By Sophia Buckley-Clement Staff Writer
FAIR HAVEN — Students in Fair Haven Union Middle and High School’s special education program celebrated the start of spring with a few blossoms of their own this year.
Earlier this month, local florist Emily Stockwell made her fourth annual visit to the school to help a handful of students create basket floral arrangements for their loved ones.
Stockwell, a Fair Haven graduate, owns Everyday Flowers in Poultney and said the tradition began when she was approached by a program educator several years ago.
“The first time, students all came down (to the store), and we did it here. And then the more I thought about it, it made more sense to go up to the school,” Stockwell said. “From there, we’ve just tried to do it every year.”
Having bought the business 13 years ago from former owner Liz Nichols, Stockwell said the yearly event is her way of giving back to her community. The flowers, baskets and other arrangement items are donated by Stockwell each year.
“I started arranging flowers when I was 3 years old, so I’ve been doing it for a very long time now,” Stockwell said. “Flowers (can) change the whole atmosphere of a place. I’ve carried that on throughout my whole life. That’s why I like doing it with these kids. It just makes them happy.”
Stockwell added that she typically brings in at least three types of flowers, so students have the opportunity to work with different textures, shapes and colors.
Slate Valley Unified Union Director of Special Services Kris Benway said the partnership is one way the district has tried to incorporate authentic and unique learning experiences for its students, both within the school setting and beyond.
“Over the last couple of years, in special education specifically, we’ve been working with our community partners to develop some pre-vocational, vocational and job-training sites for our students at various entities within the (greater) community,” Benway said.
She added that it’s wonderful being able to see students learning skills and developing natural supports within the community.
“One student was counting the stems as he arranged them, and I shared that with his guardian (later.) His guardian said, ‘He tells me there’s 100 stems in the basket.’ And I said, ‘I’d put my paycheck on it,’” Benway said. “So, there are embedded skills in there — counting, visual arranging, sharing of resources, communication (and more.)”
Stockwell shared that it’s hard to explain the joy she gets from hosting this event, adding that she hopes it provides a space where kids can be happy, forget some of the stressors in their lives and play with flowers.
“This year, I was so blown out of the water of how focused (the students) were. They actually all sat right down at the table. They did most of the work all by themselves. I guide them a little, but I tell them to have fun and put it together however you want,” she said. “Just to hear who they’re going to give the flowers to is so sweet. One girl was going to give them to her mom and another kid was going to give them to his gram.”
FHUMHS educator Gina Himes, who helped coordinate the partnership this year and last, said students have not only been able to practice building different types of floral arrangements, but also skills like taking direction and engaging with the community.
“It’s a fun activity, a learning (experience) and they enjoy it,” Himes said. “Some instruction outside of the norm is so important for our students.”
sophia.buckley-clement @rutlandherald.com