One "week" down!

We may have started on Wednesday...but we have successfully completed our first "week" at PrairieWood!  We were very busy in this week learning new routines, making new friends, and getting to know our community; both on the Kirkwood campus and beyond!  Our feature blogger this week is Parker.  Here is what he had to say about his week at PrairieWood...

"This week at PrairieWood, I learned how to make lunch for my classmates.  I enjoyed meeting new friends.  I was challenged by loading the dishwasher.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about my new friends.  My week was challenging and fun."

Have a great weekend!

And we are off!

Whelp...it came.  And it went!  We have successfully completed the first day of our 2013-2014 School Year and its pretty obvious that it is going to be a great year!  Returning students are eager to be back and and get all they can out of their year, and new students didn't hesitate to jump right in and get things going!  We took a trip to HyVee to purchase lunch supplies and did a scavenger hunt to get to know campus better.  All left pretty exhausted, but pretty excited about all the things to come.  Including this teacher!  I am vowing that our blog (and website) will be current and update much more this year and I figured to start things out on the right note, we had to get a post out there on the first day.  A big thanks to all those moms, dads, siblings, friends and helpers out there who had these PrairieWood students ready and eager to have a great year! 

Until next time...
Parker, Andrea, Nolan, Sarah, Nick, Kaitlyn and Kyle

So long!

What a year we have had!  Nine students entered our program in August to develop and expand their functional life skills.  This spring we are sending six students of those nine out into the adult world.  Look out for them at the HyVee on Wilson Ave., HyVee drug on 6th Street, at Prairie High School, at OPTIONS of Linn County, the Walgreens Training program through Goodwill and Career Connections, also through Goodwill.  What an amazing group of young adults!  We are so proud to send them on their way to do great things and conquer the world.  As we wrap up this school year, we will share the happenings from our several of our grads.

Ahsia (3 years at PrairieWood)
"This week at PrairieWood, I learned City bus and pushing the tape for HyVee.  I enjoyed being at PrairieWood.  I was challeneged by the BINGO game.  I will miss everyone at PrairieWood next year.  They are my friends."

Chase (1 year at PrairieWood)
"This week at PrairieWood, I learned I did great on spoons and forks at work.  I enjoyed doing my cooking project.  I was challenged by doing faster on dishes.  I loved being at PrairieWood."

Brandon (2 years at PrairieWood)
"This week at PrairieWood I learned about washing dishes.  I enjoyed wiping tables.  I was challenged by laundry.  I am done with work for now at HyVee."

Mason (1 year at PrairieWood)
"This week at PrairieWood I learned how to put the funnel back on the pop machine in the coffee area at work.  I enjoyed HyVee being really busy.  I was challenged by keeping up with all the dirty dishes on the tables.  I did so well and accomplished so much in my time at PrairieWood."

Only one more day left.  Next week those that are still around will reflect on their year at PrairieWood and will provide advice for our incoming students.  Have a great weekend!

Where have we been?!?

Whelp, it has been one VERY busy spring around the PrairieWood Transition Center!  Starting in January, we began preparing for the Special Olympics Track and field.  All our hard practice payed off because at the Regional Competition on April 20th all of our students got 2nd and 1st place ribbons!  We are taking 6 students to the state competition in May!!!  We couldn't be prouder!

We also have 6 students who will be leaving PrairieWood this spring and transitioning to the adult community in Cedar Rapids.  Some will be competatively employed in the community, while others are taking some time to further develop their skills through programs such as Career Connections and OPTIONS.

On May 6th we will be celebrating 5 years of building independence with our community open house.  To prepare for this, PrairieWood students reflected on all they have learned and enjoyed at the center along with their plans upon leaving PrairieWood.  These interviews, along with pictures and video of the students around PrairieWood and the community were compiled into a video which will be shown at our open house.  Students also prepared cookies, trail mix and lemonade for our guests to enjoy and just completed a very deep cleaning of the center.  As I write it is sparkling clean and awaiting Monday's guests.

Our feature blogger this week is Sarah.  Here is what she had to say about her week at PrairieWood.

"This week at PrairieWood, I learned grocery shopping.  I enjoyed cooking because I made sugar cookies.  I was challenged by completing my work.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about the News2You stories."

Maybe we will see some of our loyal readers on Monday...  Have a good weekend!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Whew!  What a day we had!  We wrapped up a busy week with an especially busy day at PrairieWood.  We have missed our Friday activities, due to Snow Days and No School days, so we jammed three activities into one Friday today!  We started our morning with Dori at Dreaming Bear.  There we prepared for spring by painting bright, beautiful flowers.  Next we enjoyed lunch at the Kirkwood Cafe with the rest of our Kirkwood peers.  Finally we took advantage of the sunshine and the snow before it melts and spent the afternoon snow shoeing around Jones park.  WHAT FUN!

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


"This week at PrairieWood, I learned snow shoeing.  I enjoyed wearing my winter clothing for snow shoeing.  I was challenged by Dreaming Bear.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about Painting flowers.  I liked having lunch at the Kirkwood Cafe."

Nick working on his Spring masterpiece!

Chelsey and Dori adding finishing touches to the flower.

Go Sarah!

Ahsia making her way through the snow!

Chelsey and Brandon enjoying their first time in snow shoes.

Hello Snow!

Our recent snow fall was actually welcomed at PrairieWood.  We usually prefer nice, dry weather, as it makes our activities in the community a little easier to get to.  However, this week we welcomed the snow!  This was because for one of our Lifetime fitness activities, we were giving Snow Shoeing a try.  We had scheduled it for earlier in February, but had to cancel due to lack of snow, so when we saw snow in the forecast, we geared up and did some snow shoeing.  While many of the PrairieWood students had never tried snow shoeing before, they were up to the challenge, and after one try decided it was something they would like to do again!  We'll see how long this snow sticks around...maybe we can squeeze in a trip to a park or nature reserve before Winter makes it's way out of town!

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

"This week at PrairieWood I learned to snow shoe with boots on.  I enjoyed going to work to go on the work floor and straighten things (at Goodwill).  I was challeneged by making an open-faced turkey sandwich.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about getting better at folding clothes.  At Goodwill I also learned to put shoes in the right places."

Have a good weekend!

Aric pushes against the wind to snow shoe across the field.

Sarah, enjoying her time in the snow shoes!

Ahsia, making her way back to the van.

Kaitlyn thinks, "Snow shoeing is fun!"

Independence and an UNO Tournament

As a part of our recreation activity today, we participated in an UNO tournament.  Each person had a chance to play a few games.  We also had several winners: a Good Sport Winner, a Consolation Winner and a Grand Winner.  Everyone took turns, played well, and enjoyed the time!

We also have some students who are taking some huge steps towards independence and we couldn't be happier for them!  Mason has started using the city bus to get to and from his competitive community job.  Way to go Mason!!!

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

"This week at PrairieWood I learned that I can wait to cross the four-way stop when in doubt.  I enjoyed riding the city bus on my own.  I was challenged by telling when a customer is done or getting more food at the all you can eat at HyVee.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about how to tell if the customers are done or getting more food.  I rode the city bus all on my own this week!!!!!"

Can't believe these signs of Independence!!!!!  It was a good week at PrairieWood!!!!!

Chelsey purchasing her consolation prize.

Aric purchasing his grand prize.

Have a great weekend!