A day for Celebrating!

We took time out of our regular weekly routine for a little celebrating today.  We have a lot to celebrate...this BEAUTIFUL winter weather, 12 days of vacation, working hard for almost an entire semester...  We spent the morning decorating gingerbread houses.  See pictures below of each student with their own house.  They will be bringing them home with them today, and everything is edible (if they wish to devour it!).  We spent the afternoon celebrating with our friends from Ms. Klein's high school class.  They prepared a delicious lunch of tacos with all the fixings and had the most delicious spread of desserts and treats!  YUM!  We wrapped up our day with watching the movie, "Polar Express."  We read about this in our News2You this week and decided we wanted to learn more about this great book that has become a movie.  Our feature blogger this week is Kaitlyn.  Here is what she has to say about her short week at PrairieWood...

"This week at PrairieWood I learned to clean the classroom at the Hotel at Kirkwood.  I enjoyed lowering and straighteneing the chars in the classroom at the Hotel at Kirkwood.  I was challenged by putting the chairs all at the right level.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about looking both ways before crossing the street."

We hope you all enjoy your holiday break!  Relax and enjoy time with family and we will see you back here in 2012!!

Kaitlyn and her Gingerbread house.

Chelsey and her Gingerbread house.

Ahsia and her Gingerbread creation.

Sarah and her Gingerbread house.

Kendra with her masterpiece.

Brandon showing off his Gingerbread house.

Cassie and her Gingerbread creation.

Cookies, Cookies, Cookie!

We have been busy at PrairieWood this week making lots of cookies.  Every year at the holidays we like to thank all the people who do great things for us and support us.  Groups of students made brownies, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin, and sugar.  Today we delivered them and said "thank you."  We also spent our afternoon enjoying the movie, "A Dolphin Tale" at the budget movie theater in Cedar Rapids.  We all enjoyed it very much!

Chelsey mixing the sugar cookie dough.

Ahsia pressing the sugar cookies.

Our feature blogger this week is Brandon.  Here is what he had to say about his week at PrairieWood...

"This week at PrairieWood I learned grocery shopping.  I enjoyed drying dishes.  I was challenged by shredding paper.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about how to make cheese pizza."

Remember, only three days of school next week!  Enjoy your weekend!!

PrairieWood gives back to Cedar Rapids!

The students of the PrairieWood Transition Center spend so much of their time out and about in the Cedar Rapids community.  Cedar Rapids provides so many great opportunities for them, from great schools to great recreation and leisure opportunities to great places to work.  Today, we gave back to our community that gives so much to us by ringing bells for the Salvation Army at the Wilson Avenue Hy-Vee.  We bundled up and rang our way through the coldest day of the year so far and even saw some familiar faces out supporting the cause as well!  Please enjoy these pictures from our time ringing bells!  Our feature blogger this week is Cassie.  Here is what she has to say about her week at PrairieWood...

"This week at PrairieWood I learned about the Nutcracker Ballet in my News2You.  I enjoyed working on labeling at Pet's Playhouse.  I was challenged by wrapping a gift for my mom.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about remembering to wear warm clothing to the center or anywhere I go."

Have a fantastic weekend and stay warm! :)

Winter is on its way...

The air has turned chilly, especially in the morning.  We learned how important it is to wear warm coats, hats, gloves, and even scarves when we are waiting outside for the bus!  We kept very busy this week at PrairieWood.  We are wrapping up our card project...but will still take orders...and are starting to prepare for our next big project, COOKIES, that we give out as gifts at the holidays to thank all the people who help us.  This week's feature blogger is Chelsey.  Here is what she had to say about her week at PrairieWood.

"This week at PrairieWood I learned how to make a pancake roll-up.  I enjoyed cleaning around the classroom.  I was challenged by the next dollar sheet.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about how to count money."

Have a fantastic weekend!  Remember...No School on Monday 12/5

Short and Sweet!

Happy Tuesday!  It sure feels good to be writing this to you on a Tuesday afternoon that is OUR Friday!  While we had a short week at PrairieWood, we managed to keep ourselves very busy.  We hope you have a wonderful and long holiday weekend!  Our feature blogger this week is Kaitlyn.  Here is what she has to say about her week at PrairieWood.

