WWSC COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
WWSC BUILDING BASED COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Students are provided with real world work and transition experience options. The program options include:
BASIC CAR CARE & LANDSCAPING
The work component will entail basic car care and landscaping and an introduction to small business operations. Students will
be working outdoors throughout the school year; proper clothing (including coats, shoes/boots) for all types of weather is
required (i.e.: shoveling snow during the winter). Clothing worn during landscaping related tasks will likely become dirty and/or
stained as students will need to sit or kneel in the dirt/mud to perform certain tasks. Students will also be using a variety of gas
powered tools and hand held tools. Examples include lawn mowers, leaf blower, weed whip, pruning shears, hedge clippers,
weed knives, shovels, and leaf rakes. Students will practice these skills in the community at Stevenson High School as well as
at residential homes. Students must therefore be able to work independently without the presence of a supervisor for fifteen
(15) minutes, must be dressed appropriately, and be able to interact appropriately with peers, staff, and customers. A
professional code of conduct is heavily stressed on a daily basis for both work components. Basic car care will include learning
to detail the interior of a vehicle, locate and check all vehicle fluids, locate the recommended PSI and check tire pressure, check
tread depth, and use an air compressor to fill tires as needed. We do not do any car repairs or other mechanically related work.
In addition, volunteerism and community awareness will be emphasized. Functional academics specific to the class content
area will also be addressed.
CLERICAL SUPPORT
Clerical Support is designed to introduce basic clerical skills to students. These skills include: typing, filing/alphabetizing,
organizing, shredding, shred prep, matching letters/numbers, utilizing the copy machine, phone skills, mailing procedures,
reading order forms, and other office related skills. We run our class much like a business. We provide work order forms for
staff and as we receive orders we complete them promptly and efficiently. To provide community based instruction, students
have the opportunity to go to the LPS board office and shred paper. Clerical Support also runs a micro-business selling
decorative pens, magnets, greeting cards, personalized address labels and other miscellaneous crafts. This introduces
customer service skills, money skills and appropriate social skills in a natural environment. Independence and initiative are
important as students will need to demonstrate problem solving and decision making skills when choosing jobs. Students will be
expected to work unsupervised for 15 minutes. The clerical skills are taught in small groups and individually to meet all student
needs and interests.
GREENHOUSE & CRAFTS
This life skills class focuses on basic skills required to assist with Greenhouse tasks, floral arranging, and related crafts.
Students learn fundamental skills used within a working greenhouse such as: spritzing and watering plants, dead heading,
weeding, cuttings, transplanting, and plant arrangements including patio pots and hanging arrangements. Students will have
exposure to fertilizing as well as biological insect control (the use of good bugs to control bad bugs within the greenhouse). The
greenhouse is warm (75-80 degrees) and is humid year round. Students actively participate in the micro-business of selling
student-created floral arrangements in the school store. Students are involved in all aspects of the two craft shows held each
year. In the winter, students prepare and decorate wreaths and swags for sale in addition to creating a variety of festive crafts
and ornaments. In the spring, the focus is on transplanting and taking cuttings of plants, biological insect control, arranging
plants by color, and learning the light and water needs of each plant. For the spring craft show, the class concentrates on
arranging patio pots as well as hanging planters, and selling the plants grown throughout the year.
LITERACY FOR CITIZENSHIP
Literacy for Citizenship is a class that encourages students to use critical thinking skills to examine the influences of media,
culture, and society in their lives. Students will learn that media, culture, and society have a significant impact on their behavior
and will learn about responsible choices related to these influences. Some of the units that are taught are “Getting to Know the
Newspaper,” Elections, Cultures (school, home, community, country), Careers, Significant Holidays, Fact/Opinion, Service
Learning Projects, World Cultures, and Functional Literacy. Community Based Instruction will include use of the library and
volunteering.
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WWSC COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
MEDIA TECHNOLOGY
This is an in-school program that will focus on information and communication technology. Students will be engaged in a variety
of learning activities that emphasize the use of the Internet, Internet safety, personal computers, software programs, digital
photography and video production. Classroom activities also include creating an all school newspaper several times through out
the semester. Opportunities for entrepreneurial exploration will be provided.
MICRO-BUSINESS AND MARKETING
The focus of this class is to introduce students to the concept of developing a micro-business as a way of earning an income
that is based upon their interests, talents and skills. Students will also participate in the operation of two Skill Center stores,
The Snack Shack and Sharkey’s Gifts. Skills emphasized for school store and micro-business operation include customer
service, profit concept, handling money, banking, record keeping, group decision making, advertising, arts and crafts, stocking,
packaging, item delivery, decorating, cleaning, food storage, safety and business plan creation/utilization. Work, social and life
skills are also emphasized in both the classroom and school store settings. The afternoon Micro-Business and Marketing Class
will sharpen their community skills by participating in weekly class Costco shopping trips to purchase items for The Snack
Shack’s inventory.
WOOD SHOP
The wood shop class focuses on tool and machine skills, along with an emphasis on work safety. Projects produced in the
class will require students to use woodworking, sanding, painting, and production skills. Students begin this class by learning
about and using small hand tools and work their way up to larger tools and machinery. Each student is required to pass both
an oral and hands-on safety test before being permitted to use the machines. Even after passing the safety test, students will
always be closely supervised when using machinery. Throughout the course of the semester, students will make several
projects to take home. An important component of this class is producing products for the annual craft shows. Students are
also given the opportunity to work at the craft shows and practice basic business skills.
