Patty Miller
EDMOND — Students and Rubicon School and Learning Center in Edmond received a $300 grant from the Oklahoma Pork Council on Wednesday.
Mark McGinnis, Pork Council representative, was on hand to give the check that will go toward a project to help the students work on their math skills.
The Ag in the Classroom grant will go toward the purchase of materials for the students to use to build cages to house chickens and rabbits.
“We plan on students using their sensory skills as well as their math skills to raise the animals and then sell them,” said Heide Roden, one of Rubicon’s teachers.
At this time, the 13 students in the school have five chicks and one male rabbit that they take turns caring for at home as well as in the classroom.
McGinnis said the Oklahoma Pork Council gives grants to promote agriculture in the schools.
Rubicon serves children from age 3 through high school.
“Our Learning Center provides programs on a fee-for-service basis,” said Paul Böer Sr., executive director of Rubicon.
“Currently, we are able to provide occupational therapy and speech and language therapy as well as academic remediation in reading and mathematics.”
Plans are to add physical therapy next year.
“We are the only school in this area offering K-12 for children with autism,” Boer said.
“Our goal is to get the children on a skill level so that they can transition into a typical classroom. We want them to be as independent as they can be.”
FOR MORE information on the Rubicon School and Learning Center, call 359-1486 or go to www.rubicon-learning.org.
