Awesome Help Every Day!

Every day when lunches end, we get an influx of amazing people that help us clean up the lunchroom.  They empty recycling, compost and garbage.  They stack and move chairs.  They travel around the school emptying other recycle and garbage containers and break down boxes behind the kitchen.  They sometimes help with event setups and other functions that may occur. These people are our special needs students from the Life Skills class.  

The thing about these students is that they just don't help us with our work, they love to help us with our work!  Sometimes they practically run into the lunchroom to get their jobs done while they jabber about something they enjoy or want to share.  They are respectful, helpful and polite and want to do their best.  The abilities we tap from these students is wonderful and their help can't be praised enough.

We thank the teachers and paraeducators who work tirelessly with these students and who help supervise them when they work with us, although sometimes they are so independent that they don't need the supervision.  We thank the students and their parents as well.  It's a great opportunity for them to learn job-related skills for the real world and at the same time to feel important and able to be valued by others.  We look forward to working with them every year!  Thanks to all of you whoever you are!

Note:  Here's a great article that appeared in the Costco Connection dealing with jobs for special needs people and how businesses are recognizing their potential and value.