Princess Anne High School’s West Wing serves as the main facility for those with significant physical or cognitive needs. Special Education Director Wayne Varney cites how he and his staff have created a hub of resources, learning experiences, and real-life opportunities for its students, creating a well-rounded and tight-knit community.
In the past, “There used to be a center called The Center of Affected Learning where this program operated back in the ’70s, and they decided they wanted it to be attached to a school,” explained special education director Wayne Varney. “They chose PA as a good location because they had space and it was centrally located.”
Nowadays, students who attend the West Wing go through school just like any other student at PA, and the West Wing follows a bell schedule like the main building. “Our kids that are walking, talking, can feed themselves, and dress themselves, [they] walk from one class to another when the bell changes, they change just like everyone else,” shared Varney. However, on some occasions, students don’t follow this standard schedule. “Some of our students don’t have the bells because they are with the same teacher all day long, so they don’t pay attention to the bell schedule so much,” he continued. Mackenzie Eller, a student who attends the West Wing stated, “It’s fun. I have Ms. L in homeroom, then Ms. Howood for English, Ms. Berk for transitions and science and math, and Ms. L again for reading”.
Some classes are built to assist with special needs and provide some downtime, such as the class Transitions. “My favorite subject is transition, where we do stuff about jobs in the future and get to learn how that works,” said Eller. The transitions are, according to Varney, when West Wing students go out into the community to get work experience without pay.
Along with these transition classes, there are special clubs that the students get to participate in, such as DIY. “We color, do art, and other DIY stuff. We make a lot of items, like last time we made dream catchers,” Eller shared.
The West Wing also has a variety of events for students attending school there, such as dances and field trips. “The winter ball was my favorite,” shared Eller. “There was a big photoshoot, they had a bunch of blue streamers everywhere, everyone was so fancy, and it was ocean-themed.” Eller also shared information about the field trips they take. “We take field trips in the West Wing, too. We went to the Neptune festival this year, and we went to the movies, and now we’re going to go bowling next.”
All of these activities and events help the West Wing students become better learners and well-rounded students, Varney said, adding that, “It gives our kids an opportunity because our student body is so aware of the West building kids, and there are a lot of students here that show actual concern for this population, which gives our kids an opportunity to be a part of a culture that I think in a lot of situations they’re not apart of.” Eller also shared her experience, saying that, “It’s way more fun and now I’m in all the different classes, there’s more than one teacher, and I’m learning better too.”
The West Wing always has opportunities for students to come and volunteer. “When you get non-disabled peers that come into their environment and they help them through situations that are relevant to them, and I think it’s just more meaningful,” explained Varney. Some of the activities where students can come to volunteer include homecoming, dances, the talent show, and in-class help.
Varney stated the West Wing is a fundamental part of our school community, beyond providing our West Wing students opportunities, because it also gives us perspective. “PA gives people a perspective of actually how lucky they are,” Varney said. He explained some of their students will never be able to drive, never be able to work, or take care of themselves, things that many PA students will be able to do, giving them a perspective of “Hey, maybe things aren’t that bad for me.”
