If you had stopped into the woodworking lab at Westview in the Department for Exceptional Children just before winter break, you might have witnessed the creation of some beautiful handmade wooden Valentine’s hearts. Students in the school’s 6:1:2 class crafted the hearts for loved ones while learning how to use power tools safely. A variety of different sized vises, along with precision power saws and sanders were operated with care and expertise. The students collaborated with friends and staff members on their projects, painted their custom hearts and then made sure the space was cleaned up when they finished.

Perhaps not as creative, but much more delicious, was the other made-by-hand life skills project the students worked on recently. They took time during lunch to enjoy shaping, seasoning and cooking their own hamburgers on electric grills. And then eating their culinary creations, of course. Yum!