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By Dena Wood
The Times 

'Working on Working'

Waitsburg Life Skills Students provide services to district and community

 

Courtesy of Patty Hazelwood

Coe Richards vacuums and mops the co-op preschool room each day.

WAITSBURG -- Early this school year, Waitsburg High School special education teacher Patty Hazelwood happened upon a small dresser desperately in need of refinishing. It occurred to her that such a project would be ideal for her life skills students: Coe Richards, Austin Baker and Rachel Gradwohl. The trio successfully transformed the eyesore into a work of beauty, learning new skills and experiencing the satisfaction of a job well done along the way.

Hazelwood has over twenty years experience working in special education and spent ten years working in British Columbia before teaching in the Seattle area. She and her husband eventually moved to Walla Walla where she said she greatly appreciates the "east side weather." Hazelwood has been with the Waitsburg School District for 7 1/2 years and is assisted by local special education para educators Dawn Nichols and Vickie Hamann.

Hazelwood says projects like furniture restoration are a great way to "work on working" – something her students do well.

"It was a good hands-on project where they could learn new skills such as using an electric sander and they can see immediate results. Life and work skills, social interaction and academics are all part of what we focus on," she said. Hazelwood said the students are actively involved in the school and community and strive to be an asset to the district. "I don't think people are aware of how much we do," she said.

Rachel's day starts prior to the first bell when she arrives early to organize and start the laundry. The life skills students are responsible for washing, drying, folding and matching tops and bottoms for the P.E. students' laundry. At 8:20 a.m. she and Austin board the Columbia County Transportation bus to the Lillie Rice Center where they spend the morning working under the umbrella of Blue Mountain Industries.

Hazelwood said the students are currently putting together pipes for Nelson Irrigation. "Nelson says they love them because of their work ethic and the fact that they do a good job," said Hazelwood. "There is opportunity for them to move up and they earn a paycheck so they have the satisfaction of earning their own money as well."

In the meantime, Coe gets started on his own duties. Shortly after the first bell, he takes the lunch list to the cafeteria and delivers mail to the high school, middle school and elementary school buildings. He sorts the high school mail and delivers outgoing mail to the post office. He then gathers the custodial laundry and gets that started. Coe is also responsible for vacuuming and mopping the parent co-operative preschool room each day.

"We try to be a benefit to the district however we can," said Hazelwood. "And we're talking all the while we're doing the tasks -- having a discussion or working on manners or eye contact."

Courtesy of Patty Hazelwood

Coe Richards, Austin Baker and Rachel Gradwohl pose with their transformed dresser.

Rachel and Austin return in the afternoon when the focus is on academics, such as math and reading. Coe is especially fond of Izzy the camel and looks forward to reward visits when he reaches set goals.

The students take advantage of opportunities to help out in the community whenever possible. The Odako club has purchased a tree for the Festival of Trees the last two years, and the life skills students enjoy making ornaments and decorating the tree for the club. Last Valentine's Day the students hosted a Valentine's Day Tea where they invited grandparents for tea and dessert while they shared some of the year's accomplishments.

Hazelwood said the best part of her job is undoubtedly the kids. "I just love watching the kids progress. Watching them achieve new goals is what it's all about!" she said.

 

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