Our Classrooms
Sue Nadeau
Pre-school classroom
Hello! My name is Sue Nadeau and I joined CHC in April 2023. I have over 30 years experience as a Special Education Teacher, I have worked with students from birth through five years of age in a variety of settings and with diverse needs. I have three adult children and I am a dog and cat mom also. My hobbies include traveling, gardening and camping.
I love teaching preschool! There are so many first experiences that we will be going through this year. For many, it may be the first time your child is away from home. We understand how difficult that may be, and will work together as a team to provide the best learning experience for your child. In addition to myself, our team includes the classroom support staff, therapists, and nurse. This year we will be working on learning so many new skills; including shapes, colors, numbers and counting, letters, turn taking, answering questions and more!
Class List:
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Zanylah
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Michelle
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Mahki
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Antonio
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Vinny
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Grayson
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Aria
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Ryann
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Teddy
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Ares
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Felicita
Educational Aides:
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Irma
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Aimee
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Shannon
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Liz
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Nicole
Nurse:
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Kim
Contact Information
Our class uses the Remind App to communicate with families (and for me to send adorable pictures!)
Email:
REMOTE LEARNING
Hello and welcome to room 102. My name is Debbie Heckmann and I have been teaching at CHC Learning Center since 2013. I love camping and going to the movies.
I have the second youngest group of students here at CHC. We do a variety of fun things including making slime and playdough, fun art protects and erupting apples for science. We have weekly reading groups where we read fun and exciting stories and answer questions. Every Wednesday we have game group where the students get to choose the game and practice turn taking. The students all use their communication devices to tell us their wants and needs throughout the school day. We use the ClassDojo app to communicate with families. I can also be reached at my email address dheckmann@chclc.com. I look forward to getting to know
you and your child.
Debbie Heckmann
Classroom 102
Class List:
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Theodore
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Blake
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Gillie
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Khyheim
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Lucas
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Wyatt
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Alex
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Keaton
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Jack
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Bodie
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Maxon
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Daniel
Educational Aides:
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Cathy
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Nancy
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Yolanda
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Gloria
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Danielle
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Katy
Nurses:
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Darlene
REMOTE LEARNING
Jennifer Raimondo
Classroom 118
Welcome to room 118!! My name is Jennifer Raimondo, and I’m so excited to be teaching here at CHC! I have my Masters and Bachelors degrees in special education. I have been working in education for the past 18 years and teaching full time since 2013. I also have two sons of my own and live with my family in Wheatfield. I've been at CHC since 2024, and I am thrilled to be part of such a wonderful school.
In our classroom, we will be focusing on being active learners. We will work on literacy, math, STEAM, art, and we will be cooking weekly! Our focus will be using our devices to communicate and answer questions. We will also make time for fun by having game days, choice time and by using the courtyard and sensory room.
I am looking forward to getting to know your child! If you ever have concerns or questions, please feel free to contact me. I use the Class Dojo app, which is a great way to communicate back and forth, but you can also call me at the school or email me.
Class List:
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Yatziel
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Gia
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Marty
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Scarlett
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Katniss
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Giovani
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Halien
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Noah
Educational Aides:
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Chanta
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Wilma
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Amber
Nurse:
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Shelley
Contact Information
I use class Dojo to communicate with families. This is the link to my classroom dojo:
https://www.classdojo.com/ul/p/addKid?target=class&class=C8HGNMQ
Email:
Hello and welcome to room 114! My name is Mara Murphy and I joined the CHC Learning Center in September of 2024. I’m excited to continue to learn and grow as a group in our classroom community. I have been teaching Special Education for 19 years in many different settings and have worked with students with diverse needs. In my free time I love spending time with family and friends, traveling, and have a very special place in my heart for my animals.
This year students will engage in groups and lessons that explore many different topics including literacy, science, math and art. Lessons are structured to encourage communication and make learning fun. I truly enjoy getting to know each student and it’s my passion to help foster individual progress and goals. I am excited to be part of this community and I look forward to working with you! We are all a team. Please feel free to contact me if needed.
Mara Murphy
Classroom 114
Class List:
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Ameer
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Castle
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Makayla
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Fidelite
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Chloe
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Mason
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Amanuel (AJ)
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Landen
Educational Aides:
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Jaida
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Marcia
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Anisaha
Nurse:
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Barb
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Kandy
Allison Hamann
Classroom 124
Greetings, families!
Can you believe your child is already in high school? These years are so important as students think about the future and develop a better sense of who they are. My name is Allison Hamann, and I joined the CHC community in Summer 2023. My passion for students reaching their goals and having access to learning comes from a variety of experiences. After visiting a program for people with special needs in Guatemala in 2012, I taught middle school students as a special education teacher in Alexander, NY for seven years. In 2019, my husband and I relocated to North Carolina where I taught elementary students as a classroom teacher. We recently returned to Buffalo so that our son could grow up knowing his grandparents. In my free time I enjoy volunteering with the special needs ministry at my church, being outside with our dogs, and writing snail mail.
This year students will focus on building awareness of their strengths and goals. We will celebrate each student and the progress they are making. Educational groups will provide countless opportunities for student engagement as we enjoy stories and explore science, history, social-emotional, and math concepts. I look forward to partnering with you for student success! Please join our Class Dojo for updates!
Class List:
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Jayden
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Sara
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Bella
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Kayla
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Sama
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Brayden
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Morgan
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Richard (Ricky)
Educational Aides:
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Marie
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Katherin
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Maniyha
Nurses:
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Krista
Hi and welcome to Room 110! My name is Wendy Rice and I began my teaching career back in 1997 in North Carolina. After I moved back, I started teaching at CHC in September 2001 and have been teaching here ever since. I am a wife and mother of two girls.
I have the oldest group of students at CHC. We work on a variety of high interest topics, with emphasis in increasing communication and social skills, as well as working towards improving the student's over all independence. Community Transition is a large part of the program. We take several trips out into the community to explore our neighboring environments and to help foster a sense of belonging. We also explore a variety of careers to help determine our preferences for what we would like to do after we graduate. Mostly, we have a lot of fun as we learn about all sorts of cool facts, play many games in our weekly game group, and explore age-appropriate music and themes.
Wendy Rice
Classroom 110
Class List:
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Olivia
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Tori
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Grace
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Salman
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Tommy
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Ethan
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Michael
Educational Aides:
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Misty
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Bethany
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Leigh
Nurse:
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Linda
REMOTE LEARNING
Julie Tojeck
Adaptive PE
Put me in coach I’m ready to play!!!! My name is Julie Tojek and I am the Adapted Physical Education Teacher for CHC Learning Center. In 2003, I graduated from Canisius College with a degree in Physical Education but ended up pursuing a career as a Physical Therapist Assistant. I have been working at CHC as a Physical Therapist Assistant since 2008. This past year, I went back to my roots and began developing CHC’s adapted PE program while working on becoming recertified. I have two older stepchildren and a son that keep me very busy. When not running around with the kids, my husband and I enjoy camping, playing and watching sports and attending the many events Buffalo has to offer.
Adaptive physical education is a specially designed program of developmental activities, games, sports, and rhythms suited to the interests, capabilities, and limitations of students. All students at CHC will be provided safe and successful experiences in physical education, while meeting their unique needs. The activities, sports, and games will enhance self-actualization, including the development of abilities in their motor planning, coordination, knowledge of new games/sports, and learning about teamwork and sportsmanship.
