2016-2016: Issue 9Special Issue: Spotlight on Special Education Special Issue: Spotlight on Special Education 2016-2017: Issue 9Special Issue: Spotlight on Special Education Ánimo Western Middle School is a special learning community because of our amazing staff and the families we serve.  We are a public charter school that is dedicated to serve our local community.  Our mission is to prepare every student for High School, College, Leadership and Life.  We are a small learning community that serves approximately 645 families.  Our mission is to provide a high caliber education characterized by Rigor, Relevance and Relationships to every student.      Along with providing strategic intervention and enrichment courses to ensure students are prepared for High School and College, our student also have opportunities to participate in after school programs like tutoring, dance, baseball, soccer, basketball and field trips to colleges and universities.  Our staff possesses a strong passion for excellence, and an unwavering belief in the potential of each of our students.  We understand that to be successful in meeting our mission we must work closely with and serve our community and parents.        This Special Issue spotlights a core function of our roles as educators – providing valuable resources to our team members, our students, and our families. Supporting the development of all our students is our top priority! Go Wolves!!! Spotlight: District Programs Find out more about special district-wide programs for helping students and families! Community Resources We look at 10 community resources for families, including classes specific to special needs students. Learn More!From the Principal’s Desk… ÁnimoWestern Middle SchoolSpecial Issue: Special Education Resources 2 Inside this Special Issue 3 May 3, 2017 2016-2017: Issue 9 Helping our Kids: Ten Community Resources for Families and Students ARC – After-school program for Henry Clay students, offering arts programs, dancing, music and health/fitness. Weingart YMCA – A Wellness and Aquatic Center with camps for sports and swimming, and other programs that help the students at Henry Clay Middle School Los Angeles Southwest College – The college offers the Young Scholars Summer Camp Youth program, and also hosts day camps and academic tutoring LA Kids – A program under the LA Department of Parks and Recreation offering summer camps, basketball, softball, and soccer, coaching emphasizes teamwork and leadership. Especially good for low-income families, it provides free uniforms Watts/Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club – Numerous programs include low-cost after-school care, arts and crafts, academic support, and leadership classes El Camino College – The Kid’s College provides programs in math, English and science, and also music and dance classes Henry Clay Middle School – The Garden Club allows students and parents to grow plants and vegetables in a garden on campus Henry Cl ...

1. 2016-2016: Issue 9Special Issue: Spotlight on Special Education
Special Issue: Spotlight on Special Education
2016-2017: Issue 9Special Issue: Spotlight on Special Education
Ánimo Western Middle School is a special learning community
because of our amazing staff and the families we serve. We are
a public charter school that is dedicated to serve our local
community. Our mission is to prepare every student for High
School, College, Leadership and Life. We are a small learning
community that serves approximately 645 families. Our
mission is to provide a high caliber education characterized by
Rigor, Relevance and Relationships to every student.
Along with providing strategic intervention and enrichment
courses to ensure students are prepared for High School and
College, our student also have opportunities to participate in
after school programs like tutoring, dance, baseball, soccer,
basketball and field trips to colleges and universities. Our staff
possesses a strong passion for excellence, and an unwavering
belief in the potential of each of our students. We understand
that to be successful in meeting our mission we must work
closely with and serve our community and parents.
This Special Issue spotlights a core function of our roles as
educators – providing valuable resources to our team members,
our students, and our families. Supporting the development of
all our students is our top priority!
Go Wolves!!!
Spotlight: District Programs
Find out more about special district-wide programs for helping

2. students and families!
Community Resources
We look at 10 community resources for families, including
classes specific to special needs students.
Learn More!From the Principal’s Desk…
ÁnimoWestern
Middle SchoolSpecial Issue: Special Education Resources
2
Inside this Special Issue
3
May 3, 2017
2016-2017: Issue 9
Helping our Kids:
Ten Community Resources for Families and Students
ARC – After-school program for Henry Clay students, offering
arts programs, dancing, music and health/fitness.
Weingart YMCA – A Wellness and Aquatic Center with camps
for sports and swimming, and other programs that help the
students at Henry Clay Middle School
Los Angeles Southwest College – The college offers the Young
Scholars Summer Camp Youth program, and also hosts day
camps and academic tutoring
LA Kids – A program under the LA Department of Parks and
Recreation offering summer camps, basketball, softball, and
soccer, coaching emphasizes teamwork and leadership.
Especially good for low-income families, it provides free
uniforms

