Learning on the Job The 2021 graduates of the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 (IU13) Masonic Village Work Immersion program are happy they made it through the school year successfully, overcoming more than just academic challenges. While similar programs across the state were placed on hold due to COVID-19, Masonic Village staff and IU13 instructors found a way to keep students safely in the classroom and on the job. What started as a partnership with Masonic Village’s laundry department two years ago has turned into a comprehensive internship program with opportunities in maintenance, environmental services, food services, landscape and laundry. The students gain life enrichment and job skills and graduate prepared to join the work force at Masonic Village or in the community. “The program is for students ages 17 to 21 who need some extra instruction to improve their future employability skills,” Allysa Wenrich, IU13 program instructor, said. “These students really just need some guidance in social skills and soft skills that aren’t necessarily taught in a typical high school.” Students spend part of their day in a classroom on the ground level of Grand Lodge Hall and the rest of their time completing internships with Masonic Village staff 4
Summer 2021 Issue
who underwent training to be effective mentors. “There’s a lot of passion here, and everyone’s just ready to pitch in and get the job done,” Holly Simmers, IU13 job trainer, said.
“We are teaching them all the time, but they actually show us different things and teach us,” Darla Putt, environmental services worker, said. “I really enjoy working with them. They make me laugh and keep my morale up.” Bob Schaeffer, landscape mechanic, worked with Connor, who was hired for a seasonal position in Masonic Village’s landscape department. “It’s challenging sometimes, but it’s worthwhile,” Bob said. “It’s helping them out, and it helps us out. [Connor] is doing stuff by himself that I had to help him with before. Now I can tell him to do it, and he gets it done. It gives me time to work on something else in the shop and keep an eye on him.” An Open Book of Opportunity “It lets me get the experience I need to get a job here or somewhere else,” said Drew, a 2021 graduate of the
