NOTTOWAY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TRANSITION TO SUCCESS
Building Skills. Exploring Possibilities. Creating Futures.
Welcome Back!
Welcome to Volume 2 of NCPS Transition to Success! As we begin another school year, we are excited to continue partnering with families to help students prepare for life after high school.
Transition planning is about more than choosing a job. It is about helping students discover their strengths, interests, preferences, and goals while building the skills they will need for employment, education or training, independent living, and community participation.
Every student's future will look different-and that's okay! The goal is to help each student take meaningful steps toward a future that reflects who they are and what they want for their adult life.
Thank you for continuing this journey with us.
We look forward to another great year of Transition to Success!
SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 2 ISSUE 1
★ THEME OF THE MONTH ★
My Future, My Plan
What do I want my life to look like after high school?
Students don't need to have their entire future figured out today. Transition planning starts by helping them think about their interests, preferences, strengths, and dreams.
Let's start the conversation!
- What do I enjoy doing?
- What am I good at?
- Where would I like to work?
- What would I like to learn?
- Where would I like to live?
- What would I like to be able to do on my own?
Small conversations today can help students begin making choices about tomorrow!
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
When I Grow Up
Ask your child: "What would you like to be when you grow up?"
Let your child draw a picture, choose from pictures of different jobs, or tell you about something they would enjoy doing.
Try asking: "What do you like about that job?"
SKILL BUILDING:
Interests | Choice-Making | Communication
MIDDLE SCHOOL
My Strengths & Interests
Help your student identify:
- 3 things I like to do
- 2 things I am good at
- 1 thing I would like to learn
Talk about how their interests and strengths might connect to jobs, hobbies, or responsibilities when they are older.
SKILL BUILDING:
Self-Awareness | Goal Setting | Career Exploration
HIGH SCHOOL
My Future in 5 Years
Ask your teen to imagine life approximately five years from now.
- WORK: What kind of work would I like to do?
- LEARN: Is there something I want or need to learn after high school?
- LIVE: Where would I like to live and what would I like to do independently?
- LIFE: What would I like to do for fun and in my community?
SKILL BUILDING:
Transition Planning | Self-Determination | Future Planning
QUICK FAMILY TIP
Instead of asking only: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Try asking: "What do you want your LIFE to look like when you grow up?"
Employment is only one part of adult life. Talk about where your student wants to live, what they want to learn, how they want to spend their time, who they want in their life, and what they would like to do independently.
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
CTI TRANSITION INNOVATIONS
The Center on Transition Innovations (CTI) provides resources for Virginia students, families, and educators to support successful transitions from school to adult life.
Families can explore information about:
- Employment
- Postsecondary education
- Independent living
- Transition planning
- Student self-determination
- Community participation
FAMILY CHALLENGE:
Explore one transition resource with your student this month and talk about how it connects to their future goals.
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Look Around Your Community!
Career exploration can happen anywhere! The next time your family visits a grocery store, restaurant, school, doctor's office, farm, bank, library, or local business, ask your student:
"What jobs do you see people doing here?"
You may be surprised by how many different careers students can discover right in their own community.
Encourage your student to find THREE different jobs during your next community outing.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Reach out to Lauren Moreno, Transition Coordinator
Email: moreno.lauren@nottowayschools.org
Phone: (434) 292-5373 ext. 5215