Susquehanna Township Learning for Life Transition Program

About Learning for Life…

• Developed in Summer of 2012 for 2012-13 School Year• Designed to meet Transition Needs of High School students

receiving Life Skills support • Began with 10 students identified with: Autism, Intellectual

Disabilities, Multiple Disabilities, Blind/Visually Impaired

Partnerships…

• Arc of Dauphin County• Central Pennsylvania Food Bank• Holiday Inn Grantville • Flemings Sub Base• Giant Food Store Union Deposit• Harrisburg Senators- Chef Paul• Chef Jackie Petska, former Executive Chef with Channels Food Rescue

How the program has progressed…Year 1

2012-13 School Year• 10 students• 8 Week Career Exploration Program• 22 Week Job Training• Crowne Plaza- rotated through Kitchen, Laundry, Banquets, & Rooms• Holiday Inn Hershey- rotated through Laundry, Rooms, Engineering, &

Breakfast area

• 22 Week Nutrition and Wellness• Cooking class at Central PA Food bank with Certified Chef• Community outings for fitness/leisure activities

Classes at The Arc

Arc staff member, Melanie Palmer, taught the students a class about work habits and how to create an elevator speech

Elevator Speech

Darius Thompson practices delivering his elevator speech to his classmates

Chef Bob and students at end of year party

Chef Bob, former Executive Chef at the Crowne Plaza Harrisburg, taught students kitchen skills both at the Crowne Plaza and Central PA Food Bank

Students working at the Crowne Plaza

2013 graduates Mohamed Mater and Michael Farley prepare and weigh crab cakes in the Crowne Plaza kitchen

Career Exploration Certificate Ceremony

Students had the opportunity to tour Community Aid and Goodwill Retail store. They were then given a gift card by the store to shop for interview clothes

Intercontinental Hotel Group’s Business Reputation and Responsibility Conference

Lanesha Brown, 2013 graduate, flew to Atlanta, Georgia to talk to the group about how Learning for Life and IHG/Crowne Plaza Job Training experience has changed her life

How the program has progressed…Year 2

Group 1• 15 Students• 8 Week Career Exploration Program• 22 Weeks of Job Training at the

Crowne Plaza Hotel• 22 Weeks of Nutrition (cooking class)

and Nutrition• Added three students with MDS to

the group and a student with ED

Group 2• 9 Students• 8 Week Career Exploration Program• 22 Weeks of Job Training at the

Crowne Plaza Hotel• Students with LD, ED, VI, and Autism

2013-14 School Year

Tour of Penn State Harrisburg

Students toured the campus of Penn State Harrisburg, visited a dorm room, and listened to a presentation about having a disability on a college campus

Visits to local employers

Students visited local employers. Pictured here is a tour of Lowes on Union Deposit Road.

Zumba and Winter Party

“Zumba Jeff” taught students fitness through Zumba and the group had a winter party hosted by the Crowne Plaza

How the program has progressed…Year 3

Group 1• 17 Students• 8 Week Career Exploration Program• 22 Weeks of Job Training at the

Holiday Inn (Grantville), Flemings Sub Base, & Giant Food Store (Union Deposit)• 22 Weeks of Nutrition (cooking class)

and Nutrition

Group 2• 8 Students• 8 Week Career Exploration Program• 22 Weeks of Job Training at the

Holiday Inn (Grantville), Flemings Sub Base, & Giant Food Store (Union Deposit)

2014-15 School Year

Included several students during this school year who participated in parts of the program, but not the entire program- completely individualized according to the students’ needs.

Dressed for Success

Students were given gift cards from the Goodwill Retail store in Linglestown and shopped for interview clothes.

Students participated in Mock Interviews with community representatives and received feedback.

Work Experience with Chef Bob at Central PA Food Bank

Students Tyson Hudson and Chris Gonzalez-Green aspire to work in the culinary field. They were given the opportunity to cater an event with Chef Bob at the Food bank.

Holiday Inn Job Training Orientation

Students with diverse needs participated in a job training orientation at the Holiday Inn Grantville

Cooking class at the Central PA Food Bank

Chef Jackie Petska taught students how to make Chicken Parmigiana

How the program has progressed…Year 3

Middle School Group Added• 9 Students- 7th and 8th grade• 22 Weeks

• Career Exploration• Visits to local businesses• Interest inventories• Online Mock job applications

• Community Resource Exploration• Dauphin County Library• ST Police Station• Metro Bank

2014-15 School Year

Volunteering at the Central PA Food Bank

Middle School student, Nathan Barad, works at the Food Bank

Middle School students tour Chocolate World