3. Watts/Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club – Numerous programs
include low-cost after-school care, arts and crafts, academic
support, and leadership classes
El Camino College – The Kid’s College provides programs in
math, English and science, and also music and dance classes
Henry Clay Middle School – The Garden Club allows students
and parents to grow plants and vegetables in a garden on
campus
Henry Clay Middle School – The Art Club allows students to
develop their skills in drawing art
Henry Clay Middle School – The Newsletter Club allows
students to create newsletters, interview teachers, staff and
other students, and discuss subjects or trends important to the
student
Henry Clay Middle School – The Spelling Bee Club allows
students to develop their spelling skills and compete with other
schools
Our communities have strong resources to support families and
students. See which ones provide programs or classes for
students with exceptionalities.
By Levy Middlebrooks
Resource Spotlight:
Do you know what programs and services our school district
offers to better support students with exceptionalities
and their families ?
By Levy Middlebrooks

4. These programs help ensure the student is getting quality and
relative education in preparation for their adult life. Each of
these programs assists students, parents, and teachers with the
development of the students through various and unique
learning environments, skill development, and practical life
skills. Partnerships with families require caring and thoughtful
communication across the school year. It is important for
teachers learn and engage with families so to fully understand
the family’s culture, and their hopes and dreams for their
individual student and the overall family.
Adapted Physical Education (APE) – Developing motor skills
for special needs students through games, sports, and rhythms,
this program is well-suited for students with limitations.
(www.napeconference.org)
Occupational Therapy Program (OTP) – Occupational therapists
assess the child’s strengths and weaknesses, and analyze their
environment and the curriculum to see if the student can
successfully participate in their educational program.
Center for Advanced Transition Skills (CATS) – In partnership
with LAUSD, this program serves students with moderate to
severe disabilities by developing student transitioning skills in
training, education, employment, and independent living.
(perezctc-lausd-ca.edu)
School and Family Support Services (SFSS) – Working closely
with LAUSD, SFSS provides families, students, and colleagues
with assistance and guidance for special education needs. This
program promotes the awareness of special education and other
programs for provided for the students.
(http://achieve.lausd.net/sped)
Widney Career and Transition Center (Widney CTC) – In this

5. program, young adults with special needs train and acquire
skills to work in restaurants or to become culinary chefs.
(achieve.lausd.net)
Transition Partnership Program (TPP) – A service for junior-
and senior-year high school students with disabilities providing
tutoring and assistance in overcoming the challenges of
transitioning from high school to college. This program also
provides career services such as writing resumes and dressing
for interview. (sped.lausd.net)
Child Find-Child Serve – This program’s motto is to identify,
locate, and evaluate a child with disabilities and make sure they
are placed in a proper program, with an end goal to meet
educational needs at no cost to the family.
Are You Puzzled – Helping parents recognize their child’s
disability, this program ensures parents get the necessary
resources for their child to grow and progress.
(achieve.lausd.net)
Assistive Technology Lending Libraries (ATLL) – A learning
center giving students the resources to enhance their learning
ability in the classroom. (achieve.lausd.net)
Miller Career and Transitioning Center (MCTC) – Specifically
for students between ages 14-22, MCTC verifies the student
participation for learning entry-level job skills. Serves moderate
to severe students. (achieve.lausd.net)
References
Los Angeles Unified School District. (2017) “Families.”

6. Retrieved from LAUSD.net
achieve.lausd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=11481
2
3
2016-2016: Issue 9Special Issue: Spotlight on Special Education
Special Issue: Spotlight on Special Education
2016-2017: Issue 9Special Issue: Spotlight on Special Education
Ánimo Western Middle School is a special learning community
because of our amazing staff and the families we serve. We are
a public charter school that is dedicated to serve our local
community. Our mission is to prepare every student for High
School, College, Leadership and Life. We are a small learning
community that serves approximately 645 families. Our
mission is to provide a high caliber education characterized by
Rigor, Relevance and Relationships to every student.
Along with providing strategic intervention and enrichment
courses to ensure students are prepared for High School and
College, our student also have opportunities to participate in
after school programs like tutoring, dance, baseball, soccer,
basketball and field trips to colleges and universities. Our staff
possesses a strong passion for excellence, and an unwavering
belief in the potential of each of our students. We understand
that to be successful in meeting our mission we must work

