Kids & Family
West Essex High Offers 'Life Skills' Program to Special Needs Students
Caldwell area teens make trips to local stores and perform vocational work at school.
Taking a trip to the local grocery store is more than just a chore for some special education students at West Essex High School in North Caldwell… it’s classwork.
The school currently offers a “life skills” program aimed at developing everyday problem solving and vocational skills, in addition to building spatial reasoning, social interaction and curriculum integration.
According to WEHS special education teacher Gabriella Bauer, the program combines structured learning experiences, job coaching and community based instruction.
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“The CBI or Community Based Learning Program instills confidence in students and builds self-esteem,” she said.
Activities have included:
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- Taking students on trips to the West Caldwell ShopRite and CVS, as well as local banks, post offices and restaurants, where they fulfill orders for district staff members and learn to make change and handle money
- Participation in vocational opportunities within the school, such as sorting mail, filing, shelving books in the school library and stocking goods in the cafeteria
- Cooperatively preparing recipes, planning and developing shopping and developing other grocery-related skills
According to a release, school officials hope to expand the program with local businesses, working with local shop owners to give students work experience for school credit.
There are several currently enrolled in the program, which still has openings and can accommodate students from neighboring districts, stated Bauer.
“It’s wonderful to watch the students develop life skills immersed in the community setting,” said Tania Symmons, West Essex Director of Special Services. “The students have an opportunity to strengthen vocational skills with the goal of preparing for independent employment in the future.”
Photo caption: West Essex High School teacher Gabriella Bauer, center, teaches students how to bag groceries as part of the school’s Life Skills program.
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