CHS Support Services

  • Students may sign up for help as well as be “invited” to stay.
  • A student is “invited” to Homework Club when a classroom teacher informs us that the student has work to complete or needs extra help. In this particular case the parent or guardian should expect to receive a phone call from the case manager informing you that your son and or daughter has been asked to stay after school.
  • We believe that all students can learn.
  • Students are taught in an inclusive delivery model.
  • Teachers embrace and practice Differentiated Instruction
Department Philosophy
  • Students may sign up for help as well as be “invited” to stay. A student is “invited” to Homework Club when a classroom teacher informs us that the student has work to complete or needs extra help. In this particular case the parent or guardian should expect to receive a phone call from the case manager informing you that your son and or daughter has been asked to stay after school.
  • Our belief is that homework completion is an important piece of your child’s education and we would like to support your child as much as possible. If you are not available to pick up your child on a day that they have been asked to stay please speak to that child’s case manager to make alternative arrangements.

Program Staff

  • Dana Visser
  • David Sharkey
  • Angie Post
  • Danielle Dubro
  • Nicole DeOrsey
  • Emily Schulze

About the Program

  • The consulting program serves students whom are eligible for special educational services grade 9-13.
  • Students are served in the least restrictive environment and access the regular educational curriculum for their core content classes.
  • Case management is provided to students and consultation with regular education teachers.
  • Services in basic skill areas are delivered in Direct Instruction courses. Courses are taught by a special educator and students earn .5 elective credit.
  • Students access supported study hall as a component of the Direct Instruction classes for homework and organizational help.
Please take a minute to read about the Blue and Green House programs and review CHS course offerings and graduation requirements

Program Staff

  • Helen Jurnak
  • Melissa Vilmont

Program Staff

Robyn Schenck

About the Program

In the fall of 2001, the OPPORTUNITIES Program was developed to ensure that students with special needs receive the planning, training and support necessary to make a smooth transition form high school to post-secondary life. The goal of the program is to help students identify and develop talents, interests, and skills that will prepare them for meaningful career paths and employment in the future.

In alignment with Colchester High School’s Essential Expectations, Action Plan, and District-wide initiatives, the OPPORTUNITIES Program provides differentiated learning experiences to meet the needs of students with all levels of talent, ability, and readiness.


Components of the OPPORTUNITIES Program

Exploring career options

through:
  • Interest and Skills Inventories (traditional and technologically assisted)
  • Values Assessment
  • Community Based Job Shadowing
  • Informational Interviews

Teaching skills and providing tools to obtain and maintain employment

such as:
  • Resume Development
  • Career-Area Research
  • Job Search
  • Filling out Job Applications
  • Interview Skills Training
  • Workplace Skills Training

Providing opportunities for students to sample careers

through community based:
  • Internships
  • Job Coaching
  • Apprenticeships
  • Service Learning
  • Paid Employment

The Malletts Bay Mentor Program

in which CHS students mentor elementary school students with special needs, practicing:
  • Patience, Tolerance, Confidentiality
  • Listening Skills, Communication
  • Academic Tutoring
  • Behavioral Role-Modeling
  • Reliability, Dependability, Responsibility

Colchester High School’s Annual Career Options Fair

an exposition with approximately 20-30 businesses, colleges, professional organizations, and training programs. Students have the opportunity to:
  • Have exposure to fields they may not have thought of
  • Interface and ask questions about potential careers
  • Offer their strengths and talents to potential employers
  • Interview and apply for paid employment

Erin Murphy MS CCC
Speech Language Pathologist
802.264.5715
Erin.Murphy@colchestersd.org

The mission of the Speech Language Pathologist is to provide Colchester High School students, who have a Language Disability or Impairment, with speech and language services appropriate to each student’s needs.

These services would include direct and/or consultation services for Oral Expression, Listening Comprehension, Articulation, Fluency, Voice, Oral Motor needs, as well as any Augmentative Communication that is required.

The SLP will always work as part of the Special Education Team in fulfilling the requirements for initial and 3 year evaluations as well as for creating and implementing the goals of an IEP.

S/he will also screen students for language concerns. The SLP believes that all students can improve their ability to communicate.

The Speech language Pathologist often will be the Case Manager for students who have a Language Impairment.

  • Shanti Giampa
  • Kerry Shearman

  • The department believes that for students home school communication is essential to a student's success.
  • 2.0 FTE social workers provide this service to families. The social workers are Howard Center employees.
  • A referral to the school social worker is make by the student's educational team for recommendation of services.
  • All programs within the special education department utilize aides to deliver support within the classroom setting.
  • Aides provide homework support, test and quiz taking strategies, and behavior management support.
  • In order to provide the least restrictive environment to students, we consult with a variety of agencies to meet our students' needs.
  • When considering a change of placement of a student, individual teams will consult with Leslie Noble, Special Educator, to best meet that student's needs.
  • When transitioning to adulthood, teams may consult with Howard Services or Hireability.