Dane County Trasition Schools


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>>The No Stopping Point Curriculum | >>Key Phrases

Schools With No Stopping Point!

Exciting Happenings at DCTS

Dane County Transition School has the largest Interact Club in Wisconsin. The school's mantra is "Schools With No Stopping Point" and once you meet the students and see their growing list of Service Projects, you will understand why. Below is a list of a few of the projects that DCTS participates in:

Project Warmth
For the past three years the students from DCTS have made over 200 polar fleece blankets that were distributed to children and adults in and around Dane County. This year the students have already received fund from AT&T and thee West Towne Middleton Rotary Club for 125 blankets to be sent to the victims in Stoughton and the victims of Katrina that will be living on Allied Drive.

Watershed Clean up
Due to a generous grant from CUNA Mutual, DCTS students will be participating in a watershed cleanup project throughout much of the school year. Students will participate in the cleanup of area lakes and rivers; the project may also become linked with national watershed cleanup projects such as the Great River Cleanup. In addition to giving back to the community through service learning, student swill gain valuable work experience and hands-on instruction in watershed ecology.

Bikes for Kids
Through a grant from "by Youth for Youth" students at DCTS have purchased tool to repair and refurbish donated bicycles. During the spring of 2005 DCTS refurbished 30 bicycles to donate to Wheel for Winners, a program that awards students' community service with a working bicycle. If you are interested in donating a bicycle to this program , contact Keith at (608) 250-5210.

Cell Phone and Ink Jet Cartridge Recycle
The Dane Count Transition School is currently collection used cell phones and empty printer cartridges for recycling or refurbishing. The money earned from this program goes to pay for wilderness trip experiences. If you would like to make a donation to this program please call the school for drop off information.

Birdhouses
Students at DCTS have built wood duck and blue bird houses to place in natural areas around Dane County. This program teaches students about mathematical and ecological concepts through hands-on learning. This year's program will expand to include building bat houses.

Ecological Restoration
After receiving a grant from the Dane County Environmental Council, students at DCTS have worked at the Indian Mound Conversation Park in McFarland and the Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton to remove invasive species to restore prairie and savanna environments to pre-settlement vegetation. This year DCTS received a Plant Dane grant to purchase native plants to install a rain garden at the school.

Take a Seat for a Cure
For the past two years, students at DCTS have decorated chairs to donate to the Fort Atkinson's Relay for Life auction which donates proceeds to the American Cancer Society. If you would like to donate a chair for this program, contact Anne at (608) 250-5210.

Toiletries for Homeless
For the past two years, the students and Rotarians have collected unused toiletries from business &/or vacation trips from hotels. The students place the toiletries in decorated bags and give these to shelters.

War Veterans Project
This is our second year on conducting interviews with War Veterans. This project is in partnership with the Breakfast Rotary Club. Interviews are conducted by approximately fifteen students, pictures, and videos are taken as well as interviews are transcribed and given to the War veterans Museum and the families of the Veterans. The Veterans are honored at our end of the year celebration.

Other Service Learning Projects

Recycling paper, newspaper, and cans...
Building book cases for a Woman's shelter
Planting gardens with pre-school children
Reading to pre-school children
Sewing flannel pants for people in need
Repairing senior citizens' homes