IN Peters Township October/November 2019 | Page 61

who are transitioning to a new school for the next school year.
These students attend ESY at the new school to help build that
familiarity with their new environment.
During the program, students were at Peters Township
High School, Middle School, McMurray and Pleasant Valley
and worked with staff from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Monday through
Thursday.
“We can help them adapt to their new school and become
more familiar with the principals and office staff,“ said High
School teacher and ESY instructor Laura Shehab. “At the High
School, we even have ESY in the same room where they will have
class next year. We’re building that routine early.”
The older students also got in their share of transition
activities and field trips with visits to the Community Room at
the Police station for adaptive exercise with a personal trainer,
South Park Game Preserve, Bethel Park Animal Clinic and even
a few fun stops at McDonalds and Sheetz where the students
practiced ordering and paying for their lunch on their own.
“We see students who have social anxiety become more
comfortable with traveling and doing new things,” adds Shehab,
who explained that these activities support the students’ goals of
independent living and employment.