BGHS NEWSLETTER --- PAGE TWO

March 2008

Resource room information

In the United States, an Individualized Education Program, IEP, is mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The act requires that public schools create an IEP for each student who is found to be eligible under both the federal and state eligibility/disability standards.

The IEP is the cornerstone of a student’s educational program. It specifies the services to be provided and how often, describes the student’s present levels of performance and how the student’s disabilities affect academic performance, and specifies accommodations and modifications to be provided for the student. The IEP describes how the student learns and how the student best demonstrates that learning. Knowing this information makes it possible for the school staff and student to work together to help the student become a more successful learner.

How does this impact the students at BGHS? Those who have met or are being considered for eligibility guidelines are provided services in accordance with their IEP problem solving form. These services are determined through an IEP team meeting and problem solving meeting involving the special education staff, school staff, administrators, parents and the local area education agency. Because each student learns differently, accommodations, modifications, specially designed instruction may vary.

Accommodations, modifications and specially designed instruction may include but are not limited to: preferential seating, providing photocopies of teacher notes, strategies for test taking, giving oral rather than written quizzes, modified assignments, extended time for tests, tests taken in a smaller setting, tests read aloud, teaching of key concepts and then alteration of evaluation activities and changes made to the curriculum in order to meet the needs of the student.

In addition to the implementation of the IEP, students, parents, school staff and special education staff work closely together to help with the transition process from high school to college or vocational schools. Because students in the resource room have a disability in one or more areas, the special education staff is there to assist them with the emotions that accompany them, whether it be test anxiety, feelings of inadequacy or complete shut down.

Because the purpose of the resource room is multifaceted, it is important that parents, students, school staff and special education staff all work together for the success of the individual student to meet the needs as planned out in the IEP and also the daily and future needs of the student.

Please feel free to stop by any time and check us out. Every day is different and flexibility is the key element, but in the end, it is the success of the students that matters.

Julie Illg, Special Education Teacher

Colleen Schiltz, Para Educator

BISHOP GARRIGAN HIGH SCHOOL

President: Mr. Eugene Meister

Principal: Mr. Michael Stence

Pastoral Director: Rev. Mr. Robert Larsen

Curriculum Director: Mr. Lynn Miller

Activities Director: Mr. Ron Patterson

1224 North McCoy St.; Algona, IA 50511

(515) 295-3521

Large Group Speech Results

At the Large Group State Speech contest held at Sioux City East High School on Saturday, Feb. 2, BGHS varsity and junior varsity teams earned one Division I or excellent rating and four Division II or good ratings. Students earning Division I ratings were Gui Klein, Cassie Reising and Jade Kajewski in the Group Mime piece, “Kindergarten Rocks.”

Students earning Division II ratings were Allison Missal, Ashli Krieps, Michelle Kollasch, Holly Byrkeland, Vinnie Humble, Sam Norland, Alex Boeckholt, Rebecca Brosnan, Becky Jennings, Brie Blocker, Anna Kollasch, Jake Rosenmeyer, Nora Krahenbuhl and Mike Hellman.

Individual Speech Contest

At the District Individual Speech contest held at BGHS on Saturday, Feb. 23, the Bishop Garrigan High School team earned 16 Division I or excellent ratings and one Division II or good rating.

Students earning Division I ratings were Michelle Kollasch and Jenna Richter in Acting; Allison Missal, Gina Rasmussen, Cassie Reising and Anna Kollasch in Prose; Melanie Myers, Sam Norland and Jenna Richter in Poetry; Rebecca Brosnan, Brittany Berte, Rebeccah Erdman and Jake Rosenmeyer in Literary Program; Shane Koob and Brittany Berte in Radio News, and Gui Klein in Expository Speaking. Rebeccah Erdman received a Division II in Storytelling.

Congratulations to these students and their coaches, Miss Mary McCall and Mr. David Burrow. Now these students will compete in the State Individual Speech contest on Saturday, March 8, at Manson-NW Webster High School.

Also, the Speech Department, speech students and contest manager Mary McCall thank all of those parents, faculty, staff, students and others who volunteered as timers, chairpersons, concession stand workers, supervisors, office helpers, schedulers, organizers and setup and cleanup people at the BGHS speech contest. Without you, the successful day would not have been possible.

Bus driver classes

Anyone interested in being a bus driver needs to take the 12-hour S.T.O.P. class offered at Iowa Lakes in Emmetsburg on the following dates: March 18, 20, 25 and 27. If interested, please contact BGHS at 295-3521.

Bear school store

There are some fun new things going on at the Bear’s school store. Basketball season was a huge success. Having the store open at all the home games allowed people to see and purchase new merchandise. Thanks to the volunteers for working the store.

Workers are needed for baseball/softball season. If interested, contact Shelia Boelter at sboelter@mchsi.com, or at 395-4913.

Pictures of new items are posted on the school website: www.garrigan.unlimitedweb.net, Bear Store link at the bottom of the page. Some of the new items include an Under Armour sweatshirt, Black Zip sweatshirts, flip-flops, men’s polos, visors, gym bags, infant shirts and yard signs. There is also a link to an order form that you can print, complete and return to the school. We will contact you when you can pick up your items at Garrigan.

You can also stop in the Development office during school hours to see items. We will have some clearance sale items available at the Bear Relays on May 1. If you have an idea for the store, contact Jill Wadle at 295-7517 or mjwadle@netamumail.com

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