7. closely with and serve our community and parents.
This Special Issue spotlights a core function of our roles as
educators – providing valuable resources to our team members,
our students, and our families. Supporting the development of
all our students is our top priority!
Go Wolves!!!
Spotlight: District Programs
Find out more about special district-wide programs for helping
students and families!
Community Resources
We look at 10 community resources for families, including
classes specific to special needs students.
Learn More!From the Principal’s Desk…
ÁnimoWestern
Middle SchoolSpecial Issue: Special Education Resources
2
Inside this Special Issue
3
May 3, 2017
2016-2017: Issue 9
Helping our Kids:
Ten Community Resources for Families and Students
ARC – After-school program for Henry Clay students, offering
arts programs, dancing, music and health/fitness.
Weingart YMCA – A Wellness and Aquatic Center with camps
for sports and swimming, and other programs that help the
students at Henry Clay Middle School
Los Angeles Southwest College – The college offers the Young

8. Scholars Summer Camp Youth program, and also hosts day
camps and academic tutoring
LA Kids – A program under the LA Department of Parks and
Recreation offering summer camps, basketball, softball, and
soccer, coaching emphasizes teamwork and leadership.
Especially good for low-income families, it provides free
uniforms
Watts/Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club – Numerous programs
include low-cost after-school care, arts and crafts, academic
support, and leadership classes
El Camino College – The Kid’s College provides programs in
math, English and science, and also music and dance classes
Henry Clay Middle School – The Garden Club allows students
and parents to grow plants and vegetables in a garden on
campus
Henry Clay Middle School – The Art Club allows students to
develop their skills in drawing art
Henry Clay Middle School – The Newsletter Club allows
students to create newsletters, interview teachers, staff and
other students, and discuss subjects or trends important to the
student
Henry Clay Middle School – The Spelling Bee Club allows
students to develop their spelling skills and compete with other
schools
Our communities have strong resources to support families and
students. See which ones provide programs or classes for
students with exceptionalities.

9. By Levy Middlebrooks
Resource Spotlight:
Do you know what programs and services our school district
offers to better support students with exceptionalities
and their families ?
By Levy Middlebrooks
These programs help ensure the student is getting quality and
relative education in preparation for their adult life. Each of
these programs assists students, parents, and teachers with the
development of the students through various and unique
learning environments, skill development, and practical life
skills. Partnerships with families require caring and thoughtful
communication across the school year. It is important for
teachers learn and engage with families so to fully understand
the family’s culture, and their hopes and dreams for their
individual student and the overall family.
Adapted Physical Education (APE) – Developing motor skills
for special needs students through games, sports, and rhythms,
this program is well-suited for students with limitations.
(www.napeconference.org)
Occupational Therapy Program (OTP) – Occupational therapists
assess the child’s strengths and weaknesses, and analyze their
environment and the curriculum to see if the student can
successfully participate in their educational program.
Center for Advanced Transition Skills (CATS) – In partnership
with LAUSD, this program serves students with moderate to
severe disabilities by developing student transitioning skills in
training, education, employment, and independent living.
(perezctc-lausd-ca.edu)

10. School and Family Support Services (SFSS) – Working closely
with LAUSD, SFSS provides families, students, and colleagues
with assistance and guidance for special education needs. This
program promotes the awareness of special education and other
programs for provided for the students.
(http://achieve.lausd.net/sped)
Widney Career and Transition Center (Widney CTC) – In this
program, young adults with special needs train and acquire
skills to work in restaurants or to become culinary chefs.
(achieve.lausd.net)
Transition Partnership Program (TPP) – A service for junior-
and senior-year high school students with disabilities providing
tutoring and assistance in overcoming the challenges of
transitioning from high school to college. This program also
provides career services such as writing resumes and dressing
for interview. (sped.lausd.net)
Child Find-Child Serve – This program’s motto is to identify,
locate, and evaluate a child with disabilities and make sure they
are placed in a proper program, with an end goal to meet
educational needs at no cost to the family.
Are You Puzzled – Helping parents recognize their child’s
disability, this program ensures parents get the necessary
resources for their child to grow and progress.
(achieve.lausd.net)
Assistive Technology Lending Libraries (ATLL) – A learning
center giving students the resources to enhance their learning
ability in the classroom. (achieve.lausd.net)
Miller Career and Transitioning Center (MCTC) – Specifically
for students between ages 14-22, MCTC verifies the student
participation for learning entry-level job skills. Serves moderate

11. to severe students. (achieve.lausd.net)
References
Los Angeles Unified School District. (2017) “Families.”
Retrieved from LAUSD.net
achieve.lausd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=11481
2
3