Sunrise School in Monroeville celebrates summer picnics

Sunrise School in Monroeville, part of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, had a “Picnic Month” theme during recent lessons.

The school’s pupils, ages five to 21, are primarily special education students from the eastern part of Allegheny County. Class curriculum is geared toward learning support, life skills, multi-disabilities and autism, as well as vocational programming.

Teacher Audra McNavish, who teaches kindergarten through 4th grade in the summer, started the lesson by reading “National Picnic Month” and other summer-related books to her class.

She also planned to discuss “what foods you’d want at a picnic and healthy food choices,” McNavish said. She reviewed social skills – such as manners, sitting properly, using utensils and passing food family-style.

The class also made their own healthy snacks for a picnic. The students were very excited for this and discussed what they’d like to eat.

Dylan Martin, age 7, said, “I like fruit but not veggies. My favorite foods are chicken nuggets and fries and applesauce.”

“I like to eat outside, but I don’t like the bugs,” added Hunter Gott, age 10.

Jaclyn Bearley, who teaches students with visual impairments during the school year, works with children in grades nine through 12 during the summer months.

“We kicked off our second week of Extended School Year with a picnic. Monday began with discussing what a picnic is, where to have a picnic, what to bring and what animals we may see,” Bearley said.

“It has been a fun week. We laid out a blanket on the grass and enjoyed Gatorade, cheese, brie, crackers and fruit with a strawberry fruit dip,” Bearley said. “We went on a scavenger hunt searching for items we may find at a picnic like plates, cups, food, garbage bags, balls and Frisbees.”

Bearley said her students finished the week by making watermelon, ant and butterfly crafts.

According to Assistant Principal Tim Fabrizi, the summer program ran from July 1 - 29. The curriculum is divided into four lessons, one for each week: Independence Day, National Picnic Month, Summer Olympics and Shark Week.

“We love to give the students the opportunity to learn in fun and engaging ways,” said Principal David Campos. “And Picnic Week certainly provides that opportunity.”