Welcome 2021! As we move into this new year with the hope of better things to come, here at CARES we are still looking at ways to meet our student and family needs in unique and innovative ways. Here are a few things that have been happening:
On the high school side the students continue to utilize the newly renovated concession stand area to sell snack items and drinks to students and staff. Students are learning the skills involved in running a small business including, budgeting, ordering, inventory, marketing, money management and customer service. The high school students are also completing many jobs in and around the school including, car detailing, window washing, grounds keeping. In some HS classes you will see students participating in career exploration activities by learning the skills needed to work in places like a pizza shop, hair salon, different types of restaurants, car wash and many more. Lastly, our HS students are still earning money for the classroom by sorting hangers for CINTAS. A new picnic table and two new benches were added to the front of the building on the high school side. This will be a nice place for students to take mask breaks during the day and to sit while waiting for buses.
The school age side has been all about improving work spaces for staff. We have some pretty amazing and creative staff and it came apparent that they were in need of better work spaces to help them create all of those fabulous remote learning materials that they send home with the students every Tuesday evening as well as the materials that they send home once a week for our remote learning students. A new workspace which includes better organization of materials, plenty of storage and counter space for working was completed a couple of weeks ago and has already been a huge help to our staff. Ms. Tara (occupational therapist) was the recipient of an office makeover from Friends Office Supplies. Tara was awarded $6,000.00 worth of new furniture by Lorell. The new space will be the hub for OT and SLP services providing them with office space, storage for all of their sensory and speech equipment and supplies as well as a nice new therapy area that students will be able to utilize.
I would like to give a shout out to our custodial staff, Mr. Rick and Mr. Frank both of whom have been working diligently to keep our building extra clean and safe for our staff and students. I would really like to know how many door handles they clean on a daily basis. LOL
Please continue to remind your children to bring only essential items to school and monitor them for symptoms of COVID daily. Thank you for your efforts.
Christy
Christy LaPaglia
Director of CARES
lapaglia@mentorschools.org
