Could 14—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — A prom for distinctive education and learning pupils hosted by Westmont Hilltop Junior-Senior High Faculty was attended Friday by teenagers from throughout Cambria County.
In planning, numerous nearby businesses delivered hairstyling, makeup, attire and formalwear, food items, and DJ providers, stated Westmont Hilltop lifetime competencies instructor Carol Battaglia.
“It can be a small piece of superior university everyday living we can deliver for them,” she mentioned.
The prom was started off in 2019 by a brother of one particular of her college students.
More than 50 pupils from university districts in the Johnstown region sent RSVPs for the promenade Friday at the superior school.
It was a night to bear in mind for Battaglia, whose retirement is effective June 1.
She has taught special schooling college students at Westmont Hilltop for 35 years, and her whole career has spanned 38 years.
“Definitely, it was the correct put for me. I stayed a extensive time,” she reported. “I always experienced a coronary heart for doing the job with children, and young children with exclusive desires have often been a comfortable place for me.”
The learners in her life capabilities classes have reasonable developmental delays, autism and Down syndrome.
Battaglia, 61, attained a master’s diploma in distinctive education from the University of Pittsburgh and life in Johnstown with her partner, Tony Battaglia.
“Retiring will not strike me till late August will come all-around,” she said. “I anticipate continue to getting involved with this populace of college students in some potential.”
Reflecting on her vocation, Battaglia mentioned she’s experienced joy in training her daily life competencies college students.
“What I generally notify people today is these young children make me laugh every working day,” she said. “I can have the worst possible occasion in my daily life, but when I come in this article, it’s like heaven to me.”
Everyday living abilities classes aid college students turn into far more unbiased, liable and far better well prepared to make rational conclusions in daily life. Target-setting, personal finances and impartial living competencies are a couple topics of aim.
“These children want to be here and learn,” she said. “They are respectful, form, loving, and they want to be in this article so it makes me want to be right here.”
Battaglia claimed she is grateful for Westmont Hilltop’s determination to funding exclusive education systems.
“The district is tremendous-supportive,” she said. “I couldn’t have asked for a much better spot to do the job.”
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