Hoosac Valley Students Show Appreciation With Feast
 A total of about 70 people attended the Exceptional Thanksgiving Feast, including staff members and school administrators |
CHESHIRE, Mass. — A group of high school students are particularly thankful for school staff and their classmates and weren’t waiting until this week to share their appreciation.
Students at Hoosac Valley Middle and High School organized and prepared a special Thanksgiving feast on Friday, the fifth annual event created as part of the school’s Exceptional Program.
"It's kind of a thank you back to the community, as well as staff members, to say, 'thank you for being part of my life.' It's the way they give back to everyone else for helping them along the way," Betty Jo Poulton said. She is a staff member with the Exceptional Program that currently enrolls 17 students.
Part of the special education program at Hoosac Valley, students who are socially and emotionally challenged enroll in the Exceptional Program as a way to become better integrated with their peers and to facilitate academic growth, according to teacher Dino Sookey. The program is a type of alternative to education outside of the district, such as Hillcrest Educational Centers. Students start with a portion of their courses taught in the Exceptional classroom and work their way into standard classes as they progress behaviorally.
Each autumn, the students plan a festive event to show their appreciation for the teachers, classmates, parents and others in their lives who help to harvest their positive habits. The event began as a way to simulate a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for students who are from non-traditional households. In six years since its inception, the event has grown to include staff members throughout the school, School Committee members and former members of the program.
Sierra McLear was part of the program's inaugural class, which graduated all six of its members this past spring. Now a liberal arts student at Berkshire Community College, she returned to show her support for the program.
"It's something for the kids to look forward to. A lot of kids may not have families to be there on Thanksgiving or be big enough families, so it's something they can come here and be around friends and call them family," said McLear, who hopes to become a criminal justice major in fall 2014.
Students like senior Jesse Kickery went from a full day of learning in the Exceptional classroom to three periods a day. Though he said he felt more like going home during some school days, a function of the classroom called the Reflection Room helps to quell those emotions.
"If we need to be alone, take a moment to breath, we have those. For the most part, it’s actually helpful," Kickery said.
 Price Chopper donated turkeys and students made side dishes or desserts at home or at the school. |
Price Chopper in Pittsfield donated four turkeys to the event. In addition to donations, students bring in desserts and side dishes from home and prepare some food in-house, like baking pies and skinning 40 pounds of potatoes and baking pies. The school's Life Skills Program also runs a school store that sells popcorn and other goods weekly to help fund events like the Thanksgiving Feast, a joint trip the two programs took to the Big E and a trip later this season to the Clark Art Institute.
Other preparations include streamers lining the hallways and classroom walls, decorative placemats and creating an invitation list with names of all the people they want to thank, including teachers, school administrators, nurses, janitors and cafeteria employees. In all, about 70 people participated in the event throughout the afternoon.
"I recommend this program for kids who are struggling so they can get through this high school. They may not want to go to college, but at least high school. I wouldn't be where I am now without this program," McLear said.
Tags: HVHS, school event, school program, special education,
