Week 10/4 Blog

 

THRIVE Director Notes

Posts on this Blog will be directed to help families see what is going on in our THRIVE Program.  Items discussed on the Blog have already occurred.  To keep updated on what’s coming up please refer to the THRIVE activity calendar or UCM activity calendar.

Selection of classes:  

Families, it's that time of the year already.  Your students will be looking at different classes that they could take for the Spring Semester.  We always suggest that you talk to your student at this time to see what they are thinking about and why?  In their Personal-Centered Plan Meetings, their teachers discuss what they are wanting to do in the future and how these classes fit into that plan.  If you have concerns please talk to your student about why they are choosing a particular class.  If you have concerns after this discussion please let their teacher know but remember that we do primarily go off of your student. We will be able to start enrolling our students in classes around the middle of October. 

Internships:

Second-year students will be choosing new ideas for their Spring internships.  Then Dr. Manning will begin a discussion as to why and how this fits into their job/career interests.  Dr. Manning will then discuss options with potential supervisors on the availability of internships for these jobs.  The students should know their internship placements before they leave for Winter Break.

First-Year Students:

University Foundations: Debra Southard   

 Students are already thinking about the next semester. We learned how to look up classes for the spring semester. They took a test for Chapter 4 that was about learning styles. Students are working on their writing skills. Elaborating, explaining, and expanding statements they have written.  Weekly discussion boards can not be turned in late. They are due every Sunday at midnight. Not many students remembered last week to complete that. On Thursday the Health Center came over and explained the many services they provide. 

Individual & Family Health and Relationships:  Debra Southard & Lisa Garnier 

Relationships this week talked about childbirth and infant care on Monday. We brought in a doll and taught them how to hold it and how to swaddle it in a blanket. The kids were very attentive and eager to take a turn swaddling “Betsy.” On Wednesday we reviewed for the midterm exam (can you believe we are already halfway through the semester??), and on Friday students took the midterm exam. 

Technology Literacy:  Lisa Garnier

We finished our “All About Me” slide presentations on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I introduced the Technology Purchase Project and students began working on it in class. They are to research and compare two tech items (phones, computers, game systems, cameras, etc.) and compare them to identify which they would choose to buy based on their research. They will write a short paper explaining their choice and include a table showing the product comparison points. The students seem to be enjoying these more advanced tech projects and that we are doing most of the work in class.

Career Exploration: Michael Brunkhorst

In last week's Career Exploration class we discussed their results to the learning preferences assessment, CITE.  We discussed how this might help them learn better in their classes and life.  We also discussed how their first two Missouri Connections assessments data can help them look for potential job opportunities.  The students were able to see what jobs/careers matched both of the assessments and then they were asked to circle any additional jobs they thought were interesting. 

Second-Year Students:

Transition Planning I: Gary Manning

We are in the process of selecting courses for the spring semester.  The students need to select five courses that they may be interested in taking.  The courses need to be a face-to-face course and a course that may help them in their future plans.  Students may take more than one elective course if the student would like too.  However, there may be an additional charge for that second course.  I have suggested the students talk to their families about the course selection.  

Internship I: Gary Manning

The students are in the process of selecting their spring internships.  The students need to submit three to five locations they are interested in.  We suggest the students select locations that will help them get a job in their local community.  The students may do more than one internship if they would like too.  We would just split the hours to ten hours per week for both internships.  The students may stay at their current internship if we can get that worked out with that particular location.  However, we want students to gain experience in different job skills and work environments.  Therefore, if that student stays at their current internship we ask their supervisors to have them do different tasks than they have previously.  Please talk to your student about their spring internships.    

Plato: Debra Southard

I run the plato report every Monday morning. October 4th almost all students had completed their time on each subject. Needless to say, I was extremely pleased about that. Keep up the great work students. Just a reminder the goal of plato is for students to practice and raise their grade level in each subject. 

THRIVE Activities:

Mentor Activities: This weekend the students enjoyed a Tailgate before the UCM Football game…

 and then had some time to help decorate the float on Sunday morning.

Great Job Everyone!!  For more pictures please join our THRIVE Facebook and/or Instagram pages.

Important upcoming dates: 

Next Mentor Activity:  This coming weekend some of the students will be making fajitas and guacamole.  Can’t wait to see what the students think?

Down Syndrome Walk: 

This coming weekend, October 16th we have a group of students going to the Down Syndrome walk at Arrowhead stadium.  We will leave early Saturday and then return to campus in mid-afternoon.  I’ll make sure and post some photos.

Homecoming Weekend:

The weekend of October 22-24th is Homecoming.  The THRIVE students will be in the parade Saturday morning and during the week there will be other activities that they can sign up for to keep them busy.  We hope to see you there.

Center for Human Services Virtual Meeting about possible financial assistance:

Just a reminder that families that want to learn more about agency assistance and how the Center for Human Services can help, there is a virtual meeting on Tuesday, October 19th from 6-7.  If you haven't received the link or want to be included please email Mr. Brunkhorst and he'll get you the link.

Housing Informational Virtual Meeting for 3rd & 4th Year families:

I am still needing families that want to join in our virtual meeting on Housing options for the 3rd & 4th year to email me their best times.  We are looking at the following dates between 5-8.  November 1, 4, 8, or 11th.  Please email Mr. Brunkhorst at mbrunkhorst@ucmo.edu .

The views and ideas expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners.  This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.  We are simply telling you what we plan to do in our program and using the blog to help spread what we are doing on a weekly basis."