The Lake George Jr.-Sr. High School Life Skills program has taken a major step forward thanks to a generous grant from the Under the Woods Foundation. The organization, which provides funding and support for classrooms serving differently abled students, awarded the Life Skills class a gift that will allow students to practice real-world independence right inside their school.
Life Skills teacher Kate Kelly is transforming part of her classroom into a fully functioning mock apartment, complete with resources that will help students build essential skills for life after high school. Thanks to the foundation’s support, the room now includes a refrigerator, stove, sofa, and dining table, all delivered personally by Bob and Heidi Underwood of Queensbury, a local family and proud Lake George alumni.
The Under the Woods Foundation has a mission to enrich the lives of differently abled children by funding classroom experiences, equipment, and opportunities that expand learning beyond the traditional curriculum. Their gift is already making a meaningful impact.
“We are using the space as a mock apartment to teach adaptive life skills that will help students long after they leave high school. It’s an incredible addition to the program,” said Chris Mondella, CSE Chairperson.
Kelly and her students prepared the space last week, and the enthusiasm is showing.
“We are so excited to begin practicing these life skills,” said Kelly. “We’ve researched other programs and realized how unique it is to have a full mock apartment inside the classroom. It truly sets us apart. We want to give our students every opportunity to build confidence and independence for the real world. We also host a weekly “social lunch bunch” with other students, and having a dining table will give us a space to sit together and have meaningful conversations. Those connections happen every single day.”
The Life Skills apartment will allow students to practice cooking, cleaning, socializing, organizing, and more. These are skills that truly matter beyond the classroom.
Thanks to the generosity of the Under the Woods Foundation and the dedication of educators like Kate Kelly, Lake George students now have a space that brings learning to life and supports their journey toward greater independence.