For the last two weeks, students in Questar III’s Achieving Individual Milestones (AIM) program at Columbia High School in East Greenbush are venturing out and gaining real-world job experience in their community.
Twice a week, students with good behavior and attendance have the opportunity to go to Price Chopper and the East Greenbush Community Library to volunteer. Here they learn how to conduct themselves in a professional manner, communicate and work in teams.
“This gives graduating students an idea of what they can do in the real world,” said teacher Cindy Burola. “For some of the younger students, they learn daily skills and real-world exposure to the skills they’ve learned in the classroom.”
At Price Chopper, students help with recycling, bagging and can even work on their math skills by comparing prices. At the library, students straighten books and help make bookmarks and scrap paper squares.
According to Mary Ann Wheldon, volunteer coordinator at the East Greenbush Community library, the students have been very helpful so far.
“It’s not just busy work they’re doing, we would have to do this if they weren’t here,” said Wheldon. “They’ve been very interested and very good about asking questions.”
Burola credits the East Greenbush CSD with providing the transportation, as this work wouldn’t be possible without the busses they provide. She also said she hopes to expand the program next year to include work with animals or children.
“Their maturity level has really improved because they’re being supervised, not managed,” said Burola. “The kids are really excited to be out and contributing to society.”
To learn more about Questar III’s AIM program, visit https://old.questar.org/education/special-ed/index.php.
