By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
Certified and classified Canal Winchester school employees paying for the privilege to wear jeans to school resulted in a $5,640 donation to Canal Winchester Human Services.
“We are proud to work with Canal Winchester Human Services on various aspects,” said Superintendent James Sotlar. “They are such an integral part of our school district.”
The district and Human Services recently conducted their annual Football for Food campaign in Mike Locke stadium on Sept. 18. In 2014, 1,310 people received at total of 89,000 meals through the Choice pantry and 250 students received more than 20,000 meals through the Feeding Our Future initiative.
“This money comes from jeans money from the staff and provides money for emergency service,” said Human Services Executive Director Penny Miller.
The fund offers assistance to individuals and families experiencing financial hardships.
Getting real world work experience
Canal Winchester High School Transition Coordinator Tim Kovacs and business instructor Crystal Dortch provided comments on a partnership between their two programs and those conducted with special needs students in the community.
Four years ago, Kovacs started a program that paired his students with businesses and municipal operations in order to gain real-world work experience. Students obtain training at Wagnalls Memorial, the Groveport Recreation Center, at stores in River Valley Mall and two work at the Wigwam Restaurant in Canal Winchester.
At Wagnalls, student workers help at the circulation desk, with holiday decorations, in a book program and assisting with banquet preparation. At the recreation center they work the front desk and help throughout the exercise complex.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for our kids,” said Kovacs.
In creating the in-house staff Café on the Canal coffee delivery program, Dortch said her students conducted a study of customer needs and wants, created marketing designs and job applications for the program operated in conjunction with Kovacs’ students, who serve as front line customer service representatives.
“Three out of my four classes are working on this,” said Dortch.
Her students are also in charge of operating the weekly service and interviewing student job applicants.
