Parish Hill Transition Program

10/09/2026

The Tops Program is taking the store on the road!

Before the store officially opens for the year, the Parish Hill Transition Program will be running the school store at the Dogs for Veterans Foundation Fundraiser & Adoption Event at Edward Garrison Park in Chaplin this Saturday from 10:00–2:00.

Dogs for Veterans is one of our students’ community work placements and helps connect veterans facing PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and other service-related challenges with trained service dogs.

We still have all your favorite items: Needos, dumplings, stress balls, fidgets, parish Hill swag, and more.

Come visit the School Store, support our students, and help raise money for a great cause!

10/08/2026

Hands-On Learning at Trail Wood Sanctuary!

Gabriel was hard at work at Trail Wood Sanctuary in Hampton, identifying and documenting downed trees and trail obstructions for his report to the The Connecticut Audubon Society

This volunteer opportunity allows Gabriel to build valuable skills in observation, problem-solving, and communication while helping keep trails safe and accessible for visitors.

A big thank you to the Connecticut Audubon Society for providing another meaningful, hands-on learning opportunity for our PHTOPS students!

10/03/2026

09/24/2026

Aniela absolutely loved her new volunteer placement at The Riley Farm Rescue.

She jumped right in, worked hard, and had a great time getting hands-on experience caring for the animals. Opportunities like this give our PHTOPS students the chance to explore their interests, build real-world skills, and gain meaningful work experience in the community.

A huge thank you to Marla and everyone at the farm who welcomed her and made her first day such a positive experience!

09/24/2026

A great day for our PHTOPS students at the Manufacturing Expo at Dodd Stadium!

Students had the opportunity to explore a variety of careers in manufacturing, meet local employers, and participate in hands-on activities while learning more about the skills and technology used in today’s workforce.

Experiences like this are a great way for our students to discover new interests, make connections, and learn about the many career opportunities available right here in our community.

09/08/2026

Looks like Gabriel made a new friend today at Dogs for Veterans Foundation. Gabriel is gaining hands-on experience while learning more about working with and caring for animals. Another great community-based learning opportunity through PHTOPS.

09/08/2026

PHTOPS SPOTLIGHT: Patrick’s New Wheels!

I wanted to share another PHTOPS success story and recognize Patrick for a major step toward greater independence.

When Patrick first received his learner’s permit, driving caused him a great deal of anxiety. Early in the process, he and his grandmother had a close call with another driver, and afterward Patrick became so worried about something happening to his Grandma while they were practicing that he decided he did not want to continue driving. His permit eventually expired.

After a lot of encouragement and conversations about how important reliable transportation could be for his future employment and independence, Patrick decided to give it another try. He reapplied for his permit, worked through his anxiety, and began practicing consistently throughout the past year and summer.

Now, Patrick has taken another huge step: he purchased his own car using money he earned and saved while working full-time this summer.

I stopped by Patrick’s house over the weekend to help him install a new battery, and he is now ready to use his own car for his upcoming license test.

I am incredibly proud of how far Patrick has come. This is about much more than buying a car. Patrick has demonstrated perseverance, increased confidence, financial responsibility, and a growing understanding of how transportation can directly support his employment goals and independence.

Congratulations, Patrick, and good luck on your upcoming license test!

09/07/2026

We are excited to welcome a new PHTOPS community partner! A huge thank you to the The Connecticut Audubon Society who gave Gabriel the opportunity to volunteer at Trail Wood Sanctuary in Hampton.

Gabriel is looking forward to learning more about the sanctuary, helping with the railsand day-to-day responsibilities, and gaining valuable hands-on experience while giving back to the community. We are very grateful to the Connecticut Audubon Society for providing this opportunity for one of our students!

09/07/2026

PHTOPS Is Back - And We Have A Lot To Celebrate!

Our students had a busy summer, and we are already off to a great start this school year!

Cheyenne spent the summer working at Easterseals as she continues pursuing her goal of becoming a PCA and working with adults with developmental disabilities. This year, she will continue at Easterseals and Douglas Manor while completing trainings and building an employment portfolio to prepare for work after PHTOPS.

Aniela worked at Our Companions Animal Sanctuary this summer and is preparing to begin a 100-hour veterinary assistant externship. She will continue gaining hands-on animal-care experience while building the professional skills needed for a future career in the veterinary field.

Patrick spent the summer working as a camp counselor and will continue working at Chaplin Elementary School as a paraprofessional. He also reached a huge milestone this summer by using money he earned from working to purchase his own car! This year, we will continue focusing on employment skills, independence, and financial literacy.

Liam spent the summer working at DeRichi Auto and continues gaining experience at SPIROL Manufacturing. A huge shout-out to Liam, who is also taking two classes at CT State Community College this year — Blueprint Reading and 2D CAD/AutoCAD — to build his skills and open up even more opportunities for his future in manufacturing and engineering.

Welcome, Gabriel! We are very excited to welcome our newest PHTOPS student. Gabriel has already begun exploring employment, independent living, financial literacy, transportation, and community-based opportunities. He will begin gaining experience at Veterans Base Camp, Dogs for Veterans, and Trail Wood Sanctuary through our new partnership with the Connecticut Audubon Society.

Every student in PHTOPS is following a different path, and that is exactly what transition education should look like. We are incredibly proud of our students and excited to continue helping them build the skills, experience, confidence, and connections they need for employment, independence, and adult life.

Here’s to a great year ahead!

09/07/2026

A huge shout-out to Liam, who is taking two classes at CT State Community College this year to build his skills and experience and open up even more opportunities for him as he continues volunteering at SPIROL Manufacturing!