"This week at PrairieWood I learned about about the "Happy Feet" movie in the News2You.  I enjoyed going to the High School for my Special Olympics banquet.  I was challenged by painting ceramics.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about a job working at Ruby Tuesday's."

Until next week!

Thanksgiving Success!

Writing what we are thankful for...

Getting the pie ready.

Enjoying our lunch.

Well...all our hard work payed off!  What a successful day!  PrairieWood students were busy from the moment they walked through the door this morning until their guests left this afternoon.  They will probably be tired when they come home tonight.  We all enjoyed the food and socializing with our friends from the high school.  Above are some pictures from our day.  Enjoy your weekend!

Thanksgiving Preparations: Day 4

It's getting closer and we are very excited!  We spent time today doing the last of our food preparations.  Chelsey and Ahsia made our stuffing. 

Kendra and Kaitlyn were busy cleaning and making our center sparkle so our guests have a comfortable and clean environment to come into.

Tomorrow is the big day, and we are so excited to feast on all that we have been preparing all week.  We are also excited to spend time and socialize with our guests.  We can't wait hear everyone share what they are thankful for!

...until tomorrow!

Thanksgiving Preparations: Day 3

The Thanksgiving preparations continued today.  Brandon and Cassie started preparing our potatoes for being mashed.  They took time peeling and cutting them.  We plan to cook them and mash them tomorrow.

Sarah took her time slicing, cutting, and chopping vegetables for our relish tray.  Nice work Sarah!  It looks great!!!

AND...Kendra and Kaitlyn made our sweet potatoes.  As we write this they are baking in the oven and smell just delicious.  We can't wait to eat them! 

...until tomorrow!

Thanksgiving Preparations: Day 2

The PrairieWood Thanksgiving preparations are well underway.  Yesterday we ventured to the grocery store, with long lists in hand, to purchase the supplies we needed for our luncheon this Friday.  We needed all the ingredients to prepare: Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Bean Casserole, Pumpkin Pie, and rolls...ALL the fixings of a great Thanksgiving feast!

Kaitlyn's picking out the milk.

Today was day number 2 of our preparations, and the cooking got underway.  Several students spent time in the kitchen mixing together the pie filling.  The pies will be baked later this week.  There is some video of Brandon and Sarah preparing the pie filling.

We also mixed together our green bean casserole.  We are serving a lot of people, so two batches of the casserole had to be made.  Chelsey and Ahsia each made their own batch.

Cassie also started the preparations for the stuffing by chopping the celery and onions. 

Cassie cutting up the celery for the stuffing.

There was a lot of hard work by PrairieWood students today.  We can't wait to enjoy all our delicious food on Friday with our friends and teachers!

Preparations are underway!

We are VERY busy at the Transition Center!  Next week we will be hosting our 4th annual Thanksgiving luncheon and we have started preparing for it.  We did some grocery shopping this week to pick up some of the items we need.  We are also busy preparing holiday card packets to fill the orders that have already been placed.  If you would like a packet of our handmade holiday cards, get your order in now...they're going fast!  Our feature blogger this week is Sarah.  This is what she had to say about her week at PrairieWood.

"This week at PrairieWood I learned where to find potatoes.  I enjoyed putting glitter on our holiday cards.  I was challenged by cooking lunch all by myself.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about following a recipe."

Have a great weekend!

A good fit!

PrairieWood students spend a large portion of their day out at community worksites learning independent work skills and trying to find a job they enjoy and could see themselves doing in the future.  We take a lot of time talking to them about what they like and don't like about each job, so that for future placements we can find a perfect fit between job and student.  Our feature blogger this week, Kendra has definately found a perfect fit.  Kendra is working at Pet's Playhouse in Cedar Rapids and she just loves her job.  While there Kendra completes a variety of jobs, one being interactions or "playing" with the puppies they sometimes have at the store to give the puppies a chance to be out of their cages and get some TLC.  Having a dog of her own at home, Kendra is comfortable with the puppies and is always anxious for the days she gets to interact with them.  It is so exciting to watch Kendra not only working, but also enjoying herself each afternoon.  We have included video of Kendra completing one of her favorite jobs at work.  Enjoy!  Below the video is what Kendra had to say about her week at PrairieWood.

"This week at PrairieWood I learned to go to Hy-Vee and pay for my Rice Krispies, large can of peaches, large can of pears, and large can of fruit mix.  I enjoyed playing with the puppy.  I was challenged by cleaning and filling fish jars.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about walking at the indoor rec. center."

