Community partners help students transition to independent living

LACONIA — Age 22 can be a tough time for some students, as the birthday which ages them out of the public school system. For those who remain engaged with high school education as 22 approaches, preparing to transition out of school and into adult life can be a challenge.

Previously, Laconia School District contracted with a third-party service to prepare for this transition. Two years ago, that plan was changed in favor of offering those services in-house, and on Tuesday night the school board heard an update about the program's success.

Presenting the program were Dawn Adolfsson, the transition program teacher, as well as two of her students, Gage Mitchell who will be graduating soon, and Hayden Jean who has another year to go.

The program includes important life skills, such as preparing foods at home, as well as engaging with various local businesses to explore vocational opportunities.

“I can say that Laconia local businesses have been wonderful,” reported Adolfsson. Several local places of business “let them in [to] gain skills to earn future employment.”

Through the transition program, students helped prepare dog food and clean laundry at New Hampshire Humane Society, peeled and cut potatoes at The Flip Side, and have helped with various duties at Laconia High School

Other businesses which welcomed students include Randy’s Pit Stop, Salvation Army, Best Western, Big Lots, Dollar General, Laconia House of Pizza, Paradise Island Tanning, St. Francis Nursing Home and Art Escape.

The students connected with local resources, including Lakes Region Community Services, the Family Resource Center, Laconia Public Library and the district’s Office of Extended Learning. They also visited the Downtown Gym and Fit Focus to learn how to maintain their health.

They’ve studied some fundamental skills for adulthood, including how to take care of an apartment, how to make a bagel or a breakfast sandwich with eggs and bacon, and how to navigate a trip to the Division of Motor Vehicles.

“I actually got myself a non-driver’s ID,” declared Mitchell, who has a part-time job lined up this summer to help the high school’s custodial staff.

After hearing the students describe their experiences, illustrated with photos from their adventures, board member Laura Dunn said, “It seems like you have great opportunities with local businesses, and it seems like this group enriches those local businesses. I think it’s great.”

Adolfsson responded, “The community has been great. They fit in wherever they go.”