February Recap: Empowering Students Through Pathway to Dreams

February was an exciting and impactful month for Pathways to Partnerships (P2P) as students across multiple schools participated in engaging lessons designed to build essential life, career, and self-advocacy skills. Through the Pathway to Dreams curriculum, students explored goal setting, communication, work ethic, stress management, and career readiness, all while gaining valuable insights into GVRA, CIL services, and post-secondary opportunities.

Polk County P2P Highlights

Students at Cedartown Middle and Rockmart Middle engaged in interactive lessons designed to enhance their self-advocacy, workplace readiness, and communication skills:

• 6th Grade: Explored self-advocacy with the “Speak Up! Introduction to Self-Advocacy” lesson, where they learned the Self-Advocacy Ladder strategy and created personal self-advocacy kits.

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Students engaging in an educational game.

• 7th Grade: Focused on mindset and perseverance through “The Power of Positive Vibes: Mastering Your Mindset,” discovering how enthusiasm and resilience contribute to long-term success.
• 8th Grade: Developed professional communication skills with “Message Like a Pro,” practicing appropriate tone and structure for various forms of written communication.

Additionally, students participated in career readiness lessons, including “Goal Getter - Setting the Stage for Success!” (goal setting), “Communication Counts! Can You Flip the Switch?” (professional communication), and “Feeling the Pressure? Think Before You Act” (stress management). These engaging lessons provided students with practical strategies to navigate personal and academic challenges.

P2P also facilitated professional learning (PL) sessions for Exceptional Education Staff at CMS, CHS, RMS, and RHS. These sessions, conducted in collaboration with GVRA District 1 Team members, gave educators insight into P2P initiatives, GVRA services, and NWGACIL resources supporting students with disabilities.

Houston County P2P Highlights

Students at Feagin Mill Middle and Warner Robins Middle benefited from valuable lessons focused on self-advocacy, communication, and workplace readiness:

• 6th Grade: Strengthened goal-setting skills in “Goal Crushers – Kickoff to Achieving Work Readiness.”
• 7th Grade: Explored the importance of work ethic in “Level Up Your Life! Work Ethic: The Secret Sauce of Success.”
• 8th Grade: Examined the impact of organizational skills in “From Mess to Success – Workplace Solutions.”

8th-grade students also gained insight into formal communication, learning how professional writing skills connect to their English Language Arts studies. These lessons reinforced the real-world importance of effective communication and career preparation.

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Staff taking part in professional learning.

P2P, in partnership with GVRA District 6 Transition Liaison and Disability Connections, facilitated professional learning for Exceptional Education Staff at Feagin Mill Middle and Warner Robins Middle. Teachers explored GVRA resources, the transition from P2P to Pre-ETS, and essential services provided by Disability Connections for youth and families.

Columbia Middle School: Career Readiness in Action 

At Columbia Middle School, students focused on organization, teamwork, and career exploration through interactive and engaging lessons:

• They completed a career interest inventory to identify fields that align with their skills and passions.
• They practiced resume-building and professional communication, gaining confidence in email writing, message etiquette, and interview preparation.
• Stress management, goal setting, and workplace readiness rounded out the month's lessons, ensuring students were well-prepared for future opportunities.

Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Transition Support

A key initiative in February was Bridging the Gap, where P2P teams engaged in in-person collaboration to plan for the next phase of youth transition programming. Discussions focused on implementing step one and step two of the Bridging the Gap Implementation Guide, which supports youth with disabilities and their families in preparing for successful post-secondary outcomes.

A huge thank you to these dedicated teams for their collaboration and commitment to student success:

• GVRA District 1 VR Counselors, District Manager, and NWGACIL
• GVRA District 6 Transition Liaison and Disability Connections
• GVRA District 7 VR Counselor, District Manager, and Walton Options

Your work is making a lasting impact on students and their families!

February 2025: By the Numbers

• Total P2P Pathway to Dreams Enrollment: 176
• Schools Participating: 5 (Columbia Middle, Warner Robins Middle, Feagin Mill Middle, Cedartown Middle, Rockmart Middle)
• Grades Served: 6th-8th, Adaptive
• Students Served in February: 123
• Total P2P Services Delivered: 542 (YTD: 1,508)
• Family Contacts (Emails & Phone Calls): 806
• Outreach Events: 3
• Social Media Engagement: 9,698 Facebook post views, 350 website homepage views

Looking Ahead

As we move forward, we are excited to continue delivering impactful lessons that empower students with essential skills for their future success. Pathways to Partnerships remains committed to fostering strong collaborations with GVRA, NWGACIL, Disability Connections, Walton Options, and local school districts, to support students' personal growth, career exploration, and transition readiness.

We look forward to another fantastic month of learning and collaboration!