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Perspective Newsletters
Summer 2002
LEARY SCHOOL JOB SITE
Page 5
 The
end of the 2001-2002 school year was an exciting time for the staff and students
at the Leary School jobsite. At the beginning of the school year, we set out to renovate
a two story home on the same street we have built two other homes on in Annandale.
This is the third renovation project that the jobsite program has tackled and, like
the other projects, this home provided the students with the opportunity to learn
skills that are somewhat different from those they use on new home construction.
From pulling up carpet, taking out old cabinets and bathroom fixtures to replacing
the front porch, rebuilding the stairway in the entry way, putting in all new windows
and building a family room on the back of the existing house, the students worked
hard and mastered new skills. In addition, both bathrooms were completely redone,
the master bedroom was enlarged, and the kitchen modernized with new appliances,
flooring, and cabinets. Of course, there was drywalling, painting, and trimming that
had to be done before the new carpet was put in throughout the house.
We are grateful for the help of John White, the engineer who has helped us with so
many of our previous job site projects. Mr. White redesigned the entry way and gave
the home more living space and a better flow to the rooms. The picture only tells
part of the story. So much of the work was on the interior of the home but we also
think that the new porch, the addition of the columns, and the fencing make the property
more appealing.
Vocational instruction was only part of the students' day at the jobsite and this
year's students also made their mark academically. Eight of the eleven graduates
from Leary School of Virginia came from the jobsite program. The annual graduation
ceremony was a great day for the staff and students at the job site and was followed
on the next day (June 11th) by our dedication ceremony for the home project. However,
before we officially "cut the ribbon" on this home, we took time to acknowledge the
accomplishments of not only the graduates but all the students at the jobsite who
worked hard this year.
Best Attendance this year went to Antonio Wimbush. Marcus Campbell, Scott Myers,
James Carter, Delonte Marsh, Joe Robertson, Antonio Wimbush, and Philip Ward were
all recognized for an On Levels award for consistently earning 80% or better of their
points for at least six months out of the school year.
 Presidential
Academic Fitness Awards went to Marcus Campbell, Antonio Wimbush, and Joseph Robertson
while Marcus Campbell, Philip Ward, and Antonio Wimbush were presented with Special
Recognition Awards for their individual progress on goals during this past year.
In the fall, we will begin construction on another two story home directly across
the street from the first two homes we built on Holyoke Drive. We look forward to
the return of our now "veteran" job site students and to the new students who will
be joining our program and who, over the next two years, will have an opportunity
to learn about the building trades.
Alan Peck, M.S.
Vocational Coordinator
Leary School Job Site
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