Three Miriam High School seniors are getting a head start on work experience before they put on a cap and gown.
The high school is piloting an internship program this year - called Volunteer Work-Based Learning - that they hope to expand to many more students in the future. In conjunction with the work experience, Miriam staff provide training in job skills, soft/interpersonal skills and independent living.
Each student’s program culminates with a project, activity or other method of demonstrating learning. So far, students are gaining quite a bit from their internship experiences.
Adele loves working with young children and is considering a career as a daycare or preschool teacher. She is interning at Immanuel Lutheran Preschool two mornings per week, helping the children settle in and begin activities. Adele works at Immanuel Luthern until 9:15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then starts her day at the high school.
“I love working with young kids. They’re just fun,” Adele said. She also feels this experience is teaching her more about responsibility when it comes to working in the real world. Adele plans to attend St. Charles Community College after graduation.
Narhya is learning about organization and prioritization while interning at Five Oaks, Olivette’s new community center. She helps with office work, as well as facility setup. Narhya likes the autonomy she receives in this position, and she appreciates the quietness of the space.
Grace has a bit of a different setup, as she is tutoring fellow Miriam students in math to complete volunteer hours for the A+ program. That program provides a scholarship to St. Louis Community College, where she is planning to study interior design. She is assisting Donna Higgins in her math class, as well as working individually with some of the younger students.
The objective of our program is to expose seniors to entry level jobs, with a focus on learning general work behaviors that can transfer to any job experience.
Terri Pruitt, dean of academic programming and partnerships
Pruitt said selecting students for internships is a “committee decision.” She and Principal Vicki Thurman discuss internship and student possibilities, gather information from faculty members, and make a decision based on input. “We look for students whose schedule allows for the internship, and then determine which students would be a good match personality- and interest-wise.”
They plan to expand the Volunteer Work-Based Learning Program next year.
Miriam serves students with learning differences - such as learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, speech and language disorders, anxiety, and sensory challenges - with wraparound support that helps them thrive in high school and beyond.
During the month of February, Miriam High School students studied up on Black history - and engaged in friendly competition with their peers - through a scavenger hunt created by teacher Karen Cross.
Yesterday, at the beginning of our Board Meeting, some children from Rooms One and Two did a fantastic job demonstrating a dancing brain break session for our Trustees. Later, one Trustee said what inspired her was noting the progress of one little girl.
Six Miriam High School students had the opportunity to explore diversity from all angles in late February, attending MICDS’ Student Diversity Conference. The conference, titled “Diversity in Motion: Unity on Every Loop,” was led by students, for students - from MICDS and five other area schools, including Miriam. The schools applied for the opportunity to attend.
On a recent visit to Miriam Lower/Middle School in Webster Groves, Mayor Laura Arnold had the opportunity to see firsthand the positive influence the school has on the community in Webster and beyond, and its dedication to serving unique learners in St. Louis.
On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, my daughter Lucy and I had the privilege of visiting the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. We were among hundreds of people from around the world who had gathered to pay our respects and reflect on the sacrifices made for freedom and peace. Standing in that sacred space on a day dedicated to Dr. King’s legacy, during the week of the presidential inauguration, provided a powerful day of reflection.
At Miriam students in grades K-8 explore the forces of magnets not only for science but also as a hands-on way to understand social interactions. Miriam Lower/Middle School Counselor Janene Allen teaches students that depending on their behavior, others might be drawn to you - or they may want to stay away.
Your child needs a tutor. Maybe they are struggling to learn to read as a first-grader, or perhaps they need a little help to make it through geometry in high school. Where do you start?
Miriam Lower/Middle School will soon have a new addition on its playground – and other new or updated occupational therapy equipment – thanks to a grant from the Missouri Athletic Club’s Charitable Society for Children (CSC) Grant.
Wishing you a very happy beginning to 2025! Miriam School, although covered in glistening snow, is bustling with our students’ return to school and the promise of all of the good things that happen here throughout our winter months.
At Miriam School and Learning Center, the mission is clear: help children with special educational needs unlock their full potential. The K-12 educational institution draws on more than 60 years of experience in the field to provide a highly personalized learning environment that brings the best in every child.
Rob Miller was inspired to open his pottery studio to people of all abilities when his grandson, Connor, was born with cerebral palsy eight years ago.
A steady stream of power tools could be heard from the woodworking class, held in the science lab. The rhythm of the Electric Slide and other slide dance songs echoed from the gym, filling the air with energy and movement.
Miriam Learning Center is continually working to address needs in the community regarding students with learning differences. It’s no secret that we, as a society, are in the midst of a teacher shortage – and special education teachers are in even shorter supply. Enter Miriam’s Gen Ed to Special Ed teacher training program!
Wishing you a very blessed and joyful holiday season. Many wonderful events have happened in our organization over the last month as we continue to foster a sense of community and belonging. I had the pleasure of hosting two Community Coffees at both campuses to introduce our strategic plan.
Students at Miriam School and Learning Center learn differently, as classes provide individualized curriculum that often includes integrated speech and occupational therapy. At the high school, which is home to 40 students, teachers and staff place a major emphasis on preparing students for life after high school.