Amy's Notes

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  • CAIU Multiple Disabilities Support Teacher "Soars"

    Many of our teachers who work within a local school district become as much a part of that school's faculty as they are a member of the larger CAIU team.  Paulette Walker is one of our multiple disabilities support teachers who provides a CAIU class within the Middle Paxton Elementary School in the Central Dauphin School District.  The school mascot is an eagle, and for the past year a stuffed eagle has been given monthly by staff members to a colleague who "soars."  Earlier this month the eagle was awarded to Paulette by Becky Miller, the school's physical education teacher, along with the following explanation.

    "I would like to recognize Paulette Walker as a Middle Paxton staff member who "soars."  I admire Paulette because of her dedication to teaching, her ability to exercise free speech by writing some very positive, thought-provoking letters to our Patriot News editors and for her advocacy to children. She actively supports Kami's Krew walkers for the Epilepsy Foundation. Thanks, Paulette, for your kindness and empathy in dealing with children, especially those with such highly diverse special needs in your classroom. Kudos to your staff as well."

    Recognition by our colleagues is often the most genuine, because we know those with whom we work truly understand the challenges and joys of our labors.  Thank you, Paulette, for your commitment and Becky for taking the time to recognize a colleague.
  • CAIU Staff Serving One Another

    Over the past week I received three separate notes about how staff members have reached out to help their colleagues. 

    Patricia Benner was dreading moving her classroom for the second time this year, although glad to move to a larger space.  The move was to take place after school on Monday and throughout Tuesday with the goal of a functional new classroom location on Wednesday.  On Monday afternoon, Cynthia Shaul appeared on the scene with her husband. "Where do we start?" she asked and then they worked non-stop until 7:30 that night.  As Patricia writes, "Now, I am sure that if you know Cyndy, you know that she is always more than willing to 'jump' right in and help and never expects anything in return.  Her positive attitude, collaborative approach, and genuine disposition are consistent from day to day. I feel extremely fortunate to be working with someone like her and I thought you both would like to know."  Patricia is a district-based intensive learning support teacher and Cyndy is an educational consultant in our speech and language program. 

    Likewise, Todd Kehler, building adminstrator, shared "how great of an asset Jille Johnston is here at Hill Top Academy.  Jille has pitched in and done a wonderful job supporting several areas here. She has from day one offered her assistance and checked in with Beth (Light), Marie (Muskey) or me with one project after the next.  She has been helpful with organizing the Library to this point and is on the Library committee as we get closer to having it fully operational. She has helped with organizing Study Halls, and many times monitors them. The biggest task that she facilitates there is the Clubs and Freedom Friday activities. After the students and staff chose the activities and clubs, she organized the activities: sign up sheets, attendance/assignments, activities, materials and equipment! She is flat out AWESOME! With the staff working as hard as they are and the days as hectic as they have been, Jille’s efforts have provided for many pieces that the staff is grateful to have in place. The staff here at HTA recognize the effort Jille puts forth for the students, and I wanted you to know how much we appreciate what she is doing!"  Jille is a multiple disabilities support teacher with a unique one-on-one assignment with a complex student.  Her student's schedule allows for extra time which Jille has clearly put to good use in serving the larger Hill Top community.

    Paulette Walker expressed her appreciation for Dina Roseberry for "being an EC extraordinaire. I had several classroom 'issues' that for some reason or another had been floundering - some for several weeks - and I was getting frustrated with the lack of solutions for them. I sent an email to my supervisor and to Dina, my classroom EC. In less than a week's time, Dina managed to get 3 of the 4 tasks accomplished and issues solved for the benefit of my students and the class. The 4th issue is being worked on, also. Way to go Dina and thanks so much for the help!"

    These CAIU employees, and many other unsung heroes among us, are certainly demonstrating our mission at work.  Thank you for your dedicated service.

  • "Di's Angels of Hope" Support Cancer Research

    Diane Kovac works hard for the CAIU, but when her regular work day is over, she doesn't stop serving those in need.  She and her team, known as Di's Angels of Hope, recently completed their third successful annual walk to raise money to fight breast cancer by supporting research. 

