The OLHMS CASE program is back to business! OLHMS CASE teachers Mrs. Jessica Messina and Mrs. Patty Ponce de Leon alongside CASE paraprofessionals Mr. Patrice Foster, Ms. Nancy Torres, Mrs. Cori Leal, Ms. Kelly Zalusky, and Mr. Mark Flood have been working hard to create a useful, engaging, and applicable curriculum for their students.
Recently, our CASE scholars participated in a cooking lesson during the life skills portion of their curriculum. Students were provided with a piece of celery, peanut butter, and raisins to create the famous snack “Ants on a Log!” Students learned how to use the utensils correctly, the correct quantity of ingredients, and how to clean up after being in the kitchen.
Mrs. Messina shared, “This is the focus on life skills: Daily instruction focused on communication, socialization, daily living skills, leisure skills, motor development, community-based instruction, health management, vocational training/instruction, behavior management, and assistive technology. Life skills is a way to enhance students’ learning in a way that will make them an active member of society. We work on cooking to help the students learn ways to do things independently like make a snack or food for themselves. They learn this to gain more independence.”
“I had so much fun making ‘Ants on a Log’ with my friends!” shared student, Luis H. We can’t wait to see what else they cook up this school year!
