The Stissing Mountain High School auditorium rang with cheers and applause as four students were honored by the Dutchess County Legislature, a first in the school’s history. On Wednesday, January 15th, each student received a certificate from District 19 Legislator Chris Drago that recognized their “strength, character, and hard work while serving the Pine Plains community.”
The honorees were Frank Graczkowski, a 17-year-old from Ancram; Ranjodh Grewal, 16, from Spackenkill; and 21-year-old Wesley Tietjen from Rhinebeck. Pine Plains resident Ryan Ambrose, 16, was unable to attend due to illness. Their teacher, Catherine Sellick, her assistant Megan Lacourse and program aide Gary Taylor also received certificates of recognition from the county.
The students are a part of the 6:1:1 special class for high school students that, according to the Pine Plains Central School District, serves students with severe developmental or multiple disabilities by offering an intensive support model with six students, one special education teacher and one paraprofessional per class. The program provides a curriculum tailored to functional academics, life skills and pre-vocational training, preparing students for greater independence.
Students are evaluated using the New York State Alternate Assessment and work toward the Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential instead of a Regents or local diploma. A key feature of the program is its work-study component, in which local businesses give students hands-on experience and practical skills as they transition to adulthood.
Lisa Zayas, co-founder of the Pine Plains food pantry Willow Roots, created the award with Drago’s help. “I wanted the students and Cathy’s work-study program to be recognized,” she said. “These boys are so sweet, persistent and always willing to help.”
For two hours every week, they stock shelves, vacuum and welcome customers at Pine Plains Pharmacy, Tower Pizza and Willow Roots; they also organize and pull children’s books at the Stanford Free Library.
“When I started teaching here in 2005, the students were being bussed to BOCES [Board of Cooperative Educational Services] in Poughkeepsie for their work experience,” Sellick said. “That was way too much, way too far. I began this program — one of the first of its kind in Dutchess County — so the kids could work in their community. Pine Plains is so much more convenient, and so welcoming.” She noted that in addition to learning job skills “their socialization skills are improving, too.”
Sellick told the Herald that students outside the Pine Plains Central School District, such as Grewal and Tietjen, are attracted to the work program in part because Pine Plains has a friendly, inclusive reputation. “Our aim is for the kids to be employable,” she said “Ryan worked in the high school last summer as a custodian helper.”
The students find out where their skill set lies. “Frank is very methodical, so he’s good at bagging cat food,” Sellick said. “Ranjodh is so tall that he discovered he’s best at restocking shelves — especially the ones no one else can reach.”
This is Graczkowski’s second year in the work program. “I’m proud of myself; I feel good about it,” he said. “I put away food and water the plants. It’s fun!”
“Home is a bubble and school is a bubble,” his mother, Beata, said . “The program increases Frank’s exposure to the people in our community, and helps him interact with them.”.
Tietjen worked at Willow Roots for two years and now restocks books in the Stanford Library. “He does a variety of jobs at Red Hook Community Center, too — also part of the work program,” Taylor said. Tietjen smiled broadly. “I love it,” he said.