A group of students from around the area now call the Windsor District home. Windsor has welcomed the Oak Tree Program, which services students with Autism, to the District at the start of the year.

 

“We want our Oak Tree kids to be totally included and be involved in anything they can, integrated into the classroom. They should be engrained in the entire Windsor culture, not missing any of those pieces,” said Eileen Monaco, Principal of the Oak Tree Program.

 

Oak Tree is a Broome-Tioga BOCES program that has one “home base” at Windsor Central High School, one at Windsor Central Middle School, and two each at Bell and Weeks Elementary Schools. Students get a base of support to begin their day before moving into mainstream classrooms.

 

“That’s the whole point, they get the support of Oak Tree, we put structure in place so they can push out to general education classrooms and they can be successful. The goal is to not know the difference between Oak Tree kids and Windsor kids,” said Monaco.

 

“Students are committed to a program of inclusion. They go out with peers into District classes. Windsor has made a commitment to us and parents that they will have an opportunity to participate in everything that a Windsor student would participate in. Those are great opportunity that parents are looking forward to,” said Jim Mullins, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction for Broome-Tioga BOCES.

 

Windsor and Vestal are the two districts in the area that are hosting Oak Tree, and doing so for students K-12 - a critical element of the program.

 

“It provides that cohesiveness and lessens transitions for kids who sometime struggle with transitions,” said Dr. Jason Hans, Director of Special Programs for the Windsor Central School District. “For these students, it provides them with a cohesive, stable program that they could access K-12 if they have that need throughout their school career, instead of having to change schools, learn new procedures. They don’t have to re-learn the expectations or people.”

 

“It really makes them more engrained in that District and love that district. They know what to expect and that makes them feel more comfortable. They also get to stay with a cohort of students. They can stay with their peer group throughout,” said Monaco.

 

For the past six years, K-2 Oak Tree students have attended Weeks. Now, with four schools hosting students from all grades, the transition has gone well.

 

“The beauty of the Oak Tree Program is the inclusivity and at the Middle School we are happy to integrate the students into everything we do,” said Kevin Strahley, Windsor Central Middle School principal.

 

“It’s early, but every time I have asked a BOCES employee, ‘How is it going, do you need anything from me?’ they say it’s been a great start and they look forward to working with the Windsor teachers and faculty,” said Dr. Hans. “It’s a good opportunity for our students to learn about others who may be different. It is a great opportunity for the Oak Tree students to experience all that Windsor has to offer.”