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