League School Students as young as 12 begin to experience vocational opportunities.
The Vocational Department at League School encompasses a wide range of activities, ages, ability levels, and skills. Starting as young as 12, students begin working within League School in paid vocational opportunities at The Hawk’s Nest (our school store), the culinary kitchen, the vocational center, and in other areas around the building.
The Hawk’s Nest allows students to acquire and practice the skills that comes with working in a retail environment. Students who work at the Hawk’s Nest are responsible for stocking the refrigerators, freezer, and snack case, wiping down the tables and chairs, taking inventory, and keeping track of what needs to be ordered. They also are responsible for sorting inventory when it arrives, working the cash register, folding League School apparel, interacting with customers, and going out to purchase items needed for the store.
The Vocational Center is set up to teach clerical/business skills to our students. Students work with their teachers under the guidance of our vocational manager doing a variety of activities such as: shredding, collating, book-binding, data entry, laminating, die-cutting, and other clerical tasks.
The Culinary Kitchen is where our students learn required health and safety skills while also practicing their cooking skills. They learn to measure, chop, bake, cook, decorate, and deliver items ordered.
Beginning at age 16, students are able to begin “interning” in community vocational settings. Under the guidance of our job coaches, we currently have 34 students who work in a variety of community settings, including: hotels, supermarkets, car washes, office buildings, health clubs, libraries, community non-profits (e.g., Meals on Wheels), restaurants, and animal rescue/training sites. In these settings, students are able to put into practice the skills they have learned within League School. They also learn to work under the guidance of those less familiar to them as our community partners often take on the role of “supervisor” to these students. They navigate typical challenges in the workplace and get invaluable training, to hopefully gain employment in the future.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
- ATTLEBORO ARTS MUSEUM
- BATEMAN SENIOR MEALS
- BAY STATE ANIMAL COOPERATIVE
- BIG Y SUPERMARKET
- CENTRAL CHRYSLER
- CHILI’S
- DETAIL
- FAIRFIELD INN
- FOXBORO FOOD PANTRY
- GOLDEN RIDGE
- HESSCO ELDER SERVICES
- HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA COMMUNITY GARDEN
- K AND C MUSIC REPAIR COMPANY
- MANSFIELD SHREDDING
- MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY AT MOOSE HILL
- MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY COMMUNITY GARDEN
- MEALS ON WHEELS
- ROJO’S CAR WASH
- SIEMENS HEALTHCARE DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
- STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
- VANDERBILT CLUB
- WALPOLE LIBRARY
- WALPOLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
- WINSLOW FARM