The holidays are just around the corner...

Halloween is over, which means the holiday season has officially begun!  The students of the PrairieWood Transition Center would like to help you in spreading the holiday spirit this year.  We are kicking off our 4th annual Holiday Card sale.  For just $5.00 you can purchase a pack of 6 handmade cards and 6 envelopes made just for you by PrairieWood students.  Check out our design for this year below and contact us if you are interested in placing an order.  Happy Holidays!

Outside design - inside is blank, leaving room for your personal messages.

Looking into the future...

We spend almost all of our time at the transition center preparing our students for their futures.  We try to prepare them as much as we can for what comes next.  To to this we try to give them opportunities to explore all the options that are out there for them in the areas of Living, Learning, and Working.  Today, we explored one of these "options" for working after school.  OPTIONS of Linn County, a sheltered work shop, and a place that sometimes our students go to work after their time at PrairieWood, recently opened a new facility.  We took time this morning to go tour their new location and saw a few familiar faces while we were there.

Our feature blogger this week is Ahsia.  This is what Ahsia has to say about her time at PrairieWood this week.
"This week at PrairieWood I learned to make a rootbeer float.  I enjoyed seeing the teachers.  I was challenged by stamping holiday cards.  At PrairieWood, I would like to learn more about counting door knob knockers at Yellow Book."

Enjoy our pictures from our tour of the new OPTIONS building!

Checking out the break room.

A familiar face!  PrairieWood Alum, Melissa shows us her job.

Learning about some of the jobs they complete at OPTIONS.

...and we thought we did a lot of shredding!

Thank you Ely Rotary!

Thanks to a generous donation from the folks of the Ely Rotary, PrairieWood is now the proud owner of a brand new iPod touch!  We are so grateful for the opportunity to incorporate technology to improve our programming and to share our successes and work with the community around us!  Please check back to our blog regularly for pictures and even video updates thanks to our iPod.

Once again, THANK YOU Ely Rotary!  We could not do all the amazing things we do without your help!

Savoring the Season!

After the weather we had earlier last week, we thought we had skipped over fall altogether and gone straight into winter.  BUT Friday was a beautiful fall day and we decided to savor the season by taking a trip to Palisades park for a cook out by the river.  What a fun day!  Enjoy the pictures from our day at the park.

Our feature blogger this week is Kaitlyn.  Here is what she had to say about her week at the Transition Center...
This week at PrairieWood I learned how to make Kool-Aid.  I enjoyed cleaning the kitchen at the hotel Kirkwood.  I was challenged by wiping the chairs at the hotel.  At PrairieWood, I would like to learn more about cleaning the hotel.

If you are on Twitter, please follow @PrairieWoodTC.  We will be updating it on a regular basis with tweets and pictures about our activities.  It is a great way to follow what we are up to!

Have a great week!

Check us out!

PrairieWood is embarking on the world of Twitter!  Follow us at PrairieWoodTC for updates and connections to other resources!!! 

Venturing out...

Sometimes it is important to get outside of Cedar Rapids to find enjoyable Recreation and Leisure activities and this Friday the PrairieWood students and staff did just that.  We took advantage of a crisp fall day to travel north to the small town of Independence, Iowa.  Before even getting there, this town spoke to us, as its name aligns with the ultimate goal for all of our students!  Once there, we found a park to enjoy our picnic lunch (and even took time to shoot some baskets) and then headed over to Em and Jerri's for a special treat.  Each of our student purchased their own ice cream snack at this quaint coffee/ice cream shop.  What a great day! Enjoy some pictures from our enjoyable afternoon in the beautiful Independence...

Shootin' hoops!

Trying to pick the perfect flavor...yum!

Time to pay!

We LOVE Em and Jerri's!

See you next week!

Great Work Experience!

PrairieWood students are really enjoying their work experience placements this fall.  Students have been placed in sites based on their job interests as well as their ability to do particular jobs.  We so appreciate the local businesses that provide work opportunities for our students.  Our feature blogger, Cassie, had a great week at work!  Here is what she has to say...

