Woodland Elementary School in Hicksville recently installed a Communication
Board on the school’s playground for nonverbal students. The outdoor communication tool
allows students to express their wants and needs and aides in integrating all students into
the general education population.
The development of the Communication Board was a collaborative effort between
administration, staff, and parents to benefit students in the school’s 6:1:2 program. The
6:1:2 program fosters the development of independence in social, emotional, behavioral,
academic and vocational skills to address each student’s unique needs.
The funds raised for this project were the result of The Wake-Up Woodland
Breakfast Cart run by students on Fridays during the 2022-2023 school year. The students
ran the cart with the prompting and support from teachers and staff to raise the $500
needed to cover the cost of the Communication Board. An additional benefit of The Wake-
Up Woodland Breakfast Cart was that it provided students with a unique platform for
social interaction with members of the school community.
Members of Woodland Elementary School in Hicksville surround the newly installed Communication Board (l-r) Special Education Teachers Maria Talavera and Jill Richroath, student Ajooni Josan, Speech-Language Pathologists Kayla Ortiz and Stacey Brites, student Fernando Diaz-Chicas, Special Education Teacher Renee Rust and Woodland Principal Beth Swanson.
A Woodland Elementary student using the communication tool to express himself to Special Education teacher Renee Rust while at recess.
The funds raised to purchase the Woodland Communication Board were from sales of The Wake-Up Woodland Breakfast Cart run by students on Fridays during the 2022-2023 school year.