With spring almost here, it’s a good time to think about the health benefits of being in nature. For special needs children there are many particular benefits to gardening and working with plants. Horticultural therapy is defined as gardening or any plant-based activity, facilitated by a trained therapist, to achieve specific therapeutic treatment goals. According […]
Continue readingIn October of 2019, Pat O’Keefe, a speaker from the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA) presented a staff workshop titled “Building a Positive School Climate.” Creating a positive school climate can have a positive impact on attendance for students and staff. It can also improve academic success, communication styles, and safety levels for […]
Continue readingObsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common and treatable brain disorder whereby unwanted thoughts cause significant anxiety or distress, or interfere with the child’s normal routine, academic functioning, social activities, or relationships. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when a child has OCD, a difference in the way his or her brain processes […]
Continue readingAs the news about COVID-19 gets more alarming every day, it is understandable that everyone is feeling anxious right now. With schools closed, special needs children are missing their normal routines and caregivers are faced with the overwhelming task of helping children make sense of what is happening. Our children are looking to us for […]
Continue readingEvery parent is struggling right now to manage work or unemployment with everyone at home together, but parents of special needs kids have a particularly difficult job. Family routines have been disrupted, social outlets have been removed, and professional supports have been decreased or eliminated. Create a flexible routineRoutines can create structure and give your […]
Continue readingMay 4, 2020Greetings Alpha School families, On behalf of all of us at Alpha School, we hope all of you are well and maintaining. Maintaining is the best way I can describe what we are going through. Earlier today, Governor Murphy has made the decision to close schools for the rest of the school year with a […]
Continue readingJohn Gonzalez, Principal of Alpha School in Jackson, New Jersey describes the process of transitioning to the virtual home learning model in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in March of 2020. A Monumental Task This is unprecedented. This is not anything that any of us has ever been through before, so we had no procedures or […]
Continue readingApril 9, 2020Greetings Alpha School Family,This is Mr. John and I would like to take a moment to thank all of you for all you have done these past four weeks. We are all facing very difficult times. While the world around us faces challenges never faced before, we all do our best to provide […]
Continue readingAs the global pandemic COVID-19 is changing our world and disrupting our lives daily, it is important to stay informed on the latest news. Trusted news sources can help you make informed decisions to protect your health. But could the news be hurting you at the same time? Being glued to 24-hour news networks, social […]
Continue readingThis is Mr John with an important update regarding our school operationsAs of this moment Alpha School will be open to all students on Monday, March 16thWe recognize that some of your home districts have already closed and this will have an effect on transportation especially districts using their own vehicles. Should your district be […]
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