    Di says, "Thank you to everyone who participated again this year in the making strides against breast cancer walk by supporting 'Di's angels of hope.'  This year, our team, comprised of many family and friends of mine, including many of you right here at the CAIU, raised $6,525.00.

    Over the last three years that they have been participating in the walk, Di's Angels of Hope have raised nearly $21,000.00 to help mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and grandmothers live longer lives through better treatment options.

    I thank all of you for your continued support of Di's Angels of Hope.  Your help is inspiring."

    Thanks go to Di and her Angels for serving the larger community through their unselfish gifts of time, energy, and passion for a terrific cause.

  • Flags for Hill Top from Senator Vance

    A word of thanks goes to Senator Pat Vance and her staff for providing ten US flags for display in classrooms at our Hill Top Academy.   The CAIU Board of Directors held its October 23 meeting at Hill Top and enjoyed the opportunity to hear the morning announcements followed by the pledge to the flag.  Apparently the classroom in which we were meeting was one of the few with a flag.  We are grateful for our legislators' support of education in the capital region!
  • Our staff members are "a piece of work!"

    Staff "clowning around" after workshop            
    Many of our staff members participated in a workshop by Dr. Steve Sobel last Friday entitled "You're a Piece of Work!" during which the presenter reminded us that it's not only okay, but highly advisable, to have fun at work and occasionally change people's perceptions of us. To help us achieve that goal, Dr. Sobel gave everyone a clown nose. Take a look at Deb Paroda, Tracy Shank and Vickie Peck, and you can see - they're a piece of work! It's great to see smiles and hear laughter in the workplace. Everyone in attendance that I spoke with commented on what a great session Dr. Sobel provided.
  • Tech Staff Demonstrates "Excellence"

    Joe Fay, one of our teachers at the Diakon alternative education program in South Middleton, shared a recent experience with two of our terrific Technology Support Specialists - Chris Monasmith and Micah Romine.  Our mission requires us to "achieve educational excellence," and in doing so, we identified several factors which answer the question, "What does excellence require of us?"  Those factors include communication, collaboration, compassion, expertise, professionalism, and efficiency.  Read below, and see how many factors were demonstrated by Chris and Micah...

    Our new computers were delivered and installed recently.

    I wanted to let you know what a great job Chris Monasmith and newly hired Technical Support Specialist Micah Romine did on the project. Both were extremely efficient. Chris and Micah had all of our computers and printers unloaded and installed in a few short hours. They worked with each teacher to arrange for a transfer of data from old machines to new, and did much of their work silently, with little or no disruption to our students. They went so far as to vacuum and dust behind where the old computers were!

    It was clear both Chris and Micah knew exactly what they were doing. They even worked through our lunch to further minimize disruption to our students' routine! Both were personable and clearly exemplify the concepts of leadership, partnership and innovation inherent in the CAIU Mission Statement.

    Please be sure to recognize and commend both Chris and Micah for a job well done!

    I love receiving emails like the one above in which CAIU staff members commend one another for the great work they do.  Thanks for sharing!

  • CAIU's Keen Observation Skills Disrupt Thiefs' Plan

    Several of our staff members at Camp Hill HS recently took their class on a walk in the neighborhood when they saw some unfamiliar young people behaving in a manner which raised their suspicion, including "eyeing the bicycles" in the school rack, several of which were unlocked.  Ultimately, staff member Mary Buchanan called the police and described what they had observed.  When the CAIU class returned from their outing about an hour later, they were told the police caught the three young males with three bikes stolen from the front of the building.  Mary credits her years of working in the IU classroom at the detention center for her "suspicious mind." Classroom teacher Susan Way told Mary she's "observant and doesn't miss a trick!" Several Camp Hill staff members have thanked Mary for her observations and for taking the time to notify the proper authorities. As Susan said, "There should be three very grateful students in the high school!"  Once again, the CAIU demonstrates that we are indeed a full service agency!
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Amy Morton, Executive Director of the CAIU

Amy Morton's regular communication with the staff and friends of the CAIU.


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