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In music therapy, students from Ms. Melissa's Room (Room 23) performed in their very own drum circle to the music of Babatunde Olatunji, a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist, and recording artist. Students learned about many different African instruments and incorporated these instruments into their drum circle. In celebration of Black History month, all students at Village School have had the opportunity to engage in learning several African songs, learned about what specific country they originated from, what language they are in, and the social impact each song has had on the specific African and African American culture.
Celebrating Black History Month through creativity! Our students have been exploring Black history and culture through various art projects. Learning about black history is important as honors achievements and contributions, recognizes challenges, and inspires a better future.
Village Staff Connection: Brittny Pika (Special Education Teacher) has been selected as this week’s Village Staff Connection. Brittny is a first-year teacher who has stepped into her role as an EIBI teacher with grace and professionalism after having worked at ACES Village School as an ABA Trainer while completing her teaching degree. Brittny has been nominated by her colleagues as they have been impressed with the activities she creates and how creating and engaged she is with her students. They also recognized her for the manner in which she has been able to prepare and present at PPT meetings including supporting and authentically including the families in on the process. Brittny decided she wanted to be a teacher when she was young. She says she always had the “baby touch”, in that whenever anyone had her hold a baby they would stop crying. Her first job out of college was at an ABA center and working in that environment solidified the deal that she wanted to work with kids as her career. Brittny enjoyed doing her student teaching here at Village as well as at Whitney High North. She credits her student teaching experience as well as being an ABAT for allowing her to learn to accept and embrace change. Brittny loves the students at Village School and is so grateful for all the support she receives. She referred to the support at Village school as “endless”. In her free time, Brittny enjoys cozy things like movies and books. She loves hiking and nature when the weather is nice. She is looking forward to continuing to work with her amazing students and watching their growth. Brittny, we are grateful that you are part of our team! Thank you for always showing your Village PRIDE!!
Earlier this week, students at ACES Village School celebrated the 100th day of school! Students spent some time reflecting on how much they’ve learned and grown and they had some fun along the way. Here’s to even more learning ahead!
ACES Village Families gathered today to celebrate love, friendship, and connection at our Valentine’s Special Someone event! It was heartwarming to see the joy on everyone’s faces as they spent quality time together, creating special memories. Thank you to everyone who joined us to make this event so memorable!
Today, the staff and students of ACES Village School proudly wore red to support National Wear Red Day! Together, we’re raising awareness for heart health and the importance of taking care of our hearts. Every beat matters! ❤️
Village Staff Connection: Myriah Fappiano (Individual Aide) has been selected as this week’s Village Staff Connection. Myriah was recognized as she is always willing to assist others, help with classroom tasks, takes her responsibilities seriously, and is instrumental in the growth of her assigned student. Myriah was looking for something different in her work life and her sister suggested working at ACES. Myriah attended the Holiday Fair in 2018 and immediately recognized that Village School was where she wanted to work. In January of 2019, Myriah began working at Village. She never worked with kids before so she did not know what to expect; however, after the past five years working here, Myriah shares she has found a job she loves. Myriah truly loves the students, her relationships with her colleagues and the bonds and friendships she has created at Village School. Her largest motivation is helping her students grow and excel. She says that it is not always an easy job but it is very rewarding. Myriah indicates that having patience, being able to remain calm and not being quick to getting flustered are keys to success when working with children. Outside of work, Myriah spends a lot of time with her 9 year old daughter and her family. She loves to watch her daughter play softball as well as spending time with her family outdoors kayaking, fishing, and exploring nature. She also enjoys “diamond painting”. Myriah is an animal lover and has a yellow lab and a cat. When asked what it is like to come to work every day at Village School, Myriah shared that it is a lot of fun and there are a lot of laughs. She is always driven by the team and that everyone is here working together for the kids. She says that it truly does take a village and watching the students succeed is an amazing thing to be a part of. Furthermore, she shares that she wouldn't be the IA she is without the love and support from previous and current teachers and mentors. Myriah, we are grateful for all that you do and for always showing your Village PRIDE!!
Tomorrow is National Wear Red Day! This is a special day when people wear red to raise awareness about heart disease, which affects many people, especially women. By wearing red, we show support for heart health and remind everyone to take care of their hearts with healthy choices. You can contribute to the efforts by wearing RED tomorrow!
Due to the expected storm, ACES Village School will be closed Thursday, February 6, 2025. Stay safe!
ACES Village School will have a two hour delay today (Monday, February 3, 2025). School will open for students at 10:30am. Travel safely!
