Maple Grove Senior High School, Educational Service Center celebrate CBVAT graduates

The Community-Based Vocational Assessment and Training (CBVAT) program provides work-based learning opportunities for students with disabilities to acquire entry-level skills to competently transition from school to community. Students develop communication skills through work exploration experiences, so they may engage in a lifetime of learning. At the end of the school year, students who have been helping out at locations across the district were celebrated ahead of their graduation. 

On May 27 and 28, staff members at the Educational Service Center (ESC) celebrated Ashlynn, Brayden, Cameron and Ethan, who have worked at the 279’er Diner throughout the school year, providing breakfast, snacks and coffee for ESC staff. The graduates opened cards and gifts, talked about their favorite part of working at the 279’er Diner, shared future plans and enjoyed a variety of delicious desserts. 

On May 29, nutrition services staff at Maple Grove Senior High School (MGSH) celebrated the CBVAT students who have helped out in the kitchen the last four years: Bryan, Brayden, Colby and Abhi. All four students started in the kitchen as volunteers during their vocational skills class. In their junior year, the role turned into a paid position through CBVAT to help out with staffing shortages, and they have been working in the kitchen alongside the nutrition services team the last two years. At the celebration, Kelly Shober, food services manager at Maple Grove Senior High School, shared how helpful the workers have been, and how much she enjoyed getting to know them and working alongside them each day. The entire nutrition services team at MGSH gave the students gifts and cards and celebrated them with cupcakes.