to relatives. I treasure these
as a portrait of each child in that year and how he or she perceives the world. In addition to quotes you can write out lists (words spoken, backpack contents, friends, fears)
or describe milestones (first tooth lost, name written) and, of course, include art work
and photos. Photo boxes (available everywhere including the Dollar Store) are sturdy
and attractive receptacles as are albums. You and your family will love reviewing
these keepsakes, chuckling over memories and celebrating growth!
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S C H O O L NE W S
Ways to Find Family Reading Time Every Day
Here are ten ways that you can help your preschooler develop literacy skills:
1. On car trips point out and read billboards, vendors and road signs.
2. Label items in your home, kitchen, bedroom, so your child can read them aloud; use recipe
cards when your child helps you prepare and cook a meal.
3. Read aloud signs and labels in the supermarket. Clip coupons and then match to items in the
store. Sort cans and boxes by labels when putting away the groceries.
4. Pack a bag of special books for time in the car or somewhere there might be a long wait, such
as the doctor’s office.
5. Write a note to your child and tuck it in the lunchbox/backpack.
6. Attend library story hours; go to the library regularly and create a routine of selecting and checking out books around
favorite topics.
7. Prepare for an activity/ a trip by checking out of the library books about things you might see…zoo animals, maps, castles, shells at the beach.
8. If you are traveling, take with you a couple of your child’s special books, so that when you call or skpe to say goodnight, you can read to your child; send postcards from wherever you are.
9. Many children’s books are available electronically, so you and your son/daughter can listen to a story (e.g. on an ipod,
CD or tape player) and also turn the pages of the corresponding book.
10. Create a regular evening routine to read aloud to your child before bedtime, including longer books (early “chapter”
books) that can be read over several days. When your child asks to stay up a little longer to be read to, say “Yes!”
Reading Together is Fun!
This year Jowonio received a grant from Target for $2,000 for our new Reading Together is Fun! program. Some families
will receive books to read with their children at home. In addition we will share tips and encouragement on how to incorporate reading with their child into their weekly routines. By being read to more frequently at home, our students will see improvement in their early vocabulary, knowledge and concentration. Reading to your children better prepares them for kindergarten and beyond; it also sets the stage for more quality time for children and parents/guardians together. And we hope
these experiences will create a love for books, fundamental to school success! We are grateful to Target for the opportunity
to start this program.
Assistive Technology Lending Library
In June, Jowonio received a grant from the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation for $10,000 to help support our Assistive
Technology Lending Library, which will be opening this fall. The Lending Library will help families explore various technology at home as they consider the possibility of purchasing items that benefit their child. The Assistive Technology Team
will be coordinating the library and are in the process of ordering materials and setting up a system for borrowing the adaptive equipment. If education is needed by those who are using the library on how to use certain technology, support in this
area can be provided. We want to thank the Boeheim Foundation for their generous donation towards the library! We couldn’t provide such opportunities without this support.
Page 19
S C H O O L NE W S
Jowonio
Earn cash for Jowonio every time you shop
for groceries. Clip Box Tops from hundred
of your favorite products.
3049 East Genesee Street
Syracuse, NY 13224
Phone: 315.445.4010
Fax: 315.445.4060
Each Box Top is worth 10 and that adds up
fast! Last year Jowonio families clipped over
6000 Box Tops and raised $612.00!
If you have any questions, contact Cynthia Johnson @ 445-4010 or email her
@ cynthia.johnson@jowonio.org
“To Set Free”
You can also got to the Box Tops for Education web site.
www.boxtops4education.com
FREESHIPCNY
Wanted: Used kids
trampoline with a handlebar. Janet LaSalle
contact me at
jmcelton@gmail.com
The Printing Center, Full Service Printing and Copy Center
► Black/White & Color Copies ► Folding, Collating, Stapling
► Manuals & Newsletters
►Flyers, Brochures, Envelopes ► Business Cards & Letterhead ►Invitivations & Speciality Papers
►Rush orders are our specialty ► Pickup & Delivery Availiable ► Books & Catalogs
3049 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13224, For information Call 315.446.6126