KSU The Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth | OWL OBSERVER | October 2019 | Issue 3

OWL OBSERVER

Issue 3

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OWL OBSERVER

October, 2019 The Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth EDITION 3

Collaboration is Key This year, the Academy worked in partnership with the KSU College of Professional Education to offer our students three certificate granting tracks – culinary, technology, and customer service. Students are engaged and gaining valuable skills to use towards their future career paths.

Customer Service and Professionalism This is the core class all first-year students take to introduce basic customer service skills and behaviors that will help them succeed in workforce. The course includes a blended learning format with online modules, instructor led sessions, and live skill practice sessions.

Culinary - Students get hands-on training from a certified chef in an industrial kitchen. They are learning knife skills, food preparation, safe food handling, measurements, cooking and so much more. Each week students make a different recipe. So far this semester they have made from scratch crepes, stuffed shells, pecan pie, chicken pot pie, pizza, and blueberry

muffins. The best part is they get to taste and take home their creations.

Technology – Students taking the computer class are working towards completion of the Microsoft Office Level 1 Certification. Each week focuses on using computers to enhance their overall knowledge of MS Office products and gaining familiarity with their use for both business and personal use.

Peer mentors and Academy staff are present in all three classes to assist when needed. We are looking to add a fourth track for next fall so stay tuned.

Academy Announcements 10/12/2019 – Home Football Game vs.

Charleston Southern – Homecoming 3pm.

10/18 and 10/19 6pm to 11 pm Owl-OWeen Hot Air Balloon Festival – Located at the Stadium.

10/21/2019 – Academy Open House HS 1101 Prillaman Hall 3pm to 5pm.

10/25/2019 – Movie Night: Indoor Plaza HS 1001 Prillaman Hall.

10/29/2019 – Fall Festival and Costume Contest: Indoor Plaza HS 1001 Prillaman Hall 5pm to 8pm.

11/1/2019 GCDD Scholarship Deadline.

11/2/2019 – Home Football Game vs.

Monmouth and Tailgate Party – Food will be served. Stadium Parking lot at 12:30pm.

11/6/2019 – Academy Game Night – 6pm to 9pm. Location TBD

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Academy Art Classes New for fall, students can sign-up to take art classes with Dr. Garner and his art education students.

Classes will be on Monday’s and Wednesday’s from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Location will be in the Visual Arts building, room 225.

Classes start on Oct. 21st. Please see Celia Scragg to register. Only 10 slots available, so first come first served!

Check out KSU Owl Life for information on campus events, clubs, organizations, and much more. https://owllife.kennesaw.edu/

GCDD Scholarship New scholarship opportunity for currently enrolled Academy Students for Fall 2019.

Application deadline is Friday, November 1, 2019. If you have any questions, or need a copy of the application, please contact Jasmine James, Operations Coordinator, at 470-578-4880 or email jjames48@kennesaw.edu.

The application does require recommendations, so be sure to give those professionals PLENTY of time to complete the process ahead of the deadline.

Unified Games Equals Fun for Everyone We are excited to begin a new partnership with the Health and Physical Education department on campus for the first annual Unified Games.

Degree-seeking students taking HPE courses will work alongside our students providing adaptive physical fitness promoting inclusion through sport. The six-week league includes the following: Weeks 1 and 2: Kickball Weeks 3 and 4: Flag Football Weeks 5 and 6: Basketball The league will run on Saturday’s from 10:00 am to 12:00pm starting Oct. 12. Students will register online.

Student Advocacy Our own Mark Cole was invited to lunch with President Whitten . He attended with MSW Intern Bailey Kendrick playing a supporting role.

Mark was one of five students in the entire university to receive this honor where he shared his first-class ideas on how to improve KSU!

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Congratulations to our October Students of the Month

S.O.T.A. We are excited to announce the four students chosen to attend the State-of-the-Art Conference in Reno, Nevada with us in November; Kaelan Knowles , Carter Hall, Breana Whittlesey, and Abby San Gregorio. They will attend the conference with three of our staff members ,Jasmine James, Shanelle Kent, and Celia Scragg. Ms. James and Ms. Scragg will also present at the conference.

The annual State of the Art conference focuses on postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities and provides an opportunity for colleges and universities, researchers, program staff, parents and students to discuss the current state of policies, research, and practice in the field.

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Meet the Crew!

Jamie is currently a senior at Kennesaw State University studying Human services and will be graduating in December. She is completing her advanced internship with the Academy until she graduates! In her free time, Jamie enjoys traveling, spending time with her friends and family and shopping. Jamie loves working with people, especially children and hopes that after graduation she will become a child life.

Social Events Academy students have been busy this month attending on-campus and Academy social events. Movie nights, karaoke, rock climbing, tailgating, fall festival’s and many campus green activities. We also enjoyed meeting family and friends at Chick-fil-A Spirit Night. Keep an eye on the calendar, there is always something going on!

Having been a south Georgia resident all of her life, Bailey moved to Kennesaw to finish school in 2015. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Kennesaw State University in 2018. Bailey recently began pursuing a Master of Social Work (also through KSU) and will be interning with The Academy until May of next year!

When she is not interning or studying, Bailey enjoys spending time with family, practicing martial arts, painting, and being active outdoors. Some of her favorites include peach cobbler, roller coasters, and Georgia Football (Go Dawgs!). Bailey has a passion for people and a desire to help. Her hope is to one day become and LCSW practicing therapy with children and adolescents.

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Halloween Word S earch The first five students to successfully complete the word search will receive a prize!