Vernon Life Skills' Bow Wow Biscuits wow NJ TV show

VERNON — Sometimes kids do good things. And sometimes, they do amazing things.

The students in Tracy Powell's Life Skills Program are developmentally challenged. Some are only able to communicate through touch screens using pictures, yet, these students, in grades nine through 12, are making, baking, packaging, marketing and selling dog biscuits.

The program started seven years ago and has grown each year so much so that Classroom Close-Up NJ got wind of what they were doing in Room 130 at Vernon Township High School and came up to do a show about Bow Wow Biscuits.

Classroom Close-Up NJ focuses on innovative projects happening in New Jersey public schools. This 30-minute weekly series features the students, teachers, school staff and communities who create and participate in successful school projects and events.

"We wanted to use cooking as a way to work on life skills, but wanted to do something other than baking," Powell said.

The teacher in her spot before her had tried dog biscuits and Powell took that idea and ran with it. The kids do everything from the paperwork involved to going to the Vernon A&P to get supplies to the baking, packaging, marketing and delivery.

Occupational and physical therapists work with the kids to help them hone their fine and gross motor skills, and they learn to roll out the dough, cut out the biscuits then use communication skills to sell them.

"One of the other aspects of the biscuits is working with money," Powell added.

The kids have to make deposits with the school's banker. All proceeds from the project go back into the project plus toward special events such as the class' upcoming trip to see "The Lion King," on Broadway, to supplement their learning about animals in school.

Carol Spilotras is a junior and said, "I like rolling out the dough best." She said it's hard, but she's also done deliveries.

Senior Tommy Halpin said his favorite recipe is the Original Biscuit and he likes working with money. Halpin recently started a job at the George Inn, in Vernon, as a dish washer.

Rebecca Hill is very proud of the class' biscuits and helped design their brochure to promote sales.

"I like stamping the boxes," she said.

Her favorite flavor to make is the peanut butter biscuits. Aside from dog biscuits, Hill is also famous for making Rebecca's Pound Cake with her mother.

Casey Hanerfeled is a non-verbal young lady who communicates through a touch pad. She said she likes baking and has made the most improvements with cutting the ribbon to tie around the bags of biscuits.

Sponsored by PSE&G, Classroom Close-Up airs on NJTV on Sundays 7:30 a.m., 12:30 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays 11:30 p.m. Saturdays 5:30 a.m. The show featuring Bow Wow Biscuits will air on Oct. 27, Nov. 2, Dec. 1 and 7.

For information about ordering Bow Wow Biscuits, contact Powell at TPowell@vtsd.com.