LAKELAND, FLA. — This fall, students at the Pathways School of Excellence at Southeastern University (SEU) will have a new space to learn essential life skills. A grand opening ceremony and celebration will be held for the Life Skills House on Thursday, August 29, on the university’s main campus.
The event is open to the public and will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Bush Chapel.
The Pathways School of Excellence is a middle school and high school program for students with special needs. The program offers an individualized curriculum consisting of independent living skills, spiritual development and academic growth.
The Life Skills House is a designated space on SEU’s campus for Pathways students to develop and practice independent living skills in an environment similar to the real world. In addition to preparing students for an independent future, it will also help them grow their employability.
After a brief program in Bush Chapel, attendees will be invited to walk over to the Life Skills House for the grand reveal at 6 p.m. Following the reveal, there will be tours of the house and a block party from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with carnival-style games, food and drinks, face painting and more.
The construction and renovation needed to prepare the house for its new purpose was funded through state appropriations from the Florida Legislature.
“I am honored to support the Life Skills House initiative, as I can see the significant value it is going to add to the community and the educational need it will fulfill,” said Florida Senator Colleen Burton. “This program will help prepare and equip the young adults of Pathways to become contributing and successful members of our communities.”
Dr. Patricia Shaw, the principal of the Pathways School of Excellence, commented, “Our students needed a space outside of the classroom with the proper equipment where they could practice skills related to cooking, cleaning, laundry and much more.”
Each room of the house will be structured for the teaching of specific skills. In the kitchen, students will learn food safety, grocery planning and how to cook. A bedroom will be staged with a Murphy bed where students will learn how to properly make the bed.
A laundry room will be available with industrial washers and dryers for students to practice washing and drying their clothes, as well as folding or hanging them up when done. There will also be a workout space equipped with weights and dumbbells for students to participate in various exercises.
The Life Skills House will also include a meeting space for tutoring, and an area for recreation where students can earn breaks and watch TV or play video games.
On the house’s patio, a raised garden will be set up for students to learn horticultural skills.
In addition, students will learn general safety skills and practice entrepreneurship by operating their own smoothie business that will serve the SEU campus community.
Every Pathways student will have the opportunity to utilize the house with the accompanied guidance of a teacher or mentor. The house will also provide experiential learning opportunities for SEU students studying social work or education by working directly with Pathways students.
“The best way for our students to master these types of skills is through repetition. With increased opportunity for practice at school, in addition to their own home, they will be able to achieve mastery much quicker,” emphasized Shaw. “The impact it will have on our students and their families will be huge.”
provided by SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