COMMUNITY BASED COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Because of the nature of community-based classrooms, specific entry level skills are required to participate. Students will need
to practice good grooming and appropriate behavior and dress appropriately for the community setting.
Students will remain in the building one day a week to engage in other instruction which will prepare them for Adult Life Roles.
MADONNA UNIVERSITY PROGRAM
The Madonna University Program is located at Madonna University and is designed to provide students appropriate life role
experiences within a college campus. Course content includes instruction in functional academics and work-based learning
experiences. Work-based learning experiences include light housekeeping, mail room tasks, various tasks in food services, and
stock work in the campus lounge. Students utilize campus areas such as the library and computer lab for academic activities.
Students must be able to work independently at their work training sites for at least 15 minutes.
PRODUCTION FOODS AT STEVENSON HIGH SCHOOL
Production Foods is a community based classroom located at Stevenson High School. This class assists Livonia Public
Schools with their baking needs. Students learn basic recipe preparation and baking, packaging, as well as, sanitizing and
hygiene routines for working with food. All Serv Safe guidelines are used (regulations and guidelines set up by the State of
Michigan) in the classroom. Students also learn safe food handling techniques and how to work as a team in a fast paced
environment. The students work directly with the Livonia Public Schools food service staff and custodians on a regular basis.
Students should be able to work without supervision for 10-15 minutes. Safety issues include knife handling, use of commercial
dishwasher, garbage disposal, commercial mixers, convection ovens, electric stove top and oven. Interest in food preparation,
baking or working in a commercial kitchen is recommended.
RETAIL SERVICES AT MEIJER
Students will experience a realistic training opportunity at Meijer, Inc. They will develop skills to provide assistance in a retail
environment. They will increase their independence and build introductory jobs skills. The Meijer experience includes grocery
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WWSC COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
and general merchandising. Students will assist with organizing and maintaining various departments within the store. Students
should be able to interact appropriately with Meijer staff and customers. They will be expected to demonstrate independence
and work without direct supervision for 15 minutes. Employability skills, social skills and customer service are emphasized.
Students are expected to comply with the Meijer dress code. They need to wear black or tan pants or shorts and comfortable
shoes. They will be provided with 2 red polo shirts. Students will participate in the Meijer experience Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday, and Friday. On Wednesday, the class will remain in the building.
SALES SUPPORT AT JC PENNEY
This training experience provides students with opportunities to develop skills necessary for working on a loading dock, working
with heavy machinery, preparing merchandise for display, and organizing sales racks. Students interact with JC Penney
associates and customers in an environment that changes frequently. Students should be able to work without direct
supervision for fifteen minutes and consistently work in a safe manner.
SUPPORTED TRANSITION PROGRAM (STP)
The Supported Transition Program (STP) is a class placement intended for full-time students in their final year of programming.
STP consists of two basic components; work experience and individualized classroom instruction. The work experience
component consists of small groups of students who are placed in community businesses to learn and practice employability
skills. Worksites are chosen by S.T.P. staff members based on student goals, strengths and areas of need. Students earn
placement in S.T.P. worksites. Individualized instruction is based upon the needs of students in all of the Life Role areas, with
added emphasis on transitioning students from school to life after graduation. Instruction takes place in the classroom or
community setting, where selected skills will be used most often. STP students are expected to look, dress, and conduct
themselves as adults. Students are required to dress in clean, neat clothes. Clothing must conform to student dress code;
however, students may not wear blue jeans, shirts with logos, or t-shirts
WWSC COURSES THAT REQUIRE A STAFF REFERRAL AND APPROVAL FOR ENROLLMENT
CHILD DEVELOPMENT AT JACKSON CENTER AND PERRINVILLE
NOTE: Student must be referred by a teacher and participate in a try-out before placement is approved.
This work exploration class, located at Jackson Early Childhood Center, focuses on skills needed to assist with classroom
responsibilities when caring for young children aged infants to five years old. Students are placed individually or in groups of
two in a particular classroom and take direction from the Jackson staff. Students should be able to work without direct
supervision from Skill Center staff for at least 15 – 30 minutes. Depending on what age group the student is assigned; there
may be nose wiping, diaper changing, and lots of hand washing. All classrooms involve some custodial work such as
sanitizing tables and sweeping floors. PM students need to be able to lift the cots in order to get them ready for the children’s
naps. The PM students also sit on the floor next to children helping them to fall asleep (without falling asleep themselves!)
Students should be able to get down on the floor with children. Students should be able to recognize the difference between
supervising children at play vs. playing with children. Students may need to react quickly to emergency situations such as a
child choking, throwing up, or getting hurt on the playground. Students will learn about the developmental stages of childhood
and positive techniques for managing children’s behavior. A student try-out is required for enrollment in this class. Once
accepted in this licensed child-care setting, students must have a TB test and get FIA (Family Independence Agency)
clearance. There can be no dangly jewelry, facial piercings, or visible tattoos. Students are provided with polo shirts to wear
over their own clothing to indicate that they are interns.
INDIVIDUALIZED WORK-BASED TRAINING (WBT)
NOTE: Student must be referred by a teacher and possess pre-requisite skills.
Students who have demonstrated appropriate employability and self management skills may be placed as a volunteer in a
community business for individualized work experience. This is an unpaid training experience through which interests and skills
in additional work areas may be explored. WBT is a valuable opportunity for furthering an individual’s mobility skills, knowledge
of community resources, safety awareness, work habits and personal adjustment skills. WBT will be available through a referral
process for AM and PM students.
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