Teacher: Ms. Stevi Wasylko-Lutch
Paraprofessional: Ms. Doreen
All the students in the Jupiter classroom are currently participating in a work-study program in the Toledo area for at least two hours a day. We currently have jobs at TJMaxx in Rossford, Springfield Township in Holland and Holiday Inn in Maumee. All of these jobs are done as unpaid work experience. Some of our students have paying jobs at Myrtles Flower Shop in Toledo, Peter’s Plumbing in Toledo, and the Bier Stube in Toledo. They are also partaking in special projects when needed, by Ms. Becky Knapp our Transition Coordinator.
The students are in and out of the classroom five days a week. On Mondays and Fridays, the students go to TJMaxx Rossford to do a variety of jobs. Wednesday is our day at the Holiday Inn Splash Zone in Maumee, where the students are learning how to do housekeeping. Then on Thursday we go to Springfield Township to learn a variety of office work. Friday some of the students go to work at TJMaxx, while others go to there paying jobs.
On Tuesday we get out into the community while also doing some work for the school. The students are going to Wal-Mart and out to eat to learn how to get into the community and follow some real world life skills. The students are responsible for following a grocery list, to find the correct item and the amount needed. They are also learning how to follow the signs around the store to help find the items that are on their list. We are also comparing prices on the items that are needed. After the students have completed their list at the store, the students get to go out to eat at a restaurant of their choice. The students will order and pay for their meals. When we return from our day out in the community the students are responsible for delivering the items to the correct classroom.
Currently we have two reward systems within the Jupiter classroom. One is the daily reward, which the students need to complete different activities and tasks at school to receive this reward. When the students follow through with different tasks at school they will receive computer time, reading time or time just to them-selves. The other reward has to do with how they complete their jobs at work and in the community. This reward is what the students will earn at the end of the month for working so hard and improving in their skills. The students then decide at the being of the month what they are working towards (for example going to the zoo, to the library, and bowling etc.)
Each of the students are responsible for filling out a time card showing what time they leave for work and what time they return back to school. They complete this task every day they go to a job site. On Friday the students need to turn this in so that they can get a mock paycheck for all their hard work. They receive their mock paychecks on Monday, which they need to deposit into their mock checking account. During the month the students will also receive mock bills, which they will have to pay just like if they were living on their own. They also get to go to a mock classroom store at the end of the week if they students have enough money.
In this classroom we are working on getting the students ready for the real world and becoming an adult. We want the students to have all the tools they need to be successful in their lives. This common goal of this classroom is to help them with tasks and ideas they need when they graduate from school. We also hope that all of our students will have jobs one day, which they can be proud. Thank you to all of the employers who have been so supportive.