The students in special education teacher Cher Gingues’s Life Skills Program at Gloucester High School are currently working on marketing strategies to increase sales for “Smart Cookie Bakery,” a student-run cookie business. One marketing strategy students came up with was contacting the Gazette-Journal to write an article for the newspaper.
The bakery allows students to build both vocational and academic skills that align with Virginia Standards of Learning, including math and reading. Students also learn how to count money and give change, problem-solve, follow written and verbal directions, and stay organized. Along with Gingues, paraprofessional Kristin Colwell helps students learn these skills.
“Everything has a purpose,” said Gingues.
Each block, or “shift,” of students have responsibilities they need to meet to operate the cookie business. There is a cookie dasher who delivers cookies, a manager who oversees all daily cookie business operations (including checking the supply lis...