AVAC

We make every effort to provide our written communication in English and Spanish.  If your need an interpreter for your communication with your student’s teacher, administrator or the office, please call Bilingual Family Engagement Liaisons. Alicia Rojas, 815-727-6774, arojas@jths.org. Maria Castaneda, 815-727-6764, mcastaneda@jths.org. If neither are available and you need immediate assistance bilingual staff are available in the Central main office at 815-727-6750. This bilingual staff will work with the AVAC program and Transition Center to get your information relayed and questions answered.

Remind 101
Remind is a district-approved text messaging communication tool that teachers, coaches, staff and administrators may use to communicate with you and your student.  With Remind, you and your student’s personal information is private, and phone numbers are not visible when using this text messaging tool.
If you're not already familiar with Remind, it is a communication tool that makes it easy to stay involved with your student’s learning. Remind is free for families to use, and you'll be able to get and send messages on any device if a teacher or coach chooses to use the Remind platform. You will receive an email or text message from Remind to join classes. 
 
District Text Messages of High Importance 
JTHS will continue to use the School Messenger System to communicate District text messages of high importance, such as school closures or emergency communication.  If you have not already done so, please opt in to receive district text messages by texting “Y” to 67587. 

If your child is absent, you must call the attendance office (24 hour voice mail is available) at 815-727-6801. Only a parent or legal guardian can call in an absent student. ** Please refer to the student handbook found HERE for what constitutes an excused absence or tardy **

When calling in absences, please be prepared to give the following information:  

• Student’s full name
• Student’s ID number  
• Student’s year in school  
• Date of absence (month/date)  
• Reason for absence  
• Period(s) the student will miss (full day, individual periods, etc)  
• Your relationship to the student  
• Phone number where you (parent/guardian) can be reached 

All AVAC students being dropped off and picked up daily to school by parent or guardian should drop off at Door I on Eastern. This is a handicapped entrance and AVAC staff are assigned there to bring students in and get them to their parent. Please notify Mrs. Martin or your classroom teacher as soon as possible if your student will be a daily parent drop off and pick up.

If late, student must be dropped off at Central Main Security Desk. At that time, they will be given a pass to class.  The student will be marked tardy to school. The parent must call the Dean’s office with reason to be excused.

If a student needs to be picked up for an appointment or other matter during the day, parent must contact the attendance office to notify and be accurately reported. The student will then be issued a “pass to leave” at a specific time or a staff member will bring them to the Central Main Security Desk.   

Special Transportation is discussed at your student’s IEP meeting. Door to Door busing is provided to and from school each day. There must be someone in the home to receive the student or they will not be dropped off. If your student can be dropped off at home to an empty house, there must be a letter on file with transportation. The main JT Transportation number is 815-727-6873.

If possible, please notify transportation when your student will not be riding the bus if it is a planned absence – out of town, appointment, or extended illness. This assists our drivers in keeping the routes run efficiently.

If you move during the school year, you are required to provide three proofs of residency to the Central Main Office. Three days will be required to change bus routing when your address has changed.  If residency is not provided in a reasonable amount of time, transportation can be terminated until it is provided. 

Proof of residency must be completed each year at JTHS through the online registration process. If you move during the school year, you are required to provide three proofs of residency to the Central Main Office. Three days will be required to change bus routing when your address has changed. If residency is not provided in a reasonable amount of time, transportation can be terminated until it is provided.

Online Meal Application, Fee Waiver, New School Fee Payment System – My School Bucks 

Online Meal Application/Fee Waiver

If you believe that your student may be eligible for free or reduced lunch, or a fee waiver, you MUST fill out this application every year.

The online meal and fee waiver application portal is now open. Families that are not directly certified for free meals/fee waiver through an eligible program (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, Foster Child, Migrant) can complete the online application to see if their child qualifies for free/reduced meals and the student fee waiver. Students must qualify each school year for free/reduced meals and the fee waiver. Submit your online application HERE. 

More info on School Fee Payment System – MySchoolBucks

Campus Parent allows parents/guardians to view student schedules, assignments, grades, attendance, and contact information for deans, school counselors, and teachers. Please see link below for more information and how to access.

https://www.jths.org/family-resources/jt-campus-portal  

This year AVAC teachers will have unified cell phone expectations in AVAC classes. Students are highly encouraged to always keep cell phones out of sight and in a safe and secure location during the day. During class, cell phones should be on silent and in a bookbag, pocket or purse. They should NOT be out on the desk. If access to a cell phone is required for classroom activity purposes, i.e use of a calculator app, the teacher will make an announcement this and cell phones will be permitted during this time. Students will be given one reminder to put their cell phone away during class. If a student does not follow the cell phone expectations a second time, there is a cell phone locker in each classroom. The school is not responsible for the loss of a cell phone. If a student needs to communicate with their parent, they should ask a teacher first.   

This year the school is implementing E-Learning Days. The purpose of an Emergency E-Learning Day is to provide a continuum of learning for all students. E-Learning days will only be used in the event of an emergency. At this time, it is still being determined how AVAC students will be participating in E-Learning Days.

We request that the Health Office at Joliet Central have a current list of medications that the student is taking in their medical file for emergency purposes.

Any updated medical information, seizure plans, therapy scripts, outside agencies, should be sent to the Joliet Central Health Office. This information will be updated in our student management system. 

