Riverhead Students Start Internship Program at Goodale Farms

Basic Life Skills students from Riverhead teachers Jill Tapper’s and Tim Paige’s class began a student internship program at Goodale Farms in Riverhead, during the week of March 16.

They will be working at the farm on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. for the next few weeks.

On their first day at the farm, students fed the newborn calf and baby goats and two girls helped prepare the goat cheese to sell at an upcoming Farmer’s Market.

“Riverhead employers have many life skills to offer students with developmental disabilities,” Tapper said. “Currently, sheltered workshops are being phased out and students like ours have fewer places to seek employment upon transition from high school. My students are dependable, come with support, and truly can master the kind of jobs they require on our local farms, so I am very grateful and excited about the unique opportunity they have been given by Mr. Goodale.”

Photos courtesy of Riverhead Central School District

Sign up for your local Patch newsletter and breaking news alerts here