18-21 Next Steps Transition Program
Next Steps students in their classroom with the Thanksgiving feast that they made.
The Next Steps Transition Program at The IDEAL School of Manhattan is a one, two, or three year postsecondary program helping students aged 18-21 reach their fullest potential and achieve their dreams.
Next Steps is student-centered, individualized, and builds upon the unique strengths, goals, and interests of each student. The program supports students' continued progress in social-emotional, adaptive-life, executive functioning, and vocational skills and supports them and their families in planning for their next steps in life, changing the focus from educational to adult services. Next Steps is open to students who attended IDEAL in Grade 12, to those who finished High School elsewhere, or those who transfer from another postsecondary program.
Next Steps gives students the tools to live as independently as they are able, and supports them in locating adult services.
Next Steps prepares students to continue their education in college or another postsecondary program after one to three years. IDEAL’s differentiated and individualized academic classes provide Next Steps students with everyday adult skills and health classes provide information for adult life. Continued arts education helps build students’ confidence and self-awareness, factors that will mesh with the job skills they will acquire as they prepare to enter the workforce.
Please reach out to the Admission Office for more information or read these Next Steps Open House slides.
Next Steps News
![a student in a wheelchair works with two teachers and two more students to prepare care boxes]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743861854/ideal/n3tksdo2f6f7mvkomkpj/SL_NS_Trinity_040425_square.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743861854/ideal/n3tksdo2f6f7mvkomkpj/SL_NS_Trinity_040425_square.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1743861854/ideal/n3tksdo2f6f7mvkomkpj/SL_NS_Trinity_040425_square.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743861854/ideal/n3tksdo2f6f7mvkomkpj/SL_NS_Trinity_040425_square.png","width":1000}])
This week, Next Steps students had their monthly Trinity Church volunteer visit. Next Steps students and teachers packaged and labeled food donation bags and assembled hygiene kits. Throughout the school year, the class has been enjoying their ongoing service learning project. They look forward to the walk/roll over to Trinity as an opportunity to explore the FiDi neighborhood.
On the first day back from spring break, in Ms. Pavelin's culinary arts class, the students celebrated April Fool’s Day by baking and decorating a hamburger cake.
![five students and two teachers pose behind large bins full of care packages they packed at a local church]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1737825168/ideal/zzaeohcgzhdhfdz4piuc/SL_NS_Trinity_012425_square.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1737825168/ideal/zzaeohcgzhdhfdz4piuc/SL_NS_Trinity_012425_square.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1737825168/ideal/zzaeohcgzhdhfdz4piuc/SL_NS_Trinity_012425_square.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1737825168/ideal/zzaeohcgzhdhfdz4piuc/SL_NS_Trinity_012425_square.jpg","width":1000}])
On Friday, Next Steps returned to Trinity Church to continue their volunteer work. Together, they assembled hygiene kits full of personal care items, like body wash, deodorant, and shaving cream. The students look forward to their weekly sessions, where they have the opportunity to give back to the local community. After returning from Trinity, Next Steps students prepared a fresh pasta lunch. Mr. Zaccaro taught the group how to make spaghetti, and Victoria prepared garlic bread. The students and Ms. Pavelin completed the Italian feast with tiramisu for dessert. Alum Jamar and the group shared memories and caught up. Jamar, a prolific writer, read some of his new stories to the group. Photos from both events are in this Facebook album.
![a woman talks to a student near a tray of dog biscuits on a work table, both wear Invictus hats and aprons]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1729439205/ideal/o3nm3hjmz6yksco21iyj/Victoria_Internship_invictus_square.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1729439205/ideal/o3nm3hjmz6yksco21iyj/Victoria_Internship_invictus_square.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1729439205/ideal/o3nm3hjmz6yksco21iyj/Victoria_Internship_invictus_square.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1729439205/ideal/o3nm3hjmz6yksco21iyj/Victoria_Internship_invictus_square.png","width":1000}])
One of our Next Steps students recently started her internship at Invictus Bakery. After taking the subway to the bakery in Downtown Brooklyn, she met Co-Founder and Director Alison Berkley, who introduced her to the friendly and welcoming staff. After a tour of the facility, she washed her hands, put on her Invictus Bakery apron and cap, and got to work. Her daily tasks and duties included handling and packaging dog biscuits, making vegan chocolate chip cookies, mixing chocolate cake batter, and preparing baked sweet potatoes. Photos of our baker at work are in this Facebook album.