The Partners Program is a very individualized special education program that operates in and outside of LS. The goal of Partners is to help their students build everyday skills, starting with lessons in their classroom. They do all of their academics there, so the teachers try to create a peaceful environment. If you peer in the door of the Partners classroom you’ll notice the low lighting and calming music. “It’s cozy, it’s inviting”, Mrs. Swisher, a teacher in the program, commented. Grace, one of the students, even says it “feels like a home”.
Although “[they] usually have to do work work work,” as a student named Mason puts it, the Partners Program does so much more than academics! The classroom has lots of games, a wii, and space to rest. Grace sometimes spends her free time there drawing and watching Frozen. Another student, Teddy, likes to have disco parties during his downtime in the classroom! Outside of the Partners room, one way that the kids build non-academic skills is by doing jobs around school. The students will sometimes work in the copy center and help with cleaning or with restocking school supplies, which is always a fun part of the day!
The program also makes efforts to get involved with the broader LS community. One of the students’ favorite ways to do that is by participating in wellness classes and the unified sports teams. Partners also hosted a big friendsgiving celebration in their classroom for members of the program and their friends. The kids helped to shop for ingredients, prepare the food, and set the table. When it came time for the meal, Mrs. Swisher says, “It was just like having Thanksgiving dinner with my family.”
The Partners program is made up of only seven students and eight staff members, so it is a very tightly knit community. At lunch and in the classroom, they tell stories and jokes that make the atmosphere of the group very lively. “Just like any other kids in the high school, these kids like to have fun and joke around,” Mrs. Swisher said. Anyone can see how deeply the teachers care about their students. Grace Fenton, a junior who isn’t in the program, spends time with the kids. She recognizes that their “teachers are all incredible, they all love the kids very much.” She remembers that they supported their students on the unified basketball team by coming to their games with signs and cheering them on. “Everyone wants everyone to succeed. It’s a great environment,” Fenton said.
The Partners Program is active in our school community, but they also want to get LS involved in their community. The Partners classroom is right across from the library, in a busy part of the school. Still, most students who pass by overlook it. “Stop by our classroom any time,” Mrs. Swisher said, “even if we are doing academic work.” A lot of the kids love to meet new people, and one on one connection is not only great for building social skills, but it helps the Partners students become more connected to the rest of their peers. “It’s important that students in the class feel like they are a part of the LS community,” Mrs. Swisher said. “Even though our door is closed pretty much all the time, people can always come in just to say hi.”