Village Staff Connection: Tamara Jimenez (ABA Trainer) has been selected as this week’s Village Staff Connection. Tamara was recognized for her ability to work with challenging behaviors, being a classroom mentor to new staff, maintaining high levels of performance in her instruction, and always stepping forward to assist in any way she can. Tamara began working in the ACES ACCESS program in 2017 where she worked for two years before transitioning to Village School as a TAD in the EIBI program where she continued to develop her skills which led her into her current role as an ABA Trainer. Tamara’s brother is a graduate of the EIBI program at Village School and she saw firsthand his growth and how wonderful the school was for him and their family. That is why she wanted to come work here to make that difference in the life of someone else. She shares that once you start working here, you cannot help but get attached to the students. She loves seeing them succeed. Tamara recognizes that forming a connection with the students is critical. In addition to the students, her relationship with her coworkers motivates her daily. She says they are all a team and they work well together in all types of situations. She says it really does take a “village”. In addition to all her work inside the classroom, Tamara is someone who can always be counted on to help translate for families in order to provide better access. She shares that she sees what the language barrier does and she enjoys helping to bridge that gap for families. Outside of work, Tamara loves hanging out with her three cats and helping her husband with his business in masonry and construction work. She has also really enjoyed getting more involved with the extra-curricular activities at Village School like the annual Holiday Fair. Tamara, we are grateful for all that you do and for always showing your Village PRIDE!!
Thank you to Dr. William Rice (ACES Assistant Executive Director of Operations) who visited Village School today to be a guest reader during our library time. The students loved having you!
Village Staff Connection: Janna Joyner (Individual Aide) has been selected as this week’s Village Staff Connection. Janna’s colleagues from her classroom have nominated her for her willingness to go above and beyond to support her colleagues and the students daily. Janna is always positive and willing to go the extra mile. She has been making an impact with her assigned student and through her warm personality brings positivity to everyone. Janna started at Village School a year ago and is happy to be part of the Village community. Janna shared that she has always had the drive to work with children with support needs. Growing up she watched as her mom worked in this field and Janna admired what she did. Picking up on that, Janna wanted to also make a difference and developed a passion for working in this profession. Prior to coming to Village School, she worked in a call center but she knew she always wanted to do something that was more meaningful and she finally decided to take the chance to come to ACES Village School. Janna says that the smile on the student faces is what brings her joy. She loves seeing the progress they make and knowing that she had a part in that brings her a sense of purpose. Outside of work, Janna has a two-year-old daughter whom she loves to read books to. Janna is also a “gamer” and enjoys going on line and playing games with people she has met all over the world. Janna, we are grateful for all that you do and for always showing your Village PRIDE!!
Today, staff embraced a dynamic Professional Learning Day focused on growth and innovation! We explored growth mindset strategies and setting high expectations for student success during the morning session. The afternoon saw staff participating in a variety of sessions led by colleagues. Together, we dove into learning related to Art Therapy, Canva, Artificial Intelligence, psychological safety, chair yoga, and Signed Exact English. Together, we’re growing our professional capacity to better support and positively impact every student! Thank you to Nishele Nicholson (ABAT), Chris Jones (IA), Priscilla Remington (Special Education Instructional Coach), Kristen Peck (Assistant Principal), Dr. Jessica White (PDSI), Rosie Giannetti (PDSI) for sharing your expertise with us this afternoon.
With all of this cold weather, we needed an In School Snow Day with pajamas, movies and popcorn!!☃️❄️🍿
Village Staff Connection: Natalie Cerrone (Speech and Language Therapist) has been selected as this week’s Village Staff Connection. She has been recognized for her ability to craft engaging sessions for the students, being supportive at all times, and brightening up the classroom for everyone there. At the end of this school year, Natalie will be celebrating her 25th year at ACES. Over her time with ACES, Natalie has worked at both Village School and Mill Road School. Currently, she works with students in the EIBI program. The story behind how Natalie became a Speech Pathologist is a unique and funny one. One day when she was a sophomore in high school, her teacher had asked the classroom what field of work their families were in. A classmate of Natalie shared that a sibling was a Speech Pathologist. This intrigued Natalie so she looked to see what that was. As someone who was always getting in trouble for talking too much, Natalie thought this would be the perfect field for her! She has a true belief that every individual has the capacity to communicate and our job is to figure out how to help them access that communication. She loves being a part of that process and sees how as technology grows and changes we have more ways for students to communicate. Natalie says that “there’s no place like ACES” and she loves working here at Village School. One of the things she loves most about Village School is the manner in which the community celebrates what others may see as small victories. She has seen that is not something that happens everywhere the way it does here. Outside of work, Natalie keeps busy with her two children. She enjoys going to the gym, hosting events, cooking, and spending time with friends. She has also taken her love for accessing communication to her community. Natalie is working with her local Park and Recreation Department to place communication boards and AAC within the community activities. Natalie, thank you for always showing your Village PRIDE!!
