Life skills olympics help teach real world, practical crafts

Feeding off the positive energy, flashing cameras, and fast-paced competition, Mia Rooks helped her team bring home a trophy in the third annual Life Skills Olympics.
At the same time, the competition will help the 17-year-old with her transition plan of attending a four-year university to pursue a degree in social work.

“It was an exciting energy. This is my second year going but my first year participating. Last year, I went and cheered the team on,” Rooks said. “This year, it was exciting. It’s very loud, but it’s a great energy and it’s nice being there with them.”

The junior at High Road School of Sussex County was one of a few dozen students competing in the event involving six High Road Schools across Maryland and Delaware.
Southern Delaware’s team, composed of students from the High Road School of Sussex County in Georgetown and the High Road School of Southern Delaware in Felton, emerged as this year’s winner.

“Our transition team all comes together, and we brainstorm ideas for life skills training,” said Dan Jones, transition coordinator at both the Georgetown and Felton schools. “We use some old competitions but try to spice it up because students get used to certain things, and it becomes too easy. We want to make it a little bit challenging.”

This year’s Olympics, held at the High Road School of Cecil County in Maryland, featured seven challenges:

– Clean-Up Challenge
– Speed Interviewing
– Menu Math
– Hanging, Folding, Buttoning Clothes
– Dishwasher Challenge

These lighthearted challenges aim to prepare students for real-life scenarios and jobs within a school setting. The ultimate goal is to develop their employment and social skills to maximize success in the real world.

“The first challenge was a cleanup task where they had to sweep, use hand-eye coordination to collect debris in a dustpan, and throw it in a trash can,” said Morgan Facciola, transition coordinator at the High Road School of Cecil County.

The menu math challenge had students select items from a menu, calculate the total, pay correctly, and ensure they received the correct change. Other challenges focused on dressing appropriately for job interviews and organizing dishware.

“Especially for older students, this prepares them for life beyond high school,” said Wesley Washington, assistant transition coordinator at High Road School of Southern Delaware.

“Schools don’t usually teach practical skills like paying bills or organizing your clothes. This event helps fill that gap.”

Mia Rooks, who has attended High Road School for four years, said the Life Skills Olympics is a highlight of the year. “It’s daily stuff, so I need to learn these things,” she said. “Whether it’s going to a store, hanging up clothes, or washing dishes, these are skills everyone needs.”

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