Student Spotlight | NJ Joint Council of County Special Services School Districts Empowering Students for Success Tue, 25 Feb 2025 20:42:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 /wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cropped-icon_square-32x32.png Student Spotlight | NJ Joint Council of County Special Services School Districts 32 32 CMCSSSD Student Spotlight: Santino and Joseph /cmcsssd-student-spotlight-santino-and-joseph/ Tue, 25 Feb 2025 20:35:09 +0000 /?p=4860 This month we spotlight Santino and Joseph, who have done a wonderful job in swim class this year. They work hard to build muscle strength and endurance by completing pool noodle exercises, learning the names of muscles along the way. They have also done a fantastic job of working to swim on both their front and back. Way to go!

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]]> ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝ Student Spotlight: John Marino /bcsssd-student-spotlight-john-marino/ Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:29:01 +0000 /?p=4809 Burlington County Special Services School District’s December student spotlight belongs to Transition student Johnathan Marino. Johnathan recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve. Earning this prestigious honor is a symbol of a Scout’s leadership skills, dedication, and commitment to serving their community. Johnathan has been a dedicated member of Boy Scouts for six years, which built upon his early experiences in Cub Scouts. To earn the rank, Scouts must serve in a troop leadership position for six months; attend a Scoutmaster conference; pass an Eagle Scout board of review; complete an Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook; and plan, develop, and lead a service project for a school, community, or religious organization. For his Eagle Scout Project, Johnathan collected eyeglasses and hearing aids for the Lions Club with the goal of making a meaningful difference for individuals in need.

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]]> ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝ Student Spotlight: Blake F. & Jose R. /bcsssd-student-spotlight-blake-f-jose-r/ Mon, 28 Oct 2024 17:24:07 +0000 /?p=4751 Blake F.

A male student wearing a baseball cap is smiling in his classroom.Bergen County Special Services School District student Blake F. is one of the highlighted individuals for this month’s Student Spotlight. Blake is in his third year of BCSSD’s Career Crossroads program a shared-time vocational program that offers students the opportunity to explore and prepare for careers in sales and customer service or hospitality and food service through classroom, project-based and community-based learning experiences.

In Career Crossroads, Blake has been an integral part of launching the breakfast portion of our on-campus restaurant, the Bergen Bistro. Blake has worked hard to hone his skills in the kitchen and has experienced social and emotional growth during this time in the program. Through this process, he has become a mentor to the younger and less-experienced students in the program, sharing his own experiences to help other students learn, grow and achieve their goals.

Last year, at Career Crossroads, he completed the ServSafe food handler class and earned his certificate demonstrating his commitment to safe practices and measures. In addition to ServSafe, Blake is certified in CPR, first aid, and lifeguarding. He works as a lifeguard at the American Dream Mall and his township pool and is an assistant coach for the Hackensack High School wrestling team. Most recently Blake has taken and passed the EMT training course and hopes to be working in that field in the near future.

Jose R.

A male student stands outside in front of a tree.ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝ student Jose R. is one of this month’s Spotlight Students. He is in his third year at Springboard, which provides a supportive environment to students ages 18 to 21, who are transitioning from high school to work or higher education. The program places special emphasis on career exploration, functional academics, and independent living skills.
Through the program, Jose has showcased his skills and versatility in helping run the lunch portion of the Bergen Bistro which is one of the busiest times for the program. He is highly skilled in all front- and back-of-house tasks and leads by example as a role model to his peers through his hard work, professionalism in the workplace, and willingness to always help others.
Jose has shown tremendous growth over the past three years and his involvement in the program has been an inspiration to his fellow hospitality professionals of the future. His kindness, friendliness, and positive attitude are contagious to everyone in the program.

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]]> ACSSSD Student Spotlight: Warren /acsssd-student-spotlight-warren/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 20:40:24 +0000 /?p=4693 Warren is a young adult in the Transitional Living Skills Program at Atlantic County Special Services School District (ACSSSD), who has been a student in the district since preschool. Warren, who known for his outgoing personality, is tapped to serve as emcee at every school function, including talent shows, performances, and field day. Warren participates in Music Club where he plays the piano with Ms. Amy. He also enjoys working in the community as part of the staff in the kitchen at Trinity Learning Center in Egg Harbor Township and at the cafeteria of the Atlantic County Institute of Technology (ACIT). Warren has many friends at ACIT – the students love talking to him while he’s working – and through these connections, he has received a number of prom invitations.

“Warren is an incredible young man and we are pleased to spotlight him this month,” said Erin Lichtenwalner, Director of Instruction, Programs and Services. “He is well known throughout the school and as he walks the hallways, he brings a smile to everyone he meets.”

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