Hello to everyone. We are off to a smooth start to the new school year.
The Vocational Department welcomed two new students on return from the break: Kevin P and RJ. Both are off to a great start.
Three students have increased hours of participation: Jordan C (from 10 to 15 hours/week), Zac W (from 5 hours to 10 hours/week), and Scott P (from 5 to 10 hours/week). Congratulations!
Programming for a number of students expanded beginning in the summer to include community work assignments: Alexis N (delivering shredding to the Puppy Center), Gunnar S (maintenance at the CT Fire Academy), Angela P (clerical tasks at Faith Lutheran Church), Omari J (maintenance at Faith Lutheran Church), and Ben R (maintenance at Harvey & Lewis Opticians/Hartford and pizza box making at South Whitney Pizza).
The popularity of the Campus Florist program has resulted in an increase to 27 customers who receive new bouquets weekly and there is a waiting list of 7! Currently students 3 days/week collect bouquets and deliver fresh arrangements after restocking (disassembling, sorting). To accommodate the waiting list, service will expand to 4 days/week in November. A recent purchase of additional silk blooms has doubled the available stock. Sarah H and Gunnar S have joined the program with responsibilities for assembling and delivering new arrangements with the support of a coach. Ben R has been picking up bouquets.
Programming for additional students has been expanded to include campus mobile assignments (non-bench/production):
Steve D, Shawn S and Joel T have assignments delivering/picking up bags of boxes at classrooms throughout the Main Building. The commercial basket truck heading out or returning full weighs between 60 and 70 pounds. Heavy work! A particular shout out to Shawn S who has progressed to doing the pick-up independently.
Kevin P, new to voc at the beginning of September, has quickly become independent at preparing/delivering the student paychecks and also at delivering the staff mail.
