Social Skills In The Community

"Top o' the morning" students in the Transition Program gave out Irish wishes to customers on St. Patricks Day at Kowalski's Market in Stillwater.

Students have been working on monthly community service projects to practice social skills and greetings. Over 150 shamrock greetings were given out within an hour.  Students were acknowledged by the public with smiles, words of thanks and gratitude for the acts of kindness. 

~By Carolyn Sorenson  Teacher/Work Coordinator

Kelly Lang retiring from Kowalski's Market

My Day In Transition By Jon McCloud

I am in Transitions West Campus Program daily and I also work at Pizza Ranch as well as, go to 916 Computer Hardware and Game Design. At 916 we are working on making games. Right now we are making a game about a robot monkey that has a coconut gun that shoots coconuts at knights. The goal is to get to the finish line and collect bananas for points.  It is fun to create and I am learning a lot in the class about gaming programming.

At Pizza Ranch my job is to make and cut pizzas. We also have to prep the make table by getting stuff from the freezer or walk in cooler, and also slice and dice stuff too. At the end of the night when we close we have to oil and pan skillet pans, fill and flip the make table and the taco cooler, put away the make table, wipe down the tables and taco cooler, bring all pans to dish. Bring cutting board and knives to dish, turn off ovens, sweep behind and front of tables, mop deck scrub and dry mop the area.  This is my first job and I love this job. I like the people I work with and everything I do at Pizza Ranch.

I am also in SkillsUSA this spring at the state conference I will be competing EAP Employment Application Process and Action Skills.  In the Skills presentation I will be demonstrating how to install a RAM onto a computer.  I hope to qualify to go to Nationals in at least one of my SkillsUSA competitions. I plan on continuing with Transition next year as well since I am really learning and experiencing a lot of new things. By Jon McCloud

Nikolay Getchell

Minnesota State Officer

I am currently going to school at the Stillwater Transition Program & Northeast Metro 916 as well as working at Discount Tire.  I am a Student Ambassador at my 916 Auto Dismantling course. I help other students since it is my second year in the program.

I have been in the Stillwater Transition Program for two years, and it has been amazing. I made some friends for life, and met some amazing staff. I recently left my long term job at Cub Foods as a Bakery Assistant to better utilize my training in Auto Dismantling, by taking a new job at Discount Tire.  I like my new job a lot helping people with their cars and trucks.  I mainly work as a tire attendant taking off tires, replacing them, checking them for leaks and mounting tires.

I have been in SkillsUSA for the past two years and I have had some great experiences through this organization.  Last year I was the Minnesota State Officer and Chapter officer of our organization.  I have learned a lot from the different competitions I have competed in.

I was part of the Stillwater team that won a state championship event in SkillsUSA last spring and we competed at the national level in Louisville, Kentucky.  

I have also volunteered in the community through the Transition program and SkillsUSA Stillwater chapter.  Events I have helped with include:  Adopt a Highway, Rake A Difference and working at Meals for the Heartland and Feed My Starving Children.

Transit Link: Ticket to Independence

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Chinese Proverb.

Charlie Bristow &
Tyson Kerr 

Tyson Kerr, first year student in the Transition Program has a goal of identifying transportation options within his community. Tyson learned how to access Transit Link last month and he made a practice run to Hy-Vee in Oakdale assisted with staff. Tyson works part-time at Candyland in downtown Stillwater. Tyson was scheduled to work at Candyland on Monday, 2/20 which was President's day and a non school day. Therefore, Tyson independently called Transit Link last week to set up a ride to and from work. Tyson's initiative and follow through to complete this task not only demonstrated responsible decision making but also his commitment to his job. WAY TO GO TYSON! ~The Stillwater Transitions Staff

Transit Link (formerly Dial-A-Ride) is a curb-to-curb minibus or van service for the general public that operates on weekdays throughout the seven-county metropolitan area. It is a shared-ride service, which must be reserved in advance. You may reserve a ride up to five days in advance, or call at least two hours in advance for same-day trips. Rides are subject to availability, and fares are based on the distance traveled. The base fare is $2.25, one way, for a trip up to 10 miles.

If you want to know more about Transit Link please click on the link below:

https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Services/Transit-Link/Washington-County-Transit-Link-Service.aspx

Century College Open House Night Feb. 21st

Century College will be holding its annual Open House in the West Campus Gymnasium from 5 - 7:30 pm on Tuesday Feb. 21st.

During this special event, Century College will be waiving the $20 college application fee (for first-time applicants), and will be giving away (2) $500 tuition giveaways, as well as a variety of other prizes. 

At the open house you will be able to:

• meet with faculty from Century College programs
• get information on admission, cost and financial aid, and scholarships
• learn about campus life activities and options
• tour state-of-the-art facilities 
• and much more. 

Whether you are a new or returning student, you won't want to miss this opportunity to see our campus and all that we have to offer.

NOTE: Registration is encouraged, but not required to attend the event. To learn more click on the following link:   https://www.century.edu/events/2017-2-21%E2%80%93century-college-open-house

Rachel Tangen Transition West Campus Program

Hi! I am Rachel! I currently am a student at the NE Metro 916 Animal Science program, I get to take care and play with animals for a class period. It’s so much fun! There is a hamster in the classroom that I just ADORE!!

I am also part of the Stillwater Transition program. It is an 18-21 program where they help people with disabilities be able to find work, help them make a resume and prepare for the life that is ahead of them. I am in my third year and am fairly sad about it, I have an amazing case manager Gina Runck.  I will be really sad to leave since I won’t see her anymore.

I am also part of the Transitions SkillsUSA Stillwater chapter. SkillsUSA is a student run organization where we prepare people for the world of work. I am a 2 time state champion and have gone to Nationals twice because of it.  Nationals was so much fun in Nashville, Tennessee last year.

I currently am working at the Stillwater McDonalds that is off of highway 36 next to Taco Bell. I love my job and night shift coworkers there. I actually got Employee of the Month last year in September for the first time, I couldn’t believe it!

Lastly, in my spare time, I LOVE to indulge in my huge hobby of anime and cosplay. I would consider myself an otaku yes. My current favorite anime is Yuri!!! On Ice, I love it so much! It really got me wanting to try ice skating, I never realized how fun it was. I also am a costume maker. I have made quite a few costumes for competition. When I go to conventions, I spend a few months making a costume that is on my skill, or I challenge myself, and enter a cosplay contest and either walk on the stage and show off my costume or perform a dance or skit with friends or just myself.   By Rachel Tangen

Learning to use the light rail blue line

Northeast Metro 916 FREE Accuplacer Testing dates

Spring Accuplacer begins Tuesday, February 21 and runs through Friday March 3 at Northeast Metro 916!!!! 

Students are responsible for signing up on their own!!  The sign-up sheets are in the 916 classrooms this week.  These sign-up sheets are due back to the contact person on or before next Wednesday, February 8.  Be sure to remind students to sign up in their classrooms.  Note: This is the last time the FREE Accuplacer Test will be offered to you this spring. If you plan to go to college you MUST test. 

Students to to the website links below and complete practice tests to prepare for the Accuplacer this is YOUR responsibility to be prepared for the test.  YOU MUST STUDY.  There are also numerous YouTube video's to watch to help you prepare as well.
https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/student/practice

https://www.studyguidezone.com/accuplacertest.htm

Accuplacer is a comprehensive exam given to some prospective college students for the purposes of helping colleges and universities properly place them. The Accuplacer is an untimed, multiple choice test which is taken on a computer, and consists of three question sections-reading comprehension, sentence skills, and math.