Photo by Jeannine Luce, RSD
Tolt’s Life Skills class students made Red Wolves pillows to aid in their transition to Cedarcrest High School this fall. Pictured are: Karen Hough (RSD tech specialist), Benjamin Bramwell, Anthony Ely, Charles Wilen, Steven Grove, Jacob Mogridge and teacher Jeannine Luce.

Five of the students in Jeannine Luce’s Life Skills class at Tolt Middle School are in the 8th grade this year.?In the fall of 2008, they will become freshmen at Cedarcrest High School.?

As part of their transitioning to a new school, each student made a “Red Wolves” pillow out of fleece in the CHS colors which are crimson, black and gray.?Karen Hough, the Riverview technology instructional specialist, helped the students create and transfer the CHS logo onto the fabric for each pillow and from that, the students had the opportunity to create these very unique and special keepsakes.?

These students enjoy learning each day in the self-contained Life Skills classroom, however they still have a chance to be a part of the bigger community at Tolt as well.

Some of the students attend regular classes accompanied by an educational assistant. They access the regular curriculum with some modifications, and also attend physical education class with Tolt teacher Kent Christensen, who assists them with adaptations to the activities to ensure a successful experience for everyone.

In addition to academics and IEP goals, the students are engaged in a number of other activities in and out of the classroom. These activities help to improve upon their daily living skills. Students have the opportunity to go to the post office, QFC and the Carnation Library. The Life Skills teaching staff try to engage in as many meaningful interactions as possible.

In addition to these activities, the students will soon have a Butterfly Emporium, a place where they will begin planting seedlings which will then be sold to the staff. Mrs. Oberholser, (speech and language pathologist), Marty Heneghan (occupational therapist) and Kristie Bjornson (physical therapist) work closely with the staff to incorporate skills into the regular curriculum as well as providing individualized therapy sessions.

Several educational assistants make up the “dream team” of this department. They work with all special education students at Tolt. They are Jody Rutledge, Bill Pritchard, Kim Jordan, Marissa Rhett and Cindy Jones.