"This week at PrairieWood I learned about working as a team when sweeping towards each other and dumping the garbage can full of leaves and garbage.  I enjoyed playing with a puppy at Pet's Playhouse when my work was finished.  I was challenged by keeping the papers in my lap at Pet's Playhouse.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about community signs for indoors." 

Playing with a puppy after finishing all their work at Pet's Playhouse

Hard at work sweeping!

Off to a great start!

Hello again to our regular readers!

So sorry if you have missed us and our weekly updates.  Our regular "blog programmer" has been gone for several weeks, but has now returned and things are slowly settling back into a routine!

PrairieWood students are off and running to a great year.  They have been very busy learning and re-learning the routine of a typical day at PrairieWood.  They have all started their jobs and from the stories I hear from both students and job coaches everyone is very happy in their job placement and showing great improvements in their work!

For the past two weeks, the students have been learning a new routine.  Each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday they have a "daily activity" they complete.  It may be one of these options: City Bus training, Cooking practice, and they alternate visiting the Rec. Center and Chores every other week.  This keeps everyone very busy, learning new things that will help them live independently some day.  Ask our students about these activities and they should be able to share all that they have learned!

This week, to jump back into our blog routine, we will share from all of our students!  Enjoy!!!

This week at PrairieWood I learned...
"To clean the black furniture (at the hotel)" Chelsey
"To count envelopes at Yellowbook" Sarah


I enjoyed...
"Saying hi to blue birdie at work" Kendra
"Working at Pet's Playhouse" Cassie
"Everything!" Kaitlyn


I was challenged by...
"Counting out papers" Brandon
"Getting off the city bus at the right stop" Ahsia

Another successful year at the PrairieWood Transition Center...

The 2010-2011 PrairieWood school year is complete!  Congratulations to all our students for completing the school year.  It was a year of growing independence, increased confidence, and a lot of learning!  We will take a short breather from the blog updates for the summer while we all enjoy the beautiful Iowa weather that June, July, and August have to offer.  Please check back again at the end of August for new blog updates.  We will offer you a little bit of everyone today to wrap up the school year.  Enjoy!

Ahsia - "This week at PrairieWood I learned how to make fruit dip.  I enjoyed playing cards with Kendra.  I was challenged by listening to directions from my friends."

Cassie B. - "This week at PrairieWood I learned about the Red Cross Birthday in my News2You.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about fixing things."

Kendra - "This week at PrairieWood I enjoyed the News2You about the Red Cross birthday.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about cooking for lunch."

Sarah - "This week at PrairieWood I learned to cut up apples with the Apple Cutter.  I enjoyed wading in the water at Lake Macbride.  I was challenged by community signs."

Brian - "This week at PrairieWood I learned I like dip with my fruit.  I enjoyed vacuuming at the hotel.  I was challenged by sweeping in the correct areas."

Enjoying the sunshine at Lake Macbride

Miniature golfing at Airport National.

More mini golfing.

Independence in action: we rode the city bus to Dairy Queen and purchased our own treats!  What a great way to end the year!

Time to Celebrate!

We took some time today to celebrate...we had SO much to celebrate!!!  Today we hosted our 3rd Annual End of the Year picnic.  We took time to celebrate all of our accomplishments and learning from this year by watching our Video Yearbook...ask a PrairieWood student if you would like to see this, they all have their own copies.  We took time to celebrate our PrairieWood Alumni by enjoying lunch and chatting about some adult accomplishments of Allison and Melissa, who graduated from PrairieWood last year.  We also celebrated our 2010-2011 PrairieWood graduates by presenting certificates and gifts to Cassie and Brian (Andy received his earlier this week).  What a happy day with so many accomplishments to celebrate!

Our feature blogger this week is Brian.  Here is what he has to say about his week at PrairieWood...

"This week at PrairieWood I learned about the Geographic Bee in the News2You.  I enjoyed vacuuming at the Hotel.  I was challenged by scooping ice cream out of the container for my cooking project.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about making PB&J sandwich."

Mr. Whitehead celebrates with current and past PrairieWood students.

Congratulations Cassie!

Congratulations Brian!

Congratulations Andy!

 We are so proud of all the accomplishments of all our PrairieWood Students, new and old!!! 

WHAT A WEEK!!!

