Transition Planning and Internships

At Shrub Oak International School, we prioritize transition planning to prepare our students for meaningful post-school experiences, focusing on career development, occupational studies, social-emotional learning, executive functioning skills, and applied academics. Our comprehensive transition services are tailored to each student’s individual needs and interests and begin with vocational interviews, aimed at understanding each student's unique skills, interests, and work-related preferences. We also conduct personalized assessments, such as the Level 1 Vocational Assessment and the Environmental Demands Rating, to evaluate a student’s comfort with different types of work environments. These tools help guide our transition teachers in identifying the best-suited internships for each student.

On-Campus Internships

On-campus internships offer students hands-on experience in various fields, allowing them to develop practical and marketable skills in a supportive, familiar environment. See below for examples of our on-campus internships:

Kitchen Prep: Preparing snacks for students.

Culinary Assistant: Setting out staff lunches and supporting culinary tasks.

Farm Internship: Assisting with daily animal care, farm maintenance, and preparation for the Farmers Market.

Animal Care: Learning about and handling various farm animals.

Office Assistant: Clerical tasks, such as delivering Amazon orders to teachers and shredding documents.

Life Skills Shopping: Shopping for school kitchen supplies at local markets.

Technology Internship: Working on STEM-related projects.

Maintenance Internship: Assisting in the fitness center with sanitation and organization.

Art Assistant/Teacher Assistant: Supporting art teachers or reading to younger children.

Off-Campus Internships

Once students demonstrate consistency and success in their on-campus internships, they may transition to off-campus opportunities. Off-campus internships provide real-world experience in various industries, with placements in local businesses. See below for examples of our off-campus internships:

Acme Supermarket

Pet Supply Plus

Cacciatori Pizza and Pasta

Cafe Piccolo Pastry & Bagels

Kwality Ice Cream Shop

The Rift Games

Bliss
Dollar Store

Our transition teachers work closely with students to ensure they are matched with opportunities that align with their interests and abilities, giving them the tools they need to succeed and thrive. We continually assess student progress, tracking job tasks, independence, and behavior to make informed decisions about when students are ready to transition to off-campus internships.