Christian Finn's Blog Post

Hi Im Christian Finn. I go to Stillwater Transition program and this is a typical day for me at Transition. A bus picks me up in the morning and takes to Oak Park building where the program takes place. I go to PAES where I pick a job card from a job box according to the job cluster its in some jobs are in construction, processing and production, consumer service and business and marketing. Then I go to TJ Maxx for a job training experience where I sort products in to the correct bin or tote. Then I go to lunch and chat with friends after lunch.  I go to SkillsUSA room where we plan fundraiser ideas and events and demonstrator job at competitions. After SkillsUSA we usually work on our individual portfolio’s or go on a community outing like the library. The Transition program has been fun and I have been learning a lot of new stuff about life and independence. It also helps me with transportation to work by signing up for Transit Link. I am also working at Kowalski's Market in Stillwater after school as a courtesy person in which I bag groceries and help customers to their cars.

A day with Justine Link

Hi! My name is Justine and I attend the 916 Cosmetology program and Stillwater Transition program. Everyday at Cosmetology when we get in the class we clock it on the computer, grab our name tags and find our station and proceed on the activity were doing. Every four weeks we changed teachers, since we have two teachers teaching the program, and they both teach different activities. Mrs Bengtson is who I have now and she's teaching hair coloring. Lately, we've been learning how to do foils and balayage practice with conditioner and then after Mrs Bengtson picks a day and we’ll use actual hair lightener. After the four weeks are up, we switch and go to Mrs. Katie's class where she's teaching skin and nail care. We will be learning how to do waxing, as well as learning new makeup skills and how to do gel nails, pedicures and manicures. Every Friday is “Friday fun day” where both of the classes come together and practice what we learned on each other. We can shampoo each other, curl hair, paint nails, and whatever else we have learned. I am a second year student so I am relearning some things, which is always nice.
Then after Cosmetology we go to the Transitions program where we do PAES, which is vocational job skills you work on with job activities. My job experience is to go to Special Products where we are working on sewing tote bags out of recycled materials. People are buying these recycled bags and using them to carry groceries and other items home from the stores. It is a great project and we feel we are helping people cut down on plastic bags that pollute the environment.

Transition 18-21 Program New Building at Oak Park

Congratulations Lizzi O'Malley

Lizzi O'Malley has earned her HAZMAT training certification as part of her 916 Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice class.  Lizzi has been in the Transitions program for the past two years and works part time after school at Leeann Chin's in Stillwater.  She also is an active member in the SKILLS USA organization. The entire staff is proud of Lizzi's hard work at school and in the community.  
Congratulations Lizzi!

The Americans with Disabilities Act Students Rights & Responsibilities

Cindy Heid Tarshish from Minnesota Center for Independent Living was our guest speaker today at Transitions.  She spoke to students and answered questions about the American Disabilities Act. Information included rights and responsibilities in the workplace, employment disclosure of disabilities, employee accommodations in the workplace.

If student's or parents have more questions you can contact Cindy Heid Tarshish at 651-603-2015