Poinsettia sale underway at Lincoln-Way East's House of Blooms

From Lincoln-Way School District:

Poinsettia sales are underway for the students who run the Lincoln-Way East High School House of Blooms.

Months of hard work and delicate nurturing have paid off for the students in the Special Services Transition Program at Lincoln-Way East who run the House of Blooms.

Students have been growing 450 poinsettias in the school’s greenhouse (House of Blooms) since August and are already to begin selling them to the community.

Poinsettias go on sale December 2 until they are sold out.

“The kids in the transition program have done an awesome job,” said Joshua Kreske, the transitional coordinator at Lincoln-Way East.

Students began growing the poinsettias from rooted cuttings in August, learning how to keep them moist in early stages and then pinching their tops to promote growth.

Students also rotate the plants on a regular basis in the greenhouse to make sure each one benefits from the natural light they receive.

About 50 students were involved in the project, giving them an opportunity to learn valuable job skills, such as how to work as a team, how to follow multi-step directions, how to advocate for themselves, and how to problem solve.

“The purpose is to develop the students’ skills within the transition program,” states Kreske. “Students are not only gaining knowledge about how to grow plants but how to work as a member of a team, how to follow multi-step directions, and how to problem solve. They’re also learning and developing their skills in the areas of bookkeeping, computer data entry, inventory, proper job/ work behaviors, sales, marketing, and independence.”

“This is the 4th year of the program. All money earned from sales goes back into the program to buy supplies for the spring flowers plant sale,” added Kreske.

Students are selling the 6 inch poinsettia plants for $7 each. Each plant includes a decorative foil cover, a handmade holiday planter decoration and bow. The customer has their choice of red, white, and pink poinsettias.

Community members interested in purchasing a poinsettia may contact the Special Services Department at 815-464-4121 or email houseofblooms@lw210.org.

Poinsettias go on sale December 2 until they are sold out.    

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