We have had a very busy and eventful week at PrairieWood.  Several of our students had very exciting meetings where they received their high school diplomas and were staffed out of the PrairieWood program.  We had our usual routines of cooking, riding the bus, grocery shopping, doing chores and going to work as well.  Then, on Thursday we enjoyed a BEAUTIFUL day at the ballpark and watched the Kernels come out of their losing streak.  We wrapped up our busy week with a delightful day at Palisades park in Mt. Vernon.  There we enjoyed a relaxing cook-out lunch, yard games, and even took time to enjoy (and draw) the scenery.  Our feature bloggers this week are Sarah and Andy.  Here is what they have to say about their week at PrairieWood.

Andy: "This week at PrairieWood I learned to make Taco Salad for lunch.  I enjoyed picking up garbage all over grounds.  I was challenged by following directions.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about taking care of plants.

Sarah: "This week at PrairieWood I learned where the chocolatee chips are in Hy-Vee.  I enjoyed the Kernels game.  I was challenged by cleaning the lockers by myself at the hotel.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about Parks."

Andy enjoying the sunshine at the Kernels game.

Brian purchasing his snack at the Kernels game.

Ahsia drawing the beauty at Palisades park.

We LOVE cook-out lunches!!

Kendra having a blast drawing and chatting on a beautiful Friday afternoon.

Have a great weekend!!!!

And the countdown continues...

School is definately winding down.  With the beautiful and summer-like weather we experienced this week, we found it difficult to focus on the tasks that our school days require of us.  We are ready for summer!  Our feature blogger this week is Kendra.  Here is what she did this week at PrairieWood...


"This week at PrairieWood I learned about Jumping Frogs in my News2You.  I enjoyed coloring on one of my worksheets.  I was challenged by working hard.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about playing my favorite Dolch word game."

Enjoy your weekend!

A "taste" of summertime

Happy Friday to you all!  And what a BEAUTIFUL Friday it is!!  PrairieWood students and staff made sure to enjoy this beautiful weather by a day outside.  First we enjoyed a wonderful picnic lunch at the Swisher Park.  Many of our kids live in the Swisher area and were excited to have some Recreation and Leisure time close to home.  Our next stop was a bit farther south in North Liberty.  There we visited a snow cone shop owned by our friend Donna.  She treated us to a little taste of summertime.  We got to make and enjoy our own snow cone.  What a treat!  They had so many delicious flavors to choose from...some of us even tried more than one!  We hope to go back there again this summer, this time with our friends, families, and staff.  Our feature blogger this week is Ahsia.  Here is what she had to say about her week at PrairieWood.

"This week at PrairieWood I learned to take the city bus to the Kirkwood Rec. Center.  I enjoyed eating my chicken patty lunch outside on the deck.  I was challenged by cleaning the glass doors at the hotel.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about making snow cones."

Enjoy some pictures of our time at the snow cone shop.  Have a great weekend...and Happy Mother's Day!

Sarah adding her flavor syrup.

Ahsia making her snow cone.

After a great picnic lunch at Swisher park.

Sale Success!

The cold and windy weather forced us inside the day of our Walking Taco Sale.  What a bummer!!  We didn't have a lot of foot traffic, but thanks to our friends from Kirkwood and beyond, we managed to make the sale a great success!  Each student showed just how much of an adult they are by stepping into their assigned roles and working above and beyond.  The maturity and appropriate social skills they showed made the sale a complete success!

To celebrate both our sale and finally a day with beautiful weather, we enjoyed a campfire lunch out at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca this afternoon.  Each student enjoyed grilling their own hotdog and s'more for lunch, exploring the beautiful scenery and nature that the camp grounds had to offer, and topped the afternoon off with a hay-rack ride with our good friend Luke.  Thank you Luke for an enjoyable afternoon and your great hospitality!!!

Our feature bloggers this week are Brian and Cassie B.  Here is what they have to say about their week at PrairieWood.

Cassie B: "This week at PrairieWood I learned about the Royal Wedding in my News2You.  I enjoyed dusting at camp.  I was challenged by not touching my hair while working the Walking Taco Sale.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about how to cook Jambalaya."

2011 Walking Taco Sale

2011 Walking Taco Sale

Hay-rack ride at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca

Brian: "This week at PrairieWood I learned about the royal wedding.  I enjoyed finding where the sour cream and the milk are at Hy-Vee.  I was challenged by stapling laundry bags at work.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about saying "Thank you" when people buy chips."

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!