The first half of the 2024-25 school year across Castle Country came to a close with the arrival of winter break. This gives students and teachers a much-needed rest from the hustle and bustle of school while also giving them a chance to look back and reflect on what changes are going to be made heading forward. At the Castle Valley Center, this is no different. Principal Amy Bell joined Castle Country Radio to discuss what’s going on and what’s coming up at CVC.

Our first topic of discussion was what the school has been up to in recent months,” We’ve been doing a clothing drive,” explained Bell,” We’ve had so many community members bring us some clothing, and we’re going to use that for our students to help them learn how to sort. We are developing a little clothing section in our life skills room. Our post-high students are learning how to sort and clean and hang and put things in places. It really helps with some job skills.”

In addition to their academics, the Castle Valley Center spent some time getting into the holiday spirit with visits from some very special guests,” We just had Grinch Day. We always have one of our teacher’s husbands who comes and is willing to be the Grinch for us. And our kids absolutely love it. We also have adult probation that brings Santa to visit. And then we have the Carbon High School choir coming to sing to us,” stated Bell.

Principal Bell then spoke on the community support she sees for the school,” I’m always so appreciative of people willing to come and try to do something. If they think they have some activity or something they want to bring to us, a lot of times they’ll approach us and ask us if they can come and do something for us and help them come up with an idea. We’re always just appreciative of anything everybody does; the community has been fabulous support for us.”

As for what’s coming up for CVC, Bell shared some big ideas she hopes to bring to the school,” We’re looking, hopefully by spring, to find some funding sources to help us pay for some indoor hydroponic gardens for our students to grow different things. And there’s just so many things that we’re going to be able to do with that. There are just so many steps for our students to participate in, and multiple students,” adding,” Plus, they get to see real-world things. Our student’s academics are learned better when they’re in real-world situations. And so, if they’re counting pods, it makes more sense when you’ve got a real thing you’re counting for versus something on paper.”

Continuing the talk of real-world experiences, Bell discussed some of the other ways the Castle Valley Center looks to provide this experience to its students,” several of my classes go out bowling. The Bowling Alley and Helper is always great support. They let our kids come up there and have a bowling experience. So, it’s a great way to go out and do some recreation,” Bell continued,” We have several classes that also go shopping every week, and they go out and purchase the items that we need for cooking every week. So, they have a list, and they go out and actually buy the things so that they can bring it back, and then we have it here to cook.”

In terms of adjustments for the second half of the year, Bell explained,” I think we’re doing really well, but we’re always trying to find the next little activity, the next thing that we can add. We’re working academically on a couple of curriculums this year and starting to learn how to do that. So, that’s going to be probably the second half is really trying to do our math and reading curriculum.”

In closing, Principal Bell shared,” Thank you to everybody who supports us. I’m just always grateful for what a wonderful community and how everybody is always interested in helping our students and interacting, and so we’re very appreciative.”

To stay up to date with the Castle Valley Center you can visit the schools website here.