School of Environmental Studies

Special Education/Disabilities Services

To: Special Needs Students joining the School of Environmental Studies

From: Val Dare and Jean Unzicker

Special Education Teachers/Case Managers

SES: 952-431-8750

E-mail: valerie.dare@district196.org and jean.unzicker@district196.org

Dear Student,

Welcome to the SES experience. You will find this school to be unlike anything you’ve experienced. You may work harder than you ever thought you could. You may learn more than you ever imagined about your world, yourself and others. You will tromp through mud, canoe rivers and sleep overnight with your classmates in the wilderness. You will be presented with academic opportunities that aren’t available anywhere else in the nation. If you are ready and willing to do your part, SES will be a positive and unforgettable experience for you. The key is "ready and willing".

READING: Reading expectations are generally very demanding. We are able to provide audio-tapes of most of the major readings and Cliff Notes of the classics, however, getting a head start on all reading material is highly recommended. We are currently working on getting a Kurzweil Scan and Read station set up in the SES Study Lab. This will allow students to hear almost any written material read to them by the computer. Keeping up is very important so that student participation and contribution is optimal. Plan to read at least an hour or more at home every day.

WRITING: There is a large amount of writing required of SES students including daily journaling of all lectures and activities, essays, research papers and portfolio development. We will work with students in small groups and one-to-one settings to assist with major writing projects, however, even with assistance, you will need to be working hard on your own to be successful. Plan to write every day.

MATH: There are limited math classes offered at SES for students functioning at a lower math level. Those offered are Algebra 2, Geometry and Tech Math. Technical Math Applications is a practical, hands on math class designed for students who have difficulty in math. There are no Special Ed. math classes available except for those who have failed a required math class and have no other option. Get your math done in summer school if you need to.

ORGANIZATION: Most students at SES spend several hours a day on independent work including homework. They must learn to be highly organized and self-motivated to be successful. We have found that students can become very motivated at SES because of the interesting and exciting curriculum and atmosphere. Maintaining a high level of self-motivation is important for continued success. I am able to provide assistance with organizational skills and monitoring of progress. Get organized. File everything. Label everything. Keep everything. Lose nothing.

Regular attendance is crucial if the student desires to succeed at SES. The maximum absence rule at SES is 10 days for House class and 6 days for elective classes before loss of credit. If credit is lost in House class the student will actually lose 3 required credits (Eng., Soc., Sci.).Plan to be in school every day, on time.

Scheduling: My recommendation for students with special needs is, if at all possible, to schedule your day to be full-time at SES. Traveling to other schools for classes is an option for SES students, however, such a schedule often makes it difficult to find time to access the assistance needed for academic success.

SES can change your life… but only if you are willing to be fully engaged in the process. If you are not willing to be fully engaged and to work hard at being a successful student…this may not be the place for you. Special Education Services can help to level the "playing field" for you regarding the impact of your disability on your performance, however, its up to you to play the game successfully.

Please call if you have questions or concerns.

Mrs. Val Dare