Hands-on, experiential learning helps students deal with everyday tasks
The Habersham Success Academy held its second annual Life Skills Day on Friday, Jan. 24. The event offered a series of unique classes to students aimed at teaching them how to conduct everyday tasks. From car maintenance to managing a budget, experienced instructors lent their expertise to help prepare the students for everyday life after graduation.
In addition to cars and money, classes focused on sewing, medical first aid, mental health awareness, stress management, and cooking.
Each student got to choose two classes to attend, along with their regular school schedule. The groups were small — 3-5 students — so that they could get hands-on experience.
“We talk to the students about mental health so they can see that mental health is just as important as physical health,” says Angie Kerr, a mental health specialist. “Today, we talked to the students about the statistics of mental health in adolescents, and how they can reach out to someone for help.”
Instructors conducted Life Skills classes in multiple settings around the school, which is housed in the same building as the Habersham Ninth Grade Academy in Mt. Airy.
In the culinary classroom, Certified Executive Chef and NGTC Culinary Instructor Chris Bladowksi taught students healthy and fast recipes to prepare. He also taught them about safe food preparation, including how to avoid cross-contamination when cooking with raw chicken.
“I teach people how to prepare beginning meals, as well as more advanced cuisines,” explains Bladowski.
While the cooking and other life skills lessons are valuable, they’re not the only valuable part of the experience.
Bladowski says once the cooking is done, “all of the students sat down, phones put away, and were talking to each other while enjoying a meal. Cooking is great, but having that experience is wonderful as well.”
The Habersham Success Academy will hold two more Life Skills Days this school year in February and March.
By: Rylan Pugh | Now Habersham
