Life Skills store returns

Students in Jefferson High’s Life Skills Class are once again operating the school store Tuesdays during the lunch hour, after COVID-19 shut it down. Jefferson High Paraprofessional Chris Day said running the store teaches students how to count change and helps develop people skills. Any money earned from sales is used to teach Life Skills students the benefits of budgeting and saving. Available items include hair ties and drinks, but the most popular, students said, is the candy selection. According to Life Skills teacher Esther Kirsch, the store itself and its inventory is all provided for through Pre-Employment Transition Services funds that come from Montana Vocational Rehabilitation Services. After four days of working at the store students get to choose a $20 item from Amazon as their earnings. Proceeds from the store go into purchasing supplies for the Life Skills classroom.