Village Staff Connection: Sharnice Brooks (ABA Trainer) has been selected as this week’s Village Staff Connection. Colleagues share that Sharnice is always willing to assist, has a positive attitude always, and is a true team player! Sharnice started as an Individual Aide at ACES Mill Road School in the fall of 2020 and transitioned from Mill Road to Village School about a year later with a student she was working with. She was committed to helping her assigned student have a successful transition to his new school. Sharnice has a love and passion for working with students with special support needs. Seeing their success brings her joy. She was driven to learn more about working with students who experience behavioral challenges and how she can positively impact them so she sought to become an ABA Trainer. Understanding why the behaviors are occurring has helped her to better understand how to help students be successful. Outside of work, Sharnice is active in her church, she spends time with her two daughters, and she admits she likes to shop! As if all of that was not enough, Sharnice is a Parent Ambassador for the United Way where she provides feedback to the United Way on the parent needs of the community. Sharnice is dedicated to the special needs community and tries to help others access services through her work with the United Way. All of this has driven Sharnice to move forward with taking her RBT exam soon and she has enrolled back in school at Charter Oak where she is pursuing her Special Education degree. Sharnice shares that she loves working at Village School and everyone here is different but everyone requires love. Thank you, Sharnice, for showing your Village PRIDE!
🎭 ACES ECA and ACES Village School just wrapped up their first Unified Theatre collaboration! This groundbreaking initiative brought students together to explore the magic of theatre, fostering creativity, connection, and inclusion.
A huge thank you to ECA Theatre Instructor Liz Daingerfield, ECA Theatre Senior Kelsey Hargraves, and Village Music Therapist Jaime Plancon for their leadership and dedication in making this experience unforgettable.
We’re thrilled to see this unified theatre curriculum taking shape and can’t wait for future collaborations to inspire our students even more. Stay tuned for what’s next! 🌟 #UnifiedTheatre #Collaboration #CreativityInAction
Village Staff Connection: Nate Tate (Individual Aide) has been selected as this week’s Village Staff Connection. Nate has been recognized by several colleagues for being someone who is kind, caring, flexible, a team player, and meets the students where they are in the moment always letting them know he is here for them and listening! Nate began working at Village School in August of this school year and has already made a great impact on the lives of our students. Recently, Nate moved from an Individual Aide position to an ABA Trainer position where he hopes to continue to learn and grow in order to help students reach maximum success. Nate had moved to Connecticut from California to work with some friends on starting up a vintage clothing business prior to working at Village School. When he was looking for something different, a friend had suggested he consider working at ACES Village School. Nate said he has loved it here since day one. He shares that the students are his driving force each day. They always make him smile so he just tries to give them that same positivity back. They make him excited to come to school. He takes pride in building relationships with the kids and takes enjoyment in the little moments. Outside of work, Nate collects vintage t-shirts, enjoys skateboarding, and hanging out with his fiancé. They are preparing to start a family soon. Nate said that his best advice for anyone beginning work at Village School would be to enjoy every minute and remember to have fun with the kids. Thank you, Nate, for showing your Village PRIDE!
Village School staff were treated to pancakes this morning which were made fresh by the building administrative team (Ginny, Kristen, and James). Even former Assistant Principal Jenn came back to Village to help spread the holiday appreciation. In total over 400 pancakes were made and served. This annual tradition was started over 15 years ago as a way to show appreciation for the staff at the holidays. We are grateful for all that they do each day to make a positive impact on the lives of our students and families.
Lots of fun today at our Holiday Sing-a-Long with a special appearance by our Principal!!
Congratulations to our Village School Chorus on a wonderful winter concert! Led by Jaime Plancon, Music Therapist, the students performed several songs of the season to a packed audience of family and friends. Seeing our students perform certainly brought smiles and joy to all in the audience.
There will be a 2 hour delay today due to inclement weather. Staff should report at 10:00 am. Students should arrive at 10:30. Travel safe!
Village Staff Connection: Elizabeth Carozza (Speech and Language Pathologist) has been selected as this week’s Village Staff Connection. Elizabeth has been recognized for her strong work ethic, eagerness to learn, and her ability and willingness to always give 100% to all that she does. Elizabeth began working at ACES in November 2021 in the SAILS and EIBI programs before switching to be full time at EIBI this school year. Elizabeth “fell into” the field of Speech and Language after taking an introductory course in college to learn more. It was that course that helped her to decide to pursue this field of work. Prior to working at ACES, Elizabeth worked as a Speech and Language Pathologist with adults in the skilled nursing area. When Elizabeth looked to make a transition to the school-based field, she immediately thought of ACES as she had done her student placement at the ACES Whitney Academy program (which at that time was ACES East/West). Elizabeth shares that working with the students is her driving force. She says that it is great to see the progress they make and she feels like she is making a difference. Elizabeth truly enjoys working at Village School as it is a supportive environment and all the staff work together to implement what is best for students. The collaboration, teamwork, and comradery is palpable. She loves seeing the relationships that the staff make with the students and how much they care. Outside of work, Elizabeth is the proud mom of a 3 year old son. She enjoys cooking, hanging out with her family, watching TV, and sleeping when she can! Elizabeth says that anyone looking to get into the field of education or communication should pursue that work as it is always evolving and engaging but it is also nice to do something that is rewarding where you are making a difference! Thank you, Elizabeth, for showing your Village PRIDE!
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