Our Bright Spot this month comes from Kim Arruda at Hawthorne Country Day School.

What student outcome was achieved?
Students at Hawthorne Country Day are acquiring, practicing, and generalizing critical skills aimed at increasing both their overall levels of independence and personal experiences of success and joy. Through experiential work-based learning opportunities both on and off- campus, students are exploring their interests and developing work-based skills while engaging in a variety of exciting tasks and activities.

What instructional practice or systemic change supported this student success?
Staff have set up five external work-based learning sites, including a state park, a day habilitation center to NY, a social service center, an historical society and a sporting goods store.  Work tasks at these sites range from raking leaves and painting fences to filing to collecting, sorting, organizing and gift-wrapping clothing. On campus students also participate in two student-led enterprises, running a school store affectionately known as “Lunchy Munchy” and shopping for and preparing breakfast each Friday for staff members. Soon there will be additional school-based enterprises, including a campus-wide recycling program, plant care and pizza deliveries to the preschool campus.