Pine-Richland Students to Work with Residents at St. Barnabas Greenhouse
Gibsonia, Pa. (Richland Township), Oct. 18, 2005 - Students in the Life Skills class at Pine-Richland High School will spend the upcoming school year working in the greenhouse at St. Barnabas Nursing Home, learning valuable gardening skills while growing flowers and greens for residents to enjoy.
The 10 students range in age from 15 to 20 and have severe cognitive disabilities. The greenhouse project is spearheaded by Mark Schweers, special education teacher/job coach. During the school year, his students visit St. Barnabas Nursing Home three to four times a week, assisting the staff with tasks such as filling water pitchers and transporting residents to activities. In Schweers' classroom last year, his students grew flowers, greens and basil to learn the process of gardening, a skill that will transfer to adulthood. But when Schweers discovered the greenhouse at St. Barnabas, an idea sparked.
"The growing conditions in a greenhouse are obviously more ideal than in a classroom," Schweers said. "Plus, this will be a nice way for the students to work with the residents on a project that will benefit all involved. Once the flowers and plants are mature, we plan to give them to the residents for their enjoyment."
Pam Dixon, director of recreation at St. Barnabas Nursing Home, echoes Schweers' sentiments. "The residents enjoy spending time in the greenhouse and they like spending time with the Life Skills students," she said. "We look forward to working on this joint venture with the students."
About St. Barnabas, St. Barnabas Health System is the largest health care concern of its kind in Pennsylvania and offers service apart from the ordinary. Tracing its heritage back to 1900, the system serves approximately 700 inpatients and residents, plus 35,000 outpatients and home care clients. Faith-based yet non-denominational, St. Barnabas Health System includes St. Barnabas Charitable Foundation, St. Barnabas Medical Center, St. Barnabas Nursing Home, The Village at St. Barnabas, The Woodlands at St. Barnabas, The Washington Place, The Arbors at Valencia Woods, and Valencia Woods Nursing Center.
Contact:
Kathleen Brenneman
(724) 444-5530
kbrenneman@stbarnabashealthsystem.com
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