All Valley District News

For the last 13 years Valley has led a trip for students and adults with the goal of providing them with an opportunity to see different parts of the country, and world! This year the group traveled to San Antonio, Texas for a week in the sun. With the lore of the trip growing year over year, this version saw Valley support the largest number of individuals ever with 30 adults making the journey, along with an additional three students.

The end of the school year is a time of transition as students prepare for what's next. At Valley Alternative Middle/High School, eight middle schoolers will be moving up to high school, while 17 graduates are headed off to post-secondary opportunities.

This year saw the addition of a number of initiatives at Valley Transitional Middle/High School. When we asked staff to talk about what they thought went well this past year, they had lots to say — but everyone agreed, when it comes to helping our students grow, we're on a roll!

During the first week of May, we celebrated Staff Appreciation Week with the generous support of our Parent Advisory Group. Throughout the week, staff enjoyed a variety of sweets, treats, and thoughtful gestures of appreciation. One particularly meaningful moment came on May 4th, when parent Cassie Dzerkacz surprised our staff with an incredible display of over 100 homemade, professional-quality cupcakes.

Dear Students, Staff, and Families:

As we close out another successful school year at Valley Collaborative, it is the perfect time to reflect on all that our students, staff, and families have accomplished together. This year has been filled with growth, resilience, learning, laughter, and countless moments that remind us why Valley is such a special place.

As the Today and Tomorrow program continues to expand and grow, it is important to recognize the three main services we provide the individuals served: Community Based Day Supports, Group Supported Employment, and Independent Employment Supports. These services are meant to transition into one another, with growth in one service leading to enhancement in the next service. Individuals use Community Based Day Supports (CBDS) to engage with their surrounding communities through recreational activities and social learning opportunities.
The soft skills individuals develop in CBDS are then put to work, literally, in a group setting where they complete employment tasks with four of their peers and a Direct Support Professional in a 5:1 ratio, while also being compensated.

During a frigid stretch of March, Valley students piled into the vans. The destination: Mount Wachusett, the 2,000 foot ski resort in central Massachusetts. Over two different trips, 30 students in Valley’s middle and high school alternative programming would hit the slopes.
 

When Shana Cheevers received the results of students’ mid-year reading tests, she could barely believe her eyes. The kind of progress teachers might hope to see by June was already showing up halfway through the year. “We have students who have jumped up two grade levels,” says Shana, the reading specialist at the Transitional Middle/High School. “Teachers are really encouraged by this level of improvement.”
The progress reflects an increased emphasis on literacy at Valley, starting with recognizing the varied needs of students. While some students needed help with the fundamentals, things like letter sounds and decoding words, others could read the words but struggled to make meaning from them. Shana says that a big part of her focus has been on giving teachers everything they need to assist students. “Teachers now have a whole toolbox to use, including a set curriculum, lessons and activities,” says Shana, who spent 10 years as a middle school classroom teacher before transitioning to her current role.
 

From out-door activities including cross-country skiing and horseback riding, to a revamped cooking program, and a celebration of reading, the school year at Valley Elementary has been action packed! Here’s a look at some of the highlights of the school year so far.

Dear Students, Staff, and Families:

As we move further into the school year, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible work happening across Valley. It has truly been a successful and inspiring year, and I want to take a moment to recognize the many ways our students, staff, and families contribute to the vibrant community that makes Valley so special.
One of the highlights of this year has been the exciting experiential trips our students have had the opportunity to participate in. These experiences extend learning beyond the classroom walls and provide meaningful opportunities for students to grow socially and emotionally. Whether exploring new environments, participating in hands-on activities, or simply sharing time together outside of the typical school day, these trips help strengthen the connections that make our community thrive.

Hello Valley families:

It has been an honor to work with Valley’s committed staff to offer high quality special education services in the most fiscally responsible manner. Our collective work and dedication to Valley’s mission has resulted in positive outcomes for students in our K-12 programs as well as participants in our DDS & MRC programs. I would like to thank Valley’s Board Chair, Dr. Jay Lang, and the Board of Directors for their effective oversight, governance and generous support of this most important work. Valley is proudly owned and operated by nine member school districts.

Valley Collaborative is fortunate to have incredibly dedicated staff who are devoted to helping those we serve realize the best possible outcomes. This season, we are pleased to recognize our outstanding staff who’ve been part of the Valley community for five, ten, and fifteen or more years. Thank you for all you do to make Valley such a special place.

As we approach the holiday season, the adults served by Valley Collaborative enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to give back to the community that shows them so much support throughout the year. The individuals eagerly participate in both a toy and food drive as a way to provide fellow community members with much needed support during the holidays. Every year the holiday season acts as a reminder of how lucky we all are to be part of the Valley Community, and how powerful we can be when we come together for a worthy cause.

Something especially delicious is being cooked up in Valley’s kitchen these days. A sampling of some recent lunch specials include chicken marsala, creamy chorizo pasta, and handmade chicken sandwiches with a school favorite, hot honey sauce.
The new emphasis on scratch cooking comes courtesy of culinary vocational instructor Craig Ouellet, who started in the position at the start of the school year, and quickly set about overhauling the culinary program. Craig and an alternating team of three students approach each day much like a professional restaurant staff would, coming up with a dish, shopping for the necessary ingredients, then working their magic in the kitchen.