This is a reminder that if a student has outstanding obligations at Joliet Central or any JTHS campus they are not allowed to purchase dance or prom tickets. In addition, a diploma will NOT be issued with outstanding obligations. At any point when the graduation requirements are met, and obligations are paid in full their diploma will be issued.

As part of the Joliet Township High School community relations and recognition programs, the District periodically releases information to the public about our students, their classwork, and/or accomplishments. To highlight student success, your child’s name, picture, video, classwork, and/or information pertaining to their accomplishment may appear in various District and non-District publications, which includes but is not limited to, newspapers, web pages, social media, print and electronic communication. 

Any media permission approved by the school will be positive, focusing primarily on student successes. If you DO NOT wish to have your child’s information shared or spotlighted in any of the local, school, or District and/or non-District media coverage, please complete the Refusal of Permission for Media Participation Form HERE. 
 
If there are any extenuating circumstances you feel the school should be made aware of, please contact the school principal to further discuss your concerns.  

Each student in the AVAC program will have an annual review. In addition, every three years a reevaluation is required. Students and parents are invited to participate in all IEP meetings. Every attempt will be made to accommodate schedules when requested. If needed, our Special Service Department can conduct phone conferences. Bilingual Interpreters are available for IEP meetings.  Angela Splant and Mary Vonesh are the IEP Managers for Joliet Central. All IEP meetings are virtual via Google meets. If you would like an in person meeting, please let your student's casemanager know and we will schedule accordingly. 

Extended School Year is a recommendation made at your IEP meeting. The AVAC ESY Program traditionally runs 6 weeks starting up to one week after the last day of school through the third week of July. There is a break the week of the 4th of July. AVAC HS students attend at Central Campus and our AVAC graduates at the Transition Center. Each session week will be Monday through Thursday from 8 am – 1 pm. There will NOT be ESY on Fridays! Students receive a free breakfast and lunch. Transportation is provided. The students participate in a variety of community outings and experience fun lessons in nutrition, science, social studies and more. Specific dates and program information for this year will be available in the spring. 

Important Information About ESY: 

• ESY Dates:  6/9/25-7/17/25

1. ESY starts on Monday, June 9rd and goes through Thursday, July 17th            
2. Monday through Thursday only - NO CLASSES ON FRIDAY
3. 8:00 am to 1:00 pm daily
4. Transportation is provided
5. Campus:  Pathways (AVAC program) or Transition Center (TC program)

We are planning some exciting experiences this summer!  
Students will be working on reading, writing, and math skills through life skills and vocational experiences. In addition, we are planning activities focusing on nutrition, health and wellness, fitness and gardening/horticulture.  We will be working with community partners from the University of Illinois Extension Office, forest preserve, and more to provide activities for students. 

https://forms.gle/1CBeZad2KerYXB4F9

Every student in Illinois participates in a state mandated assessment in grades 9 – 11. Seniors only are required to take state assessments if they did not take during their 11th grade year.  Accommodations for state assessments are determined at your student’s IEP meeting. Students will participate in the PSAT 9, PSAT 10, SAT or DLM-AA. Only students with a documented intellectual disability can be considered for the DLM-AA.

DLM - AA
Illinois will be using the Dynamic Learning Maps® (DLM®) alternate assessment to use for our students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The DLM assessment provides academic standards that are used to measure academic achievement for students who are eligible for the alternate assessment. In the spring, your child will take a series of short tests. These tests will be in English language arts, mathematics, and science. The materials used in each test can be adapted to your child’s needs.

PSAT 9, PSAT 10
All freshmen and sophomores are required by the state of Illinois to take the college readiness exams, PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10. Students at JTHS will take the PSAT exams in April in the designated state assessment window. These exams are an indicator of student college readiness in preparation for the SAT and of the school district's progress. 

SAT
All Juniors are required by the state of Illinois to take the SAT. All Juniors and seniors, who did not test their 11th grade year, will take the SAT in April in the designated state assessment window. This assessment is an indicator of student college readiness and the school district's progress. 

AVAC students are asked to sign an annual community trip permission slip which will include all vocational sites and local community trips. If students will be leaving the greater Joliet community, a separate field trip permission will be sent home and require signature to participate.

AVAC program students may have the opportunity to participate in vocational training sites throughout the year. Some of our training and volunteer sites require specialized paperwork. If your student is participating in one of those sites all site requirements must be met prior to your student starting. Some sites require personal or health information, immunizations and copies of social security cards. These will be handled with the utmost security and confidentiality and only used for the purpose requested. 

Students may be eligible to receive support services from outside agencies. There is a process in place that can help families and their student receive much needed support. To make families aware of the vast array of community service agencies available to them and allow them to be more involved in the transition process, a handbook and timeline have been created, which will be shared with you at your student’s IEP meeting. If you have questions or need help with: Applying for benefits, Social Security Benefits, Guardianship, Insurance, Transportation, Respite Care, Vocational Rehabilitation etc. Please contact Michelle Cottrell at mcottrell@jths.org or call 815-724-1771. 

Joliet Township Transition Center group is a CLOSED group. Only for current and former students and families of JTTC, colleagues, and community partners of JT Transition Center. It is a great avenue for us to post announcements about upcoming events, highlight good news, and most of all share pictures in a save way. Any member of the group is invited to share on the group page, INCLUDING PARENTS AND STUDENTS, but all posts and pictures must be approved by the group administrator. This feature ensures that only appropriate info and pictures are posted to our group.  If you have questions or need help finding our group, please email Mrs. Jorgensen at cjorgensen@jths.org or call 815-724-1774.