Intro to The Work Place CHOR preparing students for the workforce

 CHOR is planning to visit the Crown Plaza again on the 11th, 18th, and 25th of May for our program Intro Into the Work Place. Overall our first visit went very well. The students took a tour of the Crown Plaza and its different departments and participated in mock interviews with various department heads. The students were prepared with completed application in hand, well dressed, polite, and respectful and presented themselves as mature young adults. I was very proud of them.

Our next visit will consist of meeting with their HR person to review the many pre-employment documents (tax forms, code of conduct, and policies, etc.) they supplied us with earlier. Students will also have some time to observe and assist with some of the entry level jobs.

Thanks to all of you who have supported this opportunity to enrich our students experience here at CHOR.

Mike Progansky
Teacher, Children's Home of Reading

CHOR Holds Mock Primary

On Tuesday, April 24th, students and staff participated in a mock
 rimary election. Several weeks prior, students began studying our electoral system and how they can participate.  Students filled out a practice voter registration form, learned the difference between a primary election and the general election, and followed the news as Pennsylvania's Rick Santorum dropped out of the race a week before the election. On Election Day, students manned the polling place (the library conference room) where a voting booth was set up.  The students manned the different stations, helping people sign in to vote, checking their IDs, informing them how to get behind the curtained off voting area, and collecting the paper ballots afterwards.  Virtually all students voted, including one who knew he was to be away on an appt that day that left an absentee ballot to be counted with the others. Many staff, teachers, clinicians, and other CHOR employees also voted with us.

The next day, students counted the ballots and analyzed them according to class and overall, and comparing them with the election results as reported in the Reading Eagle. This is always one of the most popular and engaging of the social studies units each year.

By Jim Vogelgesang

Teacher, Children's Home of Reading

Centre Avenue Academy Update

Education continues working positively at the main campus' Centre Avenue Academy as the school year enters the final marking period. As with all PA schools, CHOR students in grades 6-8 and 11 participated in the PSSA's. Results received in the summer will be forwarded to the home school districts.

Teachers continue to use Compass Learning for standards based computerized educational lessons. In addition, CHOR has purchased 6 Promethean Active Boards for interactive academic work in the classrooms.  The students have responded enthusiastically to being able to get up and use these.
In addition, students continue to be admitted to CHOR, and placed in the proper educational class based on records received, diagnostic testing upon admission, and teacher observation. Teachers also make recommendations to home school districts as to the best placement for students approaching discharge.

      
This year we do not have any graduating seniors for the end of the year, though for one senior student, we were able to work with the home school district and assemble enough credits for the student to receive his diploma during the summer.

Students have appreciated having a rotating schedule throughout the year of art, music, tech ed, and gym.  They have also been able to choose from such electives as Horticulture, Japanese Mythology, Song writing, and Entomology.

By Jim Vogelgesang

Teacher, Children's Home of Reading