Its Fall!

We are doing our best to enjoy this beautiful "fall" weather before it disappears into winter.  We spent a lot of time doing activities outside this week.  For our community activity today, we enjoyed the Wilson's Apple Orchard between Iowa City and Solon.  We packed a picnic lunch, hiked through the orchard to pick apples, and enjoyed Apple Cider donuts.

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

"This week at PrairieWood I learned how to make frozen peas.  I enjoyed working at Kenwood.  I was challenged by playing the sign game.  At PrairieWood, I would like to learn more about how to make homemade ice cream.  I really liked playing kickball at Jones Park this week."

Enjoy the pictures from our orchard trip and have a great weekend!

Prairie Pride

Well, we just got back to the center from a chilly trip around Prairie's campus for the homecoming parade.  What fun we had!  We saw so many familiar faces from all our years in the wonderful schools at Prairie.  We had fun waving, smiling, saying hello, and showing our Prairie Pride!

Our feature blogger this week is a young man who had a great week at PrairieWood.  Here is what Kyle has to say...

"This week at PrairieWood I learned where to find refried beans at HyVee.  I enjoyed eating pizza for lunch.  I was challenged pulling out big staples at my job.  I also sometimes get snacks in the break room at Kenwood.  I like that a lot!"

Have a great weekend!  Enjoy the fall weather!!!

Hard Working!

It happened this week!  All of our young adults started their community jobs.  Each afternoon, they spend several hours out in the community learning and improving their work skills.  We are all very excited to be working and very excited about all we are learning at our new jobs.

We also took advantage of the beautiful weather this week.  We took the city bus to Jone Park for bus training and spent some time enjoying the park.  We also went Mini Golfing this afternoon.  That was a favorite!

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

" This week at PrairieWood I learned a new job at hibu.  It was counting envelopes.  I enjoyed working at Hibu.  I was challenged by finding pizza sauce at HyVee."

Please enjoy the pictures of us enjoying this beautiful fall weather...and have a great weekend!

Learning our Routines and Rituals

We have a lot of routines and rituals in place at the PrairieWood Transition Center.  We establish these routines to provide opportunities for our students to be more independent.  If they know what comes next, or what to expect, they can prepare for it on their own.  Over the past few weeks we have been focusing our energy and attention on learning these routines.  Some are coming quicker than others, but we are seeing a lot of progress, and growing independence, even in this short amount of time.  One routine that got up and running for a few of our students this week is Work Experience in the community.  One crew of students began their work with the support of a job coach, volunteering at a local hospital.  We look forward to the rest of our students following suit, and beginning to establish their own Work routines.

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

"This week at PrairieWood I learned about getting blankets and sheets from the cart.  I enjoyed working at Mercy Hospital.  I was challenged by doing my job at work instead of watching people at Mercy.  I would like to learn about my job and other jobs at Mercy Hospital.  We went to Lake Macbride for a picnic and hiking today."

Kaitlyn mentioned our afternoon trip to Lake Macbride.  What a relaxing and beautiful afternoon in nature.  Please enjoy our pictures.

Enjoying the sunshine at Lake Macbride.

Taking advantage of the beautiful, shaded trails.

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!